Posts by Sacha
-
Hard News: The Vision Thing, in reply to Lilith __,
Nick Smith has already denied social housing is for the chop (but not convincingly). However we can probably kiss goodbye to many other community-focused functions that are not seen as important to National's voters or funders or consistent with their current ideology.
If it's really only about whether local or central govt does the work, let's demand detail about how many extra staff and dollars will be added to non-council agencies. However, expect wholesale contracting out and more charity/NGO involvement like this govt has already been pursuing in housing. And expect sneaky 'savings' and service cuts.
Based on Smith's vague performance today, Cabinet might even be a bit flexible about what's ruled in and out. Unprincipled deals are bound to emerge in various councils as it shakes out. Recall the knots Rodney Hide tied himself in over whether libraries were a core council service until his mum set him straight. Pragmatic after all.
-
Capture: Two Tripods, One Night, in reply to Joe Wylie,
I've never seen night HDR before. Gorgeous
-
Hard News: The Vision Thing, in reply to Russell Brown,
.. better return on state assets, freeing up capital to reinvest in PPP schools and hospitals, tax cuts for the wealthy, etc. What could possibly go wrong?
-
Muse: Confound The Ignorant, And Amaze Indeed!, in reply to Islander,
work that is grounded, nourished, thrives & and impresses & permeates our world here
You'd have a hard time claiming none of those apply - not that I'm encouraging a protracted conversation when we've had this one before.
The craft of our local artisans involved in those overseas-financed productions is building a distinctive visual presence on screens across the world, drawing on our local cultures and landscapes. It may not be the expression you want to see, but it most certainly exists.
-
Hard News: The Vision Thing, in reply to Lilith __,
Nick Smith seems a tad confused about what local government actually does (reflecting the inadequate Act policy he is implementing on that tiny party's behalf).
He insists regional economic development is a "public service" but also seems to be vaguely saying such things could be done by central govt including Joyce's new mega-toy. No doubt such details are 'yet to be worked out'.
Council social teams are at far more risk than any business-focused ones (except events staff who will become another export industry).
Smith is against Councils being 'involved in' education but is confusing the inclusion of local results targets in Council plans - like their area's NCEA achievement levels - with *providing* educational services. Doesn't give much confidence in his government's recently-trumpeted 10 national results targets if senior Ministers can't grasp the basics.
The main impact however may come from the ridiculous capping of annual rates rises to inflation plus demographics - which has been proven in Colorado and California to completely screw any ability to plan ahead and provide for future needs. Short-sightedness has always been a feature of right-wing councils in Auckland for example.
Here is the Minister on RNZ Checkpoint this evening (6 mins, listening options).
-
Hard News: The Vision Thing, in reply to Russell Brown,
He's American
troublemaker :)
-
Hard News: A fiction of unalloyed darkness, in reply to Toby,
this moving piece
reckon
-
Capture: EQNZ Remembrance, in reply to Gudrun Gisela,
hence cheap :)
-
Hard News: Fame Friday, in reply to Tony Kennedy,
This site only recognises the full address, not the shortnd one you have used. Type or paste it without adding any of those square brackets and it is automatically converted to an embedded clip.
-
Capture: EQNZ Remembrance, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,
cheapskate mile high club