I was inspired by an article in Newsroom this week about a well-retired scientist signing a petition objecting to the government’s backing down on environmental issues. The scientist is Sir Alan Mark and he is 90 years old. However, he wasn’t the oldest signatory. That was one of my big heroes Sir … [Read more...]
Health, Subsidiarity and learnings from Canterbury
One aspect of becoming older is that you start visiting the health system more frequently. I’ve just had some pre-cancer cut out of my face. It’s a by-product of having Celtic ancestry. I am disappointed with the number of people I speak to within what was the highly functioning CDHB who are … [Read more...]
Simon Britten on Water Charges
In last week’s Tuesday Club newsletter I read “Many houses aren’t being sent water charges because they have no water meters. This is just poor public policy and unfair.” I swiftly protested what I thought to be an incorrect statement and found myself invited by Garry to write further on the … [Read more...]
Garry writes on changes at CCC
There was the inevitable clean out when Dawn Baxendale arrived from the UK to become CEO. That happens when a governing board, in this case the City Council, selects a change manager to turn around an organisation. CCC had become a bit like a cruise liner drifting in the high seas without power … [Read more...]
Local transportation planning
This week we have a representative from the Greater Christchurch Forum and James Caygill from Waka Kotahi talking about transportation and roading options in Canterbury. It is fundamental that we plan many things beyond current local government boundaries. One major issue is transportation. This … [Read more...]
The public and private sectors have different roles after disasters
When we had our hour of need after the earthquakes we received considerable assistance from other councils. Before central government drove everybody away and took over through agencies like Cera. I will forever mourn how Roger Sutton was treated by the Wellington brigade. When Roger “left” … [Read more...]
Water charges must be universal
We received at home a bill for excess water charges recently. It amounted to $26.88. We had been a bit nervous about how high it might be as we have a large site with expansive gardens including vegetables growing profusely. Many houses aren’t being sent water charges because they have no water … [Read more...]
Let us quietly reflect on this the 4th anniversary of the Mosque murders
Four years ago, we were in a state of anxiety and grief. How could this happen to us in Christchurch. How could innocent members of our community be gunned down in our city? I well remember going to collect my grandson from Christchurch East school the day of the massacre. There are a large … [Read more...]
I’m not sure that amalgamation of local authorities is necessarily a good thing
The North Island floods have caused me to sit and wonder whether or not large amalgamations are a good idea. I’m not sure the bringing together of all the Councils of Auckland served that community well or not, especially over a major event like they have experienced. At one stage of my life I … [Read more...]
Will the proposed water reforms remedy this challenge – Catchment and Drainage Boards
While I think about water and its impact on the people of New Zealand I was informed during the week that Esk Valley in Hawkes Bay has flooded on a number of occasions. It flooded badly in 1938. Here’s a picture taken at the time: During the War legislation was passed which created Catchment … [Read more...]
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