Trees
First they came for the trees. Then for the gracious houses and generous back lawns. And finally they came for what belonged to us – our reserves and if they could get their hands on it, some juicy parkland.
That’s been the political trajectory of this Government’s changes to the Resource Management Act and none of it is pretty, especially when it’s so blatantly a pay-off for developers.
Good intentions – and goldfish
Years ago, my then partner, Jane, and I were blessed with perfect neighbours. In those days, neighbours like these were rare.
Today …?
Resisting the Urge
Generally, the immediate response of law abiding citizens to horrible crimes such as the rape and murder of a child, is to sentence the offender, even if not yet convicted, to life imprisonment with hard labour, hanging, or perhaps half-hanging before drawing and quartering.
A great idea – and then it’s gone…
How often have you had the experience of a great idea, lighting up your brain and energising you for a moment? But then afterwards you can’t quite recall it?!
Baby boomers – a mini history
One million baby boomers – and we’re still here…
We boomed when the guns fell silent in World War II. And we’ve been heard and felt ever since. Relatively few countries experienced the phenomenon of the Baby Boom and the countries that did – Australia, the United States, Canada, England and New Zealand, shared a number of social and cultural features.
Sikh and ye shall find
News: Police called – Sikh student’s headphone wires protruding from his bag.
Saw someone suspicious on my morning walk today. I mean, who wears a red towel wrapped around their head for goodness sake – nobody I know. Had a woman with him and she laughs just that little bit too much. Sure sign something’s up. She might be one of his harem. Could be his sex slave – could be his hostage! So I did the only decent thing – called 111.
Alzheimer’s: the real warning signs
Everyone has the occasional lapse in memory, blanking on someone’s name or forgetting where you parked your car. But how do you know when your forgetfulness or muddled thinking is a sign of something more serious, like Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia?
There are 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease below, along with examples of what’s “normal”.
That damned flag!
I’ve been all over the place on this issue. I began by being unhappy with the current New Zealand flag, largely because I could never remember if it was us or Australia who had the extra star. And while this is no excuse for my lazy ignorance, I know some born and bred Kiwis who live with the same confusion. So I was ready for a change until John Key put me off.