Updated 22.8.13 at3:25 pm
Dunedin City Council Media Release
Local Body Nominations CloseThis item was published on 16 Aug 2013.
Some local body candidates have been elected unopposed following the close of nominations. Current Dunedin City Councillor Andrew Noone has been re-elected unopposed to represent the Waikouaiti Coast-Chalmers Ward. Three community boards – Mosgiel Taieri, Strath Taieri and Waikouaiti Coast – have also been elected.
Read moreMore information is available at www.dunedin.govt.nz/elections.
CANDIDATE PROFILES are now available, follow the links here or go to the DCC website (Link).
Mayor (1 vacancy)
1. Calvert, Hilary
2. Cull, Dave – Greater Dunedin ● Supports propping DVML
3. Dwyer, Kevin
4. George, Pete – Your Dunedin
5. Hawkins, Aaron – Green Dunedin
6. Lequeux, Olivier
7. McGregor, Steve
8. Vandervis, Lee – Independent
9. Whiley, Andrew – Independent
Central Ward (11 vacancies)
1. Benson-Pope, David – Independent ● Tired former councillor
2. Bezett, John – Independent ● Stadium Councillor
3. Calvert, Hilary
4. Cole, Phillip – Independent
5. Copeman, Ali – Greater Dunedin ● Otago Chamber of Commerce director
6. Crawford, Julian Lloyd – Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party
7. Cull, Dave – Greater Dunedin ● Supports propping DVML
8. Dixon, Malcolm – Independent
9. Dwyer, Kevin
10. Elder, Rachel – Independent ● Supports ORFU and stadium, dubious
11. Evans, John P.
12. Garey, Christine
13. George, Pete – Your Dunedin ● Supports propping rugby
14. Hall, Doug – Independent
15. Harrison, Lindsay – Independent
16. Harwood, Nigel – Independent
17. Hawkins, Aaron – Green Dunedin
18. Hernandez, Francisco (Fran) – Independent
19. Hudson, Paul Richard – Independent ● Stadium Councillor / ex DCHL
20. Lequeux, Olivier
21. Loo, Tat – Independent
22. MacTavish, Jinty – Greater Dunedin ● Supports propping DVML
23. Mitchell, Kim
24. Mosley, Irene – Greater Dunedin
25. Neill, Kevin – Independent
26. Nicholas, Letisha – Greater Dunedin
27. Peat, Neville – Independent
28. Ross, Tom
29. Staynes, Chris – Greater Dunedin ● Supports propping DVML
30. Stedman, Conrad ● Metro Realty, pumps city real estate… few values
31. Stevenson, Teresa – Independent ● Tired councillor (first elected 1992)
32. Thomson, Richard – Greater Dunedin ● Supports propping DVML
33. Vandervis, Lee – Independent
34. Voight, Warren – Independent
35. Whiley, Andrew – Independent
Mosgiel Taieri Ward (2 vacancies)
1. Dillon, Martin
2. Lord, Mike – Greater Dunedin
3. Wilson, Kate – Greater Dunedin ● Supports propping DVML
Waikouaiti Coast – Chalmers Ward (1 vacancy)
1. Noone, Andrew – Independent ELECTED ● Stadium Councillor (first elected 1998)
Chalmers Community Board (6 vacancies)
1. Aitken, Mel
2. Austin, Jack – Independent
3. Cole, Peter – Independent
4. Dwyer, Kevin
5. Eddy, Duncan – Independent
6. Griffin, Francisca
7. Johnson, Trevor Alan
8. McErlane, Ange
9. Pedofski, Raewynne
10. Taylor, Jason – Green Dunedin
11. Walker, Steve ● Loves cycling too much?
12. Walker, Rachael
Otago Peninsula Community Board (6 vacancies)
1. Cameron, Wayne
2. Garey, Christine
3. Kellas, Lox
4. Langsbury, Hoani
5. Neill, Christine
6. Pope, Paul – Independent
7. Stevenson, Edna – Independent
Mosgiel Taieri Community Board (6 vacancies)
1. Catlow, Blackie – Independent ELECTED
2. Dillon, Martin ELECTED
3. Feather, Bill ELECTED
4. Nitis, Sarah – Independent ELECTED
5. Prendergast, Maurice Daniel – Independent ELECTED
6. Willis, Mark – Independent ELECTED
Saddle Hill Community Board (6 vacancies)
1. Hutchings, Jayin
2. Jemmett, Pamela
3. McFadyen, Keith
4. Moyle, John – Independent
5. Stenhouse, Leanne
6. Usher, Jonathan
7. Weatherall, Scott – Independent
Strath Taieri Community Board (6 vacancies)
1. Anderson, Russell – Independent ELECTED
2. Dowling, Bevan Thomas ELECTED
3. Dunn, Karen ELECTED
4. Matthews, Noel ELECTED
5. Williams, Barry – Independent ELECTED
6. Wilson, Joan ELECTED
Waikouaiti Coast Community Board (6 vacancies)
1. Brown, Mark ELECTED
2. Collings, Gerard ELECTED
3. Morrison, Alasdair ELECTED
4. Russell, Richard ELECTED
5. Scurr, Tracey ELECTED
6. Tait, Geraldine ELECTED
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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr
What if? Dunedin... 
Thanks for doing that as it’s all helpful to democracy; the best of a worsening situation but far far better than the type of anarchy which the Octagon tent dwellers represented. Look at Egypt when the army decides to clean it all out?
Should ‘Stadium councillors’ now also include most of Greater Dunedin – or all of them – if they now want to throw more public money into propping the stadium up, ad infinitum, without any agreed to cost/benefit analysis during the next term?
Peter – I debated that but didn’t have time to research.
If people want to provide names of GD councillors who voted for attraction funds and other funds propping up stadium operations (DVML) please give me names and I will update the post.
Plus I have something to say about Stevenson and Benson-Pope.
### ODT Online August 16, 2013 – 6:52pm
Nominations close for local body elections
The stage is set and the contenders are ready to go for October’s local body elections. Nominations closed at midday for the men and women who want a say on the DCC, ORC and Southern District Health Boards. Plenty of change is certain for the city council, at least, and voters will have more information to consider when they post their votes.
Video
Updated post – showing candidates elected unopposed.
### ODT Online Sat, 17 Aug 2013
Race for public office begins
The race for public office is officially under way after nominations for local body elections closed yesterday. But the midday nominations deadline did not pass without the traditional last-minute rush, swelling the number of candidates standing for councils, community boards and health boards across the South.
One certainty this year is the influx of new blood around the Dunedin City Council table, as long-serving incumbent councillors Syd Brown, Neil Collins, Colin Weatherall, Bill Acklin and Fliss Butcher have opted to stand down.
Read more
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They plan to sell papers…
### ODT Online Sat, 17 Aug 2013
‘ODT’ informing you, the voter
There is much at stake in this year’s local body elections. The Stand Up Otago series has highlighted some serious issues, and shows people in the South are clearly looking for direction and leadership. Voters need to think carefully about the type of leadership their councils need now, and in the years ahead, if the region is to thrive economically, socially, culturally and environmentally.
Today, we publish the full list of nominations for the 2013 local body elections. It is every adult’s democratic right in this country to vote (just as it is their democratic privilege not to).
Read more
Lox –
just tired surely?
Thank you for the headsup about Greater Dunedin and how they support further throwing of funds at the stadium. I think we need to hear from those who have not shared their views on this; if they prevaricate and say nothing on this topic, we know we have another ‘lets make it work’ devotee.
Cr MacTavish has indicated on her facebook site that she is fine and dandy with funds for the Fifa thing going ahead. So she is certainly a ‘lets throw funds at the stadium’ to make it work brigade. Not getting my vote.
Amanda; with thirtyfour hats in the ring for Dunedin Central it can be nothing but a ‘bun fight’. I suspect it will be all too confusing and we can expect a record turn out of voters. Shame really.
Calvin, not sure voters will flock to the polls (by mail or in person), this is Dunedin we’re talking about!
Elizabeth, sorry I messed up. What I meant to say was I believed it would all be a big turnoff of voters. and a very low turnout because of it.
Ah, that makes better sense Calvin – floored there for a second.
Interesting timing for this, another Liability Cull pre-election banner!
(with candidate Neville Peat having worked voluntarily for the DCC Harbour Cone/Hereweka Steering Group).
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### ODT Online Mon, 19 Aug 2013
Council to discuss Harbour Cone trust
By Rosie Manins
Harbour Cone management is likely to be transferred from the Dunedin City Council to a community trust. The council will decide at its meeting today whether to adopt a management proposal recommended by its staff. It was proposed a community charitable trust or management board be established to govern the land according to the objectives of the Hereweka-Harbour Cone management plan, which the council adopted last March.
Read more
As Calvin mentions at another thread: Cull’s speech to graduates. Now, it’s the University of Otago giving Liability Cull another election plank. Feel all that wellbeing, people! [How to capture student and staff votes.]
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### ODT Online Mon, 19 Aug 2013
Graduates urged to take place as leaders
By John Gibb
Planet Earth and its inhabitants are facing a ”perfect storm” of extreme climatic and environmental challenges and the future will have ”no precedent in the past”, Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull has warned. The pace of change was now so great that University of Otago graduates should not wait to become what was ”sometimes patronisingly” termed ”the leaders of tomorrow”, but should start leading now. That was Mr Cull’s message in an address to about 350 graduates, in a wide range of disciplines, during the university’s latest graduation ceremony, at the Dunedin Town Hall at 3pm on Saturday.
Mr Cull said that over the past few years he had ”learned more from younger people than older”. And, including while hearing submissions on various plans and strategies, he had been ”incredibly impressed by the commitment, intelligence, passion and values of so many of the young people”, particularly those in the city’s tertiary education sector. ”That’s not undervaluing the wisdom of age, just appreciating the vibrant pertinence of so many younger voices and minds.” And he also noted the ”mental sclerosis and settled habits that so often accompany age”.
Read more
### ch9.co.nz August 19, 2013 – 6:54pm
Harbour Cone decision sparks angry debate
Election fever may be behind raised temperatures at the DCC, where a decision to approve a board to run the Harbour Cone property sparked angry debate. The proposal went through, but not before some testy exchanges.
Video
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Tabled at Council today:
Report – Council – 19/08/2013 (PDF, 131.0 KB)
Hereweka/Harbour Cone Management Plan
So, we know where we stand.
I support giving the stadium to the University such that the strong well funded non rate paying entity can organise the stadium for its various potential purposes, perhaps to utilise as a Physical Education venue, classrooms etc could be integrated into the design and the facility could also be still used for the small number of entertainment events and sports matches which take place. Administration and marketing would be undertaken by the University in conjunction with well connected directors understanding entertainment and sports events. We have the stadium, but the DCC (or more importantly we the ratepayers) cannot afford to run it.
DMVL to be disbanded. Property renting should be undertaken by DCC Property (what else should DCC Property do?)
Some consideration should be given to discussing the role of the funding banks in the Stadium fiasco, the ANZ purchased Homebush stadium prior to the Dunedin development for $A10 million.
Any bank therefore loaning huge monies for a Stadium in a city of 120,000 is surely either
A. Insane
B. Relying on the DCC backed investment and therefore morally culpable
C. Failing in its fiduciary duty to its shareholders
Regards
John P. Evans
Council nominee
PS I have acted as a contractor for the DCC
I have been employed by the DCC (for three months)
I have leased property from the DCC
Thanks John. We hear the University is considering whether or not to borrow to fund capital building projects (eg Dental School), and has yet to make a decision.
Mr Cull said that over the past few years he had “learned more from younger people than older”. It must have been from pre-schoolers, if his actions during his time in council are anything to go by. He says we are facing a “perfect storm”, a hackneyed phrase (as if there was such a thing) overdone by these alarmist people. He says young people “should start leading now”. Those that can will, those that can’t won’t, it has nothing to do with what he says. He goes on to say, “That’s not undervaluing the wisdom of age, just appreciating the vibrant pertinence of so many younger voices and minds.” That is what is known as “having ‘ten bob’ each way. He also noted the “mental sclerosis and settled habits that so often accompany age”. Mental sclerosis is not necessarily an age related condition as he himself so ably demonstrates, it simply tells me that he should have stopped while he was ahead.
I couldn’t have put it better myself Calvin
Robo
You know why he’s learned more from younger people than older? Because he shrinks from “relitigating the past”, so he cannot learn from those who cocked it up first. Much more comfortable + inspirational listening to young’uns who haven’t had the shine scratched off their bright ideas by the rough reality of unintended consequences.
Looks like this was a Baldrick-cunning attempt to avoid revealing ageist attitudes, referring to the ”mental sclerosis and settled habits that so often accompany age”. Having been young and various ages since I can attest to the development of mental sclerosis and settled habits among people of all ages, even schoolkids who strongly rejected anything like a challenge to their beliefs and the “right way” to do things. By School Certificate year there was strong resistance to learning anything that wasn’t going to be in the exam, and then there were the ones who weren’t sitting SC because “what’s the point because you don’t need it to work on the farm / be married with children?” This group dwindled throughout the year, as birthdays came around. On the other hand some of the most inspiring people I’ve known were older people who had background knowledge and experience as well as freshness of attitude and chronically enquiring minds.
So Mayor Cull tells the students but we know that he knows that this was a piece of electioneering …meant for our eyes and ears.
‘Planet Earth and its inhabitants are facing a “perfect storm” of extreme climatic and environmental challenges and the future will have “no precedent in the past”,’
What a vacuous and meaningless cliché ridden statement to make …akin to saying that the sky is falling in. In any event what can he do about that?
If he is looking for ‘perfect storms’ he should be looking at the one closer to his doorstep like perhaps the crippling debt that he has allowed the city to accumulate and incur during his watch?’ I.e. the one that he has some responsibility for. But no, he prefers to use to the Canute one. I.e. the one he has no influence over and ipso facto no responsibility for.
Then he says
‘The pace of change was now so great that University of Otago graduates should not wait to become what was “sometimes patronisingly” termed “the leaders of tomorrow”, but should start leading now.’
I would ask him ‘why are you running for mayor then, why not move over now to let these people lead now, what are you waiting for?
Then he says
‘over the past few years he had “learned more from younger people than older”
I would thereby conclude that he has learned nothing at all. He should indeed move over …now.
Finally, how to win friends and influence people he puts his foot right in his mouth with this howler… “mental sclerosis and settled habits that so often accompany age”.
Erm. Didn’t anyone tell the Mayor that these people the ones he denigrates so effortlessly are more or less the only people who vote in elections. Foot in Mouth Disease.
Time to be ‘culled’ Mr. Mayor. Now.
Robo
“I’ve learnt more from the young than old.”
The young will have learnt far more from Dave Cull (the old).
How to indebt the young.
How to fall into line with the “old boys network” (ORFU).
How to say anything that gains a vote and big salary for the next 3 years.
From Cull, Acklin, Collins and Chin, step 1, become visible. On TV is best but populist radio is good, and being an entertainer not only on stage but at various clubs is good too, especially if you mingle with people afterwards and impress upon them what a nice person, “no airs and graces, just like one of us”.
Step 2, get into the public eye as someone involved in community causes, or commenting on the indignation of the day without actually saying anything too definite – express concerns about this very concerning matter and say how you are sure that with goodwill and cooperation the right path will be chosen, etc blah, blah, dollar-each-way-blah.
Step 3, Rely on name recognition among a long list of candidates who haven’t done their 3-steps high profiling.
Step 4, You have now been elected, because there are enough people who still have the drive to vote but can’t recall on the day which unknown names belong to the best of the unknown candidates they’d read about or heard in meetings where there were several candidates strutting their stuff.
And [Step 5] don’t bad mouth ORFU if you don’t want to be sued – although, yep Cull got that wrong. He should’ve defended the suit taken against him and had the ORFU’s books laid open insodoing. He’s not very bright when stuck to the wall.
(update) Informal Poll at Channel 39:
Are you happy with the direction taken by our city leaders, or would you like to see changes at the Dunedin City Council?
Happy with direction. 32%
Would like to see changes. 68%
Total votes: 38
These kind of graduation speeches, I imagine, are forgettable for most. They have heard a lot of the same kind of stuff at school assemblies and at speech nights with invited ‘ra ra ra’ speakers or the school principal.
It’s hard to say anything new unless the speaker sets out to say something somewhat subversive rather than the usual ‘reach for the stars’ stuff.
Getting down and bopping with the kids is kind of painful for anyone.
Peter, the very learned ‘stellar’ top-of-their academic and professional business fields (and yes we do attract them to Dunedin) that do graduation speeches tend to be archly provocative and worth listening to, home truths and harsh realities, plus encouragement to QUESTION and be good citizens and mentors. They’re generally not superficial, uncouth or tired enough to run down the merits of their fellow beings over 25 years of age.
Correct me if I am wrong, but is this not the first graduation speech of his Mayoralty? Oh! silly me it is an election year.
Calvin, hopefully his last.
“NOT EVERYTHING THAT COUNCIL SPENDS MONEY ON IS EXPECTED TO BE PROFITABLE.” A quote from that great ‘sage’ Chris Staynes, deputy mayor no less. This will go down as the quote of the century (to date) by one of the most invisible public people ever to sit at the DCC council table. It should be emblazoned on the council chamber walls in stylized semaphore flags, much like the great Lord Nelson’s “England expects everyman to do his duty” call to arms.
Calvin means this:
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/269477/harbour-cone-rumblings
First thing I read online this morning; followed by The Wash in the tree version, wherein Darren Burden says the PA system at the stadium will cost hundreds of thousands to fix. Like that is news. So if Dave and Chris get re-elected anticipate that spend, at ratepayers’ pleasure.
Elizabeth, won’t the changes to what councils are allowed to do impact on the conditioned reflex of Cull & Co to chuck money at the stadium to, as he said before the last election, “make it work”?
Hype, not sure Cull & Co have any understanding of the legislation at all. The National-led government still considers stadiums core infrastructure, if we believe Key’s recent list of government funds given to Otago [$15M grant to stadium, with conditions].
ODT Editorial
http://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/editorial/269457/local-democracy
See also Colin James’ opinion piece today on the RMA, ‘Communities losing local sovereignty’.
You can read it online at http://www.colinjames.co.nz/ODT/ODT_2013/ODT_13Aug20.htm
See new post, the problem……………
“NOT EVERYTHING THAT COUNCIL SPENDS MONEY ON IS EXPECTED TO BE PROFITABLE.”
Fair enough as far as it goes. I suggest adding “BUT IT MUST ADD OR MAINTAIN VALUE”. This would rule out the lossy frills while including timely upgrading and extension where needed of drains, sewerage, roads etc.
Hype: I have been intrigued (just a little) by your photo motiff. At first I thought that you had grown a moustache since I last saw you, but then I realised it is ‘Groucho Marx.’ How droll.
Like Groucho, I see no point in growing, grooming and fertilizing a moustache when a stick of greasepaint makes such a low-maintenance
version – along with the option of mingling “incognito” among the movers and shaken of society in search of elusive truths (and scurrilous rumours).
Do you actually fertilize a moustache? Well, I never! Do you think perhaps one would enhance Dave Cull? He could automatically fertilize his, simply by cupping his lower lip as he speaks.
Thinking further about moustaches. Dave Cull should seriously consider it. It would provide him with a certain amount of ‘gravitas’, to offset the ‘bovver boy’ haircut. Besides, I have heard that moustaches attract some females. That could explain why Richard Thomson wanders around with the remains of a ‘dead cat’ on his lip. Then there is the rather sartorial understatement of Chris Staynes’ dapper little number. It could become a subtle icon of the Greater Dunedin members. A bit like the ‘Masons’ handshakes. Not sure about Jinty and Kate though, do ladies have moustaches? Is there any connection between the term and mice? So many questions.
Zapata, Manchu, Hitler or Handlebar? Calvin, you are the fashionista…..even if you are on the wrong side of 25.
Staynes is a quiet little bunny isn’t he? Good quote to get a feel for what he thinks. An explanation for why he won’t ever push for stadium debt accountability. He just shrugs and tells himself ‘stuff happens’. He is greater Dunedin, so this we have come to expect. He is taking a page out of Hudson’s book. Keep nice and quiet. Hope the punters don’t notice and vote you back in.
### ch9.co.nz August 21, 2013 – 6:47pm
Your word on the direction taken by our city leaders
Local body elections are just around the corner with nominations for the Dunedin City Council recently closed. There are eight candidates competing for the mayoralty and 34 for seats on the council. It’s been a challenging time for the DCC, with calls to tighten the organisation’s belt on new spending and make increasing budget cuts.
Video
Interesting comment by the last person interviewed. She said she’d use the stadium, and recognises that the money to build it has already been spent, BUT she wanted some accountability for those responsible for foisting the stadium on us so dishonestly (to put it mildly). Fraudulently?
She knows… like we all know… that if this does not happen the same kind of thing will happen all over again by the same people. They will become emboldened. Corruption will grow and we will all be the poorer. We will slide into some Third World kind of society where corruption becomes so endemic that it is even harder to stop.
How long could it take before we have to bribe officials in order to survive?
Peter, I actually think the proposed hotel project is a slide to bribes, just as Cull’s refusing to defend the defamation suit taken against him by the rugby thugs has never been fully explained – or indeed what has gone down for Carisbrook, the Fubar, SH88, Taieri subdivisions and destination hubs, etc etc. The corrupt mindset and the fraudulent will are with us already, the public just doesn’t know the half of it. We have larger council consolidated debt than Kaipara by a magnificent degree ($60m at KDC compared to +$650m at DCC) – the majority of our ratepayers are still as gullible and unknowing as all hell, and as yet no-one is anywhere near the courts under oath. Dunedin pretty much deserves to totally collapse or be “saved” by little greenies in their political infancy, with Cull as their greasy pimp.
I think that ‘survey’ of Channel 39 was indicative of where the citizens are at. They really have no idea of the city’s condition, and indeed why should they? Not one in a thousand knows more than what they hear and read in the local media. This, by its very nature can only be a very cursory glimpse at any issues, even allowing for biases built in.
How many turn up to council meetings, or seek out a copy of the Annual Plans and enclosed budgets? How many would have sighted an annual report of DCHL? I would suggest not one in ten or twenty thousand. And if they did would they be any the wiser? It is all designed to obfuscate and mislead, even ‘nutters’ like me, after studying twelve consecutive annual plans and numerous DCHL reports am constantly bemused by the ‘flannel’ and contradictory language and detail (or lack of) in it all.
This all pretty much goes without saying that the elected ‘muppets’ have no more idea either. In fact collectively, I doubt that there is a single person within and without the building who knows the full true picture. We only have to look at the stadium project to see how so many devious people tried so many devious tricks to prosecute the project that we end up with something that was to cost “not a cent over $188m” being now seen as “reaching over $260m” without a person in the loop (including ‘prime instigators’ Farry, Harland and Chin) seemingly being aware.
It is simply preposterous to expect the common people to make any informed decisions when it comes to voting for council. Even the candidates would be, by and large ignorant of what they are taking on. But I guess that’s democracy.
Calvin, re “Not one in a thousand knows more than what they hear and read in the local media.”
If you watched Back Benches tonight you’ll be feeling more morose than usual. One topic was newspapers, how many people read them, buy them, where do they get their news from. The daily newspaper seems to be on the dwindle. So. “news” comes from stuff.co, the occasional paper in a cafe, maybe TV and radio (though they didn’t ask about those). It’s not unreasonable to assume that Dunedin people of roughly the same kind as the audience at Back Benches are similar regarding regular news consumption, so the majority of sources accessed don’t touch on Dunedin issues. And for those who still subscribe to a regular newspaper, well Calvin, we have the ODT!
For people to read the newspaper more there has to be something to look forward to reading. Gardening, Travel or Entertainment features, and the like, are fine, but a newspaper needs to have meat.
For example, I was interested to see how ‘The Wash’ yesterday dealt with my ‘challenge’, to them, to challenge the ORFU to pay for the sound system improvements. I appreciated Dave Cannan doing something on this, at least, but the approach he took watered the issue down. I had reminded him in my emails that the ORFU has paid nothing for their contibution to the $260m plus stadium. This was not mentioned. Nor the fact they had also run off without paying their bills to the council eg the black tie dinner. This was also not mentioned.
He previewed the challenge by immediately accepting the line that the ORFU was broke and could do nothing about it though he agreed they should contribute something in principle. I had pointed out that the Regent theatre people had partially fundraised for years for their project. Not mentioned in The Wash.
This is the problem with the ODT. There is no grist to their reporting of the issues. They water things down and in the process there is no verve, nothing really worthwhile to report. It becomes all so insipid. It is not just that most of the paper media are facing some degree of decline in readership. For people to go out and buy the paper more, they have to have in the back of their mind, when they wake up in the morning, ‘I wonder what is in the ODT today’. Too many of our people couldn’t care less and/or have got to the point of not believing what they are reading anyhow. It is a long, long time since I have heard anyone casually comment on what a good paper the ODT is. They should be worried and do something about it.
How I’d love to see a truly gutsy paper in Dunedin/Otago. When I watch Channel 39 and see the invited ODT staff preview ‘what’s in the ODT tomorrow’ it all comes across as so tired and banal. A great shame for a newspaper in a university city.
Peter; do you think perhaps we are seeing the demise of the printed word as a means of communicating information between people? Everywhere I go I see people either walking, sitting or lounging with a pair of tiny little earphones stuck in their ears. What they are listening to is anybody’s guess but one thing is sure, they are disconnected from the world. As well, they seem now to also be constantly picking away at their cell phones. Again, to who or what one can only conjecture. Pick up and read a newspaper, or magazine, if it doesn’t have a picture on the front of the new royal baby then fugeddaboudit. Peter, we have to rely on our own observations and get the truth from the likes of Richard Thomson. I digress here but I have got it from very good authority that it is not really him speaking but his trained “hamster”. It spends every day nestled firmly on Thomson’s top lip and does almost all the talking. A sort of extension of the ventriloquist art except the dummy is alive. In this case it is debatable as to which is the dummy. But it seems there is no doubt the words come from the “hamster”. Peter, you just watch the “hamster” when next channel 39 covers the DCC council meeting. Just concentrate on the “hamster”. I’ve even heard that in some circles Thomson is simply referred to “as the Hamster”. I am not one to start a rumour but I think the term fits him extremely well. He could exploit it during the election campaign with such catch phrases as “the Hamster rides again”, or “I am not a ‘gerbal’ I am a Hamster”. It could really take off.
Peter’s experience with “The Wash” should not at all be surprising. What we have all got to get to grips with is that ALL news is filtered. Whether we listen to it on radio, watch it on TV, or read about it in a paper or on an internet based site, someone has chosen what to publish, and what slant to put on it. The extreme examples can be seen on an everyday basis on something like the news from Egypt. An event will happen – for example a mass demonstration – and the news from one side is so different from the news published from the other side, that you wonder if this was the same event that was being reported.
The daily press in the UK was so removed from neutrality that for decades it was known that the Times was inherently a supporter of the Tories, while The Sun was the paper to read if you were a Labour supporter. The process resulted in both papers not being able to be believed to provide neutral news untainted by opinion or bias.
In New Zealand, supposedly the media is less biased, but the reality is that for a privately owned paper like the ODT, the published views of the paper will reflect the private views of the owners. The Editor may profess otherwise until the cows come home, but the overt and covert pressures of this relationship must prevail and frankly I don’t believe for a moment that through the pressures of interested parties the news is not steered to reflect private views or philosophies.
To examine how people get news should be of great concern to many. I hear, on an almost daily basis, how “thin” the ODT is getting and how it is viewed as less relevant. If I was one of the Smith brothers, I’d be closely examining the trends. The ODT is closely aligned to the OB network and it is clear that for many young people in the community, the Tartan Mafia isn’t perceived as important. Of course it is, because the Tartan Mafia, still has influence to affect how the community ends up paying for the profits that accrue to the “certain” individuals.
It is almost inevitable that the same people are approached by reporters too lazy or too under-resourced for comment on issues. How many times does Farry get approached for comment, or the eager puppets from the Chamber of Commerce? It actually takes effort to get behind a news release, it takes money to assign a reporter for a significant period of time to ferret out the truth and I use, as an example, the TV3 efforts on this appalling miscarriage of justice in the Susan Burdett murder case. They have really made this into a crusade based on real investigation – delving into the obscenities of the so-called Independent Police Conduct Authority, the incompetence of the NZ Police, the stupidity of the politicians within Justice and Police. This story took a lot of resource, whereas the “crusades” of the ODT in the “Stand Up” recent campaign take nothing other than stirring up emotions. Important to have such campaigns, but essential to have a clear vision and a determination to really have commitment to the story. If the ODT was serious, then a reporter would have gone to Wellington to interview Key, English and Joyce.
I watched that Ch39 vox pop thing and it is disheartening to see what appeared to be reasonably intelligent people say that they really didn’t know what the Council was doing and what’s more, they didn’t seem to be worried about anything. Frightening.
The end result is that perception is more important than facts. If, for example, Paul Hudson is perceived – by way of the use of an outdated photograph, judicious mention of his huge experience as a businessman a decade or so ago – as a responsible governance person, then the uninformed will end up voting for him. Where are they to learn otherwise? Is the ODT likely to publish a story pointing out his woeful record of financial ineptitude, his ability to rake off hundreds of thousands of ratepayer funds through his multi-director roles through the DCC companies etc? Will there be some sort of “understanding” reached by the likes of Hudson and the ODT to retain the anonymity status of this man?
The Press have already published a comprehensive record and score sheet of Christchurch councillors which I read with interest. For all of its pufferies, I don’t believe the ODT will do the same thing for Dunedin readers and it will be left as a vacant space for reasons that are just too obvious.
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{3rd Degree (TV3) has conducted an investigation for over a year into the Malcolm Rewa (serial rapist) case. Revelations on the programme last night show why a commission of inquiry is urgently required, with consequences not only for the conviction against Teina Pora but also for a substantial number of New Zealand rape victims and police handling of witness statements and criminal investigation files. Read the story here:
http://www.3news.co.nz/Malcolm-Rewa-victims-call-for-Teina-Pora-inquiry/tabid/1771/articleID/309980/Default.aspx
Teina Pora is a New Zealander who was convicted of murdering Susan Burdett when he was aged 17; he has been in Paremoremo prison since 1994 for the crime. In 1992, 39 year old Burdett was raped and murdered in her home in Papatoetoe.
(ODT 22.8.13) Rewa investigation ‘not warranted’
(ONE News 22.8.13) Police actions in Malcolm Rewa case to be investigated -Eds}
Russell. I think there is at least some hope. The Sunday Star Times (and other Auckland based papers), I think, make a reasonable fist of things. They have their fluff, like all papers, but at least you can read proper, in depth investigative reporting as well.
Sure they only have to churn out a paper once a week, but it’s not as if the ODT’s owners are short of a bob to attract more top rate staff. (Not that all of its reporters are hopeless. Just stymied.) I hear the place is badly under resourced and am not surprised given the interview I read after Julian Smith was knighted (For what, again?). He admitted he wasn’t that much into email unless he has to use it! Talk about backward. I’m a technological incompetent myself, but at least I can recognise you have to move with the times.
I wouldn’t trust the ODT to do a fair score sheet on the councillors. They have their favourites. I notice they delight in ‘exposing’ some councillors foibles, but not others. I don’t mind them doing reports on councillors saying, or doing, nutty stuff… this is interesting and the public need to know… but they are selective. They could easily root out the ones who are lazy and don’t turn up to too many meetings. People like Neil Collins have been let off very very lightly.
‘Bias’ is okay when there is a substantive issue of justice or competence… or lack of. Then I expect any media source to go for the jugular against the culprits concerned. ‘Neutrality’ becomes irrelevant in these cases.
### ch9.co.nz August 23, 2013 – 7:01pm
Nightly interview: Neil Collins
The city’s longest-serving incumbent councillor is stepping down at the October election. Neil Collins confirmed recently this year will be the last in a career that began in 1989.
Video
Just watched this video and what an absolute plonker Collins is. Still no remorse for voting to plunge the City into astronomical debt and has the gall to say that the best advice he has for any incoming Councillor is to keep the rates to a minimum. He is so stupid he doesn’t even recognise the hypocrisy of his words. Also noteworthy is the complete lack of REAL achievements he has achieved over decades warming up the seat. A couple of Deputy Chairs of Infrastructure committees. A Councillor that will not be missed.
We all have to make sure there are no more idiots like Collins voted onto Council. There’s a difficulty attaching to that given voter perception and voter turn out based on what people don’t know about local body work and committees, and the state of council and company finances, and what the candidates don’t know. I doubt any positive revolution will occur in October; instead an odious greyness (filled with naiveté, shoots of greenness in strategy-overload of impractical and expensive sort, Luddite insanity that’s typical, bouts of yelling and sobbing in the council chamber) for three years. People are LIABLE to vote John Bezett and Teresa Stevenson back on, don’t know about Paul Hudson… I keep thinking this is Dunedin! Like a bad dream, repeating.
### ch9.co.nz August 26, 2013 – 6:55pm
Nightly interview: Fliss Butcher
Dunedin councillor Fliss Butcher is one of five to announce they are stepping down from the DCC at the October elections. But Cr Butcher is not planning to quit local politics altogether. Instead, the three-term councillor is taking a shot at the Waitaki mayoralty.
Video
If anyone reads inane and wrong things at Greater Dunedin’s webpages please cite or provide links to disprove their collective intelligence – confess I’ve no desire to visit their campaign at their sites.
Elizabeth, I think your pessimism is well placed. When there are 34 aspirants for just 11 seats (in Dunedin Central) you have to believe that it will be just noise and this will turn the electorate off. Probably another very low turnout with the same names back in. Until there is some kind of qualification criteria nothing will change. For instance, when delivering their registration forms they should be faced with a questionaire; Do you have, or ever have had a copy of the current Annual Plan. Do you know what is the City’s net debt as at 30 June 2012. Have you a copy of the last DCHL annual report. What did the stadium cost. If they can’t answer yes to those points then their application should be declined. But then it would be argued that is not democracy. So really, it is a matter of who can put across the most attractive lies.
That, Calvin, but clear some of the dross away!
Rachel Elder. See conversation at a more recent thread re her offending letter to the editor.
DCC candidate Rachel Elder’s ‘business card’, front and back (contact details removed).
WTF
Rachel could you please tell us how you intend to achieve the first three bullet points of your business card. Talk is cheap.
### ODT Online Fri, 6 Sep 2013
Mayoral candidates put on an entertaining show at arts forum
By Nigel Benson
Perhaps they should do a season. The Fortune Theatre was three-quarters full for last night’s entertaining premiere of the Dunedin mayoral arts forum. The forum, organised by arts advocate Transforming Dunedin, set the stage for the seven mayoral hopefuls to share their artistic vision for Dunedin, ahead of next month’s local government elections. Incumbent Dave Cull and challengers Hilary Calvert, Kevin Dwyer, Pete George, Aaron Hawkins, Oliver Lequeux and Cr Lee Vandervis offered some colourful ideas for enhancing Dunedin through art and culture.
Read more
If only I could vote for Maurice Prendergast! Wrong area, alas.
His writing is a delight. I hope to see more of it – on here and in the ODT. Come on Maurice, please! You have a great way with words and you have a lot of intelligent things to say based solidly in knowledge and experience and enlivened by wit.
Rachel; a great ‘promo,’ reminds me of an ad for ‘Old Dutch Cleanser’, but then I am much older than you. I particularly like the bit about increasing the population. Could be fun. Not so sure about the jobs though. Could be a re-run of what everyone else chants that never actually means anything. Hydrogen cars? Good, but hardly what your average councillor is good at. Have a yarn to Jinty, she’s right up with planet saving and all that. She is really keen on cycling. Not much hydrogen produced there, more a lycra filtered carbon methane mix. Still, she and Dave mean well. 5 star hotel? Could be we will get one some day. Again, not Council business, except to vet compliance. We already had one flag hoisted but it failed on the aforementioned compliance hurdle. 28 stories might have had a bit to do with that. You see, Rachel, there are some things which do need to fit the social wishes of the citizens. It would never do to just give the green light to any and every one who waves a cheque in the air expecting to do what they like on the strength of that. We have already seen people conning our councillors by waving our own cheque in front of them and ‘bingo’ we have an incredibly expensive stadium. Now you wouldn’t be up for a repetition of that would you. Would you?
Well, Rachel likes rugby as we know from the letter she wrote to the ODT editor recently.