Posts by Steve Withers

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  • Hard News: Footpaths, not manifest destiny, in reply to Steve Todd,

    Are you in Auckland, Steve?

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 312 posts Report

  • Hard News: Footpaths, not manifest destiny, in reply to Sacha,

    Brewer isn't running again, last I heard.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 312 posts Report

  • Hard News: Footpaths, not manifest destiny, in reply to Phil Lyth,

    I'd be interested in campaigning for a change to STV for Auckland Council.

    The last two elections saw more than 50% of the votes cast elect no one at all.

    2010 result analysis: http://goo.gl/m4pWhX

    2013 result analysis: http://goo.gl/RiO8OJ

    The last election saw two wards not vote as not one person stood against the incumbents.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 312 posts Report

  • Hard News: Art with a job to do,

    I'll vote to change the flag. The proposed one is basically the same as the current one, except the Union Jack is swapped out and replaced by the black and white fern.

    Good enough™

    I'm for it.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 312 posts Report

  • Hard News: Victoria Crone and what…, in reply to Sacha,

    Did I hear the news right yesterday? Dick Quax did his prunes at the Council meeting and walked out because he couldn’t add a NIMBY-driven zoning item to the agenda?

    Quax was elected by acclamation last time. That’s a disgrace. I’ll run against him next year just to force the vote if no one else does.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 312 posts Report

  • Hard News: Victoria Crone and what…,

    I thought it ethically interesting she was appointed to the Board of Contact Energy – at $126,000/annum – a week before announcing her campaign.

    Hard not to see that is a defacto campaign contribution from a crony bloc. What are the names of the people involved in that decision? It would be good to know. I wonder how Contact’s power customers / shareholders feel about paying for her to run for mayor of Auckland?

    OK…Goff has a Parliamentary pension after 30+ years of service to the people of NZ. Hardly the same thing…..but some people don’t seem to be able to tell the difference. I wouldn’t trust them with anything important.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 312 posts Report

  • Hard News: Victoria Crone and what…, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    Hear! Hear!

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 312 posts Report

  • Speaker: The Spirit Level, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    I give Muldoon credit for caring about people. Unfortunately his tactics left a lot to be desired. Looking back, I’m sorry I voted for neo-liberals in 1984 and ’87. Starting in 1990, I never made that mistake again.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 312 posts Report

  • Speaker: The Spirit Level,

    Awesome.

    Some of us still hold to this.

    I'm still trying to work it why this government having a surplus meant there was enough money for a flag referendum, but not enough money for Pharmac to fund life-saving melanoma treatments.

    Something deeply messed up in that. They just don't care.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 312 posts Report

  • Hard News: Public Address Word of the…,

    "Pandas" - Sums up the bread and circuses approach of the government who want to spend $22 million on pandas for Wellington Zoo (who didn't really want pandas) while cancer patients wait for expensive new drugs the government won't fund because it's politically necessary to a "surplus"....including pandas.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 312 posts Report

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