All articles

From beautiful wedding areas, private functions, birthdays, business meetings, gatherings with friends, coffee groups, celebrations of life and any special occasion, there is always a reason to celebrate at Red Shed. The wide range of stylish, delicious food is cooked fresh on site and can be enjoyed both takeaway or dine-in in our relaxed rural setting. Open from 8.30am through…

In the lead-up to the 2020 general election, the Prime Minister announced Labour will bring the target of 100% renewable electricity generation forward five years to 2030. Renewable electricity You’ve probably heard the terms renewable electricity and green electricity used a lot lately. While there are subtle differences, both terms refer to the fuel source used to produce…

Ensom Funeral Services recognises that each family’s needs are different and, with that in mind, they take the time to prepare a unique and fitting tribute and farewell. It is the emphasis on providing personal advice and assistance to grieving families that sets Ensom Funeral Services apart. The friendly and professional team at Ensom Funeral Services has been part of the…

As this is written, we are “enjoying” the continuing uncertainty of Covid but now with the all-new government imposed traffic light system. Anyway, it’s been sad but totally understandable to see various events coming up either postponed or canceled. I would dread being an event promoter right now playing the guessing game of what level we could be at as to whether or not an…

There are lots of ways of measuring how New Zealand is doing, and none of them is perfect. We stack up very well on measures like life expectancy, unemployment, infant mortality, and car ownership. Not so well on the quality of our education system – an area where we have been going backwards in recent years, at least in comparison to other developed countries and many of the…

NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover used its black-and-white navigation cameras to capture panoramas of this scene at two times of day. Blue, orange, and green color was added to a combination of both panoramas for an artistic interpretation of the scene. On Nov. 16, 2021 (the 3,299th Martian day, or sol, of the mission), engineers commanded Curiosity to take two sets of mosaics, or…

The Commonwealth of Australia was founded on January 1st as six former British colonies became six states with Edmund Barton as the first prime minister. The commemoration was declared at a ceremony held in Centennial Park in Sydney, after a process of deliberation, consultation and debate involving majority votes across all of Australia. Not everyone was allowed to vote, however…

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year and hope you had a relaxing and enjoyable Christmas. Welcome to 2021. WHERE TO EAT GUIDES If you need a copy of our latest Where to Eat Guide – then call the Business Association on 2988996 and we can post one out for you. MURALS IN TOWN We now have over 25 murals in town and we have an Art Trail Map which you can download from our Website…

The year started on a high with the housing market still fizzing from the lockdown of April 2020 and the market was busy. People returning to New Zealand looking for their haven fueled by the reduction in LVR’s which saw an unexpected surge by investors taking advantage of the buying power this gave them. 2021 has seen a reversal in the type of buyers when the removal of the…

Christmas means many different things to different people but at the heart of every Kiwi Christmas is quality time spent with family and friends. This year things could look a little different, but the Papakura Business Association is determined that it will still be a Christmas to remember for all who visit the wonderful town. Tracy Shackleton, the Town centre Manager and her…

The prolific American writer Agnes Mae Pharo (1904-1986) was perhaps most famous for her quote about Christmas. A quote that for me, this year seems to have more meaning than every before. She wrote. “What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal,…

The closest I have been to you was when we jigged side by side in the VIP area of a U2 concert a couple of years ago. I remember thinking how tiny and pretty you were. I am a sensitive empath, and watching the pain in your eyes as you comforted the bereaved and traumatised after the mosque massacre, and White Island. I thought i recognised the same in you. I know your…

Yesterday morning I woke up to some unwelcome news. My best friend from university days has passed away. He was an active fit man looking forward to enjoying retirement. Early on he had a mild stroke, his heart became inflamed and the valves were damaged, unfortunately his immune system was too depleted to respond to treatment. His story is familiar in these Covid times and…

The practitioners at NZDSOS have been accused of spreading information that is contrary to the Medical Council (MCNZ) guidelines on Covid-19 vaccination. It would appear that the MCNZ has forgotten about its own guidelines on Informed Consent that advise doctors to "be open and honest" with patients. It seems this guiding principle has not only been forgotten by the MCNZ but…

How to expand your lending options when subdividing your section. Banks and mortgages are a maze to navigate through. There are now alternative options that specialise in these construction projects allowing you to maximise financial gain. Gone are the days when you bought a quarter acre piece of land with one house on it, mortgage it for 35 years with the same bank and voila!-…

Over the past three years ratepayer-funded Tūpuna Maunga Authority has been on a mission to rid Auckland’s volcanic cones (maunga) of exotic trees – some 2500 in all. In defending its actions, the Authority claims it will replace them with thousands more natives, giving the impression it will “cloak” the maunga in trees. Yet it has become clear there is no intention to return…

Are you looking for something just a little bit special for this Christmas? Either for your own home or for that of a special friend? Whether you need delightfully different Christmas bling for your festive table or a unique gift that has the wow factor you need to check out the range hand picked by Toni Charteris at The Bespoke Living Room. Located at 128 Stan Wright Rd,…

The weather is most definitely hotting up and kiwis up and down the country are planning their summer breaks in anticipation of a summer of relative freedom after the last few months of lockdowns. Carlos Ter Huurne, owner of Ignition Firewood, a Drury-based firewood supplier is also looking forward to a break, but says it’s never too early to stock up on next winter’s wood over…

Preview of a delayed Hot Rods & Horsepower Show & Swapmeet Hosted by Pukekohe Hot Rod Club and Napa Auto Parts Dragway Like most things which haven’t been cancelled totally by Covid restrictions imposed by our government, the Hot Rods & Horsepower Show hosted by Pukekohe Hot Rod Club & Napa Auto Parts Dragway has been delayed. The new date will be the weekend of the 11th-12th…

It may have been a while but walk into Magazine Designer Clothing and you will be greeted with an array of colours, beautiful predominantly New Zealand made clothing, exquisite accessories, and most importantly fabulous friendly staff. The Pukekohe girls Sarah, Lorraine, and Rochelle and Bronwyn and her Hamilton team thrive on helping their customers find the perfect style, no…