All articles

Returning after our Covid Break – the South Auckland Woodturners Guild Christmas shop will be there again from 28 November to 24 December with more than 2000 hand-made items you will love. As in 2020 we will be at 245 Great South Road. That is opposite the Countdown car park, south of the Library and a little south of the Averill Street intersection. This is the only public…

Red Shed Palazzo isn’t just about our beautiful Cafe, there’s so much more that we have to offer. From beautiful wedding areas, private functions, Christmas lunches, birthdays, business meetings, gatherings with friends, coffee groups, celebrations of life and any special occasion, there is always a reason to celebrate at Red Shed. The wide range of stylish, delicious food is…

We are living in an uncertain world. After the ups and downs of Covid, many hoped we would return to a sense of normalcy, but life is very different now, not just on the home front but across the world, and we are having to deal with a high degree of uncertainty. Sadly, at this time last year, I wrote that uncertainty was the biggest factor we were facing, with the traffic light…

Passion and zest for life is all about goals and influences and living life to the max. With that we all have our heroes who we look up to or are influenced by. For me growing up in the world of hot rodding a whole world away from where it all began in the USA I had my share of influences locally in New Zealand but also internationally. One of those guys I looked up to was the…

The last time inflation was over 7% was more than 30 years ago, and I was responsible for doing what Adrian Orr, the current Governor of the Reserve Bank, is trying to do now: get inflation back to the target mandated by the Minister of Finance, in my case within a 0 to 2% range, and Mr Orr’s case within a range of 1 to 3%. A few weeks ago, there was at least some cheering when…

There is something about strawberries that says Christmas in New Zealand. The bright red, sweet summertime berry is in full season mid-December and there are plenty to go around. In some places you can even pick your own. They are beautiful just as they are, with whipped cream or dipped in Chocolate or try some of the below recipes to mix things up a bit this Christmas. They are…

The Advent Calendar Advent calendars are undoubtedly a festive staple in New Zealand as in many countries around the world, with children and adults alike leaping out of bed to discover what is behind the little numbered door that day. Modern advent calendars can hide anything from chocolate to wine behind their doors as we count down to Christmas. But where did advent…

If it’s not beginning to look a lot like Christmas yet, it will soon enough. This year, we’re looking forward to a host of events to help lift those – Christmas Spirit. CAROLS IN THE PARK – Friday Dec 2, from 6pm, Central Park: Pack a picnic for a fun filled, family-focused, free evening, featuring carols as well as other Christmas songs. PAPAKURA ROTARY SANTA PARADE –…

Despite a diverse city of property types, locations and prices, the relative weakness across Auckland was evident everywhere in October, with values falling across the board, from -1.3% in both the North Shore (average value $1.52 million) and Franklin ($980,000) to -2.2% in Papakura ($1 million). On the longer term annual measure, the smaller outer areas of Rodney, Papakura and…

It’s been an interesting month, local body elections resulting in many fresh faces at councils across the country and a new Auckland Mayor starting to make some noise (writing to Watercare and council chief executive Jim Stabback telling them to stop all work on the Government's Three Water reforms and asking for entire CCO boards to step down.) Renegade Labour MP Gaurav Sharma…

Novature was born out of a desire to create “new age”, bespoke quality homes that can be easily built and transported to sites across New Zealand! Greg, Brent & Hayden, joint directors of Novature collectively possess in excess of 100 years building experience. Their vast building and business knowledge has seen them develop government infrastructure projects, large scale…

The Registered Master Builders House of the Year Awards is the building industry’s most prestigious competition and the competition is fierce. This year saw builders from throughout the country do battle for gold, silver and bronze awards across both new and renovated builds in a number of categories. This year the team at Navigation Homes Counties came away with GOLD in the…

The biennial Garden Ramble supported by Barfoot and Thompson is the largest fundraising event that the Franklin Hospice runs. It helps to provide much needed funds that are needed to to offer hospice care to the Franklin community. Ticket holders get the opportunity to wander around 17 unique gardens, and enjoy the delightful masterpieces created by each of our wonderful garden…

They are dying in the drift of chemical crop sprays. Where are the birds? Declining in numbers in the toxic wind with more dead from eating toxic seeds. How will the world cope without them? Where in this scenario does the agenda of feeding the world fit in? It really is incredulous that these chemicals applied to crops were produced without a complete scientific analysis of the…

elocal returned to the Cutting Edge Plastic Surgery building at 11-13 Roulston Street to talk about skin checks as summer approaches. e This must be your busiest time of year? Things do get busy as the Summer approaches. Shirts come off, bits of skin that have been covered up all winter start to see the light of day and changing moles get noticed. We’ve already been busy with…

I recently met the team from Henderson Budget Service who provide free advice for those who are struggling with financial hardship. There are many such organisations like this within our communities and they play a vital role in helping people to manage debt and get back to a semblance of financial stability. FinCap (the National Building Financial Capability Charitable Trust)…

A welcome return to the rodding calendar in October was the Trouble Bound Side Show supporting West Auckland Hospice. Brilliant weather gave a taste of the summer season on its way and the no location filled to capacity. This year the Glenora Rugby League Club in Glen Eden was the perfect new venue for this ever-popular West Auckland show. "We tripled the size of the venue and…

Not since the Cuban missile crisis exactly 60 years ago has the world been in such danger. And that’s not just my own view: early in October, US President Joe Biden said that the risk of nuclear Armageddon is at the highest level since the Cuban missile crisis. He was right. As I write, Russia’s conventional military forces are being forced to retreat on many fronts and…

It started photography from my childhood. My mother photographed a lot and she developed her own images. She had a unique ‘reporters’ style of photography. Looking back now as an adult I remember photography parts and camera covers were my toys in very early childhood! At the age of 12 I bought my own camera with my first ever saved money and shortly after I registered to the…

The best asparagus is fresh and November is the perfect month to enjoy this highly seasonal crop. To tell if asparagus is fresh, look for stalks that are a rich, deep green color that get lighter toward the end of the stalk. The stalks should be firm to the touch. Pass by any stalks that are limp or dry with cracked ends. The tips of the asparagus should be tightly closed and the…