Category: Blog News/Updates

Record Breaking Month

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Latest NZ Blog Rankings Out

 

April has been a flat tact month (even with Easter and ANZAC Day in the mix) for BR:AKL with a new record set in visitors, page views, and ranking on the Open Parachute NZ Blog Rankings. Lets take a look:

 

April ’13 – NZ blogs sitemeter ranking

55 Ben Ross: Auckland 3245 5639

 

Virtually a 100% jump on the March figures (compounded by me being in Australia at that time).

 

The Unitary Plan is sure generating feedback and reading as the extensive BR:AKL commentary continues with two highlights coming up this month: the May 2nd presentation to the Orakei Local Board on Special Character Zones, and the May 14 Auckland Plan Committee presentation – challenging the planning thinking behind Auckland as well as seeing Manukau as the second CBD.

 

Again a massive thank you to all the readers, the commenters, and the feedback via email and social media. Without you this blog would not be possible 

 

 

To a very busy May ahead as the first round of Unitary Plan feedback draws to a close – at the end of the month

 

 

BEN ROSS : AUCKLAND

BR:AKL: Bring Well Managed Progress

The Unitary Plan: Bringing Change

Auckland: 2013 – OUR CITY, OUR CALL

Update with Karaka Collective Information

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An Information Error

 

PLEASE NOTE

I have received an email from a person in regards to the Karaka Collective and information the Collective’s representative has sent me which I subsequently posted on BR:AKL.

The information I had received which was subsequently embedded in my “Karaka Collective Shares” post was incorrect in the fact a resident who is not part of the Collective –  was highlighted as being part of the collective. Subsequently the incorrect information has been spread further in the public domain (the original submissions were already in the public realm prior to BR:AKL posting them) of which is a concern.

I have been informed that the barrister for the Karaka Collective has been alerted to this incorrect information and should be making the proper adjustments to reflect the correct information.

As a result of this I have pulled down the Karaka Collective Shares post, as well pulling down the information links from Scribd. I will repost the information once I have the CORRECT information from the Collective at hand. Thus for now any other posts linking back to the Karaka Collective Shares post will not work for the duration of the suspension.

 

BR:AKL does send apologies to the person affected by the incorrect information embedded in the blog for any inconveniences caused. 

80th in NZ Blog Rankings

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Slight Slippage in Rankings

 

The latest Open Parachute March ’13 – NZ blogs sitemeter rankings are out with BR:AKL slipping to 80th for March 2013.

80 Ben Ross: Auckland 1667 2494

 

My Australian holiday of two weeks occurred in the middle of the month which resulted a slow down in my postings – but a nice break and shopping trip now the less. However no excuses from me unlike the Auckland Transport Executive with April is going to be an extremely busy month on BR:AKL with Unitary Plan commentary now in full swing, and the usual Auckland transport commentary also at full speed ahead.

 

Again a thanks to readers and commenters – without you this blog would not be able to happen

 

BEN ROSS : AUCKLAND

Shining The Light – To a Better Papakura (OUR home)
AND
To a Better Auckland – (OUR City)

Auckland 2013: YOUR CITY – YOUR CALL

 

 

 

And I am Back

Ben Ross - Talking Auckland's avatar

Back from Australia

 

Hello readers

 

Update: And both Bekka and I are back in Auckland after two weeks away in Australia. Was a great time away and the credit card was not damaged that much after “contributing” to the Aussie economy. Early night tonight and back into things slowly from tomorrow

Colonel Hogan and Hypotenuse are all well too and glad to see us back

 

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I am at Sydney Airport waiting to board my flight home. It has been a good time away in Aussie relaxing and contributing to the Aussie economy – although I am not going to like the credit card bill next month

BR:AKL will be partially back tomorrow as I complete the photo dumps into the blog and back at full capacity on Monday with commentary to resume on transport and the Unitary Plan.

So hang tight folks til Monday

Although from messages received while away it seems that Auckland needs its backside either kicked or saved again.

Then again in Aussie politics the ALP with Gillard at the helm are buggered…

 

Status · · 2 Comments ·

February Blog Rankings Out

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BR:AKL Continues Improvement in Ranks

 

Open Parachute has released their February 2013 New Zealand Blog Rankings. You can find the complete list over at “February ’13 – NZ blogs sitemeter ranking” which is compiled by Open Parachute at the beginning of a new month.

 

This is where BR:AKL is for February 2013:

73 Ben Ross: Auckland 1987 3040

 

Checking back through Sitemeter February was the blog’s third best month with growth tracking well since December. This month I will be in Australia (Sydney and Brisbane) for two weeks so there will be slight interruption in commentary (plenty of holiday snaps will be uploaded however 😀 ) in Auckland issues as well as me missing the launch of the draft Unitary Plan. However as we draw closer to the elections at the end of the year BR:AKL will be for sure keeping an eye on candidates seeking our votes. Work on BR:AKL projects like the Alternative Unitary Plan, and Southern Auckland Future Growth plans will also continue; as well as keeping Auckland Transport “honest” and pushing for feedback on Sky-Path.

 

So a big shout out and thanks to all the readers (and commenters) at BR:AKL. Without you the blog would not be possible

 

Oh and I do not run the blog out of a basement as Open Parachute’s picture would suggest 😛 . The main computer is actually in the living room where I can survey the entire property as well as having the phone and tablet at hand when out in the field. However changing the world – well yeah, one more step at a time 😀

 

BEN ROSS : AUCKLAND

Shining The Light – To a Better Papakura (OUR home)
AND
To a Better Auckland – (OUR City)

Auckland 2013: YOUR CITY – YOUR CALL

 

From Sitemeter

This Year's Visits and Page Views by Month

Note: Please check Open Parachute’s FAQ section on discrepancies between the above figures and the figures in their automated table

Giving A Damn – About Auckland

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For Auckland

Because I Live Here Too…

 

At 1400 hours today (2pm) I will be at the Manukau Civic Centre (the old Manukau City Council Building) giving my three-minute presentation then hopefully 7-minutes of dialogue with the four member Auckland Transport RPTP Hearings Panel.

 

The writing of submissions and showing up at hearings has basically become a “tradition” here since my first comprehensive submission (The Auckland Plan) in 2011. The question that begs to be asked is “Why?”

 

The answer is simple:

Because I live here too – and I give a damn about my home (Auckland) no matter what silly buggers Council can get up to 😛

 

So I thought I would show case some of my work over the last two years in participating widely in the democratic process on wanting and making Auckland a better place:

 

I will let readers know how the Regional Public Transport Plan presentation went later on today or early tomorrow morning

 

BEN ROSS : AUCKLAND

Shining The Light – To a Better Papakura (OUR home)
AND
To a Better Auckland – (OUR City)

Auckland 2013: YOUR CITY – YOUR CALL

 

 

 

 

85th

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85th Blog in NZ

 

85th equal out of 275 New Zealand blogs (that have publicly available site-meters as BR:AKL does)

 

That kicks BR:AKL into the top 30% – a nice small quiet achievement that brought a 🙂 to my face this afternoon.

 

You can see the rankings at “Open Parachute’s January ’13 – NZ blogs sitemeter ranking”

 

BR:AKL

Visit Rank Blog Visits/month Page Views/month
85b Ben Ross: Auckland 1585 2432

 

I think it might be time for a quiet beer and reflection as I continue to take BR:AKL forward 😀