An Auckland couple were found equally culpable for nearly nine years of tax evasion and fraud totalling more than $554,000. But while the husband was sent to prison, the judge reduced his wife’s sentence to home detention on humanitarian grounds, saying imprisoning both parents would be too hard on their children. eLocal Report: Based on reporting by RNZ HERE. · An Auckland woman has avoided imprisonment for tax offending after a judge…

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…

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…

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…

OceanaGold wants to extend the life of its Macraes gold mine for another decade, targeting around one million additional ounces of gold. The proposal promises hundreds of jobs and billions of dollars of economic activity, but it also raises a bigger question: when a finite New Zealand resource is extracted, how much of that wealth should be preserved for future generations? eLocal Report: Based on reporting by Tess Brunton for RNZ HERE. ·…

Dr Oliver Hartwich argues Election 2026 is becoming an auction of other people’s wealth, with parties competing over nationalisation, new taxes, subsidies and taxpayer-backed schemes. He warns that weakening property rights and redistributing existing wealth risks discouraging the investment New Zealand desperately needs. With productivity already trailing Australia, Hartwich says the priority should be growing the economic pie, not fighting…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Nearly 3,000 people were killed on September 11, 2001. What followed went far beyond the pursuit of Al-Qaeda, producing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, expanding the global security state, destabilising parts of the Middle East and leaving political consequences that remain visible a quarter of a century later. INR Report: Based on reporting by RT HERE, with additional New Zealand context from official GCSB and US legislative records. · On the…

That's the message from Vladimir Putin ahead of the 18th BRICS summit in India. As the Bloc's member countries have a packed agenda ahead of them. Our team will be on site to provide special coverage throughout the event. The Russian president has already met with Indian PM Narendra Modi. That's as Putin is scheduled to meet with other BRICS leaders whose countries are setting the stage for multipolarity. Houthi forces claim to have seized…

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner reportedly left talks in Kiev surprised by the conduct of senior Ukrainian officials, according to Ukrainian MP Anna Skorokhod. Her account comes as Washington intensifies efforts to find a negotiated settlement after the envoys travelled directly from talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. INR Report: Based on reporting by RT HERE. · US President Donald Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and…

As many as 40,000 Hasidic Jews are expected to travel to the Ukrainian city of Uman for Rosh Hashanah, continuing a pilgrimage centred on the grave of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov. Prayer, communal singing and dancing remain central features of the gathering, which has continued despite the Ukraine conflict and official warnings about the risks of travelling to the country. INR Report: Based on reporting by RT HERE. · Tens of thousands of Hasidic…

Germany's Alternative for Germany has filed a criminal complaint against Chancellor Friedrich Merz after he described the party's remigration policy as effectively advocating ethnic cleansing. The dispute follows the AfD's decisive election victory in Saxony-Anhalt and comes amid an intensifying national debate over immigration, political legitimacy and attempts to restrict the party. INR Report: Based on reporting by RT HERE. · The Alternative…

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…

Educational performance across parts of the developed West has deteriorated substantially over the past 15 years. TrendCompass argues the decline deserves much greater scrutiny, but its provocative suggestion that Western education may be deliberately producing less capable populations goes considerably beyond what the educational data itself establishes. INR Report: Based on analysis published by TrendCompass HERE. · TrendCompass begins with a…

Immaculately presented in a sought-after Pukekohe location, this low-maintenance brick home offers four bedrooms, two bathrooms and two generous living areas across 152sqm. The light-filled open-plan kitchen, dining and living space flows to a covered outdoor entertaining area, while the private master includes an ensuite. With double internal-access garaging, an easy-care section and schools, parks, shops, cafés and Pukekohe town centre within…

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…

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…

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…

Step into effortless modern living with this beautifully finished brand-new four-bedroom home at 32 Rongoa Maori Way. Offering 195sqm of thoughtfully designed space, it features light-filled open-plan living, a stylish contemporary kitchen, two modern bathrooms and double internal-access garaging. Quality finishes, underfloor bathroom heating, excellent storage and easy indoor-outdoor flow complete the package, with convenient motorway access…