August 2021

On the 3rd of March, I published my journey to date with the Three Waters Reforms being proposed by Government. You can see this summary on YouTube. Now, with the 2021 Local Government Conference behind us – the conference where we listened to the Prime Minister and Minister Mahuta and had discussions with a number of Mayors and Chief Executives – it’s time for a further update. …

While there’s a clear case for change in our Three Waters sector, the Government’s plan isn’t compelling, and the model of four regional entities comes with several serious problems. We recognise and understand the need for change. But the proposed solution will end up with more problems than solutions. The benefits of scale are not convincing. Water services are not like the…

Professor Peter McCullough, Dr Reiner Fuellmich, Dr David Martin, Dr Michael Yeadon, and thousands more of our finest experts are pursuing hundreds of lawsuits against the WHO, the CDC, the Davos Group of the World Economic Forum, government officials, and many others for corruption and escalating “Covid19” crimes against humanity. These organisations and their Government and…

What is the link between Covid-19 shots, Cancer and HIV? Watch the video to find out more...

Is all water created equal? Dr Sam explores the benefits and harms of water and what you should do to optimise your health.

Every builder has their own strengths and reasons for why you should build with them. So how do you know which builder will give you the end result in the way you want it? Initially when trying to decide, most people think to ask for more information around these 8 commonly asked questions: 1. Timing of build 2. Communication throughout 3. Testimonials 4. Design features 5.…

It was wonderful to see the level of support locally for the recent nationwide protest organized by Groundswell. Farmers from throughout the region participated and experienced a high level of support from those who honked, flashed lights, shouted out and joined in, all in support of our Farmers. I was surprised through at the seemingly lack of coverage this event got and…

WELCOME TO OUR NEW BUSINESSES IN PAPAKURA Tasi Market on the Great South Road Rapid Facility on Porchester Road 24 new businesses have opened in Papakura this year! CHECK OUT OUR AMAZING MURALS AND CHORUS BOXES IN PAPAKURA Go to www.papakura.co.nz and on the home page – hit the tab saying Murals and Art. We have 24 murals now around Papakura from talented local artists…

Whilst the official cash rate remains unchanged at least for now there are predications that the expected increase forecasted for the end of 2022 may have to be bought forward. This is a tricky balancing act for the RBNZ, in trying to pre-empt a rise in inflation without pushing up the exchange rate too much (and hence dampening exports). This directly affects the housing…

Most of us will have gone to a beach, found a treasured shell chosen for its vivid colours, amazing markings or uniformity of natural design and kept it in a special hiding place, but not many of us will have gone on to collect in excess of 17,000 of them, from around the world. Local man Doug Snook has done just that, and his house is now a veritable museum of all things…

Groundswell NZ is a volunteer group of farmers and rural professionals advocating for our Grass Roots farmers and rural communities. They recently took to the streets in the biggest protest since Bastion Point and converged on all the main centers nationwide in a convey of tractors – pushed to the limit with the number of regulations and perceived unworkable legislation that they…

The Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) is currently New Zealand’s principal law that governs how people interact with natural resources such as our air, soil, fresh water and the coastal marine environment. The RMA also regulates land use and the provision of infrastructure. It is generally accepted across most of the parties in Parliament that the RMA has passed its use-by date…

One of the most amazing aspects of politics in New Zealand in recent decades is the enduring popularity of a Prime Minister who leads a Government which has failed in almost every major policy area. It is indeed a sad reflection on democracy itself that voters seem more impressed by a pretty smile than by the Government’s ability to deliver on its important policy objectives. Too…

Located in the Bay of Plenty region, Rotorua is a city on the Southern shores of Lake Rotorua which it takes its name. As a city that was built in the 1880’s, Rotorua is unusual in that is was neither a port, nor a farming community and has always been a town built for tourists who visited the lakes. As such, tourism still remains a huge part of Rotorua’s economy both…

If you have ever exclaimed dismay at your amount of monthly power bill and wondered how it could possibly be so high, and what you can do to reduce it, you are not alone. Over the next two months, elocal will examine the different components that go into your power bill, what that means for you the end user and ways to best ensure you are getting the most out of your energy…

An elderly neighbour dropped in to see me today seeking an explanation to an emailed marketing blurb she received from Countdown. The front page of the usual specials advertising was “Celebrate Matariki Maori New Year”. I explained to her the current Government had legislated a new public holiday” as a celebration of Matariki, the Maori New Year”. She wasn’t impressed, raising…

Last month we previewed the Hot Rods & Horsepower Show hosted by Pukekohe Hot Rod Club & Napa Auto Parts Dragway. This month we preview one of the cars which will be displayed at this fantastic show in August. Allow us to introduce the B&M/Brizio Project Car 1932 Ford Tudor direct from the USA and now owned by Ian & Iqbal Taylor of the Pukekohe Hot Rod Club. This car was built…

This year's stories were ‘flash fiction’, 300 words in length, and beginning with “I remember”. “The Blossoming of Minerva Stout” Local Prize, Winner: Wendy Craig, Pukekohe I remember what Mother always said. ‘There’s nothing like a funeral, Min, to make you think about your own life.’ I’ve been reminiscing a lot these last few weeks. It was on the Monday after dinner that Rol…

The Nenet people of Northern Russia are nomadic reindeer herders that have lived in the Siberian Arctic since the 12th century. Through a yearly migration of over a thousand kilometres, these families move herds of up to 7,000 reindeer at a time. It is debated whether it is the reindeer that lead the people or vice versa. In such a challenging environment where temperatures…