Posts by Sacha
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A direct report into the Mayor's office? Good god. Brown should just get on with getting Auckland moving, instead of bothering himself with corporate governance. I mean, the faux outrage against Rodney Hide is nothing when compared to this statement.
The new structure has been designed - by Hide and others - so that the Mayor's staffed office is an important part of the governance arrangements. At the same time as they design CCO relationships to de-power the new Council.
You really think there'd be a stink about CCOs doing business in secret with unelected Directors and little linkage with the Council if that's not what is proposed in the Third Bill?
We should also note for the record that Nick is a major player for ACT in local government circles.
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makes ya think they don't love us no more
Sniff. We missed youse so much we came right back. And in my case, that was despite trying to come to grips with the new demands o Twitter at the same time.
I can divulge one Foo experience easily (because it was between me and my laptop): After holding out for some time I relented on Saturday.
At the exact spot in the room where I first ever flicked the switch on a computer, I signed up for Twitter.
My old computer science teacher was still roaming somewhere nearby keeping Foo online, though probably reminiscing less about the old Apple 2c and 2e units that used to fill the small lab he set up - in what is now used as the (non-computer) games room for Foo. Emma could say more about werewolf - but you might have to buy her a drink somewhere real first.
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Of course the city gains something when a few extra thousand people turn up for the weekend.
Private businesses certainly gain something. Those citizens uninterested in attending or carousing, not so much.
Oh, except a larger rates or rent bill.
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Are the ATA or CCO able to privatise the assets or services they control?
ATA can't, but there are specific clauses in the Third Bill to make it so Watercare in particular can privatise anything they like before the next election in 2013. Like the other CCOs, their Directors are all appointed by Mr Hide and chums in the meantime. And their official information obligations are fully removed for a convenient window in 2012 as well.
You can see why Len Brown is upping the ante in recent statements about the Transport CCO looking to be doing all its business in secret.
One of my first priorities, if elected, will be to appoint new directors to Auckland Transport, and to rewrite its statement of intent. I would insist on there being a direct report into the Mayor’s office, and a close relationship with the new Council’s transport committee. As Mayor, I will expect to be seeing all reports and all board papers.
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It's not just the Nats involved in Auckland's local politics, but a good deal of tension with the Act wing. Mr Banks is not the unanimous candidate..
Worth noting that Michael Barnett is also the deputy chair of the Auckland Regional Council, has driven the region's economic development planning, and heads up the C&R bloc who moved there when they could see the regional amalgamation happening and after Hubbard turfed them out of power at Auckland City Council (briefly).
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Thoughts?
We haz them
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I have a new post
Damn I wish I'd read that before that last comment - might cross post if relevant.
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but they don't have to put up with having their city thrown into chaos for a month
I believe they will - pool games and competing teams are dispersed around the country so we all share the joy.
Worth noting that Michael Barnett is also the deputy chair of the Auckland Regional Council, drives its economic development work including major events and so is hardly impartial.
The poor performance of North Harbour Stadium last Friday suggests North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams should look closer to home when discussing Auckland's stadiums and the need to rationalise, says ARC Councillor Michael Barnett.
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"Andrew Williams needs to take a good look at his home stadium's ability to perform. Friday's effort was an embarrassment. The stadium was not equipped to cope and is obviously inexperienced in managing sell-out crowds of 23,000," says Mr Barnett.
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Sorry I wasn't clearer (foo fuzz). I meant "elsewhere" in coverage of the RWC walking route.
Know about the school usage and almost got to meet the dude who invented it when he came over again last year. Simple and magnificent concept from a visionary traffic planner, well implemented here.
Just can't imagine what anyone was thinking applying the term to an unruly bunch of drunk sports fans.
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Agree take simplest option for now