March 2020

It seems no time at all since we were celebrating (or lamenting) the election of the Labour–New Zealand First–Green Government in 2017. And now, in little more than six months’ time, we’re going to the polls again. As I write in the middle of February, the outcome of the election is still very uncertain. If the latest poll results were replicated in the election, we would have another Labour-led Government, with the Greens in support (and…

Being impartial means not being prejudiced towards or against any particular side, and to be fair and balanced. In the world of media, this used to be a standard that many just accepted to be what happened. These days though, with the advance of digital technologies, the thrust for reporting to in response to things as they happen, and the ease with which it is possible to have things published as gospel, this is an increasingly tough one. All…

Jason Tabrum has experienced some extremes in his career, most recently from working in and around the city of Perth. Traditionally known for its mining industry, it can be a hard environment. Tabrum though, excelled in his chosen career of real estate, working for a boutique agency in Wembley, selling high end properties and has learnt from the best in his industry. Returning to Pukekohe, he is ready to ensure that when you list with him or…

The name “Autobahn” is synonymous in Europe with long, fast open stretches of motorway and cafes that specialise in serving healthy, sustainable, and delicious food to everyone. Thanks to Erich and Margaret Dornauer, a local couple with a European background, this same recipe for success can also be found right here in two locations close to Pukekohe / Papakura townships. The couple started the first Autobahn Cafe in August 1994. Located within…

It’s obvious the moment you set foot in a Platinum home, that the attention to detail, finishing and features are what sets them apart. Murray Taylor from Platinum Homes Manukau and Counties expresses it best. “We know what works, simply because we have designed and built so many homes over the years. Platinum Homes have such a vast range of home plans which are designed to offer the best blend of lifestyle features, coupled with superior…

Jeffery Archer is a bestselling English author who it can be claimed has enjoyed a somewhat colourful life, including an Oxford Education, training to join the police and army, becoming a physical education teacher before serving as a member of the British Parliament in the 1960’s and a stint as deputy chairman of the Conservative Party in the 1980’s. Now published in 97 countries and more than 33 languages, Jeffrey Archer is a well-known…

I jumped on those scales and cried. And now this is the start of the rest of my life. Stephanie Hooper had always been big. As a child and throughout her teenage years she sought comfort in food as a way of dealing with life, until a series of events lead her to turn her health and life around forever. As a child, Stephanie lost a grandfather to heart issues related to his weight and another grandfather to diabetes in 2010. She didn’t want the…

If you are looking for a reliable cleaning service for your home, business or bach; Home and Away Professional Cleaning Services is your one-stop cleaning shop. Let that stress melt away and get back to enjoying the things you love, rather than worrying about keeping the house or office tidy. Whether you need a rental tidied up or you would like a regular cleaner to keep your house or office spic and span, the team at Home and Away can assist…

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…

It beggars belief that at this critical point in earth’s history when climate change is making its presence felt, Auckland city is set to lose thousands more trees. We have already lost one third of our tree canopy between 2012 and 2017 according to Dr Mels Barton from the Tree Council. In the Waitematā Local Board area alone, a 2018 report recorded tree canopy loss of an area equivalent to 61 rugby fields over a decade. As our urban ngahere…

For the third successive year the annual North Island Donkey & Mule Society Show was held at the Counties Dog Training club grounds at Kidd Elliot Park in Te Hi Hi. This year the show also incorporated the National Miniature Donkey Show. Fortunately the weather on Sunday the 2nd February was not as hot as some we have endured this summer, and although a stiff breeze made retaining hats and notes when Judging a challenge, it did keep the…

Pukekohe Christian School, located at 82 Yates Road, Pukekohe, is a small and welcoming private school. The school offers a supportive environment for Year 1 through to Year 13 students and provides the Cambridge curriculum from a Christian worldview. This year’s gala will help fund the school’s hall development and provide additional sporting equipment for PCS students. Pukekohe Christian School is hosting its popular annual gala on Saturday…

In August 1838, the New Zealand Association reformed as the second New Zealand Colonisation Company. It required massive capital to start up, but there was still interest following the first New Zealand Company which had been propelled by positive reports from Captain Cook’s surveys, and the misguided belief that the company could have had exclusive trade with this new colony, which had been playing second fiddle to the settlement of Australia.

As this edition goes to press, New Zealand and the world are approaching the anniversary of the horrific events in Christchurch on March 15th 2019. Nearly a year on from that dreadful day, what has changed about New Zealand – both for the better, and more pertinently, for the worse? On March 15th, 2019 I was in a shop in Rangiora. As a Police patrol car went screaming past in the direction of Christchurch, lights and sirens blazing, doing about…

He was an American writer and visual artist of experimental novels and a primary figure in the Beat Generation movement. His influence affected literature and 1960s counter culture figures and he lived a wild ride of a life that included addiction and a fascination for guns. Forever cemented in history, his name remains synonymous to new, emerging writers hoping to make a literary career out of living dangerously. William Seward Burroughs the…

Once again I was called up to join the judging team for the prestigious America’s Most Beautiful Roadster award. This has been running since 1949 at the Grand National Roadster Show held on the last weekend of January at the Pomona Fairplex in California, USA. Last year was my first time on the judging team which comprises of industry movers and shakers such as noted hot rod builders like Bobby Alloway and Pete Eastwood and automotive designers…

Menopause is a normal part of life; you are said to have reached menopause after 12 months in a row of no further periods. The usual age is between 45 to 55 years old. The average in NZ is 52 years old. About 70% of women have significant symptoms with menopause and 40% will see a doctor because of their symptoms. Symptoms vary hugely in severity with some women having very little discomfort, while others are affected to the extent of being…

The season is approaching fast and we have achieved a huge amount as a club over the last few months. The Franklin United Youth Academy is merging its 13 and 14 grade teams (boys and girls) together with the South Auckland Elite Academy to build quality in preparation for competing in the new premier competitions at youth level – the NRFL Y divisions. As mentioned previously in my Franklin Speaking Frankly articles, this is a competition that…

As the obesity epidemic in New Zealand surges ahead, more people are looking for real solutions. But interestingly, obesity figures are rising despite the fact that overall, the population’s energy intake has dropped. The explanation for this seemingly bizarre coincidence is actually quite obvious. New Zealanders are simply less active. Most experts agree that people will lose weight if their energy output exceeds the energy they consume. This…

NEW BUSINESSES IN TOWN Welcome to: Sammie Nicole Nails – who has come back to Papakura Little Flock of Horrors – fabulous Merino who have moved in the Great South Road Transparent Accounting who have joined as an Associate Member Eight Limb Yoga in Broadway Scott Plumbing have an office in town in the Great South Road Southern Traders in East Street Campbell Tyson have moved into the Great South Road People Passion have moved into the Great …