I returned from holiday last week to the welcome news that Countdown, followed by New World will, in response to consumer demand, be plastic bag free by the end of next year. It is a great start and reflects hard work and feedback by many individuals...... Read More

Honesty lacking   I dislike it intensely when people present opinion as fact. Councillor Greg Sayers, in his column last week, firstly presented one person’s opinion, in what was essentially a gossip column, as some sort of review of...... Read More

Recently I was reminded of the time when former Rodney District councillor John Kirikiri said that if a particular pedestrian crossing project did not get underway soon (I can’t recall exactly where it was), he would head down there with a tin...... Read More

Voter turnout in New Zealand elections is woeful but there are signs that a stronger showing by Labour could get more people out on polling day; there is a feeling that this time, it could be a tight contest. The three Meet the Candidates sessions that...... Read More

It has been six years and 10 months since Rodney Hide visited Wellsford and informed us all we were going to be dragged into the Auckland Supercity, whether we liked it or not. Nobody has seen Hide nor hair of him since. We were told that we would have:...... Read More

Hardly recognisable Come election time, political candidates are fond of having their faces emblazoned on billboards all around the electorate. Alas, Rodney MP Mark Mitchell must wonder if the investment is worth it.  While rubbing shoulders with...... Read More

Damage wrought Gareth Morgan’s research claims that most people vote tribally, as if they were backing a sports team, regardless of how their party is performing. National Party loyalists, though, should really reflect on the damage the government...... Read More

Finally, winter is almost over. I know some people like winter, but I’m definitely not one of them. August is the toughest winter month for plants. It seems that Mother Nature likes to test the theory of evolution by throwing everything she has...... Read More

When your pets are constantly scratching it is unsettling for the whole family. Unfortunately, most skin conditions take time to sort out completely. Nevertheless, there are some very good medications, which can provide almost instant relief from the...... Read More

So I’ve been a little holiday piggy, waltzing around in a bikini, drenched in sun cream and barefoot on beaches, while all of you guys have been freezing your knackers off hiding under puffer jackets and umbrellas! That wasn’t very sporting...... Read More