Articles from ‘elocal magazine’

The latest 1News Verian poll has National and Labour level on 28 percent, while the Greens have risen to 16 percent. The numbers could leave Opportunity holding the balance of power, but the seat projections depend on electorate results and post-election negotiations that no poll can settle Report by eLocal · New Zealand's election contest has become increasingly fragmented, with the latest 1News Verian poll showing neither major party close to…

Sir John Key has urged National supporters to give both votes to National, warning that strategic voting could cost the party experienced ministers. Winston Peters has rejected that argument, using the dispute to make a wider case for New Zealand First’s economic programme and its leverage in post-election negotiations Report by eLocal · Former Prime Minister Sir John Key and New Zealand First leader Winston Peters have opened a revealing…

Who checks the figures when councils and banks demand payment or enforce debts against people's homes? In this opinion, Tracy Lynch examines mortgage balances, council rates, development contributions and the records underpinning enforcement decisions. Her central question is straightforward: can institutions demonstrate the authority, calculations and financial records supporting their demands? The question is no longer simply: “Do you owe…

Dr Guy Hatchard warns that New Zealand's worsening health crisis cannot be resolved through increased funding and policy changes alone. Citing overcrowded hospitals, rising illness and growing healthcare pressures, he questions the impact of modern pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, processed foods and mRNA vaccines. While welcoming proposed health reforms, Hatchard argues that prevention, improved nutrition, exercise, meditation and personal…

An Indian court petition is challenging public-health authorities to demonstrate the scientific foundations of germ theory, prompting a dispute over evidence and the limits of judicial intervention. New Zealand researchers have reportedly joined the proceedings, bringing the case into a wider international debate about scientific accountability Report by eLocal · An unusual legal challenge in India has attracted international attention after a…

What if the greatest transfer of wealth in New Zealand's history required neither invasion nor the outright sale of the country's assets? What if its citizens retained ownership on paper while gradually losing the authority to determine how their land, water, minerals, forests and infrastructure were used? Imagine, for a moment, that you were writing a political thriller. Your fictional objective is the acquisition of a prosperous island…

As Parliament rises ahead of the general election, broadcaster Duncan Garner is asking what the coalition Government has delivered since taking office in 2023. His latest podcast raises questions about public spending, the cost of living, supermarket competition and the reforms still awaiting implementation. Report by eLocal · Three years after National entered government promising economic recovery, tighter public spending and changes to the…

In his final speech of the 54th Parliament, Winston Peters set out what he says New Zealand First achieved in government and challenged his political opponents over their records. His address also raised questions about how public spending, health decisions and national infrastructure should be judged by their effects on New Zealanders Report by eLocal · In Parliament’s adjournment debate on 23 September, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters…

Parliament has passed legislation to replace the Resource Management Act after 35 years, opening the way for a new planning system designed to reduce costs and make development more predictable. Economic modelling points to substantial potential gains for New Zealand, although the benefits will depend on how the new laws are implemented Report by eLocal · New Zealand has reached a major milestone in reforming the rules governing land use,…

The fear was real. The lockdowns were real. COVID-19 was real. But what did New Zealand's decision-makers actually know about the danger, what evidence supported testing and vaccination policies, and did extraordinary restrictions remain justified as that evidence changed? Six years later, newly released government documents allow New Zealanders to examine the decisions that transformed their lives Report by eLocal - Part 1 of 3 Part 2 here · …