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www.elocal.co.nz/signup elocal is a proudly independent, 100% NZ-owned and operated publisher, dedicated to high-quality local content that celebrates the achievements of our local people and businesses, while tackling the social & political issues that affect our communities.

Why Children Should Be Kept Off Social MediaA growing number of countries are drawing a hard line to protect children on...
03/01/2026

Why Children Should Be Kept Off Social Media

A growing number of countries are drawing a hard line to protect children online — and for good reason. Australia has banned social media for under-16s, Malaysia is following, and Europe is actively debating similar laws. The message is clear: the digital wild west is doing real harm to childhood.

Social media doesn’t just waste children’s time — it exposes them to bullying, humiliation, sexual predators, aggressive advertising, and distorted ideas about identity, success, and self-worth. Endless scrolling replaces learning. Online “chats” replace real friendships. Cruelty, not community, is often the norm.

The dangers aren’t hypothetical. Parents are increasingly reporting grooming, coercion, and abuse through games, apps, and messaging platforms marketed directly to children. Even when no crime occurs, constant ridicule and comparison crush confidence and warp development.

This article argues that keeping children off social media isn’t radical — it’s responsible parenting. Childhood is short. Once it’s handed over to algorithms, it doesn’t come back.

👉 Read the full article — link in the comments.

New Zealand’s Energy Blind Spot Could Trigger an Economic ShockNew Zealand has dismantled its own energy security. The c...
03/01/2026

New Zealand’s Energy Blind Spot Could Trigger an Economic Shock

New Zealand has dismantled its own energy security. The closure of the Marsden Point refinery left the country fully dependent on imported finished fuels, exposing us to global supply shocks, geopolitical risk, and currency stress. Successive governments — Labour under Ardern and National under Luxon — have failed to address this critical vulnerability.

At the same time, the global financial system is fracturing. Paper money, paper commodities, and fractional banking promises are colliding with physical reality. If global fuel suppliers begin demanding settlement in hard assets rather than borrowed USD — particularly silver or gold — New Zealand’s import-dependent economy could face a sudden and severe crisis.

Without affordable energy, no modern economy survives. Without strategic reserves, domestic refining capacity, or control over our own natural resources, NZ risks a rapid loss of economic sovereignty and living standards.

This op-ed lays out:
• Why energy security is national security
• How paper finance is failing against physical limits
• What a fuel-for-silver world would mean for NZ
• How Treasury could still act to soften the blow

This is not theory. It’s a warning.

👉 Read the full op-ed — link in the comments.

02/01/2026

Retirement Has Never Been This Much Fun – Acacia Cove Village
“You gain this tremendous sense of independence”

Who says getting older means slowing down? At Acacia Cove Retirement Village, retirement is about rediscovering freedom, connection, and enjoyment. With everyday tasks like maintenance and gardening taken care of, your time is truly your own — giving you the space to focus on what matters most to you. Whether it’s joining a social group, enjoying a swim, or simply unwinding in tranquil surroundings, life here is relaxed, fulfilling, and unmistakably resort-style.

For more than 25 years, General Manager Bruce Cullington has seen firsthand why residents choose to call Acacia Cove home.

"Another thing that people really enjoy coming to retirement villages is that they gain this tremendous sense of independence. They're no longer reliant on, family members to come and, say, mow the lawn or trim the hedge so they can actually get on with the things they want to do, and they just don't feel that they're a burden to their families and friends."

Set alongside the Wattle Downs Golf & Country Club, Acacia Cove Village offers a vibrant lifestyle within a safe, welcoming community. Residents enjoy beautifully maintained grounds, friendly neighbours, and a wide range of activities designed to make each day feel rewarding and carefree.

So why wait? Discover how the years ahead can feel more like a holiday than a retirement.

Enquire today about available villas and apartments.

Acacia Cove Village
131 Wattle Farm Road, Wattle Downs, Auckland
09 268 8522 | www.acaciacovevillage.co.nz
[email protected]

Resveratrol: Hype, Reality, and What the Science Actually ShowsResveratrol — the compound once credited with the “French...
02/01/2026

Resveratrol: Hype, Reality, and What the Science Actually Shows

Resveratrol — the compound once credited with the “French Paradox” — has long been promoted as a longevity and heart-health miracle. But what does the latest science really say?

While early claims that red wine dramatically reduced mortality have been debunked, thousands of studies since then show that resveratrol and related polyphenols still offer meaningful health benefits. Research links resveratrol to reduced inflammation, improved metabolic health, better insulin sensitivity, potential cognitive benefits, and promising anti-cancer effects in laboratory studies.

However, there’s a catch: the doses used in studies are far higher than what food or wine alone can provide. Drinking wine for resveratrol isn’t realistic or advisable, and supplements face challenges with low bioavailability, meaning much of the compound is rapidly broken down in the body.

The takeaway? Resveratrol isn’t a magic bullet for longevity — but foods rich in it (like grapes, berries, peanuts, and cocoa) remain nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory, and genuinely beneficial as part of a healthy diet. Supplements may offer targeted benefits for some people, but expectations should be realistic and evidence-based.

👉 To explore the science in depth, including what works, what doesn’t, and whether supplements are worth it, read the full article — link in the comments.

Are New Zealand’s highest honours being quietly sold to political donors?In his latest opinion piece, Dr Bryce Edwards e...
02/01/2026

Are New Zealand’s highest honours being quietly sold to political donors?

In his latest opinion piece, Dr Bryce Edwards examines a troubling pattern emerging from the 2025–26 Honours Lists: major political donors repeatedly receiving knighthoods and national honours shortly after making large financial contributions to governing parties. The article details multiple cases across National, Act, Labour, the Greens and NZ First, raising serious questions about whether access, influence and recognition are becoming intertwined.

The issue isn’t whether recipients have contributed to business or philanthropy — it’s whether the perception of “cash for honours” is eroding trust in a system meant to recognise merit, not money. Drawing parallels with the UK’s infamous Cash-for-Honours scandal, Edwards argues that even the appearance of donations buying prestige corrodes democratic integrity and public confidence.

When large cheques are followed by personal access to ministers — and then knighthoods — the credibility of the honours system itself is at stake.

👉 Read the full article and detailed evidence by clicking the link in the comments.

For decades, global markets have treated paper promises as if they were the same as real, physical assets. That illusion...
02/01/2026

For decades, global markets have treated paper promises as if they were the same as real, physical assets. That illusion is now cracking — and silver is where the break is showing first.

The current silver spike isn’t speculation. It’s the collision of finite physical supply with massive paper leverage. Global production is capped, industrial demand is rising, and paper claims on silver vastly exceed what actually exists. As investors shift from paper exposure to physical metal, delivery failures become inevitable — and when delivery fails, confidence in the entire financial system follows.

If silver reprices back toward its historic relationship with gold, the shock wouldn’t stay contained. It would ripple through banks, brokers, credit markets, and currencies — the exact conditions that trigger global financial crises. For New Zealand, this would mean imported inflation, pressure on banks, higher costs for essential goods, and delayed infrastructure and energy projects.

Silver isn’t just a commodity anymore — it’s a warning signal.

👉 Read the full analysis by clicking the link in the comments.

Newly released 2023 cancer data from Health NZ shows a sharp and troubling shift: cancer rates among working-age adults ...
02/01/2026

Newly released 2023 cancer data from Health NZ shows a sharp and troubling shift: cancer rates among working-age adults are rising faster than historical trends, with an estimated 8% increase compared to pre-pandemic levels. Similar patterns are now emerging in the UK, Australia, and elsewhere, yet health authorities have offered little explanation or scrutiny. Dr. Guy Hatchard argues this marks a serious public-health red flag that demands urgent, transparent investigation rather than silence or deflection. Read the full analysis — link in the comments.

Something unprecedented is happening in the silver market — and it could trigger a systemic shock.Two major banks are re...
30/12/2025

Something unprecedented is happening in the silver market — and it could trigger a systemic shock.

Two major banks are reportedly short more than 4.4 BILLION ounces of silver, while global annual production is only ~800 million ounces. That means the paper market has sold claims on metal that simply doesn’t exist. Industrial demand already consumes most of the real supply, and if even a single large buyer demands physical delivery, the paper system could break.

This isn’t speculation, and it’s not like 1980. This is institutional-scale naked shorting that threatens a split between paper prices and real, physical silver prices. When confidence cracks, rule changes and cash settlements may follow — while physical silver prices move independently.

👉 Read the full analysis — link is in the comments.

Is “He Puapua” a pathway to co-governance—or a fundamental threat to New Zealand’s democracy?This opinion piece argues t...
30/12/2025

Is “He Puapua” a pathway to co-governance—or a fundamental threat to New Zealand’s democracy?
This opinion piece argues that the He Puapua report, developed under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, lays the groundwork for race-based co-governance that would undermine the principle of one law for all. It raises concerns about constitutional change by stealth, the misinterpretation of the Treaty of Waitangi as a “partnership,” and the growing influence of unelected actors, sympathetic media, and bureaucracy in reshaping governance without public consent. The author contends that scrutiny and debate are being wrongly framed as racism, and warns that New Zealanders should demand transparency, democratic accountability, and an open national conversation before any such changes are advanced.

👉 Read the full article and decide for yourself — click the link in the comments.

2025 has left New Zealand politically exhausted.Veteran commentators from across the spectrum agree: Parliament has spen...
29/12/2025

2025 has left New Zealand politically exhausted.
Veteran commentators from across the spectrum agree: Parliament has spent the year mired in petty point-scoring, culture wars, and performative outrage, while real problems—cost of living, housing, unemployment, declining public services, and collapsing trust—have gone largely unresolved. Despite still looking good on international rankings, the country feels stuck in what many are calling “managed decline.” No party emerged with credibility intact, institutions came under pressure, and public confidence in politics, media, and leadership hit new lows. The dominant mood isn’t anger or hope—it’s weariness.

👉 Read the full, in-depth analysis by Bryce Edwards.
The link is in the comments.

Dark chocolate may be one Christmas treat you don’t need to feel guilty about. This article reviews scientific evidence ...
25/12/2025

Dark chocolate may be one Christmas treat you don’t need to feel guilty about. This article reviews scientific evidence showing that high-cocoa dark chocolate (70% and above) is rich in antioxidants and minerals, supports cardiovascular and metabolic health, and may improve mood and cognitive function when consumed in moderation. It also explains how to choose quality chocolate to maximise benefits while avoiding excess sugar and additives.
Read the full article via the link in the comments.

A new report, Following the Money in 2025, delivers the most detailed examination yet of political donations in New Zeal...
24/12/2025

A new report, Following the Money in 2025, delivers the most detailed examination yet of political donations in New Zealand and raises serious questions about influence, transparency, and integrity. Analysing every disclosed donation over $5,000, the audit shows political funding is increasingly concentrated among a small group of wealthy donors, with governing parties relying heavily on large corporate and high-net-worth contributions, while opposition parties depend more on small donors and MP tithing. The report documents troubling cases where major donations were followed by favourable government decisions or honours, arguing that while much of this may be legal, it is eroding public trust. The message is clear: democracy depends on transparency — and New Zealand can no longer afford to ignore where political money comes from or what it may be buying....

Read the article link in comments

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elocal is a proudly independent, 100% NZ-owned and operated publisher, dedicated to high-quality local content that celebrates the achievements of our local people and businesses, while tackling the social & political issues that affect our communities.