All articles
M. bovis: More Questions Than Answers
The More We Know, The More We Don't Know About Cattle Disease
Current Affairs • elocal Franklin • July 2018
by Rebecca Glover
What do we know about Mycoplasma Bovis? It's probably fair to say there's more we don't know than what we do. Where, when, how are questions that are still not answered, or are given different interpretations every week. And every week more comes to ligh…
Legacy of the Museum
Dr Michelle Smith
Profiles • elocal Papakura • June 2018
by Kerry Monaghan
Delving into community history is a fantastic way to discover local identity, even the darker side of things that include death and destruction. That may sound confronting to some, but not historian, curator and researcher, Dr Michelle Smith. She loves h…
A Local Legend
Mac McCallion: Rugby Hero, War Hero
Profiles • elocal Franklin • June 2018
by Rebecca Glover
Mac's stellar sporting career has been well documented. Not so well known is his heroism in the Vietnam war. Revered in sporting circles as a rugby icon, a hard man who drove his teams to success in the mid-1990s, Mac took the Steelers to heights no prev…
Do New Zealanders Really Want Political Structures Based On Race?
Opinion • elocal Franklin • June 2018
by Dr Don Brash
Late last year, five district councils – Western Bay of Plenty, Whakatane, Palmerston North, Manawatu and Kaikoura – voted to establish one or more Maori wards in their districts. The intention was that those on the Maori roll for Parliamentary election…
Daring to Dance into the Light
Tatiana Skorik: The Iron Girl Story
Arts & Culture • elocal Franklin • June 2018
by Taryn Surgison
Photographic Artist Tatiana Skorik’s compelling work not-to-be-missed in awe-inspiring show ‘The Iron Girl Story’. When you meet noteworthy contemporary photographer Tatiana Skorik for the first time you instantly get the sense that her poise and calm na…
Parental Consent
An Opinion by Franklin Christian Lobby
Opinion • elocal Franklin • June 2018
by Noel Surrey
Last year as the election approached it was important to reflect on the truth that we couldn’t have it both ways. As voters we couldn’t cherry pick policies from each of the parties represented in the ballot. We had to make choices and live with those …
Housing Crisis at Boiling Point
A Response
Opinion • elocal Franklin • June 2018
by Bill Cashmore
The housing crisis is very real and has been building up for 20 years or more. High population growth in recent years has exasperated the situation. This is not an apologist reply but a series of facts and context to give elocal readership relevant infor…
Hybrid Trains Derailed by NZTA
An Interview with Bill Cashmore
Current Affairs • elocal Franklin • April 2018
elocal caught up with Deputy Mayor Bill Cashmore to discuss progress on Special Housing Areas, infrastructure issues and the likelihood of those promised hybrid trains! It’s been a while now since the local body elections, what evidence are you seeing t…
Bakers shoes and more
People in Business • elocal Franklin • April 2018
by Lucy Mullinger
Winter 2018 Winter is on its way and, as usual, the team at Baker’s Shoes has an excellent understanding of what is hot and what is not when it comes to fashionable footwear and accessories for the Winter 2018 season. According to business owner, Fion…
Nepal: An Education
Heather Garrett
Profiles • elocal Franklin • April 2018
by Kerry Monaghan
When Heather Garrett was offered the chance to go on a once in a lifetime three-week excursion to support a school in remote rural Nepal, she jumped at the chance. When Heather Garrett was offered the chance to go on a once in a lifetime three-week excur…
A Lucky Man
Colin Topp: Serving His Country and Community
Profiles • elocal Franklin • April 2018
by Rebecca Glover
Life hasn't been all plain sailing, but this Papakura pair have smoothed the waters for many. “I was born lucky,” says Colin Topp. Weathering the Depression of the 1930s, a survivor of years of war in the Pacific and now 93 years old, he's been lucky in …
‘A Way with Words’ by Chris Maclean
Books • elocal Franklin • April 2018
Chris Maclean is a Waikanae-based author with a keen interest in the outdoors, the subject of a number of his books. Born in Wellington in 1952, he graduated from Victoria University with a degree in history. A career as a stained-glass artist in the 197…
A Commonwealth Coming of Age
Sport • elocal Franklin • May 2018
by Joanne Taylor
The first Commonwealth Games were held in 1930 in Hamilton, Canada. Bobby Robinson, a major influence within athletics in Canada at the time, finally implemented the event that had been talked about amongst Commonwealth nations for over thirty years. Ele…
17,800 Homes Planned Pukekohe to Drury
Housing Crisis at Boiling Point for Developers
Current Affairs • elocal Franklin • May 2018
by Joanne Taylor
The New Zealand housing crisis continues to concern developers, builders and buyers. The Labour government bragged about its plan to address the housing crisis with the introduction of its KiwiBuild programme and an amendment to the Tenancy Act whereby …