Articles from ‘elocal magazine’

William Brewer died of wounds received during a pistol duel with another Wellington lawyer, Hugh Cokeley Ross, on 26 February 1844. The duel followed a quarrel over a case in the Wellington County Court. · When the two men faced off in Sydney St, Thorndon, Brewer fired into the air but ‘received Mr. Ross’ ball in the groin’. He died four days later. · Although several people witnessed the duel, the coroner’s inquest concluded that there was no…

Mobile tech company Huawei launched the world's first tri-fold smartphone in September 2024, but it was only available in China. Now the company has announced the global launch of the Mate XT, though you might still have a search on your hands to find one. · Yes, Samsung is expected to add another layer to its foldable phone options this year, with an as-yet-unnamed tri-fold model that's tipped for launch around the third quarter. But Huawei…

Sustainability is the key principle in designing buildings to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. · It means prioritising the use of low-carbon materials and following sustainable construction practices from the outset. · As this entails identifying and exploring opportunities to shift to low-carbon pathways, it becomes imperative to have context-specific design guidelines for new and existing infrastructure stock to minimise…

Ancient history is flush with unsolved mysteries, some of which, from lost burial sites to sunken cities, have captivated the public imagination for centuries. · “People are fascinated by origins, people are fascinated by mysteries,” says Andrea M. Berlin, a professor of archeology at Boston University. “We’re very curious about what we can’t see, about what came before.” · And though some mysteries will likely never be solved, others are…

The rise of ‘dark advertising’ — personalised advertisements increasingly powered by artificial intelligence that evade public scrutiny — means Australians face a murky information landscape going into the federal election. · It’s already happening and, combined with Australia’s failure to enact truth-in-advertising legislation and big tech’s backtracking on fact-checking, means voters are left vulnerable to ad-powered misinformation campaigns.…

With the landmark trial against Merck adjourned until September 2025, new evidence suggests the vaccine manufacturer may have deliberately misrepresented the necessity of mass HPV vaccination. · This revelation comes from an expert report by Dr Sin Hang Lee, a pathologist renowned for his expertise in molecular diagnostics. His findings raise serious concerns about Gardasil’s efficacy and the motives behind its aggressive marketing. · Does…

Just outside the Wairarapa town of Featherston, a memorial garden marks the site of the death in 1943 of 48 Japanese prisoners of war and one guard who died on February 25th 1943. · The camp opened in 1942 to hold 800 Japanese POWs captured in the South Pacific. In early 1943, a group of recently arrived prisoners refused to work and staged a sit-down strike. A guard fired a warning shot which may have wounded Lieutenant Commander Toshio…

Let's face it, none of us eat enough fish. Sometimes finding fresh fish can be a challenge and just isn't on our usual chore destination list. But with the abundance of well priced and frozen prawns available in all local supermarkets, it's not too hard to up our fish intake! · This quick, flavourful dish, made with easy to get and relatively pantry staples, is both fragrant to cook and moreish to eat!  · Put it on your midweek menu this week! …

For decades, people have been told to avoid cholesterol-rich foods like eggs and animal fats, but research now shows dietary cholesterol has little impact on blood cholesterol levels. · Instead, factors like inflammation, liver function, and metabolic health play a much bigger role. · “Cholesterol itself is not harmful; the problem arises when LDL cholesterol becomes oxidized,” explains naturopathic physician Jodi Duval. Oxidized LDL triggers…

New Zealand’s economic potential is being stifled by a regulatory culture of “no,” argues Bryce Wilkinson. · Bureaucratic hurdles make everything from expanding a port to hosting a concert a logistical nightmare, while regulatory overkill fuels high costs in housing, construction, and banking. · Even basic reforms, such as allowing tourists to work remotely while visiting, are met with knee-jerk opposition. · Wilkinson says that red tape…