Posts by Nick Kearney
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Hard News: Limping Onwards, in reply to Clint Fern,
Nah, I won't. Not even at 11:26pm when I'm barely functional.
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...coming into the Lions Den I know....just how I like it.
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Hard News: Limping Onwards, in reply to Steve Barnes,
Are you the ex ACT Nick Kearney?
Yes, which is why I commented (sarcastically) on the absurd suggestion David paid for his list position.
And one who can also now use the highlight text/quote function, and the reply function all at once.
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Oops, you need an edit function. That was in reply to this by Christopher Dempsey;
I understand he paid for that spot. In six figures apparently.
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Hard News: Limping Onwards, in reply to Christopher Dempsey,
Seven. He plucked it all off a tree growing out the back of Garth McVicar's farm.
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Hard News: The Wall and the Paper, in reply to Graham Dunster,
The only real reason to continue to buy the SST is Rod Oram’s business column.
Nah.
That would be my reason for cancelling my subscription.
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Sure George. I find riding an expensive Cervelo P2 road bike a very pleasurable experience. But they cost about $6K - $7K.
I'll give you my address, you can post me a cheque. This is worth paying for.
Thanks.
If you don't want to pay yourself, I'm sure fellow PA readers will contribute, because, as you say, the pleasure of the population is a benefit, and one worth paying (publicly) for.
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Ana, under the prior "system" my understanding is that each council had its own system. Some had partnership agreements with private operators (Waitakere), while others ran them themselves (North Shore).
Another point I make concerns the dreaded "E" word - education.
I make my daughter watch Piha Surf Rescue on Monday nights (she is morbidly attracted to it anyway, which is concerning), but she is now well aware of the dangers of the sea, and of water generally. I think that'll help in future years.
The thing with water is not so much swimming, its confidence. Just getting kids introduced to water and to respect it and treat it (particularly the ocean) as the master is a big factor. That doesn't need free access to pools.
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I don't support this philosophically. What might work in South Auckland, might not work in Takapuna. So on that basis, calling for a report is a safe start.
Bernard Orsman's cost analysis needs some work. The cost is not likely to be $3.76 per visit. More likely it is $3.76 above what the current subsidised cost is.
Swimming pools are extremely expensive to maintain. Offering things "free" (aside from the point there is no such thing) increases demand. With increased demand, comes increased capital and operating costs. The $3.76 cost claimed by Orsman (if accepted) won't be the same across Auckland, and won't stay at that amount for very long.
The proponents of "free" public transport make the same mistake - costs analyses show that far from it being free, "free" things are extremely costly on society.
Having said this, there are good political arguments for Mayor Brown to suggest "free" swimming pools. It's very easy to offer something for free; and Turkeys don't often vote for early Christmas.
One day the chickens will come home to roost on "free" this and that, if they're not already here. The problem of course with "free" things is that you eventually run out of other people's money.
Mind you, as a regular swimmer, and triathlon competitor (albeit a slow one) "free" training at Takapuna or Glenfield pool might look quite attractive.
Finally, yes, I am a parent. One who works and who has paid for swimming lessons for my daughter. If something is going to be free, it might be cheaper to offer free lessons to children under, say, 9 or 10, rather than free access. It might be cheaper for parents to pay for access to the pool, but for the lessons to be "free". After all, it's the lessons our children need, not access per se.
I make that point without really thinking it through!
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Chilean Miners.