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In the early hours of 11 March 1845, several hundred Ngāpuhi fighters attacked Kororāreka (Russell). While the settlement had declined since the capital moved from nearby Okiato to Auckland in 1841, it was still the fifth largest town in New Zealand and a major trading and ship-provisioning centre. · Hōne Heke and Kawiti were key figures in the attacking force. Their motives for fighting were complex. At the first chief to sign Te Tiriti o…

From midwifery to internet governance, pharmacy regulations, and others, many industry bodies are embedding partisan ideological commitments to Te Tiriti o Waitangi into their rules. · Critics argue that this is often at the expense of professional competence and neutrality. · Midwives are now expected to pledge allegiance to Treaty principles, with the New Zealand College of Midwives circulating a Tangata Tiriti Checklist urging non-Māori…

Hitting a plateau after a steady run of weight loss has derailed many health and fitness plans. But what if you could flick a biological switch that would eradicate the plateau and speed up metabolism? Scientists may have just found the key to this – and it was by complete accident. · While studying the liver's role in metabolism, researchers from the University of Southern Denmark (USD) made a surprise genetic discovery, identifying how one…

Astronomers have detected mysterious X-ray signals coming from a nearby white dwarf star for more than 40 years. We may now know where they’re coming from – the death throes of a planet being torn to shreds and raining down on the star. · The Helix Nebula is an eye-catching sight in the sky – and not just because it looks like a giant eye. Located about 655 light-years from Earth, it’s the site of a slow-motion explosion, from a star that went…

A twin study conducted by University of Southern Denmark researchers found that tattooed individuals were nearly four times more likely to develop skin cancer than their ink-free counterparts. · Among 316 twin pairs, the sibling with tattoos had a 33–62% higher likelihood of being diagnosed with cancer, with larger tattoos (bigger than a palm) tripling the risk. · While the findings do not prove tattoos cause cancer, they raise concerns about…

At this time of the year if you are like me, you have a plethora of tomatoes and can't eat them all!  · a good relish is always a good way to deal with the excess and the edmonds is a fantastic go to recipe. But there are lots of variations and this one is one of my favourites. The chilli adds a bit of heat and if you like it spicy you can dial it up.  · It's great with mince dishes, Sausages, in hotdogs and just as good in meat sandwiches or…

Sociologist Dr Jarrod Gilbert, in a study commissioned by Corrections, found that gang members wield significant power behind bars, creating a culture of fear and pushing inmates into joining for protection. · To counter this, the report suggests segregated wings for patched members to prevent them from dominating the general prison population. · One Corrections staffer admitted that gangs “run the jail,” while an inmate described them as the…

Winston Peters is making another move against what he calls “woke left-wing social engineering,” introducing the Public Service (Repeal of Diversity and Inclusiveness Requirements) Amendment Bill. · The bill removes diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) mandates from public service hiring, ensuring merit is the primary factor in government recruitment. · “The public service exists to serve New Zealanders—not to be a breeding ground for…

Desperate Americans are smuggling eggs into the US from Mexico and Canada amid a surge in prices. · Rates of egg smuggling have skyrocketed in recent months at the US’ borders as prices spike following multiple bird flu outbreaks. · US customs and border protection (CBP) said it has recorded a 158 per cent rise in egg smuggling interceptions at its San Diego field office in California since last year. · At the El Paso border station in Texas,…

Richard Prebble has resigned from the Waitangi Tribunal, calling it “a rogue entity,” and a “self-perpetuating industry of grievance,” rewriting history to suit a radical agenda. · “The Tribunal now says Māori were promised economic equality. No government anywhere has ever delivered economic equality. As we will never have it, the Tribunal has created an endless grievance that can never be met,” Prebble said. · He says the Tribunal has…