In the coming weeks, Auckland Council will be consulting on its 10-year budget. As it stands, Mr Goff wants to lock in a “one-off” five per cent increase in your rates, while Watercare is proposing to double your water bill over the next decade. Such...... Read More

The checkpoints that locked down the Kaipara district towns of Kaiwaka and Mangawhai, along with the supercity last month, may have been illegal. Additionally, Police have also refused to confirm that the confusion over the checkpoint boundaries...... Read More

If the weather gets hot and wet, some animal diseases I am on the lookout for are facial eczema, enzootic pneumonia and flystrike. Facial eczema is a disease of ruminants and alpacas that eat enough of a specific fungal toxin found in the plant litter...... Read More

Late summer to early autumn is probably my favourite season; the nights are a little cooler and more comfortable, the days are typically warm and sunny with only sporadic rainfall, the townies have headed back to work in the city leaving the beaches and...... Read More

Tuatara are New Zealand’s own dinosaurs of very ancient lineage. They have remained virtually unchanged since walking with other dinosaurs some 100 million years ago. They are long-lived (50-plus years) and don’t breed until they are 10 to...... Read More

Welcome to Siren, a monthly round-up of key events and issues from local emergency services. In our first report, the issues that so often affect our coast and country in summer are predominant – heavy traffic, tinder-dry vegetation and an increased...... Read More

Here at Homebuilders, we have noticed an increase in children and young people experiencing a range of difficult emotions and to a much higher level than before. Anxiety and anger are on the rise, and parents are worried about how to cope and how to help...... Read More

Hey Coasties! I hope everyone is having a fantastic summer in true Coast fashion. As we begin the year, I hope you have had the opportunity to refresh your mind with new goals and have time to refocus on what really matters. On that note, I would like...... Read More

The earliest known records of cricket in Wharehine were in a settler’s diary for 1865 and 1866.  Considering the first Albertlanders only arrived in 1862, and were busy carving out their first homes, it was surprising how quickly they formed...... Read More

Conversations around health and happiness are common in our industry when we see those who are ‘down and out’ with injury or following surgery.  It is not just physical pain that has to be considered but the impact on all areas of wellbeing....... Read More

Welcome to Siren, a monthly round-up of key events and issues from local emergency services. In our first report, the issues that so often affect our coast and country in summer are predominant – heavy traffic, tinder-dry vegetation and an increased...... Read More

I am partially passionate for a good ole cowboy movie, so I took myself off to the Warkworth Rodeo last month where I had a fabulous day and learnt many new things. Of course, all the usual suspects were there, including those from the farming fraternity...... Read More

Black & white (& grey) Joyce Williams ,Ōrewa Our new suburbs are very smart. So orderly, so consistently modern. I congratulate the planners, the architects, the developers and the council for producing so many kilometres, hills and valleys of uniform...... Read More

Hill Street queues I was hoping through the letters to the editor I could promote my book Hill Street Queues. The book follows my true-life experience of marrying my childhood sweetheart, having two children and six grandchildren, all while queuing to...... Read More

Be prepared A Mahurangi holidaymaker, who had to catch a bus from the Bay of Plenty to Auckland over New Year, was impressed with the driver’s no-nonsense approach to Covid requirements. “When we cross the border, put on a mask. If you haven’t...... Read More

I hope everyone has had a good break over the holiday period. Our experience over the summer months is in marked contrast with what has been happening elsewhere in the world. In this respect, one of the more positive byproducts of the last 12 months...... Read More

Food could become more expensive if the current pattern of urbanisation in Auckland is allowed to continue. That’s the opinion of Rodney Councillor Greg Sayers, who wants food security prioritised over housing and is urging Council to prevent...... Read More

Everyone will now know that Auckland Council faces significant losses in income that will affect its budgets for some years to come. With this has come calls to focus on “core business”. Core business is a matter of perspective. If you’re...... Read More

Light relief Nigel Thomas and Roy Forster, Red Beach Christmas has come and gone but we cannot let it completely go until saying a few words of praise for the residents of Vista Motu and their magnificent free light display they put on over the festive...... Read More