Not sure how many of you were up before dawn thins morning, but those involved with the creation of Pukeahu – the national War Memorial Park in front of the carilon tower in central Wellington – and directly above the Arras tunnel – were up at 4.30 this morning for a blessing and lengthy welcome of the tribes to the land on which sits the most…
I saw something amazing on TV tonight. No, not the X-Factor with only 2 judges, and no, not the Batchelor with a bunch of simpering blondes preening over a well packed 6 pack. And, sadly, no, not a repeat of Casanova on Prime, supposedly set in Venice but actually set in Dubrovnik (the giveaway: how many hills do you have to climb in Venice?!) although that…
Seems like the ghosts of Nick Smith anti-RMA efforts are coming home to roost in his kauri trees already. You may remember that a few years ago (2009), the Eye of the Fish posted an article “Why does National hate trees?” in which the changes to the RMA were discussed, under the RMA “Streamlining” Bill. John Key’s government was very quick to pass legislation that banned…
Since Scoop posted a top-secret document online, via Peter Dunn, I’ve been trying to make sense of what NZTA and the Mayors of our cities, are up to. In the end, i figured that the only way I could make sense of the discussion was to make my own maps. The lack of coordinated and articulate maps from NZTA is either deliberate, or by accident. If…
I can’t believe how long and how beautiful this summer has been. Brings on a severe disinclination to sit inside and blog, I must say… Normal transmission (if there is such a thing) may be resumed shortly. May be. Snapped this moment from the foreshore the other day (oh, to have a cottage that close to the sea, and with such views to die for!). The…
I’m still trying to get to grips with how to publish prodigiously here on the Fish, as my esteemed predecessor did, and thinking of articles – and actually writing them, are two very different scenarios it seems. For instance, today in the Dom Post the front page of the World section notes that “Better buildings needed as cyclones move south”, which at first seemed totally relevant…
While I haven’t really got the faintest clue what the real deal is with Wellington’s proposed Convention Centre (and ensuent Hilton Hotel), given that we have had no news except for one article saying that the Cable St site was no longer being looked at, and a waterfront Wharf was instead (come on you guys – WTF is going on??), then instead we should talk about…
Waitangi Day, and thoughts of nationhood… Does New Zealand need a new flag? I believe so, yes. That sort of goes without saying – our present flag is an anachronistic, tired, too same-same as Australia, rag of cloth that bears little relationship to our modern nation. The fact that athletes so happily compete under the sign of the silver fern, than under the NZ ensign states…
Seeing as there is a lot of discussion on the best way to house NZ’s growing population, and how to cope with increasing housing unaffordability, it seems like an appropriate time to post this picture. Some things never really change. Photo taken in 1937 with a lovely device (not so sure whether it would pass Health and Safety guidelines now though…) to place your baby in…
So the National Party’s pet pit bull, Nick Smith, has launched the first attack on the RMA last night in Nelson. According to Smith, the RMA has been the cause of 40,000 houses not being built, and has cost taxpayers 30 billion. As well as that, the RMA apparently adds on about $30,000 in cost per house. Wow. It sounds terrible. Let’s delete this rogue legislation…