Posts by Sacha
-
Speaker: Party Central, structures and silos, in reply to Rich of Observationz,
I don't think Andy or the Plan are just talking about money. To me, 'world-class' means able to attract and keep talented people and ventures against competition from many other places to live, work, play, commune and prosper.
That relies on our natural environment, friendly communities, cultural richness (refer Richard Florida), and satisfying work opportunites - but also as you say on basics like transport, communications, housing, health and education being delivered to more than bottom-rung standards. It all takes time and although this region has great head starts in some areas, coherent long-term planning and investment are crucial.
-
Busytown: Sons for the Return Home, in reply to BenWilson,
if you come from somewhere rural
Like the North Island, the South's population is mainly urban. Rural/urban is a big cultural difference though, certainly.
-
Speaker: Party Central, structures and silos, in reply to Sacha,
Expat digital democracy and innovation expert Andy Williamson posts his initial assessment of the Auckland Plan.
Reading the Auckland Plan I’m left with the distinct feeling that Auckland does not want to be a world-class city. Or perhaps more to the point, it doesn’t really believe that it can be. Which is a shame. The Plan might talk about it but deep down it doesn’t want to be an entrepreneurial oasis and has given up on the idea of lifting the economic quality of life for many of its residents. Not that the plan says that, it says the opposite, but it doesn’t feel like the council really believes it.
There’s too much looking backwards, where we’ve come from. Not enough looking forwards, where we’re going to.
-
Busytown: Sons for the Return Home, in reply to recordari,
continue the discussion
Certainly. It's an industry I don't know much about; always happy to learn more.
-
Busytown: Sons for the Return Home, in reply to Bart Janssen,
My solution was much more complicated and expensive
Yeah but is a copy the same as the actual piece of wood, emotionally?
-
Busytown: Sons for the Return Home, in reply to recordari,
Fair enough. I recall discussion around the time Winston First and Brash were beating the racist drum about how the experience of NZ-based language students from China helped severely reduce subsequent intakes and cost the industry (and especially Auckland) a fortune. Sure there were other factors, but our ability to provide a supportive, welcoming multi-cultural environment seems to have been evolving. It is a strength that's valuable in many ways.
-
Busytown: Sons for the Return Home, in reply to James Butler,
ahead of us
to say nothing of Ireland..
-
Busytown: Sons for the Return Home, in reply to recordari,
promoting education
How do you reckon NZ's evolving cultural competence affects that?
-
Busytown: Sons for the Return Home, in reply to Matthew Reid,
beautiful subways
An ex-colleague extolled their virtues. Underground cathedrals she reckoned, the suppressed iconography seeping through, wooden escalators. Sounded amazing.
-
Hard News: LATE OCTOBER: Life in the…, in reply to George Darroch,
Oh to be a 'well adjusted' gentleman of leisure who's been over there discussing it all day. :)