The election is over, and we wish the new City Council and Ecan all the best. We need you to succeed. The worrying thing is that the number of people who felt the need to vote was alarmingly low. The distrust of the Council reflected in the level of people who voted. Why didn’t people take the … [Read more...]
Garry writes on the Stadium
In this missive I share my thoughts on, if I was still at the Council table, what questions would I have over how to vote on the Stadium. It’s always pleased me when people in Christchurch are arguing about an issue. It means they are engaged. This is healthy. When such a significant issue as … [Read more...]
Garry’s thoughts 5 April 2022
Firstly these are the last Tuesday Club notes for a few weeks. We are moving to having the Tuesday Club once a month. I will be writing from time to time, but it will not be weekly. Garry and Rosemary are taking a breath and deeply involved in some other projects. WATCH THIS SPACE It has become … [Read more...]
Garry writes 29 March 2022
I remember sitting at a Labour Party conference in the 1980’s and hearing an old lady addressing the conference telling us all how delighted she was when Norm Kirk got the path to her clothesline of her state house concreted. Richard Prebble (remember he used to be a Labour MP) got up and completely … [Read more...]
Garry writes 22 March 2022
It’s a rare setting where a politician admits that they have got something wrong. Nanaia Mahuta did that last week, and good on her. She admitted on TV1 that she had got two things wrong during the promotion of the government’s 3 Waters restructuring. In the article Local Government Minister Nanaia … [Read more...]
Garry Writes 15 March 2022
How are those challenging the government’s proposed 3 Waters reforms being treated? It’s sad that an essential public policy discourse is becoming more and more debated as” right” and “wrong”. It’s literally the litany of the deaf. Labels like “racist” are being chanted to those who are … [Read more...]
Garry writes 1 March 2022
Last week I raised a point about the social fabric of our country being at risk. Several people have got back to me saying they share my concern about how hazardous to our democracy the Wellington demonstration is right now. This feedback made me think about what we take for granted, and what is at … [Read more...]
Garry Writes 22 Feb 2022
I worked for two central government departments. Often, I found their head offices peopled by young, green, bureaucrats who had no idea about how to implement their academically perfect policy on the ground. I can’t remember how many times I left Wellington frustrated as hell about the lack of … [Read more...]
Garry writes 15 February 2022
Today I want to discuss the need for government, both local and central, to be more open. They must share their decision making early and starting to trust us the community. Try telling the truth and the facts rather than spin. It must be frustrating for journalists writing a story to have to … [Read more...]
Garry writes 8 February 2022
The government has announced a proposed light rail system in Auckland. That the National Party spokesperson on transport immediately rubbished the proposal and stated that what was needed was two more motorways says everything about his party’s commitment to the world’s environmental challenges. … [Read more...]
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