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…

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…

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,…

Immigration is emerging as a sharp dividing line in the 2026 election campaign, with ACT and New Zealand First advocating tighter controls while National, Labour and the Greens warn against policies they say could restrict needed workers or unfairly target migrants. The competing approaches raise a larger question: should immigration primarily meet immediate labour demand, or be managed against New Zealand's longer-term capacity to provide…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

Ursula von der Leyen approaches her 2026 State of the Union address with the European Commission exercising an expanding role in defence, migration, borrowing, digital regulation and support for Ukraine. Behind the institutional language lies a larger question: how much power and financial responsibility is moving towards Brussels, and how effectively are those decisions being scrutinised? INR Report: Based on reporting by the RT newsroom in…

Every Jewish New Year, thousands of Hasidic pilgrims travel into Ukraine to gather at the grave of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov. Their destination is Uman, but behind that pilgrimage lies a much longer and more complicated journey through Jerusalem, Babylon, Persia, the Caucasus, Khazaria, medieval Europe, Poland-Lithuania, the lands of present-day Ukraine and finally the modern State of Israel. An eLocal Feature · Every Rosh Hashanah, an unusual…

On today’s Sanchez Effect, Donetsk Republic head Denis Pushilin argues that corporate profit, rather than Western rhetoric about ‘justice’, remains a powerful force behind the Ukraine conflict. He discusses European politics, Germany’s economic pressures and continuing Western arms supplies, while outlining reconstruction already underway in Donetsk and an ambitious economic strategy extending to 2042.

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 &…

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…

Protesting Romanian farmers clash with police in the EU country's capital, after Brussels imposes an export ban on Romanian livestock. European officials disrupted an agreement between Russia and the US to stop the Ukraine conflict a year ago. That's the latest revelation from Moscow's top diplomat. Nation-wide protests in Syria over a sharp rise of fuel prices turn violent, with government forces reportedly shooting at crowds blocking roads.

The Ukraine war is usually presented as beginning on 24 February 2022: Russia invaded, Ukraine resisted and the West rallied to its defence. But political scientist Ivan Katchanovski argues the real story begins years earlier, with Maidan, the overthrow of Viktor Yanukovych, Crimea, Donbas and Western intervention. His research raises a far harder question: how many Ukrainians can be sacrificed before defending the country becomes…

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…

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…

Positioned in the heart of Waiuku, this well-presented three-bedroom home combines comfort, convenience and easy-care living. The open-plan kitchen, dining and living area flows onto an expansive sun-soaked deck, ideal for entertaining or relaxing. With a family bathroom, separate toilet, dedicated laundry and double garage with extra storage, it’s a great option for first-home buyers, investors or downsizers. !Image Text · Bedrooms…

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…

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…