Every now and then I read a column which really hits home. It was a wonderful, warm, deeply personal observation which goes to the essence of NZ male behaviour. Here it is: https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2019/09/13/805172/emma-espiner-maori-boy … [Read more...]
In Conclusion
Garry writes 10 September 2019
Recently Bruce White sent a quote from Rabindranath Tagore. I had never heard of the man. They don’t teach you much about philosophers when you study accounting. However, Bruce found him, and he’s an accountant as well… “I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. … [Read more...]
Last weeks Speaker Ben Harris
Last week we had a really interesting address by Ben Harris. I am attracted to speakers who challenge conventional thinking by being scientific, and thoughtful, about an important topic. Like water. Ben started out by pointing out that much of the world required chlorine in its water for public … [Read more...]
This week’s speaker on Transport
This week we are moving off the topic of water and onto another issue which we should be considering as we contemplate our votes in the Local Body election. This week we are focusing on transportation. There has been a lot of attention to the state of the roads in the East and cycleways. In my … [Read more...]
Here is an article on some of the history behind the theft of Maori land:
I found this article, in Newsroom, a lesson on history which we certainly weren’t taught at school. We learned about the history of Great Britain and other important issues, but little about our own land. This article by a historian reminded me again of just how unjust so much of the treatment of … [Read more...]
Our Mayoral debate was sponsored by a lobby group:
I didn’t go to the Mayoral debate this year. I felt that it was a set-up. They way it was run, as reported to me, confirmed my fears. I was informed by people before the event that they had applied for tickets, and had been declined. Yet some of their friends who applied at the same time received … [Read more...]
The Leader of the Opposition, Mike Yardley, is writing about CCC selling assets, again:
This week we again had Mike Yardley writing about the need for CCC to sell assets. He wrote, to substantiate his argument: The fact that chlorine looks set to stay in our water supply for the foreseeable future has much to do with the parlous state of the city's reticulated network. Successive … [Read more...]
Changes to housing policy announced this week:
I am involved with Community Housing initiatives. I was slightly apprehensive about how Megan Woods would handle the announcement of the Housing reset. Phil Twyford almost completely stuffed up the Housing portfolio by overpromising, and under-delivering. However, he succeeded in placing … [Read more...]
It’s time for an across party accord on Housing policy:
I have often been asked why I never went to Parliament. The main reason is I couldn’t stand being told by a whip how to vote. I’m just not compliant enough. I admire those who go, and I have put lots of effort over the years assisting others to head in that direction. Another reason, other then … [Read more...]