Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: On the Waterfront

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  • Matthew Poole,

    Much as I think the current facilities for cruise liners are woefully inadequate, and would like to see the wharf opened up as a real public space, I can think of better things to do with all that Auckland Region money. Like putting it into a proper integrated ticketing system, now that National have fucked us over and made it unlikely that we'll get a proper system that'll scale for future use.

    The RWC is, largely, a Central Government wet-dream. They can pay for it, since they're busy taking money away from other things that Auckland really, desperately needs.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    I left NZ for my OE in 1984, the day before Marylin Waring crossed the floor and voted with Labour against US nuclear warships, NZ was still reeling from the '81 tour and Muldoon was at the helm of the ship of state, 3 gins down and still yelling at journos.

    3 weeks in Tonga/Samoa and then we washed up in the US, there was an election on and I got to vote for the last time in 20 years, just before they shut down the SF consulate to save money.

    There was no internet, and to us NZ disappeared off of the face of the earth - except for some Reagan era saber rattling about ANZUS.

    Coming back 3 years later, then 5 years later was like visiting another country, not the one I'd left, so much had changed so fast I felt quite adrift - we're so much more connected these days it probably couldn't happen like that again

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Tze Ming Mok,

    Just to clarify - the new site maintenance time for Twitter (2pm Pacific) is 1:30 am-ish in Iran, which is still a bad time. It's after the media has gone home, and historically for Iran, 'the witching hour' when security forces attack under cover of darkness. Witness, the dormitory raids last night in Tehran, all well after 1am. Witness (though I'd rather not), Tiananmen.

    And thanks for the props Russ, though all I'm doing is browsing and RT-ing the English language bridge-tweeters. The hashtag #iranelection is close to useless right now for on the ground info as it's the top trending subject. Some to follow (once they've woken up from their brief respites from this chaos) are @StopAhmadi (tweethub aggregator and steady head), @persiankiwi (compulsive updater with many landlines), @naseemfaqihi, in Dubai, but translates the BBC Persian language news reports, although she might have an exam tomorrow, @iran09 - some little anarchist firebrand geek who got namechecked by the BBC even, @Change_for_Iran, who, if he has 'disappeared' during the protests today, will cause my heart to break.

    SarfBank, Lunnin' • Since Nov 2006 • 154 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    There are a few fundementals for a good city.
    One is to build for the people, not for the tourists. To create a party central environment for one 2,3,4 week event is pretty poor concept to start from.
    Correct me if I'm wrong but the Wellington water front was simply created for the people, not car races or rugby or the ballet. It works every day of the year.
    The second thing to be weary of is any economic boom being predicted by the RWC.
    Can you really build a business concept on a one-off like the RWC?
    If you have a party central don't expect the rest of AKL or NZ to benefit, but do expect us to pay for it?
    How about AKL addresses its major failures without looking at one game of Rugby to solve your problems?

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    There are a few fundementals for a good city.
    One is to build for the people, not for the tourists. To create a party central environment for one 2,3,4 week event is pretty poor concept to start from.

    Did you even read the post properly?

    The "party central" part would have happened anyway -- it's been in the plans for some some time. What the purchase means is that the wharf can be redeveloped for the long term, instead of being locked off again.

    I find the endless negativity about any kind of development in Auckland rather wearying.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    But you know what would have been really cool? A stadium within a stone's throw of the party zone.

    Just sayin'.

    Would have also been really cool if Trevor Mallard hadn't swept into town like some cowboy property developer, operating under the delusion that "Rugby World Cup" is a magic spell that turns off the brains of everyone in the room.

    Just sayin'.

    Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to a great deal of transparency and consultation about the shitloads of public money that will have to poured into Queen's Wharf so it can be "harnessed for the city's future". But it is nice to know there is no recession in Auckland.

    Just sayin'.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Okay, fine. Let's do absolutely nothing with Auckland's waterfront, ever.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    I'm pretty glad that Mike Lee and the ARC had the foresight *not* to sucker us into a billion dollar waterfront rugby park that would have had zero success in attracting sponsorship in the current economic climate.

    I have some sympathy for the idea that any kind of public spending project is a good idea to try and reflate the economy, but it would seem that doing useful things for everyone is more useful than "digging holes and filling them in again".

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    ..endless negativity about any kind of development in Auckland rather wearying.

    So can you explain why building "grands projets" is a better use of public money than insulating homes and improving the public transport network for people to get to work and school?

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    well think about it - it's supposedly costing $100M all up - will it make the money back in some form - and how do you measure it? maybe if it makes back that much GST? (which means it has to bring in a billion dollars) or in taxes (which means someone has to make $300m profit - again at least a billion dollars in turnover) - so it's unlikely the govt's going to get their money back - so you have to think of it more as a giveaway

    Professional rugby is an entertainment business it should be treated the same way as any other

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Let's do absolutely nothing with Auckland's waterfront, ever

    I think it's in use for the traditional function of unloading stuff we need from ships, and loading stuff we export back onto them.

    I realise that's more boring than providing a fibre-optic enabled twittering lounge, or whatever. But it does actually earn money and employ people, you know.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    So can you explain why building "grands projets" is a better use of public money than insulating homes and improving the public transport network for people to get to work and school?

    You forgot to mention hip replacements.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    So can you explain why building "grands projets" is a better use of public money than insulating homes and improving the public transport network for people to get to work and school?

    Because people don't spend all their time at home, school or work.

    Is it really such an outrageous proposition to want Auckland to have a pleasant waterfront area that ordinary people can use for pleasure or recreation?

    Give us bread and give us roses.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Professional rugby is an entertainment business it should be treated the same way as any other

    For the third time, the RWC "party central" was going to happen anyway . The acquisition of the wharf should finally mean a public reconnection to the waterfront in perpetuity.

    And it does seem that the cruise ship terminal will in fact be an earner.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Is it really such an outrageous proposition to want Auckland to have a pleasant waterfront area that ordinary people can use for pleasure or recreation?

    Apparently that's Wellington's job.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    So can you explain why building "grands projets" is a better use of public money than insulating homes and improving the public transport network for people to get to work and school?

    Perhaps I missed where Russell argued that Auckland should ignore the public transport system and insulation and just build big white elephants.

    I'll go read his post again.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Okay, fine. Let's do absolutely nothing with Auckland's waterfront, ever.

    No, Russell, how about the slightest acknowledgement that there's a credibility problem when, on the one hand, we're being told we've got to put on a fiscal corset for the foreseeable future (and if you break a few ribs while doing so, so be it) but somehow the Government and the ARC managed to pull great wads of smeg-coated cash out their arse from who knows where. And they sure seem to be rather vague about how much more is to come, and where it's coming from.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Alan Perrott,

    bloody handwringers...

    is it because rugby's involved and that's like, so uncool.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 438 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Apparently that's Wellington's job.

    And while I'm sure Kerry Prendergast's had a few decades shaved off her life in the process, but the Wellington City Council had to go through an extensive -- and sometimes pretty hot -- debate about how it was using public money, and what the ends results would be.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    You forgot to mention hip replacements.

    What is so "Hip" about replacing a working wharf with a "party cenrtal"?

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    bloody handwringers...

    is it because rugby's involved and that's like, so uncool.

    Yeah, and giving a damn about how our elected representatives are using public money is so gay.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Michael Stevens,

    The Red Fence - I love it, and suspect the old part of it, including around Queens Wharf, might be heritage listed. It is a beautiful piece of Victorian or Edwardian ironwork - let's please leave it up! But with the gates open!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 230 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Give us bread and give us roses.

    Wasn't that "Bread and Circuses"?

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    Correct me if I'm wrong but the Wellington water front was simply created for the people, not car races or rugby or the ballet.

    Well, Frank Kitts Park was designed specifically with the Nissan Mobil 500 in mind. It has tall walls on three sides (Wakefield Street, the waterfront, the lagoon side) which were designed to protect punters from the speeding cars. Today it stands fortresslike, and has resulted in prime waterfront land used as an enclosed carpark.

    And I've heard that Te Papa's solid, unfriendly facade was also designed with the Nissan Mobil in mind.

    By the way, if you want to see how much the Wellington waterfront has changed in the last 20 years, check out this dashboard cam lap video of the 1990 Nissan Mobil 500. Wellington then is almost unrecognisible from how it is now.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Sam F,

    The Red Fence - I love it, and suspect the old part of it, including around Queens Wharf, might be heritage listed. It is a beautiful piece of Victorian or Edwardian ironwork - let's please leave it up! But with the gates open!

    Is there money in the budget for an old man on a bicycle to open them each morning?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report Reply

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