Articles from ‘elocal magazine’

Political commentator Mathew Hooton argues that despite the Prime Minister’s optimism, mounting evidence suggests that any plan to turn the economy around isn’t stacking up. · Treasury forecasts show no fiscal surplus until 2027/28, with a record $178.5b debt, equivalent to $97,000 per household. · Accounts reveal a $4.6b operating deficit, nearly a billion worse than predicted with Finance Minister Nicola Willis preparing voters for further…

9 December 1867 · After 6½ years of construction, it took just 6½ minutes for the first trainload of passengers to speed through the 2.6- km tunnel linking the Canterbury plains to the port of Lyttelton. · Canterbury Provincial Superintendent William Moorhouse (‘Railway Billy’) had proposed this ambitious project as early as 1858. In July 1861, amid much fanfare, he ceremonially ‘turned the first sod’, but the task proved challenging. The…

Five new charter schools are set to open in 2025. Proponents praise the schools’ flexibility in curriculum and funding use, but critics argue this approach diverts resources from public education. · Charter schools were originally introduced under John Key’s National government, but were shut down when Labour came to power. · With the ACT Party pushing their reintroduction, the schools face potential closure again if Labour wins in 2026. ·…

Whanganui District Council is seeking public consultation on a proposed framework with local hapū and iwi. Mayor Andrew Tripe said the initiative is “an unprecedented opportunity” and a “world-first indigenous-council partnership that benefits every individual.” · But does the language downplay the financial and structural implications of the arrangement? · The measures include a legally binding iwi-council agreement, a joint statutory board to…

They may be the intellectual elite, but Harvard students could graduate without reading a work of fiction during their time at America’s oldest university. · Chastising her fellow 25,000 students at the college dating back to 1636, Claire Miller has claimed that the university should require them to at least pick up a book. · Writing in The Harvard Crimson, the college newspaper, Ms Miller has called for the university to make an English…

President-elect Donald Trump plans to impose a 25% tariff on Mexican and Canadian imports and a 10% tariff on Chinese goods. While New Zealand’s exports are currently exempt, the indirect effects could be both advantageous and damaging. · According to economic modelling by Niven Winchester, New Zealand may see a boost in exports to the US as American consumers turn to alternative suppliers. · Annual merchandise exports to the US could rise by…

In a result that bucks expectations, Auckland (5) and Wellington (14) outperform all Australian cities, including Sydney (12) and Melbourne (20), in Mercer’s Quality of Living Report. · Auckland, the only Southern Hemisphere city in the top five, slipped two places from last year but remains a standout for its blend of modern amenities and natural beauty. · The rankings highlight New Zealand’s ability to punch above its weight, offering…

6 December 1922 · Although the first elections for New Zealand’s House of Representatives were held in 1853, it would be another 69 years before residents of the isolated Chatham Islands (Rēkohu or Wharekauri) were able to vote for members of Parliament. · The Chathams’ exclusion from the electoral system had long been a cause of concern to some residents, who pointed out they were subject to taxation without representation. In mid-1922…

The Electoral Commission has admitted mishandling the perceived conflict of interest in using Auckland’s Manurewa Marae as a voting location during the 2023 election, where the marae’s CEO, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, ran successfully for Te Pāti Māori in Tāmaki Makaurau. · Chief electoral officer Karl Le Quesne, speaking to Parliament’s Justice select committee, acknowledged the mitigation plan to address the conflict was inadequate. Le Quesne took…

Nothing beats being able to soend a little more time preparing and eating good food to set you up for the weekend.  This relaxed breakfast of eggs and Turkish bread offers plenty of excuse to eat in this weekend. · Ingredients: · 1 loaf Turkish bread, halved horizontally · 70ml extra virgin olive oil · 1 large red onion, halved, thinly sliced · 2 lemons, juiced · 150g butter, chopped · 6 eggs · 350g (1 1/4 cups)  Greek Style Yoghurt · 1 clove…