Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Competing for Auckland

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  • Morgan Nichol, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    It being a sign of hypocrisy hinges on whether it's possible for people to establish lifestyle blocks in the same area. I don't see what's preventing that right now. There seem to be many lifestyle sections available within 90 minutes of the CBD right now. So what's the big fucking deal? If this is what the right have to descend to in their effort to find any muck on Brown, maybe I should re-examine my lack of support for the guy, because that must mean he's pretty clean.

    Auckland CBD • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • Glenn Pearce, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I guess that in my hood – The Chev – it’s easier to envisage. Four-storey developments along the south side of Great North Road, overlooking the motorway, will be a good use of the existing land

    Agree, I think most would have been expecting that, the rezoning of properties 20 deep into the south side of GNR less so.

    Auckland • Since Feb 2007 • 504 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Morgan Nichol,

    So what’s the big fucking deal?

    Oh, as I said – not a lot that I can see but it’s rather tricky to assess the credibility (or otherwise) of a story when the link runs you into a paywall head first.

    If this is what the right have to descend to in their effort to find any muck on Brown, maybe I should re-examine my lack of support for the guy, because that must mean he’s pretty clean.

    Quite. Can’t recall the attempt to make John Key’s address a character issue working terribly well. It’s one of the little ironies of public life how often the voters are a lot smarter and more focused than the media-political complex gives them credit for. Len Brown’s going to face a more sceptical (and hopefully policy-focused) media this time around, and that’s not a bad thing on balance. But I suspect the really interesting (and important) tussles are going to go on down the ballot, and my expectations that the media are going to report them at all well are low-to-non-existent.

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

  • Sacha, in reply to Morgan Nichol,

    All intensification should be along the rail corridors, and centred on stations.

    Milford is only a secondary centre. The proposed public transit plan connects those more than today's does. Avondale does seem less politically problematic.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    The 'but Len lives on a lifestyle block so how dare he tell us to intensify' angle makes sense from the right. Slightly undermined by his Deputy Mayor announcing she is moving into an apartment in New Lynn's heart. Oh, and by the lack of Aucklanders who live in 'lifestyle blocks'.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Ana Simkiss,

    the article in the NBR also notes that it is "ironic" that Don Brash lives in an apartment, given he opposes the Unitary Plan. That word, I do not think it means what you think it means...

    Craig, I would liberate the whole article except I am very law abiding and it's not that easy :)

    Freemans Bay • Since Nov 2006 • 141 posts Report Reply

  • 81stcolumn,

    I'd love to have had this Quimby for Mayor. Perhaps we could still vote in Tom & Jerry?

    #beenalongday

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Young,

    Personally, I'm unhappy with Brown's mayoralty for quite another reason altogether...its tendency to listen to the bully pulpit when it comes to their recurrent attempts to recriminalise soliciting and street sex work on Hunter's Corner in Papatoetoe and Northcrest Car Park, and seemingly no-one else.

    http://www.gaynz.com/articles/publish/31/article_13253.php

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 573 posts Report Reply

  • Andre Alessi, in reply to Sacha,

    Milford is only a secondary centre. The proposed public transit plan connects those more than today’s does. Avondale does seem less politically problematic.

    There are also a lot of people living on the Shore who want to keep living on the Shore, but also want to own property that isn't so far north as to have to swear allegiance to the Starks. Milford and Belmont (also up for intensification) are the next centres out of Takapuna to receive attention. The infrastructure may not be there yet, but the population will be.

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report Reply

  • Konrad Kurta, in reply to Andre Alessi,

    want to own property that isn’t so far north as to have to swear allegiance to the Starks

    Hah! I get it.

    Milford is also pretty close to the busway, too; regular bus services that linked to it would make it easy to get to the city and back. Crystal ball gazing, there seems to be a fuzzy consensus that there'll be northern rail line alongside the Southern Motorway within our lifetimes, which would make Milford a good candidate for intensification for the same reason. My Aunt lives in a seaside mansion in Milford and seems to be more relaxed about intensification there than about housing affordability for her nieces and nephews. NIMBYs aren't ubiquitous, and they have enough money to head North of The (Orewa) Wall if their peace and quiet really means that much to them.

    South Korea • Since Dec 2012 • 43 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Would anyone like to liberate the meat of the story from behind the NBR paywall?

    The meat is thus:
    Brown owns a 406sqm house on a 6,970sqm bush block on Tiffany Close, that he and his wife bought (undeveloped) for $180k in 1995. He even *gasp* has a swimming pool! And his property is just outside the current MUL; but is inside the proposed RUB, though NBR doesn’t mention that wee fact.

    Ergo he is a prize hypocrite for preaching density while not having traded in a property that he’s owned for nearly 20 years in order to live in an apartment.

    The Dick quacked: "Len Brown lives on a country estate in a McMansion and wants the rest of us to live in rabbit hutches."

    The article quotes Brash talking about how land inside the MUL works out at $8m/ha (based on a 500sqm section going for $400k) while “prime dairy land” is $50k/ha just across the border outside the MUL. Exploration of the value of dairy land inside the MUL wasn’t part of the article, of course.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Konrad Kurta,

    Milford is also pretty close to the busway, too; regular bus services that linked to it would make it easy to get to the city and back.

    That’ll be happening as part of the reorganisation of bus routes that’s slated to be carried out over the next three years. The aim will be to reduce significantly the number of buses that travel through the ’burbs to get to town, instead turning them into feeder services for the Rapid Transit Network of the Northern Bus Way and the rail network. Will change public transport in Auckland beyond all recognition once it’s completed.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Eric Dutton,

    Intensification around the rail corridors is not the point. Intensification must be around the rail nodes, or stations as they were called in my youth. It is interesting (disclosure: I am Whangarei resident often employed in Auckland) that none of the alternatives explored in the CCFAS turned out to be viable. Perhaps the brains of Auckland could produce a few viable options for a city wide transport plan before proceeding with a terminally ill-mannered attack on Gerry Brownlee. In the meantime, contemplate the progress of Personal Rapid Transport. Three years ago in the Beca report, it simply did not exist. In the CCFAS it was dismissed in the most outrageously incompetent way. In five years, everyone will claim that they always said it was a good idea.

    Whangarei • Since Nov 2006 • 13 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Eric Dutton,

    In five years, everyone will claim that they always said it was a good idea.

    Perhaps it's more of a Shelbyville idea.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Eric Dutton,

    a terminally ill-mannered attack on Gerry Brownlee

    you have that round the wrong way

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    So Bernard Orsman has gone full nimby, because of course the proper way of assessing the merits of a 30-year plan is to point fingers at where current city councillors live. (Spoiler: in houses.)

    It's a fatuous and petty argument. Would the Plan suddenly be visionary if the councillors moved into apartments? What the hell has happened to Orsman?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    On this discussion,could we open a swear jar (all proceeds to charity) for "McMansion," "lifestyle block" and "sardine tin". One of the many forms of imaginative poverty in this discussion is the failure to grok the idea that not everyone does, or should, have a raging stiffy for a quarter acre pavolva nightmare. If that's you thang, fine. Bad construction and ill-conceived design has no more intrinsic merit in a house than an apartment block.

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

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Russell Brown,

    *cough* I'm probably going to double down stupid on this, but would Bernard Orsman like to share with the PAS family where he and the NZ Herald's senior editorial staff life? You know, since biology is destiny and geography is credibility and all...

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

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Bad construction and ill-conceived design has no more intrinsic merit in a house than an apartment block.

    Quite. And the Unitary Plan actually offers some more control over bad development.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Taking the argument to new lows, Canute is alive and well in Warkworth. Prime example of imagining the future being the same as today except for the thing you don't like. In his case, more people. Solutions include banning refugees and making people move into retirement villages in other parts of NZ away from their families.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    the Unitary Plan actually offers some more control over bad development

    I'd welcome more detail about how. Seems a key point.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Sacha,

    Taking the argument to new lows, Canute is alive and well in Warkworth. Prime example of imagining the future being the same as today except for the thing you don’t like. In his case, more people. Solutions include banning refugees and making people move into retirement villages in other parts of NZ away from their families.

    Also:

    The fees at Auckland learning institutes should be increased and those elsewhere removed or reduced significantly.

    And:

    Without so many Kiwis emigrating to Australia over the last decade, Auckland's congestion would have been far worse. A carrot in the form of cheap airfares to Australia should be looked at to continue this emigration.

    And:

    As so much of the population increase is likely to come from an increase in births, a decrease is urgent. Incentives need to be provided such as free contraception, especially to those under 20 years of age. The provision of family benefits regardless of whether you have two or 10 children should be looked at.

    Because we don't want any young people in our city?

    That column is completely mad.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Yet it accurately conveys the fears of some people, which the Herald has been whipping up for some time. Orsman's column is just the latest in a long line.

    By contrast, they've posted a well-reasoned guest piece today proposing smaller section sizes than in the draft Unitary Plan. See, it's possible, Mr Editor.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Eric Dutton,

    none of the alternatives explored in the CCFAS turned out to be viable.

    You don't find it odd that none of the options to a problem were financially viable? Don't think that maybe there's something seriously broken about the models used? There were some really out-there choices considered for the initial scoping, including personal transport pods, so you can't accuse the CCFAS of being too narrow or flawed in its considerations.

    The models are dud, it's that simple. NZTA itself has said that the models tend to overstate the benefits of road projects while understating the benefits of public transport projects. That's made perfectly clear when the best-scoring option for resolving a clear problem cannot doesn't even break even with conventional modelling.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Because we don't want any young people in our city?

    A glorious retirement village by the sea. That's what all Aucklanders want, isn't it?

    (though with nobody to empty the bedpans or trim the hedges)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

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