Month: February 2015

Witnessing the slow decay of a government past it’s Use-By date

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Sure the blog piece was written by a Social Democrat but it is also to note that I am a Social Liberal (well the Political Compass tests point that way) to keep things transparent.

But yes from my own observations (and also being rather bored of this administration) the Key Government has entered the Shipley Syndrome and even repeating the same policy gaffs as Shipley.

Seeming Key talks war he might want to learn from France and Germany’s mistake on conquering Russia – well trying and having your ass handed to you by both the British AND the Russians. Only fools repeat history and this Government is fast on the way to repeating 1999.

However, one element missing is the voters themselves. We voters seemed to have embraced ourselves into the Classic Liberal era that plagued Victorian England. That is all for me and be damned to everyone else outside my own little bubble or hyper-individualism.

This hyper-individualism is not natural for New Zealand. Kiwi’s while socially conservative (we have our liberal moments) they are also through history generous as well. Even conservative Sir Robert Muldoon was generous and receptive to the plight of the gangs in his era. There is a reason why Muldoon got a send off by the gangs at his funeral and John Key will not.

I will say remember hyper-individualism will bite you in the ass as it did in 1929. So it might be time to burst that bubble of yours and be generous towards your fellow Kiwi again. Because THEY will be the ones helping you when the chips are down. Not the State and definitely no John Key’s Government who would tuck and tail and run as fast as they could.

So just remember that on our national day – Waitangi Day

Frank Macskasy's avatarFrankly Speaking...

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national-we-will-give-you-honest-government

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There is something unpleasantly familiar about the recent appalling events surrounding the current National government and it’s embattled leader, John Key and his strange relationship with Cameron Slater.

Searching my memory, it dawned on me: I am witnessing a replay of the closing years of the Shipley Administration, before it was eventually turfed out of office in November 1999.

The Shipley-led minority-National government was racked with crises.

One such was the Saatchi Affair, where then-PM, Jenny Shipley, was found to have lied about a dinner engagement with Saatchi & Saatchi boss, Kevin Roberts. Shipley’s recall of that dinner engagement – and the topics of discussion – were at variance with what Roberts had claimed took place.

Shipley had misled public; the media; and the public. The headlines at the time pilloried her;

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shipley-on-the-run-nz-herald-23-february-1999

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Sound familiar?

To call the National government of that time a “decaying…

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Part Two of Port Study Out – UPDATED

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20 years of room yet but General Wharves need modernising

 

The second part to the Port of Auckland review study is out.

From the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research

NZIER study suggests that Ports of Auckland will face constraints in the future

04 February 2015

NZIER study suggests that Ports of Auckland will face constraints in the future

Auckland Council commissioned a study from NZIER to inform Council decision making on the draft rule on port reclamation provided for in the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan (PAUP).

Our study has assessed how long the Port of Auckland can operate within its current footprint and considered whether there are external constraints on port expansion and what the impact might be of the central wharves’ development plans on port operations. We were not asked to consider or form a view on the long term location of the port or the scope of port operations.

Our key finding is that ultimately, Ports of Auckland will need more multi-cargo wharf space to grow or some of its business will go to competing ports.

The Port has two very different port operations. The first is the relatively modern Fergusson container terminal and the second is the multi-cargo wharves located adjacent to Queens Wharf. Our findings show that the container terminal can grow on its current footprint for approximately twenty years, but this is sensitive to the growth assumption modelled.

The report’s author, Nick Allison, said the capacity of the multi-cargo wharves are coming under increasing pressure. They are used to land cargos that aren’t typically carried by containers, such as building materials, vegetables, wheat, vehicles and other goods used by households in Auckland and elsewhere in New Zealand. The ships are getting much larger and wharves weren’t built to manage such vessels. Mr Allison said the situation is further aggravated by the rapid increase in the number and increased size of cruise ships.

Laurie Kubiak, NZIER’s CEO, said that many everyday goods coming through the multi-cargo wharves are important for the livelihood of Aucklanders in ways that are not always obvious. For example, most of New Zealand’s vehicle imports come through the Port of Auckland. These imports create around 3,500 jobs in vehicle wholesaling and distribution businesses, and these jobs are concentrated in South Auckland.

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This study was not related to a Port of Auckland submission to the Unitary Plan that included a look at port relocations. You can see that submission and commentary on it here: PORT OF AUCKLAND – RELOCATION AND THE UNITARY PLAN

As for how will the Port move all that stuff from its main facility to South Auckland? Well this might help: PORT OF AUCKLAND INCREASE PORT RAIL SHUTTLE SERVICES

 

Part Two of the Port Study