Island Life by David Slack

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Island Life: I am curious. Yellow?

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  • Rich of Observationz,

    Could the passengers not be transferred in a "sealed bus" from airport to boat without going through customs? That would make the cruise experience better at minimal cost..

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Could the passengers not be transferred in a "sealed bus" from airport to boat without going through customs? That would make the cruise experience better at minimal cost..

    You want them to pass through customs. Means they enter Auckland, stay in hotels, shop, go to restaurants etc.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Ian MacKay,

    Or is the current discussion about Party place a deliberate distraction from other matters of Public Interest such as Rodney Hiding or the Worthwhile other mysteries?

    Bleheim • Since Nov 2006 • 498 posts Report Reply

  • Mike Graham,

    and not all of them are from overseas.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 206 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    Rich: I've been to most of those too, some are decidedly sucky (JFK in particular - but most of the US airport issues have to do with immigration rather than the facilities) - but they don't do deals with banks to keep their competitor's ATMs out, nor are your connections a mile away with a bus that only goes every 20 minutes (I always walk, it's faster), or install 2 expensive talking toilets and a drinks machine in a space you're not allowed to leave when 4 normal non-talking ones could have been built for the same price, or, my fave peeve: you don't arrive in immigration in tears every time from being forced to walk through what appears to be the perfume counter downstairs at Macy's - I swear that new duty free thing is not just supremely tacky, its entrance is like sitting next to that little old lady on the bus who's lost her sense of smell, I have to hold my breath and run

    Mostly though Auckland airport's problem is that travelers are not it's customers, it cares more about the stores it rents space to than us, we're only there on sufferance until we've been separated from our money

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock,

    Has anybody actually MET John Duthie? Why is this man in charge of City Development?

    I understand Jack
    met him once when he was on his way to market. He exchanged his cow for some magic beans John offered him.

    Since that worked out so well for all concerned, I'm more than happy to exchange public property for some 'magic spaces'.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Karen White,

    You end up with queues of passengers along side the cargo sheds waiting to clear Customs/Immigration

    Could the passengers not be transferred in a "sealed bus" from airport to boat without going through customs?

    When I worked for Customs (back in the 80's) an officer would be transferred out to the boat once it crossed our territorial waters - 12mile or so - & process the passengers on board, so that it was all complete before the ship docked. Not sure if this is still the practice, but would make sense to re-instate if it's not.

    yes - it was a cushy number if you could get it!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 79 posts Report Reply

  • Dinah Dunavan,

    We always love arriving home from o/s to Auckland airport. Weather permitting we walk to the nearest bit of grass, take off our shoes, and feel NZ under our feet.

    Sea-Tac comes the closest for that experience. We had a few hours there once, asked a taxi driver to take us to a restaurant for a meal. He suggested we walk across the road instead. We did, but first we walked on the grass and took our shoes off. And watched people arriving and departing. Then we crossed the road and had dinner at a 13 Coins (basic but hearty).

    Dunedin • Since Jun 2008 • 186 posts Report Reply

  • Mike Graham,

    Karen - I don't know if that is still the case or not, but either way it doesn't help the passengers joining the cruise in Auckland.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 206 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    Dinah - I love that walk between the terminals, especially after 12 hours across the Pacific - except for when the connection is running late (I've several nights recently in motels around the airport that have seen better days - AirNZ needs to get its act together - especially when they change flights and don't contact you)

    That walk between the terminals was also where I saw the biggest rat ever

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Joshua Arbury,

    Has anybody actually MET John Duthie? Why is this man in charge of City Development?

    I haven't, and as he may one day be my boss I don't want to bad-mouth him too much, but let's just say this:
    "He has been in charge of city development since 1989".

    Nuff said.

    Auckland • Since May 2009 • 237 posts Report Reply

  • Karen White,

    it doesn't help the passengers joining the cruise in Auckland.

    hah! True enough. Friday brain drain

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 79 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    We did, but first we walked on the grass and took our shoes off.

    Do they not have those satanically evil fire-ants in Washington?

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    I don't want to bad-mouth him too much

    Haven't met the man either, and I'd suggest that one person can seldom do much damage on their own - has to have the buy-in (or at least lack of resistance) from other senior managers and Councillors. Maybe the inside of those sheds does feel way cooler than the outside looks?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock,

    Maybe the inside of those sheds does feel way cooler than the outside looks?

    Yes, we may be doing the man and his uphill salesjob a great disservice.

    However, I'm inclined to think that if it has a beak and quacks, its probably a duck, and not a succulent Christmas turkey full of delicious chestnut stuffing.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • John Farrell,

    Here in Dunedin, cruise liners dock at Port Chalmers, and a train (remember them?) run by the Taieri Gorge Railway brings the passengers to Dunedin railway station - one of the architectural wonders of the country.

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 499 posts Report Reply

  • John Farrell,

    Interestingly, the local city council part owns the Taieri Gorge Railway, and fully owns the Dunedin station building.

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 499 posts Report Reply

  • stephen walker,

    it's a wharf. what is a wharf for?
    to cater to the comings and goings of reasonably large maritime vessels. freight. passengers. ships supplies.
    straightforward.
    it's a fairly decent amount of space facing the harbour on the edge of central Auckland. not being fully used as a traditional wharf?
    ok. put a public square, some grassy areas, trees, sculptures, kids' playground, some mobile food stalls, picnic tables, a canopy on part of it for shade and to keep off the rain. some NICE public loos. even a basic sound shell for concerts, etc., and a place to put a bloody great video screen, should the need arise. and don't ban people form drinking nicely and sensibly. have a kōban, why not, just in case.
    if there is money to be spent, put a kids' miniature train ride around the perimeter. have the council put on small-scale free events featuring local performers.
    oh, and if there is some serious dosh to be doled out, there is the small matter of a unique world-class attraction to be contsructed in the form of a see-through submarine tunnel with a travelator each way and a two-lane cycle track connecting to Stanley Point.

    but, eighty-something million dollars to do up two sheds? wooo, party on dudes.

    nagano • Since Nov 2006 • 646 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    And the party'll die - good ideas stephen W, but the hope of the them?

    John Farrell, Otepoti does some things *so* well...and then there's the phuquing new stadium.

    As an ORC (and Waitaki DC) rates payer, I truly *hate* the concept and look forward to it *never* eventuating.

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • stephen walker,

    actually, the tunnel is the trademarked property of the proprietor
    ;-)

    nagano • Since Nov 2006 • 646 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Seas the daze - I don't mean to carp...

    ...but something is a little fishy...

    I hear the words "Cruise Ship Terminal" and "Party Central" - richly evocative of a golden era!
    Redolent of boom times or just conveniently mentioned in the same context...

    Is there any hard information that there are Cruise Ship visits associated with the brief window of the Rugby World Cup?

    Hasn't Wellington just downgraded its International Cruise Ship terminal to a minimal enterprise reconfigured with a few shops and apartments attached? A private and public partnership of some sort? - Bodes well as a big public earner then...

    By all means open up the waterfont - (take a kid fishing!) - but does anyone have any idea of what John Key's idea of a Party might be? - I personally shudder to think (another round of Pass the Parcel or Party Favours anyone?)

    All he has really done is say "let's buy some already publicly owned land and have a party on it while the RWC is (briefly) on" with no further input or direction - such arrant abuse of power and process...

    Who pays for the "pay for view" access to live TV coverage of the games?

    How does this impact on all the other small businesses - bars, restaurants, food bars, etc that have been promised an alleged huge windfall with the RWC tourist dollars?

    Personally I think we've been sold a pup with the whole RWC concept - and who cleans up the litter?

    Cui bono?

    yrs
    Cur Mud-John
    The Forward Pack

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • David Slack,

    Stephen, it sounds even more exciting when someone else describes it.

    Ian, I had an email from someone today saying of the Party Central name:
    perhaps there was a large sign bearing that legend on the lounge wall of John's Canterbury University flat.

    Devonport • Since Nov 2006 • 599 posts Report Reply

  • stephen walker,

    a stack of Function-Ones in each corner of each of the sheds, one shed for chillout and one for mad stomp, well that could be a goer with some interesting selectors and musicians, but DON'T CALL IT PARTY CENTRAL, FFS.

    eighty million buckeroos? that'll subsidise a fair few years' worth of low-priced gigs. donate the bar profits to a deserving charity.

    nagano • Since Nov 2006 • 646 posts Report Reply

  • Andre,

    F them... Either give us a government-funded Te Papa or not... Wellingtonitis strikes again. "Nah, just keep the sheds". I thought it was April Fools or something. We want a $500 million edifice right nb

    New Zealand • Since May 2009 • 371 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    If NACT were really true to form this would only be done privately - rather than as a party for the boys

    Call me cynical (I don't mind) but party central only says to me that the "boys" here are the ones sitting pretty anyway. Are these guys just a wee bit bored with Euro and Cin Cin? Lets face it, if one can afford to pop down to little ol' NZ for a game or two of rugby they probably don't need a six pack but probably will dine somewhere near their Hotels and location location is a bit saturated downtown, hence the purchase. Still think (cynicism again) it will be a continuation of the Viaduct because that is where Jk and his mates dine.It'll be a party for those boys. So I wont be able to afford it and they wont mind. Sorted eh?

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

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