Decision time for Auckland
I have been very proud to serve the Waitemata & Gulf Ward over the first three years of the Super City. The ward based around the parliamentary seat of Auckland Central but including Parnell and...
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Walking and Cycling on the Harbour Bridge – let’s do it
The 1954 decision by the government of the day to build an Auckland Harbour bridge with only four lanes was one of Auckland’s original ‘sins of the fathers’. Well transport sins anyway. The others...
Unitary Plan – our historic houses and townscapes well worth fighting for
The announcement by Prime Minister John Key about the City Rail Link is enormously encouraging – I intend to deal with the issue of transport and how it affects the Waitemata ward in the...
Taking up the Prime Minister’s challenge
The recent announcement by John Key swinging government political and financial support behind the City Rail Link – starting 2020 – was great news. The decision was a political masterstroke by the PM, though...
Unitary Plan – test of integrity
The Auckland Council draft unitary plan has drawn an enormous amount of submissions from concerned Aucklanders – 22,700 in all. But rather than pause to give public submissions the time and attention they deserve, the...
Begging bylaw no ban – but step towards social responsibility
There has been a lot of heat and emotion about the issue of street begging in recent days – but unfortunately not much light. So what is going on? The proposed Public Safety and Nuisance Bylaw...
The Unitary Plan – but is it unifying?
The public have responded to the Auckland Council Unitary Plan with a massive 22,700 submissions. . I must confess there is still a lot about the Unitary Plan that doesn’t make sense to me. ...
Unitary Plan – so what ever happened to sustainability and why does all the growth have to be in Auckland?
I suppose I’ve been round long enough to take a rather cynical view of things like ‘Housing Accords’. Previous governments back in the 20th century when faced with major housing shortages, just got on...
Men of the 24th – you make me proud to be a New Zealander.”
It was a great privilege to attend the final Beating of Retreat of the NZ 24 Battalion at the Auckland War Memorial on Saturday 21 April. On a beautiful Autumn evening at the...
Fairy tale Wedding – tribute to my stepson Joe and new daughter-in-law Ivy
My stepson Zhao Yu (Joe) and his sweetheart Zhang Qin (Ivy) were married on Waitangi Day in a lovely ceremony at St Mathews-in-the-City officiated over by the popular Reverend Clay Nelson supported by Elspeth...