All articles

My decision to stand this year as a Franklin Ward candidate for Auckland Council reflects my view that voters must have the opportunity for a fresh voice and a fresh set of eyes. The role of a councillor is to represent to the Council the views and voice of residents, not the other way around and I will do that. Our community is gripped by the worst cost a living crisis in a…

Dr Adam Greenbaum Consultant Plastic Surgeon and Owner of Pukekohe’s newest plastic surgery clinic recently sat down with elocal to answer questions about his practice. From mole removal to full reconstructive surgeries, the team at Cutting Edge is here to help. E How long have you been in Pukekohe and what did you do before you came here? I’ve been practicing in Pukekohe…

The Youth Parliament programme is held every three years and provides an amazing opportunity for young people aged 16 to 18 years who are keen to make a difference in their communities. Every Member of Parliament around the country gets to select their own Youth MP to represent them and the young people of their local electorate for a six-month community-based tenure, the…

Bruce is married with two teenagers and has lived in Pukekohe for the last 18 years. Growing up in Taranaki with two older brothers; his father was a mechanic, mother a part-time cleaner at the local school. He Completed an Electrical apprenticeship upon leaving school, then later moved to Auckland. Bruce has a philosophy of self-reliance, personal freedom, and believes in the…

For further information or dinner ticket bookings, please do not hesitate to email Gary Bogaart at meremeredragway@xtra.co.nz - Saturday night’s formal dinner is ONLY $55 per head. There will be no door sales for Saturday night and it is limited to 200 people, so get in quick. There will be more information to follow. Back in 1973 a significant milestone was reached when…

Rarely has a political party promised so much in an election campaign and achieved so little during its time in office. Labour made extravagant promises to end child poverty, to build 100,000 houses over 10 years and make housing more affordable, to make a major contribution to reducing greenhouse gases, and to improve our education system. Instead child poverty has increased on…

Death of a Legend – Jimi Hendrix September 18th, 1970 A performance by Jimi Hendrix was sure to be frenetic, full of energy, and wild. He would rip fast on his guitar and at times smash his instrument to pieces at the end of a show. Watching Hendrix play was more than merely observing a performance — it was an experience. But it all ended when he was found dead on September 18th,…

The reversal in house prices comes as the Reserve Bank pursues aggressive policy tightening to dampen demand and curb inflation. It delivered a fourth straight half-percentage point interest-rate hike -- taking the Official Cash Rate to 3% -- and signalling more rises to come. Despite the soft July month, some chief economists don’t yet see sufficient cause to change their…

Welcome We welcome another new business to our community being Crown Cutz Barbershop located on the Great South Road in Papakura. Papakura Online: Don’t forget to check us out on Instagram (at #LivePapakura) and like us on Facebook with the two fabulous pages that we have: Papakura.Town.Centre and LivePapakura. These pages are all intended to keep locals up to date with…

A farmer named Bob was overseeing his animals in a remote mountainous pasture in Canterbury when suddenly a brand-new 2022 BMW iX, advanced toward him out of a cloud of dust. The driver, a young man in a Brioni®suit, Gucci® shoes, RayBan® sunglasses and YSL® tie, leaned out the window and asked the farmer “If I tell you exactly how many cows and calves you have in your herd, will…

By Maryanne Demasi, PhD In December 2020, the US FDA authorised the Moderna and Pfizer mRNA covid-19 vaccines, claiming “the benefits outweighed the harms.” Now, a group of international researchers has gone back to re-analyse the original trial data upon which that claim was made. A valid claim? A pre-print study (not yet peer-reviewed) by Fraiman and colleagues contradicts…

Two days ago Jacinda Ardern said her government was about to make a significant Covid policy announcement. Yesterday we were subjected to an hour long government extravaganza where a succession of expert politicians urged us yet again to wear masks (we already are), get boosted, leave our windows open (in winter), test frequently, and isolate (presumably whenever you feel a need…

You don’t get to be New Zealand’s most trusted builder, without doing something right. G.J. Gardner Homes aim to do better than that – they want to create an enjoyable building experience that is worth recommending to others. In the Southern Auckland area, G.J.’s is a household name. Name any local subdivision and you’re bound to find them. The showhomes at Hunua Views, Paerata,…

So get in touch today! The popular card game Bridge developed in the 1920’s, is played by four people of any age and requires players to bid how many cards or “tricks” they believe they can take on a deal. It is easy to learn, requires little equipment and has a thriving community both locally and worldwide. It encourages mental dexterity and numerous studies have shown Bridge…

A network of 36 cameras including four automatic number plate recognition devices has provided Counties-Manukau Police with leads in two major inquiries and led to many other incidents being cleared up. Police say the town’s CCTV is proving an effective investigation tool in identifying avenues of enquiry that assists Police and provides reassurance to stakeholders. “Having it…

Family trusts are used to protect and manage assets, such as the family home, for the future, but the new rules for the disclosure of information are set to increase compliance costs dramatically. Photo pexels. Since the Labour Government came into power, the Minister of Revenue, David Parker, has been on a mission to tackle wealth and income inequality in New Zealand. Whilst…

We have been eating a lot of Kumara in our house recently, and this Kumara Cake can be enjoyed by those with sensitive tummies. In Moderation of course! Ingredients: 1 ½ Cups Soft Light Brown Sugar 3 Eggs 1 Cup Sunflower Oil ½ Cup of Pineapple crushed. 1 ½ Cups Gluten Free Flour 1 tsp Bicarbonate of Soda 1 tsp Baking Powder (check the brand, but most Baking powder is gluten…

Last month hundreds of locals turned out to a meeting run by Groundswell at the Pukekohe Indian Hall. Various speakers, including Groundwell’s local man Scott Bright spoke to a rousing reception on a variety of topics, but the message was the same. The people have had enough. The job of the those elected to decision making positions is to represent the people and the people are…

It was the holy grail to visit the El Mirage Dry Lake with Project 29. This has been the location for land speed racing in California for over 60 years. Hot rodding for me is all about the history and heritage and how that inspires us moving forward. Living all my life a whole world away from the USA motherland of hot rodding in Auckland, New Zealand my influences and…

Self-sufficiency is the new ‘en vogue’. Housing shortages, rising costs and a mistrust in the way our food is produced are fuelling a move to the way that our grandparents used to live. Vegetable gardens are popping up in apartments and back yards alike, chickens are becoming more commonplace, and entire groups on social media are sharing and devoting their time and energy to a…