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This conversation discusses corruption and cronyism in New Zealand, highlighting the importance of a free and fair media. It explores the funding and influence in news media, as well as the dangers of unchecked lies and disinformation. The conversation also delves into the topics of gaslighting and deplatforming, and the need to protect free speech. The need for an inquiry into the matter is emphasized, and the response of Mark Jennings, a…

Family Values at the Forefront! Flooring Xtra Pukekohe Showroom is the perfect place to find flooring to suit your style. Located at 16d Wrightson Way, Pukekohe, in the Pukekohe Mega Centre, the Flooring Xtra Pukekohe Showroom is open Monday through Friday 8.30am-5pm and Saturdays 9am-1pm. It is spacious, bright and modern, with ample car parking available. Showcased in the showroom are leading brands such as Cavalier Bremworth including the…

It just might be world’s strangest, spookiest musical instrument. You can see it . . . you can hear it . . . but you can’t touch a Theremin. “It’s like you’re fingerpainting in space,” says Rob Schwimmer. “Playing Theremin is like having sex with ghosts.” Professional thereminist Schwimmer is a member of the New York Theremin Society, which plays regularly in New York City. “It’s a very hard instrument,” Schwimmer said. “There’s nothing there…

Wolves in Chernobyl radioactivity region running among abandoned hoses with cold winter and deep snow The population density of wolves in Chernobyl is seven times greater than surrounding areas in Urkaine. New research is showing that the population of wolves living in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ) is genetically different from their counterparts outside of the region. Remarkably, the irradiated wolves appear to have developed protective…

You’ve probably heard the soothsayer’s warning to Julius Caesar in William Shakespeare’s play of the same name: “Beware the Ides of March.” Not only did Shakespeare’s words stick, but they also branded the phrase—and the date, March 15—with a dark and gloomy connotation. It’s likely that many people who use the phrase today don’t know its true origin. In fact, just about every pop culture reference to the Ides—save for those appearing in actual…

Nuts are a great way to get protein, fibre, minerals and vitamins but not everyone’s digestive systems can handle them. If you are someone who struggles to eat foods like nuts, beans and legumes you might not have to give up on them all together. It might just be that your gut needs some help and training. As well as addressing any obvious gut issues, activating nuts through soaking and sprouting makes them much easier to digest. It also…

The Public Interest Journalism Fund (PIJF) drew controversy when it was introduced by Labour in 2021 to support news media through a COVID-19-induced downturn. With the task of allocating $55 million over a three-year period “to help sustain at-risk local news and journalism,” state funding agency NZ On Air was entrusted with the responsibility of designing, setting up, and managing the fund. To initiate this process, NZ On Air engaged with the…

We love to have fun in the sun, but it’s often human nature to visit the same tried and true holiday destinations every year. At elocal, we decided to come up with some great island hopping adventures that will give the family and friends a break, at the fraction of the cost of an island getaway overseas. Lucy Mullinger checks out some of the best islands to travel to around the country and this month, she looks at the islands around the City…

Lamb Biryani 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…

2024 is a leap year, a leap year is a year with 366 days, instead of the usual 365. Leap years are necessary because the actual length of a year is nearly 365.25 days, not 365 days as commonly stated. Leap years occur every four years, and years that are evenly divisible by four (2020, for example) have 366 days. This extra day is added to the calendar on February 29. However, there is one exception to the leap year rule involving century…

After sugarcane crops have been harvested, a great deal of fibrous stalk waste known as bagasse is left over. That substance has been incorporated into an eco-friendly building material called Sugarcrete, which recently won an international Climate Positive Award. First announced last May, Sugarcrete was developed via a partnership between the University of East London and British firm Tate & Lyle Sugars. The material consists of sugarcane…

Plans for an ambitious new supertall skyscraper have been revealed for Oklahoma City. Assuming the project goes ahead as expected, it will be the second-tallest skyscraper in the United States – as well as the second-tallest in the entire Western Hemisphere. The Boardwalk at Bricktown skyscraper has been designed by AO for developers Matteson Capital and Thinkbox, and is part of a larger development push in the downtown area. It will reach…

THE SECRET CORRUPT HISTORY OF NEW ZEALAND ‘One of the first parts of the Illuminati/NWO network that new researchers discover is the group of organizations which connect into the British-based secret society called The Round Table. These include the Bilderberg Group, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Trilateral Commission, and the Club of Rome’. Add to this in recent decades, The World Economic…

In this month’s blog, let’s stop to breathe and look at breathing! The usual tips of eating a healthy diet, moving your body, and avoiding unhealthy habits (e.g. smoking and vaping) are still important, but there are many other ways to improve and maintain your wellness. Breathing is a powerful tool for optimal wellness especially in the festive season! As a child (especially the girls among us) you would probably have been told to hold your…

Forget crash diets and expensive gym memberships, these habits are the key to boosting wellbeing and creativity in the new year, we have put together some resolutions that you might actually stick to. 1. Get to grips with new tools This doesn’t mean activating that cordless drill you got for Christmas. We’re talking about a set of bite-sized visualisation exercises, which can transform your hang-ups into boundless new year confidence, courage…

MIT’s Electric Vehicle Team has taken to the racetrack with a Ducati 900SS that’s been gutted and converted into a hydrogen fuel cell motorcycle, hoping to start collecting a few fossil-fuelled scalps. It’s also open-sourcing the design for others. The dozen-strong team decided to build this battery-buffered fuel cell hybrid to get their heads around this higher-density, lesser-used clean fuel source, and hopefully to inspire others to give it…

Real Estate Love, Passion and Obsession From an early age I have nurtured an unshakable love for Real Estate. Discovering how real estate creates that special type of shelter that everyone yearns to possess; it evens generates the brand of wealth that most cannot amass by simply working a job; and it gives great power to its owners who are fortunate enough to hold on to it at the right time and wise enough to let go when necessary. Whether you…

A Message from Judith Collins Happy New Year I hope that 2024 has started well for all of you and your families and communities. As you may know in the last weeks before Christmas our new National-led government got cracking with the review and reform of many pieces of legislation that are required to get our country back on track. Of great importance was taking the positive steps to address inflation and control costs for New Zealanders. We…

The team at PS Automotive stands out as one of the best in European vehicle servicing thanks to our innate attention and specialist knowledge of the complexity in engine detail and unwavering commitment to providing the highest standard in quality workmanship. We are equipped with the best up to date tools from European manufacturers. This means we can carry out cambelts, timing chains and engine repairs on all European vehicles, otherwise…

Mark Davie from Sepio Insurance Management provides a highly professional service to our clients. Not only do we have the experience and backing to secure appropriate cover in terms of price and security, but also offer comprehensive risk and claims management services. From Personal, Business, Rural or other Insurance we obtain insurance cover for you by assessing your specific needs and recommending value insurance based solutions for your…