Connor Sharp

It's only going to get better.

Honestly, with a lot of things happening right now, it's easy to feel down.

But then you go see (and celebrate) the great things that are happening, and cheer right back up :)

Need to talk up the good way more tbh!

It is! My pictures do nooot do it justice haha

And yeah, peak day for ice-cream :)

Public open day for a 3km cycleway between Māngere and Māngere Bridge in south Auckland.

Great vibes and weather at the Party on the Path celebrating the Māngere Cycle Path!

More of this everywhere please!

You do have the power to change things - Greater Auckland When I was invited to come aboard and help with Greater Auckland a few months ago (thanks to Patrick!), it was suggested it might be a good idea to write some sort of autobiographical post by way of a...

Notably, it seems the proposal to revisit light rail was the only project endorsed by Te Waihanga in this round that came from an *individual* (rather than from a council, organisation, govt agency, etc).

Just goes to show that @connorsharp.bsky.social was right all along, as per his origin story 💪

Gotta live up to my self appointed status as the #1 light rail fan somehow

Light Rail Lives On? - Greater Auckland Earlier this year Te Waihanga, the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, invited submissions for Round 2 of its

NZ Infrastructure Commission/ Te Waihanga invited submissions for its Infrastructure Priorities Programme…

…so @connorsharp.bsky.social smartly suggested revisiting light rail in Auckland💡

Breaking news: the proposal was “endorsed” as highlighting a pressing and solvable issue!👏🏼

What happens now?

insights.tewaihanga.govt.nz/insights/all...

I kind of got a proposal endorsed by the Infrastructure Commission for City Centre to Māngere Rapid Transit

First step forward to reviving light rail 🚈 😉

The coalition has done spectacular damage in one short term, and we're going to need a brave, visionary new government to fix it. Labour's "balance the books" chat is absolutely chilling because it means next election's BEST outcome is... Slightly gentler austerity.

What consulting companies is Auckland Uni working with and how much are the companies being paid? - a Official Information Act request to University of Auckland Could you please provide a list of contracts the University entered into, in 2024 and 2025, with external consulting firms; the topic of the work undertaken (e.g., strategic planning); and the total c...

Auckland Uni has responded to my OIA request re consultancy spending in 2024-2025

$600k to PWC and $500k to Nous Group for "strategic design, organisational change, transformation
services" etc

This is roughly what our whole faculty of science spent on internally funded postdocs in the same years

Two different media articles...? As I said, the other comments were good, as he's clearly focusing more on the better comments in the RNZ one, but you don't need to say you agree in principle?

Nor do you need to say 'we might not repeal it' when the policy isn't being implemented until 2029...

This is really just Opposition MPs doing their job, reading the accounts and asking the right questions. And the Minister of Finance insulting them because she doesn't want to answer the questions.

Councillor warns Akl ferries may be in firing line to meet Govt's proposed rates cap A 2–4% rates cap could change what councils can afford to run.

This article says he did 🤷‍♂️

www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/auckland-...

The government have been signalling this for a long while... why would you not have a response ready (rather than imply you agree in principle)?

As I said part of his comments are good, it just seems clear that he, like most central government MPs, doesn't seem to understand/care about local govt.

For context: NZ's 2030 target was designed to be met in two parts, with a third domestic emissions savings and a larger contribution fromoffshore credits.

Great explainer by @eloisegibson.bsky.social here
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

Wish we had local media to report on stuff like this. I imagine these kind of behaviors were a big reason C&R got crushed, and Trotman and Moyle lost a significant number of votes compared to 2022.

However, a lot of people are still not aware of how these people act...

Anyways, both C&R members left the first meeting last month before the item on behavior and conduct, and their actions today clearly demonstrates they probably needed to consider that item.

Sarah Trotman also left the meeting early in a huff after abstaining on the item just now

C&R's Greg Moyle currently attacking City Vision Waitematā members for being 'unexperienced' and not qualified to have certain roles, saying the community will 'respond' to this.

The community already made a judgement, just a month ago in the election, and C&R got crushed lol

'A bit tired, a bit ratty': Heated exchange between Willis and Labour MPs at Parliament The Finance Minister has called the opposition's behaviour "unbecoming" after accusations of name-calling and conspiracy-thinking.

“Under questioning in the meeting, Willis also confirmed the government had no intention of buying offshore carbon credits to meet the 2030 Paris agreement as part of a "performative awards ceremony" even if that meant it would breach its commitment.”

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

Cycleways are good for everyone - Greater Auckland The

Today, we re-share a fab op-ed by @connorsharp.bsky.social:

“The more options people have, the more they’ll use the one that works best for their needs. And for many trips in a city, that won’t always be a car. What’s not to like about freedom of choice?”
www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2025/12/02/c...

WTF do you mean 'agree in principle', like I mean the other comments are good, but its a dumb policy and I have no idea why Hipkins thinks otherwise.

Just goes back to the point that central government politicians do not understand or care about local government.

Loved seeing Te Komititanga full of people celebrating the lighting of Te Manaaki, Auckland’s Giant Christmas Tree.

Hard to believe a few years ago this civic space was a four lane road. It’s much better now and it is used by tens of thousands more people each day.

I 💚❤️ AKL

YouTube video by Not Just Bikes Keep these Stupid American Trucks out of Europe

"Keep these Stupid American Trucks out of Europe"

That's the title of this popular YouTuber's latest video, which has had more than 250,000 views in 24 hours. What do you think?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=--83...

How shit is the investment case for the Wellington SH1 Tunnels that NZTA seemingly screenshot the map, so it shows an item selected and spellcheck lines? $2-4billion BTW

(also the BCR is horrible but we all know that doesn't meant anything for RoADs oF NaTIOnAL SiGniFIcaNCe)

YouTube video by Greater Auckland Auckland Transport Future Light Rail

Linking this video from 2018 about Auckland Light Rail for absolutely no reason at all today

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cHb...

‘Ratepayers are fed up’: Government reveals rates cap plan, in place from 2029 Councils will not be able to increase rates beyond a capped limit - expected to be about 4% - unless they have permission from a regulator appointed by central government.

Capping rates is stupid policy, and given they are not even implementing it until 2029 means they probably understand this.

So they are just vice signalling to get political cred or whatever for something they won't even get done.

www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...

Not to mention every three years people vote (or choose not to vote) on what's happening in their communities... including rates.