Here’s our fifteenth and last round up of recent news and events around Wellington before polling day.
Remember to vote and check to see if friends and family have too!
The board of inquiry chosen by the government to decide on the Basin Reserve flyover has struck a problem. One of its four members has resigned. Today’s official announcement says her decision follows consideration of “objections raised alleging conflict of interest.”
The Dominon Post took an interesting look behind the scenes of the mayoral campaigns. For some it is a family affair, while others have teams of backers, but for all it is akin to a military operation.
All mayoral hopefuls support a Super City in some form and were also canvased on their views on the economy and how they would spend $23 million.
The election campaign has shown escalating rate bills to be foremost in the minds of voters. To help you assess how your authority has been doing relative to the rest of the Wellington region, Neil Douglas and Scoop have compiled a league table. The top performing authority is Porirua followed by Wellington City.
More good economic indicators (despite Celia Wade-Brown’s best attempts at killing industry etc etc lol herp derp) for Wellington with the Wellington job market is showing signs of positivity, growing 3.1% over the same period last year.
Oh look some more good news! A new survey shows that Wellington is the only region in the country in which satisfaction with the city council outweighs dissatisfaction among small and medium size business operators, with 25% satisfied and 23% dissatisfied.
There were votes, a bit of debate, some good-natured banter and a flurry of farewells when Wellington city councillors met for the final time.
Wellington Police and Wellington City Council are looking for about 20 volunteers to monitor the CCTV cameras installed around the central city to prevent crime.
Onslow-Western candidate Malcolm Aitken wants voters to vote for him, Hayley Robinson and Sridhar Ekambaram.
Infratil chairman David Newman has stepped down from the board of the Wellington-based infrastructure investor for a period of medical leave.
In another display of the Deputy-Mayoralty audition/bromance between John Morrison and Paul Eagle, the two want city-wide review of encroachment fees.
Green Party candidate for the Eastern Ward Sarah Free is angry about parking at the airport.
Wellington.Scoop have a good piece looking at the personal attacks in the campaign.
If you don’t vote, don’t be surprised if councillors don’t look like you. Massey University local government specialist Christine Cheyne said when voter turnout was low, councils typically ended up being less representative of the population.
Failed 2010 Lambton Ward candidate John Bishops looks at how important preferences will be in deciding the mayoralty.
Compensation could be sought by Greater Wellington Regional Council after almost 50 commuter trains had to be pulled from service because of a potentially fatal flaw.
Engineers have identified some areas of Wellington Railway Station that may require strengthening to make them safer in the event of a significant earthquake.
About 300 submissions have been received on the most feasible options for a high quality public transport spine between Wellington Railway Station, Newtown and Kilbirnie. Feedback was also provided by about 1000 members of the Regional Council’s and Wellington City Council’s Citizen Engagement Panels.
Meanwhile Generation Zero alleged that the costs and benefits of light rail for Wellington have been severely misrepresented in the regional council’s public transport spine study. The claim was made in a press release which also announced that Generation Zero had received more submissions on transport options than the Regional Council.
They later set up a giant 5 meter tall inflatable dinosaur with a message asking people “don’t vote for dinosaurs” while promoting their election scorecards.
Time is almost up if you want to have your say in the local body elections. With polls set to close at midday on Saturday candidates and electoral officers alike are hoping for a last-minute surge in people returning their votes.
Air New Zealand announced that it is to cut two flights a week from its schedule between Wellington and Australia next year.
John Morrison hit out at the “unhelpful attitude held by council officers towards its residents and ratepayers”. Scoop.Wellington‘s take is that he leaked a colleagues email and linked “the unhelpful attitude of council officers” with what he describes as a “triumphant email” sent by one of his fellow councillors about the Environment Court decision refusing demolition of the Category One Harcourts Building in Lambton Quay.
It’s not where you sleep but where you work and play that matters, say council candidates standing for election in wards they don’t live in.
What do your rates go towards in a day?
All earthquake-prone Housing New Zealand homes should be made safe by the end of next year, a result the Government hopes will set an example to private landlords.
Bus and train fare rises in Wellington are unnecessary says MANA candidate for Wellington Regional Council, Ariana Paretutanganui-Tamati.
A senior manager at Auckland University has nabbed the top job at Victoria University. Dean of the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Auckland, Professor Grant Guilford, will take over the role of Victoria University Vice-Chancellor from March 1 next year.
Work towards the National War Memorial Park is on target to be open in time to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings on 25 April 2015
This year’s Sky Show fireworks display over Wellington Harbour – usually held on 5 November – is to be delayed till Saturday 9 November to give more people the chance to enjoy the spectacle.
Wellington’s CentrePort achieved an underlying net profit after tax of $11.7 million for the year to 30 June 2013. This compared to $9.3 million the previous year.
It was pats on the back all round as Kapiti councillors delivered their last speeches before the election. At the final council meeting, chief executive Pat Dougherty praised councillors for behaving like a board of directors, and mayor Jenny Rowan said they had been very courageous.
WCC Watch 