What is meant by Social Licence to Operate? · In regard to the WRC, social licence to operate means having the trust of the voters or ratepayers to govern on their behalf. · Currently in New Zealand we have democratic systems of local government which provide the councils with their “Social Licence to Operate” by way of elections where all ratepayers have the right to vote for candidates of their choice. · Elections and Candidates · Elections…

A Follow-Up to elocal’s Op-Ed: “New Zealand’s Supermarket Illusion: Why Prices Aren’t Falling and Why They’re About to Get Worse” · The response to today’s op-ed has been immediate and telling. · Across the country, readers are recognising the same pattern: Prices remain high, relief isn’t flowing through, and the system feels increasingly out of balance. · The frustration is real. · But so is something else. · A growing conversation around…

Up to 200,000 women and girls were forced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army between 1932 and 1945. Last night, a six-member Auckland local board had to decide whether their memory could be marked in a Takapuna park, with the Japanese Embassy’s formal opposition sitting on the table in front of them. The Devonport-Takapuna Local Board voted 4-2 to refuse a bronze statue offered to the Korean community for their own cultural…

Overview · New Zealand’s economy is showing signs of recovery — but the improvement remains slow, uneven, and highly exposed to external shocks. · After a prolonged downturn through 2024–2025, recent data suggests the country has moved off the bottom. However, the recovery is still in its early stages, with multiple structural and global pressures limiting momentum. · Growth: Modest and Below Potential · Economic activity has lifted slightly,…

In our latest release “The Fall of the House of Biotechnology”, I began by saying it was among the most important articles we have published. One subscriber wrote back saying “If it is so important why can’t you say it in one sentence?”. This was an interesting question, because I realised that we live in a one sentence age, where our leaders and multinational corporations entrap us with empty slogans like “safe and effective” which are…

Source: By Alex Krainer · On Monday, 27 April, Britain’s king Charles III came to Washington for a four-day state visit to the United States hosted by President Donald Trump. His “majsesty,” is also known to his fans as late Jimmy Saville’s BFF and the brother of Jeffrey Epstein’s BFF Andrew, formerly known as prince. · Yesterday, Charles graced the joint session of U.S. Congress with an inspiring speech during which he found it appropriate to…

NZ Fuel Watch update from Dave Trotter, tracking tanker movements and fuel supply positions across New Zealand. · National Overview · Current shipping data shows no meaningful increase in inbound fuel activity, with vessel schedules remaining thin and increasingly spaced out. The emerging pattern suggests longer gaps between shipments, particularly in key North Island ports. · Tanker Schedule by Port · | Port | Vessel |…

There’s a growing anger across New Zealand and it’s not hard to see why. · Scroll through any community page, any comment thread, any local discussion group, and the pattern is unmistakable: people are fed up with food prices. They’re not just frustrated they’re angry. · And the assumption driving that anger seems logical on the surface. · Fuel prices have come down. So why haven’t food prices followed? · But here’s the uncomfortable reality:…

Fly London · There’s a reason some shoes get worn once… and others become everyday staples. · Fly London sits firmly in the second category. Not because they follow trends but because they solve something most footwear doesn’t: comfort that works in real life, without losing its sense of style. · This season’s standout, the Flymol Brown Zip-Up Leather Knee High Boot, delivers exactly that. Soft leather, a clean, flattering silhouette, and a…

It happens in a split second. · A crunch. · A scrape. · That sinking “Uh ohh…” feeling in your stomach. · Whether it’s a car park mishap or a serious collision, the stress can be overwhelming. But in Pukekohe, there’s one simple piece of advice: · Keep calm and call the experts. · For more than 30 years, Classic Auto Body Panel & Paint Ltd has been the trusted name in collision repair across Pukekohe and the greater Franklin region. What began…

Vladimir Zelensky © Beata Zawrzel / NurPhoto via Getty Images · The public was given a rare opportunity this week to see how the Ukrainian wartime economy, much praised by the media, actually operates. And everyone knows the saying about not knowing how the sausage is made. · Western media has hailed Ukraine for being highly innovative in fighting Russia, both in frontline tactics and the development of technologies, primarily drone warfare.…

Emerging micro-sensor technologies raise questions around surveillance, autonomy, and future control systems · The Reese Report · Smart Dust originated as a military-funded research program, primarily supported by DARPA, with the aim of developing rapidly deployable sensor networks for battlefield environments. · The core function of such systems is detection. Specifically, detecting individuals without their awareness. As a result,…

Fall of the Cabal Official · !Why Comey · Image from original article · Yesterday James Comey, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 2013 until 2017, was indicted, arrested and led before Court. · What had happened? · On May 15, 2025 James Comey ‘knowingly and willingly made a threat to the life of the President of the United States’, by posting this: · 86 is a code used to ‘get rid of’ someone, literally saying to put someone…

Abu Dhabi’s break with the oil cartel is less about barrels than power – testing Riyadh, helping Trump, and redrawing Gulf alliances · By Murad Sadygzade, President of the Middle East Studies Center, Visiting Lecturer, HSE University (Moscow) · © Getty Images / Buena Vista Images · Although the United Arab Emirates has tried to present its upcoming exit from OPEC and the wider OPEC+ framework as part of its sovereign energy strategy and…

Washington’s proposed initiative signals a shift from crisis response to long-term strategic positioning in one of the world’s most critical energy corridors _elocal report on the research document IRAN AND THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ: A Four-Pillar Analysis of History, Law, Strategy, and the Record of Disruption authored by  MoonGeezerTalk | moongeezertalk@gmail.com | April 2026_ · A critical chokepoint under pressure · The Strait of Hormuz remains…

EU lawmakers have accused the Commission president of inconsistency in foreign policy and failing to curb soaring energy costs · European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has come under fire again in the European Parliament, as lawmakers are accusing her of double standards in foreign policy and failing to shield EU citizens from soaring energy costs. · MEPs from multiple factions voiced their frustration during Wednesday’s debate on…

The US president has for months been urging his Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog to absolve the prime minister, who is facing corruption charges · US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outside the White House in Washington, DC. © Alex Wong / Getty Images · US President Donald Trump has called on his Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is facing charges of bribery,…

The words of Iran's new Supreme Leader in a message to the nation, defying Donald Trump’s threats of a prolonged blockade. Western sanctions are responsible for over half a million deaths worldwide each year.  · That's the shocking results of a new global health study - which adds adverse effects are similar to that of armed conflicts. Moscow says it's ready to supply ASEAN states with oil as the US-Israeli war on Iran spreads…

Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 2 Garaging 2 Floor Area 170.4 m2 Porches 3.4 m2 Total Area 173.8 m2 Description · Don’t miss the opportunity to secure your dream home in the fast-growing Drury area. Located within the exciting new Feldspar Crossing development, this community is set to benefit from significant investment and major new infrastructure. Ideal for first-home buyers, families, or investors, this home is part of a vibrant master-planned…

Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 2 Garaging 2 Floor Area 150.11 m2 Porches 0.9 m2 Total Area 151.01 m2 Description · A Turnkey Fixed-price home & land package offering 4 bedrooms and a rare double garage near the motorway! Stylish standalone home with designer kitchen, open-plan living, walk-in robe & ensuite. In a growing area near new Ngākōroa School (Y1–8), future train station & great access. Includes heat pump and stone benchtop. Act fast! · …

Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 2 Garaging 2 Floor Area 153 m2 Porches 1 m2 Total Area 154 m2 Description · Secure the only Lot with a double car garage in this stage. The price is fixed on this 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom home. Sitting on a 398sqm corner section, with a seamless indoor outdoor flow from the living to the North facing rear yard. Includes stone benchtop to the kitchen, heat pump, landscaping & fully fenced. · Design Specifications ·…

Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 2 Garaging 1 Floor Area 160 m2 Description · Brand-New Spacious Double-Story Corner 4-Bed Family Home | Hunua Views · Step into this modern 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom double-story home with a single internal-access garage – designed for easy, low-maintenance family living. · Enjoy open-plan living, quality finishes, and landscaped outdoor spaces in a family-focused neighborhood with parks, walkways, and playgrounds. · -…