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A lot has been made in recent times of investment in quality transport infrastructure, improved public transport and congestion reduction; all culminating in a decision between the Green Party and Labour Party arm of the Coalition Government for “rapid light rail” (modern trams) to run from the CBD to the Auckland Airport. As a member of the team at the Campaign for Better…

A Family Tribute from the Heard and du Plessis families to the late-Lt.Col.(Rtd) James Heard, RNZA Determined. That’s a word you could use to describe James Heard. You hear hints of his determination in the stories told by his peers in the military. They’ll tell you that in his thirties, James’ fitness testing results were better than men half his age. You hear it in the…

Reviewed by Janet Pates. This book has been described as a biography and indeed, the early pages do present the reader with a picture of the writer’s life. Gwen Francis attributes the wisdom portrayed in the book to her background in farming, teaching, sport, business and community affairs. Having trained and taught as a Home Economics teacher in her younger days, she then…

Considered a prolific underground writer who wrote short stories, novels and poems that reflected on the social, cultural and economic ambience of urban life in a downtrodden America Society came the German-American writer, Charles Bukowski. An outrageous anti -hero literary figure, Charles Bukowski was arguably one of the greatest American writers with detractors who charged him…

Adam Mainey has always enjoyed keeping fit. From his younger years playing sport, to his previous jobs as a Bricklayer and running his own Masonry business, he was always challenged, or so he thought, until the day he changed careers and tried Crossfit for the first time. He says he had done the gym thing before and never got into it, but Crossfit beat him up and he fell in love…

There are two pieces of legislation wending their way through Parliament at the moment designed to further entrench the crazy notion that the Treaty of Waitangi created an obligation on governments nearly 200 years later to treat anybody with a Maori ancestor in some kind of preferential way. One is the Public Service Bill, introduced to Parliament last month and now being…

National residential building brand Jennian Homes has once again outclassed its rivals with a medal haul to be proud of in the annual Registered Master Builders 2019 House of the Year Awards Following a local win in the Auckland Master Builders Awards Programme, Jennian Homes Franklin has advanced to win the National Supreme Award in the category of New Home to $450,000 – Group…

Through all of history, everywhere in the world, recorded or otherwise, it has been proclaimed that The End is Nigh. Preachers, politicians, protestors, pundits of every ilk and hue; from the pulpit to the podium to the sandwich board in the street, all manner of doomsayers have sung and shouted and chanted their various predictions as to the impending demise of Mankind. One day,…

‘O jogo bonito’, or the Beautiful Game, is a phrase made popular by Brazilian professional footballer Pelé, to describe Football or Soccer, a team game, which is played by 250 million players in over 200 countries and dependencies, making it the world's most popular sport. In New Zealand, it is enjoying a refreshing resurgence, with increased international success at youth level…

Time sure flies when you are having fun! It seems like yesterday that we attended the annual Rebel Round Up at Pukekohe Park Raceway and it’s on again Saturday 15th February. 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. The…

But its not all doom and gloom, we can empower ourselves and those close to us to minimise the likelihood of being affected by it. In actual fact, there’s no one better equipped than ourselves to take those crucial steps. One year ago, almost to the day, the results of this country’s latest crime and victim survey, conducted by the Justice Ministry, was released. A report…

Today, Moriori are trying to restore their place in the public consciousness as the tchakat henu (tangata whenua) of the Chatham Islands, but they’re up against some competition. Recent vandalism of Moriori cultural artefacts recalls an ancient feud which dates back to Moriori being both persecuted and ignored by two peoples. In their heyday, the Moriori numbered 2000 people, but…

With all the latest statistics on violence and the impact it has on all those involved, including the rising numbers of offenders in prison you’d be forgiven for thinking that someone somewhere must have a grand plan. Turns out not really. Well, there is the usual political posturing around solutions, from “getting tougher on crime” to the other end of the scale where the focus…

Did you know that in Papakura we have: Sushi places Cafes Bakeries Barber Shops Gyms and the Rec Centre Health places including Physio, Doctors, foot clinic, Massage places, Lab tests, Family Planning, Medicine clinics, Chiropractic, Hand clinic and more. Dental Clinics Accountancy Firms Banks Finance Companies Valuers Design and Architecture Firms Optometrists …

For business owners, John and Catherine Bannister, the move completes what has been a very busy year for the family business. “It’s certainly been a busy year” says John. “Just like families, the flooring industry is constantly changing, the selections now available when it comes to the style, colour or material for your floor are vast and our move into new showroom has been…

The Team at Flooring Xtra in Papakura are extra busy keeping the district's floors looking good. “Thanks to the continuing support of the people of Papakura we’re going from strength to strength.” Having local support means a lot to the Wickett’s. Long established in the district and well known through their sporting contacts, they’re committed to Papakura and delighted to be…

The revelling to bring in the New Year is a time-honoured tradition, and I am sure has been played out again this year. As we head into 2020 this year, it also marks the start of a new decade or does it? In recent years there has been debate about when a decade begins and ends. For some people, the next decade will begin Jan. 1, 2020, and end Dec. 31, 2029. For others, it won’t…

elocal sat down with Shane Jones at the recent New Zealand First Christmas function. Below are excerpts from that conversation. elocal: Shane going back to the last election Winston said that capitalism no longer works. What do you think he meant by that? SJ: I think that the engines of growth. I’m firmly of the view are well known. It’s just how you distribute a dividend of…

For a family-friendly day out or a night to remember, you can’t go further than the Red Shed Palazzo, which is more than just an award winning café. Relax amongst the tranquil garden-setting during the day or check out the hugely popular dinner theatre events which take place regularly and include Faulty Towers, a hilarious night of entertainment, or enjoy the Hotel Ballé Ballé;…

Whatever reservations one might have regarding the wisdom of holding an election on the day of a full moon, Britain has just done just that, and the result has been a stunning but completely predictable victory for Boris Johnson and the Conservatives. I say completely predictable because many mainstream media polls failed to predict it; and much accompanying commentary in the…