Category: Uncategorized

A Home for Life?

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English and National are thinking in 1 Dimensional terms again which is pretty easy to level against the Right Wing. Probably because they see the world in black and white rather than the full spectrum of colours it really is.

The Left Wing arguably can think in three dimensional terms thus non black and white type of thinking.

I agree with what John has put here for the State Housing situation insofar as this is what National should be doing. That is thinking in three dimensional terms……
Something that is not very hard to do (although that will lead me to a STEAM vs STEM debate – for another time)

Professor Mayhem's avatarSlightly Left of Centre

When there are thousands of people on a waiting list for a state house, should we be allowing people who have taken the hand up provided by the state, made something of themselves to occupy state houses permanently?

Yes, we should.

Should those houses remain state houses once the tenants are able to pay market rent/mortgage repayments?

No they shouldn’t.

We’re the Government to implement a programme whereby tenants who could afford to buy their home, either directly, or as a rent to buy scheme (without the fish hooks in private r2bs) then we should be giving them that opportunity. Thus giving the tenant the opportunity to become a homeowner.

If this was to be done it would allow the government to balance its social responsibility to provide welfare housing, while allowing it to release capital to be reinvested in higher priority housing areas.

What is lacking in Bill English’s…

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Ad’s Posing as Journalism

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We have this problem on both sides of the Political coin. While Slater should take a six month break from Blogging, Bomber should just sod off entirely with his “My way or the electorate is too stupid and needs to be educated” mantra.

Being tone deaf as Bomber, or inept which cost the Left despite the amount of cock ups from the Right, or ad’s posing as journalism does not help our democratic institution one little bit.

Suggestion to Central Politico Bloggers: Take a break until March next year and come back. Enjoy the Summer, recharge, refresh, new ideas.

That said plenty of fodder is up for grabs at Local Government level looking at the feeds this morning.

Note: Talking Auckland does not take paid content and all guest posts are marked as such. All pressers are also as marked as well.

Professor Mayhem's avatarSlightly Left of Centre

This morning I read a lengthy piece of advertising for left wing blogs.

You can see this advertisement here.

The “article” in question poses as journalism and purports to be an analysis of the impact of left wing blogs on the election.

While there is an element of analysis, the article reads more as a “if you don’t agree with Martyn Bradbury on The Daily Blog then you are confusing the message, and are the reason we lost.” (Like it’s nothing to do with being completely politically inept?)

The piece begins with a look at the ideal post election scenario as this clown (Alleged Lefty Troll and Journalism Hack, Philip Matthews) would have liked to see it:

In a parallel universe, David Cunliffe is the prime minister of New Zealand presiding over a Labour-NZ First minority government in a happy arrangement with the Green Party. Internet Mana, backed by…

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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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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….

 

A Case of Green Corruption?

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Something a little bit different as Auckland grinds its way through Rates and Transport.
No matter which Party an MP is on I do not take highly to snouts in troughs. So I hope the Greens clean this up in earnest as they do not need this distraction while the spot light is firmly on them over Auckland’s transport situation!!!

Professor Mayhem's avatarSlightly Left of Centre

A couple of days ago, I looked into the travel and accommodation expenditure of Green MP Steffan Browning.

I revealed what was already public information for the few who can be bothered looking into it in detail; that Mr Browning has spent $166,369 of taxpayers money on travel and accommodation since October 2012. I have asked Steffan Browning for comment, I have asked Russell Norman for comment, and I have asked Feed the Kids Bill sponsor Metiria Turei for comment. None have deigned to reply. are they simply aloof, or are the hiding something?

The reason I revealed this information is not because of the amount of money he has spent. While it is, in my opinion, a clear example of an MP with his snout in the trough of public funds, the issue I have is the lack of any sort notable of achievement that has resulted from Mr…

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National (Party) Shame

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One thing that I will ping National on is that some Ministers (Joyce, Smith, and even English at the moment (which is a shame)) thinking only on one dimensional terms rather than three dimensional terms.

I do not know what it is with Centre Right Parties here, Australia, the USA, and the UK when it comes to the difference between physical and social infrastructure. They can see physical infrastructure no problem but social infrastructure it seems they can not simply understand for the life of them.

Social infrastructure is as critically important as the physical infrastructure. If you lack the Social Infrastructure at State level we return to the Classic Liberal era of 19th Century Britain and the wild economic swings that would bring about Social Liberalism and the Welfare State up until the 1990’s.

Let me put it in a final form. A society that disconnect will prompt civil unrest and later wars. History has shown that to us again and again.

Time for National to take a history less fast.

Professor Mayhem's avatarSlightly Left of Centre

One of the key responsibilities of incumbent upon Government is the provision of infrastructure.

This includes building railways roads, hospitals, power grids and policing, which forms an intrinsic part of our social infrastructure.

This government has been big on building.

It has spent unprecedented amounts of money on building transport infrastructure, things such as roads and railway lines as it sees these things, quite rightly, as the arteries, veins and capillaries of the New Zealand Economy. This is well and good, but over the last six years the National Government and its allies, which include the Maori Party, has consistently failed to acknowledge the historic and contemporary under-investment in social infrastructure.

To answer a question that the Government has only just noticed, but has been around for decades, Bill English has announce that the Government is looking to sell state houses. The logic seems to be that selling state houses…

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How does Josh Forman view politics?

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Food for thought while I am with thousands of others at Armageddon today.
More on this tomorrow – as well as an Art Sculpture Council just can’t get its act together on…..

Professor Mayhem's avatarSlightly Left of Centre

Well, to me, it is about setting the policies that make it as easy as possible for the residents of this land to have happy and satisfying lives.

It means ultimately, that every single person in this country, be they a natural citizen or not, should be able to look back on whatever portion of their lives that they spent in NZ and be able to honestly think to themselves on their death bed “I feel that I have had all of the choices and opportunities open to me in life.”

Whether they have made the right choices and taken their opportunities is not for the state to measure, but the state can play a part in providing equality of opportunity and freedom of choice by legislating where necessary, and removing barriers and rules where possible.

This means that we need, as a state to put our focus on some…

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Slater Unfairly Maligned

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I have a confession to make. Cameron Slater and Whale Oil is where I drew inspiration back in 2011 to form View of Auckland now Talking Auckland. It was not the attack style he would be known in infamy prior to the election that drew the inspiration to form my own blog, but the content, moderation policy, and simple Blogging 101s to get the thing going and where it is today.

Today the Blog sits in the top 40 and continues to grow at a speed that does not bother me. Over the three years I have tested and trialled different aspects before settling down to the style that the blog is now.
Emails, feedback, and the odd post forming discussion are becoming more regular while the blog is recognised as a credible independent source on that boring Local Government stuff Slater keeps pointing out to me.

I agree with John on several points he has made. Unlike most of the Centre Left blogs you did have pretty much free reign in the comments department providing (through more recent times) they are civil.

Some of the greater (and more intelligent) debates especially around planning and climate change have been over at Whale Oil.

However, if I am being honest with myself now times have changed and circumstances present themselves in all sorts of ways not seen.
True Whale Oil is still number one but his presence and Empire seem to be on the diminishing side just as Judith Collins is.

Who knows what the future holds for Slater but to not acknowledge what he has provided (okay good bad and down right feral) would be me being very dishonest with myself especially if he did provide inspiration for my own blog.

Slater might go through a second period and his Empire another shot at peak power and influence. Or it could diminish itself to history like the great Roman Empire. This we will see in time own Slater’s own terms.