The Christchurch City Council made an excellent decision this week in deciding not to sell the site alongside the Court Theatre to Wilsons Car Park company. My antipathy towards Wilson’s has no bounds. In the opinion of many local residents they looted this city mercilessly by leasing empty … [Read more...]
This Week on Zoom – Celeste Donovan
This week we have asked the newest City Councillor, Celeste Donovan, who replaced James Daniels when he resigned from Christchurch City Council. It was an interesting election, and the people of the East elected a strong woman with environmental skills to lead the very part of this city which will … [Read more...]
Christchurch City Council sets its annual plan
I received in my email box before the council meeting this memo: I’m getting in touch to let you know that on Thursday 24 February, the Mayor and Councillors will consider Christchurch City Council’s Draft Annual Plan 2022/23 our annual budget and work programme. The plan outlines what the … [Read more...]
Last week’s speaker: Jean Drage
Jean gave us a comprehensive summary of where the government appears to be heading with local government reform. At the end of the talk, it became obvious that we must go into great depth on this topic this year. We had a good discussion on “anticipatory governance” which could also be something … [Read more...]
An interview with Lianne Dalziel on the broken relationship between Local and Central govt
In an in depth interview by Oli Lewis in BusinessDesk (to whom I am grateful to have these quotes) Lianne Dalziel reported her thoughts on the relationships between central and local government Yes, minister: Lianne Dalziel on the 'terrible' central-local govt relationship | BusinessDesk Speaking … [Read more...]
This Week on Zoom – Dr Jean Drage on Future of Local Government
Jean is based in Christchurch and has been keeping a close eye on the politics around NZ’s local government for about three decades now, as a teacher and a researcher. She is interested in the issues of political representation and participation. It is a busy time for reform right now and much … [Read more...]
ChristchurchNZ’s new Letter of Expectation
ChristchurchNZ (CNZ) as a PR agency for the city has performed what was required of it from Christchurch City Council (CCC). In my opinion it has not been a fully operational economic development agency for years. Let us consider the genesis of CNZ. Every city of Christchurch’s size needs an … [Read more...]
Garrys thoughts to start 2022
Over the holidays I travelled through Whanganui. It made me think me about that amazing nun Mother Suzanne Aubert, who started the sisters of Compassion, and worked with Māori families up the Whanganui river. Aubert was an incredible woman. She worked alongside Māori from the time she arrived as a … [Read more...]
3 Waters proposed legislation – It’s time for a rethink all around
For those of us with a long memory how central government approaches local government is too often an exercise in bullying. The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) is supposed to maintain a watching brief on local government and advise government on what changes are necessary. It seldom does this … [Read more...]
Garry Writes – the end of 2021
The poet Rumi once wrote:Out beyond ideas of wrong-doing and right-doing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there. This week the government announced that they were not going to fast track their proposed Bill on the 3 Waters legislation before Christmas. It’s a good call. This gives local … [Read more...]
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