Articles from ‘elocal magazine’

Caretaker and unionist Ernie Abbott was killed on 27 March 1984 when a bomb exploded inside Trades’ Hall on Wellington’s Vivian St. Trades’ Hall was the headquarters for many trade unions and police suspected they were the targets. · Designed to go off when moved, the bomb was hidden in a suitcase that was left in the foyer of the building. The device contained the equivalent of at least 1 kg of gelignite, although the actual explosive was not…

This dish can take many variations: use cooked salmon, especially if you have leftovers, sautéed prawns or fried cubed courgettes. Orzo is a brilliant thing to keep in the cupboard if you have children (especially toddlers) – it cooks so quickly. Sometimes I just make it with spinach leaves, lemon zest and parmesan – no other additions. · Ingredients · - 1 tbsp olive oil - ½ onion, finely chopped - 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped - 625ml…

Economist Robert MacCulloch takes aim at NZME’s opposition to a potential remake by investor Jim Grenon, suggesting their concern is less about editorial independence and more about preserving the status quo. · “Is it concerned a takeover may end its outrageous bias?” he asks, mocking board chair Barbara Chapman’s warning that “radical disruption is not the answer.” · Chapman, he notes, also sits on the boards of BNZ, Fletcher Building,…

According to commentator Jesse Mulligan, in Abundance, Democrat-aligned journalists Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson argue that progressive parties have become bureaucratic blockers instead of visionary builders. · This is an idea Mulligan believes will “dominate the political conversation” in the coming weeks. · Mulligan says the book explains why the Democrats failed in 2024 and why centre-left parties are losing touch with voters. “People want…

More than a million people of nearly all ages lace up their trainers and hit the pavement in a marathon every year. And while running any distance has numerous health benefits, researchers warn that going the distance may not be so good for the brain – with the negative effects lingering for a month following a race. · Scientists at Spain's University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) have identified a link between marathon running and a sharp…

Earlier this week marked five years since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. · Immunologist and Nobel Laureate Professor Peter Doherty, AC, who is also patron of the medical research institute that bears his name, spoke to 360info Senior Commissioning Editor Suzannah Lyons about attitudes towards public health today, how we best prepare for the next pandemic and the still great potential in medical research. · You've…

While sustainably-grown wood can be an economical and eco-friendly building material, its relatively low tensile strength limits its potential applications. That could soon change, however, thanks to a new self-densifying technique for creating super-strong wood. · Individual wood fibers are made up mainly of cellulose, along with a binder material known as lignin. This mixture forms the wall of what is essentially a long hollow tube – the…

At 9.30 a.m. on March 26th 1896, an explosion tore through the Brunner mine in Westland’s Grey Valley. Two men sent underground to investigate were later found unconscious after inhaling black damp, a suffocating mixture of nitrogen and carbon dioxide. · Rescuers began bringing out bodies around 11 a.m. The noxious gases took their toll on the men in the rescue parties, many of whom collapsed and had to be carried out. · The final death toll…

This simple chicken stew with sweet red peppers lets the oven do all of the work. Its an ideal recipe to make at the moment with peppers or capsicums readily available and priced well. · This rich chicken stew can be frozen once and eaten the following day for lunch with crusty bread. · Ingredients · - 3 bell peppers (red or a mixture of red and yellow) - 1 x 400g tin whole plum tomatoes - 800g chicken (either 1 chicken jointed into pieces…

Sometimes it’s hard to avoid the conclusion that the University of Auckland is suicidal. Last year it slipped out of the world’s top 150 universities rankings and this year began a compulsory course on the Treaty and Indigenous “knowledge systems” for all first-year students in every faculty. · So no matter whether you’re studying engineering, accounting, science or arts, you will have to enrol in one of the Waipapa Taumata Rau (WTR) papers,…