As far as cost blowouts go, this is a big one, and heads should roll. We here at the Fish have written about the old Town Hall a few times over the years, and last time we wrote we noted that “Since the town hall was closed in 2013 for strengthening, the cost of the project has gone from $43m, to $60m, to $90m. The final…
Fish
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nemo
4 Min Read
You may have noticed that there is a general election coming up, and the amount of hot air increasing from all sides. Billed as the battle of the Chrises (Chris’s? Chrisis? Crisis?), I’d venture that it is a lot more serious than just a two-way stand-off of Chris H vs Chris L – its actually a Mexican stand-off with Chris B in it as well, and…
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nemo
1 Min Read
Talk about a NewsFlash ! Wow – the Shelly Bay development, that no-one seemed to like or want, has just been cancelled. Not postponed, or sidelined, or put on the backburner for a while – the developer Ian Cassells has sold the site to everyone’s favourite hobbit, Lord Jackson of Underhill. No, seriously folks, that is big news, and I think probably also fantastic news as…
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nemo
4 Min Read
(Updated – see more info at end of post). In a recent news story on The Post, which may not have appeared on the Stuff, there was an article on a proposed new building on Customhouse Quay in Wellington. You may (or may not) have seen it, as Post seems to be splitting / abandoning Stuff, as their two websites now become very different beasts –…
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Guest
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The Architectural Centre was founded in Wellington in 1946 and set off at a cracking pace – starting architecture and town planning schools, mounting the era-defining project Te Aro Replanned and launching its journal Design Review within its first two or three years. It was the foundation stone of Wellington modernism. Over the years it has been a forum for the likes of Plishke, Cranko, Sutch, Gatley, Athfield, Walker,…
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nemo
1 Min Read
In the news today, the Post reports that Kapiti Council have agreed on new Density rules for their larger urban areas. That will mean that Paraparaumu will heavily densify in the centre, while Waikanae and Paekakariki will be allowed to densify to slightly lower heights. I imagine that this will cause quite a ruckus. “The new changes mean buildings up to 15 storeys would be enabled…
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nemo
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Sad news, but not entirely unexpected. Friedrich (Fritz) Eisenhofer has passed away, at the splendid ripe old age of 96. NZIA has sent out a small note of his funeral, but to be honest he deserves a bloody great big obituary – and probably a book as well – and I’m probably not the person to do this. Many of you will have known him better…
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Guest
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A few initial thoughts on National’s transport plans for Wellington, from a fresh new author on The Eye of the Fish – Captain Haddock. Captain Haddock writes: “This morning National have released their transport policy. With regards to Wellington there are 3 or 4 notable points Cancelling Bus improvements In this morning’s Post, Chris Bishop is saying “the focus should be [on] better buses for Wellington”. Yet,…
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nemo
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I’m all in favour of cycleways – they are a great addition to the city, and may even allow me one day to ride a bike in Wellington again. It is a process that is long overdue, although many car-driving persons are up in arms, as this delivery of cycleways is also going hand in hand with the abolition of some on-road car parks. Bound to…
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nemo
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Right now Wellington is undergoing hearings on what may be the most important discussions on the future – the Hearings on the proposed new District Plan. There have been a number of these Hearings, which have looked at General District Plan matters, Suburban matters, Heritage aspects, and in the current hearing, the City Centres. The outcome from these Hearings will affect the city looks, works and…