Posts by Sacha
-
Hard News: What Now?, in reply to giovanni tiso,
He wants to spend more time with the private sector
Heh
-
Hard News: What Now?, in reply to Craig Ranapia,
Who needs tiresome facts when the speculation is infinitely more entertaining?
It's a fair question given that Power has been mentioned as a potential future leader of his party. Unless you know something we don't.
Oh, and the equivalent (knowing you love those) would be more Maharey than Laban.
-
Ring also put in an entertaining but controversial appearance at last year's TEDx Auckland event. Probably footage somewhere to match this graphic sketch.
-
Hard News: What Now?, in reply to giovanni tiso,
And what does Power's resignation at the upcoming election tell us about the politics of the senior cabinet?
-
Brief Radio NZ text story - Labour, Greens and even Peter Dunne urge govt not to use quake as excuse, while Act party are fans of disaster capitalism - who knew?
-
Fran O'Sullivan provides a more in-depth list of options for government to fund Christchurch earthquake recovery. Pretty balanced list; includes bonds, a low-tax zone for businesses in the Chch cbd, and reinstating an Auckland regional fuel tax.
Her colleagues Adam Bennett and Matthew Dearnaley focus on the government's infrastructure projects and in particular the Auckland region's transport ones.
The Herald understands the quake will not affect the $1 billion electrification of Auckland's rail network or other passenger rail projects in Auckland or Wellington.
Asked whether proceeds from partial asset sales could be earmarked for Christchurch repairs, Mr English said they "would certainly help" if the sales went ahead.
...
"But in terms of the ability to fund infrastructure without going back to the financial markets, the mixed ownership model may turn out to be reasonably timely."
(that's part-privatisation, for those playing from home)
The suggested halt on Auckland's long-sought rail tunnel project predictably rang alarm bells last night with city councillors.
Transport committee chairman Mike Lee said a recovering Canterbury and the country would not be served by having "a weak stagnating Auckland".
...
Mr Lee said he was concerned that people might be using the Christchurch earthquake "to reinforce their own prejudices which we have seen on display for so many months" after the release of the business case and its compelling arguments for the rail link.
He was referring to the Government's reaction to a report for for KiwiRail and the former Auckland Regional Transport Authority which predicted that the 3.5km underground link from the western end of Britomart to Mt Eden would pay for itself three and a half times over in benefits to Auckland.
A team of consultants warned that without the link, a dead-end Britomart would be almost at capacity within three years, leaving virtually no room for extra rail services after the arrival of electric trains in 2013-14.
Ultimately, Auckland would choke on its traffic congestion, and doubleor even triple bus lanes would have to be built on each side of main roads to have any hope of keeping people moving.
...
Labour leader Phil Goff said Aucklanders had voted in a mayor who supported the rail loop.
The Government now had to demonstrate in an open and transparent way that the project deserved a lesser priority than other infrastructure plans, such as the Puhoi to Wellsford "holiday highway", which were going ahead.
-
Hard News: Again: Is everyone okay?, in reply to giovanni tiso,
possibly in a book
how quaint
-
Hard News: What Now?, in reply to Gareth Ward,
The first story of somebody being blocked from "just rebuilding their home" because "some damn Greeny is trying to force me to go through three commitees and tell me how to build it" will be leapt upon.
Shaping the argument is really important - reminding people that "red tape" saved many lives; highlighting future challenges; showing them what other inspiring cities look like.
Then explaining what it takes to get there - coordinated and expert planning for the future as well as the now, with all parties around the table and a long-term commitment.
The alternative is cheap knee-jerk individualism that gifts our children and theirs a crap place to live if we can persuade them to stay here at all. We just need to show them large chunks of Auckland's cbd to illustrate that option.
-
Ben, nothing you have said has addressed your conflation of need with ability to pay.
That one's a showstopper if you want any credible claim for concern about the welfare of the poor. The rest of your musings about pricing in fantasyland are just white noise.
-
Hard News: The First Draft, in reply to Stephen Judd,
people confronted with evidence that directly contradicts their beliefs often end up strengthened in those beliefs
I've tried to point this out to colleagues who insist that 'disability awareness' training will change the world. Funnily enough, they resist hearing it.