Matching Newsitems

• • 

    Keeping the Council and the Airport honest, or will Tangaroa have the last word anyway?

    • 31 Jul 2015
    • Guardians of the Bays
    • Over the last couple of months two important developments occurred regarding the proposed Wellington Airport Runway Extension: Its $90m co-funding by Council found its way into the LTP – despite significant opposition against it, but with some very important caveats Nature has shown us on several occasions just how insane the proposal is to put such vulnerable infrastructure into the Cook Strait. In addition, WIAL met with the directly affected residents of Moa Point to update them about the work they’re doing in relation to the airport extension. We will discuss these two points in separate blogs, so let’s have a look at how the Long-Term Plan consultation went first… Despite being touted as a great success by its proponents, with apparently only a ‘noisy minority’ of people opposing the $90m for the runway extension that was ring-fenced in the LTP, this really doesn’t stack up on closer scrutiny. Strathmore Park blog has written about this extensively, eg here, here and here, but it was clear during consultation that both the Council and WIAL got quite rattled once submitters started asking some difficult questions. The WIAL CEO went as far as swearing – twice! – during his oral submission when he commented on the report by NZIER reviewing EY’s economic impact statement  that they prepared for BARNZ, the Board of Airline Representatives. However, upon reading the EY report’s full page of caveats it becomes very clear that the content cannot be relied upon as a fair representation of the truth, not that that stopped Justin Lester from insisting that ‘the numbers are sound’. When the Councillors were asked if they had actually seen any plans or designs so far for the $90m of ratepayer money they were willing to put forward, they looked on rather blankly. It is a sad indictment that you even have to ask a public official if they would pay a builder millions up-front for building their house without having seen any designs or plans, but as we suspected, the answer to that question was a resounding ‘no’. However, despite all of this, and the fact that the submission process may well have violated Section 93B under the Local Government Act as well as there being questions about whether the Mayor and Deputy Mayor fulfilled their own code of conduct in relation to giving at least the appearance of open-mindedness and independence during a public consultation process, the majority of Councillors signed off this mad plan to ring-fence almost $100m of our money for this ‘white elephant’ (according to John Key). On a very positive note, however, our and many other submitters’ strong objections did lead to some extremely important caveats and amendments being included. The LTP now says that the Council will make a final decision on this project and whether to commit funding to construction once: WIAL has obtained resource consent for the project The Council has received and considered a cost-benefit analysis and business case from WIAL that will be independently reviewed. Other key considerations that the Council has said will need to be considered before it makes its final decision relate to: The resilience of a runway extension to weather and climate change The proposed investment vehicle and any revenue agreement Satisfactory airline commitments Funding arrangements for construction and confirmed construction costs The governance and management structure to oversee construction. The Council has also said it will undertake further public consultation before making a final decision on whether to commit funding to construct the runway extension. It is our expectation that it won’t ever get that far as the business case simply won’t stack up, but at least we now have some protections in place to stop the Council from just gifting a private company several million dollars more on top of what ratepayers have already given without setting out some clear requirements first. By the way – to this date, it seems not a single report (other than the EY statement) or progress update has been received by Councillors from WIAL for the almost $3m they gifted the airport for undertaking the resource consent application (back in May 2013 and then again in December 2014), which may be a breach of contract. Presumably, the Mayor would have received updates during board meetings in her role as Director but it does not seem as if this information flowed on to the rest of the Council. This again raises the potential conflict of interest of the Mayor who sometimes seems to take her position as a WIAL Director more seriously than her mandate to the city and its ratepayers. Why has no one wondered about this lack of progress or at least started asking some hard questions before signing off the money in the draft LTP? All this makes it clear that it is really important to make sure that the Council will stick to what it has approved in the LTP in relation to the runway extension instead of rolling over again and doing WIAL’s bidding based on no more than one-sided, overly optimistic and inadequate information and PR spin. It is also really important that all, but especially the most severely affected residents, have a fair say during this process which to date has been intransparent and inadequate. So far, the involvement and conduct of the Council has not led us to believe that they are overly interested in due diligence but we hope that the new caveats will ensure that we are protected against pushing ahead with a project where the main benefit seems to go largely to the airport company, but the main costs, risks and impacts sit squarely on the ratepayers and residents.
    • Accepted 124 months ago
    • Tagged as:
    • consultation
    • runway-extension
  
  
• • 

    Come along to Mānawatia a Puanga, a Matariki—an event and conversation series 8–12 July

    • 3 Jul 2024
    • Victoria University of Wellington
    • Mānawatia a Puanga, a Matariki is a series of art activations and events to celebrate mātauranga Māori and the maramataka (moon cycles).
    • Accepted from VUW News feed 17 months ago by feedreader
    • Tagged as:
    • art
    • matariki
  
  

• • Kenepuru Community Hospital is now open to visits by kaitiaki and partners in care only

    • 25 Mar 2022
    • Capital & Coast District Health Board
    • Kenepuru Community Hospital is now open to visits by kaitiaki and partners in care only. The hospital remains temporarily closed to general inpatient visitors. This will be reassessed again early next week.
    • Accepted from Capital Coast Health Feed 44 months ago by feedreader
    • Automatically tagged as:
    • hospital
    • scraper-required
  
  

• • Greater Wellington calls for community views on an efficient, accessible and low carbon public transport network

    • 10 Feb 2021
    • Greater Wellington Regional Council
    • Public consultation on the draft Regional Public Transport Plan 2021 (RPTP) is open and Greater Wellington wants the community’s views on improving our region’s public transport network to help drive decarbonisation of vehicles, improve safety and customer experience, and increase public transport usage across the region.
    • Accepted from GW media releases 2019 58 months ago by feedreader
    • Tagged as:
    • consultation
  
  

• • A belated and shamefully unremarked 60th birthday greeting to Wellington’s darkest secret, its trolley buses

    • 13 Aug 2009
    • Poneke
    • The 40th anniversary of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin making the first Moon landing reminded me I’d completely overlooked another anniversary as close to my heart as that long ago great leap for mankind.
    • Tagged as:
    • trolley-buses
  
  

• • Council’s ’strategic priorities’ threaten to close suburban libraries in Wadestown, Brooklyn, Island Bay and Khandallah

    • 18 Apr 2010
    • Wellington Scoop
    • in the Wellington City Council’s draft annual plan for 2010/11 there is a major threat to our current library system – with potential for Wadestown, Brooklyn, Island Bay and Khandallah to lose their libraries.
    • Tagged as:
    • wadestown
    • khandallah
    • island-bay
    • brooklyn
    • wellington-city-council
    • consultation
    • libraries

    Khandallah, Wellington, Wellington City, Wellington, 6035, New Zealand (OpenStreetMap)
  
  

• • Facebook overestimates and underestimates reach depending on the story it wants to tell

    • 4 Mar 2018
    • Jack Yan
    • Funny, isn’t it? Last year, Facebook was busted for claiming that in some demographics, their ads could reach more people than there were people.
    • Accepted from Jack Yan posts 93 months ago
    • Automatically tagged as:
    • election-candiates-2010
    • blogs
  
  
• • 

    Sideline Conversions 19 May (some rugby news and information to start the week)

    • 18 May 2025
    • Wellington Club Weekly
    • Above: Joyner Gaualofa scores for Tawa against HOBM on Saturday. There have now been over 200 individual try-scorers in Wellington Premier club rugby this year. Photo: Stewart Baird. We have breezed through the halfway stage of the first round Swindale Shield competition. Round 8 games this coming Saturday at a glance are: Wellington v Johnsonville...
    • Accepted from Club Weekly 2020 6 months ago by feedreader
    • Tagged as:
    • johnsonville
    • tawa
    • swindale-shield

    Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand (OpenStreetMap)
  
  
• • 

    Sideline Conversions 19 August (some rugby news and information to start the week)

    • 18 Aug 2024
    • Wellington Club Weekly
    • Julian Savea scores one of his two tries for the Lions in a splash at Porirua Park yesterday. Savea scored two tries for Wellington in an NPC game for the first time since a 37-35 win over Bay of Plenty at Sky Stadium in the first round of the 2022 NPC. With rugby supporters back...
    • Accepted from Club Weekly 2020 15 months ago by feedreader
    • Tagged as:
    • porirua
    • rugby

    Porirua, Wellington Region, New Zealand (OpenStreetMap)
  
  
• • 

    Sideline Conversions 20 October (some news and information to start the rugby week)

    • 19 Oct 2025
    • Wellington Club Weekly
    • From the Mike Lewis Pictures Favourite photos of the year galleries – more HERE If you are in the North Island it is season over as far as 15s rugby is concerned. If you are in the south there is one more week to go with Canterbury hosting Otago in the 2025 NPC decider in...
    • Accepted from Club Weekly 2020 1 month ago by feedreader
    • Tagged as:
    • rugby
  
  
• • 

    Aisle be Back: All Blacks v Wales and the end of the season

    • 20 Nov 2025
    • Wellington Club Weekly
    • By Kevin McCarthy There’s a saying in our household. When you come Lord, make it quick. As in, when death comes, please don’t make it a lingering demise. It maps nicely to our favourite international rugby team, which is currently about to undergo a convulsive review of two years of Razor Robertson. You may recall...
    • Accepted from Club Weekly 2020 3 weeks ago by feedreader
    • Tagged as:
    • rugby
  
  
• • 

    Fitter and faster: Esi Komaisavai leading Paremata-Plimmerton to more success this season

    • 22 May 2025
    • Wellington Club Weekly
    • Above: A familiar sight for opposition players. Esi Komaisavai heads off to score another try. Photo: Stewart Baird. By Adam Julian For the best part of a decade, Esi Komaisavai has been one of the most exciting players in Wellington rugby. The 2019 Jubilee Cup winner enjoyed a stellar spell at Northern United, where he...
    • Accepted from Club Weekly 2020 6 months ago by feedreader
    • Tagged as:
    • plimmerton
    • swindale-shield
    • paremata

    Plimmerton, Porirua, Porirua City, Wellington, 5026, New Zealand (OpenStreetMap)
  
  

• • WCC, RTC and now GWRC adopt positions to protect Takapu Valley from motorway

    • 29 Apr 2015
    • Save Takapu Valley
    • 29 April 2015 – Greater Wellington Regional Council voted strongly against NZTA plans to put a road through Takapu Valley (http://www.
    • Accepted from Save Takapu Valley posts 78 months ago by feedreader
    • Tagged as:
    • takapu-valley

    Takapu Valley, Wellington City, Wellington, 5028, New Zealand (OpenStreetMap)
  
  
• • 

    Better for cyclists and drivers – in support of a Brooklyn Hill bike lane

    • 4 Jun 2020
    • Wellington Scoop
    • Accepted from Wellington Scoop features 66 months ago by feedreader
    • Tagged as:
    • cycling
  
  

• • Divided memories: The myths made by monuments, and what statues tell us now

    • 24 Jun 2020
    • Victoria University of Wellington
    • This is not the time to ask for ‘a conversation’ about colonial statues, writes historian Giacomo Lichtner, but a rare opportunity for action.
    • Accepted from VUW News feed 65 months ago by feedreader
    • Automatically tagged as:
    • kelburn
    • victoria-university
  
  
• • 

    Wellington College too good for St Pat’s Town in season opener and traditional

    • 22 May 2024
    • Wellington Club Weekly
    • By Adam Julian & Steven White Photos by Andy McArthur Wellington First XV Draws & Results: www.collegerugby.co.nz For the fourth straight year, Wellington College has won their Premiership season opening Traditional First XV match over St Patrick’s College Town. Of the 2021-24 victories in this corresponding match, this year’s was the most comprehensive, Wellington...
    • Accepted from Club Weekly 2020 18 months ago by feedreader
    • Tagged as:
    • rugby
  
  
• • 

    Sideline Conversions 22 July (some rugby news and information to start the week)

    • 21 Jul 2024
    • Wellington Club Weekly
    • Johnsonville’s Olly Paotonu tries his hand at water polo on Saturday against Paremata-Plimmerton. Saturday’s round was just the second in 16 weeks (the other being round two) played in wet conditions. The weather has generally been kind for club rugby in 2024. Supporters will hope it holds this Saturday. Photo: Stewart Baird. A busy week...
    • Accepted from Club Weekly 2020 16 months ago by feedreader
    • Tagged as:
    • johnsonville
    • plimmerton
    • rugby
    • paremata

    Plimmerton, Porirua, Porirua City, Wellington, 5026, New Zealand (OpenStreetMap)
  
  
• • 

    Midweek college wins for Taita, St Bernard’s and St Pat’s Silverstream in traditionals

    • 24 Jul 2024
    • Wellington Club Weekly
    • Thompson Tukapua crosses for a second half try in today’s traditional for St Pat’s Silverstream over St Pat’s Town. Photo: Andy McArthur. By Adam Julian Stream Steamroll Town St Patrick’s College, Silverstream: 50 (Drew Berg-McLean 4, Preston Moananu, Thompson Tukapua, Elijah Solomona tries; Tukapua 4 con, Liam Slight 2 con, pen) St Patrick’s College, Wellington: 5 (Jazaius Kalolo...
    • Accepted from Club Weekly 2020 16 months ago by feedreader
    • Tagged as:
    • silverstream
    • rugby

    Silverstream, Upper Hutt, Upper Hutt City, Wellington, 5019, New Zealand (OpenStreetMap)
  
  

• • Extra train services and integrated travel to All Blacks games at Sky Stadium

    • 23 Jul 2024
    • Metlink
    • Accepted from Metlink news 16 months ago by feedreader
    • Automatically tagged as:
    • transport
  
  

• • WCC, RTC and now GWRC adopt positions to protect Takapu Valley from motorway

    • 29 Apr 2015
    • Save Takapu Valley
    • 29 April 2015 – Greater Wellington Regional Council voted strongly against NZTA plans to put a road through Takapu Valley (http://www.
    • Accepted from Save Takapu Valley posts 64 months ago by feedreader
    • Tagged as:
    • takapu-valley

    Takapu Valley, Wellington City, Wellington, 5028, New Zealand (OpenStreetMap)
  
  

• • Affordable Metlink fare increase and off-peak discount to be decided by council

    • 25 Feb 2025
    • Metlink
    • Accepted from Metlink news 9 months ago by feedreader
    • Automatically tagged as:
    • transport
  
  
• • 

    Aisle be Back: The Silver Lake deal vote and Canes v Chiefs tonight

    • 22 Apr 2021
    • Wellington Club Weekly
    • By Kevin McCarthy  The fiasco of the European Super League should send a shiver down your spine. Touted by some as a victory for fan power, it’s likely to be the sort of victory in a zombie film where the last ghoul is slain, but you realise there’s still 15 minutes running time. Nek minnit....
    • Accepted from Club Weekly 2020 55 months ago by feedreader
    • Automatically tagged as:
    • rugby
  
  

• • What pink gloves and period pants can tell us about sexism in business

    • 30 Apr 2021
    • Victoria University of Wellington
    • Male inventors are valued over their female counterparts no matter how ridiculous their ideas, writes Associate Professor Jessica C. Lai.
    • Accepted from VUW News feed 55 months ago by feedreader
    • Automatically tagged as:
    • kelburn
    • victoria-university
  
  

• • New Regional Partnership to accelerate progress on regional growth, economic development and recovery

    • 1 Jul 2021
    • Greater Wellington Regional Council
    • Today’s first full business meeting of the new Wellington Regional Leadership Committee marks the start of a collaborative partnership designed to shape future growth in the Wellington-Wairarapa-Horowhenua region.
    • Accepted from GW media releases 2019 53 months ago by feedreader
    • Tagged as:
    • wairarapa
  
  

• • Metlink Update on rail and bus services (3:45 PM 17 August 2021)

    • 17 Aug 2021
    • Metlink
    • Accepted from Metlink News and Updates 50 months ago by tonytw1
    • Automatically tagged as:
    • transport
  
  
• • 

    Aisle be Back: The RWC cycle, Quade Cooper and AB’s v Argentina #2

    • 16 Sep 2021
    • Wellington Club Weekly
    • By Kevin McCarthy I really think World Rugby need to get more ambitious. They should be looking at holding the World Cup every year, or even six months. That would show those closeted soccer types where real innovation takes you. Not sure why they are thinking of shortening the cycle. Is it money (yeah, probably)?...
    • Accepted from Club Weekly 2020 51 months ago by feedreader
    • Tagged as:
    • rugby-world-cup
  
  
• • 

    Bond Banter 18 October (some rugby news and information to start the week)

    • 17 Oct 2021
    • Wellington Club Weekly
    • Scott Waldrom (centre) announced that Saturday’s match for the Avalon Wolves U85kgs was his last rugby match. A breakout try he scored for the Wolves in a Swindale Shield match in 2004 still ranks as one of our favourite club rugby tries. PHOTO: Hugh Pretorius. MORNING EDITION: The second half of October means preparations are...
    • Accepted from Club Weekly 2020 50 months ago by feedreader
    • Tagged as:
    • swindale-shield
  
  

• • Public urged to look out for Wallabies in Upper Hutt and near Featherston

    • 14 Dec 2021
    • Greater Wellington Regional Council
    • Accepted from GW news 2022 46 months ago by tonytw1
    • Tagged as:
    • upper-hutt

    Upper Hutt, Upper Hutt City, Wellington, 5218, New Zealand (OpenStreetMap)
  
  
• • 

    Bond Banter 31 January (news and information to start the week in rugby)

    • 30 Jan 2022
    • Wellington Club Weekly
    • The Upper Hutt Rams at pre-season training last week. The shadows are slowly lengthening, which means the start of the rugby competitions are drawing nearer.  In theory, we are counting down to the start of the 2022 rugby season. As scheduled, the Super Rugby squads play their first two matches this coming weekend, the Hurricanes...
    • Accepted from Club Weekly 2020 46 months ago by feedreader
    • Tagged as:
    • upper-hutt
    • rugby

    Upper Hutt, Upper Hutt City, Wellington, 5218, New Zealand (OpenStreetMap)
  
  
• • 

    Bond Banter 14 February (some rugby news and information to start the week)

    • 13 Feb 2022
    • Wellington Club Weekly
    • Random rugby shot of the day. When Old Boys University beat the Upper Hutt Rams 38-22 at the Basin Reserve in 2015. It’s Valentines Day today, but the only date we all need to be concerned with is the start of the 2022 rugby season, which is scheduled to be starting over the next few...
    • Accepted from Club Weekly 2020 46 months ago by feedreader
    • Tagged as:
    • basin-reserve
    • upper-hutt
    • rugby

    Upper Hutt, Upper Hutt City, Wellington, 5218, New Zealand (OpenStreetMap)