Last week, elocal published Kiwibank’s latest economic update. On paper, the outlook suggested a fragile but emerging recovery. But for many New Zealanders reading it, that assessment landed very differently. · The reaction was immediate and, in many cases, blunt. “Fragile? It’s fked… I don’t know where they get recovery underway with all the closures and job losses. It’s horrendous.” · That response, while raw, reflects something increasingly…

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 |…

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…

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…

A former senior National Party minister has launched a scathing attack on New Zealand First, calling on his former party to “extricate themselves from this grisly coalition and declare war on New Zealand First”. Chris Finlayson also cast doubt on whether the current coalition government will last through to the next election, pointing to growing tensions between National and NZ First. · Those tensions have intensified following the release of…

It is hard to convince anyone they need to change when they think nothing is broken. The story of the emperor’s new clothes captures it. The whole court agreed the emperor was splendidly dressed. A child had to say he was naked. New Zealand’s public service has the same problem. My recent report Who runs the country? argues that ministers should appoint their chief executives, with statutory protections for the career service below. · The…

New Zealand has been approached by the United States to join a potential multinational effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy shipping routes. · The passage has been largely shut since the escalation of the Middle East conflict, sending shockwaves through global oil markets and raising concerns over energy security. · According to reporting, the Trump administration has instructed US embassies to lobby…

Some observers will inevitably ask whether New Zealand could be experiencing similar trends beneath the surface. While no direct comparison has been established, the question is likely to gain traction given New Zealand followed a broadly similar vaccination timeline and public health approach. If comparable data patterns were emerging locally, it would raise serious questions about monitoring, transparency, and whether long-term outcomes are…

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…

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…

US President Donald Trump has announced 25% tariffs on EU-made cars and trucks, accusing the bloc of breaching a trade deal reached last summer but yet to be fully ratified by EU lawmakers. The move constitutes a 10% hike from current 15% levies on the automotive industry. Announcing the decision, Trump urged European car makers to move their manufacturing to the US, saying that such cars would not be subjected to increased tariffs. · “I am…

Andrew Korybko · Absent a deal with Trump, which Putin could be further induced to agree to if Trump promises to reduce US pressure on some but not all of these countries, Russia might lose all 15 of these partners and possibly even more with time. · It was assessed shortly after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s capture that “The ‘Trump Doctrine’ Is Shaped By Elbridge Colby’s ‘Strategy Of Denial’”, which argues that the US now prioritizes…

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…

Russian journalist Vladimir Solovyov has accused Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of betraying the interests of her own voters by following the EU line on Ukraine and Russia in an interview with Il Fatto Quotidiano published on Wednesday. “I don’t have any problem with Signora Meloni,” Solovyov said. “Italian people, they have problem with Signora Meloni. Donald Trump, he has problems with Signora Meloni.” · The TV host claimed Meloni had…

The US countdown for Iran to make a deal continues amid the Hormuz Strait blockade, while Donald Trump claims hostilities have ended as he looks to bypass congressional approval needed to wage his war. Despite the crippling US embargo on Cuba, Washington imposes new sanctions on key industries of the island nation while the US president says he could position an aircraft carrier off its shores and force it to surrender. Russia's Africa Corps…

The Berlin youth wing of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) has suggested abolishing marriage in Germany in favor of cohabiting partnerships. · At present, marriage enjoys constitutional protection under Article 6 of the Basic Law. The motion titled ‘Down with the patriarchy, even if it feels romantic’ was presented late last month ahead of a conference of the SPD’s Berlin branch scheduled for May 8 to May 9. According to the Berlin Young…

By Tarik Cyril Amar, a historian from Germany working at Koç University, Istanbul, on Russia, Ukraine, and Eastern Europe, the history of World War II, the cultural Cold War, and the politics of memory · Sovereignty, as defined in international law, is both crucial and complex. In the real shark-pool world of geopolitics, it is not hard to spot: if you have the ability to rule at home and resist attack from outside (any outside), then you are…

The US-Israeli war on Iran has already been “terminated,” and the Trump administration believes it does not need an extension from Congress to continue the fighting, the Associated Press has reported, citing sources. The report comes as a deadline mandated by the 1973 War Powers Act rapidly approaches. The legislation limits any military action launched by the president without congressional authorization to 60 days. · The White House insists…

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 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 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. · -…

Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 2 Garaging 1 Floor Area 128 m2 Total Area 128 m2 Description · Brand-new 4-bedroom home in the fast-growing Hunua Views community. This modern single-level design offers open-plan living, stone benchtop, heat pump and internal access garage, with no rear neighbour backing onto a reserve for added privacy. Close to schools, parks, walkways and future Drury Town Centre. Easy motorway access and strong growth ahead.…