Auckland’s forgotten West
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8:55 am, June 17th, 2014 - 107 comments
Categories: auckland supercity, capitalism, infrastructure, news, public transport -
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The storm that raged through NZ last Tuesday night-Wednesday morning got major news coverage on Wednesday.
There was much reporting of power cuts, floods, and wind damage to start with. Then, after most households elsewhere in Auckland had their power reconnected, the news media seemed to be uninterested in the numbers of people in West Auckland still without power or hot water.
As adam commented yesterday on open mike:
Funny when the power went out in Auckland for a day back in 2006 the Troy scum screamed blue bloody murder. Well some of us in West Auckland have either no power or no hot water for a week – the Tory press does bugger all. Yesterday finally something said in Herald but only on full outage –
The problem with hot water not being available is still on going for many. Funny they just can’t get the hot water to work properly again. This is a major structural flaw. I have asked around and many tradesmen fell Auckland is a ticking time bomb, especially it’s power and sewage.
Back in 2006, it was not only major news, but questions were asked about the state of Auckland’s infrastructure. Central Auckland businesses complained loudly about the hits to their profits. And the storm and aftermath got its own wikipedia page.
I was one of those who went without hot water for several days. It would have been easier to cope with, if we had had more information on what was happening. By Friday night I was beginning to think myself and a neighbour had been forgotten – the only ones in Auckland unable to take a hot shower. However, the Weekend Herald did have an article on it – albeit with muted outrage, as reported second hand from those in West Auckland still without power.
Today Louis Houlbrooke reports in the NZ Herald that “The legacy of the storm still lingers”
Almost a week after a damaging storm, some Auckland residents were still without hot water last night while the last few houses were having their power restored.
Lines company Vector said at 6pm yesterday it had restored all hot water pilots since Tuesday night’s large gusts that brought down trees and power lines, damaged homes and left 90,000 houses were without power. Vector said it would take four to six hours for the water to heat up.
Four houses on Woodglen Rd in Glen Eden lost power when a tree brought down lines.
Resident Steve Gould said he phoned his power company Mercury Energy the next morning, and Vector arrived about 10.30pm Thursday to disconnect the power.
The company began work on restoring power to the affected houses yesterday afternoon and Mr Gould’s power was restored about 6pm but he did not have hot water.
Henderson resident Gary Hall was without hot water until 5.30pm yesterday. “We lived in India for five months, and it’s actually easier living in India and putting up with their Third World antics than it is living here in New Zealand when you think we’re in the 21st century and they can’t get something like this sorted out,” said Mr Hall.
Richard Doherty and Debbie Ross were nursing their sick 4-year-old daughter when the power went off at their Jillian Drive home in Ranui. They rushed her to hospital at 4am Saturday and she was diagnosed with pneumonia. Ms Ross said it was unpleasant coming home to a cold house at 7am with an unwell child.
There must bee many more such stories out there, and so few reported on. Since the demise of Waitakere City Council in 2010, and the rise of Rodney Hide’s neoliberal blueprint for an amalgamated wider Auckland. Parts of west Auckland have become increasingly neglected and marginalised. Roads in and out of the west in peak times, are down to a slow, tedious crawl. Public transport, while in some ways improving, is costly for those in the outer west wanting to get to Auckland’s CBD, and not always that reliable. getting across Auckland from west to north or south can be a logistic nightmare.
And often places like Ranui and Henderson only get reported on when the sensationalist media zero-in on a murder, or dysfunctional behaviour related to synthetic highs.
Henderson, the scene of a killing last week, has increasingly become neglected, with the central are looking pretty derelict. NZ Herald report and photo:
Now that Paula Bennett has decided she’s actually a North Shore girl, and begun to stake her claim in that area, does John Key’s government really care about the outer reaches of Auckland, especially the West and South?
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- Release: Don’t cut our lunches – clear message sent to GovernmentTens of thousands of people are demanding the Government commits to fully funding free and healthy school lunches. ...1 week ago
- Release: Govt makes U-turn on Suicide Prevention OfficeLabour welcomes the Government’s U-turn on the closure of the Suicide Prevention Office, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...1 week ago
- CCC issues warning over further climate delayToday’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...2 weeks ago
- Luxon targets lame and lousy example of leadershipIf talk is cheap, Chris Luxon’s “targets” are bankrupt. ...2 weeks ago
- Luxon targets are lousy example of leadershipIf talk is cheap, Chris Luxon’s “targets” are bankrupt. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Commitment to disability communities missing from Govt prioritiesMinister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...2 weeks ago
- Methane target review is dangerous duplicationThe Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Government must commit to school building project for disabled studentsThe Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: National must take mental health seriouslyMental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...2 weeks ago
- Referendums for Māori wards a racist step backwardsThe Government's imposed referendum on Māori wards is a racist step backwards for Māori representation, and disregards Te Tiriti o Waitangi. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Job losses at Health not worth it for tax cutsNew Zealand will feel the harm of the National Government’s reckless cuts to jobs at the health ministry for generations, says Ayesha Verrall. ...2 weeks ago
- Press release: No Māori initiatives in Government’s nothing planMāori are yet to see anything from this Government except cuts, reversals and taking our people backwards, Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...2 weeks ago
- Thirty six point PR spinThe Government’s ‘36 point’ plan for the next three months is as pointless as it is hollow. ...2 weeks ago
- Thirty six point PR spinThe Government’s ‘36 point’ plan for the next three months is as pointless as it is hollow. ...2 weeks ago
- Thirty six point PR spinThe Government’s ‘36 point’ plan for the next three months is as pointless as it is hollow. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Social housing off Government’s to-do listThe Coalition Government’s refusal to commit to ongoing funding for social housing is seeing the sector pull back on developments and families watch their dreams of securing a home fade away, says Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Less money in most people’s pockets this AprilChanges to minimum wage and benefit indexation means many New Zealanders will get less this year, as the Government gives a big tax break to landlords instead. ...3 weeks ago
- $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...5 hours ago - Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder listThe Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...7 hours ago
- Judicial appointments announcedAttorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...8 hours ago
- Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in SingaporeEducation Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...9 hours ago
- Value of stopbank project proven during cycloneA stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...9 hours ago
- Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visitForeign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...9 hours ago
- Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac DayScience, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...12 hours ago
- Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the PhilippinesPrime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...23 hours ago
- Government commits $20m to Westport flood protectionThe Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...1 day ago
- Taupō takes pole positionThe Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...1 day ago
- Cost of living support for low-income homeownersLocal Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...1 day ago
- Government backing mussel spat projectThe Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...1 day ago
- Government focused on getting people into workBenefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...1 day ago
- Clean energy key driver to reducing emissionsThe Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...2 days ago
- Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forwardThe Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...2 days ago
- Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic PartnershipPrime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...2 days ago
- Government consults on extending coastal permits for portsRMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...2 days ago
- Inflation coming down, but more work to doToday’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...2 days ago
- School attendance restored as a priority in health adviceRefreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...2 days ago
- Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sectorOceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...3 days ago
- Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International CongressAssociate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...3 days ago
- Removing red tape to help early learners thriveThe Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...4 days ago
- RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tapeChanges to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...4 days ago
- McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationshipTrade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...4 days ago
- Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister LeePrime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...4 days ago
- PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ tiesPrime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...4 days ago
- Antarctica New Zealand Board appointmentsForeign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...4 days ago
- Finance Minister travels to Washington DCFinance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...4 days ago
- Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlordsThe coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...4 days ago
- Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being consideredState Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...5 days ago
- New Zealand condemns Iranian strikesPrime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel. “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says. "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...5 days ago
- Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plansHundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...1 week ago
- Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand ChairHealth Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board. “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti. “I have asked her to ...1 week ago
- Roads of National Significance planning underwayThe NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...1 week ago
- Navigating an unstable global environmentNew Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States. “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...1 week ago
- NZ welcomes Australian Governor-GeneralPrime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...1 week ago
- Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for WinterAssociate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...1 week ago
- NZ and the US: an ever closer partnershipNew Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...1 week ago
- Joint US and NZ declarationApril 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...1 week ago
- NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperationForeign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research. “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...1 week ago
- Communities Against The Fast-track Heartened By ‘Overwhelming’ Public Response; Disgusted By ‘...
With submissions closing today, Macassey-Pickard says groups around the country have been supporting a huge range of people to make their submissions. ...60 mins ago - Renters Rights To Drastically Reduce Under Landlord GovernmentThe Government’s announced changes around tenancy rules set renters’ rights back by nearly a decade. ...1 hour ago
- NZPI Submission on Fast Track Approvals BillOur response to the new legislation is informed by targeted conversations with practitioners working in the system and through an implementation lens. ...1 hour ago
- Fast Track Invite List Includes Most Destructive Industries In New ZealandThe new ‘Fast-track Approvals Bill’ would give just three Ministers the power to approve or deny development projects. They would avoid the usual checks and balances that are in place to protect rivers, land, the ocean, and communities. ...1 hour ago
- Eugene Doyle: Helen Clark on why AUKUS isn’t in New Zealand’s national interest
COMMENTARY: By Eugene Doyle Helen Clark, how I miss you. The former New Zealand Prime Minister — the safest pair of hands this country has had in living memory — gave a masterclass on the importance of maintaining an independent foreign policy when she spoke at an AUKUS symposium held ...1 hour ago - Government releases list of organisations shoulder-tapped for fast-track consents
The government's released the list of organisations provided with information on how to apply - just hours before public submissions on the bill close. ...3 hours ago - The Week in Politics: Job cuts surge and Waitangi Tribunal troubleAnalysis - It's been a grim week for public servants, while trouble is also brewing between the government and Waitangi Tribunal. ...4 hours ago
- It never rains but it pours: intense rain and flash floods have increased inland in eastern Australi...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milton Speer, Visiting Fellow, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Before climate change really got going, eastern Australia’s flash floods tended to concentrate on our coastal regions, east of the Great Dividing Range. But that’s changing. Now ...4 hours ago
- Watch: Christopher Luxon speaks to media in ManilaThe PM has defended how he's talked up NZ trade on his trip to Southeast Asia, after criticism from his own delegation. ...4 hours ago
- ‘It could be the death of the museum’: why research cuts at a South Australian institution have ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elizabeth Finkel, Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, La Trobe University Sia Duff / South Australian Museum In February, the South Australian Museum “re-imagined” itself. In the face of rising costs and inadequate government funds, CEO David Gaimster, who took the reins last June, declared ...4 hours ago
- Government signs off $41m clean energy deal with Asian Development BankThe government has committed $41 million to clean energy transition at the Asian Development Bank's Energy Transition Mechanism. ...5 hours ago
- Are 2 mid-career AFL retirements a sign Australian athletes are taking brain health more seriously?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Pearce, Professor, School of Allied Heath, Human Services & Sport, La Trobe University, La Trobe University This week, Collingwood AFL player Nathan Murphy announced his retirement, brought on by his concussion history and ongoing issues. The 24-year-old’s seemingly sudden retirement, ...7 hours ago
- Luxon: Waitangi Tribunal comments from coalition parties 'ill considered'Comments from ACT and NZ First ministers about the Tribunal were "ill considered" and "that message will be underscored" to them, the PM says. ...7 hours ago
- Mental Health Foundation Facing Staff Cuts From Govt Funding SqueezeThe Mental Health Foundation provides support and resources for those facing the loss of their job, so it’s wrong in the very week the Government adds another 1000 jobs to its tally of cuts, that this is happening. ...7 hours ago
- I wholeheartedly recommend The President: a brilliant revival of a play of decay, terror and revulsi...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Howard, Senior Lecturer, Discipline of English and Writing, University of Sydney Daniel Boud/Sydney Theatre Company Decay, terror, revulsion. These are three of the central themes of Thomas Bernhard’s rarely performed play The President. The Austrian is one of the greatest ...7 hours ago
- How the coolest little capital is shrinkingIt's not the first time a government has targeted public servants for job cuts, but this time Wellington is really feeling it. ...8 hours ago
- Many prisoners go years without touching a smartphone. It means they struggle to navigate life on th...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ye In (Jane) Hwang, Postdoctoral Research Associate at School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Shutterstock You’d be hard pressed to find any aspect of daily life that doesn’t require some form of digital literacy. We need only to look back ten ...8 hours ago
- Ministers accused of Cabinet Manual breach with threats to Waitangi Tribunal
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says threats by ministers Shane Jones and David Seymour to reform or close down the Waitangi Tribunal were “ill-considered”, as legal experts say the ministers may have breached Cabinet Manual conventions. “I think those comments are ill-considered and we expect all ministers to actually exercise good ...8 hours ago - Good news: midlife health is about more than a waist measurement. Here’s whySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Newton, Professor of Exercise Medicine, Edith Cowan University Pexels/RDNE stock project You’re not in your 20s or 30s anymore and you know regular health checks are important. So you go to your GP. During the appointment they measure your waist. ...8 hours ago
- The Friday Poem: ‘Mitochondrial Problem’ by Evangeline Riddiford Graham
A new poem by Evangeline Riddiford Graham. Mitochondrial Problem I. It was long drive to Kansas for the man and his dog but you have to understand he said She doesn’t fly. Which calls to mind not carsick shitting barking or whining but a dog who chooses not to as ...8 hours ago - The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending April 18The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington. AUCKLAND 1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38) Hot off the press, this debut ...8 hours ago
- Department of Conservation closing Dunedin centre, but no jobs lostVisitor habits are changing and DOC needs to adapt in a financially sustainable way, its operations director says. ...8 hours ago
- Unions Collaborate With Thousands Of Job CutsWith New Zealand officially in recession, a swathe of mass sackings is currently sending shockwaves through the entire working class. ...8 hours ago
- Watch live: Christopher Luxon speaks to media in ManilaPrime Minister Christopher Luxon is speaking to reporters in Manila after pledging greater defence cooperation with the Philippines. Watch live. ...8 hours ago
- Government sent please explain letter to Wellington City Council over transport disagreementThe contents were revealed in correspondence from Simeon Brown and Chris Bishop to Wellington's Mayor. ...8 hours ago
- Some families push back against journalists who mine social media for photos – they have every rig...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Wajnryb McDonald, PhD candidate in Criminology, University of Sydney Less than 24 hours after Ashlee Good was murdered in Bondi Junction, her family released a statement requesting the media take down photographs they had reproduced of Ashlee and her family without ...9 hours ago
- Mental Health Foundation staff cuts loom, with funding falling behind rising costsChief executive Shaun Robinson said it has not had any government funding cut, but government-funded contracts have not kept pace with rising costs. ...9 hours ago
- The ‘devil comet’ 12P/Pons-Brooks has finally become visible from Australia. What can we expect?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonti Horner, Professor (Astrophysics), University of Southern Queensland Pons–Brooks visible from Utah, March 9 2024. James Peirce/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND If you’re a fan of all things space, you’ve doubtless heard about the “devil comet”, which has been captivating keen-eyed observers in the ...9 hours ago
- Rugby stadiums are sold as an economic asset – but NZ needs to ask if they’re really worth itSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Hamlin, Senior Lecturer in Marketing , University of Otago A multi-billion dollar stadium precinct has been proposed for Auckland, one of three proposals in front of Auckland Council for a new stadium in the city. The council is also considering revamping ...9 hours ago
- Auckland dog attacks: Callouts for attacks on other animals going upRoaming dogs are responsible for more than a thousand attacks on animals each year, and the number is growing. ...10 hours ago
- What access to puberty blockers means for trans young people and their whānauThe Ministry of Health has delayed the release of its evidence brief on the safety, reversibility and mental health and wellbeing outcomes for puberty blockers. While we wait, Julia de Bres speaks to those with firsthand experience. Best practice gender-affirming healthcare is based on trans people’s self-determination and agency. The ...10 hours ago
- NZ and Philippines pledge defence cooperation amid rising tensionsThe commitment came after a sit-down meeting between Christopher Luxon and President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr overnight. ...11 hours ago
- How superblocks can help reimagine city lifeBarcelona’s city streets have gone from traffic-clogged to pedestrian-friendly. How? Superblocks. Ellen Rykers explains. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week I read a great interview with renowned urbanist Janette Sadik-Khan by The Spinoff’s Wellington editor Joel MacManus: “You can reimagine streets, ...11 hours ago
- Fire engineering expertise may take a big hit with job cuts at MBIEThe public sector cuts are poised to take out a big chunk of expertise at the country's building regulator. ...12 hours ago
- “Fast-track Law To Kill Kiwi”: Students Say Fight Against Anti-democracy Legislation Is Only Jus...Student groups ‘Climate Action VUW’, Schools Strike 4 Climate and VUWSA will be on the street in Wellington today, the last day for submissions on the Fast-track Approvals Bill, with a message that the fight against the Government’s ‘War on ...12 hours ago
- ‘We have thousands of Modis’: the secret behind the BJP’s enduring success in IndiaSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sofia Ammassari, Research Fellow, Griffith University Since 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity has grown exponentially – and so has the formidable organisational machine of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). These two factors will be key to delivering the BJP a ...13 hours ago
- Online schooling is not just for lockdowns. Could it work for your child?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon Hyndman, Associate Professor of Education (Adjunct) & Senior Manager (BCE), Charles Sturt University During COVID almost all Australian students and their families experienced online learning. But while schools have long since gone back to in-person teaching, online learning has not gone ...13 hours ago
- Hear me out: You can shove your reusable period productsYes, they’re better for the environment. No, that’s not a good enough reason for me to use them. Once every 26 days or so, my period arrives, and if struck by an act of God, I am caught red-crotched without products. How, after 17 years of this, do I still ...13 hours ago
- Rip It Up And Start Over – Fast-Track Approvals Bill Needs To Be Scrapped“It will cause significant harm to our environment and communities. It is completely at odds with New Zealanders’ relationship with nature and our need for a low-carbon, sustainable economic future." ...13 hours ago
- Maori Authority Warns Government On Fast Track LegislationThe Chair of the National Maori Authority, Matthew Tukaki, has warned a Parliamentary Select Committee that fast-tracking legislation is a perilous practice that undermines the core tenets of democracy, transparency, and accountability. ...13 hours ago
- Why the government’s haste in changing the health system could come back to haunt itSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Tenbensel, Associate Professor, Health Policy, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images Since coming into power, the coalition government has adopted a simple but shrewd see-how-fast-we-can-move political strategy. However, in the health sector this need for speed entails ...13 hours ago
- Many suicides are related to gambling. How can we tackle this problem?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Hronis, Clinical Psychologist, University of Technology Sydney Darya Sannikova/Pexels Whether you’re watching TV, attending a footy game, or eating a meal at your local pub, gambling is hard to escape. Although the rise of gambling is not unique to Australia, ...13 hours ago
- Things that go buzz in the night – our global study found there really are more insects out after ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Wong, Forrest Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia Have you ever wondered if there are more insects out at night than during the day? We set out to answer this question by combing through the scientific ...13 hours ago
- Why don’t Australians talk about their salaries? Pay transparency and fairness go hand-in-handSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carol T Kulik, Research Professor, University of South Australia IR Stone/Shutterstock In Australia, it’s not the done thing to know – let alone ask – what our colleagues are paid. Yet, it’s easy to see how pay transparency can make pay ...13 hours ago
- ‘Character’ And Its Impact On Immigration StatusThe Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is sounding a warning to migrants, that running foul of the law may see them leaving the country prematurely. ...13 hours ago
- 20,000 more on jobseeker benefits than this time last yearThe government’s plan to get 50,000 people off jobseeker support by 2030 has had a rocky start, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Beneficiary numbers are up – and so are ...15 hours ago
- All of the Raglan Roast cafes in Wellington, ranked from worst to bestRaglan Roast is a staple of Wellington coffee culture. But with five branches across the capital, which one is the best? I am a die-hard Raglan Roast fan. It’s consistently the most affordable cafe in Wellington, and one of the only places you can get a coffee after 3pm. So, ...17 hours ago
- Auckland uni students threaten rent strike over rising accommodation feesResidents of University of Auckland halls are being urged to withhold their accommodation fees from May 1, in a bid to force the university to take student concerns over rent hikes seriously. The University of Auckland is facing a strike from students over the cost of on-campus accommodation. The Students ...17 hours ago
- New Zealand transport planning has gone off the railsOpinion: The famed American architect and urban designer Daniel Burnham once said, “Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood!” Burnham wouldn’t have been referring to the transport plans in Aotearoa New Zealand over the past five years; projects so big they hadn’t the credibility to ...17 hours ago
- Daily crossword, Friday 19 AprilThe post Daily crossword, Friday 19 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...17 hours ago
- Brakes on transport and logistics sector as demand for freight slowsThe transport sector is currently in the slow lane The post Brakes on transport and logistics sector as demand for freight slows appeared first on Newsroom. ...17 hours ago
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National Party regional development policy involves rendering West Auckland uninhabitable. The refugees will help develop the provinces.
Remember even Paul Bennett has got shot of the place…
ever so slightly off topic – but im out west and our phone lines are complete rubbish.
Every time its a bit damp theres major static on the line and the connection keeps cutting out. No-one could ring our land line for the last 3 mnths. Once we picked the phone up and it sounded like a derranged fax machine had moved in
of course whenever someone from chorus appears the fault disappears (murphys law and all that) so it never gets fixed
I know of others out west who have the same problem – any standard westies in the same boat?
Not off topic at all. It’s about infrastructure in the West – and how it compares with the rest of Auckland (or NZ?), and how it is reported on by the MSM.
Yup totally agree framu phone troubles out west +1
Had that fault for over 40 years – one day a chorus technician actually listened to me and fixed it somehow – been fine for 5 years now.
the previous owner told me that he even disconnected the house from the main phone line, attached a service tech’s phone to the line and rang chorus. That was the only way they would accept that it wasnt the wiring in the house that was at fault
Hypocrite Hide has the audacity to blame too much nanny state Auckland local government when he set the thing up, under urgency, and appointed his cronies to run the transition and the CCOs. Amazing how the media, especially the National Herald, can’t remember any of that?
Hot water just on late last night (Mon) in our end of New Lynn (Fruitvale). You get used to making do after 20 years in the Far North but that is not the point here. Some mates rewired their cylinders to plug into a standard power outlet but I was not keen for the obvious reasons.
The power companies role as uncaring ticket clippers rather than actual utility providers was revealed to all. And once again the precarious nature of urban grid based society glimpsed. Rain water storage and solar power systems need to be considered for all new dwellings and retro fitting.
You can feel a bit like a Favela resident out West. And “Auckland Checkpoint Watch” on facebook confirms a definite traffic police bias towards South and West Auckland.
https://www.facebook.com/policepointer?fref=ts
Yes, being able to “make do” is not the issue. It’s about the lack of urgency, and general attitude towards customers and limited media interests that are the issues.
In my younger days I lived for several months on a houseboat with no hot water, and the (hot) bath being onshore. I’ve hitch-hiked in the south of Spain and had cold showers in their winter. Though, as I get older, my system isn’t as hardy and cold showers are more of a shock to my system.
There are also issues for the very young, the very old, and those with ill health and disabilities, being without power or hot water.
Interesting about the traffic watch. Thanks.
“And “Auckland Checkpoint Watch” on facebook confirms a definite traffic police bias towards South and West Auckland.”
Or…. the people most interested in dodging checkpoints and speedcameras happen to spend more time in West and South Auckland, so post more than people in other areas…..
Or the random WOF and Rego tests that required up to eight police officers for several days at Otara Shopping centre that I witnessed, is often replicated in Meadowbank’s Eastgate or on Remuera Road.
I guess their hit rate is higher for those that are struggling to meet basic housing and food costs, and who let their WOF or Rego ride over for another month…
especially as mt eden, epsom and remuera would catch a number pof young drivers who havent taken the trouble to go for full licences and break the rules with impunity.
Well said Karol. Plus for Henderson and Te Atatu South:
Different story in the greenfields areas of Hobsonville and Massey North.
Bad doughnut syndrome.
Pretty damn sad.
Yes. Some areas in the west are getting an upgrade while others are being neglected.
I notice the difference between New Lynn and Henderson. Many in New Lynn have always aligned themselves with central Auckland rather than the west. They have been very happy to be realigned with Auckland Central after 2010.
There are still many low income families in New Lynn, and all the problems with inadequate public transport. But compared with Henderson, New Lynn’s been getting an upgrade, and central New Lynn is buzzing. I’ve heard anecdotal accounts of rising house prices in the area.
I suspect that gradually the least well off will need to move further west, while there’s a continual increase in better off households in New Lynn.
Te Atatu is also an old working class area.
It looks “derelict” because a tarpaulin has been strung up to protect a crime scene?
There’s long bows but you’re drawing this one from one side of Auckland t’other.
does one photo show the entirety of central henderson?
yes thats a rhetorical question
It looks derelict to me when I go there – and that’s at least once a week over many years.
That photo was the most recent I could find of the area, but the to me is fairly representative of the way Henderson has become.
I often stand waiting for buses and trains there and have plenty of time to observe my surroundings.
It’s in a similar state to many provincial towns then.
Remember that as context: the entirety of NZ is a “provincial town” (or in Hunger Games parlance, a District) within the western political-economic empire.
All you need to do is walk up great north rd past the Westfields entrance and every second store front is empty, even with Untec at that end of town.
Christchurch was the watershed moment for NZ with regards to this. You only have to look at what happened there to see where we are at as a nation now.
In addition to the politics of the now, other questions should be asked about future proofing in the face of Peak Oil/AGW/GFC. How resilient is the essential infrastructure? (am wondering also about smart meters, does failure of electronics mean absolutely no power?). Resilient both in terms of big weather events, but also recovery options afterwards. How much is infrastructure, how much is systems? With AGW we can expect more and more severe weather events. With PO/GFC mixed with neoliberalism we can expect it to be harder to maintain systems that are robust and repairable and adaptable.
Yep. The model is broken: public utilities are vulnerable to market failure, which is itself made more likely by the Greenhouse Effect.
OAB and Weka are right on the money, and that in a nutshell is the problem. The original concept of a municipal body was to share the costs of the provision of services and infrastructure across a wide base. An area did what it could afford to do and were locally responsible.
The moment that idiot Bassett pushed through the so called reforms to local government “profit” and “markets” got involved. Delivery went down, cost went up and locals became very remote from the action. Meanwhile we all got sold “bigger is better, more efficient”. It demonstrably is not.
The police are scared of West Auckland and it inhabitants
because we dont like them very much and let them know on a regular basis. In my little part of Waitakere city we look out for each other because we know the police dont/wont come and help from long experience .
My wife has told the police on couple of occasions “we dont like your sort of people around here , we wont talk to you ,so go away ” when they have arrived at our house looking for previous occupants , Its allways funny to watch them try and figure out what she means..
but your average beat cop really isnt very bright (check the spelling in their notebooks if you want to see for your self ) so they never get it
I can see what the problem might be in West Auckland.
If you two are a representation of the average westie, the council should just build a big wall around west Auckland and leave you to it.
which two?
MInarch and his wife.
ahh – doh. having a stupid moment
” because we know the police dont/wont come and help from long experience”
but just focus on that bit for a moment – its fairly common, and of late ive been hearing some real bad tales about the west AK police
remember these are the wonders who failed to even get a search warrant in the roast busters case
what do you think happens to a community when collectively no-one bothers calling the cops?
Any one who thinks treating the police as the enemy is a lost cause, too dumb for words.
Treat the police with abuse and insults they sure as fuck ain’t going to help you out, I know I wouldn’t if I was in the West Auckland police force.
I’m not going to put my body on the line for a pack of brainless ferals.
People want to live law of the jungle style, don’t whine and cry when everything turns to shit.
well true enough – but im not advocating that myself
“what do you think happens to a community when collectively no-one bothers calling the cops?”
its not a one way street is it
Societal breakdown and lawlessness.
Work with the police not against and things will improve out of site
This “fuck da police” attitude is the problem and until the people who live in these feral areas grasp that, things are not going to change.
The ball is in the ferals court.
Are you saying that all westies are ferals BM?
Are you saying you’re prepared to give a shred of comfort to those who label people thus MS?
If the majority of Westies consider the police to be the enemy, then yep, it’s Feralsville.
I’m trying to decide. Which is worse? Stepping in dogshit or reading BM’s hate speech?
proving you dont know shit about west AK and should probably shut up pretty quickly
its not a one way street – thats the whole point
would you agree that for effective community policing it requires the good work and good will of all parties?
would you agree that if either party doesnt pull their weight then everyone else will adopt different measures?
pull your head out of your arse for a change
im actually making a case for everyone to take responsibility – you on the other hand want to pin it all on people that you dont know, in a community you dont know.
Remember – this is the police force that couldnt even get a search warrant for the roast busters case and by all accounts has a pretty bad history with fucking things up – yet its strange that you dont make the same demands of them that you make of people you dont know.
Thats not to say they are the enemy however
Nah Framu, he wants to be given a nice uniform with shiny buttons and a job opening and closing the security gates.
Yep I agree, the thing I don’t agree with though that the police have to treat a community differently because the community doesn’t like the police arresting their whanau all the time or impinging on their freedom to do whatever they want.
It’s up the the community to step up not for the police to step down to their level.
Yep. Dogshit is preferable.
bm – good. Now, do you spot where you are the only one saying this below?
“the thing I don’t agree with though that the police have to treat a community differently because the community doesn’t like the police arresting their whanau all the time or impinging on their freedom to do whatever they want.”
it all started when minarch said
” In my little part of Waitakere city we look out for each other because we know the police dont/wont come and help from long experience .”
your entire drawn out objection and general slandering of entire communities is based on something that was never said.
No ones asking the police to stoop to their level – the complaint is they arent rising to the communities level so other measures have been taken
With any luck they will rise up against those who make up sub-human labels and drive you into the sea.
Im more than capable of protecting my family and my community if need be
we DONT NEED the police
come to to my neck of the woods and say were all feral
I f++king double dare you you gutless prick …
or you could f++k off and hide behind your ornate walls and electric gate and tame policemen on leashes like your sort allways do, not that they will or can protect you
F++king pussys…
my daughter was badly affected by the roast busters, as were a lot of her peers at school.
Those boys are not welcome in West Auckland anymore, and its not safe for them here either
we look after our own & have strong caring communities
actually – ive never had more people look me square in the eye and say a friendly hello before i moved out west
Actually, you described one way how this exact situation eventuates.
Person A treats officer B like crap because officer B couldn’t get there in time due to stretched resources.
Officer B expects person C to do the same, so turns up more slowly and treats them like crap.
Person D knows person A and person C, both of whom think the cops didn’t do a thing, so when something happens, why bother calling the cops? They just think person C is one of the “ferals”.
De legitimizing the police is not only beneficial for those they target, but also for police officers’ families and police officers themselves. Not only do police officers have disproportionately high rates of domestic violence and child abuse, they’re also more likely to get killed, commit suicide, and struggle with addiction than most sectors of society. Anything that encourages police officers to quit their jobs is in their best interest, as well as the interest of their loved ones and our society at large
Don’t kid yourself that alienating someone is a kindness to them and their families.
That’s just replacing one bully with another.
Im happy to talk to/help any policeman if he takes his uniform off and asks as a fellow citizen, not demands as part of the armed wing of the state
Id gladly join a “citizens police force” under the direction on an ELECTED official to help protect my community which I care about deeply and sincerely
Its the institution thats dehumanized him not me
nah, they’re still human.
What you do with that fact is up to you.
Unless, of course, the police are the enemy.
A little difficult to do that when they’re not here.
some people will say the police are ordinary workers just like us; they should be our allies.
Unfortunately, there’s a big gap between “should be” and “are.”
The role of the police is to serve the interests of the ruling class; anyone who has not had a bad experience with them is likely privileged, submissive, or both.
Today’s police officers know exactly what they’re getting into when they join the force—people in uniform don’t just get cats out of trees.
Yes, most take the job because of economic pressure, but wanting to pay the mortgage on that overvalued house is no excuse for evicting families, harassing young people simply for being young etc..
Those whose consciences can be bought are everyone’s potential enemies, not allies.
Nonsense. If your narrative were ubiquitous you’d have a point, but it isn’t.
We could pay significantly more for our power, and triple the lines repair teams in case they’re needed once every ten years.
But we don’t want to pay more for power.
We could pay more for our roads to ease the congestion.
But there was an article here by LPrent just yesterday saying anybody claiming an increase in traffic is delusional.
how about less bonuses for the Power company execs ?
People who think building more roads decreases congestion are the delusional ones, John. For once in your life stop relying on your sub-par right wing brain and its sorry excuse for logic, and check some facts from the real world.
Charitably, I’ll assume for the moment that you are capable of doing a quick reality check without me holding your hand and spoon-feeding it to you.
We have some bits of new motorway in the south that have substantially eased congestion – there’s been a massive improvement.
Apparently all those people who can now travel along freely at 100kmh when before they were all stop start in traffic, are all deluded.
No. The GFC and increasing fuel costs have reduced traffic volumes.
Still, since charity is wasted on you, here comes the spoon.
Duranton, Gilles and Turner 2011. My bold.
Your comments are way off topic. Take it back to the delusional thread bucko. That goes for tge rest of you too. Youve let john hijack a thread about people nit getting basic power back on…
r we could improve the public transport that will REALLY ease the congestions – more spent on roads just means more cars on the roads.
findings include:
The number of vehicle-kilometers traveled (VKT) increases in direct proportion to the available lane-kilometers of roadways. The additional VKT traveled come from increased driving by current residents and businesses, and migration.
Building new roads and widening existing ones only results in additional traffic that continues to rise until congestion returns to the previous level. Such attempts to “cure” congestion are thus both expensive and ineffective.
Increasing the lane kilometers for one type of road does not significantly reduce congestion on others — for example, widening highways does little to reduce local congestion.
Metropolitan areas appear to construct new lane-kilometers of roadway “with little or no regard for the prevailing level of traffic.”
Because roadways have “natural” levels of congestion to which they always return, mass transit projects will not reduce traffic.
http://journalistsresource.org/studies/environment/transportation/fundamental-law-road-congestion-evidence-u-s-cities#sthash.nCm9AfFo.dpuf
PS: Stephen Wolfram is ringing a little bell in my head and saying “Life expands to fill every available niche.”
Public transport helps, but not to the extent many people think. it’s no good for anybody needing to carry anything, i.e. anybody doing the shopping, trades people, all sorts of delivery.
As an example, the Greens want to spend billions of taxpayers dollars on an modern dream Auckland rail system, which would transport nearly 100,000 people a day .
That’s just 7% of Aucklanders, so would do little for the other 93% of Auckland and nothing for the other 98% of NZ.
We’ve got a low population, that’s quite spread out. I often see our local buses with two or less people on them.
Our bigger cities certainly could do with better public transport, just like we need a first world first world roading system
a first world first world roading system
How uncharitable of me – I never realised you can show us examples of your magical uncongested utopia. Please don’t tell me you haven’t got a single one. That would make you look like a complete fucking idiot.
Works pretty well for New York, London, Shanghai, Seoul and Singapore. Do you not believe that people in those cities do shopping and carry stuff around on their subways and buses, their laptop bags and briefcases?
John doesn’t like public transport: he might meet one of those people.
Indeed. A lot of those people get off the train from the Wairarapa and Upper Hutt and walk straight to work in Parliament. Must be commies the lot of them.
More hilarity – you think plumbers, couriers and buiders can carry our their business by using the Wellington train for their transport.
You claim you see “a lot of those people”
What makes you think that CV thinks that? Are you fucking stupid or just completely out of rational arguments? Scratch that, you never had any to begin with.
OK plumbers and couriers can use their own trades vehicles then.
Those vans block the road and get in the way of wealth creators like John.
Yeah right – New York, London, Shanghai etc don’t have congestion. That’s funny.
We can cross them off the first world first world roading system list then 😆
+111
😈 😆
Just saying that the smart money around the world has gone with great public transport.
Actually, I do a lot of my grocery shopping by bus. Can’t carry as much as a car load. But, I adapted. Pick up stuff when I’m out. There are shopping trolley/bags on wheels that help a lot.
Of course, there are occasions when I need to shop with my car. It’s not about never using a car, but using it less – and especially not for commuting.
Sounds to me that your travel on motorways is not during peak times. I’m sure they work a treat for those heading to their baches at weekends and public holidays.
That’s great, but I shop for a family, so I’d have to make about three return bus trips, which would probably take all day.
As I’ve said earlier, it’s not about improving roads OR public transport.
It’s about improving roads AND public transport.
So as to ease congestion, right? Which doesn’t work, and never has, and this is why people are convinced that scientists are on to something when they say low IQ predicts for right wing political beliefs.
Shopping trips are not the problem. The biggest ones are the daily commutes and people using cars when they could use public transport, walk or cycle.
It’s not about no use of cars, but using them less.
That, and decreased reliance on sub-standard mental processes.
You’ve substituted debate for ranting and abuse.
If you need that to put some excitement in your life, well and good.
I can think of nothing more boring.
The debate was over years ago. You’re here parroting other people’s failed lines as a substitute for letting the facts drive your conclusions: your toxic false narrative has consequences for everyone else.
You people pay lip service to personal responsibility; I’m calling you out.
The correct solution for shopping is free delivery – not more roads and more cars. It’d be significantly cheaper than everyone going shopping:
Example:
Community of 50,000 houses
1 Supermarket
Average of 10 kilometres of travel
Average time spent shopping 1 hour
If each house had their own car to go shopping in that means 500,000 kilometres of travel and 50,000 hours used.
Now we use the same community but introduce deliveries with ordering done online.
Each delivery delivers to ten houses
Averages 1 hour
Averages 10 kilometres of travel
Average of 10 minutes to do the ordering online
That’s 5000 deliveries taking up 5000 hours and 50,000 kilometres of travel. There’s another 8333 hours used in online ordering. That’s a saving of ~37,000 hours and 450,000 kilometres of travel. Oh, and 125 full time jobs.
So, why are people still driving to go shopping?
Just did my shopping by bus. Really, it’s not hard. Sure, trades people need their own vehicles but nobody else does.
And then later we can more to that PT to increase it to more than 7% of Aucklanders and I’m sure that the Greens are quite enthusiastic about getting better PT to other cities as well.
So have I. I’ve also seen buses so full that they can’t stop to pick up the dozens of people waiting for a bus.
We need a better roading system like we need a bullet in the head. Peak Oil makes cars more uneconomical (they really were uneconomical to begin with).
I did when I was taking the bus from my last two workplaces. 2-4 bags is no hassle. See other people doing it all of the time.
The inner and outer link buses are usually like that until after about 6. I’ve also seen 3 inner links choked with people stacked up behind each other in the traffic, two whistling past and the last full but stopping.
They seem to be getting better at it though. I haven’t seen a row of three since last year (now that I think about it).
I’ve been out on the buses this arvo and evening. When I left west Auckland, a woman got on the bus with a big shopping trolley (bag on wheels) full of shopping, plus a couple of huge plastic crrier bags. It’s what some people do regularly. The buses were pretty full most of my journeys today.
Edit: For some reason i can’t log in – get a “you’ve been locked out” message. now this coment has gone to moderation.
[lprent: It does that with failed logins. Capslock? I will remove it anyway. ]
Thanks, Lynn. Can log in now.
Or we could halve the cost of power while also increasing the number of linesmen by going back to a state monopoly service.
Tell that to all the people where I live that used to sit in a queue and now travel at 100kmh.
Tell that to all the people who used to crawl though Orewa north of Auckland, who now sit on the motorway at 100kmh.
If better roads don’t make any difference, we’d be better off taking all the motorways and mutli lane roads back down to narrow winding roads with a single lane in each direction.
That’s the thing with charity: you have every right to refuse it.
I note your failure to recognise that the better roads we built since the days of single lane highways (we, not you, you wanted the private sector to do it) didn’t ease congestion. Your right wing brain has failed you again 😆
The roads where I live are busier than ever however travel times into the city are HALF what they were a couple of decades ago.
Similarly State Highway 1 to Christchurch is busier than ever, but the journey is hours quicker than it used to be.
You fail to recognise that our population is rising, and continues to rise, REGARDLESS of whether new roads are built – not BECAUSE new roads are built.
Whole streets of Auckland have two houses nearly every section where there used to be only one.
People immigrate to NZ because of the economy.
I bet if you asked them if they immigrated because a new road was built, they’ll look confused and ask you what you are going on about.
Nah, they have wingnut drivel where they come from too.
Actually, I’ve been northwards on the northern from Takapuna between 4-5pm. The traffic is already slowing to a crawl as we approach the upper harbour highway. The busway eased the road congestion somewhat.
Much of the congestion leaving/approaching New Lynn at peak times is due to bottlenecks on feeder roads. The congestion on the motorway has been eased by ramp lights. I see nothing in the Waterview plan that will ease the congestion on the feeder roads. It looks only to get worse without a major public transport upgrade.
On behalf of the people of Christchurch, boo hoo, suck it up
Thanks. That’s really helpful.
It’s really hard to be sympathetic about your wee booboo having had to cope for three months without water and in some cases power.
Acerbic 😈
Sacrifice zones…where a nation no longer has the will or capacity to keep building itself up, and cannot even satisfactorily maintain and renew what it has got.
Disaster Capitalism to the rescue.
“Sacrifice zones” – sounds like what’s happening in NZ – East Christchurch, South Auckland, parts of West Auckland…. some provincial towns.
And those living elsewhere congratulate themselves and our government for its (alleged) rockstar economy.
Do any of these ingrates vote National?
Unfortunately yes (small town NZ). Not enough of them to count though.
Chris Hedges featured on Bill Moyers – Capitalism’s “sacrifice zones.”
http://billmoyers.com/segment/chris-hedges-on-capitalism%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98sacrifice-zones%E2%80%99/
Note how the mainstream media conveniently “forget” these parts of the country, making the suffering of the people within effectively invisible.
IN Auckland I think you get judder bars on your street once the average house value goes well over $1m for your street.
And it’s important that the people of Otahuhu help pay for those nice judder bars.
so having suffered loss of services your compassion for other victims of natural occurrances is zero?
slightly off topic, but maybe on too. I’ve posted here about my borther. He is pretty right wing. Love him like a brother tho 😉
he learned the immigration gig from Aussie Malcolm and has built a successful business in that field. He and I never talk about politics because we are too often miles apart.
There is NOTHING about immigration he doesn’t know. he was talking to me about Maurice Williamson’s departure. he was pleased to see him gone. he also said that when he has clients who do not meet criteria and should be refused IF they go to their MP and their MP is a National MP, they get to bypass the rules and get approved. he doesn’t say that lightly and he doesn’t say that as a supporter of the left. Like many he had an almost pathalogical hatred for Helen Clark. In other words he has no vested interest in making this up to share with me. His last clients were in Jamie Lee Ross’s electorate. My brother told me that Kate Wilkinson is the “NO’ person in immigration except when the client is in an national electorate.
I post it here because until Bennett started pretending she was a hard core Westie, it was generally regarded as pretty much a Labour neck of the woods. If there aren’t the votes in it, and their polling must suggest west auckland is a lost cause, this government doesn’t seem to give a shit. That’s no excuse and definitely no excuse for media outlets.
Mind you, arent there still portaloos in labour electorates in Christchurch?
Vector have a different Call Centre and number for those West and North “customers” from those in Central and South Auckland.
Odd – that the Vector outage map of last Wednesday mirrors this demographic;
http://imgur.com/tjrAhVk
I suspect a significant difference of historical investment and maintenance of aerial transmission lines and undergrounding profiles in these “secondary” areas.