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When their children were toddlers, John and Liz van Winden, decided it was time to ensure that they were already planning for their expanding family’s future. “It was important to us that we would be able to provide for their future including university fees,” says John. With this in mind, the couple visited their local New Zealand Home Loans office and discussed the different…

To understand any religion against a modern landscape, you first need to understand the landscape itself. New Zealand is a country with large scale immigration throughout its comparatively brief history, the Maori people arrived by sea followed by the Europeans. In the modern era we have drawn in people from the south east pacific islands, so much so that twenty per cent of…

As the cooler airs and darker evenings herald the arrival of Autumn and winter months, this season’s new styles at Baker’s shoes are sure to warm the cockles of your heart and your toes! Along with the usual winter shades of navy, wine and black, you will find warm pink tones; all with lovely textures and trims. Ankle boots are still popular, and Fiona has introduced a range of…

If you’re looking for a fitness solution that is available at any time of the day or night, where everyone knows your name and you’re always welcome, check out Flex Fitness – the fitness facility on the block, that is incredibly popular with locals and neighbouring fitness fans Auckland-wide. Flex Fitness Pukekohe and Manukau are New Zealand-owned and part of the Flex Fitness…

On June 20, 1994, five members of the Bain family were shot in the head using David Bain’s .22 rifle. The defence argued that the father, Robin Bain, had shot his wife, two daughters and his youngest son Stephen, then committed suicide with the same rifle. The Police charged the eldest son, David Bain, with the murder of all five family members. There are a multitude of issues in…

The choice and quality at Kings Garden Restaurant in Pukekohe is creating quite a stir locally. Many a family has dined out either at Yum Cha, or utilising their takeaway menu to create an evening of tasty authentic, quality Chinese food that leaves them wanting to return and if you haven’t, it is about time you did. Yum Cha is a term in Cantonese which literally means “drinking…

The past 12 months have been a blur for the all-girl team at Counties Customs & Cargo, for all the right reasons! And they have certainly achieved what they set out to, and that is proving their commitment to the local community. It is evident just by judging the increase in workload, that this has been very successful, to the point where the office at 1/23 Hall Street, Pukekohe…

NATIONAL UNITY At last the motto of Hobson’s Pledge, the maxim for which Don Brash has been constantly vilified and satirised in the media, has been accepted by the Prime Minister in her comfortingly inclusive phrase to Muslim immigrants; “We are one people.” No, Ms. Ardern, we will not be ‘One People’ until you and your government return to all New Zealanders the same…

I have no difficulty understanding why many people are strongly in favour of a capital gains tax. They see a minority of New Zealanders enjoying the very good life, living in a luxurious home, going on international trips every year, driving a late model Lexus. They suspect that much of this wealth comes from “unearned” and untaxed capital gains, often on housing investment as a…

New Zealand’s biggest Mother’s Day event, the Jennian Homes Mother’s Day Fun Run/Walk, in support of women’s heart health, is returning to Pukekohe on May 12 – with tickets now on sale. Runners and walkers will set off from Bledisloe Park at 9am, joining thousands of others participating in regional events around the country. The annual event contributes to fundraising and…

If it isn’t broke then don’t fix it and that was the formula for this year’s annual Rebel Round Up at Pukekohe Park Raceway back in February. The organisers tweaked and adjusted things for a smooth running event but the recipe was the same. Fun with old cars and the culture around it all equated to a very successful day. The action packed schedule included live bands, hot rods &…

It is very hard to find words even now to express the shock, disbelief and upset that all New Zealanders, including my colleagues in Parliament and myself, experienced, as we heard the details of the terrible terrorist attacks on the Al Noor Mosque on Deans Avenue and then the Linwood Mosque in Christchurch as they unfolded, on New Zealand’s darkest day Friday 15 March. The news…

The question hung in the air between us ‘So what drew you to the Chatham Islands in the first place? The two pairs of eyes looking back at me widened, the heads nodded together and two voices in unison replied ‘Fossilised sharks teeth’. Kiri jumped up from her chair and disappeared into the farm house returning minutes later with an oblong box. Plonking it down on the table she…

John Scott is a legend in New Zealand architecture circles. A regional modernist who mostly practised in Hawke’s Bay, his life’s works of houses, churches and community buildings have attained near mythical status since his early death in 1992. Despite being so well regarded and so ground-breaking, his practice has never been well documented. This handsome new book is determined…

INGREDIENTS Orange Base: • 185 g butter • 185 g caster sugar • 3 x 60 g eggs • 185 g self-raising flour • finely-grated zest of 1 x large orange Caramelised feijoas: • 900 g feijoas • 150g sugar • 75 ml water Crumble Topping: • 80g butter • 130 g plain flour • 2 tbsp raw sugar • 2 tbsp desiccated coconut • 1 tsp cinnamon PROCEDURE First Prepare the base. Cream the butter and…

Part 2 in a 6 part series looking at the ‘scumbuggering’ that has happened through the years in New Zealand. The Georgian England of the 1800s was a savage regime still attempting to come to grips with the sweeping social changes that had arisen as a direct result of the industrial revolution of the 1700s. A massive exodus of country folk from off the land into the newly…

“Putting in tens of millions of 5G antennae without a single biological test of safety has got to be about the stupidest idea anyone has had in the history of the world.” – Professor Emeritus Dr. Martin L. Pall, PhD[^1] An introductory article about 5G discussed how the potential environmental and health risks of the technology have been almost completely ignored by most media…

Autumn is here, and so are the beautiful sun drenched mornings that have us believing it is still Summer! Take in the sun, the picturesque scenery, the sense of community and the fun, at the annual Mauku Fun Run. What better way to get amongst it with the whanau! Sunday April 7th is when the action begins! Mauku School is the start point for a 5km or 10km run or walk. Race…

One of the things I love best about being involved with elocal is the number of people that call in or email us to tell us about how much they liked reading the last edition and when will the next one be available. The number of calls from outside the area has increased somewhat as our regular readers pass on their own copies to friends, families or neighbours who have moved…

The world’s longest running indoor show celebrated its 70th birthday over the last weekend of January 2019 in Pomona, California, USA. The Grand National Roadster Show (GNRS) didn’t just turn 70; it also enjoyed a very high attendance due to the diverse quality the show offers. Considered to be the greatest indoor hot rod and custom car show on earth, the GNRS attracts visitors…