What next? – a $.15m ‘state house’ for Queens Wharf
Last month, we learned from Bernard Orsman of the NZ Herald of leaked proposals to build two, three-storey office and car park buildings at the Quay Street end of Queens Wharf. This month the...
Category: Uncategorized
On Guard Aucklanders – your waterfront is under threat
The National government has announced the end of its assets sales programme, which on the face of it should bring to a close New Zealand’s shameful era of privatization – of country selling. While...
Nikita goes to Hollywood
Nikita goes to Hollywood – Movie Reviews (Hollywood adds new meaning to the term Theatres of War) by Mike Lee I first wrote this article in early 2002 in the NZ Political Review. Its...
Electric Trains in Auckland – here at last!
It’s been a long time coming, and believe me, it wasn’t easy getting there, but Auckland’s new electric trains have now entered service – opening a new era in Auckland’s history. While Wellington’s rail...
Saving the Hunua kokako – speech at the 20th anniversary celebrations
It is an honour to be with you today, 20 years after the establishment of the Kokako Management Area in the Hunua Ranges, to share in the celebration of your great achievement. As we...
Unitary Plan’s parallel iwi consent system causing dis-unity.
As we know the Unitary Plan was rushed through the Council last year with extraordinary speed. Little or no time was given to consider the huge amount of public feedback – nor did the...
The plight of the South island kokako – extinction by arm-chair?
This month for once I want to get as far away as possible from local city issues – and travel to the remote deep forests of the west coast of the South Island, where...
Time to end the undeclared ‘civil war’ between motorists and cyclists
The terrible accident in which 37 year old cyclist John Tangiia was killed by a truck at the Parnell Rise, Stanley Street intersection early in January put the issue of cycling safety squarely back...
Facing up to history – 2013 and the year of anniversaries
As the year 2013 hurries to its close it is worth noting how many important historic anniversaries occurred this year. It is also interesting to note that we chose to ignore most of them. ...
Dallas in November – (Farewell to the 20th Century). Mike Lee concludes his 1999 ‘political travelogue’
This article was the final of a 3 part series covering my trip around the world in October and November 1999 – appeared in the NZ Political Review in September 2001. I have republished...