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Digging into the history of an infamous pharmaceutical scandal. It was said to be safe & effective. Sound familiar?

One of the biggest comments we get when clients come to us is they wish they had come sooner. Being a design and Build renovation company, we can make sure that your wish list is going to fit the budget and we work with you through the entire process. When clients come to us with plans ready to go, they don’t often fit the budget and we have to help clients work through that…

This time last year Bakers Shoes in Waiuku had like many in New Zealand and around the globe dealt with the first 6 months dealing with a global pandemic. National and regional lockdowns were forcing businesses to close their doors to physical customer interactions and amp up their online presence in order to survive. “COVID-19 has slammed us with a whole new way of living to…

Mike Stroud from Stroud Homes in Pukekohe knows the answer to what makes a successful new build. He has been building homes for over 16 years, ensuring every customer was given the very best level of service and in that time has seen plenty of shoddy operators come and go. Even in the current Covid climate where some builders are experiencing extended delays, Mike is confident in…

Scott Bright has always been involved with farming. He grew up on a farm, worked on a farm and has always been involved in the farming industry and its people, one way or another. These days he only has small holding but is actively involved in raising the profile of groups that have sprung up recently to counteract what is being seen as fervent erosion of both common sense when…

I’m anxious waiting to board the ship. I feel my heart beating, trying to explode through my chest. Have I made the right decision? Should I turn back? As I’m waiting, Mum is taking sooooo many photos of me for all her Facebook friends, you know how that goes. Another girl was having photos taken by her dad, so I introduce myself to her. Her name was Georgia from Christchurch,…

By the time this column sees the light of day, the Labour Government – now freed of the constraint of New Zealand First – will have been in office almost exactly a year. And to look at the opinion polls, they are doing a fine job – or at least the Prime Minister is. But the reality is very different. The Government has made absolutely no progress in key areas like replacing…

Every two years, Franklin Hospice holds their famous garden ramble where the public can go visit gardens in the Franklin area. A few years ago, it was decided to try out having a market and festival at one garden location over a weekend on the in between year which proved extremely popular and successful. This year our venue is Winsford Gardens which is a stunning garden…

Communities and councils around the country are starting to make their voices heard around the effects the Government’s proposed Three Waters Reforms will have, with several mayors calling for the programme to be ‘paused’ on the grounds that there has been insufficient public consultation. The Government’s Three Waters Reform Programme was launched in July 2020 and aims to change…

Sex, politics, and religion. When I was growing up my families conversations were always economic, but there seemed to be an unspoken rule that these three topics, were a no-go zone. They may have been too awkward or perhaps they were just subjects to avoid when talking with neighbours. However, in the last fifty years I’ve found that sex, politics and religion contribute a quite…

The most recent twist in the covid-19 saga is forcing hard-working New Zealanders to believe in the story of the ‘deadly virus’ and ‘saviour’ vaccine. This will inevitably mean many will now be forced to choose between their jobs and their sense of autonomy over their own body and health. The death of the elimination strategy has meant that the accelerator has been applied to the…

Zoonotic diseases are diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans and they have been in existence (as any search will yield) since the origin of Homo sapiens 200,000 years ago or, roughly, since Adam. Given a globally increasing population density, where the current total is 7.9 billions, one ought to anticipate an increase in zoonotic diseases of which coronavirus 2…

CHRISTMAS DATES FOR PAPAKURA: Diary these dates Rotary Santa Parade Sunday 5 December at 3 pm leaving from Central Park Chilling in the Park Straight after the Parade in Central Park from 4 – 6 pm Carols in the Park Friday 10 December at 6 pm at Central Park Santa Grotto for free Santa Photos Wednesday 16 December to Wednesday 23 December BUY A $20.00 GIFT…

We all have our fingers crossed that life will return to a new normal whatever that looks like but there is nothing normal about the housing market as it just keeps on rolling! Lockdown or no lockdown the statistics speak for themselves. The momentum for Franklin for the month of August showed to be true with the Median price for Franklin rising to $950,000 up by 33.8% on a year…

So, here we are back in lockdowns. Different levels for Auckland to the rest of the country and different rules for the levels. Families and businesses are at breaking points and frustration a plenty about the situation. Swiftly introduced emergency powers in 2020 continue to give the Prime Minister and the Director General of Health immense autocratic authority that raises…

When the recent Master Builders Auckland and Coromandel awards were announced, Wenny Lubbers owner of Versatile Builders Pukekohe had every reason to be pleased. Not only did every entry that he showcased come away with an award, but his entry in the New Home $450,000 to $600,000 category won the team a coveted Gold Award for a high-quality personalized build that was completed…

New Zealand is shifting to a new period in our Covid response. We are no longer pursuing a strategy of elimination. We need to rethink our economic strategy. National has today released ‘Back in Business’ – the plan that we believe the Government should be implementing immediately, given the unwelcome return of Covid into the community. National believes the business sector…

trojan (n.) — Malware that misleads users from its true intent. Dr Bryan Betty, the Medical Director of the Royal NZ College of General Practice, has let down the nation massively these past 18 months by actively eroding the moral and scientific integrity of the once noble vocation of medicine. Under the watch of this 'Big Pharma' loyalist, and a few others, we have seen the…

Public submissions are now being called for on the COVID-19 Public Health Response Amendment Bill (No 2). The closing date for submissions is 11.59pm on Monday, 11 October 2021. This bill seeks to better reflect knowledge of how long the public health response to COVID-19 may be necessary, to address the reliance of MIQ on the general law and operational decisions, and to ensure…

You may have missed it but the Water Services Act that became law a week ago quietly added to legislation water “partnership” while establishing a framework “to provide transparency about the performance of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater networks and network operators”. Water “partnership” was legalised by a “Te Mana o te Wai” clause, that functions like a Treaty…