Articles from ‘elocal magazine’

RNZ claimed Hamilton’s 2025 heatwave “shattered” records, but 1930s data showed higher temperatures. · RNZ quietly changed the headline and story without informing other media outlets like TVNZ or The NZ Herald, who had republished it. · The Media Council upheld a complaint, citing exaggeration and lack of disclosure. · Historical data showed 1930s temperatures were higher, but RNZ dismissed them based on a claim contradicted by NIWA’s own…

Dubai is already full of amazing skyscrapers, however a new project by Deyaar Development looks sure to make a big impression on its famous skyline. Soaring to an ambitious height of 445 m (1,459 ft), the tower will contain luxurious residences and even a palace fit for an Arabian prince. · The skyscraper, named Downtown Residences, will be located in the city's burgeoning Business Bay development. It will be anchored by a chunky base, with…

There are quite a few steps to this dish, and lamb biryani may seem like a journey of a recipe, but it’s one you’ll be glad to have embarked on once you taste the end result – it’s just so unbelievably comforting. A rich and tender curry, fluffy grains of rice, crispy onions and fresh herbs combine to make the ultimate rice dish. · Ingredients · 2½ cups basmati rice, soaked in water · 4 dried bay leaves · 8 cardamom pods · 6 cloves · 1…

The Aucklander, a well-connected former model, had left Spirits Bay in the Far North on 3 December to walk the length of the country to promote New Zealand-made goods during the Depression. She had government patronage and support from the Manufacturers’ Federation. · Having trained for six months, she was well prepared. Her walking boots also proved up to the challenge, with periodic resoling. James’ progress was fairly leisurely and she took…

Hastings District Council has pulled a series of social media videos after a legal warning accused it of using public resources to promote one side of a political issue. The videos, featuring Deputy Mayor Tania Kerr and Māori ward councillor Ana Apatu, praised the benefits of Māori wards ahead of an upcoming referendum. · Hobson’s Pledge, a group opposed to race-based representation, alleged the council had crossed a legal line by using its…

It’s one of ancient history’s most swashbuckling tales. · Decades before ruling Ancient Rome, a young Julius Caesar is captured by pirates as he sails the Aegean Sea. Even in captivity, the prisoner remains in charge. The future dictator barks orders at his captors, insists they more than double the ransom placed on his life and vows to kill every last one of them. After his release, Caesar fulfills his pledge and brutally crucifies the…

New Zealand’s primary exports are forecast to hit a record $60 billion by 30 June 2025. This represents a 12 percent jump from last year’s $53.3 billion. · MPI Director-General Ray Smith called the result a “blockbuster year.” · Dairy alone is projected to deliver $27 billion in exports, up 16 percent from $23.3 billion, while horticulture is expected to rise 19 percent to $8.4 billion, nearly half of which comes from kiwifruit. Sheep, beef…

Baby-farmer Daniel Cooper hanged · 16 June 1923 · A generation after the hanging of the infamous Minnie Dean (see 12 August), the murder trial of Daniel and Martha Cooper revealed that ‘baby farming’ and illegal abortion were still regarded as solutions to the problem of unwanted children in New Zealand. · After watching the Coopers for some time, police arrested Daniel in December 1922 for performing an abortion. The discovery of a baby’s body…

A new report from the Maxim Institute argues that New Zealand’s End of Life Choice Act is giving patients an illusion of autonomy rather than true choice. · The report, Interrogating Choice, warns that euthanasia is easier to access than good end-of-life care, making it less a choice than a consequence of systemic neglect. · “Euthanasia is fully funded. Palliative care is not,” writes researcher Maryanne Spurdle. In many parts of New Zealand,…

Lemon and mustard pork escalopes accompanied by parsnips roasted with apples and greens. Escalopes are cuts of lean meat, beaten flat for swift cooking. Fry them in a very hot pan; they don't take long and you want as much colour on them as possible, it adds to the flavour. The swiftest way to shred any leafy greens is to stack the leaves on top of each other and roll them into a tight cigar shape. Then slice them widthways, as finely as you…