CityBeat - Te Waha Nui Online

by Myrddin Gwynedd

Superstitions - they’ve been around longer than the old wives themselves, but they still manage to influence us to this day.

Do you avoid walking under a ladder, or touch wood to ward off misfortune? It may not be logical, but underlying these irrational beliefs are centuries of long-forgotten ways of thought.

Superstitions centre around an irrational belief that a specific object, action, or circumstance will indirectly influence the outcome of certain events that occur thereafter. Read more

by Veronica Johnston

Westfield opens its new $210 million 7ha mall in Albany this week.

The 142-shop mall will generate 1500 new retail jobs with 10 theatres, Farmers, K-Mart, New World and onsite parking for 2300 cars.

The new mall is just south of the North Harbour Stadium opposite Massey University. Read more

by Carmen Stella

For many girls an outing to the mall is supposed to be a blissful experience, especially if you have money to spend.

However, this wasn’t the case when I set out to Takapuna mall last Saturday.

It was the first weekend in many that I did not have any dreaded assignments to procrastinate over, so I could actually go out…guilt free. Read more

by Eloise Gibson

An Invercargill man is skateboarding across North America to raise awareness of a rare disease.

Rob Thomson will attempt the 6,500km journey next month to raise awareness of Lowe Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that causes physical and mental handicaps in boys.

The adventure will be nothing new for Mr Thomson, who has spent much of the past year cycling from Japan to Switzerland. Read more

by Niko Kloeten

The fights are scripted, the acting is cheesy and the lycra speedos are vomit-inducing.

But millions of people worldwide still tune in to watch WWE, the world’s largest professional wrestling brand.

WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) is a billion-dollar corporation that owns the Raw and Smackdown television franchises, as well as ECW (Extreme Championship Wrestling). Read more

by Amy Paterson

The never-ending election campaign is starting to get to me.

Almost every night on the evening news we receive an update on which political party leader is winning the ‘race’ for popularity.

I would like to think that I’m an active participant in our democracy - seeking out information so that I can make an informed decision when the day comes to acutally vote. Read more

by Matt Samra

What do Jessica Alba, Nicole Scherzinger and Keanu Reeves have in common?

They’re all half-casts. And they’re taking over fashion catwalks around the globe.

Eurasians in particular are becoming highly sought after in the modelling and entertainment world for their good looks and exotic charm. It’s a scientific fact. Read more

by Aroha Treacher

Mark Johnson’s new book Wasted is a brutally honest autobiography about his battle with drug addiction, homelessness and eventual redemtion.

The reader grows up with Mark.

At the beginning of the book the author speaks as Mark Johnson the young, impressionable child, then later as an adolescent; and eventually as a drug-free, mature, successful businessman. Read more

by Elizabeth Allan

Would you rather have nice footpaths, or neat grass verges?

Or would you rather have both?

Auckland City is spending $30m on upgrading the pedestrian part of our streets this year, and Crummer Rd in Grey Lynn recently got a makeover as a result. Read more

by Jane Sissons

“I love you, bubsie wubsie, sugar pie.”

Many would think this was the vocabulary of a two-year-old, but, unfortunately, it’s what many people in relationships call one another.

Why do we need to express our feelings for someone by inventing horrendously childish and embarrassing nicknames? Read more