Articles from ‘elocal magazine’

The passage of the Social Security Amendment Act by Norman Kirk’s Labour government introduced a domestic purposes benefit (DPB) to New Zealand’s social welfare system on 14 November 1973, · The creation of the new benefit was one of the recommendations of a Royal Commission on Social Security which reported in 1972. The DPB was primarily intended to help female New Zealand residents with a dependent child or children who had lost the…

This isn’t called Forgotten Chicken because you’re going to forget about it. Quite the contrary, in fact,  once you try it you’ll remember it forever! It’s more that it’s so easy and hands off that you can forget about it if you needed to. ·  It’s a whole meal in a baking dish — flavorful rice and juicy chicken — and all you have to do is stir a few things together in a baking dish and pop it in the oven. · Ingredients · 2 cups rice · 1 can…

David Seymour has criticised media coverage of a recent hīkoi (protest march), questioning why reports fail to mention the organiser’s political affiliations. · In a tweet, Seymour noted that Eru Kapa-Kingi, the hīkoi leader, is employed by Te Pāti Māori in Parliament and was a candidate for the party in the 2023 election. · Eru Kapa-Kingi, a well-known Māori activist from Te Aupōuri and Ngāpuhi serves as Vice-President Tāne and advisor for Te…

For the first time, there's scientific evidence that a smaller, lesser known component of the cannabis plant – cannabinol – delivers better quality and longer sleep. It paves the way for finally having an effective sleep aid sourced from medical cannabis that's comparable to existing medications. · Researchers from the University of Sydney's Lambert Initiative have provided much-needed scientific evidence that backs anecdotal claims that an…

When a raging forest fire is approaching a community, a good rainfall greatly reduces the chances of the flames actually reaching the buildings. But if rain isn't in the forecast … well, that's where the RainStream tower is designed to come in. · Manufactured by Canadian company Wildfire Innovations Inc, the device takes the form of a telescoping steel tower that lies on its side (and shortened down) on an integrated trailer when not in use. It…

These gourmet chocolate lava cookies have an irresistible molten chocolate center. They are rich and decadent, yet surprisingly straightforward to make. Make a batch today! · Simply make the dough, stuff it with the ganache, and bake. · Ingredients · For the ganache · ▢ 170 g semisweet chocolate bar finely chopped · ▢ 160ml heavy cream · For the cookie dough · ▢ 226 g unsalted butter softened · ▢ 1 ¼ cups  granulated sugar · ▢ ½ cup light…

At 12.40 p.m. on 13 November 1896, Te Maari, a crater at the northern end of the Tongariro range, erupted spectacularly. It continued to erupt sporadically for nearly a year. · An eruption in 1868 had formed the crater, which was named for a Māori woman of high rank who died around that time. This crater may have first erupted in November 1892, when it reportedly ejected water, sand, small stones and pumice. There was activity in other outlets…

Tender-yet-crispy slices of rump steak in a rich Asian-style sauce, this Mongolian beef recipe is a fantastic stir-fry. · There’s no chilli-heat, so it’s mild enough for the kids to enjoy too. I like to sprinkle a pinch of chilli flakes on top of mine right at the end. · As much as it is important to get your 5 plus a day, the beautiful steak and sweet-salty sauce in this stir fry just needs to be enjoyed in its own right. · Add some…

Ice wreaks havoc on surfaces, but we might have a new way to prevent it building up. Scientists at Northwestern University have shown that textured surfaces with thin layers of graphene oxide can stay completely frost-free for long periods. · When frost, ice and snow build up on surfaces, it can cause all kinds of trouble. Roads and sidewalks become slippery and dangerous, power lines can be damaged, and the aerodynamics of aircraft wings can…

Fascinating new findings into how clusters of 'brain stars' retain memories has changed what we know about how they're held in our minds. · Baylor College of Medicine researchers have been investigating the star-shaped cells in our brains known as astrocytes, which act as microscopic storage boxes that hold our memories. This unique filing system is then accessed by a specific set of neurons known as engrams, which manage the 'brain stars' by…