MEGA Issue #11 is now out! Making Eastbourne Great Again in 2026
MEGA JANUARY: EVERYTHING, EVERYWHERE (MOSTLY AT ONCE)
MEGA kicks off 2026 the only way we know how: eyes open, eyebrows raised, and mildly amused by the state of things.
This issue tackles the shared pathway that somehow manages to be finished, unfinished, overdesigned, and confusing all at once. We ask the questions no one seems keen to answer — about safety, fences, colours, surfaces, bus stops, trees, timelines, costs, and why traffic management feels like interpretive dance.
It’s an election year, where calm suddenly feels radical. Luxon steadies, Hipkins recalibrates, Winston loiters with intent, ACT keeps rising, others quietly fade — while Trump supplies the global background noise New Zealand never ordered.
We shine a light on academic priorities, including the transformation of the C-word into a funded intellectual exercise — proof that public frustration can always be repackaged as research.
We take a sideways glance at charities, churches, and commercial empires, asking whether faith is a belief system or just another hobby with excellent tax settings.
Closer to home, we celebrate Eastbourne businesses doing things right — clever butchers, ice-cream-fuelled retail innovation, and new barbers bringing life back to empty shops.
We also call out media narratives that don’t quite match reality, especially when grey photos are published during weeks of sunshine, packed beaches, and traffic jams that say otherwise.
Plus: AI — in or out?
Our monthly cartoon.
Chef Gordon Ramswine’s summer recipe.
Add pigs, paperwork, lightning strikes, and overcomplicated signs — and a reminder that sometimes boring, local, and practical beats loud and chaotic.
Same village. Same humour.
New year.
Still asking the awkward questions.
Visit: www.mega.kiwi.nz...
#MEGAJanuary #AskTheAwkwardQuestions #DaysBayReality #LocalBeforeLoud
Poll: Should the government levy industries that contribute to financial hardship?
As reported in the Post, there’s a $30 million funding gap in financial mentoring. This has led to services closing and mentors stepping in unpaid just to keep helping people in need 🪙💰🪙
One proposed solution? Small levies on industries that profit from financial hardship — like banks, casinos, and similar companies.
So we want to hear what you think:
Should the government ask these industries to contribute?
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59.8% Yes, supporting people is important!
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25.8% No, individuals should take responsibility
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14.4% ... It is complicated
A Neighbourly Riddle! Don’t Overthink It… Or Do?😜
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post if you know the answer and the big reveal will be posted in the comments at 2pm on the day!
If you multiply this number by any other number, the answer will always be the same. What number is this?
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
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