by Cimino | 23 Nov 2010 | Motorway
Takes just 3.43 minutes to ‘fly’ the preferred route. The New Zealand Transport Agency’s simulated flyover of the preferred route deserves high praise for vividly and dramatically illustrating the magnitude of what is involved in building a motorway from Pūhoi to...
by Dr James Hansen | 22 Nov 2010 | Carbon tax
Republished from original PDF I was in China when United States midterm elections caused some people to become more pessimistic about the fate of the planet and humanity. In contrast, I became more optimistic, for two reasons, both related to China. Here I explain the...
by Cimino | 1 Nov 2010 | Transport and climate action
Footnote added 2 November 2010 Blanket-banned for nearly all the right reasons. In 1984, when nuclear-powered ships were banned from visiting Aotearoa, the French military was to continue testing nuclear weapons beneath Moruroa and Fangatafoa for more than 11 years....
by Cimino | 28 Oct 2010 | Cartoons, Transport and climate action
The first section would run to the Wilson Cement Works. In time, it could run between Snells Beach and the Mahurangi College. And then form a coastal ‘walkway’ from Waiwera to Warkworth. Largely unnoticed by New Zealanders, the Shweeb is set to become an international...
by Cimino | 14 Oct 2010 | Smart networks
Salvaging the once-was-smart grid Once, it was internationally award-winning. Specifically, New Zealand’s national electricity grid was feted for its sophisticated wireless telecommunications control system that facilitated load balancing and real time response to...
by Cimino | 11 Oct 2010 | STV
Another election and another clamour to scrap preferential voting. New Zealanders are wondering why Wellington, for example, would choose a system that makes ’em wait days to hear who they’ve elected mayor. And sifting through interminable lists of district health...
by Cimino | 10 Oct 2010 | Cartoons, MMP, STV
As mayoral majorities go, it’s one of the slimmest. Because the democratic world is so inured to the deficiencies of first-past-the-post, it mostly goes unnoticed that mayors are typically elected by a minority vote, often a tiny minority. Whereas Celia Wade-Brown won...
by Cimino | 8 Oct 2010 | History of the Mahurangi Magazine
Updated 6 July 2011 The reader is paramount. Without the more than 26 000 ‘visits’ received a year, publication of the Mahurangi Magazine could not otherwise be justified. Publication of the magazine is only possible thanks to the help of some very good friends. Some...
by Cimino | 5 Oct 2010 | Mahurangi West Hall
Planting 10 October 9.30am–10am start Location Mahurangi West Hall Summertime, and the planting is easy. At least it was on Saturday, in the sand. Two hundred sand-binding plants were established above the wrack line of the beach at Ōpahi, with ease—in marked contrast...
by Cimino | 3 Oct 2010 | Regional governance
The royal commissioners failed the fundamentals. At the last election, 55% more voters supported Christine Rose for her regional role, than elected the mayor of Rodney. Even Bill Smith, the lowest-polling regional candidate, polled more votes than the mayor. The...
