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I have been mulling over Anzac Day on April 25 this year in New Zealand, my wife will be proudly wearing her uncle’s WW2 medals at the ceremony we attend each year. It’s noticeable, and gratifying the increase in young New Zealanders attending ceremonies wearing granddad’s or grandma’s medals with pride. The service this day remembers all these fine young men and women who gave…

Wild horses galloping through wild country, manes and tails flying as they bound through the tussock, snow capped volcanoes in the background. It’s a romantic image, one that appeals to our love of the landscape and wide open spaces and speaks to the freedom we all yearn for. But the horses of the Kaimanawa ranges have had a long struggle that’s been far from romantic, not only…

On the northern end of 90 Mile Beach lie the giant sand dunes of Te Paki. Down the riverbed and behind the thick shrub, we found ourselves exploring landscapes we never knew existed in New Zealand. Te Paki was once its own island disconnected from the mainland. Over millions of years, sand built up from volcanic activity elsewhere in New Zealand, and the dunes were created.

As we recently marked a year since the first Covid-19 case was reported in New Zealand, latest figures from realestate.co.nz suggest that despite the many challenges of the pandemic, Kiwis’ appetite for property hasn’t diminished. Resilient housing market shows 12.7% year-on-year price growth. The housing market has performed in a way that few people would have expected 12…

There are some people who question the legitimacy of self-defence training for kids. For these people the prevailing concern appears to be that training in self defense, or for that matter martial arts are an acknowledgement that violence exists and that children will in turn be taught violence. In reality, what happens is that when children learn self-defence, they are less…

It goes without saying that if you have two well matched people working for you, then skills and experience are going to outweigh that of just one. But what happens when you combine their skills with the support of even more, their whole families even? Jason Tabrum and Luke Jupp have combined forces for close on a year now to bring homeowners and those looking for a home the very…

As New Zealand rolls out its vaccine program for COVID-19 it must be appreciated that, as in other parts of the world, it is not the silver bullet to return to our lives pre-Covid. What we must urgently address is the need to actually treat COVID-19 in its early stages of infection, before patients end up critical in ICU. Well-read elocal readers will know that ivermectin that…

When Hugh Hewitt was exposed to COVID, his doctor quickly prescribed Ivermectin, which he had not heard of. The use of Ivermectin for COVID is the subject of a great deal of discussion. Dr Pierre Kory is a proponent of its use. A transcript of the interview is reproduced below. HH : As I have told my audience, two members of my production team have COVID. I was exposed last week.…

PCR tests maybe problematic, but you cannot deny excess mortality... or can you?

When you want a new home built, you want it built quickly and without issues. With the team at Versatile Pukekohe, this can happen, and they have the evidence to prove it. Recently the team built a four-bedroom, two bathroom house, in just 10 weeks from start to finish. The house was built from 43 prefabricated panels manufactured in off-site building manufacturer Concision’s…

With its rich limestone architecture, stunning views of the Pacific Ocean from its harbour and most famous for its blue penguin colony sits Oamaru, one of the largest ‘best wee’ towns in North Otago. Oamaru was laid out in 1858 by Otago’s provincial surveyor, John Turnbull Thompson whom named the streets after British rivers. In the 1860s the town discovered riches through…

When you make the decision to build a new home, your choice of building partner is paramount. Do they have a track record of quality builds, exceptional communication throughout the build process and glowing testimonials from happy and satisfied homeowners? With Frame Homes the answer is yes! Frame Homes was established in 1997 by award winning Master Builder and Licensed…

Have you ever wanted to sand that table, build a sandpit for the kids, or cut the hedge in half the usual time but find yourself lacking the right tools or the money to buy them? Well, the clever folks at Waiuku Zero Waste have come up with the solution with the establishment of the Waiuku Tool Library. The idea is much the same as a book library but instead of a book, you can…

There are so many reasons to capture the moment. You can justify this so many ways, however, if you miss that moment, the justification is replaced with just one feeling... regret. “There are so many possibilities when it comes to portraying imagery and that is where experience and creative development comes into play”, comments Tatiana. “Whether it’s images for your business;…

Looking for land? Keep missing out on house sales? Subdivisions all sold out? Your answer may be in your own back yard! Are you in an established home, with a good sized section? Ever wondered if you could subdivide something off your farm that would give your son/ daughter/family member a chance at home ownership? Come in and talk to the professionals at Jennian Homes because we…

The recent Powhiri held at Papakura High School to welcome its new principal Simon Craggs was both moving and a reflection on the proud and passionate nature of every pupil, staff member and school community member associated with Papakura High. Something that Simon felt keenly when he accepted the challenge of becoming the new leader. He brings with him a wealth of education…

Are you considering building a new home in the Franklin area and have a few questions? We have the answers and can help you build the perfect home for you and your family or for your next investment. The build journey can be challenging, so below is a guide to building a new home in the Franklin area, and making the journey a little bit easier. Navigation Homes know how exciting…

Wild Bunch drag racing is strong and its return is in its second year and is starting to dominate the drag racing calendar. Back in the late eighties/early nineties at Champion Dragway (now Meremere Dragway), a new class of quarter mile drag racing was sweeping the nation – WILD BUNCH! This class essentially took the street appearing two door saloon car and stuffed it full of…

So much has happened since I wrote my last column for the February edition that it’s hard to know what on Earth to focus on both internationally and here in New Zealand. In the February edition, I expressed the view that Donald Trump was the worst US President in my lifetime. And since then we have seen Trump’s impeachment, for the second time, this time for inciting the…

I have a secret to confess: I have an unusual respect for Don Brash. Believe me; we don’t always see eye-to-eye. As a sixth-generation Kiwi, whose family’s early survival in New Zealand was in no small part due to the good-will and manaakitanga of the iwi on whose tribal lands they settled, I find his dismissive attitude towards Māori culture particularly offensive. …