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The New Zealand Government still advises all kiwis with an ‘do not travel’ overseas advisory in the wake of the Covid Pandemic that has gripped the world since 2020. So just what are your options for the intrepid Kiwi traveller who has always had the hankering to broaden their horizons or complete that OE. The global situation remains complex and rapidly changing. While some…

By John Fergusson ‘John, come and make up a four.’ My mother called from downstairs. In our Victorian vicarage in a sleepy English village, I was already cozy in bed. My parents had planned a game of bridge with friends, and one hadn’t showed. ‘I don’t know how.’ I loved card games, but bridge was for adults—I was only twelve. That didn’t wash. Mother stalked up the stairs and…

There’s never been a better time to get into your new home. Start your journey now with Navigation Homes, you won’t be disappointed. We have quality House & Land packages available now in Paerata Rise and Tuakau. Getting a jump on the housing market could help you buy sooner, smarter and keep some cash in your pocket. “The advantage of starting early is you can get all your…

Pukekohe Performing Arts (PPA) is a non-profit organisation that caters to the wider community by providing quality productions such as Chicago, Grease, Moana Jr and Madagascar Jr. It’s a place for thespians to come together and do what they love while having some fun and learning a few new tricks. The Harrington Theatre, located at 2 Harrington Ave, Pukekohe has recently…

Since 2010 Ian Buchanan has been offering his clients the benefits of his vast business experience in dealing in both rural lifestyle and urban residential property sales. Ian is well known for his exuberance, passion, and the energy that he always brings to the table. With robust negotiating skills, strong ethical values, confidence and courage, Ian offers property sellers and…

Small businesses have really done it tough over the last 18 months, with numerous lockdowns and long periods of being unable to operate. When all the outgoings have been paid, only then can the business owner take what’s left for themselves. We are a nation of small businesses. They can be found in every sector of commerce and in every industry. They are often referred to as the…

Over the last year or so, I’ve read a lot of books (or more accurately, listened to a lot of books on Audible) on the US political situation – some by partisan authors like Adam Schiff, the Democratic congressman who chairs the House Intelligence Committee and who led those who argued for the impeachment of Donald Trump over his attempt to blackmail Ukraine into helping him win…

We have kissed goodbye to 2021 and are we ready to roll on to a better and brighter 2022, events are still being hampered by Covid 19. The latest one as this was written is the annual Repco Beach Hop at Whangamata. The Whangamata Beach Hop Rock’n’Roll Festival Committee early December to discuss how Repco Beach Hop 22, scheduled for 23rd - 27th March 2022, can operate under the…

The Napier Earthquake – Feb 3, 1931 On the morning of 3 February 1931, the air in Napier ‘had grown still and oppressive’ and the sea was ‘so calm and still’ and a ‘most peculiar colour’, (Wright, 2001). At about 10:47am an earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale struck central Napier and Hastings causing widespread damage and resulting in the deaths of 256. For two and a…

December was a solid close to a strong year for the New Zealand property market. House prices were considerably higher than December 2020, demand and sales activity remained firm, and there was a welcome increase in new listings through November and into December. Median prices for residential property across New Zealand increased annually by 21.5%, from $745,000 in December…

Hasn’t the summer been glorious and weather amazing! We do hope you have had the opportunity to enjoy this time with family and friends. NEW BUSINESSES TO PAPAKURA Wow we have had seven businesses open up in town and we welcome Ahua Beauty Loft on the corner of Broadway and O Shannessey Street Buy your own Car in Averill Street Remax Rural Urban on the Corner of Beach and…

It’s hot! And most people are out and about enjoying all the things that Summer has to offer with little thought to the winter months. But Carlos Ter Huurne, owner of Ignition Firewood, a Drury-based firewood supplier is always thinking ahead and knows that if you buy your wood now you will benefit from it in a number of ways once Winter descends. “Summer is the best time to buy…

The earliest recorded New Year’s celebration according to many sources is thought to be in Mesopotamia, a historical region of Western Asia around 2000 B.C. The celebrations actually occurred during the vernal equinox in mid-March — as this was considered the start of the new year by the calendar at the time. It was an elaborate eleven-day festival that would probably put our…

Last October, Free to Be Church, a group of NZ Church leaders, announced that they would be challenging the NZ government in the courts regarding religious freedom and COVID restrictions. With the implementation of the traffic light regime, things have become worse and the need to address this matter more pressing. “The government has not made the process easy so far,” says…

###Today Jacinda Ardern had her booster shot and warned us all to do the same. If I was charitable I might say that she must be unaware of figures from overseas including Denmark, the UK, Israel, and USA which call the effectiveness of the booster into question. Even the CEO of Pfizer admitted to the media this week that his shot was all but ineffective. More than this, is she…

The REINZ House Price Index fell 1% in December breaking a record 20 consecutive months of house price gains. The REINZ House Price Index fell 1% in December breaking a record 20 consecutive months of house price gains. Annual house price growth reached 23.3% at the end of 2021 from a recent record high of just over 30% in August. House price growth is forecast to fall fast in…

D-Day for vaccinating 5-11 year olds is upon us. If as a parent (or a politician) you do a google search “Is Covid vaccination of 5-11 year olds safe?” you turn up a host of articles not only assuring you that it is safe and effective, but also urging you that it is necessary. First among these are the official NZ government information web pages. If you have doubts and persist…

Today I reviewed my 2021 diary and correspondence and had an aha moment. Up until September most of my exchanges and the press articles I read involved discussion and interpretation of the relative merits of published scientific papers. After that the official dialogue reported in the media subtly changed and started to assert that ‘science’ was on the side of vaccination without…

A lot has been made this year of teamwork, and New Zealanders as a general rule are very big followers of teams. When it comes to choosing someone to present and sell your home in this current market, it makes sense then to choose a real team who understand each other and compliment each other’s strengths to make sure you get results that exceed your expectations. Ryan and…

Nestled in the countryside of Waiuku near Kariotahi beach is a hidden treasure if you are looking for a perfect wedding or party venue that will provide you with a celebration that exceeds your expectations, without the huge costs. Dellrian Gardens, is a botanical oasis set amongst 17 acres of outstanding gardens and farmlands that can see you meandering down pathways, along the…