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Last month, I wrote about the way in which radicals are working to reinterpret the meaning of the Treaty of Waitangi, often arguing that the Treaty of Waitangi (in English) and Te Tiriti o Waitangi (in te reo) are two quite different documents, and that there is no way that Maori chiefs would have surrendered sovereignty in 1840. Given the speeches made by Maori chiefs on 5…

Organ Donation I decided to share some of my thoughts about Organ Donation, frankly a subject that is not often discussed. I have a gorgeous little granddaughter soon to be 7 years old. She was born with hyper active kidneys meaning that they cleaned out everything including her mother’s antibodies protection. This was a traumatic situation caused by one hereditary gene, a…

Introducing our new Expedition Earth team member, a 2020 Jeep Rubicon Gladiator. Named after the Siberian who led us across the frozen tundra of Russia's Yamal Peninsula, we have called him ROMAN. While we wait for borders to reopen around the world, we will be using Roman for local adventures until he can join Gunther on global expeditions.

Accepting the fact that April last year was our great lockdown, April was the strongest it has been for 5 years. Inventory levels continue to fall and whilst adjusted for the seasonal norm of the autumn/winter period they still continue to place still more pressure on the housing market. Low supply and high demand holds prices! There have been less investors in the market for…

Papakura Streetfest – what a wonderful day! Amazing turnout with over 5000 people coming through during the day. Over 45 community stalls, Sustainable Papakura Market Stalls, local entertainment and so much fun for the kids – and the adults too. Check out some of the great photos that Poppa G took for us during the day:…

The Franklin region, and especially Pukekohe is well known for several things. It is the hub of New Zealand’s best volcanic fertile soils where the internationally renowned Long Keeper Onions are grown and Possum Bourne, champion race car driver was born here. It will come as no surprise then to many locals that it will soon have a new claim to fame. That of the biggest car…

“Change is never painful, it is resistance to change.” — Buddha By the time you read this, it will already be the month of May, nearly halfway through the year of 2021 and if you are anything like me, the days just seem to be galloping past. The temperature has dropped, the nights have drawn in and everyone seems to be going about their business pretty much as per usual. May is…

Increasing numbers of Aucklanders are turning to environmental activism as concern mounts over Tūpuna Maunga Authority’s plans to destroy 2500 healthy mature trees on the city’s volcanic cones (maunga). Most Aucklanders had not heard of the Authority until 2019, when it began clear-felling exotic trees on Mangere Mountain, Pigeon Mountain / Ōhuiarangi and Mt Wellington /…

The RBNZ laid out the path for policy, including OCR rate hikes from mid-2022. Interest rates, including mortgage rates, have bottomed (all going well). We have pulled forward our forecast OCR hikes to commence from May’22. New Zealand’s monetary policy stance sticks out compared to the RBA, and most other central banks. There is significant upside risk to Kiwi interest rates…

The number of people outside keeps growing. Where there had once been a harmless handful, there is now a good-sized crowd. And they keep coming. More and more of them. You can hear car doors slamming, footsteps, the soft murmur of exchanged greetings. These people can’t quite believe what they’ve been told, so they’ve come to see for themselves if the story is true. It was…

A bombshell ruling from the High Court opens the door to tribal control of New Zealand’s foreshore and seabed. It represents a major setback for those who believe the country’s coastline and Territorial Sea should be owned by no-one and protected by the Crown for the benefit of all. The Edwards case is the first of some 200 Marine and Coastal Area Act applications for customary…

Good morning, delegates. It’s an absolute privilege to be speaking to you all here today as your leader. I’d like to acknowledge National Party President Peter Goodfellow, my fellow board members, my lower North Island colleagues and all of you, the members of the National Party. It is great to see you all here today. The past few years have been a challenging time for our…

Sky News host Sharri Markson has assessed “chilling” details from a document produced by Chinese military scientists, in which they discussed weaponising SARS coronaviruses five years before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The book from 2015, ‘Unnatural Origin of SARS and Genetic Weapons Based on Artificial Human-Infectious Viruses’ (非典非自然起源和人制人新种病毒基因武器), describes SARS coronaviruses…

WASHINGTON D.C., May 6, 2021 — Extensive research shows ivermectin can reduce the risk of getting COVID-19 by 92.5%. However, through questionable evaluation methods, public health authorities around the world continue to recommend only highly restricted use of or outright ban of ivermectin. These actions only serve to prolong the COVID-19 pandemic and hurt the most vulnerable…

How does the TH1 and TH2 Immune system work? Do vaccines affect the immune system balance?

How does the TH1 and TH2 Immune system work? Do vaccines affect the immune system balance?

Everybody loves a story. Telling stories is an age-old art form, and a good story well told stays long in the memories of its listeners or readers. This May, Franklin Writers Group is offering the chance to compose your own short story and finally let the ideas buzzing around in your head, the opportunity to get out. The Franklin Writers' Group's biennial short story competition…

With stunning views of Lake Tekapo and the Southern Alps on its doorstep sits another of New Zealand’s most photographed churches. The small Anglican church in the south island named The Church of The Good Shepherd. With intent to create a place of worship and as a memorial to the pioneers of Mackenzie Country, a successful appeal for funds was granted in October 1934 and was…

For over a decade Franklin’s local historical societies have campaigned to save the station building but finally they have admitted defeat. The building will be lost to the district it has served for more than one hundred years. It was the oldest publicly accessible building in the town. It became impossible to progress the plan for restoration and repurposing of the building…

Local woman Leslea Eilenberg has always been one to challenge herself. Avid elocal readers will remember her last achievements competing in world triathlons including Kona Ironman and Hawaii. Now, she has gone even further! Breaking all records for her age and weight at the International Oceania Powerlifting Championships and a Silver Medal in the Worlds Masters Games Triathlon. I…