Category: Uncategorized

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

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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January ’15 – NZ blogs sitemeter ranking

A good solid run to start 2015
A thanks to readers and commenters alike. And an acknowledgement to the Main Stream Media reading the blog as well 🙂

February will be a busy month with the Long Term Plan, and Unitary Plan debates continuing.

The Auckland Development Committee also meets later in the month as well where my Live Tweeting service will resume.

Welcome to Talking Auckland
Your independent commentary on Auckland Issues

Ken's avatarOpen Parachute

Social-Media-Statistics-You-Need-to-Know1

Credit: 10 Social Media Facts, Figures and Statistics You Need to Know

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 frequently asked questions (FAQs) people can check out. Have a look at NZ Blog Rankings FAQ. This is particularly helpful to those wondering how to set up sitemeters.

Please note, the system is automatic and relies on blogs having sitemeters which allow public access to the stats.

Here are the rankings of New Zealand blogs with publicly available statistics for January 2015. Ranking is by visit numbers. I have listed the…

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Referendum: Reasons for Yes – Transit shapes development

The same applies here in Auckland with her malls.

Lynn Mall is now undergoing redevelopment as it leverages off the New Lynn Rail Station and bus interchange. Sylvia Park having a privately built rail station next to it will also undergo such redevelopment in the near future.

The Westfield Malls have potential especially Albany (the Albany Bus Station), West City Henderson (Henderson Station and bus stops around the area), and Manukau with the Manukau Rail Station 400 metres to the south and a proposed transport interchange in the pipeline once Council stops playing silly buggered with the Budget (Long Term Plan).

The “Town Centre” come mall needing a heck of a load of work is Botany Town Centre. The absolute pinnacle of auto-centric development with 6-lane arterials flanking it and not much in the way in Light Rail or even bus priority measures. Botany which is deemed a Metropolitan Centre under the Unitary Plan will need some work such as Sky Train linking it to Manukau and Panmure as well as better bus priority measures for quick wins and longer term gains for short distance commuter travelling.

So much potential yet we still lag compared to overseas.

Gordon Price's avatarPrice Tags

A reprint of my Business in Vancouver column from October 2013:

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Building better Metro Vancouver transit is the key to revitalizing the region’s major malls

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Like any fast-growing community, Surrey has choices when shaping its future. And you can see a pretty good indicator behind which door that future will unfold at 104th Avenue and 152nd Street.

The intersection is home to Guildford Town Centre with its almost-finished $280 million redevelopment. Part of the redesign included the entrance – the architectural statement that says, “Here we are, come on in” – and that door faces the parking lots off 152nd Street.

This six-lane arterial leads directly to an upgraded interchange on Highway 1 just east of the Port Mann Bridge, allowing Guildford to more easily reel in all those consumers south of the Fraser. So naturally, there’s lots of free parking out front, with additional space added on…

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