by Cimino | 29 Dec 2016 | Campaign Finance Reform, Corruption, Term of office
Sixth of the best to keep them honest The sixth point of the Chartist’s six-point plan is sublimely simple. To counter parliamentary corruption and bought elections, simply hold far more frequent elections, so that, with the many times more votersif, of course, rather...
by Cimino | 24 Dec 2016 | Democracy index, Election turnout, Representation, Term of office, Youth voting
Four-year term terminal for turnout long-term The need for Aotearoa to have a codified constitution is self-evident. Despite that, the initiative of constitutional lawyer Dr Andrew Butler and former prime minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer, launched in August, has failed to...
by Cimino | 11 Dec 2016 | Agricultural emissions, Climate mobilisation, Coalition democratisation, MMP
Loyal opposition reaches oblivious conclusion It was a stroke of unintended brilliance, which has blighted democracy ever since. When John Cam Hobhouse coined the term loyal opposition, in jest, he could’ve had no inkling he would help dignify 190 years of two-party...
by Cimino | 3 Dec 2016 | Paths and trails, Warkworth
Riverpath puts Warkworth in league of its own Mahurangi imagined in 2029 The following future-imagining does not necessarily reflect the opinions or aspirations of those persons or companies quoted or cited. If measured in leagues, it’d be fewer than 1.3 of them....
by Cimino | 11 Nov 2016 | Climate action, Election turnout, Regional governance, Youth voting
From Day One he’s wanted a better slogan than ‘the World’s most liveable city.’ For his trouble, and even before hearing what that slogan might be, Mayor Phil Goff is being rubbished and ridiculed for wanting to replace the city’s tragically generic branding, with...
by Cimino | 7 Nov 2016 | MMP, Sea-level rise
His timing is impeccable, and his mission merciful. Immediately mocked by the mainstream media, Gareth Morgan’s launch of a party dedicated to eliminating poverty and closing the inequality gap is a cause worthy of wholehearted support, even by the mean-minded....
by Cimino | 5 Nov 2016 | Meetings and celebrations
Since it was formed 42 years ago, Mahurangi Action has had some big wins. But not only has the 2015–2016 term of office seen the greatest number of wins in a single year, one of those wins was 42 years in the making: The decision by Watercare Services to cease the...
by Cimino | 1 Nov 2016 | Four waters, Meetings and celebrations
Last year’s was the culmination of a Te Muri walk and a cross-harbour ferry ride. This year’s annual general meeting will be somewhat more perfunctory, on account of it coinciding with the Mahurangi West Hall working bee and Pūhoi Fire Station Givealittle-athon....
by Cimino | 30 Oct 2016 | Events
Anyone planning to, should do it Guy Fawkes weekend. And not just because investing this year’s fireworks budget in Pūhoi’s new fire station is the sane thing to do. The Pūhoi Fire Station Givealittle campaign, technically, is an ‘open cause’ that runs until 31 May...
by Cimino | 24 Oct 2016 | Regional parks, Rivermouth ferry
There were good and obvious reasons for considering a footbridge. But there were also a good many reasons why a footbridge across the Pūhoi Estuary, as part of the long-proposed Mahurangi Coastal Trail, was a less-than-optimal solution. Firstly, it would have had to...
