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    • Sore Losers: Nick Smith and the Government Water Down the Environmental Legal Assistance Fund
      • The rules of the Ministry for the Environment’s Environmental Legal Assistance Fund, which groups including Save the Basin have used to help fund legal challenges to infrastructure projects, have now been changed so that such applications can be arbitrarily declined, by: The inclusion of a new criterion to consider whether providing ELA funding to the applicant for its involvement in the legal proceedings, will contribute to impeding or delaying the ability of people and communities to provide for their social, economic and cultural well-being in relation to important needs, including employment, housing and infrastructure.   I was rung by a Stuff journalist about this and responded on behalf of Save the Basin: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/94323541/quiet-change-to-public-fund-for-environmental-legal-challenges A subsequent exchange in Question Time (see below) makes it very clear that Nick Smith had the Government’s Basin Reserve flyover defeat in mind when he made this move. Nick Smith and the Government appear to think that fits of pique make good public policy. We beg to differ. Question Time 9. EUGENIE SAGE (Green) to the Minister for the Environment: By how much has annual funding for the Environmental Legal Assistance Fund been cut since 2013/14? Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister for the Environment): The budget this year is $600,000 per year, as it was last year and the year before. For the 4 years prior to that the budget was $800,000 per year but was repeatedly underspent. The spend in 2013-14 was $555,000, and the average actual spend was $520,000. As much as I like the Minister of Finance, I do not like under-spending my vote so I reduced the budget in 2015-16 and transferred it to increased support for collaborative processes. This is also consistent with our blue-green philosophy of supporting people to find solutions rather than spending it on legal aid to fight disputes. Eugenie Sage: Can he confirm that he created a new criterion for the fund recently so that community groups wanting to challenge council decisions in the courts are likely to be denied funding if their case might “impede or delay” a development project? Hon Dr NICK SMITH: Yes, I have changed the criteria. A new consideration is the issue of housing and infrastructure. The Government makes no apologies for making it harder for groups to get Government money to stop houses and infrastructure from being built. It does not prevent funding being provided in those sorts of cases, but it requires the panel to give consideration to the broader public interest. It simply does not make sense for the Government to be using public money to stop transport projects being built and stop houses being built with legal aid funding. Eugenie Sage: Does he believe that Forest & Bird would have received funding to mount a legal challenge to Bathurst Resources’ proposed coalmine on the Denniston plateau if this new criterion had been in place? Hon Dr NICK SMITH: There is an independent panel that makes the decisions on the issue of the legal aid. What I have added to the criteria is that, alongside the environmental things, issues like infrastructure, jobs, and housing have to be a consideration. But it still will be an independent consideration for the panel. Eugenie Sage: Can he confirm that last year he gave himself the power to decide which cases and which community groups would get environmental legal aid, stripping this power away from the Ministry for the Environment’s chief executive? Hon Dr NICK SMITH: Each year Ministers make a decision about the level of delegations. In this particular case, I decided not to delegate to the Ministry for the Environment, albeit I note that I followed the panel’s advice in every case. In the event that I do not follow the panel’s advice it will be a matter of open public record. Eugenie Sage: Why will he not just own the fact that his Government is trying to stop legal challenges that might impede environmentally destructive development, like the coalmine on the Denniston plateau, the Ruataniwha Dam, and the Basin Reserve flyover? Hon Dr NICK SMITH: I know of many Wellingtonians who would be concerned that the Government was spending money on stopping roading through to the airport being constructed with legal aid funds. So the Government has deliberately put into the environmental legal aid criteria that the panel needs to consider issues like infrastructure and housing. To quote the Minister for Infrastructure: “We are the infrastructure Government.”, and we want to see New Zealanders being able to get around and have a roof over their heads.9. EUGENIE SAGE (Green) to the Minister for the Environment: By how much has annual funding for the Environmental Legal Assistance Fund been cut since 2013/14? Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister for the Environment): The budget this year is $600,000 per year, as it was last year and the year before. For the 4 years prior to that the budget was $800,000 per year but was repeatedly underspent. The spend in 2013-14 was $555,000, and the average actual spend was $520,000. As much as I like the Minister of Finance, I do not like under-spending my vote so I reduced the budget in 2015-16 and transferred it to increased support for collaborative processes. This is also consistent with our blue-green philosophy of supporting people to find solutions rather than spending it on legal aid to fight disputes. Eugenie Sage: Can he confirm that he created a new criterion for the fund recently so that community groups wanting to challenge council decisions in the courts are likely to be denied funding if their case might “impede or delay” a development project? Hon Dr NICK SMITH: Yes, I have changed the criteria. A new consideration is the issue of housing and infrastructure. The Government makes no apologies for making it harder for groups to get Government money to stop houses and infrastructure from being built. It does not prevent funding being provided in those sorts of cases, but it requires the panel to give consideration to the broader public interest. It simply does not make sense for the Government to be using public money to stop transport projects being built and stop houses being built with legal aid funding. Eugenie Sage: Does he believe that Forest & Bird would have received funding to mount a legal challenge to Bathurst Resources’ proposed coalmine on the Denniston plateau if this new criterion had been in place? Hon Dr NICK SMITH: There is an independent panel that makes the decisions on the issue of the legal aid. What I have added to the criteria is that, alongside the environmental things, issues like infrastructure, jobs, and housing have to be a consideration. But it still will be an independent consideration for the panel. Eugenie Sage: Can he confirm that last year he gave himself the power to decide which cases and which community groups would get environmental legal aid, stripping this power away from the Ministry for the Environment’s chief executive? Hon Dr NICK SMITH: Each year Ministers make a decision about the level of delegations. In this particular case, I decided not to delegate to the Ministry for the Environment, albeit I note that I followed the panel’s advice in every case. In the event that I do not follow the panel’s advice it will be a matter of open public record. Eugenie Sage: Why will he not just own the fact that his Government is trying to stop legal challenges that might impede environmentally destructive development, like the coalmine on the Denniston plateau, the Ruataniwha Dam, and the Basin Reserve flyover? Hon Dr NICK SMITH: I know of many Wellingtonians who would be concerned that the Government was spending money on stopping roading through to the airport being constructed with legal aid funds. So the Government has deliberately put into the environmental legal aid criteria that the panel needs to consider issues like infrastructure and housing. To quote the Minister for Infrastructure: “We are the infrastructure Government.”, and we want to see New Zealanders being able to get around and have a roof over their heads.
      • Accepted from Save the Basin posts by feedreader
      • Tagged as:
      • water
      • government
      • airport
      • wellington
      • art
      • housing
      • sport
      • people

        • Wellington International Airport, Coutts Street, Rongotai, Wellington, Wellington City, Wellington, 6023, New Zealand (OpenStreetMap)


    • Christmas at Snapper
      • With 2019 nearly done and dusted the team at Snapper HQ will be tagging off from Friday 20th December, returning on Monday 6th January 2020. Should you need any Snapper-based assistance over the holiday period, you have a few options: Self-service assistance online If you’re a registered cardholder and have recently topped up but don’t […] The post Christmas at Snapper appeared first on Snapper.
      • Accepted from Snapper card news by tonytw1
      • Automatically tagged as:
      • fares
      • snapper-card

    • Covid-19
      • Dear cardholder, As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve here in New Zealand, and we all do our bit to contain the spread of the virus, we wanted to update you on how the Snapper team is doing our best to keep you moving. Our main priority is the health and safety of our people, […] The post COVID-19 appeared first on Snapper.
      • Accepted from Snapper card news by tonytw1
      • Tagged as:
      • covid-19

    • Snapper Christmas hours
      • As we near the end of what has been a tumultuous year for many, the Snapper team want to thank our customers for their ongoing support during 2020. We will be tagging off from Tuesday 22nd December to spend time with friends and family, returning on  Wednesday 6th January 2021. Should you need any Snapper-based […] The post Snapper Christmas hours appeared first on Snapper.
      • Accepted from Snapper card news by tonytw1
      • Automatically tagged as:
      • fares
      • snapper-card

    • Covid-19
      • Dear cardholder, As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve here in New Zealand, and we all do our bit to contain the spread of the virus, we wanted to update you on how the Snapper team is doing our best to keep you moving. Our main priority is the health and safety of our people, […] The post COVID-19 appeared first on Snapper.
      • Accepted from Snapper card news by tonytw1
      • Tagged as:
      • covid-19

    • Christmas at Snapper
      • With 2019 nearly done and dusted the team at Snapper HQ will be tagging off from Friday 20th December, returning on Monday 6th January 2020. Should you need any Snapper-based assistance over the holiday period, you have a few options: Self-service assistance online If you’re a registered cardholder and have recently topped up but don’t […] The post Christmas at Snapper appeared first on Snapper.
      • Accepted from Snapper card news by tonytw1
      • Automatically tagged as:
      • fares
      • snapper-card

    • Snapper at Red Light
      • Kia ora Wellington,  As Aotearoa has now moved to the Red Light setting as part of our COVID-19 response, we wanted to update you on what that means for Snapper users.  For the most part – business is as usual.  Catching the bus and train There are no changes to current operating – please see Metlink’s […] The post Snapper at Red Light appeared first on Snapper.
      • Accepted from Snapper card news by feedreader
      • Tagged as:
      • covid-19

    • 2022 agm
      • Notice is hereby given of the 31st Annual General Meeting of Wellington College Old Boys and Victoria University Rugby Football Club Inc. It will be held on Thursday 24 February 2022 commencing at 6:00pm in the OBU Function Room, Cambridge Hotel, Cambridge Terrace, Wellington. Note you must be fully covid vaccinated to attend. Agenda & [...] The post 2022 AGM appeared first on OBU Rugby.
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      • covid-19
      • rugby

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    • Classical on Cuba
      • 100 shows, over 40 music groups, 19 Venues across the Cuba Street Precinct! Experience classical music with a twist at Classical on Cuba, a vibrant new festival of classical music, reimagined in contemporary spaces infused with the spirit and colour of Cuba Street.
      • Submitted by tonytw1
      • Tagged as:
      • cuba-street
      • events

    • Trois On Allen
      • Trois On Allen is a whole new concept for a whole new you, a beauty complex that offers everything for face body and hair. From a Sunbed or new hairstyle to a facial or manicure, our aim is to make your visit to Trois an indulgent experience.
      • Tagged as:
      • business

    • St Andrews on the Terrace Presbyterian Church
      • St Andrew's on The Terrace is a progressive Presbyterian congregation in the heart of Wellington. St Andrew's congregation stands at the liberal to radical end of the theological spectrum. We are supportive of theological and biblical scholarship and our ministers have reflected this in their preaching.
      • Tagged as:
      • crossways
      • religious-groups

        • St Andrew's on the Terrace, 30, The Terrace, Paekākā, Wellington Central, Wellington, Wellington City, Wellington, 6011, New Zealand (OpenStreetMap)


    • Mt Victoria Residents Association
      • The Mt Victoria Residents Association is an active advocate on behalf of the community, aiming to further the interests of our neighbourhood with local and central government. We’ve been doing this work for decades, promoting the needs of residents and opposing inappropriate development in the neighbourhood.
      • Tagged as:
      • community-groups
      • mount-victoria

    • Halina Kuchciak
      • Specialist Wellington real estate agent Halina Kuchciak has a sales record of thousands of homes that makes her one of Wellington and the world's top sales agents.
      • Tagged as:
      • estate-agents

    • The Decksmiths
      • The Decksmiths are committed to providing full-service landscaping services to Wellington and the greater area. With a proven track record from landscape design to finishing touches, having your ideas turn into reality is our passion.
      • Tagged as:
      • business

    • Mt Victoria Historical Society
      • The Mt Victoria Historical Society was founded in 1996. Our key aims are: 1. To encourage the protection of the natural and built heritage of Mount Victoria. 2. To research and record the history of Mount Victoria, and share it with others. We regularly run events and host talks on the history of Mt Victoria and Wellington.
      • Tagged as:
      • local-history
      • mount-victoria
      • wcn-hosted

    • Ngaio Progressive Association
      • Ngaio Crofton Downs Residents Association promotes the interests of the Ngaio and Crofton Downs communities and the natural environment. We aim to foster healthy public spirit; promote improvement, beautification and development; and advocate for the Ngaio and Crofton Downs communities. The Association was founded in the 1920s as the Ngaio Progressive Association and revived in the 1980s. In 2012 we voted to change our name to the Ngaio Crofton Downs Residents Association to better reflect our purpose.
      • Tagged as:
      • community-groups
      • ngaio
      • wcn-hosted

    • Slow Boat Records
      • Slow Boat Records is Wellington, New Zealand’s longest running independent record store. Situated at 183 Cuba Street in the vibrant and eclectic Te Aro area of the capitol’s downtown CBD, it has long been a favourite of the discerning music fan.
      • Tagged as:
      • cuba-street
      • music
      • retail

        • Slow Boat Records, Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington, Wellington City, Wellington, 6040, New Zealand (OpenStreetMap)


    • Wellington Tenths Trust
      • The Wellington Tenths Trust is an Ahu Whenua trust constituted by the Māori Land Court Order of 16 December 2003, pursuant to Sec 244 of Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 which varied the original Trust Deed of 1977 and the subsequent variation of Deed made on 17 July 1996. The Trust was established to administer Māori Reserve lands, largely in urban Wellington, although it also administers a rural block in Kaitoke, Upper Hutt. The Trust owns a total of 81 hectares of land.
      • Submitted by tonytw1
      • Tagged as:
      • ethnic-groups

    • Pure Sound Studios
      • Pure Sound Studios is a small music production business located in central Wellington, New Zealand. Established mid 2020, with the aim of providing a creative space for local musicians to easily record their music and experiment with new tools, the core mission of the studio is to help artists make great tracks at an affordable price.
      • Submitted by tonytw1
      • Tagged as:
      • business
      • music

    • Roxy Cinema
      • Reborn as The Roxy in 2011, this iconic Miramar building started life as The Capitol Theatre - a one-screen picture house, purpose built in 1928 to screen silent films. In 1932 the cinema was converted to screen 'talkies', and continued to show films until 1964, when it closed its doors. It then became local shopping centre 'Capitol Court' until falling into disrepair and lying vacant for a number of years.
      • Submitted by tonytw1
      • Tagged as:
      • cinema
      • miramar

        • Roxy Cinema, 5, Park Road, Miramar, Wellington, Wellington City, Wellington, 6242, New Zealand (OpenStreetMap)


    • Cuba Street and Cuba Mall
      • Wellington's Cuba Street is pedestrian-only from Manners Mall to Ghuznee Street, where it is called Cuba Mall. With its retailers ranging from leading retailers like Farmers and Whitcoulls through to R18 shops and tattoo artists, its numerous cafes and bars, clothing, book and record shops draw people from all around the region for what only Wellington's Cuba can offer.
      • Tagged as:
      • cuba-street

    • Owhiro Bay School
      • Owhiro Bay School is located on the beautiful South Coast in Wellington. We offer quality teaching for Years 0-6 in a country setting 10 minutes drive from central Wellington. A roll of 100-125 children. Spacious grounds featuring a large grass field, hard courts, tennis court and two playgrounds provide a fun and stimulating environment for the children at Owhiro Bay School. The community is central to how we do things at Owhiro Bay School. In partnership with Owhiro Bay Kindergarten we have established the Owhiro Bay Learning Community supporting learners from birth onwards. We enjoy a high level of community involvement and this is demonstrated through events such as the Annual Owhiro Bay Community Hangi and the Annual Owhiro Bay Fair. We have a number of active groups within the learning community; the Owhiro Bay Student Council, the Whanau Support Group and Parentlink to name a few.
      • Submitted by anon2913
      • Tagged as:
      • primary
      • brooklyn
      • island-bay

    • YWCA of Wellington & Hutt Valley
      • The YWCA of Wellington and Hutt Valley focuses on providing education, training and support. We offer most services free, and have a particular emphasis on helping women on low incomes, young women, and those women with least access to resources
      • Tagged as:
      • womens

    • Downstage Theatre Blog
      • Downstage's official blog. Take a look inside and get a glimpse how professional theatre is produced. Also get updates on our shows and information on specials.
      • Tagged as:
      • blogs
      • theatre

        • Hannah Playhouse, 12, Cambridge Terrace, Mount Victoria, Wellington, Wellington City, Wellington, 6011, New Zealand (OpenStreetMap)


    • Hutt Valley Canoe Club
      • The Hutt Valley Canoe Club focuses on Whitewater paddling with an emphasis on our gems of local rivers in the region. Regular trips are held on the Hutt Gorge, Whakatiki, Akatarawa and Otaki rivers. We also travel extensively across the North Island, following the releases from the various rivers that are hydro controlled.
      • Tagged as:
      • boating
      • hutt-valley

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