For almost four years, three New Zealand children remained hidden in the rugged country around Marokopa with their father, Tom Phillips. The Public Inquiry into their disappearance has now concluded that authorities missed opportunities both to prevent their second disappearance and to bring them home sooner eLocal Report: Based on reporting by Sam Sherwood, National Crime Correspondent for RNZ, and the Report of the Public Inquiry into the…

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:…

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…

The Lake Waikare–Whangamarino Action Plan is intended to improve water quality across one of the Waikato’s most important catchments. But from the perspective of the primary land users who will be expected to implement and help pay for it, the plan risks imposing enormous economic and social costs while failing to address the problems landowners believe are driving the deterioration of the waterways. This “Action Plan” is, in my opinion,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

The United States has publicly acknowledged for the first time that its Space Force has weapons operating in orbit. The disclosure does not reveal what the systems are or exactly what they can do, but it confirms that military competition in space has moved beyond surveillance, communications and navigation into operational weapons capability. INR Report: Based on reporting by RT, with additional verification from the US Space Force and Air &…

Forget the campaign ads. Susan traces two coordinated fronts against Trump’s midterms: a pain machine of diesel prices, Iran, Canada’s tariffs and bond attacks and an AI-apocalypse panic whose paper trail runs straight to London. By Susan Kokinda · This midweek update argues that the midterm elections are being shaped less by campaign ads than by coordinated economic and political pressure: rising diesel prices tied to Ukrainian strikes on…

Russia’s Sergey Lavrov warns that any European attack on Russia would trigger a fundamentally different conflict, while insisting Moscow has no intention of starting one. Ahead of parliamentary elections, RT also examines Russia’s response to Western pressure and speaks with LDPR figure Viktor Bout about the party’s vision. In the Philippines, former President Rodrigo Duterte makes his first public appearance in 18 months as he faces ICC…

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,…

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has cancelled a planned appearance at the United Nations General Assembly in New York as political pressure intensifies at home. The decision follows a severe CDU defeat in Saxony-Anhalt, deteriorating public confidence in Merz and further state elections that could reshape Germany's political landscape. Merz Cancels UN Trip as Political Pressure Builds in Germany · Chancellor stays in Berlin after major CDU…

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…

Families of Israelis killed or abducted on October 7 have released a 12-page dossier arguing that the massacre cannot be explained simply as an intelligence failure on the morning of the attack. Their evidence raises a much larger question: whether years of Israeli government policy helped preserve Hamas, allowed it to strengthen and left extraordinary warnings unanswered before an attack that transformed the Middle East. INR Report: Based on…

Former Ukrainian presidential press secretary Yulia Mendel was prevented from entering the European Parliament building in Strasbourg on Wednesday, where she had been invited to speak at an event advocating diplomacy in the Ukraine conflict. The incident came three days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky imposed sanctions on his former spokeswoman, although the reason European Parliament authorities denied her entry has not yet been…

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…

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…

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 refined family living on Grace James Road, Pukekohe, one of the area’s most prestigious addresses. Set on 940 sqm, this impressive five-bedroom, three-bathroom home offers two generous living areas, a beautifully appointed open-plan kitchen and flexible accommodation ideal for families, guests or working from home. Covered patios provide year-round outdoor living, while double internal-access garaging, extensive parking and a peaceful…

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…