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Agathis australis, or Kauri in Maori is one of New Zealand’s oldest and mightiest coniferous trees that can grow upwards of fifty metres and can live around two thousand years. Found in the northern districts of New Zealand, the Kauri was once prolific covering 1.2 million hectares from the far North of Northland to Te Kauri near Kawhia, when the first people arrived in New…

In the 1980’s Parliamentarians began an unsuccessful search for the elusive “principles” to interpret the words of the Treaty of Waitangi. In 1985 the Court of Appeals Judge Robin Cooke, with the Treaty in one hand and his law manual in the other, declared he could define these missing principles. Judge Cooke determined the Treaty was a legally binding business contract between…

Your home is your castle, but not everyone likes a castle, some want a cottage or an eco-friendly self-sustaining, climate friendly minimalistic studio! When you are selling your home, because you love it as it is, it is sometimes difficult to imagine it being loved differently by others. That’s where the Emma Burn Home Staging team steps in. They will confidently style and…

John Bell's dental specialty doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, but the difference he can make to your smile could be life-changing. In past times, damaged or decayed teeth were either ignored or removed. But now the range of solutions available in the hands of a skilled professional like John means teeth can be restored to look and perform just as they should. Prosthodontics…

The motor's running so belt yourself in for a great ride! Steel 'n' Wheels Festival 2019 is hot on our heels. Put it on your calendar and don't miss it. Four hours packed with a variety of exciting displays, mean machines, live music and markets. Something for everyone; vintage and classic cars, hot rods, trucks, tractors, military, bikes and more! Freestyle NZ FMX riders will…

Last year, there was a lively debate in New Zealand about what should, and on the other hand what should not, be banned. This was triggered initially by Phil Goff’s attempt to prevent two Canadian speakers from speaking in Auckland. It turned out that, on being challenged by the hastily constituted Free Speech Coalition (of which I am proud to be one of the initial members), Mr…

Gretchen Albrecht CNZM is one of our most prominent painters. In a significant new book published by Massey University Press this month, art historian Luke Smythe surveys her career and assesses her work and practice, confirming her status as a pioneer of abstraction in this country. Smythe, who teaches art history at Monash University in Melbourne, has had a long engagement…

May is shaping up to be all about Frances Hodgkins, with a major show at the Auckland Art Gallery and two new books. Finding Frances Hodgkins, published this month by Massey University Press, is by well-known curator Mary Kisler. The book is part of The Frances Hodgkins Project — a landmark endeavour focused on the major touring exhibition Frances Hodgkins: European Journeys,…

As I write this, we are staring down the deep barrel into winter, day light saving has passed and I’m reflecting on how good the summer car season has been. It seemed like it was never going to end and we had a very busy summer going to any events all over the North Island – it’s been FUN. First up was the Glovers Real Estate Hot Rods in Titirangi Show hosted by Mid West Street…

In the Northern Hemisphere the traditional ‘May Day’ celebration is an ancient festival whose origins are shrouded in the mists of time. It is said that the earliest May Day observances began in pre-Christian times out of the Roman empire, a dedication to the Roman flower goddess Floralia, or Flora and a celebration of the advent of the arrival of Summer and blossoming flowers. Ho…

If you now consider that proof has been produced to make David the murderer, where does that leave the many specialist and expert witnesses who gave evidence for the defence? Where does that leave the claims by the defence council, Michael Reed QC, that Robin murdered his family because of Laniet’s claims of incest? Where does it place Michael Reed’s assertion to the jury that…

Before we had modern luxuries such as television, warm baths and queen-sized beds, we were living in caves, hunted by dangerous animals and fighting the elements. We didn’t have mirrors, so we didn’t really care about what we looked like, we were much too busy trying to survive to worry about bullying and the only time we were in a state of stress was when we were running away…

The white man who figuratively held the gun for a chief to pull the trigger thus igniting the worst holocaust New Zealand in New Zealand’s history. In 1799 a ‘new dissent’ had been afoot for some several decades, the intense and radical revivalist child of ‘The Great Awakening’ that had spread throughout Christendom like a plague during the 18th century. ‘The Great Awakening’…

A new wave of transformation has hit a Papakura suburb thanks to a new scheme that is providing more cost effecting housing alternatives to those looking to get their foot in the housing market. As the first of its kind in the area, the project is a co-operative between a local church and private sector developers that were able to create four residential homes in Tairere…

PAPAKURA STREETFEST – SATURDAY 4TH OF MAY 10 AM TO 2 PM We hope to see you all at our upcoming StreetFEST on Saturday 4th of May 2018 Free Family Fun Day with lots of stalls, community groups and initiatives, local entertainment, fun for the kids and activities, Facepainting, Chill Out Zone, great food specials and so much more. Check out the entertainment for the day: St…

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…

“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…

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…

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…

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…