Christine Fletcher’s dear Phil letter

17 comments on “Christine Fletcher’s dear Phil letter ”

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1. Ad 1

   15 October 2015 at 3:38 pm

   Christine, Maurice and Judith have formed the “Nursing Our Bitterness” club of the spent, addicted, and otherwise unemployable.

   Swallow your reflux honey!
2. deWithiel 2

   15 October 2015 at 4:08 pm

   Auckland was once a beautiful city but it has been systematically trashed since the 1950s. Firstly by the motorway builders; then by the spivs and speculators of the 1980s who demolished its remnant built heritage willy nilly; by a National government who provided the city with a legacy of leaky buildings; and most recently by National/Act’s amalgamation fiasco and swingeing amendments to the Resource Management Act that have hastened the extraordinary destruction of the city’s urban tree canopy. They’re all still at it, grubbing away and squeezing every last cent they can get out of the place. It’ll take more than Phil Goff to fix the place, that is if it’s still fixable.
   • AB 2.1

     15 October 2015 at 6:46 pm

     “it has been systematically trashed since the 1950s”
     Yes
   • Alethios 2.2

     15 October 2015 at 9:14 pm

     +1

     Time and again decisions are made behind closed doors in Wellington that have far reaching effects for the people of Auckland. The result is an absolute mess on every level – governance, transport, housing and one of the worst per capita urban sprawls in the world.
3. Tracey 3

   15 October 2015 at 4:12 pm

   Has she done an Open Letter to mr Hide and the ACT puppet Seymour too?

   Anyone who says there are no divisions on the Right need to read this letter
4. Mike the Savage One 4

   15 October 2015 at 4:13 pm

   Quote from above, from Christine Fletcher’s letter:
   “Democracy feels lacking. The public have little idea on what is happening with the unitary plan, for example, and its possible impact on them personally. The process has been so intense that only those with the deepest pockets and the most determination have engaged for the long haul. They are usually developers. This leaves the rest vulnerable to the whims of the council who will feel – even though it most certainly isn’t true – that citizens have been ‘heard’.”

   This is absolutely true, and Aucklanders should be very, very concerned what is going on, but sadly most seem to choose apathy, lack of interest and take no action.

   The Unitary plan will look very different to the notified version, and indeed, it will be reshaped largely by developer and business interest input, and Council having agree to too much of what they seek. It is quite disgusting what is going on.

   And Phil Goff wants to oversee this kind of stuff, or work from what may result from it, as a neoliberal aficionado he may feel comfy with that, I will be very hesitant giving him my vote though.
   • Molly 4.1

     16 October 2015 at 9:49 am

     This is true.

     I’m having to attend Unitary Plan submissions and hearings for the Unitary Plan for a community group. The expense of time and continual updates is onerous for non-fiscal groups, and tbh I have had enough. The community consultation we did was considerable, over eighteen months and across as many demographics as we could identify, but that is nothing against the pockets of the well-developed and those with immediate and social access to council representatives in our neck of the woods.

     Also, as consultation comes towards the finish line, the requirements for professional planning documents and representation, eliminates the voices that will be heard at the final sessions.

     A poor result, from a promising intent, and unfortunately, uncorrected it will end in a poor result for Auckland residents long term.
5. Tracey 5

   15 October 2015 at 4:14 pm

   Far less self-serving than Collins “I know everything and people should just listen to how wise I am” column
6. KJT 6

   15 October 2015 at 4:18 pm

   A National MP with public spirit? A rare beast indeed. Of course, sorting out Hides’ hideous stuff up was impossible from the start.
   The whole point was to remove Democracy so rates could be decreased for business, increased for residents, and assets stolen (Sorry. Sold!)
   • Tracey 6.1

     15 October 2015 at 4:22 pm

     they didnt count on their stooge Banks getting back and of course Slater fought a misguided and dirty rear-guard action.
7. heather 7

   15 October 2015 at 4:22 pm

   Interesting I just heard Trotter speaking on the radio floating the idea that Christine was going have a try for Mayor again, that she was up to the challenge.
   The power the Mayor and Chief Executive have is obviously upsetting Christine and other councillors. The Chief Executive seems somewhat similar to Sir Humphrey from the wonderful old TV series ‘Yes Minister’.
   • Ad 7.1

     15 October 2015 at 4:44 pm

     Nope he’s a good Chief Executive, takes no shit, and who has an important feature (as the most senior public servant in Auckland) of having the confidence of central government.
8. One Two 8

   15 October 2015 at 4:41 pm

   It does not matter who the mayor is, the controlling interests see to that

   Auckland is a broken city, which I doubt can recover from 50 odd years of abuse
9. Stephen 9

   16 October 2015 at 8:35 am

   What Ms Fletcher fails to say is to call to account the format of the council and the CCOs.
   These were put in place by a National Govt in collusion with the ACT Party. If she wants to rail against the lack of democracy, start there.
   • Molly 9.1

     16 October 2015 at 9:50 am

     Agree. The structure creates the disorder she decries.
   • The Lone Haranguer 9.2

     16 October 2015 at 12:21 pm

     I think even Rodney Hide has come put his hand up and said that the structure he helped establish wasnt working the way he envisaged it would.

     Ms Fletcher is identifying issues that she as an insider sees them, and Stephen, your playing the “blame the other guys” game is counter productive, and when what is needed is some fresh ideas that Goff (or some other mayor) can implement to improve the city.
     • Grant 9.2.1

       16 October 2015 at 12:34 pm

       Here’s a REAL lone haranguer for you..

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