The government has finally realised that many of us, across political boundaries, are fed up with all the focus of politics being mainly on the North Island and especially on Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga.
The Government has recently appointed a Minister for the South Island (outside cabinet), with no staff it would appear, as covered by this article A serious and urgent briefing for the first minister for the South Island | The Spinoff
I did like what the Minister, James Meager, said on the prospect of cross-party collaboration to deliver more for the Mainland:
- Any MP, regardless of the party that they’re from, who is interested in growing the South Island and improving the lives for South Islanders, I am always willing to talk to, and find things that we can work on together.”
And so say all of us. Looking forward to cross party voices here.
Inter-Island Ferries
I have written enthusiastically about Winston Peters outmanoeuvring the National Party with their non-thinking crazy approach toward this Island’s State highway 1, the inter-island ferries. This week he once again made a superb call when he appointed a Board to manage the selection of the appropriate boats to purchase and the infrastructure necessary at both ends.
The board members, two of whom I know, are a good mix with institutional and engineering wisdom. The pragmatism of the call seems a welcome difference from the dogma being driven in other places like serving up rubbish food to our kids at school. I wish the Board all the best your recommendations are essential for the well-being of this Island. I also am slightly nervous about how the coalition partners of NZ First will receive the deliberations of this new board.
Team chosen to lead hunt for ‘no-nonsense delivery’ of new ferries | The Post
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