I was at the Centenary of the opening of the Otira Rail Tunnel recently. The Construction cost was apparently £1.5 million. Using the reserve bank inflation calculator from around 1919 (centre date of the 10-year project) and taking it to today's prices gives us $180 million. That's an 8km … [Read more...]
Our Tweedledumb and Tweedledumber political parties
I recently had an enjoyable lunch with two old mates, both who had been MPs in the Labour Party. I spoiled the occasion a tad by saying for the first time in my life I’m not voting Labour. That led to a spirited discussion which interrupted the polite conversation of two Merivale women sitting close … [Read more...]
We’re collecting quotes during the election campaign.
Here’s a couple - add your own in comments Chris Trotter: There was a time in this country’s history when citizens asking questions of public servants was an entirely unremarkable exercise of their civil rights. A time when, far from causing fear and alarm, the practice of holding bureaucrats … [Read more...]
This week – Academic Freedom: Science and Politics in the United States
This week our speaker is Professor Mark Hostetler from the Department of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation, IFAS, University of Florida. Mark’s topic is “Academic Freedom: Science and Politics in the United States” Mark will cover what it’s like being a scientist and living in the … [Read more...]
Garry writes 16 August 2023
It has been troubling to watch Council meetings online recently. They appear to be a variation on a very badly run community group. How many times have we been to a meeting and witnessed a chair, who really doesn’t know how to manage a meeting, trying to manage local folks who have all arrived with … [Read more...]
The Loft Social service defunded
In the Press on Saturday it was reported that The Loft, a valuable social agency in the East has had its funding declined by MSD. We will follow this one up as this is an agency which is relied on by a large number of people from a vulnerable portion of our city. In the weekend there was an … [Read more...]
The recent visit by the Commissioner for Future generations from Wales was inspiring:
A couple of weeks ago Christchurch had a visit from Sophie Howe the former Commissioner for Future generations for Wales. This Commissioner position is fascinating. The task for the Commissioner is to ensure that the public service complied with the Future Generations Act which has laid out seven … [Read more...]
The discussion on boarding cards for public transport drags on and on
Some years ago, I was on the NZTA board, now called Waka Kotahi. One of the matters debated at the Board was the issue of boarding cards for public transport. Auckland applied for a significant sum to develop its own card to NZTA. The Board decided that we would support Auckland to develop what … [Read more...]
Am I correct in being incredibly suspicious of electric vehicles?
I’m a complete car nut. My life has centred around driving vintage motor cars. So, what I am now reflecting on is me challenging the way I, and my family, have lived. My father was a motor mechanic for 55 years and I grew up in his garage listening to him and his mates talking about their vehicles … [Read more...]
I loved this article questioning Labour and National’s transport policies
In an article in Spinoff last week 22 year old Tommy de Silva wrote: The choice to tunnel under Te Waitematā from downtown to the inner North Shore will take decades to complete and have a $35bn-$45bn price tag (which Bernard Hickey argues might inflate to $65bn). It’s not just … [Read more...]
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