Te Horo – place of wonder and dreams
My return to column writing in the July edition of ‘The Hobson’. A favourite place I plan to include on my post-lockdown road-trip is not really a tourist destination. There’s not even a motel...
Category: Uncategorized
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...
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,...
Submission against so-called ‘dolphins’ extension to Queens Wharf
BEFORE THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSIONERS IN THE MATTER of s88 of the Resource Management Act 1991. Application for Resource Consent CST60323353 by Panuku – Development Auckland, for consent to construct two mooring dolphins located at...
How Auckland Council and AT are stuffing up the waterfront
“Over the next 10 years, Auckland Council has a vision to transform the waterfront into an attractive, people friendly environment. Auckland Transport will be delivering the first part of this vision from 2018 to...
‘Navigators & Naturalists’ – the book
Next year 2019 will be the 250th anniversary of the visit to New Zealand of James Cook and the Endeavour. No doubt, any commemoration will be accompanied by controversy and debate but hopefully the...
Conflicts of Interest: Twyford’s light rail project based on questionable advice
Transport Minister Twyford’s defence of his unpopular light rail to the airport plan (Dialogue 25 October 2019) was light on argument but heavy on references to ‘experts’. The Minister will need to do better...
The fight for the Waitemata waterfront
The news of another waterfront stadium, this one to be sunk in the harbour is the latest in a long list of controversial waterfront developments proposed or under way. The real estate consortium pushing...
Gerrymander? – Waitemata & Gulf under threat…from Auckland Council
Under the Local Electoral Act Auckland Council must undertake a representation review every 6 years to ensure there is a ‘fair’ balance between the population sizes of the wards and ‘effective representation’ of communities...