A West Coast-Tasman candidate debate has sparked controversy after organisers excluded Sue Grey from the podium under a reported 5% party-vote threshold rule. Supporters argue the decision denies local voters the opportunity to hear from all candidates contesting the electorate. Critics are calling on the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union to open the Greymouth debate to every official candidate on the ballot. GREYMOUTH, NZ Serious concerns over…

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is proposing that from 2029, eligibility for NZ Superannuation should require New Zealand citizenship, not simply permanent residency. Duncan Garner argues the proposal deserves serious debate as the cost of Super rises and an ageing population places increasing pressure on future taxpayers. Winston Peters Wants NZ Super Restricted to Citizens · NZ First proposal puts residency, citizenship and Super…

Andy Loader argues that New Zealand’s debate over the Treaty of Waitangi, Māori representation and co-governance has become increasingly disconnected from the principles of equal citizenship. Looking from the conflicts preceding 1840 through to today’s political institutions, he challenges prevailing interpretations of the Treaty and asks whether race-based representation and policy can be reconciled with a modern democracy in which every…

I omitted the intro summary under 620 characters from the Format C package. Here it is: · A father has been jailed for 12 years after repeatedly sexually abusing his daughter over four years. Nelson District Court Judge Chris Macklin described the offending as being at the highest end for a single victim and highlighted the profound breach of trust involved. The man, whose identity is permanently suppressed to protect his daughter, must serve…

Elected councillors are accountable for council decisions, but how much control do they really have over the officials and information behind them? Nick Clark argues that councillors can be denied crucial legal and operational advice by their own bureaucracies. A proposed law would clarify that chief executives are subject to elected councils and give councillors greater access to independent advice, strengthening democratic accountability at…

Beneficiaries were left with an average $251 a week after housing costs, according to a Ministry of Social Development report. Budgeting advisers say some households are increasingly turning to KiwiSaver hardship withdrawals, food support and buy-now-pay-later services simply to cover everyday essentials. eLocal Report: Based on reporting by Lauren Crimp for RNZ HERE · New Zealand beneficiaries were left with an average of just $251 a week…

National says it will pursue separating Pak'nSave from New World and Four Square if returned to government, potentially transforming New Zealand's supermarket market from two dominant groups into three nationwide competitors. The proposal is backed by economic modelling suggesting lower grocery prices, but the same analysis shows the outcome depends heavily on costs, implementation and whether genuine competition actually follows eLocal Report:…

New Zealand's economy expanded 0.2 percent in the June quarter and 2.6 percent compared with a year earlier, avoiding the contraction initially feared after the Middle East fuel-price shock. But beneath the positive GDP headline, growth per person was only 0.1 percent and real national disposable income fell 0.4 percent, raising a more important question for households: is economic growth actually translating into greater prosperity? eLocal…

With Gabor shoes, we can bring you the latest styles and colours from Europe, with the fit and comfort that Kiwi feet need — including styles with a little extra width. Have you ever looked at an elegant pointed-toe shoe and thought, “There’s no way that’s going to fit my feet”? · Think again. · Gabor has been designing shoes since 1949 and has perfected the balance between style, fit and comfort. So you don't have to give up the elegant…

There was a time when shopping for menswear meant being able to see the range, feel the quality, try things on and get genuine advice from someone who knew their products. At Lewis’ Mens Fashion in Pukekohe, you still can. For more than 40 years, Lewis’ Mens Fashion has been helping generations of men from Franklin, Southern Auckland and further afield find quality clothing and footwear that looks good, fits properly and lasts. · Established in…

Few moments in life are more difficult than losing someone you love. · In those first hours and days, emotions can feel overwhelming. There are decisions to make, people to contact, paperwork to complete, and often a sense of uncertainty about what happens next. · At Fountains Funeral Services, we understand that this is not just a process. It is a deeply personal journey. As a locally owned family business, our role is simple: to care for…

Behind the day-to-day flow of insurance repairs at Classic Auto Body Panel & Paint is a workshop still driven by genuine automotive passion. From modern collision work to rare restorations like a 1950s Lancia B24S, the Pukekohe team combines technical expertise, craftsmanship and more than 30 years of local reputation. Walk into Classic Auto Body Panel & Paint in Pukekohe on any given day and you'll find the workshop focused on what has become…

Retirement can be the beginning of something new. At Acacia Cove Village in Wattle Downs, residents enjoy the freedom to spend more time doing the things they love, surrounded by friends, activities, facilities and a genuine sense of community “We Thought This One Was By Far the Best” · For resident Phil, choosing Acacia Cove came after carefully looking at the retirement living options available across South Auckland. · “The reason that we…

In 2008, NATO made an unequivocal declaration: Ukraine and Georgia "will become members of NATO." Fourteen years later, Russia invaded Ukraine, setting in motion a devastating war, transforming European security and generating hundreds of billions of dollars in military expenditure. INR Report: Based on remarks by Robert F. Kennedy Jr, examined against declassified diplomatic records, NATO documents, Ukrainian parliamentary records, corporate…

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says the era of Germany's “unconditional transatlantic friendship” with the United States is probably over for the foreseeable future. His comments point to a changing relationship rather than a German break with Washington, with Merz simultaneously arguing for greater European independence and continued cooperation INR Report: Based on reporting by RT HERE, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz's wider position on…

An RT investigation has traced €1.5 million in Dresden property purchases to a German company controlled by the family of one of Vladimir Zelensky’s longtime business associates. Corporate records establish connections to Boris Shefir and his wife, but RT’s further suggestion that the property may have been intended for Zelensky or his family relies on circumstantial evidence and an anonymous lawyer’s assessment. INR Report: Based on an…

BRICS brings together countries with different political systems, competing strategic interests and, in some cases, serious disputes with one another. Yet rather than collapsing under those differences, the grouping continues to expand, raising a bigger question about the emerging world order: can nations cooperate economically and politically without submitting to a dominant power? INR Report: Based on an analysis by Dmitry Trenin for RT,…

By just about every metric, Ukraine is on the ropes. From the lack of adequate air defenses, growing budget holes, and crippling corruption, to the shortage of manpower on the front, the Kiev regime’s prospects are grim. At the very least, this is the end of the beginning. In the meantime, Europe wants Ukraine to fight to the last Ukrainian. · CrossTalking with James Jatras, Mats Nilsson, and Marko Gasic.

Had former Chancellor Angela Merkel and her successors remained true to Helmut Kohl’s vision, then the AfD might never have become Germany’s most popular party, so its astronomical rise is entirely their fault. Putin was asked about the AfD’s recent landslide victory in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt on the sidelines of this year’s BRICS Summit in Delhi. While politely declining to address the topic directly, he nevertheless said that “all…

Scientists have identified the largest newly formed impact crater yet discovered in the solar system, after comparing images captured by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. The 222-metre-wide McGetchin crater appears to have formed during a rare collision in 2024, providing researchers with an unusually fresh laboratory for studying how major impacts transform the lunar surface. INR Report: Based on reporting by RT, with findings cross-checked…

Russia’s Foreign Ministry accuses the UN Secretary-General of siding with Ukraine and its Western allies over Bucha. India reiterates that Russian oil imports serve its national interests as the US Congress approves a bill proposing 100% tariffs on buyers of Russian fuel. Russia’s election chief highlights this week’s parliamentary vote amid heightened tensions, while RT interviews the leader of the Rodina party on his approach to Ukraine’s…

Set on an exceptional 3,035sqm (more or less) in the heart of Waiuku, this spacious five-bedroom family home combines privacy, versatility and convenience. Featuring generous living, extensive storage, double garaging, workshop and cellar space, the property offers outstanding flexibility for families, hobbyists or tradespeople. Expansive grounds provide room to enjoy, develop and make your own, all just minutes from Waiuku township. !Image…

Be the first to enjoy this beautifully crafted three-bedroom, two-bathroom home by respected local builder Bosanac Builders. Designed for modern living, the spacious open-plan kitchen, dining and living area flows seamlessly to a generous outdoor deck, while the primary suite features a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite. With a double internal-access garage and quality finishes throughout, this brand-new home offers easy-care living in the thriving…

Positioned in an established Pukekohe street, this substantial four-bedroom, two-bathroom multi-level home offers exceptional space for family living and entertaining. Multiple living zones, an office and a large games room with bar provide outstanding flexibility, while the kitchen and dining area flows to covered outdoor entertaining overlooking the swimming pool. A private, versatile home close to Pukekohe’s shops, cafés, schools and…

Discover relaxed family living at 18 Glennron Lane, Waiuku. This well-presented four-bedroom, two-bathroom brick home offers two separate living areas, a spacious master suite, open-plan kitchen and dining, and seamless flow to a sunny outdoor patio. Set on a fully fenced 683 sqm section with double internal-access garaging, it offers space, practicality and easy living close to Waiuku’s schools, shops and amenities. !Image Text · Bedrooms:…

Built by respected Navigation Homes and backed by a Master Build Guarantee, this beautifully presented four-bedroom, two-bathroom home offers generous modern family living. Two separate living areas provide flexibility, while the spacious open-plan kitchen, dining and family zone flows seamlessly outdoors. With a walk-in pantry, master suite, sheltered patio and double internal-access garage, it combines quality, comfort and easy-care living in…