February ’15 – NZ blogs sitemeter ranking

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Another good month for Talking Auckland with the blog breaking into the Top 30.

My main goal is to get both visitors and Page Views sustained over 10,000 for each month by the end of 2015.

And with that I give my thanks to readers and commenters alike with without you Talking Auckland would not be possible.

This month sees the Long Term Plan feedback rounds close on March 16 with the Council then to deliberate before the final thus operative Budget commences in July.

This month also marks March Madness with the Universities back and the transport systems to get their full work out. Today while the rail system coped State Highway 16 certainly didn’t.

Expect more transport related commentary as we work our way through March Madness.

The Unitary Plan debate heats up again with the Panel releasing Interim Recommendations around the Rural Urban Boundary that marks the line between Urban and Rural Auckland.

Also with the Unitary Plan I have my first two notifications on my submission I gave to the UP. While my hearings are not until later this year I will be gathering the evidence I need to support my claims and ideas to my submission.

All in all this is month three of what will be a busy but interesting 2015

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blog-breakdown

Image credit: Dear Kitty. Some blog

There are now over 300 blogs on the list, although I am weeding out those which are no longer active or have removed public access to sitemeters.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 February 2015. Ranking is by visit numbers. I have listed the blogs in the table below, together with…

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Council to Review Smokefree Policies

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Review brought forward

 

Note: Pressers placed in Talking Auckland are to be taken at the value you attach to them. I just pass the information on. Commentary does not always follow.

 

Council to start Smokefree Review

A recommendation to bring forward Auckland’s Smokefree Policy review was well received by councillors at today’s Governing Body meeting and the review will start in the coming months.

The recommendation was made due to large public interest in the outdoor dining aspect of the Trading and Events in Public Places Bylaw which was adopted by the committee today. Although smokefree dining is not a regulation of the bylaw, more than 1,300 submissions were received from the Cancer Society, Auckland Regional Public Health Service and individuals on the subject and the council has listened to their concerns.

Councillor Krum, Chair of the Hearings Panel on the bylaw, says “The panel felt keenly the passion of the submitters on this topic and the need to expedite the review of the Smokefree policy. We wish to consider the wider areas the policy should cover such as town squares, beaches and so on and – once the review of the Smokefree policy is complete – we will be giving Aucklanders the opportunity to give their feedback on smokefree public places.”

Auckland Council currently has one of the most comprehensive Smokefree policies in the nation in terms of public places and is in the process of expanding this.

Phase one, which included playgounds and transport centres, was adopted in 2013 and we are in Phase two of the policy which will make shared spaces and plazas smoke-free. Signage for these areas and the beginning of an awareness campaign will commence mid-year.

The purpose of the Smokefree Policy Review is to determine if a smoke-free bylaw is necessary for public places, including outdoor dining areas.

Auckland Council will start the policy review in the second half of 2015 and public consultation needs to be undertaken to understand the region’s views on a smoke-free bylaw.

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