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Ensom Funeral Services recognises that each family's needs are different and, with that in mind, they take the time to prepare a unique and fitting tribute and farewell. It is the emphasis on providing personal advice and assistance to grieving families that sets Ensom Funeral Services apart. · The friendly and professional team at Ensom Funeral Services has been part of the Auckland community for many years. John Ensom started in the…

A couple of months back I wrote a column on New Zealand’s high and, at that time, accelerating rate of inflation. I concluded that column with the following comment: · There has to be some risk that, faced with growing public concern about inflation and the impact of the rising interest rates which the Reserve Bank is using to get on top of inflation, the Government will reach for a dopey policy like reducing GST to produce a one-off reduction…

A sophisticated new study has tracked the relationship between early teen social media use and changes in their brains over a three-year period. The novel research found more frequent checking of social media was linked with a greater sensitivity to social rewards, but experts stress the detected brain changes can neither be confirmed as causal or declared harmful from these preliminary findings. Screens have quickly become so pervasive in…

As I write this, the Auckland region has been hit by once-in-a-century flooding. Over a third of Auckland’s annual average rainfall fell in just 24 hours at the start of the Anniversary Weekend. And it’s not over yet. More bad weather is forecast, with red and orange warnings issued for heavy rain. · Our Franklin district has been seriously affected, albeit not quite as badly as other areas of Auckland, but the local Facebook grapevines include…

I’m writing this in the aftermath of the terrible weather event that saw numerous festivals and concerts cancelled, (Elton John again!), homes flooded, landslips, roads made impassible, slips, crops devasted, our city’s airport terminals swimming in water and tragically four lives lost across Auckland. · I’ve seen readings of over 200 mms of rain that all fell in one day and it doesn’t appear to have abated just yet. They are in fact warning…

Nancy Wake (aka The White Mouse) was the Allies most decorated woman during World War 2, saving thousands of soldiers and eventually becoming the 1 most wanted person by the German Gestapo in 1943. Nancy never believed that women should just stay at home or stand on the sidelines while men went to war and proved herself to be a fantastic leader during the French Resistance, in which pockets of independently organized individuals fought against…

Tyres come in all shapes and sizes, but one thing is for sure if you own or drive a vehicle of any size, you need to regularly maintain the wheels and replace the tyres to ensure you remain on the road! Ensuring you get the right tyres and the correct fit for your vehicle and needs is the expertise of Matt and his team at Keller Tyres on Manukau road and this year he wants you to know there are even more reasons to come and see him. Now…

Realestate.co.nz has released its December 'Property Report' setting out listing levels and asking price averages. Asking prices are falling and sunsequently so are the sale prices. Nationally in December they were asking prices-5.5% lower than a year ago. Much of that was driven by sellers becoming more realistic in Auckland. The Median House price across the country fell by 12.2% but are still up from the median house value in December 2019.…

Happy New Year and welcome to 2023! The Papakura Business Association hopes everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year with an enjoyable and safe break. WELCOME: Recently, we welcomed the following businesses to our community: Fork Café (East Street), Midtown Bar (Selwyn Centre, Great South Road), The Gift of Framing (Elliot Street) and Automate (Railway Street). · WHERE TO EAT: Our popular Where to Eat Guide has been updated to include…

As life becomes more costly and complicated, we are always looking for simpler and more carefree times. Whether it’s an escape to the beach or taking on a new hobby or somehow reliving the past - we all seek more simplified times. Car guys are no exception and the two cars you see here are perfect examples of that. The automobile has a rich history of evolution and particular motorsport is even more glorified. The two cars shown here hark back…