Category Archives: Economics

Antique Antique Shop Owners of Japan

Posted on September 25, 2025 by LivinginPeaceProject

Off The Top of My Head By Paul Murray A few years ago, I was exploring the back streets of the old Japanese city of Kamakura, which was the de facto capital of Japan during the Kamakura Period (1185–1333). The … Continue reading →

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Posted in Antiques, Art, Business, Economics, Funny, Gifts, Hilarous, Historical, Humor, Japan, Marriage, New Zealand, Paul Murray, Photography, Social Commentary, Tokyo, Tourism, Travel, Uncategorized, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Aotearoa AWOL at Osaka World EXPO

Posted on September 20, 2025 by LivinginPeaceProject

Murray Family’s Quest to Locate MIA New Zealand at Expo 2025 Off The Top of My Head By Paul Murray My family and I recently flew to Tokyo on our annual pilgrimage to visit my wife Sanae’s parents. This year. … Continue reading →

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Posted in Adventure, Australia, Bureaucracy, Children, Economics, Education, Entertainment, Hilarious, Hilarous, Humor, Humour, Japan, Karamea, Media, Money, New Zealand, Parenting, Paul Murray, Photography, Politics, Product review, Social Commentary, Tourism, Travel, West Coast | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Trump/Musk Blitzkreig Divides, But Will It Conquer?

Posted on February 17, 2025 by LivinginPeaceProject

Paul Murray’s piece critiques Donald Trump’s ability to distract with outrageous statements, enabling significant behind-the-scenes decisions. This strategy, coupled with Elon Musk’s influence, threatens political independence. The narrative warns against the erosion of democracy and rising authoritarianism, urging the need for balance rather than extreme reactions to social change. Continue reading →

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Posted in Bureaucracy, Canada, Crime, Culture, Donald Trump, Economics, Germany, New York, Paul Murray, Politics, Social Commentary, Social Equity, United States, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Hess Mess: Rudolph the Red-Faced Reichdear

Posted on December 11, 2024 by LivinginPeaceProject

A slightly humorous essay on Rudolph Hess’s failed peace mission to the United Kingdon in 1941. Continue reading →

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Posted in Bureaucracy, Economics, Entertainment, Germany, Hilarious, Hilarous, Historical, Humor, Humour, Karamea, Karamea Ministry of Red Tape, LivinginPeace Project, Media, Nazis, New Zealand, Paul Murray, Photography, Politics, Power, Rudolph Hess, Satire, Social Commentary, Tragedy, War, Weird | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Agent Sells “Unsaleable,” “Munted” House

Posted on May 4, 2024 by LivinginPeaceProject

Creative property blurb attracts unprecedented media attention for dilapidated Seddonville house Munted: This 120-year-old house is in an excellent location on a rise, surrounded by hills and forest and with a stunning view of a waterfall. The garage, sheds and … Continue reading →

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Posted in Advertising, Architecture, Buller District Council, Coal, Community, DIY, Economics, Entertainment, Hilarious, Hilarous, Historical, Humor, Humour, Media, Money, Nature, New Zealand, Parody, Paul Murray, Photography, Product review, Property, Property Brokers, Quotes, Real Estate, Satire, Seddonville, Social Commentary, Social Equity, South Island, Uncategorized, Weird, West Coast | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Virtual Symposium” Wows West Coast Theatregoers  

Posted on February 29, 2024 by LivinginPeaceProject

Off the Top of My Head   By Paul Murray   The stage production “Virtual Symposium,” which was written, directed, produced and performed by local playwright Brendan O’Dwyer, co-director Sacha Healey and a troupe of actors from Karamea closed on Saturday February … Continue reading →

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Posted in Art, Artist, Brendan O'Dwyer, Business, Community, Community-Led Development, Department of Conservation, DOC, Economics, Education, Electricity, Entertainment, Funny, Hilarious, Hilarous, Humor, Humour, Karamea, Karamea Radio, Karamea Radio 107.5 FM, Media, Money, Music, New Zealand, Paul Murray, Photography, Product review, Property Brokers, Radio Karamea, Social Commentary, South Island, Theatre, Uncategorized, West Coast | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How Tourism Sustains Life in Karamea  

Posted on November 2, 2023 by LivinginPeaceProject

Off the Top of My Head  By Paul Murray  The idyllic rural community of Karamea in the Buller District at the the top of the West Coast, is possibly the most remote on Mainland New Zealand in terms of its … Continue reading →

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Posted in 107.5 FM, Art, Artist, Arwen Dyer, Community, Community-Led Development, Conservation, DOC, Economics, Education, Environment, Environmentally Responsible Business, Food, Heaphy Track, Kahurangi National Park, Karamea, Karamea Radio, Karamea Radio 107.5 FM, Mining, Money, Nature, New Zealand, Oparara, Oparara Basin, Oparara Valley Track, Paul Murray, Photography, Radio Karamea, Real Estate, Restaurant, Social Commentary, Social Equity, South Island, Sustainability, Sustainablity, Tourism, Travel, West Coast | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

From Little Things, BIG Things Come…

Posted on May 16, 2022 by LivinginPeaceProject

Karamea Co.Starters Graduate with BIG Plans for Business Success Off the Top of My Head By Paul Murray In the small rural enclave of Karamea in a community ravaged by COVID, seven local entrepreneurial ladies graduated from a 10-week Co.Starters … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Cheese, Co.Starters, Community, Economics, Education, Food, Karamea, Money, New Zealand, Paul Murray, Permaculture, Photography, Social Enterprise, Sustainability, Tourism, Uncategorized, West Coast | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Karamea Property Report 2019

Posted on December 3, 2019 by LivinginPeaceProject

Off the Top of My Head By Paul Murray After almost two years as a land agent here in Karamea at the top of the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand, I have learnt a lot about … Continue reading →

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Posted in Advertising, Buller District Council, Community, Economics, Karamea, Paul Murray, Property, Property Brokers, Real Estate, South Island, Uncategorized, West Coast | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Business Opportunity Knocks in Paradise

Posted on December 5, 2018 by LivinginPeaceProject

Off the Top of My Head By Paul Murray  In the Spring of 2006, German traveller Lena Fischbach happened across a remote Marlborough Sounds lodge, met Kiwi journeyman Mike MacMillan and ended up with two kids living in Karamea at the … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Children, Community, Economics, Environment, Heaphy Track, Kahurangi National Park, Karamea, Marriage, Money, Mountain Biking, Nature, New Zealand, Oparara Basin, Oparara Valley Track, Paul Murray, South Island, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment