September 2021

When the recent Master Builders Auckland and Coromandel awards were announced, Wenny Lubbers owner of Versatile Builders Pukekohe had every reason to be pleased. Not only did every entry that he showcased come away with an award, but his entry in the New Home $450,000 to $600,000 category won the team a coveted Gold Award for a high-quality personalized build that was completed…

So, here we are back in lockdowns. Different levels for Auckland to the rest of the country and different rules for the levels. Families and businesses are at breaking points and frustration a plenty about the situation. Swiftly introduced emergency powers in 2020 continue to give the Prime Minister and the Director General of Health immense autocratic authority that raises…

Dr Sam will take you back to December 2019 and highlight some of the key concepts that have been used to FUEL this crisis.

Has the CDC admitted there is a problem with the PCR? What is everyone dying from? What is the Delta variant? What about Covid antibodies?

We all knew another Level 4 Covid 19 lockdown was coming across New Zealand and each lock down brings out new or past hobbies to help pass the time. No matter how much the news told us it was coming, I guess it was always a matter of time as the whole world seems to be going through similar madness from a Covid perspective as well as racial, political and climate change topics.…

I received another reminder from my Government to book my Pfizer mRNA shot

This year’s Counties Cycle Classic will for the first time include a high speed criterium race at the Pukekohe Motorsport V8 track on Sunday 10 October 2021. Run by the Rotary Club of Pukekohe, it will be the Classic’s fifth outing which is now run entirely on the iconic racetrack. The Criterium kicks off at 9.15am before the main races get underway at 10.30. The Crit is a…

With all the changes wrought by Covid, many people who lost their old jobs are looking towards setting up a small business and contract their services to established businesses. Most importantly you need to do it right from the start, otherwise a year down the track you could be in trouble with Inland Revenue. We are happy to talk to you about how best to set up your new…

A Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads out there from the Papakura Business Association and we hope you have a fantastic day. NEW BUSINESSES IN PAPAKURA: We welcome i-Fix Computing who have opened up in East Street and Martial Fitness who have opened up in East Street as well. We have had 26 new businesses open up in Papakura since the beginning of the year. WWW.PAPAKURA.CO.NZ …

Last Month the electricity in various parts of the North Island was deliberately turned off on Monday evening 9 August. The finger-pointing and blame-game started early the next morning and has been the topic of conversation and media attention for the past week. It is not over yet and nor should it be. The official investigations are under-way. My August elocal article talked…

In my late teens I spent time hunting in the bush around lake Waikaremoana. Off the forest tracks, I stood in places that I was sure no man had ever stood. In unspoiled bush, there is a sense of peace and quietness so tangible, that people often catch themselves speaking in whispers, just as they would entering an ancient church. It seems like the presence of God hangs in the air…

The numbers of inquiries about property listings have surged over the course of this lockdown and signalling a big increase in interest. It has been stronger this level 4 lockdown than in the level 4 lockdown of last year and despite being in level 4 neither buyer nor sellers have been deterred. Confidence has remained in the market, and many people are more optimistic this time…

Auckland born Monique Laloli spends her workdays editing the photos of high-end real estate in New York City; with many of these homes belonging to the rich and famous. She has worked on many properties including a 1930’s Long Island estate that once belonged to the Vanderbilts and Whitneys. Decorated with an amazing degree of opulence, the asking price was $27 million. Earlier…

Symbolising new beginnings and transition, Christchurch’s ‘Cardboard’ Cathedral has stood as a unique and stunning structure since its creation in 2013 following Christchurch’s devastating earthquake in 2011. Christchurch’s original cathedral was a slow process that was on and off for years due to funding until its completion in 1905. It was built by Jamieson and Sons, renowned…

It’s thought that it was Mark Twain who said, “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” It’s become a commonplace phrase for describing the persuasive power of numbers, especially statistics, when used to strengthen someone’s argument or point of view. As National’s spokesperson for statistics, I can vouch for the important role that statistics play in…

Once again, I feel compelled to write about house prices. Why? Because it is the most important cause of social distress in New Zealand today, and that by a large margin. There would still be social problems if house prices were half their present level, but they would be vastly more manageable – child poverty would be much reduced, mental health would be better, there would…

The troubles of the world as we know it, are now a constant in our life at present, with Covid and its new variant Delta sweeping the world, which will never be the same again. Gone are the things we have taken for granted all our lives, like getting on an aircraft and flying wherever we wish in the world to new and hereto unknown adventures! Now, I for one have a distinctly…

Banking risk is not often talked about or discussed in mainstream media and this in part is a man-aged form of media spin designed to ensure the public that all is OK in the world of banking. Whenever a banking CEO or Treasury Minister faces the media the narrative is very predictable in that promotion of certainty in the banking sector is a given. No one wants to undermine faith…