Articles in ‘Community’

The blue whale has long been considered the largest animal to have ever existed, even dwarfing the biggest known dinosaurs. But now a new species threatens to steal the crown, and upends what we thought we knew about whale evolution. In the Ica valley in Southern Peru, paleontologists discovered 13 vertebrae, four ribs and a hip bone that were absolutely gigantic. They belonged…

Winner of the Franklin Writers Group short story competition: Heather McQuillan from Christchurch Second place: Laura Pendergrast from Ngaruawahia

A Māori woman has initiated a judicial review against the co-governance body Tūpuna Maunga Authority as first respondent, and Auckland Council as second respondent. It is the second judicial review initiated against the Authority and Council in relation to the Authority’s intention to rid Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s maunga of non-native trees. The first judicial review, undertaken…

Recently, I spoke at my son’s school Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting. My two topics of concern were: • Sexuality Education and Gender Ideology in schools • Vaccination as the only approach to deal with viral outbreaks See more at https://www.voicemedia.nz/video/it-s-time-to-find-our-voices The public response has been incredible. Many people are now reaching out for support…

By elocal Staff Lawrence Anthony, a South African conservationist was a man who abandoned a career in insurance and real estate to play Noah to the world’s most endangered species.. Born and raised in South Africa, in the mid-1990s, he bought one of South Africa’s largest game sanctuaries, the 5,000-acre Thula Thula reserve. He added luxury accommodations and fine dining to…

Local MP Andrew Bayly and his youngest son George recently spent time living with the Dukha people of Mongolia. In this, the second of two articles, George recalls their experience of living and travelling with the Dukha family around their grazing lands. We finally arrived in the Khövsgöl region where our Dukha family were located after five days of travelling overland in 4WD…

A tree protection group is calling on Tūpuna Maunga Authority to shelve permanently its plans to rid Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s maunga (volcanic cones) of around 2500 exotic trees, saying it would be irresponsible to proceed in the light of severe slip damage recently suffered on several maunga. Ōwairaka Mt Albert, Maungakiekie One Tree Hill and Ōhinerau Mt Hobson all suffered…

A sophisticated new study has tracked the relationship between early teen social media use and changes in their brains over a three-year period. The novel research found more frequent checking of social media was linked with a greater sensitivity to social rewards, but experts stress the detected brain changes can neither be confirmed as causal or declared harmful from these…

No matter what your age or fitness level you will be more than welcomed and encouraged to participate in the Navigation Homes Fun Run series. After running successfully at the start and end of last year, the new season of Fun Runs kicks off on Tuesday February 7th and every Tuesday after that until late March. Starting at 5pm with registrations, the race kicks off at 6pm…

We have all seen the social media posts of ‘free kitten/puppy to a good home’ sweet, cute, innocent faces looking back at us in all manner of colours and fluffiness. Small, defenseless, ‘presents’ for that child or family member who we want to please. But for Taryn Gibbs, her team at Fur Paws Sake and many hundreds like them throughout the country, the aftermath of that impulsive…

Returning after our Covid Break – the South Auckland Woodturners Guild Christmas shop will be there again from 28 November to 24 December with more than 2000 hand-made items you will love. As in 2020 we will be at 245 Great South Road. That is opposite the Countdown car park, south of the Library and a little south of the Averill Street intersection. This is the only public…

The biennial Garden Ramble supported by Barfoot and Thompson is the largest fundraising event that the Franklin Hospice runs. It helps to provide much needed funds that are needed to to offer hospice care to the Franklin community. Ticket holders get the opportunity to wander around 17 unique gardens, and enjoy the delightful masterpieces created by each of our wonderful garden…

Gut cancers include oesophageal, stomach, liver, gallbladder, bile duct, pancreatic, and bowel cancers. Collectively, gut cancers are the most common type of cancer in New Zealand, with 15 New Zealanders diagnosed each day. Sadly, more than half of those diagnosed will not survive beyond 5 years. Local teacher Kim Sutton knows all too well how widespread and devastating the…

The season has ended on a high for a group of dedicated Franklin United footballers who have taken out the Northern Region Football Under 15’s Conference Championship with a 3-3 draw against Ellerslie in front of a packed Drury Hill. The team is coached by Former Solomon Islands International Captain Henry Fa’arodo and Franklin United Premier Team member Chris Brett and the…

We were delighted to host National Deputy Leader Nicola Willis in the electorate on Monday 29 August. We took advantage of Nicola’s business acumen by inviting her to join the panel for our Women Who Are Leaders / He Wāhine Rangatira event in the afternoon. A free community event open to all businesswomen from commercial and not-for-profit organisations, the afternoon was…

Local elections decide who represents us on our city, district, and regional councils. In some parts of New Zealand, local elections are also held for local and community boards, licensing trusts, and some other organisations. The people elected to local councils get to make decisions about our daily lives and the future of our towns and cities. They set and collect rates,…

Croquet is a sport that involves hitting ½kg plastic balls with a mallet through a series of hoops that are embedded in a grass playing court 32m x 25.6m. Pukekohe boasts its own local club with superb modern facilities that is looking to share its love of the game with new members. Officially formed in 1913, on land behind what is now the Town Hall, Pukekohe Croquet Club moved…

The Youth Parliament programme is held every three years and provides an amazing opportunity for young people aged 16 to 18 years who are keen to make a difference in their communities. Every Member of Parliament around the country gets to select their own Youth MP to represent them and the young people of their local electorate for a six-month community-based tenure, the…

A network of 36 cameras including four automatic number plate recognition devices has provided Counties-Manukau Police with leads in two major inquiries and led to many other incidents being cleared up. Police say the town’s CCTV is proving an effective investigation tool in identifying avenues of enquiry that assists Police and provides reassurance to stakeholders. “Having it…

Last month hundreds of locals turned out to a meeting run by Groundswell at the Pukekohe Indian Hall. Various speakers, including Groundwell’s local man Scott Bright spoke to a rousing reception on a variety of topics, but the message was the same. The people have had enough. The job of the those elected to decision making positions is to represent the people and the people are…