That was energising – and deeply moving. I’ve just come back from the Hikoi – and I feel more Māori than ever before. Yes, I’m probably all Pākeha, but I think that most of Aotearoa is part Māori and part Pākeha these days – we are a mixed blood nation, although still deeply riven in two, whether ethnically or financially. We are definitely a nation of…
Statement from Wellington Mayor Tory WhanauToday I met with Councillors to further discuss our Long-Term Plan amendment in the lead up to official deliberations on 21 November. I remain committed to working effectively and constructively with Councillors to find a solution to our insurance risk following the decision to not sell our airport shares. That includes looking at increasing our debt headroom, so we are better placed…
I’m probably going to lose a few friends over this, but I don’t think the City to Sea Bridge is worth trying to save. As far as bridges go, it is honestly a just a little bit crap. And I’m a little bewildered and bemused by those who are weeping and wailing and kicking up a stink because it is due to be demolished. Let’s delve…
Everybody likes an award. Oscars, Turners, Pritzkers, Bookers, Emmys, Tonys, Baftas, Goftas, Tuis and Taites. The Guardian has just reported on one many of you were probably unaware of, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Library of the Year Award. The prize is not given for most books issued, most efficient overdues collection or best shushing technique, but is in fact an architecture…
Oh dear. That’s awkward. Twas a weekend of weird events and catastrophes. First we had one fifth of our Navy hit a snag – searching for an undersea reef – “I’ve found it Captain!!” and then sink. Ooops. A $100,000,000 oops, it seems. I mean, to lose a ship in battle is one thing, but to lose a fifth of the entire Navy during peacetime is…
Say what you like about Bishop (and I do), but he is fast. Very fast in fact, and not really caring about the ethics or the details, he has announced a massive Fast Track List of proposed projects from around the country, but especially aimed at around Auckland of course. Masses and masses of housing projects, and roads, up there, but of course we are interested…
The Luxon-lead government continues its attack on anything that the Labour Party ever managed to do, with the release today of news about the Kainga Ora housing projects. Most of them, it seems, have been killed off. “Brakes put on more than 370 Kāinga Ora housing developments nationally”. While they are spread out around Aotearoa, most are in Auckland, while in Wellington they note the following…
There’s been a lot of talk about the death of Wellington ever since John Key opened his cat-flap back in 2013. “Wellington is dying” he said, but facing a media backlash, he promptly back-tracked and did an about-face, instead claiming that central Gov did not know how to help make it better. Since then we have had the conundrum of multiple left-leaning Mayors leading an ostensibly…
This is what the Council were discussing last week Te Ngākau Update Council Briefing – September 2024 Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience – Key Approaches: 1. Elevate critical building infrastructure above current and future floodplains 2. Retention and detention solutions that are floodable to provide storagecapacity enabling controlled release into green infrastructure system. 3. Decrease runoff and flooding through nature-based solutions for infiltration and purification, such…
Five and a half BILLION on potholes. There, I’ve said it again. Barmy. The Minister looks like a schoolboy and appears to have an obsession with cars and potholes. Stuff says: “It earmarked $5.5bn specifically for potholes – a significant increase compared to spending in the previous program – alongside $8.6 billion to state highway and local road improvements, $6.4 billion for public transport, and $4.6…