Month: September 2014

Interview on City Finances: Done

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Will let you know when it airs

 

I did an interview alongside Rod Oram this morning for the All About Auckland show which airs on Monday evenings on Sky (although soon Freeview). The topic was City Finances in light of the Mayor handing down his presentation of the Draft 2015-2025 Long Term Plan and some realities the City needs to face in this discussion.

I have previously been on the All About Auckland Show talking transport and South Auckland (The Southern Initiative).

I will let you know when the interview is up.

 

HAPPY FATHERS DAY

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My First Fathers Day Too

 

A Happy Fathers Day to all the dad’s out there in New Zealand (and across the World) today. A special mention to Fathers who might no longer be with us as well.

A special mention to two of my long-time friends Cliff and Ben who like me became dad’s for the first time this year 😀

A few sleepless nights at first but it sorts itself out quickly enough and before long we wonder where did the time go.

And with the weather forecast to be an absolute cracker today in Auckland it will make for a great day to be out and about the City.

 

So a Happy Father’s Day to All – and we shall see you all tomorrow

 

Prime Minister Endorses Sky Path

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National Warm on Skypath

 

http://getacross.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/skypath.png

The Prime Minister, and Mayor Len Brown opened the Grafton Gully Cycleway this morning.

While I was not there I have seen plenty of photos of the event (when Spark does not keep dropping my internet out). One thing that caught my attention was this:

The Prime Minister has endorsed Skypath which is better than the two North Shore National Electorate MP’s as well as Ward Councillor George Wood who all seem to be trying to throw spanners into Skypath’s progress

I asked what did it mean when the PM endorsed Skypath and it was said:

 

So nothing full committal but if National gets their Third Term the Government might via NZTA give some assistance in getting Skypath built. That is fine whether the Government fully funds it or sticks with the Public Private Partnership which means a toll, I am not particular fussed.

But good to see the PM come out and have a ride down the Cycleway after which he gave a warm response to Skypath.

 

As they say: “Good things take time”

 

Poll of Polls update – 5 September 2014

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No real changes noted at the moment in this poll of polls

jononatusch's avatarOccasionally Erudite Publications

EDIT: Further updated with the One News Colmar Brunton poll, which had overlooked my attention.

Another day, another three polls, with the Herald Digipoll, Fairfax Ipsos and One News Colmar Brunton polls being released today. All three results are good news for National, after some recent lacklustre polling, and bad news for Labour, with their lacklustre polling continuing.

In the Herald Digipoll, National fall slightly, down 0.6%, but they’re still above 50%, sitting on 50.1%. National may have fallen slightly, but so have Labour, who drop 0.3% to a terrible 23.8%. The Greens remain static on 11.4%.

For the remaining minor parties, NZ First rise 1% to 6%, while the Conservatives climb 0.5% to 3.%. ACT (on 0.4%), United Future (on 0.2%) and Internet Mana (on 3.5%) all rise 0.1%. The only minor party dropping is the Maori Party, down 0.6% to 0.4%.

In the Fairfax Ipsos poll, National rises sharply, up 3.4% to 54.2%…

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Tracking polls

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The first time that the prospects of a National-Conservative Coalition have become serious and a possibility.

Now if you think the Centre Left mess is a monster then the thought of the Nat’s and Conservatives in power make me shudder and think of US Tea Party nuttiness that have dogged the Republicans for years.

National’s “freshwater fund” a cynical waste of time

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Sprinkling that pork again

jononatusch's avatarOccasionally Erudite Publications

National has announced that it will set up a $100 million fund to buy and retire farmland next to important waterways. The idea is that it will create an environmental buffer to improve water quality. Further, by July 2017 it will be illegal not to have waterways fenced off.

On the face of it, it’s a good policy. Why wouldn’t you want to improve water quality by setting up buffer zones to keep cattle out? What could be wrong with fencing off paddocks from the river?

Well, even Amy Adams, National’s Environment Minister admits that 90% of waterways next to farms are already fenced off, and as Andrew Hoggard, the Federated Farmers dairy chairman, says, a ban was effectively already in place:

“It’s in our conditions to supply to Fonterra. If you don’t meet the conditions of supply, they won’t pick your milk up, and you’ll be out of business…

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