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A lot has been made in recent times of investment in quality transport infrastructure, improved public transport and congestion reduction; all culminating in a decision between the Green Party and Labour Party arm of the Coalition Government for “rapid light rail” (modern trams) to run from the CBD to the Auckland Airport. As a member of the team at the Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) and the National Co-ordinator of the Public Transport…

There are two pieces of legislation wending their way through Parliament at the moment designed to further entrench the crazy notion that the Treaty of Waitangi created an obligation on governments nearly 200 years later to treat anybody with a Maori ancestor in some kind of preferential way. One is the Public Service Bill, introduced to Parliament last month and now being considered by the Governance and Administration select committee. It…

The team at Advantage Tyres on Manukau Road know a thing or two about tyres. Owned and operated by Matt Keller, he and his team are trained specialists and have been in the industry for a total of 72 years collectively! They are the go-to team for all your tyre needs and arguably Pukekohe’s leading wheel alignment specialists. “The reason to invest in good quality tyres lays in their compounds since the best tyres on the market contain almost…

With all the latest statistics on violence and the impact it has on all those involved, including the rising numbers of offenders in prison you’d be forgiven for thinking that someone somewhere must have a grand plan. Turns out not really. Well, there is the usual political posturing around solutions, from “getting tougher on crime” to the other end of the scale where the focus is community-based rehabilitation. But none of that really helps…

Did you know that in Papakura we have: · Sushi places Cafes Bakeries Barber Shops Gyms and the Rec Centre Health places including Physio, Doctors, foot clinic, Massage places, Lab tests, Family Planning, Medicine clinics, Chiropractic, Hand clinic and more. Dental Clinics Accountancy Firms Banks Finance Companies Valuers Design and Architecture Firms Optometrists Churches Opportunity, Second hand and Charity Stores…

The Team at Flooring Xtra in Papakura are extra busy keeping the district's floors looking good. “Thanks to the continuing support of the people of Papakura we’re going from strength to strength.” · Having local support means a lot to the Wickett’s. Long established in the district and well known through their sporting contacts, they’re committed to Papakura and delighted to be part of the town’s progress. · While phenomenal housing growth…

The revelling to bring in the New Year is a time-honoured tradition, and I am sure has been played out again this year. As we head into 2020 this year, it also marks the start of a new decade or does it? · In recent years there has been debate about when a decade begins and ends. For some people, the next decade will begin Jan. 1, 2020, and end Dec. 31, 2029. For others, it won’t start until Jan. 1, 2021, concluding Dec. 31, 2030. To the…

This magnificent historical novel delves into the relationship between Napoleon and his first wife Josephine, from her point of view. What emerges is quite different from the prevailing tempestuous love story we currently know. Rather than being merely the beautiful consort of the Emperor, Stephanie Parkyn has drawn us a picture of a woman with her own passions, including the garden Josephine developed at her country house, Malmaison. · The…

Each summer Clevedon’s population grows with the influx of international professional polo players and their grooms who call the village home for the polo season. Clevedon is renowned as the capital of New Zealand polo with numerous polo fields in the vicinity and home to some of the world’s best polo ponies. February for Clevedon is the busiest month as the Auckland Polo Club hosts the prestigious NZ Polo Open, the sporting and social event of…

A few years ago, when I wrote my autobiography, I included a chapter called “The challenge of making economic policy in a democracy”. In that chapter, I tried to debunk a lot of commonly held myths about economic policy. There are lots of them: · “Government should control what private landlords charge for rental accommodation to protect low income people”. “Import controls and tariffs protect jobs and create employment”. “The government has…