Karl Barkley from Operation Good Oil has raised serious concerns regarding New Zealand’s energy security. The recent closure of the Marsden Point Oil Refinery, the only oil refinery in the country, by the previous Labour Government under Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, has sparked a debate about its far-reaching implications. The closure happened without public consultation,…

Short-term exposure to high levels of air pollution kills more than one million people every year. And while Asia and Africa are particularly at-risk, Australia isn’t immune to the danger. With climate change making smog and bushfires more common, it’s likely more people will die from air pollution in coming years — especially in densely populated cities. Those are some of the…

The Human Rights Commission and the National Iwi Chairs Forum1 are working together on a campaign to transition from New Zealand’s existing democratic government system to a radical race-based constitution. In 2010, the Iwi Chairs Forum initiated the ‘Matike Mai Aotearoa, the Independent Working Group Constitutional Transformation’ project to explore the creation of a new…

As mentioned in Winter ills Part 1 today I will discuss supplements that can help prevent and/or treat winter ills such as cods and flu’s. Certainly our micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) are best consumed in whole foods such as vegetables but there are so many factors that make the availability, amounts needed and absorbability of micronutrients challenging to achieve from…

Summary The prevalence of fake food in the Chinese market poses a grave threat to people’s health and erodes trust within society. This conversation explores various shocking examples of fake food items found in China, including fake beef, fake lamb, fake rice, fake noodles, fake tofu, fake buns, fake tea, fake honey, and even fake sea cucumber. The production processes and…

Some see the fight over TikTok as a fight for data sovereignty, while others see any ban as a threat to information democracy. Calls to ban TikTok have turned the political landscape into something more like a theatrical spectacle. During a recent hearing by the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, Republican Congressman Michael McCaul made bold claims that downloading TikTok…

Introduction Michelle Makori, Lead Anchor and Editor-in-Chief at Kitco News, interviews Carol Roth, New York Times bestselling author of ‘You Will Own Nothing,’ who warns that we are on the brink of a financial world war where financial stakes will shift. She dives into the global elite’s plan to come out on top – the process that threatens to leave us owning nothing and under…

The violent unrest in New Caledonia France’s Pacific island territory is alarming. Sadly, the island territory is no stranger to violence. Here’s what’s worth knowing about the crisis. How serious are the riots? The country is experiencing a wave of violence on a scale not seen since the terrible events of the 1980s — a period of near civil-war between supporters and opponents…

Summary The conversation covers a range of topics related to the New Zealand budget, foreign affairs, political commentary, and criticism of various political parties. It also delves into the Māori Party and its actions. The speaker, Mykeljon Winckel, provides a critical analysis of the budget and the performance of different political parties, offering a unique perspective on…

The Rotary Club old Papakura is proud to bring you the 2024 New Zealand Motorcycle Show, proudly sponsored by Star Insurance and proudly all profits are for charity. Our 12th such show since 2012 it is recognised as NZ’s pre eminent Motorcycle Show. Returning to the fantastic Auckland Showgrounds, this show offers something for every motorcycling enthusiast. Featuring numerous…

Creamy Pumpkin and Camembert Soup Ingredients: 4 tablespoons olive oil, 1 large pumpkin 1 large onion, chopped 4 large or 6 medium garlic cloves, finely chopped ½ teaspoon sea salt ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg ⅛ teaspoon cloves Tiny dash of cayenne pepper (optional, if you like spice) Freshly ground black pepper 4 cups vegetable stock ½ cup…

Brennan's Bananas Foster Created in 1951, Bananas Foster are now found all over the world but the original comes from Brennan's in New Orleans, LA. Owen Brennan, owner of Brennan's Restaurant, challenged his chef, Paul Blange, to include bananas in a new dessert. It was Owen's way of promoting the imported fruit. Over 15000kgs of banana's are now used every year at Brennan's. …

Feijoa & Walnut Chocolate Cake A layer of dark chocolate icing gives this moist feijoa cake a touch of indulgence. This recipe never fails, and makes a rich, moist cake. It’s also one of the easier feijoa cake recipes I have found. There’s no need to cream the butter and sugar or add eggs one-by-one as you do with most recipes. The chocolate butter icing can be kept in the…

We love to have fun in the sun, but it’s often human nature to visit the same tried and true holiday destinations every year. At elocal, we decided to come up with some great island hopping adventures that will give the family and friends a break, at the fraction of the cost of an island getaway overseas. Lucy Mullinger checks out some of the best islands to travel to around the…

Family Values at the Forefront! Flooring Xtra Pukekohe Showroom is the perfect place to find flooring to suit your style. Located at 16d Wrightson Way, Pukekohe, in the Pukekohe Mega Centre, the Flooring Xtra Pukekohe Showroom is open Monday through Friday 8.30am-5pm and Saturdays 9am-1pm. It is spacious, bright and modern, with ample car parking available. Showcased in the…

Imagine waking up to the peaceful sight of golf course greens on one side and a sparkling estuary alive with birdlife on the other. At Acacia Cove Retirement Village in Wattle Downs, you don’t have to imagine—it’s your everyday reality. A Village Designed for Living Well The heart of the community is the magnificent Lodge Community Centre, carefully positioned to take in…

Real Estate Love, Passion and Obsession From an early age I have nurtured an unshakable love for Real Estate. Discovering how real estate creates that special type of shelter that everyone yearns to possess; it evens generates the brand of wealth that most cannot amass by simply working a job; and it gives great power to its owners who are fortunate enough to hold on to it at the…

The team at PS Automotive stands out as one of the best in European vehicle servicing thanks to our innate attention and specialist knowledge of the complexity in engine detail and unwavering commitment to providing the highest standard in quality workmanship. We are equipped with the best up to date tools from European manufacturers. This means we can carry out cambelts,…

Mark Davie from Sepio Insurance Management provides a highly professional service to our clients. Not only do we have the experience and backing to secure appropriate cover in terms of price and security, but also offer comprehensive risk and claims management services. From Personal, Business, Rural or other Insurance we obtain insurance cover for you by assessing your specific…

I’m a hostile spy from, ohhh, let’s say China. No, Israel. Or Russia. Whatever: the most important thing is that I’m a spy. I’m wanting to know where all of New Zealand’s defences are located, who is manning them, when these defences are most vulnerable, and how many soldiers and weapons New Zealand has. I could do a Google search, comb through Wikileaks, or look for an…

Three hundred years ago, a cultural revolution exploded out of East London. The narrow lane of Paternoster Row, today lined with trendy cafés and sushi shops, feels like an unlikely spot for the birth of the pirates of the Caribbean. But this was once the heart of the English capital’s publishing industry—and a place of justice for the most dreaded brigands. Paternoster Row…

CelticNZ https://www.youtube.com/@AncientCelticNewZealand Summary Russell Price, an amateur archaeologist, conducted extensive archaeological digs at Pukawa in New Zealand over a period of 25 years. He discovered undeniable proof of ancient human occupation spanning 7,000 years, predating the arrival of the Polynesian Maori. Price used tephra stratigraphy, the study of volcanic…

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…

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them. My Father served his Queen throughout the Boer War 1899 – 1902 A son remembers By Kenneth Bliss On their way from England to settle in New Zealand in 1875, my grandparents William and Maria Bliss broke…

The Therapeutic Products Act will be repealed before the end of 2024. The Minister responsible, Hon Casey Costello, is planning to develop two pieces of legislation to replace the TPA – one to cover Natural Health Products and another to deal with medicines and medical devices. Ms. Costello is looking towards a lasting and robust solution that appropriately balances oversight…

When you take into account the way we live in society today it is an incontrovertible fact that Mining is essential to our way of life. Everything we touch or use outside of living creatures requires a product from either a mine or a quarry at some stage of its lifecycle. From the time that Stone Age man picked up the first rock and started to use it as a tool we have been…

The Paleo aka caveman diet has received a lot of press, and basically involves eating like our caveman ancestors. This style of eating may help you lose weight, and reduce your risk of diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes etc. The paleo diet is a high-protein, high-fiber food plan that doesn’t involve counting or reducing calories. The core foods are lean meat,…

Over 50 prominent UK academics have signed an open letter to Baroness Heather Hallett, chair of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, calling for urgent action to address the shortcomings of the probe so far. The signatories of the letter say the Hallett Inquiry suffers from bias, false assumptions, and a lack of impartiality. “The Covid Inquiry is not living up to its mission to evaluate the…

The Matariki public holiday, a significant event in the New Zealand calendar, is set to unfold this month on Friday, June 28th, 2024. Established in 2022 to commemorate the Māori new year and recognize the cultural heritage surrounding Matariki, this special day is strategically positioned on the Friday closest to the new moon following the rising of the Matariki star cluster.…

Ah, the age-old question: are you “Just like your Mother?” Brace yourselves, dear readers, for a whimsical journey through the marvelous world of motherhood, where one size certainly does not fit all, and the role of Mom evolves faster than a toddler’s mood swings. As Mother’s Day graces us with its presence this month, let’s take a moment to marvel at the wonders of ‘Mums’…

Dear Editor, I submit my letter for your consideration to publish in the Elocal magazine, I wholeheartedly support the Coalition Government’s focus on getting New Zealand’s economy back into a healthy state, and this will take time. Unfortunately, not all Government members seem to recognise that their efforts on the economic front are being continually undermined by the…

The first 100 days of the National led ‘3 headed taniwha’ coalition Government have come and gone this month and media and MP’s alike are scrambling to shout from the rooftops about what has been done and blurring the lines of non-achievement on any that appear to have fallen short on the deadline. My own take on the first 100 days comes down to the bewildering shenanigans that…