I think this cartoon reflects how the current Minister for Transport views forward planning for transport. If you can’t drive a truck or a car, then planning for anything else doesn’t enter his consciousness. Especially if you live anywhere in the South Island. He is a true disaster on two … [Read more...]
I’ve paid my ZOOM bill and I’m wondering why there was no GST…
Because of my technical incompetence I have failed to produce a copy of my recent bill for my Zoom account to show you all. However, here’s a copy of the account payment: Zoom.Us 888-799-9666 Www.Zoom.Us Ca $272.05US. I wrote across the invoice I kept for my records “No GST – bastards”. I … [Read more...]
Why did the coalition Government got rid of the Productivity Commission?
It’s because the Commission Chair Dr Ganesh Nana wrote things like this: Our business models continue to focus on volume, rather than value and again that’s a misunderstanding of productivity – increased revenue is not productivity. Revenue can be generated by, just as we have done, … [Read more...]
This week’s speaker Patrick De Dekker
See you in person or on line this week - 5 to gather and 5.30 to speak. At present there’s lots of focus and interest in the Antarctic and we jumped at the chance to hear from an Australian authority on Antarctica, Patrick De Dekker. He will speak to us on the 1897-99 Belgica expedition that … [Read more...]
Garry’s thoughts 19 March
A few people have asked when the Tuesday Club is going to recommence this year. We apologise for the delay which has been for a genuine reason. As a 73-year-old male I have experienced a common challenge for aging men. A swollen prostate. My GP kindly prescribed a pill which shrinks the prostate. … [Read more...]
The need for investment in all aspects of Roading
One of the sackings I am proud of was when I was sacked by Stephen Joyce from NZTA board. The Minister had interfered with a decision we had to make as a board on a particular road which assisted a local National Party MP. The Chair, Brian Roche, gave into Ministerial bullying, as did most of the … [Read more...]
At last there are seriously good articles on how neo-liberalism is failing us badly
I recall in the 1980’s, when I chaired a Labour Party electorate committee, moving out of the chair to argue with our local MP on how wrong neo-liberalism was, as its impacts I felt were dreadful. I was working with communities all over the South Island which were being decimated by this newly found … [Read more...]
Garry reflects on Matters Maori
Much of the attention of the media over January has been on matters Māori. I have really enjoyed the debates and the discourse. I have included some of my reflections on the month's events in articles to follow. Rosemary has added the image here which has some to represent both Maori and … [Read more...]
Parliament maiden speeches
This week I attended Parliament to listen to the maiden (strange that this term still exists) speech of Kahurangi Carter, the newly elected Christchurch based Green MP. Listen to Kahurangi's speech here It was sad to note the large number of empty seats of returning MP’s who hadn’t bothered to … [Read more...]
I found the Kīngitanga hui at Ngāruawāhia absolutely fascinating
When the Māori king, Tuheitia Paki, called a hui at Turangawaiwai Marae in January he tapped into a vein of strength of ideas and under-the-covers debate in our country. Young and old. Māori and pakeha headed for the marae. If I’d been in the North Island I would have been there. This was the … [Read more...]