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Navigation Homes are excited about leading the way in new and fresh designs, meticulous project management and construction to outstanding service. Our homes speak for themselves and are professionally built with you in mind. Founded in 2007 right here in Franklin by Aaron and Michelle Hall, the Navigation Homes franchise has grown to cover the whole country. Now the wheel has…

SATURDAY'S HAKA A POOR SYMBOL OF MULTI-RACIAL SOCIETY This December, world leaders, possibly including Jacinda Ardern, will gather in Morocco to sign the United Nations Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. While a growing list of countries are pulling out - such as Australia, the United States, Croatia, Israel, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary,…

On May 8, 1945, with Germany’s unconditional surrender, Admiral Dönitz, the commander of Germany’s submarine force, ordered a number of specialised cargo U-boats, still at sea, to proceed to foreign ports across the world. In the early 1980s local divers discovered the hulk of the U-196 in Dargaville, sparking a renewed search for those who came ashore in 1945 AUTHOR'S NOTE…

This is the final article in the 1080 series and will look at how 1080 is delivered, any potential revenue losses for NZ, the results after 60 years of using 1080 and the alternatives? Doc employs an aerial dispersal method, usually by helicopter. This method has major issues with accuracy. Pilots use a GPs layout in an attempt to hit targeted areas. This is affected by wind…

Hard to imagine the end of yet another year is upon us and what a year it has been. Media seem to depict a gloomy picture, with house prices set to drop, rates to rise and business confidence at a nine year low, as companies worry about lack of direction in government policies, higher costs, softer demand and weaker profits. Nurses, teachers, support staff all have flexed their…

Money for nothing? Of course, it's not that simple, but it's Claire McArthur's job to hunt down the best possible loan offer for her clients – and generally, there's no charge. Claire is a mortgage advisor with Personalised Mortgages Ltd, a premier mortgage brokering company that assists you to obtain the finance to get yourself into your dream home. Claire can also assist you…

In recent years, primarily at Meremere Dragway, New Zealand drag racing fans have been treated to some of the most extraordinary Top Fuel drag racing thanks to Marsh Motorsport and Mount Shop. Top Fuel is the highest ranked form of drag racing with nitromethane fuel being used to generate the most incredible drag racing experience for fans and racers alike. Due to the volatile…

For all things, Jolly, Joyful and generally Christmassy, Papakura is your one stop Christmas stop this year. Having always had always had a strong community spirit, varied retail base with numerous eatery options, your local town centre has pulled out all the stops to make this festive season the best ever! During the Christmas season, the Papakura Business Association will be…

A shortfall of 900 teachers today: 2,000 plus students without permanent teachers. By 2020 a shortage of 2,500 teachers. Costs driving teachers out of Auckland. Leaky homes! Housing shortages. House prices! The cost of energy: electricity and petroleum. Monopoly and duopoly markets operating with little effective control over pricing models. A billion dollars, annually, for the…

Motown Veteran Michael B. Sutton Launches The Sound of L.A. Entertainment Company with New Distribution Deal with Orchard/Sony. R&B, Pop, Jazz, Gospel and Dance Genres Gloriously Represented with Dynamic New Artists Title: Motown Magic with Veteran Michael B. Sutton Subtitle : Motown Veteran Michael B. Sutton Launches The Sound of L.A. Entertainment Company with New Distribution…

(November, 16th, 2018 - Los Angeles) Dance music fans in Europe and abroad are intimately familiar with singer-songwriter Aneessa from her international club hits “Jamais,” "Superwoman,” “Dance with Me,” “Sur Mes Terres,” “I Can’t Let You Go” and “It’s on You.” Her album last album (released 2015) "Ce soir" racked up two-million streams in Asia alone. Now after a 3-year hiatus,…

For the eighteenth consecutive year the vegetable growers of Franklin will once again show their extreme generosity by donating produce to the annual Christmas appeal for the Salvation army.Which this year will occur on Wednesday the 19th of December Started by the Rotary Club of Drury in 2001 this has become a regular event in the week leading up to Xmas . Three big trucks…

It’s hard to believe that Christmas is nearly upon us which means a lot of us will be out and about over the next month attending events residents travelling away to holiday destinations. It’s a good time to remind ourselves that we need to prepare ourselves and our vehicles to ensure we get there safely. Most of us are nearly in the holiday mode, which often includes enjoying…

As is the case in life it’s the little things we miss that get us into trouble. Being late to pick up your child from kindergarten. Cruising at 108 km / hr having forgotten that it’s a holiday weekend: suddenly reminded by the flashing red and blue and yes they’ve been turned on for you. And it’s all the little things rolled together that influence prices in the residential…

New Zealand was first settled in the 13th century, by Maori, right? Think again. The first people living in New Zealand weren’t masons or horticulturalists, right? Think again. For every library, government department, trust and iwi that tells you their version of New Zealand history, there are just as many alternative historians asking challenging questions, not to mention…

During 2018 there could have hardly been a soul who wasn’t aware that this year is the centenary of the end of World War I. Sadly, and inevitably, it turned out not to be the war to end all wars, but its horrific nature and consequences changed the way conflict was regarded for ever. Living at the bottom of the world, the horror of war is something most New Zealanders are…

From its early origins as farming land and as an undeveloped bush covered district where logs were once milled, the history of Opaheke and Ponga districts has undergone many changes throughout the years. Opaheke is part of the wider Papakura area and also provided two sites for American servicemen during World War 2. Its name literally translates to “the place where the large…

Saturday’s haka a poor symbol of multi-racial society In edition 211 there is an article on medical marijuana, in the ‘looking abroad’ section it talks about Sweden’s choice to have a zero-tolerance policy against drugs which as stated had a backlash of drug related deaths. I am confused why you used a negative example while talking about healthy drug control and use. However,…

We love to have fun in the sun, but it’s often human nature to visit the same tried and true holiday destinations every year. At elocal, we decided to come up with some great island hopping adventures that will give the family and friends a break, at the fraction of the cost of an island getaway overseas. Lucy Mullinger checks out some of the best islands to travel to around the…

New Zealand might seem like a far-flung place isolated from the rest of the world, but we still have our fair share of weird and wonderful mysteries that remain unsolved. In fact, according to a report from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), obtained under the official information act, by Newshub in August this year, there had been 30 reports of UFOs seen in the New Zealand…