Posts by Sacha
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Don't you go summoning the candyman..
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Carpenter, I heard. Built ornamental eggs and suchlike.
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Hilary, I'm not sure this is a safe place to admit to reading New Scientist .
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Ruaumoko, kia ora!
Pops up in this more popular guise of late, and as the name of the marae at the Kelston Deaf Education Centre. Stomp!
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Here's the original release from North Shore City Mayor, Andrew Williams.
“National Party people with long-time North Shore allegiances have commented to me of their concerns that the government is being hi-jacked by Rodney Hide on this Auckland Governance issue. There are real concerns out there on the North Shore, and this is echoed right across Auckland, that a small group of wealthy elitists with ACT party connections, and with the ears of the Prime Minister, are aiming to control Auckland.
I do not know much about Mr Williams, though he seems to be engaged in a battle with some of the disproportionately-influential eastie ACToids which would colour media positioning as well as his own thinking. Cameron Slater provides an example for those with strong stomachs. It seems unexceptional that fellow right-wingers like Banks, his ex-flunkie Cameron Brewer, Aaron Bhatnagar and co would have better access to Hide than most (though goodwill doesn't necessarily extend beyond the bombays).
North Shore City's official statement after the briefing last week seems conciliatory enough. I suspect there is a lot of pressure coming on from local stakeholders concerned about both process and outcomes. It's all too easy for Mayors to be painted as motivated by sour grapes:
The NZ Herald takes a more constructive attitude to the Auckland reforms that the incumbent Mayors who seem horrified that in future they may only be local community board chairs.
Also found tonight's TV3 News story - with link to video near the top:
But Mr Hide said he spoke to other Mayors the day the Royal Commission released its report, a day when Williams was in the South Island.
To be fair, Hide did talk with more than just Banks after that too. However, there's no guarantee that he understood what was said to him and who can say how those discussions have been represented since?
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Luckily I largely ignore lyrics. Was that the one about loving their children too?
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See, I did not know that and am unlikely to ever devote any braincells to learning about xtian rock.
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Hey, I like it that people here know way more than me about specialist subjects.
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Today's Herald editorial addresses the governance issues and seems to strive for "balance". Corporate cheerleaders may be unamused.
The Government's refinement of the royal commission's design for Auckland is nearly right, but not quite. The single city overlaying 20 to 30 community boards looks a better balance of power and local democracy than the commission's six subsidiary councils. But the gap between the two tiers would be wide, and that makes the electoral arrangements for the higher body more important.
...Consistency can be over-emphasised in public administration. If resource consent applicants face some different criteria from one community to the next, no harm is done.
In fact a great deal of good may result if it enables communities to keep a distinctive character, or copy criteria they see working well. One district plan for a city as diverse as Auckland would reduce all parts to their lowest common denominator.
They did notice that there will be only one plan, right?
The Government has moved with commendable haste in the hope of having the new set-up ready for local body elections late next year. But before then there needs to be some sort of reference to Aucklanders' wishes.
The way they elect their local government leaders is too important to proceed much further without clarity and consistency.
Haste is good? Clarity takes time. One suspects this editorial may have been written by committee.
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I realise that the reasons people fall in behind Brian Tamaki are not exactly the same as those I am awed by the universe, but it still puzzles me that people would choose the former over the latter.
Some prefer the snake oil to the snake?
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