For Gerry Hill
From A celebration of Gerry’s life. Held at the Grey Lynn RSC. 1 Francis Street, Grey Lynn. 11 January 2020. “How much more easily is the leave-take loved. For the flame burns more purely...
Category: Speeches and Articles
Stop stealing our port!
Group of 10 former Auckland civic leaders slam proposed “expropriation” of publicly-owned port of Auckland A group of former Auckland civic leaders* has expressed alarm and dismay at the proposed plan to “move” Auckland’s...
A tale of two voyages – Endeavour and St Jean Baptiste – December 1769 – emissaries from the outside world reach northern New Zealand
Captain James Cook and the Endeavour sailed through the Auckland region, past the eastern end of Waiheke, northbound, in late November 250 years ago in his epic voyage of discovery. It was a momentous event in New...
The passing of a great Aucklander – my eulogy for Phil Jew visionary builder of Auckland’s regional parks network
I was privileged to be asked to give the final eulogy, along with Judge Arnold Turner, Sandra Coney and Sir Barry Curtis for the great Auckland regional parks general manager Phil Jew at his...
The election of paradoxes: how the ‘insider’ was really the outsider – and vice versa
This is my last column as the councillor for Waitematā & Gulf so I wish to thank all the wonderful people who have helped and supported me over my time as your representative. A...
Auckland’s local government elections: ‘Whose city is it anyway?’
I was round at Gerry Hill’s and Sally James’ place on Ponsonby Terrace the other day. As everyone knows, over the last two years Gerry has been courageously battling motor neuron disease (MND). He’d...
“I will stay and fight.” Mike Lee Independent for Waitemata & Gulf
No peaceful retirement as veteran Councillor Mike Lee vows to ‘stay and fight’. After months of soul-searching on whether to retire as planned this year or even run for mayor, island resident Mike Lee...
Auckland’s past and future – well worth fighting for
Auckland Council is currently processing a change to the Unitary Plan, ‘Plan Change 26’. This is especially relevant for the historic townscapes (‘heritage zones’) of Ponsonby, Grey Lynn, Herne Bay and Parnell. The plan...
Civic Administration Building fire sale: lose-lose for ratepayers
I guess nothing sums up the incompetence and waste of the Super City than the sorry tale of the Civic Administration Building. Auckland Council’s fire sale of the Civic Administration Building (CAB), 22 levels,...