Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: This is what we have to work with

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  • Sacha,

    Tussle for wider power this first time, and first past post, hence the parties. Some smart independents likely in 2013.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    Tussle for wider power this first time, and first past post, hence the parties. Some smart independents likely in 2013.

    Thanks Sacha, this makes sense.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    I'm just wondering why an independent can't win?

    I'm wondering why there seem to be no women in the running, and who might credibly stand in 2013.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Come on down Tim Shadbolt, or should that be come on up?.
    Waddaya reckon Tim? Willing to give it a go?.
    Bit late this time but next time?.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    I'm wondering why there seem to be no women in the running

    Oh, they're running, one glimpse of Rodders and off they went, we've seen how he chucks 'em around on the dancefloor.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Roger,

    What's interesting is that they're both so clearly aligned with the major political parties. The Lord Mayor of Sydney, broadly equivalent I believe, is an independent

    The reason is that Sydney City is geographically tiny and has a population of about 110,000 people. People are under the misconception that NZ local government is small and cities are fragmented, while there are 'big' councils in Australia... however the converse is true. There are over 20 councils in the Sydney urban area.

    Given Auckland's very large geographic area and huge population (by world standards - 1.4 million is very big outside of Asia), it is simply not possible for an independant to fund a campain... or at least very unlikely.

    Hamilton • Since Jun 2007 • 179 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    Thanks Roger. I'd not thought about the numbers/coverage and your right to point out that Sydney City is small - I live less than five kms from the CBD and am not in Sydney City myself.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Given Auckland's very large geographic area and huge population (by world standards - 1.4 million is very big outside of Asia), it is simply not possible for an independent to fund a campaign... or at least very unlikely

    Which begs the question, did we need a Supercity? or is it that as funding a campaign would be prohibitively expensive for an independent it guarantees the job goes to those that already control the purse strings.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Heather W.,

    I'm wondering why there seem to be no women in the running, and who might credibly stand in 2013.

    The other candidates aren't getting anything like the same airtime. As to 2013, perhaps if Christine Rankin gets into Council this time, may well try for top job next time.

    From the Auckland council website the possible candidates are:

    (Listed by Surname, First name, Affiliation)

    AUSTIN Aileen Independent
    BANKS John Independent
    BARR Marlene Independent
    BRIGHT Penny
    BROWN Len Independent
    CHAPMAN Hugh Independent
    CRAIG Colin Independent
    DAVE Nga Independent
    FONG Harry Independent
    GILLIES Shannon
    KAHUI Vinnie
    MCCULLOCH Alan Independent
    MCDONALD Steve Independent
    MORTON Willie TEMNAK
    NEESON Vanessa Independent
    O'CONNOR Phil Christians Against Abortion
    PRAST Simon Independent
    PRESLAND Raymond
    ROSS Mark Independent
    VERMUNT Annalucia Communist League
    WILLIAMS Andrew Independent Progressive Leadership
    WILLMOTT David Roads First
    YOUNG Wayne

    North Shore • Since Nov 2008 • 189 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    Which begs the question, did we need a Supercity?

    Now we ask that question? Well, admittedly people have been saying that all along, but when you put it in the Australian context, it does seem like putting an awful lot of responsibility in the hands of one person. Especially in light of whom that person might be.

    In unrelated news, anyone else notice that Peter Tennent in New Plymouth has been selected as one of 25 Mayors from around the world in the 'World Mayor' 2010? You can vote here, by the looks of it.

    No idea what kind of Mayor he is, but hard to imagine either of the two AKL candidates making this list. Perhaps he could retire in Auckland?

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • SteveH,

    Both Brisbane and Sydney built rail to their airports in recent times as PPPs, and both ran into financial trouble, leading (so I understand and correct me if I am wrong) to the state governments having to bail them out. If those two cities can't make an airport rail link work, we should at least be asking why before we blindly follow.

    The thing with airports is that the people using them have luggage. And when you have luggage you don't want to be carting it 500m to the nearest rail station or dragging it from platform to platform to change trains (or even worse, having to change to a bus). I don't know about Brisbane, but in Sydney the airport link has consistently failed to reach passenger targets and I believe that the reason is that it's just not very convenient when you have luggage. Taxis are far easier, despite the cost.

    So I'm not convinced about the idea of a train service out to the airport either.

    Since Sep 2009 • 444 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    it guarantees the job goes to those that already control the purse strings

    You mean a "small, but rich, pool of talent"?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    The airport train route also allows connection of another chunk of people living and working along the route - which would loop around to connect with Manukau's cbd too.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • SteveH,

    Which begs the question, did we need a Supercity?

    I can't help feeling that part of motivation was to punish the ARC for sinking the waterfront stadium. It does rather stupid to have two independent local councils operating in the same geographic area.

    Since Sep 2009 • 444 posts Report Reply

  • Roger,

    The airport train route also allows connection of another chunk of people living and working along the route - which would loop around to connect with Manukau's CBD too.

    If it makes sense on that basis, then go for it but Sydney and Brisbane airports were not able to generate the traffic to make it viable. Interestingly, there is not a rail link to Melbourne airport despite their excellent light rail system as the the operator of the PPP toll motorway to the CBD had a clause put in the contract banning such a rail link to maintain the road monopoly.

    Hamilton • Since Jun 2007 • 179 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    It does rather stupid to have two independent local councils operating in the same geographic area.

    Only one is local, the other regional - like most of NZ other than the top of the South Island.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Roger,

    In unrelated news, anyone else notice that Peter Tennent in New Plymouth has been selected as one of 25 Mayors from around the world in the 'World Mayor' 2010? You can vote here, by the looks of it.

    No idea what kind of Mayor he is, but hard to imagine either of the two AKL candidates making this list. Perhaps he could retire in Auckland?

    Peter Tennent is awsome, but has too much sense to try Auckland

    Hamilton • Since Jun 2007 • 179 posts Report Reply

  • SteveH,

    The airport train route also allows connection of another chunk of people living and working along the route - which would loop around to connect with Manukau's cbd too.

    One of the issues cited with the Sydney airport link is that it also serves commuters resulting in competition between travelers and commuters for space. And serving commuters was used as an excuse to use existing rolling stock without decent luggage facilities further reducing the attraction for travelers.

    An airport link in Auckland would best serve people who were staying in the CBD (either Auckland or Manukau), but I suspect the majority of those people would be business travelers who would not use the train anyway. Tourists will likely be more widely spread and I think they're better served with taxis and shuttle buses.

    The question is whether an airport link is the best option for expanding the network. I'd argue that there are better options if the goal is to reach the greatest number of commuters.

    Since Sep 2009 • 444 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Only one is local, the other regional

    Actually they are both regional and as have said many times before, what did we need this extra layer of bureaucracy for?.
    If decisions needed to be taken on a regional level then we had the regional council, if we needed local control we had the local councils. In fact, at the time of the first rumours of a supercity I did suggest actually reducing the size and increasing the number of local councils, as we used to have before the last big idea. So how about this. We use the new wards as councils, disband the supercity before it even starts and beef up the powers of ARC.
    Nah, never happen, the whole thing was about getting rid of ARC for not being obedient to central Govt. and reducing the power of local bodies to make way for control by the powers that be.
    Suckers, the lot of us.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • James Butler,

    The question is whether an airport link is the best option for expanding the network. I'd argue that there are better options if the goal is to reach the greatest number of commuters.

    Botany Downs and environs is an obvious choice.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 856 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Botany Downs and environs is an obvious choice.

    Except that in the planning of Botany Downs and environs there was no provision for rail, there is no longer a corridor.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    The reason is that Sydney City is geographically tiny and has a population of about 110,000 people.

    You could also snark that being a Lord Mayor in Australia must have a rather light workload, as Clover Moore is also the local member of the state Legislative Assembly.Perhaps she could give Jim Anderton some tips... :)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • st ephen,

    The Sydney airport line costs an arm and a leg to use compared with the other lines in Sydney. It's also a fair old trek with your luggage to the station from the arrivals area.
    Then you end up downtown with your luggage and guide book surrounded by throngs of commuters and throngs of smack addicts hustling for 'train fares'.
    Of course, Auckland wouldn't be like that, would it?

    dunedin • Since Jul 2008 • 254 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    I found the Sydney airport link bloody fantastic last time I used it. It was a truly novel experience to be in the center of the city 17 minutes after coming through customs, for the princely sum of $6.50. Yes, I did have to wheel my suitcase along a bit, but it was designed for that. If my hotel had been more than a few hundred meters from the train station I could always have caught a cab for a few more dollars.

    It's never going to be the only solution, but for a lot of people it's a good solution.

    I'm amazed how little difference there is in the promises of the candidates. Practically the only thing that divided them seemed to come from Banks impassioned statement that Brown wanted to divide the city up on race. I heard a whistling noise then, and it might just work. Yes, Auckland is the biggest Polynesian city in the world. But it's also still the biggest concentration of white New Zealanders, too, and they're still the biggest voting bloc by far.

    I find it quite amazing that transport really is the number one issue, and virtually to the exclusion of the others. I mean honestly FFS Auckland's bloody easy to get around, I always think that when I get back home from anywhere, even places that have frikken awesome public transport. It's got a bloody motorway right through the middle of it.

    Yeah it could and should get better, but, as Russell says, is that it? Honestly?

    I guess I should be happy that's our number one concern, maybe it is an awesome place after all. Other cities in the world are worried about things like crime, poverty, sanitation, fires, corruption, homelessness. Or do we outsource all that to central government?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Much as I am a great fan of rail I have to agree with those doubting the wisdom of rail to the airport. Most people, I would assume, don't travel by air that much so the additional expense of a taxi or better still, a shuttle to their door, can be justified with all the luggage and the gifts for friends and family. The business traveller would, almost definitely, take a taxi (you get paid how much an hour to sit on the bus?) and that leaves too few to justify the train.
    If, as been suggested, rail was to go beyond the airport and be part of an efficient National passenger/freight infrastructure project, then I would be all for it.
    Maybe, if Joan Hubbard could only remember where she put that sugar sack full of cash and canned Steven's Super Holiday Highway, we could, probably, afford it.
    :-)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

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