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By any modern political measure, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s announcement that the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement is a “landmark moment” ticks every box of good optics. There are the celebratory adjectives, the breathless timelines, the diplomatic phone calls, and the familiar promise that growth, jobs, and prosperity are just around the corner. But optics are not outcomes. And for New Zealanders who have lived through three…

Although Koi Carp are mainly only found in the Waikato region at the present time, you can bet on the fact that they will spread across the whole country eventually if they are not controlled in some way. Waikato koi rarely exceed 9 years of age. Females average 5.2 years and males 4.6 years of age. An average fish weighs 3 kg. Females produce 100 000 eggs per kg of body weight. A typical female can produce 300 000 eggs annually (or more if…

Michelle Makori, President & Editor-in-Chief, Miles Franklin Media, sits down with Vince Lanci, Publisher of GoldFix and Professor of Finance, to break down a major shift underway in the global monetary system. BRICS nations have launched a pilot for a new gold-backed settlement instrument known as “the Unit” – a wholesale mechanism designed to settle cross-border trade outside the U.S. dollar and the SWIFT system. While still early, the move…

US forces seize a second tanker near the Venezuelan coast. Washington claims it carried sanctioned oil that falls under Donald Trump's blockade. President Putin's special envoy arrives in the United States. Kirill Dmitriev is searching for ways to end the Ukraine conflict with Washington's top negotiators. Indonesia is reclaiming its history - the country's national museum receives thousands of priceless artefacts taken by the country's…

The High Court has ordered the government to temporarily suspend its planned ban due to take effect this week on new prescriptions of puberty blockers for young people with gender dysphoria, pending further court orders. The case arose after Cabinet agreed last month to stop all new prescriptions of puberty blockers, formally known as gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues, until the results of a major United Kingdom clinical trial expected…

Health NZ has released the data for new cancer registrations during 2023. Data by age, sex, cancer type and ethnicity from 2001 to 2023 is now available and can be downloaded (link below) using the Cancer Web Tool. Please note these figures are already two years behind, we don’t yet know what has happened in 2024 and 2025. 2024 figures are not expected from Health NZ until the end of 2026. There are many types of cancer associated with multiple…

The concept of gathering in convivial settings to enjoy a sumptuous feast has persisted throughout the history of humankind. Dating back as far as prehistoric man, the consumption of substantial amounts of food to celebrate the midwinter solstice has been discovered through archaeological finds in locations such as Stonehenge. In the time of the Romans, the winter festival known as Saturnalia began on the 17th December and involved a week-long…

Zoned for high-density residential development with commercial zoning directly across the street, this exceptional 1960s-built home offers a rare combination of development potential, lifestyle convenience, and versatile living—all just a 2-minute walk to Pukekohe’s vibrant town centre. Step inside and discover a home that’s been fully renovated from top to bottom, featuring: · 3 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom, Sunroom, Studio/Rumpus New roofing,…

Prior to the election in 2023 National promised to fix the economic disaster that the Labour Government had left behind and also promised to do away with all race based legislation and stop all talk of co-governance at any level. After seeing the latest figures released yesterday (18th Dec) it is obvious that the policies that the coalition government have implemented are starting to pay a dividend with the GDP figure for the 3rd quarter…

A South Auckland local body election will be re-run after a District Court judge ruled that voting irregularities materially affected the result, raising wider questions about the integrity of New Zealand’s postal ballot system and oversight of local elections. Local Government Minister Simon Watts says he is closely monitoring the case after Judge Richard McIlraith voided the Papatoetoe subdivision result for the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board. …