O tempora! O mores! What times! What customs!
If this applied to the Rome of Cicero’s time, it’s even more apt for the Auckland of today. Strange times we live in. Most readers will know by now, I’ve been asked to stand...
Category: Uncategorized
Answering the call
Dear ‘Ponsonby News’ readers. I have agreed to come out of retirement to stand again for council. This in response to repeated requests over the last five months from concerned local residents who are...
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,...
High-handed Council alienating too many people
What a gorgeous summer it’s been – the ‘Auckland Dream’, the pursuit of which brought me from Wellington when I was 21. Unfortunately it’s not been the happiest summer for everyone in Waitematā. From...
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...