Elections New Zealand: Enrol to Vote

You are qualified to enrol to vote if:
• you are 18 years or older
• you are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident and
• you have lived in New Zealand for one year or more without leaving the country
There are some restrictions, read more.

Enrol or check your enrolment details
https://secure.elections.org.nz/app/enrol/

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How to enrol to vote
Enrolling to vote is easy. You will not be able to vote if you are not enrolled before election day, 26 November 2011. It is compulsory to be enrolled if you are qualified, although voting is optional.
http://www.elections.org.nz/enrolment/how-to-enrol/how-to-enrol-to-vote.html

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Dunedin’s DRAFT Spatial Plan

UPDATED POST – deadline for submissions extended by one month

DCC Draft Spatial Plan Information
Public consultation closes: 13/1/2012

Spatial plans are the latest local government (or did we say LGNZ) fad, are they worth it? If not regulatory, if merely another pie-in-the-sky vision with no proper grasp of long-term sustainable economic development, what’s the point?

Are they the ticket for further property speculation that serves to redistribute wealth to the rich? — most likely. So what’s changed?

Oh, (simplistic aside) we want “more students” – WRONG, we want more highly educated top-flight researchers capable of applying their research to business development in the southern region, to create high value exports.

The Draft Spatial Plan should be vigorously pulled apart but who has the time or energy; and do we want this ‘blood’ on our hands, taking community ownership of a carefully manipulated, staff-controlled council-owned planning document?

The timing of this document before major restructuring has swept through Dunedin City Council is unfortunate.

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27.10.11 DCC Media Release: Dunedin’s Future – It’s In Your Hands
The Draft Spatial Plan, ‘Dunedin Towards 2050 – a spatial plan for Dunedin’, will be considered by the Council next week before being offered to the public for comment.

Agenda – Council – 31/10/2011 (PDF, 42.9 KB)
Report – Council – 31/10/2011 (PDF, 11.2 MB) Spatial Plan

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### ODT Online Fri, 28 Oct 2011
30-year city plan released
By David Loughrey
A new planning document for Dunedin could bring about major changes to the face of the city, as planners look at ways to deal with an expected extra 7600 residential units needed by 2031. The city’s “spatial” plan, which Dunedin City Council staff have been working on for the past year, is expected to help deal with everything from an ageing population, rising oil prices, global warming and new medical and engineering business clusters.

Council chief executive Paul Orders said the spatial plan recommended a “distributed development” model for the city, with the majority of development occurring on land “already urban in nature”. As well as urban consolidation, “some careful expansion of out-lying townships is provided for”.

The council will run a series of public information sessions between November 10 and 17, before a submission period as part of consultation between November 2 and [January 13].

Mayor Dave Cull yesterday released the 114-page document, which will go before the council on Monday for approval.
Read more

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Key issues (via ODT)
• Future housing: 7600 residential units needed by 2031, ageing population needing smaller homes, more students.
• Infrastructure: Ensure efficient, cost-effective water and waste systems, community facilities and services.
• Natural hazards: Avoid development in areas subject to flooding or instability.
• Natural environment: Protect productive rural land and biodiversity.
• Global challenges: Future-proof against rising fuel prices, avoid developing in low-lying areas.
• Economy: Support successful business clusters in tertiary-medical precinct, and harbourside, and “creative” cluster south of Octagon.
• Heritage and character: Underused heritage buildings, need to be maintained.
• Centres: Support central city as attractive place to work, live and play, protect current hierarchy of centres.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DVML, DVL and DCHL annual reports

### ODT Online Fri, 28 Oct 2011
Lack of revenue puts stadium loss at $3.2m
By Chris Morris
Forsyth Barr Stadium chief executive David Davies says his feet are “firmly on the ground” after the company tasked with running the roofed venue recorded a $3.2 million loss in its first financial year. The result was confirmed in Dunedin Venues Management Ltd’s first annual report, for the year ending June 30, 2011, to be presented to councillors at the next full council meeting on Monday.

• The report covers the period the company was in start-up mode, before the stadium’s opening on August 5 this year, meaning DVML was accruing costs while unable to earn revenue.
• It did not include the four Rugby World Cup matches held at the stadium, which fell outside the reporting period but were expected to result in a further loss of $400,000 for DVML.
• The company’s annual report identified employee expenses as the main driver behind the loss, totalling $446,293 in 2010 but growing to just over $1.3 million in 2011, while directors fees rose from $66,760 last year to $88,000 this year.

Read more

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### ODT Online Fri, 28 Oct 2011
No statement of intent filed
By Chris Morris
Dunedin Venues Ltd – the company that owns the Forsyth Barr Stadium – breached the Local Government Act by not filing a statement of intent, it has been confirmed. The confirmation came in the Dunedin City Council-owned company’s first annual report, to be considered at the next full council meeting on Monday. The report acknowledged DVL’s directors failed to provide a statement of intent for the year beginning on July 1, 2010, or report the company’s performance against the statement.
Read more

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Meeting of Dunedin City Council on 31 October 2011 at 2pm
Council Chamber, Municipal Chambers

Agenda – Council – 31/10/2011 (PDF, 42.9 KB)

Report – Council – 31/10/2011 (PDF, 1.4 MB)
Annual Reports from Dunedin Venues Management Ltd and Dunedin Venues Ltd

Report – Council – 31/10/2011 (PDF, 2.1 MB)
Dunedin City Holdings Ltd Annual Report

DCC pagelink (other reports)

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC rates increases

### ODT Online Thu, 27 Oct 2011
11.9% rates rise threat spurs DCC action
By Chris Morris
Dunedin City Council budgets are again under the microscope, as staff seek to bridge a looming shortfall threatening to push up rates by 11.9% next year. The council’s senior management team has been holding a series of meetings with activity managers across the organisation this week, to scrutinise initial financial projections for the 2012-13 year.

Council finance and corporate support general manager Athol Stephens said the council had included a 7.4% draft rates increase for 2012-13 in this year’s annual plan projections, but the DCHL shortfall would in effect push that forecast up to 11.9%, if left unchecked.

Council chief executive Paul Orders also announced restructuring of the council’s executive management team earlier this month, aimed at streamlining the organisation and saving money.

Read more

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

2011 Voices of Poverty: Research into poverty in Dunedin

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Between July 2010 and April 2011, Presbyterian Support Otago (PSO) interviewed eleven families who were representative of their client base. The intent was to gather information on the changes the families either experienced or put in place to mitigate the effects of the increase in GST (1 October 2010, from 12.5% to 15%), rising prices and an uncertain economic environment as New Zealand moved out of its recession.

During the course of the interviews the government instituted the Future Focus policy direction and, allied to this, the Welfare Working Group reported on possible directions for consultation. Behind both of these initiatives was an expectation that all people of working age who are currently dependent on the government can, and will, be encouraged into paid employment.

Ensuring that families and individuals have sufficient income to meet their basic needs (food, clothing, warm housing and medical care) is a priority; whether those families and individuals are on a benefit or a wage.
Can We Do Better 2008

As in previous reports PSO noted that juggling income, debt, inadequate housing, health and transport difficulties and parenting responsibilities is how people below the poverty line live their lives.

The report concludes with recommendations for action by government, local bodies and the public sector. Has the landscape changed? For New Zealand – yes; we have been through a recession and survived. For the “voices of poverty” – no; for many, their landscape is as bleak as it ever was and for some the future doesn’t look great either.

• Has the Landscape Changed? 2011 (PDF, 7.17 MB)
• Can We Do Better 2008 (PDF, 1.52 MB)
• Old Cold and Costly 2004 (PDF, 2.98 MB)
• How Much is Enough : 2003 update (PDF, 137.16 KB)
• How Much Is Enough : 2002 research (PDF, 4.15 MB)

Source: https://otago.ps.org.nz/resources

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Dunedin Harbourside: DCC “caved”

Register to read D Scene online at
http://fairfaxmedia.newspaperdirect.com/

### D Scene 26-10-11
Industry changes mean plans change (page 3)
By Wilma McCorkindale
Dunedin City Council has caved on the controversial portions of its plan to develop the Dunedin waterfront. In a decision by council at a meeting on September 19 and announced today, a proportion of the divisive plan change 7 – which rezoned a large port-industrial block for harbourside amenity uses – will not now go ahead, effective immediately. The block will now revert to Industrial 1 or Port Zone 2 in the DCC district plan. Also included in the decision was the listing of [Harbourside] heritage buildings in the [district] plan’s Schedule 25.1 to remain.
{continues} #bookmark

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Dunedin City Council – Media Release
Extent of Harbourside Zone Reduced

This item was published on 26 Oct 2011

At its meeting on 19 September 2011 the Dunedin City Council made a decision to withdraw the northern part of the Harbourside Zone. The zone on the southern side of the Steamer Basin will be retained to enable the mixed use environment. The removal of the plan change on the northern side means that the Harbourside Zone no longer exists and the area reverts back to its industrial and port zoning.

Since the release of the Commissioners’ decision on Plan Change 7: Dunedin harbourside in February 2009, the Council has been involved in resolving appeals to the plan change. Part of the Harbourside Zone was withdrawn in April 2010 to enable negotiations on the appeals to continue.

While agreements were being reached on most appeals the Council considered that the strategic environment has substantially changed since the Harbourside vision was originally developed and the plan change notified. The Council is currently developing a holistic vision to provide for the strategic planning framework for the city and its future. Reducing the extent of the Harbourside Zone to that on the south side of the Steamer Basin is a more appropriate fit with the overall vision for the city at this stage.

Cr Colin Weatherall, as the Council’s appointed mediator, confirms a number of issues have advanced and changed in priority since the Council’s vision was first developed some 10 years ago. In the interim, particularly the last 2 years while intense mediation has continued, the clarity around industry needs has become focussed while industry has developed hi-tech skills that support a new style industrial/support base for employment in Dunedin.

“The needs of the city, balanced with parties to the process, has been foremost as we worked towards this position, adding the focus on Council’s spatial planning and thinking confirming the wider focus for Dunedin’ says Cr Weatherall. “In addition, the impact of the economic recession (world, national and local) has reduced the potential for development in the wider context which was an integral component of the original vision.”

Mayor Dave Cull has previously praised the goodwill of the mediation process and the Otago Chamber of Commerce for its leadership in protecting jobs in the city and the wider region that it felt were threatened by Council’s proposal. “The Chamber’s constructive contribution, and that of the co-appellants, was crucial to this successful outcome,” said Mayor Cull.

Meanwhile, Otago Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive, John Christie, said “The Chamber applauds the Council’s decision following the lengthy mediation process. The Chamber and co-appellant’s aim was to protect industry and employment for the city and region. The city has partnered with us to achieve these aims.”

█ Plan Change 7 – Harbourside

Contact Dave Cull, Mayor of Dunedin on 477 4000.

DCC weblink

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

#Occupy #OWS Good guy! US Marine Sgt Shamar Thomas

1 Marine vs. 30 Cops at Occupy Times Square

This is an amazing confrontation caught on camera at the Occupy Times Square protest recently in New York.

Angry at having seen his unarmed fellow citizens being abused by the police, US Marine Sgt Shamar Thomas gives the NYPD an ear full.

Sometimes the right person with the right words and motivation can make a difference. Watch this video and if you can appreciate the message and the passion with which it is conveyed, make sure his words are spread far and wide.

Please share Brasscheck TV e-mails and videos with friends and colleagues. That’s how we grow. Thanks.

Brasscheck TV
2380 California St
San Francisco, CA 94115
www.brasschecktv.com

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Sgt Shamar Thomas from Roosevelt (NY) is an activist in the Occupy Wall Street movement. Thomas is a 24-year-old Marine Veteran (two tours in Iraq), he currently plays amateur football and is in college. He comes from a long line of people who sacrifice for their country: Mother, Army Veteran (Iraq), Step father, Army, active duty (Afghanistan), Grand father, Air Force veteran (Vietnam), Great Grand Father Navy veteran (World War II).

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Former Standard Insurance building 201 Princes St, Dunedin

Building Owner: Exchange Renaissance Limited

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The Standard Fire and Marine Insurance Company of New Zealand Building was designed by architects Mason and Wales and put out to tender on 9 May 1874. The three-storeyed building, with a basement and slate roof, was completed in 1875. The insurance company remained at the building until 1884 when it moved to new offices in Lower High Street. A series of well-known businesses have been associated with the building in the century or more following.

Vacant since 1997, the Standard Building has been purchased by Ted Daniels and Wayne Marsh; they have also acquired the iconic former Bank of New Zealand building on the corner of Princes and Rattray Sts. Their planned redevelopment of the properties for commercial use includes conservation, restoration and adaptive reuse of the building fabric. Work is currently underway, the most visible of which is reinstatement of the historical facade of the Standard Building. Previously stripped, the original plaster detail and mouldings are being replicated, based on early photographs.

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Post and images by Elizabeth Kerr

Dunedin: “It’s All Right Here”

Facebook: Michelle Helliwell’s photos
Michelle Helliwell: Since this photo was taken, the DCC have broken and stolen our balls! (via Steve Mowat builder who contracts to them. Anyone who knows them, please advise them to return asap, as an official damage and theft complaint is underway. As members of the freeman society, our schedule of fees for damage of and removal of our property is quite expensive. Thanks.)
19 hours ago

Related Post:
21.9.11 Can it be true? Nahhh

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Design and innovation – challenge

### idealog.co.nz 19 October 2011 at 11:19 am
Design thinking: What’s it all about?
By Design Daily Team
What is design thinking, why is it so important and what impact will it have on the world? This two minute video offers a little insight.

Design & Thinking Official Documentary Trailer from Design&Thinking on Vimeo.

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### idealog.co.nz 19 October 2011 at 12:34 pm
Branson’s business challenge: Impress me and reap rewards
Sir Richard Branson has issued a challenge to New Zealand businesses: Prove you have the mettle to go global – and win a six-figure boost for your company. In conjunction with BNZ, Virgin and Air New Zealand have put together a prize package worth more than $100,000 for one company with the “right stuff” – including time with Branson himself, a $100,000 cash prize, a BNZ business education scholarship, mentoring from Virgin and BNZ execs, and access to Virgin meeting rooms worldwide. Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia will also give the winning business a travel package and flights to London, New York and Geneva.

To be considered, entrepreneurs must demonstrate “creativity and innovation with the potential to go global”, aspiring to reach $50 million turnover within five years.

Read more

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

INSANE, Dave! Occupy Dunedin STAYS in the Octagon.

DON’T MOVE. DON’T ACCEPT THE MARKET RESERVE. KEEP THE PROTEST CENTRAL AND HIGHLY VISIBLE . . . WHILE DUNEDIN CITY COUNCILLORS CONTINUE TO SELL OUR FUTURE DOWN THE TUBES.

### ODT Online Fri, 21 Oct 2011
Occupy protesters offered other site
By David Loughrey
Protesters in the Octagon have been offered an alternative site at the Market Reserve in Dunedin, a move Mayor Dave Cull said was designed to return the Octagon to all city residents. Mr Cull last night said council chief executive Paul Orders had organised a staff member to pass on the message to the group yesterday afternoon. The protesters had been invited to the council today to speak to Mr Orders, and give their response.
Read more

Images ©2011 Elizabeth Kerr

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Idealog: R&D and innovation

“Kids are missing out in New Zealand because there’s no connect between the education system and a vision for where we’re going to grow our economy.” -Sir Paul Callaghan

### idealog.co.nz 18 October 2011 at 3:36 pm
Let’s end the flip-flopping on R&D
By Sarah Robson
What do Rakon, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, Tait Electronics, Gallagher Group and Weta Digital have in common? Aside from being successful and enjoying a high profile in business, they’re also the benefactors of the government’s first round of technology development grants, announced late last year. (A second round was awarded in August, with recipients including accounting startup darling Xero.) National pulled no punches in scrapping the Labour government’s all-encompassing R&D tax credit in favour of a targeted, grant-based approach. It’s not a given – businesses have to apply for a slice of the funding pie along with every other man and his dog, and there are no guarantees. But it’s time for government to stop flip-flopping on the issue. Cuts to government spending aren’t going to lift New Zealand out of the economic doldrums. Investment in R&D just might.

Prominent scientist and New Zealander of the Year Sir Paul Callaghan believes New Zealand needs to diversify its economy if its goal is to expand GDP per capita, and start selling ‘brain content’. That means you’re selling products where the manufacturing costs aren’t the main costs of the products – it’s the R&D content.

Read more

Related Posts and Comments:
24.9.11 Idealog: Paul Callaghan’s business plan for New Zealand
21.9.11 John Montgomery: The Economy, Culture and Design of Cities
23.6.11 Kathryn Ryan interviews agribusiness pioneer George Harrison
22.5.11 Audacious idea: New Zealand X-Prize Environmental and Energy

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Octagon protest occupies minds!

Images ©2011 Elizabeth Kerr

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### ODT Online Wed, 19 Oct 2011
Opinion
Campers strike a common chord
By Simon Cunliffe
Brrrrr! Not great weather for camping. It’ll soon be a bog up there in the Octagon – where the good folk of the “Occupy Dunedin” movement have parked their tents. Can’t imagine they’ll want to stay long in this sort of weather but one or two of them seem determined to remain. There’s been a bit of a squabble over statutes governing occupation of the site. It’s been said a 19th-century bylaw allowing immigrants en route to the Central Otago goldfields to squat temporarily in the city centre is still in force. A neat irony that: it’s a gold rush of a different kind this mob have set up shop to condemn. Their focus is corporate greed, social inequality, free-market economics and environmental issues, much of which they would undoubtedly argue arises from the unfettered accumulation of the aforementioned “gold”. And, interestingly, it’s an echo that has been witnessed in large-scale demonstrations across the world.
Read more

• Simon Cunliffe is deputy editor (news) at the Otago Daily Times.

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### ODT Online Wed, 19 Oct 2011
Spirit of protest not dampened by rain
By John Lewis
Anti-capitalism protesters are yet to decide how long they intend to stay in the Octagon, but the Dunedin City Council is going out of its way not to put pressure on the group to respond to its request for a timeline.
Read more

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### ODT Online Wed, 19 Oct 2011
Opinion
Importance of sharing our common wealth forgotten
By Alison MacTavish
The Rugby World Cup has predictably given rise to plenty of discussions about whether rugby is our national religion, or about its importance to our national identity. Election proposals that run counter to the more fundamental values of being a New Zealander, however, have attracted far less discussion.

John Key and his Government have said they will take re-election as a mandate for selling our assets. With most New Zealanders reportedly against asset sales, but with the National Party odds on to form the next government, the danger is that a vote for the National Party will be a vote for asset sales. And, of course, the National Government prefers to focus on how we can divvy up the spoils, rather than discussing the fundamental social justice issue.

Read more

• Alison MacTavish lives near Moeraki.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Dunedin Prison Charitable Trust

The Dunedin Prison, situated in an architecturally and historically important heritage precinct in Anzac Square, was first occupied in 1898 and is possibly Australasia’s only extant Victorian courtyard prison.

The Dunedin Prison Charitable Trust is in the process of raising funds for a feasibility study for the building, which was decommissioned in August 2007, after operating as a prison for more than a century.

Charities Services | Dunedin Prison Charitable Trust
Registration No: CC46118
Search the Charities Register

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Dunedin Prison (Former)
Corner 2 Castle Street and State Highway 1; Dunbar Street, Dunedin
Registration Number: 4035
Historic Place – Category I

A Dunedin gaol has stood on this central city site since 1855. First occupied by immigration barracks, these were converted into temporary prison accommodation in 1855. The land was vested in the city as a site for a public gaol in June 1858. It was not until 1861 that new gaol buildings were readied. Additional buildings were added over the following years as need outstripped accommodation. With the appointment of Arthur Hume (1838-41?-1918) to the position of Inspector of Prisons in 1880, a centralised system of penal administration began. He instituted a programme of new prison building, designed to implement the ‘English system’ of penal reform.

Plans for the new Dunedin Prison were completed in 1892 by John Campbell (1857-1942), Government Architect. Modelled on New Scotland Yard, the prison was designed in a Queen Anne style including cupola domes, dormers, striped brick and Oamaru stone elevations, and fine detailing. The layout consisted of four blocks surrounding a central courtyard. Construction was delayed as the Dunedin community felt the central site could be better utilised. Work finally began, however, in 1895. The exterior was finished by April 1897 and on 16 June 1898 the prison was occupied.

Due to staffing shortages during World War One, police staff were relocated from their neighbouring barracks into the prison’s administration block. In 1959 the accommodation was converted into a women’s prison. In 1974, it became a male remand and short sentence prison and remained so until 2007 when it was vacated.

█ Source: Heritage New Zealand – List No. 4035

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

MAD Classics #26 – You’re a crook or a businessman?

Supplied (click to enlarge)

The benefits of being involved with the new stadium were behind [ORFU’s] desire to establish a formal relationship with the Highlanders and DVML. ODT 12.10.11

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

180 Rattray St, Dunedin — former P. Hayman & Co. Building (1872)

North Princes Street/Moray Place/Exchange Townscape Precinct (TH03)

Correction: The council received 12 submissions on the application.

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### ODT Online Tue, 11 Oct 2011
Demolition hearing delayed
By Chris Morris
A 19th-century central Dunedin commercial building has been granted a temporary reprieve from the wrecking ball, after an application to demolish it to make way for a car park was placed on hold. However, building owner Lincoln Darling said when contacted yesterday he planned to proceed with the application next year, and nothing had changed. Mr Darling had sought resource consent to demolish the former Furniture Court Building at 180 Rattray St and replace it with a rental car park until another development opportunity arose.

• “Obviously, you do look at submissions … if they [submitters] want to chat with me I’m quite happy to talk to them about their concerns.” -Lincoln Darling

• New Zealand Historic Places Trust Otago-Southland area manager Owen Graham, in his submission, argued the “deficient” application lacked a detailed heritage assessment.

• Mr Darling said he had contacted Mr Graham last week to arrange a meeting, but had no views on his submission as “I haven’t even read it”.

Read more

Related Post, Comments and Recent Correspondence:
25.8.11 180 Rattray St, Dunedin: Proposed historic building demolition…

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Lincoln Darling and friends might like to attend the DCC Workshop for heritage building owners on Wednesday, 23 November.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Facebook: Upright! Supporting Dunedin’s Built Heritage

Local heritage advocates have recently created ‘Upright! Supporting Dunedin’s Built Heritage’ at Facebook.

We want to see Dunedin’s built heritage remain upright, and for it to be kept up the right way: sensitively, sustainably and safely.

This page is here for us all — to share our opinions, knowledge, perspectives and love of this city. We can all benefit from the sharing of information and through this, develop a greater appreciation for our surrounds, and explore the potential for their enhancement.

Dunedin’s strong commercial and industrial past as the first city of Aotearoa New Zealand shapes our streets, skylines and even our psyches. It’s not solely the grand commercial buildings of the Exchange area, the awe-inspiring cathedrals and the stately houses perched on the hills that are significant, but also the lesser-noticed buildings that are equally worthy of recognition and preservation. To lose these to neglect, demolition or insensitive redevelopment is an affront to both our past, and our future.

Upright! Supporting Dunedin’s Built Heritage
See interesting Notes, Photos, and comments at the Wall.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Oh god. ODT asks a simpering question. #whoknew

Dunedin’s Rugby World Cup games are over, so what’s next for the city’s controversial stadium? Kim Dungey talks to the man at the helm.

### ODT Online Sun, 9 Oct 2011
Magazine
Cup over – what’s next for stadium?
By Kim Dungey
A roof gives the Forsyth Barr Stadium a “five-year advantage on the competition” but managers need to use that time to continually improve the customer experience, says Dunedin Venues chairman Sir John Hansen.

Using any advances in technology will be a key part of maintaining a competitive edge and particularly appeal to young people, an important part of the stadium’s future. As a first step, the council-owned company will soon install up to 200 screens throughout the venue, including along the concourses, on which it can run information, advertising and competitions.

Sir John would not comment on the stadium hosting Rugby World Cup games rent-free, saying the contract was signed before his company was formed but prudent cost control meant staff almost halved the expected $400,000 loss.

Read more

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MikeStk asks, “Is he suitable?” ODT Online
Dunno, Mike. Here’s a rundown. He’s well known to John Farry, if that counts.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Diesoline – supreme winner of the inaugural Dunedin Heritage Re-use Awards

This Dunedin heritage building was almost ‘Man Alone’, as others of its ilk fell to the sword. Now, thanks to its renovation, it’s good to go for some years yet.

Images: Graham Warman

### architecturenow.co.nz Posted 8 Sep 2011
Source: Interior – Sep 2011 (issue: 1)
Sympathetic renovation of Dunedin heritage building
By Michael Barrett
Dunedinites Luke Johnston and Tania Vorrath didn’t let inexperience in the field of heritage building upgrades deter them from taking on this project. The building in question, a late 1800s double-storey brick building, was looking a like a sole survivor in its neighbourhood, 50m back from the Octagon, that was giving way to carparks and modern mid-rise buildings. As an explanation for the building’s survival, Johnston explains that the “building’s significance is in its relative insignificance — it has remained defiantly original”.

Johnston’s idea was to turn this once-unloved building into a contemporary space with character aspects that the public could enjoy. Central Melbourne, with its lanes and lively spaces, was a reference point. The development brief was to revitalise the interior and exterior, providing accommodation for mixed modern uses — Vorrath’s Diesoline Espresso at street level and the boutique office spaces of Johnston’s advertising agency, BrandAid, above.
Read more + Images

Diesoline Espresso, 7 Bath Street, Dunedin
ODT Online 11.3.11 Heritage building use celebrated

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Workshop for heritage building owners – 23 November

### ODT Online Sat, 8 Oct 2011
Heritage building workshop planned
By David Loughrey
Communication between Dunedin building owners and the city council is strengthening, as the council works to help owners find ways to re-use the city’s stock of heritage buildings.

The council’s second annual one-day workshop for heritage building owners will be held on November 23. The theme this year is “After Christchurch: What to know about owning an older building”, with the free workshop targeting owners of non-residential buildings.

The first workshop, an initiative of the council’s heritage buildings economic re-use steering group, attracted more than 80 people last November, with numbers bolstered by concerns following the first major Christchurch earthquake. Council heritage policy planner Glen Hazelton said strong interest was expected again.
Read more

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7.10.11 DCC Media Release

To register or for more information contact Glen Hazelton 477 4000 or ghazelto@dcc.govt.nz

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Workshop Highlights
• Speakers include Jason Ingham, from the University of Auckland and co-author of a report for the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission entitled ‘The Performance of Unreinforced Masonry Buildings (URM) in the 2010/2011 Canterbury Earthquake Swarm’, Alan Race (Crombie Lockwood) on insurance matters, and Lou Robinson (Hadley Robinson) on earthquake strengthening.

• The New Zealand Historic Places Trust and Dunedin City Council will provide presentations, with the DCC outlining its new Earthquake-prone Buildings Policy and the range of incentives available to heritage building owners to assist earthquake strengthening.

• Steve Macknight of Steve Macknight Strengthening and Design and Lawrie Forbes of Zeal Steel, will conduct site visits to earthquake strengthening projects.

Workshop for Heritage Building Owners Information Flyer (PDF, 219.6 KB)

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Milwaukee regeneration project: The Brewery

### switchboard.nrdc.org Posted September 22, 2011
A spectacular green neighbourhood is brewing in Milwaukee
By Kaid Benfield (Blog)
Milwaukee’s newest trendy neighbourhood is likely to become one of its best, and almost certainly its greenest. The Brewery, an environmentally sensitive restoration and adaptation of historic structures among the decaying wreckage of the former Pabst Brewing Company, is already home to striking residential lofts, a great beer hall, a range of offices, Cardinal Stritch University City Centre, and a small urban park. Soon it will add a senior living facility and the School of Public Health of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Look for more residential and commercial presence, including a boutique hotel, retail and restaurants, over time.

The Brewery, when built out (courtesy of The Brewery)

The seven-block, 20-acre project [plans] involved the restoration and adaptive reuse of an amazing 26 structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places, surely making it one of the most ambitious historic preservation projects in the country. It also involved extensive brownfield cleanup; had a great location within walking distance of Milwaukee’s downtown; planned aggressive use of green infrastructure to manage stormwater; planned to set aside some apartments for qualifying low-income families; and included standards for high-performing green buildings.

The site before construction (image by Jeramey Jannene)

The Brewery was also strongly supported by the city government in what has been the largest public-private partnership in Milwaukee’s history. When the site is fully built out, it is expected to include at least 300 homes and some 1.3 million square feet of office and retail property.
Read more

-Kaid Benfield writes (almost) daily about community, development, and the environment.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Thinking differently

### bbc.co.uk 6 October 2011 Last updated at 23:07 GMT
The cult of Steve Jobs
By Kate Dailey BBC News Magazine

Steve Jobs’s combination of success and secrecy endeared him to people across the world, who mourned his death in public. Even before Steve Jobs passed away, his cult of personality loomed large over Apple. When it was announced that he’d be stepping down, analysts worried that the company would flounder without him. But his death crystallised both his status as a cult figure and his legacy to a company in transition. Within minutes of his passing, Twitter was overcome with hashtags and posts in memoriam. On Facebook, people posted and reposted a series of photos, quotes, and videos about Jobs, creating a digital echo chamber. People flocked to Apple stores across the globe to leave flowers. Groups used the candle apps on their iPads to create a vigil.
Read more

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Idealog’s tidy summary (via Daily Bacon 7.10.11)
Steve Jobs: “Technology Alone Is Not Enough” (The New Yorker 7.10.11)

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

You are here: Mapping Auckland — Auckland Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira

Maps capture fleeting moments in history. They reveal the knowledge, perspectives and plans of particular groups of people at specific moments in time.

You Are Here shows Auckland as a city that has been planned, designed and drawn many times over. See maps from the rich, vast collection in Auckland Museum’s library.

What did Auckland look like on paper 70 or even 170 years ago? How did early Aucklanders depict the space around them? And what stories do these maps have to tell?

Created by Auckland Museum, The University of Auckland and Unitec.

Now open | Auckland Museum
Pictorial Gallery (2nd floor)
Open daily, 10am – 5pm
FREE entry

Maps have real impact on the shape of the land. This short film plays in Auckland Museum’s You Are Here exhibition and shows how they reconfigured Auckland City’s waterfront — most dramatically at Freemans Bay. Film made by Lakshman Anandanayagam (www.linechecker.tv)
Concept researched by Solomon Mortimer.

http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/1632/*you-are-here—mapping-auckland

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

BLAME Dunedin City Council

… for overreaching its role in liquor licensing by allowing a staff officer to give unsolicited ‘business advice’…

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### ODT Online Wed, 5 Oct 2011
‘Don’t blame us for shop closure threat’: DCC
By Eileen Goodwin
Some people are wrongly blaming the Dunedin City Council for the “frustrating” potential threat of closure of the Macandrew Bay Store, DCC liquor licensing and projects officer Kevin Mechen says. The council had received several highly critical emails and letters since the store’s plight was highlighted by the Otago Peninsula Community Board last week. The store’s liquor licence has been referred to the Liquor Licensing Authority, because of a crackdown on dairies having liquor licences, which makes it doubtful the store will be eligible for renewal.
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### ODT Online Thu, 29 Sep 2011
Fears for Macandrew Bay store
By Eileen Goodwin
Macandrew Bay Store’s liquor licence may not be renewed, sparking concern the community could lose the store. The dairy appeared unlikely to get its licence renewed because of a clamp-down on dairies having liquor licences, Dunedin City Council liquor licensing and projects officer Kevin Mechen said when contacted.
Read more

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Training, jobs, city regeneration

Register to read D Scene online at
http://fairfaxmedia.newspaperdirect.com/

### D Scene 5-10-11
Celebrating restoration
By Owen Graham
The Larnach Tomb restoration project, like others, needed the specialist skills of a stonemason and stained glass artist to ensure a high standard of preservation. The quality of work is there for all to see and, in a city with as much heritage as Dunedin, is a reminder that there ought to be many more opportunities for skilled trades and crafts people, and for these skills to be nurtured and passed on. There is work waiting to be done in heritage restoration projects. {continues} #bookmark

• Owen Graham is the New Zealand Historic Places Trust area manager Otago/Southland

Related Post: 17.9.11 Larnach Tomb restoration

Historic Cemeteries Conservation Trust of New Zealand Photos* + More

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr