Local Opinion

A Depositor Compensation Scheme will come into effect in New Zealand on 1 July, 2025. With this, New Zealand will finally join most of the other countries in the world in having a formal system…

Dead fish Recent reports of dead carp (goldfish) in Lake Te Koo Utu, are not surprising, and of the observation that no native fish were found dead –  that is because there are no native…

After five intense rounds of revision, Waipā District Council’s Draft Long Term Plan has taken shape and it’s now $198 million leaner than when we began in May 2024. Despite those significant cuts, I recently…

Fieldays is over for another year. It was good to have such a positive vibe and to get to talk to so many people – all while getting in a lot of steps. Despite the…

A pyroclastic flow made headlines last week after an eruption at the frequently active Mount Etna — a timely reminder of just how dangerous these volcanic phenomena can be. When I discovered, at age 13,…

Last weekend I was involved in a quick return trip to Wellington for family reasons – a very pleasant one to enjoy Grandparents Day at the college of my two remaining school age grandchildren. I…

For over five years I have written this weekly ‘Faith Column’. Prior to that, I maintained my contribution on a monthly basis. I see it as a privilege to have been invited to offer an…

Last Friday was another busy day at Cambridge Police. I was working front line response with a colleague.  To give you a snapshot, we started the morning attending a sudden death of an elderly male….

The term ‘fake’ news is now an everyday expression. We’re subjected on a regular basis to tsunami levels of concerted and unprecedented misinformation. Spin and propaganda strategies deployed by governments and despotic entities to promote…

Last week a dramatic storm swept through Hamilton and it left its mark. One unlucky trampoline ended up tangled in powerlines, roofs were damaged, fences flattened, and some experiencing a power cut. This happened around…