Articles from ‘elocal magazine’

Several government agencies refused to disclose details about koha payments to iwi organisations. · Agencies often cited section 18(f) of the Official Information Act 1982, stating that the requests would require substantial manual collation or research. · This lack of oversight in government practices illustrates the need for greater transparency and adherence to guidelines set by the Auditor-General. · OIAs reveal lack of transparency · Koha…

Fisheries Minister Shane Jones referred to High Court judge Justice Cheryl Gwyn as a “Communist Judge” during a meeting with the seafood industry about Māori rights. · A spokesperson for the PM later noted that: “It is a matter of public record that the judge once belonged to the Socialist Action League during the 1970s and 1980s.” · The meeting, held in May, involved Jones, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith, and representatives from…

While Hilaire Belloc often describes the type of economy he is advocating as “distributist,” he also refers to it as “proprietary,” due to the idea that a truly free economy requires the widest distribution of private property as possible. · The recent esays on distributism and the many comments in response raised a number of interesting questions and also revealed that a number of readers, including myself, were to varying degrees perplexed as…

A severe brain injury can leave patients unresponsive to stimuli, but they may be more aware than we realize. A new study of brain activity has shown that up to a quarter of unresponsive patients may exhibit “hidden consciousness.” · After a severe brain injury, such as trauma or a stroke, patients can enter a state where they stop responding to stimuli in their environment, such as sound, light, pain and instructions. This can include a…

The word spring uses almost everything that the mouth can do, from front to back. It hisses the S, shuts it up with pursed lips and then explodes it with the P, releases the flowing RIN with the tongue touching the roof of the mouth, and closes the word from the top of the throat with the guttural G. It is fun to say, a roller coaster ride for the mouth, and it has been said almost unchanging for many thousand years. But not until the last few…

Manuka honey reduced breast cancer cell growth by 84% without harming healthy cells or causing major side effects, according to preliminary studies. The findings open the door to developing a natural, non-toxic supplementary, or potentially stand-alone, anticancer treatment. · Nutraceuticals – a combination of ‘nutrition’ and ‘pharmaceuticals’ that, let’s be honest, smacks of marketing speak – are products that, apart from providing nutritional…

One of the finest American teachers acquiesced a few years ago to be my mentor. I am a stranger to the good man, but he agreed to answer my questions because he is in possession of a proper understanding of the nature of a true teacher, a public figure whose work is ultimately for the benefit of the common good. I go to him every few months with my most pressing quandaries. A while back I asked him to teach me about the nature of ideology. He…

Activist-driven research is often rigged to validate specific viewpoints and justify policies that are really based on political preference. · This cycle undermines trust in academic research and public institutions. · Questionable evidence in reports by or for government, like studies on impossible to calculate and suspect links, for instance how many people will supposedly die from a slight increase in pollution from vehicles, mislead the…

Two doctors have earned a major win in the UK’s High Court, in a case described by the Judge as “the most significant piece of defamation litigation” he has seen in a very long time. · The case shines a light on how journalists cover scientific issues, and how media seek to discredit those who challenge official narratives. · For decades, Malcolm Kendrick, a general practitioner, and Zoe Harcombe with a PhD in nutritional science, have publicly…

August's rare blue supermoon will appear bigger and brighter than most full moons when it lights up the sky this week. · Why it matters: It's the first of four consecutive supermoons this year, according to NASA. · NASA says the full Moons in September and October are expected to be "virtually tied for the closest of the year." · When is the Blue Moon or Sturgeon Moon? · It will appear full for three days, from Sunday morning through early…