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elocal caught up with Minister of Parliament (MP), and Local Papakura MP Judith Collins to discuss the changes in policies from the perspective of the opposition party and how it is shaping New Zealand. For Judith Collins, it wasn’t a surprise to see NZ First working alongside Labour, in fact she says that while a percentage of National supporters discussed the idea of voting for Winston Peters to secure a NZ First and National coalition,…

If last year’s Rebel Round Up event was anything to go by, this year’s one will be equally successful. The hot rod and custom car themed event tips its hat to the whole culture around it celebrating days gone by with live bands, retro fashion and of course the old style hot rods and customs themselves. New Zealand’s ultimate hot rod, vintage, rockabilly festival will be held on Saturday 16th February 2019 at NZ’s historic home of motorsport, at…

Every now and then, there’s a surge of concern, sometimes even anger, at the banks. They make too much money. Their profits go overseas. They no longer provide services in country towns. Their culture needs watching carefully by the regulators, lest they exploit their customers. They should be subject to more controls. I’m a bit hesitant to discuss these issues because I can too easily be accused of having a conflict of interest. I am…

From the paint or wallpaper on the walls, through to the curtains, blinds and flooring, Guthrie Bowron Pukekohe is your one-stop shop for renovation, with top-of-the line, modern products that will make your living space attractive and inviting. Thanks to the popularity of the locally owned business, which has been run by Pukekohe local, Robin Beveridge for 13 years, Guthrie Bowron Pukekohe has moved to new premises at the recently built…

It might be a new year but you can still expect to get the same quality service from the team at Conveyancing Shop Lawyers for all your legal needs. The award-winning Conveyancing Shop specialises in property transactions and focuses on helping everyone from first home buyers to seasoned property developers. Situated in the heart of Pukekohe, the old ASB bank building on the corner of King and Seddon Streets the Conveyancing Shop Lawyers team…

Making those big financial decisions can be easier than you thought with Counties Home Loans and Insurance. Making those big financial decisions can be easier than you thought. Okay, hands up who loves supermarket shopping! Hmmm....thought not. So much choice, so many products, what's on special and what's not, what's the best deal, can I afford it and do I really need it anyway. Nothing is as simple as it seems and often it's easiest to…

Neighbourhood support group rallies together to create a safer community with help from the Papakura Local Board and Neighbourhood Support. Papakura Local Board chair Brent Catchpole says its residents are a great example of people coming together to solve their own problems, courtesy of the Orion Street Neighbourhood Support Group. Known as one of the town’s troubled areas, residents got together with the support of the board and…

Du Plessis Heard Column Anti-Money Laundering If it were possible to troll sales data and then mathematically predict the sale price of your home / intended future home or that of any other home in town the profession of Registered Valuer would cease to exist. Masses of sales data will allow a trend line to be established but right now where the trend line for Pukekohe is that residential property is selling at a discount of 2 % to Capital…

Friday, April 13th didn't seem a particularly inauspicious date to Irene and Marinus van Wijk, but it turned out to carry all the traditional bad luck for their Jack Russell terrier, Roxy. “We were up north, leaving neighbours to keep an eye on our property and feed the animals,” says Irene. “But on the Saturday morning the neighbours rang us, very concerned that they hadn't seen Roxy.” The van Wijks live on a rural block near Patumahoe. It's…

Planning on renovating your home, bach or office? Smith and Sons is the place to go for advice. We ask their renovation experts how to get the best result, first time. We chat with Smith and Sons Pukekohe franchise-holders Lane and Melissa and their experienced and friendly team of local contractors, to find out how to renovate your home or office in preparation for generations to come. BUDGET & INVESTMENT One of the first things to think…