Artificial intelligence is rapidly improving the brains of robots, but building their bodies remains surprisingly old-fashioned. Hungarian robotics startup Allonic believes the answer could be to stop assembling increasingly complicated machines and start manufacturing them more like biological bodies. eLocal Report: Based on information published by Allonic and additional robotics and manufacturing reporting. · For decades, advances in…

New Zealand’s economy is sending sharply mixed signals. The Reserve Bank has lifted the Official Cash Rate to 2.75 percent as inflation remains elevated, while soaring fuel import costs have driven a 9 percent fall in the terms of trade even as exports remain strong and construction finally begins to recover. eLocal Report: Based on Kiwibank Economics’ First View — Moving on up. Interest rates, construction, and bonds, published 7 September…

WELLINGTON — The NZ Outdoors & Freedom Party ("Freedom") is proud to announce that prominent whistleblower and transparency advocate Barry Young will stand as a candidate for the party in the 2026 General Election. · Barry Young was the database administrator who developed the "pay-per-dose" system for Health NZ. He is better known for whistleblowing when the data showed unexpectedly high post-vax deaths. He was subsequently raided by armed…

ACT is campaigning to end the Waitangi Tribunal’s contemporary jurisdiction, arguing the institution has become increasingly ideological and expansive. Critics say the proposal misunderstands the Tribunal’s original purpose and would remove an important mechanism for scrutinising how government decisions affect Māori rights. eLocal Report: Based on reporting by Giles Dexter for RNZ HERE. · ACT has placed the future of the Waitangi Tribunal…

Labour leader Chris Hipkins says his party will not be intimidated by people holding what he calls “anti-science” views after protesters confronted health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall in Wellington. But five years after New Zealand's vaccination mandates, the political use of that label now collides with a more complicated scientific and official record than existed at the height of the pandemic. eLocal Report: Based on reporting by RNZ…

National says widening access to 5 percent-deposit mortgages will help thousands more New Zealanders into their first homes. But viewed through eLocal’s Hollowing Out of New Zealand investigation, the policy raises a more fundamental question: does helping households take on larger mortgages actually create national wealth — or does it reinforce the financial system that helped make housing unaffordable in the first place? eLocal Report: Based…

Almost 10,000 public servants walked off the job across New Zealand on Wednesday as frustration over pay, staffing and job security spilled into nationwide industrial action. The government says workers have a right to strike but argues the PSA's campaign has become increasingly political. eLocal Report: Based on reporting by Jessica Hopkins for RNZ HERE · Thousands of New Zealand public servants have taken nationwide industrial action, with…

Britain, France and Canada are moving to restrict imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank as international pressure over settlement expansion and violence intensifies. New Zealand has joined calls for Israel to change course but is stopping short of the trade measures being pursued by several of its traditional partners. eLocal Report: Based on reporting by Lillian Hanly and Peter Hutchison for RNZ, with AFP reporting HERE ·…

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…

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…

Alice Weidel has used a combative Bundestag address to argue that Germany’s political and economic model has reached breaking point following the AfD’s dramatic electoral advance in Saxony-Anhalt. Her speech amounted to both an attack on Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s coalition and a declaration that the AfD now expects to translate its growing electoral support into government. INR Report: Based on Alice Weidel’s address to the German Bundestag.…

Australia’s military integration with the United States is reaching far beyond AUKUS submarines, according to reporting cited by RT. The expansion raises questions about how independently Canberra could act if a US-China confrontation erupted in the Indo-Pacific — and what that would mean for New Zealand INR Report: Based on reporting by RT, drawing on reporting by The Guardian and research from the Nautilus Institute for Security and…

AfD’s 43.8% win in Saxony-Anhalt rattled British and EU elites—pledging to end open borders and halt Ukraine funding. Barbara ties the revolt to Germany’s Mittelstand under China pressure, green/nuclear/energy shocks, Carney’s EU dream, and Trump-era peace moves. Barbara Boyd · A Saxony-Anhalt provincial election saw Germany’s nationalist AfD win 43.8% to the next party’s 17.2%, prompting alarm in the British press and among EU-linked elites…

Donald Trump has promised every adult American a US$5,000 “Trump Dividend” if Republicans retain control of Congress in November. The proposal combines tariffs, direct payments and electoral politics — but Trump has yet to explain precisely how a programme potentially costing more than US$1 trillion would be funded or implemented. INR Report: Based on reporting by RT HERE. · US President Donald Trump has put an unusually direct financial…

A renowned US economist, Columbia University professor Jeffrey Sachs, speaks with RT about salient geopolitical developments, with a particular focus on talks US special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner held with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky in Kiev over the weekend.

TrendCompass argues that China’s rise should no longer be viewed simply through GDP, technology or trade. Its more provocative contention is that the real competition is becoming civilizational: what are economic development, technology and political power ultimately being used to build? INR Report: Based on commentary published by TrendCompass in its Key Markets report, 10 September 2026. Read the original HERE · TrendCompass makes a…

As civilians in Russia's Belgorod region come under daily drone attacks, we exclusively report on how hospitals, ambulances and locals are dealing with the casualties. Russia's security service thwarts a planned Ukrainian attack on the British embassy in Moscow. Kiev had planned to use intel to take aim at the UK ambassador and pin the blame on Russia. With the BRICS summit just days away in New Delhi cooperation between India and Russia is in…

Volkswagen’s Osnabrück factory is set for a dramatic change of direction, moving from vehicle manufacturing towards defence production under a preliminary agreement involving the German state of Lower Saxony and private investment. Israeli defence company Rafael is expected to become the first major industrial partner at the site. INR Report: Based on reporting by RT HERE · A Volkswagen factory in Germany could soon become part of Europe’s…

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…

Enjoy the best of village living with this four-bedroom family home on a generous 800sqm section in sought-after Patumahoe. Light-filled open-plan living flows to a sunny patio, while the flat, fully usable grounds offer plenty of space for children, pets and gardens. A large standalone garage provides excellent storage or workshop potential. Right next to Patumahoe School and just a short stroll to the village, this is a superb combination of…

Beautifully upgraded and ready to enjoy, this solid brick four-bedroom home combines quality, space and exceptional outdoor living. A premium Carlielle kitchen anchors the heart of the home, complemented by two generous living areas and stylishly renovated bathrooms. Outside, a private swimming pool with glass balustrades and low-maintenance landscaping creates the perfect setting for entertaining and relaxing. Set in the popular Valley…

Whether you're stepping onto the property ladder, looking to downsize, or searching for a smart investment, 33C Harris Street, Pukekohe offers outstanding value in a highly convenient location. This solid brick, two-bedroom home combines comfortable living with exciting potential to modernise and add value over time. Enquiries/Offers over NZ$460,000 · !Image Text · Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms 1 Lounge 1 Garaging 1 Floor Area 95 sqm (more or…

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…