Voting Local 2010

499 Responses

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  • Joshua Arbury,

    Do you reckon Steven Joyce will be a bit concerned about his motorways-obsessed transport policy now that Len Brown has won such a massive election victory with his number one policy being to rapidly expand the rail system?

    Auckland • Since May 2009 • 237 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Meanwhile in Whanganui, Michael Laws says the new mayor has no mandate.

    Readers will doubtless appreciate that Laws himself polled a blinding fifth amongst councillors, and his protege was beaten in the mayoral race. Why doesn't he just fuck off?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Why doesn't he just fuck off?

    That's Fhuck off, Russell. The particularly classy (drop the first two letters) passage from the linked story is this:

    He had not contacted Main about the result: "[It is] her job to ring me. She's the mayor-elect, albeit without a mandate, with just over a third of people voting for her."

    Oh, get over yourself bitch... It's not actually Main's job to come to the former mayor on her knees for a blessing. And in her position, I wouldn't be wasting my time on someone who intends to throw a three-year tanty because his preferred candidate didn't win.

    Do you reckon Steven Joyce will be a bit concerned about his motorways-obsessed transport policy now that Len Brown has won such a massive election victory with his number one policy being to rapidly expand the rail system?

    I know we're never going to agree on this, Joshua, but it seems to me that Brown is the one who should be worried. Not so sure he hasn't let his mouth write a lot of cheques (and very publicly committed to timetables) his arse can't cover. I'm just hoping there are going to be cooler heads around to get a lot more reality in the room.

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

  • Dave Waugh,

    As fhar as his tanty over the mandate goes, I'm curious, what was Laws whineing margin in his previous elections?
    My google skills have failed me, Anyone know?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 98 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    We pretty much kept out the bozos from the HCC and Environment Waikato but will have to wait to see if Julie Hardaker will stand the test as Mayor. Getting rid of the V8s (Hamilton's contribution to global warming) would be good but she will be up against a mob of petrol-heads.

    Good result for Auckland too.

    On a different track, there is no place around here to talk rugby. Where I can plug the case for Stephen Donald's return to the ABs, after his superb game against Otago?

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Shaun Scott,

    "No more Michael Guest. Only Dunedinistas will appreciate that."

    Yes, we do appreciate it. . . . but minus a Guest and Walls, and plus a Vandervis feels somewhat of a disappointment.

    Great that Cull won the mayoralty, but his council still looks far too familiar- with notable exceptions (Jinty McTavish being the most exciting.)

    What the Dunedin election has confirmed to me, is that it is much harder to get on to council than it is to stay. Once you are there, barring some major negative publicity (Guest), it is pretty likely you will stay there. Bill Acklin?? John Bezett?? Their only claim to fame is that they are on council, and keep their heads down when the big debates are under way.

    Overall, a disappointing result in Dunedin.

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2008 • 90 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    Laws got just under 55% in 2007.

    Anyways ... look on the bright side, peoples ... we have a new convert to STV!

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    On a different track, there is no place around here to talk rugby. Where I can plug the case for Stephen Donald's return to the ABs, after his superb game against Otago?

    We're not allowed to talk about rugby since Canterbury beat Southland in the DisasterBowl.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Joshua Arbury,

    Craig, I agree with you in many respects that Brown has given himself transport goals that are nigh on impossible to achieve. And others which are a bit pointless (like rail to North Shore, which has a shiny new busway).

    My main point though is that clearly rail plans win votes.

    By 2013 it should be fairly easy to have the CBD tunnel underway (the big commitment Len has made). We just need to cull a billion from the holiday highway and spend it on this project. The Super City can cull $500 million from AMETI, which is largely the bad old Eastern Highway in drag and we've found the funding.

    Auckland • Since May 2009 • 237 posts Report Reply

  • Shaun Scott,

    <quote>As fhar as his tanty over the mandate goes, I'm curious, what was Laws whineing margin in his previous elections?
    My google skills have failed me, Anyone know?<quote>

    Unfortunately in 2007, Laws got more than 50% of the vote . . .
    he got 10459, and the total combined vote against him was 8933- including invalid and blank votes. Nearest opponent got 7051

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2008 • 90 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    Reading this reminded me. One thing I haven't seen discussed much lately is the complete absence of the voice of tangata whenu in local government. Especially here in Tamaki Makaurau (apologies, no idea how to get those macrons on a computer). I know that there were plans afoot to have Maori seats on the Council, and since that bid failed with Hide threatening to quit (why did that not happen?), nothing more. I appreciate the diversity of the candidates in our local elections, and once again, here in TM we have benefited from a really good mix of peoples. But WTF? What year is this? Why are Maori still so politically marginalised? Is it because there is a focus on national politics? There was an interesting discussion on Marae Investigates this morning, but this needs some thought on all sides. IMHO, local body politics are, in essence, more important than national politics. Who we vote in to represent us at a community level speaks volumes, often, about our wider beliefs around society, how we see ourselves as New Zealanders, whether we be tangata whenua or tau iwi, and how much we value where we live.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • JLM,

    What the Dunedin election has confirmed to me, is that it is much harder to get on to council than it is to stay. Once you are there, barring some major negative publicity (Guest), it is pretty likely you will stay there. Bill Acklin?? John Bezett?? Their only claim to fame is that they are on council, and keep their heads down when the big debates are under way.

    Agreed Shaun, particularly the examples you mentioned. And remember Fliss Butcher creeping in last time by three votes. She's bedded in now. Real shame Shane didn't get over the cutoff, but he's got a good springboard to succeed next time.

    Judy Martin's southern sl… • Since Apr 2007 • 241 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    Jackie, somebody this morning (Q and A? ) said there were two right wing Maori on the new supercity board, and two Pasifica - one centre one left). Don't know who they are though.

    By the way Louisa Wall was very impressive on the Q and A panel this morning and mentioned she has her eye on Manurewa when George Hawkins quits. She managed to derail the men including Paul Holmes.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Why doesn't he just fuck off?

    Because some other city would have him inflicted on it. At least Whanganui is a long way from anywhere and doesn't have scheduled air service.

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

  • Sacha,

    McCarten today on the Herald seems to think that the left-leaning council (which he accounts for much in the way one would a Parliament) will form a block behind the Mayor and bugger everybody else.

    As Craig says, some leftie cheerleading is to be expected - but I really don't believe that's an accurate characterisation of the story. McCarten was talking predominantly about derailed privatisation prospects. And how about linking to the story so people can make up their own mind.

    Yesterday was a great day for the left in Auckland. Len Brown decisively defeated John Banks for the Supercity mayoralty; the progressives' senior leaders Mike Lee and Richard Northey won handsomely; and there's a solid 12:8 anti-corporate agenda majority on the new council.
    ...

    The third and probably the most important factor was Rodney Hide's role. His arrogance during the creation of the new city and his appointment of political and corporate cronies on to the council-controlled organisations didn't fool anyone about what his agenda was.

    His actions terrified enough Aucklanders to come out in huge numbers to vote against Banks and the Act and National Party-aligned candidates.

    The election of Brown and a centre-left dominated new council spells the end of Hide's corporate privatisation agenda.

    ...

    The future for the conservatives is with the likes of Cameron Brewer.

    Unlike the old C&R fossils, the new councillors will be less ideological and will work co-operatively across the political aisle.

    That should make for a harmonious and successful council.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Not so sure he hasn't let his mouth write a lot of cheques (and very publicly committed to timetables) his arse can't cover. I'm just hoping there are going to be cooler heads around to get a lot more reality in the room.

    Len Brown seemed pretty realistic on Q&A this morning (a rare viewing for me and worth checking out when they post it online later). As Joshua notes, what's required from here is negotiation with central government about prioriites, and Brown explicitly checked off infrstructure bonds and PPPs alongside rates and tax as the 4 funding options.

    But mainly his positivity made me proud to be an Aucklander again.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    I know we're never going to agree on this, Joshua, but it seems to me that Brown is the one who should be worried. Not so sure he hasn't let his mouth write a lot of cheques (and very publicly committed to timetables) his arse can't cover. I'm just hoping there are going to be cooler heads around to get a lot more reality in the room.

    Both the leading candidates set big goals around transit, Brown's were just a bit bigger. What happens next is going to depend quite a lot on central government, but I don't think government can afford to ignore the wishes of the people entirely. Steven Joyce will be taking account of the vote, I'm sure.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Reading this reminded me.

    I liked this observation from Oscar Kightley:

    Still, I knew I would always come back to Auckland. You can wear a lavalava to the petrol station late at night here and you don't get looked at funny.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    But mainly his positivity made me proud to be an Aucklander again.

    I've always been proud to be an Aucklander, but you get used to living with grey after a lot of years. I feel so positive about his plans, which are our plans really, for us all. He may not be able to bring everything he wants to into being, such as the 2nd harbour crossing, but really? At least it's a vision, and one that centres on making us a vibrant place to be. You have to start somewhere, after all.
    And I, too, Sacha liked Oscar's quote about the lavalava. Totally right.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    I know that there were plans afoot to have Maori seats on the Council, and since that bid failed with Hide threatening to quit (why did that not happen?)

    Because it was convenient for some who share Hide's proudly ignorant beliefs to prioritise keeping him on.

    Jon Johansson on Q&A (again worth checking when they post the clip) gave Key an unusually firm spanking over his abetting of Paul Henry rather than sticking up for the diverse people he is supposedly the leader of (and not "regretting" the matter only because it became a diplomatic incident):

    "You can't think of any other Prime Minister who would have just sat there lamely smiling. You know, David Lange would have eviscerated Paul Henry..."

    Len Brown spoke about improving Maori representation but without pre-empting discussion and over-committing to particular solutions (some of which will require central government law changes). Good to see the discussion on Marae Investigates too.

    You have to wonder why it's so scary to some folk to honour our nation's Treaty partnership at local level where decisions are made deeply affecting both people and land, tangata and whenua. It offers tremendous opportunities for us all.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • FletcherB,

    There were quiet a few centre-left people who thought that the amalgamation was a good idea and it has turned out to be so.

    While I'm not unhappy with the results of the election...

    I'm thinking your deciding the amalgamation has turned out well are a little premature.... I might have an idea of whether it was good or bad in maybe five years time at the earliest?

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Simon Pound says let's not assume the Ak result was quite such a swing away from the right.

    Before anyone gets too carried away thinking about this as a turning red of AK think about this: What if Don McKinnon or Sir Douglas Graham or Ray Avery or Paul Holmes or even Paul Henry (pre GG slur) had stood for the right?

    I think that it would be difficult to be confident of the same vote split. Colin Craig benefited a lot from the lack of a strong conservative candidate. And perhaps Brown did too?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    And if my grandfather had wheels, he'd be a wheelbarrow, as we say in the old country.

    Or, to put it another way: just think of what the split would have been if Obama had been the candidate for the Left!

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    And if my grandfather had wheels, he'd be a wheelbarrow, as we say in the old country.

    Boris Johnson's version: "Well, if we had some ham, we could have ham and eggs - if we had any eggs".

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    let's not assume the Ak result was quite such a swing away from the right.

    Indeed, the people controlling Manukau are now much more centre-rightish than they were.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report Reply

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