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When you have been in the business of building homes as long as Frank Verheyen has you know what will work, and more importantly what won’t when it comes to implementing a building solution that meets your needs. Whether it’s an alteration, renovation, extension or a new home you are needing, Frank Verheyen Builders has over 40 years in the industry and has seen many different building styles come and go. · “Having been in the industry for…

The Cypress shelter belt has been used for decades for wind protection and boundary privacy. Thousands of properties throughout the country would have planted these trees as juveniles and seen them grow up to a height where they start to become trimmed and maintained. Some are kept as low hedges bordering lifestyle blocks and garden areas, and others were left to grow to their full potential to protect kiwifruit orchards and other fruit…

Not strangers to building a new house Maggie and Steve Bygate are truly enthusiastic when they describe how much they like Navigation Homes ProNav App Smartphone tool that they were able to utilise during their recent build in the Paerata Rise community. “It made it just so easy, we were able to ask questions, see information, follow progress and approve costs all in real time. The team at Navigation Homes were always quick to respond to any…

Ministry of Health Statistics on the obesity epidemic in NZ make for sobering reading. One third of adult New Zealanders are obese with a further third being overweight, three times what it was in the 1970’s, and the 3rd highest in the OECD. With studies showing a direct correlation between obesity and debilitating diseases, mental health issues and increasingly, shortened life expectancy, you’d think these figures would be on the way down. But…

The late 1960s saw the best pre-Formula One racing this country has ever experienced. Racing took place over January, during the European winter, giving the Formula One teams a chance to test new chassis and suspension systems prior to the upcoming European season. The only difference was that the engine capacity was limited to 2.5 litres, as opposed to the Formula One limit of 3 litres. As a young motor sport enthusiast, I was teamed up to…

Every year we celebrate the attempt by a group of English dissidents to blow up the English parliament over 400 years ago. Every November the letting off of fireworks results in a flood of claims to ACC, sends horses through fences and terrorises cats and dogs, keeps fire brigades busy battling blazes and has insurance companies running for cover. · Why do we do it? Well, fireworks are fun, as the Chinese discovered about 2000 years ago. Many…

Last issue, we heard of the terrible conquest of Hongi Hika, a warlord whose bloodlust began by avenging Ngāpuhi. But there have been other killers in New Zealand’s past, who didn’t need war to justify their slaughter. Meet young Maketu, son of a Ngāpuhi Chief, who embarked on a murderous rampage because he was having a bad day… In 1837, Captain John Roberton purchased Motuarohia Island (Russell, Northland), began converting the island for…

The Weir Rose Bowl began in the 1950s as a competition for U-12 boys, with the WRB trophy donated by Tom Weir, a member of the Junior Management Committee of Auckland Football. The event is viewed as an important step in the development of aspiring young footballers, giving them their first taste of regional football. · After the formation of the Federations in 2000, the WRB evolved into a format where Northern Football, Auckland Football and…

One of the main headlines this morning on the New Zealand news sites that I frequent each day reads “Why you won’t see Judith Collins nude this summer.” Another screams “'Sick' life-sized doll suggests scary future for office workers.” I suppose it makes a change from the 20 or so stories about the Rugby World cup, however it makes me somewhat embarrassed for my own profession that it is seemingly having to prostitute itself with click bait to…

_Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do._ · — Pele The words of a true legend, recognised by some as the best player of the beautiful game EVER and words that rang true for a group of Franklin United Academy members who were lucky enough to spend part of their recent school holidays training in Porirua, Wellington at the highly regarded…