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Pukekohe High School senior students have again earned a significant number of valuable tertiary scholarships for study in the years ahead. The range of financial grants from many tertiary providers totals well over six figures allowing these students a sound financial start to their academic pathway. In each case they recognise the hard work and application displayed at secondary school. One thoroughly deserving recipient is year 13 student…

Bees are the world's most numerous and arguably most essential livestock. Going quietly about their buziness in farms and gardens all over the country, honey bees are directly responsible for earning us billions of dollars in gross domestic product. They make honey, of course, but more importantly they pollinate horticultural and specialty agricultural crops, and by pollinating clover they help supply the nitrogen which keeps our pasture…

Most New Zealand's will know Andrew Bayly as a community man and a local MP, only a few will know the other side of his life, the Andrew Bayly who is an adventurer. He has climbed mountains, both here and internationally. Trekked to both the North and South Poles, a feat that gains him a place in an exceedingly small club, as he is one of only 140 explorers who can make this claim. As a father, he loves to share his passion for adventure, and…

Famous for its long keeper onions, former champion rally car driver, Possum Bourne and its sports facility, Park Raceway, Pukekohe is a vibrant town with a rich melting pot of diversity, culture and plenty of things to see and do. Founded in 1880 with large areas of volcanic land, Pukekohe’s main rural activity is market gardening known for its large vegetable growing industry and is one of the only areas in the Auckland region that can grow…

The recent Grand Opening of Stroud Homes Pokeno Pukekohe branch was well attended from interested parties both locally and further afield. The partly fun day with refreshments and activities for the kids was designed to show the new building approach that Stroud Homes offers those wanting to build a quality home at a very affordable price. “It was a successful Grand Opening, with a lot of interest from both locals and non-locals. We were able…

The nation’s most prestigious and competitive polo event, the BMW NZ Polo Open will be held at the Auckland Polo Club, Clevedon on Sunday 21st February. 2021 will mark the 44th year for the renowned NZ Polo Open that is cemented as a summer highlight on New Zealand’s sporting and social calendar. Despite this year with Covid-19 and the current border restrictions Lucy Ainsley, Event Director is confident the event will be one of the best yet.…

When Whitecliffe art graduate Rachel Allen choose her theme for her end of year exhibition, little did she know that real life would indeed imitate art with the events of 2020 as a real-life virus swept the world. What was going to be a full-on year of creativity in the Whitecliffe studios, surrounded by an abundance of supplies and resources became a year of adaptation and compromise in makeshift home studios. “The year has totally been…

A series of photos from the Papakura Rotary Santa Parade on 6 Dec 2020. Photos by Poppa G's Pictures.

A series of photos from Last Night Festive Fun in Papakura on 10 Dec 2020. Photos by Poppa G's Pictures.

‘[This] has been the busiest, gloomiest and most exciting fortnight I have ever passed. The war has suddenly left Taranaki and broken out here.’[^1] So wrote Rev Vicesimus Lush, Anglican minister, in his journal on July 19th 1863. Only a month before, he had speculated that the fighting was not expected to ‘extend beyond the Taranaki.’ With war breaking out within his parish borders, rather than hundreds of miles away, Lush stopped being a…

New Zealand has been applauded globally for its apparent success in limiting COVID-19 infections and death. It is true that New Zealanders enjoy liberties in their day-to-day lives that are not available to others around the globe. But a question remains that is relevant to both this pandemic and the next. At what cost was the success achieved? Available evidence suggests that the costs may have been much higher than anticipated and also higher…

We reached Egypt after navigating our way north through Ethiopia and Sudan. Both countries were experiencing political unrest and civil uprising, so it was a difficult journey to say the least! During our drive, we looked at Egypt as our safe haven destination. However, the day we crossed the border at Wadi Halfa, there was a terrorism attack targeting a tourism bus. Our safe haven mindset was no longer! The result was that all tourist spots…

It has been 13 years since we have seen sales hit over 10,000 in a month but that’s what happened last month – against a backdrop of low level of listings. There are a good number coming to the market but the high turnover rate means that there are not enough for the demand that exists. A persistent lack of stock is contributing to the rising house values – this is particularly true of the first time home buyers and investors markets assisted…

The Business Association hopes you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year and an enjoyable and safe break. New Businesses in Papakura We welcome: Totally Chicken in O’Shannessey Street Xuemei Hair Dressing and Beauty in the Selwyn Centre, 182 Great South Road Where to Eat Guide Our up to date Where to Eat Guide is now out and if you didn’t receive a copy in the post, please call the office on 2988996 and we will happily send you out one. …

That’s a very real experience for many who are dealing with addiction. Now I’m not talking about taking your phone to the bathroom, but food addiction. An issue that stems from chemicals that routinely screw with the functions in the brain. And we can break that down a bit further, because what happens in the case of food addiction, actually only happens in the “animal” or hypothalamus part of the brain. That’s the part of your grey mass that…

Choosing a gift this Christmas for a loved one is even more important after such a turbulent year and choosing the perfect gift that really means something is easy if you do it with a gift from Wrights Jewellers. The inviting brightly lit showroom on King St in Pukekohe is the perfect place to find gifting inspiration from exquisite Diamonds to awe-inspiring jewellery designs, fun fashion styles and more, there’s something special for someone…

It’s that time of year again when, for all things, Jolly, Joyful and generally Christmassy - Papakura is your one stop Christmas stop! Having always had always had a strong community spirit, a varied retail base with 24 new shops opened this year alone, and with numerous eatery options, your local town centre has pulled out all the stops to make this festive season the best ever! If you look around town, you will see the wonderful flags and…

What a year, it’s certainly been a ride! I am sure everyone is looking forward to seeing the back of 2020. What started with a hiss and a roar and usual promise of positivity and things ‘better than’, has actually become for many more than usual, a year fraught with illness, financial pressure and uncertainly. In April, for the first time since elocal started, we were unable to physically distribute a magazine. Whatever side of the belief…

The North Island in the centuries prior to pastoral farming and introduced pests were cloaked in a fringe of red from coast to coast as the New Zealand Pohutukawa tree was in full bloom during the months of November to January, from the latitude of 38º south (New Plymouth/Gisbourne) upwards towards Cape Reinga in the north. The species formal botanical name is Metrosideros excelsa, the Metrosideros is from the ancient Greek word ‘metra’ meaning…

When locals Karen and Stuart approached Smith and Sons with what they thought was a radical idea to completely transform their Orere Pt home, they were overwhelmed with the approach and ease that the team at Smith and Sons embraced their ideas and presented them with a plan that was going to work. The multi award winning team at Smith and Sons Pukekohe headed by Lane and Melissa van den Brink operate a proven three step process that ensures…