WCC Watch - January 2011

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WCC Watch / January 2011

Welcome to WCC Watch. The idea is pretty simple. Basically, the coverage of the upcoming (Sept-Oct) Wellington City Council elections are going to be sporadic at best. There are a multitude of personalities at play, some smart, bold, dynamic candidates, and some total fruit bars. I’ll be trying to cover everything I can to follow the election.

February 2011 | November 2010

- Free wireless
  - 31 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - The Dominion Post is reporting that the WCC/TradeMe/NZWireless joint venture for free wireless internet in the centre city is now up and running. Any reports on how well it’s working?
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- Gardens Magic: Saturday’s postponements
  - 30 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - This is part of our series of posts on the Council’s Gardens Magic programme.
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- Gardens Magic: KazaamBLAM
  - 27 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - This is part of our series of posts on the Council’s Gardens Magic programme.
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- Gardens Magic: The Shogun Orchestra
  - 26 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - This is part of our series of posts on the Council’s Gardens Magic programme.
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- Another event under threat
  - 26 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - One Love is an annual festival, held at the Hataitai velodrome since 1998 on Waitangi Day, which also happens to be Bob Marley’s birthday.
  - Tagged as:
  - hataitai
- Garden Magic: Jessie James and the Outlaws
  - 25 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - This is part of our series of posts on the Council’s Gardens Magic programme.
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- Gardens Magic Update
  - 25 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - So we were wrong – there is no Gardens Magic tonight. Jess Chambers’ show was last night. Incidentally, the council are making announcements like this via their Twitter feed rather than on their website. Seems a bit short sighted to me, I think a lot of people would go straight to the website.
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- Gardens Magic: Jess Chambers?
  - 24 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - This is part of our series of posts on the Council’s Gardens Magic programme.
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- Streetfilms
  - 24 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - There is a great website called Streetfilms who ‘document livable streets worldwide’. Interesting concept. Here is a video they’ve pulled together about Copenhagen… Thanks to Ethan Tucker for pointing this out in the comments of our post on Lower Cuba Street. Via the Auckland Transport Blog.
  - Tagged as:
  - cuba-street
- Happy Anniversary!
  - 24 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - After a rough morning the weather has cleared up for a beautiful Wellington Anniversary Day. Enjoy! Photo by 'Cliff Hanger' - CCv2. Click for more info
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- weird in wellington
  - 21 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - Quite a few giggles in the photos here… weird in wellington
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- Project update #4 – Lower Cuba Street
  - 21 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - With work beginning in earnest since the Christmas holiday, we can start to get an idea of what the “shared-space” in Lower Cuba Street is going to look like.
  - Tagged as:
  - cuba-street
- Iona on heritage
  - 21 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - Iona Pannett, Wellington Representative for Bloggers-Without-Paragraphs (BSP) has written a post in relation to the story about the demolition of the old Settlement Restaurant building on Willis Street.
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- Gardens Magic: Sam Hunt + The Good Words
  - 21 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - This is part of our series of posts on the Council’s Gardens Magic programme.
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- Gardens Magic: Newtown Rocksteady
  - 20 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - This is part of our series of posts on the Council’s Gardens Magic programme.
  - Tagged as:
  - newtown
- Celia’s best move yet
  - 19 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - This is a bit of a no-brainer, but Celia’s announcement in this morning’s Dom Post will make many people very happy.
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- Gardens Magic: Shaken Not Stirred
  - 19 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - This is part of our series of posts on the Council’s Gardens Magic programme. You can view the full Summer City event calendar or the entire programme at the Council’s website. Tonight we have the jazz band Shaken Not Sirred… Shaken Not Stirred play the finest soul funk sounds – a sizzling rhythm section, hot horns and soaring vocals from Michael Stirling and Geoffrey Hern.
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- Celia gets down to business…
  - 18 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - It was nice to read something positive in the Dom Post about Celia this morning, despite their best attempts to spin it in a negative light.
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- Gardens Magic: Eva Prowse
  - 18 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - This is part of our series of posts on the Council’s Gardens Magic programme.
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- Manners Street claims another j-walker
  - 18 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - Stuff are reporting that yet another pedestrian has been hit by a bus on the new Manners Street route.
  - Submitted by tonytw1
  - Tagged as:
  - manners-mall-bus-lane
- Hope vs Choat
  - 17 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - Recently in David Choat’s blog he explains that a previous post recalling his observations in his first Capital and Coast DHB meeting led to him receiving a note from Board Chair Dr Virginia Hope (who was recently appointed to both the CCDHB and the Hutt Valley DHB – criticised as a first step towards amalgamation of the two health boards) as a breach of the CCDHB media policy (which effectively says that the Chair should be the person responsible for any comments for the Board) Hope’s explanation is not entirely clear from David’s post, only that it had caused her distress. It would be a fair point to make had Choat attempted to represent the Board exclusively. Yet, if anything, the article reads about what he did and thought at the meeting. I can’t see how what he said would have been any different had Choat been in a public meeting, or in a one-on-one chance meeting with one of his constituents. In fact the post by Choat in question was entitled “Reflections on my first board meeting” Go read the post for Choat’s response, which I think reflects his commitment to transparency with the public on (open) board matters being debated as part of a publicly accountable body. So, what precisely does the policy do – here is a copy (1MB PDF). It was last updated and debated at a meeting in August 2009. The comms manager wasn’t present and Helene Ritchie was the only member to vote against it. Odd. It’s no surprise how unworkable the policy has been in practice. It basically bars any direct interaction with the public by board members. I wonder what kind of world the drafters of this policy were living in when they thought that such restrictions on public debate would actually work. Would it be surprising that Dr Hope doesn’t agree with David’s very blunt but arguably popular slogan “Care not cuts” as a way to deal with the challenges at the CCDHB: “Cuts is really the wrong word. Savings, I think, is a better word” (The Wellingtonian, 6 January 2011) Clearly, any Chair would not want to have to battle the framing of an alternative viewpoint as well as the controversial challenges for an organisation like those faced by the CCDHB, but it also makes me wonder what the Chair’s personal direction will be in the Board’s response to those challenges? Regardless, there appears to be a developing division between the new board member and the new chair. Already, Choat has said that the matter of the media policy will be on the agenda at the next meeting. There doesn’t appear to be much that the Chair could do, but the board (particularly the publically elected members) should be mindful of the public’s need to be informed unfettered by the spin that sometimes happens and refuse to punish Choat. The next meeting is on February 4 at 8.30am (in the Board Room on 11th Floor of the Grace Neill Block, Wellington Regional Hospital on Riddiford Street, Newtown), and you can attend in person to make sure the Board get the point. (More info on the meeting here)
  - Tagged as:
  - hutt-valley
  - newtown
- 3 New on Salsagate
  - 17 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - Celia complaining about people leaking her emails, Rodney Hide’s dancing instructor, John Morrison admitting he can’t use chopsticks, Ian McKinnon’s stiff upper lip – tonight’s 3 News report on salsagate had it all. Enjoy.
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- “Salsagate” update
  - 16 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - Phil Quin has coined the term “salsagate” to describe Celia’s leaked email.
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- Gardens Magic Update
  - 16 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - We’ve had quite a few people visiting the site to get the Gardens Magic updates, so we’re going to keep them going. Unfortunately there is nothing planned for tonight or Tuesday, the days were reserved in case any earlier shows had to be cancelled due to rain. That said, the lights are still on, so if you want to enjoy them without the crowds, now would be a good time to do so!
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- Gardens Magic: Sunday Double Feature!
  - 15 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - This is part of our series of posts on the Council’s Gardens Magic programme. You can view the full Summer City event calendar or the entire programme at the Council’s website. Again, two acts tonight. From 7-8, Kali Kopae… And then from 8-9:30, Bella Kalolo & the Soul Symphony…
  - Tagged as:
  - events
- Something’s rotten in the state of Whakatane
  - 14 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - This is a bit outside our normal Wellington focus, but it’s still interesting.
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- Cost cutting: Council spinning out of control
  - 14 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - The council doesn’t seem particularly pleased with the news yesterday that they are planning at migrating the parking needs of motorcyclists into the hands of the private sector.
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- Gardens Magic: Saturday Double Feature!
  - 14 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - This is part of our series of posts on the Council’s Gardens Magic programme. You can view the full Summer City event calendar or the entire programme at the Council’s website. Firstly, from 7-8, Matiu Te Huki… Then from 8-9:30, The X Ray Catz…
  - Tagged as:
  - events
- Cutting costs: But paying for dance lessons
  - 14 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - Update: Phil Quin has also blogged on the story, and has had a response from Celia which he’s published.
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- Cost cutting: Fleecing the bikers
  - 13 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - There is a story by Dave Burgess in this morning’s Dom Post about a proposal for council to council look at alternatives to the free on street parking provided for motorcyclists (in exchange for this, bikers can’t park in metered or pay-and-display parks).
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- Gardens Magic: Poppy Dust
  - 13 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - This is part of our series of posts on the Council’s Gardens Magic programme.
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- Project update #3 – Wharewaka
  - 12 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - The construction of Te Wharewaka o Pōneke and the development of the surrounding area (including the southern part of Frank Kitts lagoon) seems to be progressing well, and should be completed in time for the official opening at dawn on Waitangi Day.
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- Gardens Magic: Raashi Malik
  - 12 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - Tonight at the botanical gardens from 8-9:30… Raashi Malik’s soulful voice is probably mostly associated with Wellington super-dub band Rhombus, having collaborating with them on all 3 albums and having featured on their singles, Tour of Outer Space and So Close.
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- Links & Pieces
  - 11 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - Wellington City Libraries have now got a blog.
  - Tagged as:
  - libraries
- Amalgamation Poll
  - 11 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - Aside from a few rare exceptions, there seem to be few Wellingtonians who are willing to engage in the debate around the options for amalgamation offered by the Mayoral Forum’s review of Regional Governance.
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- Gardens Magic: The Nudge
  - 11 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - Tonight is the first night of the ASB Gardens Magic series in the botanical gardens.
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- First CCDHB meeting
  - 10 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - A bit late on this, but I’ve just noticed David Choat has done a pretty comprehensive, yet readable, blog on his first CCDHB meeting in December last year.
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- Andy Foster on amalgamation
  - 10 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - Councillor Andy Foster has written a reasonably lengthy piece expounding his views on potential local government amalgamation in Wellington.
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- City Councillor (almost) eaten by shark!!!
  - 10 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - An artists impression of Cr Foster's narrow escape from certain death.
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- Expenses and donations: the battle against incumbency
  - 6 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - Looking back at the second graph in our cost per vote post, you’ll note the two successful candidates with the highest cost per vote were Paul Eagle and Simon Marsh.
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- Expenses and donations: cost per vote
  - 6 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - Following on from our initial post on the expense returns from last year’s local body election, we’ve broken down the expense returns compared to how many votes each candidate got.
  - Tagged as:
  - elections-2010
- Expenses and donations: who spent what
  - 6 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - A reader has very kindly sent in a copy of the electoral expense and donation returns from the 2010 election, which we’ve taken a look at.
  - Tagged as:
  - elections-2010
- Don’t blame the system, blame yourselves
  - 6 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - A couple of days ago, the “hard done family” we reported on a few months ago (twice) once again appeared in the Dom Post in a follow up story on the denial by the WCC (in the form of a committee of Crs Best, Ahipene-Mercer and Ritchie) to allow the family to cut down the heritage listed Norfolk Pine on their Box Hill, Khandallah, property.
  - Tagged as:
  - khandallah
- Zealandia: The sky has not fallen
  - 6 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - It’s been almost a year since the rebranding, opening of the visitor’s centre and hefty ticket price increases at the Karori Sanctuary, now know as Zealandia (brand guidelines be damned – I refuse to use all caps).
  - Tagged as:
  - karori
  - karori-sanctuary
- Cost Cutting: Toi Poneke
  - 5 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - Following on from the story about potential cuts to library hours, another of the council’s cultural institutions seems to be under threat.
  - Tagged as:
  - libraries
- Cost Cutting: library hours
  - 5 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - Reports are emerging of plans to reduce the opening hours of the Brooklyn, Wadestown and Khandallah libraries so they would only function for half of the current 10 hours they are open each day.
  - Tagged as:
  - khandallah
  - wadestown
  - brooklyn
  - libraries
- Summer City – Free and Awesome
  - 4 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - As it has done for quite some time, the Council’s Summer City programme is about to kick off. They’ve produced a handy booklet chock full of fun free stuff. Check it out, there is plenty to see and do! (And who knew we’re hosting the Taekwon-Do World Championships in March – move over rugby world cup!)
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- Goulter Watch
  - 4 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - We’re sorry to keep reminding you of the candidate who never was, Jevan Goulter, but the train-wreck that is his political career just keeps getting worse (or better, depending on your point of view).
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- Dom Post misses the mark on electoral spending
  - 4 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - The Dominion Post are running a piece which provides a reasonable overview of what the candidates spent in the 2010 election.
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- WCC Watch – Best of 2010
  - 3 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - This year’s local body election threw up some big surprises – I think many people were very surprised that Celia managed to get elected.
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- Whaleoil’s picks for 2010
  - 2 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - Despite the local body elections of 2010 presenting many interesting results, their participants have been almost totally absent from the various ‘best of 2010′ lists being published at the moment.
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council
- Happy New Year!
  - 1 Jan 2011
  - WCC Watch
  - After a leave of absence of a few weeks, we’re ready to get back into blogging about local body politics in Wellington. Apologies for the lack of posts recently, I felt I needed a bit of a break after a hectic year. Lots planned, so keep checking back. Also, if there is anyone who has any ideas for posts (or indeed would like to do a guest post!) then by all means get in touch!
  - Automatically tagged as:
  - elections-2010
  - featured
  - wellington-city-council

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WCC Watch / January 2011

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