Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Ides of Epsom

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  • Kumara Republic,

    Goes to show ACT is no longer a party of the free market. It's a party of rent-seekers and cartelists.

    And what if Donald Trump or Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum flew here and decided to build something very tall in the Epsom area?

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • andrew r,

    The people of Epsom it seems would vote for a parrot standing as the local ACT candidate so long as it's screeches were - tax cuts less government tax cuts - clearly, given it's two most recent constituent MPs and lack of moral fortitude there in.
    In short - in terms of 'quality of candidate' they couldn't care less.
    Strange rich people.

    auckland • Since May 2007 • 100 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    So the key issue for ACT voters nationwide is the 8 Story Limit for Epsom. I think we can fairly surmise they're not going for the party vote any more.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel,

    8 Storey Limit for Epsom

    Who knew that Haussmann was redesigning Epsom!

    I thought they'd raised his shade to redo Chchch...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to BenWilson,

    So the key issue for ACT voters nationwide is the 8 Story Limit for Epsom. I think we can fairly surmise they’re not going for the party vote any more.

    No, they’ll go full nimby in Epsom and still shout to the rest of the country about how the rights of developers are sacred.

    Seymour’s attempt to claim that people who’d bought houses had obtained property rights around “the character of their community” – which, let’s not forget, would be in conflict with the rights to build of other property owners – was priceless. As Matthew says, a party of rent-seekers and cartelists.

    Edit: I should note that the "eight stories next to everyone's house" claim is total fucking bullshit, and even less true since Len Brown let the Unitary Plan be gutted.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Nora Leggs,

    Clearly then, Mr Seymour did not take on board the message I gave him when he came door knocking some weeks ago. I could kind of tell by the way he started to back down the steps - probably as I was hitting my stride and critiquing this exact policy line - which was the main thrust of the introductory letter we epsom-ites had received. I'd love to think there are more than just one or two of us in this electorate who don't think the way this version of ACT thinks - probably not enough of us though.

    Auckland • Since Dec 2011 • 2700 posts Report

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    Damn, I miss living in the (non-posh part of the) Epsom electorate. Election time was always madness. I once had a pretend polling phone call where all the questions were worded to be pro-ACT propaganda, a voicemail where a recording of Rodney Hide pretended to be leaving a casual message, and a full set of the Brethren pamphlets.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic,

    More here at TransportBlog on David Seymour's inconsistencies. In fairness, he did respond, but said pretty much the same old get-in-and-shut-the-door-behind dogma.

    It only reinforces suspicions that Epsom and Remuera aren't so much localities, but more akin to gated communities.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • Nora Leggs, in reply to Robyn Gallagher,

    Yes to all of that except the Bretheren pamphlets, hope you kept those!

    Auckland • Since Dec 2011 • 2700 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Nora Leggs,

    Yes to all of that except the Bretheren pamphlets, hope you kept those!

    I still have one of those Brethren pamphlets, just for unintentional humour value. It's one of those ones that basically say "rejoin ANZUS or we'll all be speaking Chinese and Arabic".

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • JLM,

    Meanwhile Nick Smith is criticizing the selfishness of rich lifestyle blockers who he says are stopping the subdivisions on the outskirts that could be homes for tragically deprived young families who apparently have access to unlimited petrol.

    He doesn't have anything to say about Epsom.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10132013/Rich-people-block-housing-growth

    Judy Martin's southern sl… • Since Apr 2007 • 241 posts Report

  • BenWilson, in reply to Russell Brown,

    “the character of their community”

    One of the views of Epsom I remember from my childhood.

    ETA: The high walls and dense bushes shrouding the character filled doctor's surgeries were beautifully counterpointed by hi-rise above the smog of the angry gridlocked commuters. When I lived in Clonbern Rd, I'd fall asleep to the lovely sound of decelerating trucks on the offramp. Ah, Epsom, where I lost both my virginity and my car (stolen 3 times), how dare they sully you.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    National's candidate, international man of mystery Paul Goldsmith, had declined to appear

    Entertainingly replaced by a bag of flour. Great to see other candidates with an honest grasp of political theatre.

    Naturally in this day and age the bag has the last word.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to JLM,

    He doesn't have anything to say about Epsom.

    cos he's thinking of Richmond near Nelson. A few dozen houses will make all the difference, eh.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    they’ll go full nimby

    excellent

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to BenWilson,

    where I lost both my virginity and my car (stolen 3 times)

    a miracle :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    Another memory of Epsom. Although, strictly speaking, that side of the road is not Epsom.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to BenWilson,

    the 8 Story Limit

    if you have more stories to tell than that, you're best off in another suburb

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • BenWilson, in reply to Sacha,

    Some argue that there are really only 7 stories. The rest just build on them. Banks has now completed all of them apart from the rom-com.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Rich Lock, in reply to BenWilson,

    Banks has now completed all of them apart from the rom-com.

    There's probably some Dotcom/Banks slashfic lurking in the murkier corners of the internet.

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

  • Sacha, in reply to BenWilson,

    Banks is the story of a man who defines his life against something he ends up imitating faithfully.

    His inability to identify self-serving advisors has blighted his career and who knows what it has cost him personally.

    The man had many chances to do the right thing rather than surrender to lazy loathing of whole groups of fellow humans - and he has failed that test so far. I wish him a gentle retirement full of contemplation and opportunities for redemption in deeds not words.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Ken Sparks, in reply to Robyn Gallagher,

    I miss Rodney in his yellow jacket! I remember one morning during the campaign cycling along Market Rd (yes, Market) and there he was standing at the intersection in his eye catching attire appealing to the passing commuters. I wanted to heckle him but he rendered me speechless...

    Cox’s Creek • Since Apr 2011 • 60 posts Report

  • william blake,

    Isn't the intensification of urban housing precisely what the National want to mess up th RMA for? Perhaps they will stand a candidate if ACT keep up the crazy talk.

    Since Mar 2010 • 380 posts Report

  • Rachel Noble,

    Democracy does not exist for the manipulated voters in the Epsom electorate. I know, experienced it time & time again. One of the joys of moving away was to feel like a voter again

    Wellington • Since May 2014 • 1 posts Report

  • BenWilson, in reply to william blake,

    Perhaps they will stand a candidate if ACT keep up the crazy talk.

    I wish, but don't think so (presuming you mean they will support a candidate - so far as I know Goldsmith will be standing). Firstly, it's one more seat for their bloc, which is tenuous. ACT is the only party likely to get a seat that has never gone with Labour. Second, they need not to be the most extreme right wing party in parliament, even with a commanding chunk of the seats. It just doesn't look good when trying to form a government that claims to be centrist.

    Just from perception alone, since NZers tend to be centrist, it doesn't help that self perception amongst potential voters, to realize that more than half of the votes are going to parties to the left of you. People who psychologically prefer to back the winning team will have good reason to hedge and go for one of the little middle parties, NZF, UF, Maori. They might even go Labour.

    This has always been the big danger of the whole Key government, that it would lead to a structural collapse of the right. I thought it would come about by voters finding ACT pointless. It's quite something that it actually just completely imploded due to incompetence and dishonesty. Will this be a cypher that Epsom wishes to continue to hold on to? I don't know.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

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