Posts by Mark Graham
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I would like to make a suggestion. A concept that I hope will spark the public consciousness and engender excitement and passion.
I propose a Centre for Maori and Polynesian Culture - Te Atea.
It is a scandal that the largest Polynesian city in the world (ignoring the possibility of LA fitting this description) has virtually no Maori or Polynesian presence downtown.
This would be a place where Maori and PIs can interact with Aucklanders and tourists alike.
It can incorporate elements of Maori and Polynesian culture such as dance, carving, food; it can provide a central meeting point for cultures to interact and provide a focal point for the city, too.
I already have the support of Ngati Whatua and the concept was part of the design submitted (and bounced) together with Ngati Whatua and Rewi Thompson.
Taking away the restrictions of the sheds and revisiting the budget will allow something really special to be built - and I can think of no other location that would work as well as this - the absolute centre of Auckland City.
The design can be worked on but imagine a building/focal point incorporating an objective of bringing peoples together, with Richard Simpson's new bridge as its counterpoint just down the harbour.
Now THAT's an Auckland that would portray itself proudly to the world.
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Wow - where to start?
I agree. It's disappointing, if not surprising, that our new Government is not doing anything radical to leapfrog ahead. But then they are a 'conservative' party.
But then they came in bereft of ideas, as National Party governments always seem to.
What's the answer?
Unfortunately, many people are less focussed on the horizon and more focussed on the immediate - so give us tax cuts now and bugger the consequences. National (and to a large degree, Labour) panders to that thinking.
The politics of selfishness will be with us forever. It's up to those few of us with good ideas to keep pushing them until they get traction, and then push them through the process, attempting to keep the dilution to a minimum.
good luck.
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the fact that our two government owned broadcasters have decided to both reach into the public purse to outbid each other, probably ratcheting up the price as a result, is good for the IRB, but down to our incompetence rather than anything on the IRB's part.
Quite right. I didn't mean to imply that the IRB was doing the rooting, so to speak, but it's really as if NZ is doing it to itself...sort of...not really... (the analogy is starting to fall apart but I hope you're following the line of thought).
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we now have our government bidding against itself in a rights auction
IRB must be pretty happy.
And here we are again - NZ getting rooted up the anal passage by international Rugby. Again!
Can't wait for the British newspapers.
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Congrats on the pending nuptials - you DO have a date, yes?
And I'm with Sofie - what was it exactly that Banks was supposed to have done, other than appear humble (with the odd slip and return to form)? I've been watching closely and it seems to me the only thing he has done is cut much needed spending on infrastructure - deferred maintenance identified by Standard and Poors as the reason Auckland remains on credit watch (thank you CitRats - not) - to reduce rates increases. Bollocks to Banksie, I say.
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eek - you're sounding old, Russ. but they are morons.
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hey Russ - what are the wingnuts saying?
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Ardbeg fan, myself. And thoroughly jealous. You OWE me a good lunch and this would have been perfect. On the other hand, you do invite me to the Xmas freelancers' lunch each year, so maybe I still owe you. On the other hand, I'm never above blagging a free invite to anything that involves drinking good alcohol and eating fine food. I ain't too proud to beg. begging. now. next time perhaps.
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Never hesitate to publicly comment on people parking in disability or kiddie parks, especially at supermarkets. Can't understand why supermarkets make the spaces available and then never enforce them.
Came out of Grey Lynn New World once, to find some ex-hippy feminazi pseudo-massage therapist parked sideways across two kiddie parks. When I confronted her (with 6 month old and 2 1/2 year old in my arms), she accused me of being "judgmental" and then bailed.
Feel proud, people. Research shows that people like us help keep civilisation civilised. Without us, everyone would be like those low-rent old bitches who don't give a fuck.
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Does anyone else remember 18 months ago, when we had a fairly horrendous January of murders (10 I think) in which a number of teens were involved as victims or perps. Politicians and MSM were all over the collapse of Western Civilisation and OUT OF CONTROL YOOF.
We're still here and last I checked, most of our kids are alright, too.