Island Life by David Slack

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Island Life: Big Little City, Big Little News Service

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  • Patricia,

    The Daydreamteam: Gather Morgan (a suitable case for treatment) by day & Swney for nightmayor then...

    As long time reader may I just say, that you Mr Dalzeil, are worth the price of admission every single day. Brilliant.

    Thanks

    behind the couch • Since Dec 2008 • 17 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I don't know. How about we tried it?

    I could do without the tanties from the usual suspects when the results aren't to their liking -- and on that note, I've got to ask a few people when they're heading into exile.

    As things stand, the only determination I've come to so far is that I do my best to make sure Andrew Williams is free to return to the circus freakshow from whence he came. If the left put up a viable candidate, run a competent campaign and secure a plurality of the vote so be it. I may even be one of them. And I somehow doubt whatever comments John Key made at the 2009 National Party Northern Regional Conference won't be a tipping point either way, no matter what hysterical vapourings are in train today.

    And as long as we have secret ballots in this country, I think a little less patronage and condescension towards our fellow citizens who don't cast their ballots to our taste would be well in order. I'm no fan of John Banks, but unless you're willing to prove massive electoral fraud I really think its time to get the hell over it.

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

  • Rich of Observationz,

    ask a few people when they're heading into exile.

    On the 22nd, since you ask, to visit numerous countries with left-wingish governments, plus Britain. But only till the weather warms up, which, despite the maladministration of the Key government, will most likely be this spring.

    as long as we have secret ballots in this country

    How are we assured that a postal vote *is* secret, really?

    Also, I had a vote in Auckland, but couldn't bring myself to choose between Banks and Hubbard. If I'd had a chance to vote Green, or even Labour, I'd have taken it. Voting for a choice of two right-wing personalities I fundamantally disagree with is not my idea of a fair electoral system.

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

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    I'm no fan of John Banks, but unless you're willing to prove massive electoral fraud I really think its time to get the hell over it.

    No thanks, never liked him ,never voted for him, don't want him.Tim Shadbolt will do.:)

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

  • Hilary Stace,

    Voting for a choice of two right-wing personalities I fundamantally disagree with is not my idea of a fair electoral system.

    That's why you need STV voting in Auckland. It's much fairer and much more empowering. You can put your least favourite candidate last. It encourages less divisive candidates to come through as everyone's second choice.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Litterick,

    That's why you need STV voting in Auckland.

    Had the Royal Commission come up with some sensible proposals about governance, rather than nonsense about councillors at large and appointed seats for iwi, the Government would have found it much more difficult to justify trashing most of their report and picking the bits which suited them.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    If the left put up a viable candidate, run a competent campaign and secure a plurality of the vote so be it.

    Fair call.

    I'm no fan of John Banks, but unless you're willing to prove massive electoral fraud I really think its time to get the hell over it.

    And that too.

    Although I do wish People On The Radio Pretending To Know What They're On About would stop saying that Banks pulled in some huge new cohort of voters last time. As I continually point out, he got almost exactly the same number of votes as when he he was dumped. The people who had previously voted for Hubbard just didn't turn up.

    The same is true of Nikki Kaye in Auckland Central. For all the work she put in over months in that electorate (and good on her for that), she got about the same number of votes as Pansy Wong did three years before. The Tizard vote didn't turn up.

    I think there's a fairly obvious lesson for the centre-left in those results. And, frankly, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Phil Twyford has a handy win in Auckland Central at the next general election.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    And the biggest influence on Saturday's results may well be the weather. Again.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Litterick,

    I think there's a fairly obvious lesson for the centre-left in those results.

    If only it were obvious to the Centre-Left.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    That's why you need STV voting in Auckland. It's much fairer and much more empowering.

    It's fairer. Fairest would be to have councillors elected by a proportional system who then elect a leader. That ensures that the leader (or "mayor", if you must) has a consensus behind them. (Much as for national elections, really).

    I would point out that last time Banks and/or the Citrats would have won in any system, based on those voting. Most times however, that wouldn't be the case. In '04, for instance, we may have got a Labour mayor.

    Plus the Auckland urban region (containing as it does South and West Auckland) would most likely elect a Labour-led council quite often, based on parliamentary polling. The Banks-o-mander being pushed through is deliberately designed to neutralise this tendency.

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

  • Islander,

    I'm collecting Ian Dalziel. Love him- well, the pyrotechnic wordplay anyway (s'okay Ian -I dont stalk! (except fish.))

    Between Messers Brown & Tiso & Sacha & Danielle & Deborah & Jolisa & everyone, mainly, this place is a moving feast-

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

  • stephen walker,

    Couldn't we have achieved the desired cohesion in transport and infrastructure by simply giving the regional council the same powers bestowed on all other regional councils in the last shakeup?

    yes, David, we probably could have. it seems to me that there have always been lots of people behind the scenes who have been desperate to prevent the regional council from getting any integrated governanvce framework to get transport/infrastrucutre done. Bruce Jesson gave the moneyed interests a huge shock, they seem determined to never have a repeat. and the ARC seems to consistently provide an evenly balanced or slightly green/left council. the chairperson is even elected by the councillors! such an affront to the power of ad money!

    nagano • Since Nov 2006 • 646 posts Report Reply

  • Joshua Arbury,

    I reckon the Royal Commission's proposal could have effectively created that "empowered ARC" model that a lot of people seem pretty keen on.

    The 6 local councils would have fought tooth and nail to hold onto as many current jobs as possible - and people would have probably supported that to some extent in their submissions. Perhaps only planning and transportation would have been transfered up to the Auckland Council with most other stuff being carried out by the still large, still empowered, local councils.

    Of course the government hates the ARC. They run against its roads-fetish, its love of urban sprawl and its care for the environment. Hence the need to change the Auckland Council from the "beefed up ARC" that the Royal Commission would have created to an "enlarged Auckland City Council with community boards" that John Banks has wet dreams about leading.

    Auckland • Since May 2009 • 237 posts Report Reply

  • Christopher Dempsey,

    Apparently John Key thinks a mandate is Rodney Hide having coffee with John Banks.

    Starbucks, Gloria Jean's, or Instant?

    None of the above. It was when Rodney helped Banksie put out cat food for the moggies of Vicky Ave.

    Parnell / Tamaki-Auckland… • Since Sep 2008 • 659 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Joshua, have you seen the ARC's own submission to the Royal Commission? I heard it recommends one Council and 20 to 30 local boards, but I haven't gone and read it yet.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Philately will get you everywhere...
    sheesh - thanks for the kind words folks...
    @ Islander - I'm sure you have a good grasp on the difference between Entomolgy and Etymology - just so long as there are no pins or formaldehyde involved... let the ha ha harvesting begin ;-)
    @ Patricia (& others) cheers - but do let me know if I get tiresome and start chewing the scenery, too. And heck, what is the admission fee? I think I've been sneaking in - unless it is one's soul or sanity I don't have a good grasp on either of those...

    yrs
    Ian Candescent
    Flutterby Nettee

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Sanity, definitely. :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    'n for insects' is the old guide-

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

  • Ian Dalziel,

    I love those old guides...
    How Now Brown Owl

    In the old Press proofreading room my favourites were - "No sun in Sumner and no ham in Hanmer" and of course that old standby " E for envelopes" when choosing stationery or stationary, and lest we forget the rule for averting apostrophe catastrophe* "poss ess for possession" except when it's its property of course : )

    yrs
    Bedouin Pal
    DYB DYB DYB
    Beep repaired

    *then again if you were Michael Laws you would be possessed by an Apostate Cat Ass Trophy

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • David Slack,

    No sun in Sumner and no ham in Hanmer

    Principally because it might irk Michael Laws, I'd like to see my hometown renamed Wheilding.

    Devonport • Since Nov 2006 • 599 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    Def lepidoptery:

    Dark pictures, thrones, the stones that pilgrims kiss
    Poems that take a thousand years to die
    But ape the immortality of this
    Red label on a little butterfly.

    Vladimir Nabokov, A Discovery

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Mos def

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    The microscopic blue genital giant...

    Red label on a little butterfly.

    obviously it's a Whiskey business this LOL-ita netting

    yrs
    Vivian Darkbloom
    but you can call me um... Bert!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Joshua Arbury,

    Joshua, have you seen the ARC's own submission to the Royal Commission? I heard it recommends one Council and 20 to 30 local boards, but I haven't gone and read it yet.

    I think the ARC called them "Community Councils" and they had a heck of a lot more power than the government's proposed "local boards".

    If the power of the local boards does end up being enshrined in law then we could end up with quite a similar outcome to what the ARC proposed. Which I would probably be pretty comfortable with as if there's any council I actually to trust in Auckland it would be the ARC.

    Auckland • Since May 2009 • 237 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    I found Mike Lee's 2008 Bruce Jesson Lecture presentation interesting for historical context.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

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