Chunuk Bair must not be forgotten
This month we will be already one year into the centenary of the Great War. August 2015 brings a most important war anniversary for New Zealanders, one of New Zealand’s greatest feats of arms,...
Author: Mike Lee
Remembrance and legacy – Saving St David’s
The following is a speech I made at a very special commemorative event organised by Paul Baragwanath and the Friends of St David’s on Thursday 23 July 2015. I wish to thank Paul Baragwanath...
Historic judgement a huge victory for harbour campaigners – and well deserved kick in the pants for the Auckland Council.
Justice. What a sweet word that is and how heartening it is to witness such a resounding example of it. Justice Geoffrey Venning’s decision to throw out the resource consents granted to Ports of...
Trams to make a comeback? – Auckland’s 21st century Light Rail future
Auckland Transport’s announcement in January that it was seriously investigating a Light Rail solution for Auckland as a part of the draft Regional Land Transport Plan, came as a surprise to a lot of...
With hundreds of millions of ratepayers and taxpayers money going into public transport, the question is, are we getting value for money?
Memorandum To: Mayor and Councillors From: Michael Lee, Auckland Councillor. Date: 7 May 2015 Subject: Rail Operating Costs I am providing this memo at the request of the Budget workshp of 6 May. I...
Waitemata Harbour, Port and waterfront – Auckland Council leadership in over its head
Despite the mayor and council chief executive’s belated warnings, the Ports of Auckland appears to be pushing ahead with the $22m first stage of extending the Bledisloe container terminal nearly 100 metres out into...
The battle for the Waitemata Harbour. ‘Hitherto shalt thou come – but no further’
The way the council has gone about backing down on its agreed September 2013 Unitary Plan policy of making reclamations of the Waitemata Harbour ‘non complying’ is deeply worrying. The original policy was soundly-based,...
Ports of Auckland and Auckland Council – ‘rogerpolitics alive and well
The last month has seen a series of unhappy incidents that remind us that the neo-liberal reforms of the 80s and 90s still have a baleful influence on our public life – even in...
Solidarity with ‘Charlie Hebdo’ and the people of France
I planned to write something entirely non-political this month – about the latest conservation news on the Gulf islands – but now feel compelled to offer a few words on the Charlie Hebdo massacre....
Update on Motu Kaikoura
Motu Kaikoura rat management programme – progress report. Michael Lee Trustee. December 2014. Motu Kaikoura (535ha) is a crown-owned scenic reserve purchased in 2004 after a public campaign, by a combination of...