Author: Ben Ross - Talking Auckland

Admin and author of Talking Auckland Blog ( http://voakl.net )

Are you not entertained?

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In very short terms.
Central Politics is being real naff right now and you wonder why people dont give a [insert what ever word here]

Now Local Politics; that is where the action is thanks to our ever so wonderful Mayor and his 20 Councillors providing some ever so entertainment even it is blooming painful to watch.

Podcast will be up tomorrow on all things choice – or lack thereof…

jononatusch's avatarOccasionally Erudite Publications

So life’s been rather frantically busy since my last post. A week and a half managed to flash by, filled with full Court days, interesting experiences with chainsaws, and visitations from Perth-based relatives. Sitting down at a keyboard to blog came a very distant second, third or possibly fourth in the ‘interesting things to do’ stakes.

Nonetheless, here’s a brief recap for those who were also avoiding the political world:

  • Much humour was derived from Green MP Steffan Browning and his advocacy on behalf of homeopathy as a cure for Ebola. For quite some time, the Greens had managed to project a face of relative sanity (setting aside Russel Norman’s flirtation with quantitive easing), only to end up the butt of innumerable homeopathy-inspired jokes on Twitter. On the plus side, the party leadership shut Browning down swiftly. And Middle New Zealand doesn’t give a damn about political jokes on Twitter, so…

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October ’14 – NZ blogs sitemeter ranking

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What might seem to be a slow down for some blogs if I were to compare October’s stats to September’s stats (election not withstanding) Talkking Auckland shot up the rankings to 31st for the October month.

It has been a busy month with Auckland Development Committee presentations, Alternative Transport Funding Package announcements, and of course last week the Mayor releasing his preferred Rating policy for the 2015-2025 Long Term Plan.

And of course Talking Auckland is trying out pod casts around topical issues which seem to be going down a real treat for readers – well listeners now.

Talking Auckland thanks readers/listeners for their patronage and comments/feedback. Without you Talking Auckland wouldn’t be able to happen.

November should be a busy month with debate continuing around transport, housing, and Auckland Council finances before the Christmas/New Years break. After that we are right back in it with the consultation period for the 2015-2025 Long Term Plan due to go operative July 1 2015.

No rest for the weary – really

Ken's avatarOpen Parachute

grumpy-cat-blog

Image Credit: A Pretty Healthy Life

PLEASE NOTE: Sitemeter is still playing up but far fewer blogs are effected. I have done a manual work around but it was still impossible to get the stats for a the blogs that I list below. Maybe more bloggers will shift to StatCounter or other counter. No stats could be found for these blogs:

Works in progress
Social Media and the 2014 General Election
Sportsfreak
Science Behind the Curtain
Looking in the square
Rugby Tips
Save our schools NZ

There are now over 300 blogs on the list, although I am weeding out those which are no longer active or have removed public access to sitemeters. (Let me know if I weed out yours by mistake, or get your stats wrong). Every month I get queries from people wanting their own blog included. I encourage and am happy to respond to queries but have prepared a list of…

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Council Postpones Indoor Fire Decision

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Trying to work more stuff out with Government

 

Well some could say this was coming.

From Auckland Council

Auckland Council postpones indoor fire decision

 

Auckland Council’s Governing Body today made a decision to postpone the passing of the Air Quality Bylaw. The proposed bylaw aims to manage indoor fires to reduce air pollution and meet National Environmental Standards for Air Quality (AQNES).

Councillors agreed that further discussion was needed with the government to meet their legislative requirement and garner support for the large number of Aucklanders this bylaw will affect.

Councillor Calum Penrose, Chair Regulatory and Bylaws Committee says, “We have over 80,000 households in Auckland that currently use open fires and old wood burners. We would like the government to work with us in providing people with clean heat alternatives and support the  more vulnerable in our community whose only form of heating is open fires.”

Cr Penrose recognised that the proposed bylaw needs to be put through to meet the AQNES and also for the overall health of the wider Auckland community – 110 people dying a year from illnesses due to fine particle emissions from indoor fires is another vital reason to rectify this problem.

The proposed Air Quality Bylaw will go back to the Regulatory and Bylaws Committee in February 2015 with further clarification on support for alternative heating options. The overall timeframe of an indoor fire ban in late 2018 is not expected to change.

—Ends—

 

And I bet all the Government will do for “support” on alternative heating options is garner the big stick rather than rebates and subsidies. So might as well get the Bylaw through and be done with it. We have until 2018.

My last piece of commentary on it was here: Fire Places – Heated? Actually No

 

Fireworks Restrictions

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A No-No in Public Places

 

As the annual Guy Fawks event draws nearer (as does Rebekka’s Birthday of which both are on the same day) the Council sends a reminder to people about where you can let off fireworks.

From Auckland Council

Big bang ban in public places this Guy Fawkes

 

Aucklanders wanting to celebrate Guy Fawkes are urged to find a public display or keep to their backyards – and not let off fireworks in public places, where the activity is banned.

The ban came into force in May this year and is aimed at protecting people, animals and property from the risks of fireworks.

While fireworks were banned in some parts of the region, they are now banned year-round in public places across the whole of Auckland.

Cr Cathy Casey, chair of Auckland Council’s Community Development and Safety Committee, says that the ban allows people and their pets to enjoy public places such as beaches and parks without the nuisance and risk of injury from uncontrolled use of fireworks.

“The ban also protects vegetation and property from fireworks damage, which unfortunately can be a regular occurrence around Guy Fawkes night.”

Cr Casey says that public firework displays around Auckland will allow people to enjoy fireworks safely.

“Public fireworks displays are a great way to enjoy fireworks with your community and the health and safety risks are well managed.”

 

Public fireworks displays this year include the following (entry fees apply):

  • 31 October – Clevedon Fireworks, Clevedon Showgrounds
  • 14 November – Papakura Fireworks, Massey Park.

 

Gates at the following volcanic cones will close at the earlier time of 6pm from Sunday 2 November to Sunday 9 November (inclusive) to reduce congestion and the risk to people as they walk to the summits to view firework displays:

  • Takarunga – Mt Victoria
  • Maungawhau – Mt Eden
  • Mt Albert
  • Mt Roskill
  • Maungakiekie – One Tree Hill Domain
  • Maungarei – Mt Wellington.

 

Regulations on fireworks in public places can be found in Part Two of the Public Safety and Nuisance Bylaw 2013, which came into force on 26 May 2014. The regulations state that:

  • A person must not set off fireworks, flares or any other explosive material:
    • In a public place, except with the prior written approval of the council or a council  controlled organisation; and
    • In any other place, in a way that does or is likely to create a nuisance or endanger any person, property, dog or other animal in a public place.

—-ends—-

 

Just remember to be safe out there unless we you really want to be the one that triggers a nation-wide ban on private use of fireworks….

 

Fire Place Restrictions Kicked Into Touch

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Now moved to February

 

The new Bylaw to place restrictions and bans on pre 2005 wood burners in Auckland homes has been kicked into touch – February 2015 looking at Twitter and MSM reports.

Council is due to release more details later on today.

No matter the delays however, the City is still faced with the inevitable. We either get the Bylaw in ourselves under our own steam or have it done for us by the Ministry for the Environment.

 

More as it happens