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On June 20, 1994, five members of the Bain family were shot in the head using David Bain’s .22 rifle. The defence argued that the father, Robin Bain, had shot his wife, two daughters and his youngest son Stephen, then committed suicide with the same rifle. The Police charged the eldest son, David Bain, with the murder of all five family members. There are a multitude of issues in this case. Not least the legitimate tactics employed on both…

When Joshua D’Acierno first came across Papakura Cadet Force, he was 12 years old lacking in confidence. “In all honesty, I wasn’t the best kid, I had problems with discipline and needed more confidence.” Six years down the track, he is now referred to as Warrant Officer classtwo, Joshua D’Acierno and he feels very fortunate that his friends introduced him to a future that would lead to possibly joining the police force in the near future. “At…

New Zealand is still awash with grief in the aftermath of the killings in Christchurch that left 50 New Zealanders dead and many more injured. Our image overseas while tarnished as a safe haven, has been boosted by our Prime Minister who has presented the face of the nation as one that embellishes an inclusive spirit, one that welcomes all to the shores of New Zealand to start a new life. My own brother living in Seattle, remarked that New…

When their children were toddlers, John and Liz van Winden, decided it was time to ensure that they were already planning for their expanding family’s future. “It was important to us that we would be able to provide for their future including university fees,” says John. With this in mind, the couple visited their local New Zealand Home Loans office and discussed the different ways they could handle their financial planning so that their…

“We’re so excited to be holding our second Street Fest, where we will once again be showcasing all the things that make Papakura great” says Tracy Shackleton, Papakura Town Centre Manager. “It will be a whanau friendly event where we celebrate our town, our people and our cultural richness. Last year’s event was attended by over 6,000 people and had over 45 stalls. This year we’re aiming for 8,000 people!” Food retailers will be offering yummy…

To understand any religion against a modern landscape, you first need to understand the landscape itself. New Zealand is a country with large scale immigration throughout its comparatively brief history, the Maori people arrived by sea followed by the Europeans. In the modern era we have drawn in people from the south east pacific islands, so much so that twenty per cent of Aucklanders originated from the Pacific Islands. Also, a fast growing…

New Zealand’s biggest Mother’s Day event, the Jennian Homes Mother’s Day Fun Run/Walk, in support of women’s heart health, is returning to Pukekohe on May 12 – with tickets now on sale. Runners and walkers will set off from Bledisloe Park at 9am, joining thousands of others participating in regional events around the country. · The annual event contributes to fundraising and awareness for the New Zealand Heart Foundation. Since the Heart…

It is very hard to find words even now to express the shock, disbelief and upset that all New Zealanders, including my colleagues in Parliament and myself, experienced, as we heard the details of the terrible terrorist attacks on the Al Noor Mosque on Deans Avenue and then the Linwood Mosque in Christchurch as they unfolded, on New Zealand’s darkest day Friday 15 March. The news of the tragic loss of 50 lives from the deliberate acts of one man…

If it isn’t broke then don’t fix it and that was the formula for this year’s annual Rebel Round Up at Pukekohe Park Raceway back in February. The organisers tweaked and adjusted things for a smooth running event but the recipe was the same. Fun with old cars and the culture around it all equated to a very successful day. The action packed schedule included live bands, hot rods & custom cars, vintage markets, historic motor racing, vintage…

John Scott is a legend in New Zealand architecture circles. A regional modernist who mostly practised in Hawke’s Bay, his life’s works of houses, churches and community buildings have attained near mythical status since his early death in 1992. Despite being so well regarded and so ground-breaking, his practice has never been well documented. · This handsome new book is determined to address that gap. It is quite an enterprise in itself.…