Dedicated to democracy, enjoying and restoring the Mahurangi, meaningful climate action, and curiosity—
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Possible change in six years or definite change in three
If its fortunes markedly improve, it could receive a third of the votes. Two weeks to the election and polling has the Labour Party struggling to stay above 28%. With only entirely uncharismatic characters waiting in the wings to take over from the…
Electoral review and mixed-member disinformation
Political parties are universally distrusted. The level of distrust varies, but the 83.2% of Seoul residents in their 20s and 30s recently surveyed who considered no political party supported their interests is reasonably representative. This dissatisfaction…
For a richer electoral system: proportional and preferential
Aotearoa sports the Rolls-Royce of proportional voting systems. Mixed member proportional is the only system that guarantees, potentially, that minor parties receive their fair proportion of parliamentary representation. But that is not to…
And the gulls circle near where Fairburn walked
Achingly beautiful. Caitlin Smith’s recording is so striking, it is incomprehensible that Where Fairburn Walked didn’t become a New Zealand standard. Be that as it may, the tribute to poet Rex (A R D) Fairburn was performed brilliantly by the Prohibition Big Band…
Prize-giving and dance bring-your-own
A good old-fashioned leave-your-wallet-at-home picnic regatta. That was the adamant view of the Friends of the Mahurangi when it revived the Mahurangi Regatta, in 1977. Many of the committee members had experienced the Great Depression, and believed parents of young...
Submission suggests city green growth capital
Submission as lodged at 3.42 pm today: Q1 There will need to be five transformational shifts to make Auckland the world’s most liveable city. Do you agree or disagree with the five transformational shifts identified in the Draft Auckland Plan and why?...
Global democracy and Robin Hood tax
Only 26 sovereign states are judged full democracies. Most of the world’s 196 countries use democracy somewhat sparingly, if at all. And although Aotearoa is ranked fifth amongst the fully democratic, it directly elects neither its head of government—the prime...
Auckland Plan for the ninety-nine percent
The wonder is that it took quite so long, to be occupied. Had it happened as he was being elected, President Barack Obama would have been presented with a mandate to save the planet rather than Wall Street. Instead, the grassroots revolt is happening…