Articles from ‘elocal magazine’

The number of mortgagee sales in New Zealand has almost doubled since May, reflecting the growing strain on borrowers from high interest rates and falling household incomes. · Interest.co.nz’s Greg Ninness reports that 119 properties were advertised for mortgagee sale in the first week of November, up 98 percent from 60 in early May, the highest level since tracking began in 2022. · More than half of the listings (54 percent) are in Auckland,…

New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill that will ban the public sale and use of fireworks across New Zealand. The abuse and misuse of fireworks far outweighs any of the benefits. “The taxpayer should not be spending millions of dollars on something that drastically impacts pets, causes inevitable fires, and causes havoc for our emergency services” – Rt Hon Winston Peters. · Enough is enough. · “This is not about being ‘nanny…

A record number of New Zealanders are heading across the Tasman, drawn by higher wages and a lower cost of living as the domestic economy falters. Provisional data from Stats NZ shows 73,900 citizens left in the year to August 2025, the highest annual departure on record. More than half moved to Australia, where wages are stronger and residency rights are automatic. In 2024, New Zealand recorded a net migration loss of 30,000 people to…

Your heart is the centre of your body in more than one way. It keeps blood flowing to your limbs and other organs, but it also dictates the health of your entire cardiovascular system. As your heart ages, it thickens and becomes stiffer (as do your arteries), making it less efficient at its job. If your heart is ageing poorly, you will see very negative outcomes for your health. The “age” of your heart is dependent upon what you eat and how…

Batch-cook this Italian-style ragu to use as a base for other delicious mince dishes · This is not as simple as the mince and tatties – mince and potatoes – that I grew up on, but it’s still kept plain for batch-cooking purposes, so that ingredients can be added afterwards to flavour each portion differently. It’s basically an Italian-style ragu but without the herbs that would be used in Italy. · Ingredients · - 2 tbsp olive oil - 1kg…

It’s amazing what mushrooms – and dried mushrooms – can do. The meat becomes more beefy, rich in umami flavours. This dish uses a simple batch of cooked minceas its base. Requires soaking time. · Ingredients · - 10g dried porcini mushrooms - 1 tbsp olive oil - 500g chestnut mushrooms, sliced - 1 garlic clove, grated to a purée - 5g butter - leaves from 1 thyme sprig (optional) - 75ml dry Marsala - ⅓ simple mince recipe, defrosted…

Hobson’s Pledge says Auckland Council is allowing iwi to use heritage laws to claim parts of privately owned land as “culturally significant,” sparking fresh debate over property rights. In a post online, spokesperson Elliot Ikilei said the group has received complaints from residents who discovered that portions of their freehold property were being flagged by iwi for cultural or historic value, often without explanation. · One North Shore…

The new Cardo Beyond isn’t just another Bluetooth add-on; it’s the company’s first fully integrated helmet with its acclaimed comms tech baked right into the shell. · But it’s not just for comms, Cardo has included a host of features, including active noise cancellation, damage sensors, and a rear brake light. There are two models you can choose from: Beyond GTS and Beyond GT. · These helmets are the culmination of two decades of making…

A showstopping pudding for your Hallowe'en feast  · Turn the lights down low as you bring this in – and for added effect decorate with an indoor sparkler. · INGREDIENTS · - 295g slab of ready-made madeira cake - 4-5 tbsp jam (I like blackcurrant) - A 460ml cardboard tub of ice cream – your choice of flavour, but not soft-scoop - 2 lolly sticks - 2-4 chocolate mini rolls - 1 chocolate marshmallow tea cake (eg Tunnock’s) - 3 large egg…

Encased in a blanket of blubber that is nearly half a metre thick, and with a habit of smashing head-first through Arctic ice, the 80,000-kilogram bowhead whale does not, at first glance, seem a natural poster child for health and longevity. · What’s the secret to living to 100? Centenarian stem cells could offer clues · But one of the cetacean’s most impressive stats turns out to be its lifespan: sometimes living for more than 200 years, the…