Jane Nees BOP Regional Councillor www.janenees.co.nz Last year gave us a good reminder that disasters can and do happen. The Christchurch earthquakes, the Pike River mine collapse, the extreme flooding events and the Rena grounding remind us that... Read More

Brian Anderson The Western Front www.sunlive.co.nz Councils calculate how much money they need to pay their debts, maintain infrastructure and services and hopefully be able to save for a rainy day. Only then do they see how much they need to... Read More

Andrew Nimick Point Concept twitter.com/andrewnim Some of you may remember a post I did way back when SunLive first launched as it is today, about the use of smart phones in emergency situations. My focus was on ambulance crew and doctors. Having... Read More

Ian McLean Green candidate for Tauranga In the spirit of resilient living, I have been preserving fruit lately. Apparently normal folk don't do this much anymore, although I understand that the Op Shops are doing a great trade in old bottles. So... Read More

The Wild Side by Brian and Claire Rogers Spearfishing is probably the most rewarding form of hunter/gatherer pursuits. Because the spearfisher is stalking his prey in the fish's environment, it seems a much more balanced contest than many forms... Read More

Tree Talk with Peter HaringtonWoodmetrics Regional Manager Government bodies, be they local or central government, are rarely known for bold decisive or innovative decisions. This is a great shame because sometimes opportunities present themselves... Read More

Daz Switalla Flavour SecretsNo.1 The Strand Chef www.no1thestrand.co.nz After all the festivities during the Christmas and New Year period, the gyms have enjoyed increased patronage and many New Year resolutions involve diet and exercise. The... Read More

Laura's screening with Laura Weaser Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. Directed: Brad Bird. Bombs, babes and Tom Cruise looking a little worse for wear - Mission Impossible has dropped the number, added a secondary title and spruced itself up... Read More

Sideline Sid Sports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz Sideline Sid almost laughed out loud when he saw the revised opponent for Money Bill Williams next fight. It is bad enough that the bout in Hamilton is for one of the numerous versions... Read More

Wendy Macphail Employment Law Services How can you cost effectively increase your employee's productivity by 30 per cent? If employees increase their productivity within their work environment, then everyone benefits. The business they work for... Read More

Brent Trail Managing DirectorSurveying Services Ltd Transferable Subdivision or Development Rights allow landowners to take advantage of their subdivision rights without actually losing the land. The purchaser of these rights can gain the ability... Read More

Gourmet Guide by Jo Blennerhassett of The Good Food Trading Co. Good Food sources their meat from Harmony. The lamb legs are easy to carve as they have only the hock bone at the end, not all the way through, which makes them easy to carve and serve. The... Read More