Sophie McInnes

Youths can't work in your ghost jobs Luxon! #NZPol

See also: mortgage lenders...

more bus lanes
= more efficient bus trips
= more people willing to use buses
= less people driving on the roads
= roads are less clogged up
= people who have to drive can do it easier/quicker

I don't get how this is so hard

If only this were a regular service, priced for locals and commuters, rather than a one-off special service, inevitably at tourist rates. So.. next time? 😏

Te Pāti Māori MPs to be temporarily suspended from Parliament over haka MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke faces a seven-day suspension for her actions.

Hey world, remember when you thought this was awesome? (Which, by the way, it was). Yeah well she's been suspended for a week now because of it; it's coloniser rules and forms of expression allowed only, indigenous people must only be angry in white ways.

www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

Selwyn’s growth nightmare: The cost of government underinvestment One a patchwork of sleepy rural towns, Selwyn is now a booming district where rapid growth is outpacing investment, community leaders say.

Once a patchwork of sleepy rural towns, Selwyn’s rapid expansion means the now booming district is outpacing investment, community leaders say.

Flowers and chalk messages on footpath outside Kilbirnie mosque following 15 March 2019

They should have been safe in Aotearoa😢.

Ok, here we go:
www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/3606...

"The [Canterbury Mayoral] forum did, however, send a letter to Watts by the Feb 28 deadline signalling its intention to work on a proposal in the coming months [..] Given the tight time frames for the regional deals process."

Wow! I hadn't thought of that!! So very tempting.. 👣

So it's ACT Party canon that schools should be able to opt out of the state-run education system and get all the funds to spend on their own 'thing'.

But it's not ACT canon that schools should be able to opt out of the state-run LUNCHES and get all the funds to spend on their own 'thing'?

Ummm.

As a Cambridge grad who'll graduate from Lincoln this year, I'm elated that the NZ tradition has hoods of many colours and allows you to wear just about anything under the gown 🥳 No strict req for females to dress like a 1950s waitress esp the scratchy tights! I might enjoy this one 🤣

Very glad that the "Willows Walk" event was yesterday - sunshine instead of rain! A 2km ramble through ECan's Waimakariri regional park to look at how braided river and dryland ecosystems co-exist, and have been modified by flood protection works, including nature-based solutions.
#SelwynDistrict

Jabs traded in war of words between Wellington council and Government Wellington mayor Tory Whanau: “I think it would be appropriate [Luxon and ministers] walk back those comments and stop punching down on Wellington City.“

Our region is collaborating to transform our water infrastructure. The cost of this is roughly $15-17 billion over the next 20 years. After the Government reversed the previous reforms, councils and rate payers were left shouldering this responsibility.

Agreed! Also councils of the greater Chch sub-region didn't submit a proposal either, and possibly no councils in Canterbury at all. Guess we're all lame-o, but when you're staring down the barrel of rapid RMA, water & LGA reforms.. why add more uncertainty?

Science usually finds comparative data useful, no? To ensure that findings are consistent? I am happy to volunteer as tribute in this worthy endeavour... *adds trifle to shopping list*

If you ever happen to be in Rolleston, I can highly recommend Helado for a sweet treat, coffee, or both! Iced latte with gelato 🤩☕️🍦😋

What a fantastic start to Chch Pride month! So much colour and joy 💖🌈🏳️‍⚧️💃🏾🧚‍♂️

Our poor last speaker is discussing infrastructure funding & finance. Started with an apology for thinking on her feet during the presentation, have as the previous speakers upturned several topics 🤦🏻‍♀️ Basically: choose your projects, vehicles, term etc carefully, and never borrow for renewals.

Well that was fun. Biggest takeaway for my district of Selwyn is that we'll be able to retrospectively levy out-of-sequence residential dvpts (I.e. our 4k+ fast tracked homes) for the necessary infra, rather than reprioritising existing dvpt contributions and rates. Seems positive, but needs detail.

New levies coming for infrastructure growth: Bishop Scrapping development contributions, levies for infrastructure winners and a new regulator. The Post can exclusively reveal these are all part of housing measures being announced today by Infrastructu...

Metro sector is joining R&P after lunch, to hear this speech from Minister Bishop. The tsunami of reform continues!
www.thepress.co.nz/politics/360...

DPMC Emergency Recovery settings & policy. Faster isn't necessarily better, priority list needs flexibility too. Q over govt involvement: scope, nature, $ contribution, and what "locally-led, centrally-supported" means. Recognition that no council has long-term emergency recovery specialists on tap.

NZTA Road Efficiency Group with their transport insights web portal. Collates local road condition assessments from across NZ using consistent data collection methods. Assists with benchmarking and asset management planning.

www.nzta.govt.nz/planning-and...

Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network, on the lack of services in rural areas, inc allied health, and difficulties travelling several hour to access services elsewhere. Campaign to get rural paramedics funded to answer ACC calls. Need incentives for docs, nurses etc to stay in NZ and work rurally.

DIA on Local Water Done Well. Made it very clear that staying in-house ≠ status quo, because new regs & standards will apply to all. Councils that retain direct ownership of assets won't get extra debt headroom. Frustration that LG must consult while Water Serv Bill is at select cttee acknowledged.

Also wastewater standards, which are expected to decrease WWTP consenting $$ by 40% - and 60% WWTPs need reconnecting over the next 10 yr. Will be extremely expensive to implement however. Potential centralised procurement to standardise parts as well as standards? Central govt won't but LG could.

Taumata Arowai spoke about the new standards, firstly rural drinking water supplies. "Acceptable solutions" to be released soon and will apply to council-owned supplies soon, adding private supplies later. Mostly settling tanks and end-point treatment; must be simple to maintain in isolated areas.

Ok, here's the runsheet, forgot to add that before..

RAISED VOICES?!! WHATS NEXT, SHE DIDNT SMILE ENOUGH?!!!!!!! THIS WILL LEAD TO ANARCHY!!!!!

Ata mārie koutou! What a beautiful morning in Pōneke 💖

LGNZ Rural & Provincial kicking off with a roundtable of issues.
🩺 Health: lack of rural GPs, tier 2/3 services closing (obs/gyn, a&e).
🚸 Education: bus routes, property maintenance, building capacity.
🚛 Roads: funding, speed, multimodal.

Last session of the day was group discussions on what new performance measures for councils might look like, followed by another (louder) round or Pūrea Nei.

Tomorrow we all have sector meetings: regional, metro, rural & provincial. Tune in for Local Water Done Well, infrastructure and housing.