All articles

This year’s Counties Cycle Classic will for the first time include a high speed criterium race at the Pukekohe Motorsport V8 track on Sunday 10 October 2021. Run by the Rotary Club of Pukekohe, it will be the Classic’s fifth outing which is now run entirely on the iconic racetrack. The Criterium kicks off at 9.15am before the main races get underway at 10.30. The Crit is a…

Last Month the electricity in various parts of the North Island was deliberately turned off on Monday evening 9 August. The finger-pointing and blame-game started early the next morning and has been the topic of conversation and media attention for the past week. It is not over yet and nor should it be. The official investigations are under-way. My August elocal article talked…

In my late teens I spent time hunting in the bush around lake Waikaremoana. Off the forest tracks, I stood in places that I was sure no man had ever stood. In unspoiled bush, there is a sense of peace and quietness so tangible, that people often catch themselves speaking in whispers, just as they would entering an ancient church. It seems like the presence of God hangs in the air…

Auckland born Monique Laloli spends her workdays editing the photos of high-end real estate in New York City; with many of these homes belonging to the rich and famous. She has worked on many properties including a 1930’s Long Island estate that once belonged to the Vanderbilts and Whitneys. Decorated with an amazing degree of opulence, the asking price was $27 million. Earlier…

Symbolising new beginnings and transition, Christchurch’s ‘Cardboard’ Cathedral has stood as a unique and stunning structure since its creation in 2013 following Christchurch’s devastating earthquake in 2011. Christchurch’s original cathedral was a slow process that was on and off for years due to funding until its completion in 1905. It was built by Jamieson and Sons, renowned…

It’s thought that it was Mark Twain who said, “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” It’s become a commonplace phrase for describing the persuasive power of numbers, especially statistics, when used to strengthen someone’s argument or point of view. As National’s spokesperson for statistics, I can vouch for the important role that statistics play in…

Once again, I feel compelled to write about house prices. Why? Because it is the most important cause of social distress in New Zealand today, and that by a large margin. There would still be social problems if house prices were half their present level, but they would be vastly more manageable – child poverty would be much reduced, mental health would be better, there would…

The troubles of the world as we know it, are now a constant in our life at present, with Covid and its new variant Delta sweeping the world, which will never be the same again. Gone are the things we have taken for granted all our lives, like getting on an aircraft and flying wherever we wish in the world to new and hereto unknown adventures! Now, I for one have a distinctly…

Banking risk is not often talked about or discussed in mainstream media and this in part is a man-aged form of media spin designed to ensure the public that all is OK in the world of banking. Whenever a banking CEO or Treasury Minister faces the media the narrative is very predictable in that promotion of certainty in the banking sector is a given. No one wants to undermine faith…

With all the changes wrought by Covid, many people who lost their old jobs are looking towards setting up a small business and contract their services to established businesses. Most importantly you need to do it right from the start, otherwise a year down the track you could be in trouble with Inland Revenue. We are happy to talk to you about how best to set up your new…

A Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads out there from the Papakura Business Association and we hope you have a fantastic day. NEW BUSINESSES IN PAPAKURA: We welcome i-Fix Computing who have opened up in East Street and Martial Fitness who have opened up in East Street as well. We have had 26 new businesses open up in Papakura since the beginning of the year. WWW.PAPAKURA.CO.NZ …

The numbers of inquiries about property listings have surged over the course of this lockdown and signalling a big increase in interest. It has been stronger this level 4 lockdown than in the level 4 lockdown of last year and despite being in level 4 neither buyer nor sellers have been deterred. Confidence has remained in the market, and many people are more optimistic this time…

Every builder has their own strengths and reasons for why you should build with them. So how do you know which builder will give you the end result in the way you want it? Initially when trying to decide, most people think to ask for more information around these 8 commonly asked questions: 1. Timing of build 2. Communication throughout 3. Testimonials 4. Design features 5.…

It was wonderful to see the level of support locally for the recent nationwide protest organized by Groundswell. Farmers from throughout the region participated and experienced a high level of support from those who honked, flashed lights, shouted out and joined in, all in support of our Farmers. I was surprised through at the seemingly lack of coverage this event got and…

On the 3rd of March, I published my journey to date with the Three Waters Reforms being proposed by Government. You can see this summary on YouTube. Now, with the 2021 Local Government Conference behind us – the conference where we listened to the Prime Minister and Minister Mahuta and had discussions with a number of Mayors and Chief Executives – it’s time for a further update. …

Students, Staff, parents, caregivers, whānau and Papakura Community, Kia ora whānau, Talofa lava, Mālō e lelei, Kia Orana, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Bula Vinaka, Namaste, You may be aware that Papakura High School has been under Limited Statutory Management since January 2014 and other forms of intervention since 2009, this means there has been a Ministry of Education appointed…

Small business owners need help urgently so that they can survive this Covid-19 lockdown and any future lockdowns so that they can continue to play a significant role in New Zealand’s economy as well as providing employment all over the country, National’s Shadow Treasurer Andrew Bayly says. “I am hearing from small business owners and representative organisations everyday about…

When Daily Blog editor, Martyn Bradbury, says Labour’s lucky the country’s currently distracted by the Covid-19 Delta Variant, he’s right. Were New Zealand safe and out of Lockdown, it would be in the midst of a dangerously divisive row about Oranga Tamariki, the Judiciary, Race, and the Rule of Law. Given that the matters at the heart of this controversy are sub judice (i.e.…

Fire and Emergency New Zealand urges households, lifestyle block owners and landowners not to burn outdoor fires during lockdown, to save firefighters having to respond to calls from anxious neighbours and break their COVID-19 bubbles. Fire and Emergency has responded to more than 98 calls involving fires in Auckland since lockdown kicked in last Wednesday. Eight were vegetation…

The Prime Minister’s politics — including her stance towards the Mongrel Mob and the Taliban — can be baffling. Graham Adams reckons answers lie in her past as a Mormon. Whether it is from politeness or a lack of curiosity, it is rare for journalists or commentators to dwell on Jacinda Ardern’s religious history and how it might have shaped her politics. When the Prime Minister…