DCC: Services and development #staffappointment

Dunedin City Council – Media Release
DCC General Manager Services and Development Appointed

This item was published on 30 Jul 2014

A new General Manager Services and Development has been appointed at the DCC, filling a position vacated by Dr Sue Bidrose after she was appointed CEO. The position is to be filled by Simon Pickford, who is currently the Manager of Executive Services at New Plymouth District Council – an Executive Leadership Team role which has seen him responsible for corporate planning and policy, long-term planning, communications, legal services, iwi relations and democratic services. Dr Bidrose says Mr Pickford will bring an excellent mix of skills and experience to his new role.

“Since leaving the private sector and coming into local government in 2002, he has worked in a range of roles across the sector, from community planning and engagement to regulatory services, customer services, and arts and culture. I am sure this cross-sector experience will be valuable to both Mr Pickford and the DCC when he takes on his new position here.”

His previous role at NPDC was Manager Customer and Regulatory Services, which included building, planning, consents, animal control, environmental health and parking, front of house and call centre operations. Prior to this he worked at Puke Ariki, New Plymouth’s combined library and museum. He has also undertaken the role of Acting Director of the Govett Brewster Art Gallery. Mr Pickford originally moved from the UK to New Zealand in 1998. In the UK his roles included Commissioning Editor for Elsevier Science, a publishing group in London.

Mr Pickford will take up his role at the DCC in early October.
Contact Acting Chief Executive on 03 477 4000.

DCC Link

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### stuff.co.nz Last updated 17:22 30/07/2014
New Plymouth council manager heads south (via Taranaki Daily News)

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

*Image: stuff.co.nz – Simon Pickford (re-imaged by Whatifdunedin)

Dunedin City Council | Consolidated council debt

Recent ODT stories:

██ Mayfair Theatre, South Dunedin, learnt on Monday an adjacent public car park on the corner of King Edward St and Cameron St used by often elderly patrons was for sale, with tenders closing this week.
● Car park sale ‘kick in guts’

██ Anger from Caledonian Bowling Club members, who last Friday learnt the council would sell the Andersons Bay Rd land the 135-year-old club was on.
● Dismay as club hears of sale plans
● Community institution feels the pinch
● Bowlers buoyed by support over council sell-off plan
● Club will fight sale

██ Council to sell up to 150 plots of surplus land and property over the next two to three years in a move expected to raise about $10 million, targeted for paying off debt.
● Councillors urge rethink of land sale
● Council may net $10m in sales
● Southern suburbs among poorest 10%

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### ODT Online Wed, 30 Jul 2014
Councillors urge rethink of land sale
By David Loughrey
Some Dunedin city councillors are urging a rethink on the sale of a council-owned car park near the Mayfair Theatre, but Mayor Dave Cull is adamant the sale should not be a political decision. Mr Cull said yesterday council chief executive Sue Bidrose had been delegated to make the sale, and it was not a matter for councillors. “That’s her job.” But three councillors want at least a discussion on the issue.
Read more

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SOUTH DUNEDIN CYCLE NETWORK
“Based on what it now knew about costs […] the council would only be able to build 12km of the original 25km cycleway network within its original $4.5 million budget. The network would cost as much as $7.85 million if built as originally approved by the council.” (ODT)

### ODT Online Wed, 30 Jul 2014
Cycle project scaled back
By Debbie Porteous
The Dunedin City Council has been forced to pare back original plans for the controversial South Dunedin Cycle Network, as the true costs of the project become apparent. Despite being reduced by almost half, the curtailed network is expected to cost about $5.5 million – $1 million more than original estimates for the whole network. The blowout may eat into funding set aside for the rest of the city’s cycle network.
Read more

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“I’m not surprised given the dickheads we’ve got around that table. It’s just another nail in Dunedin’s coffin; we’ve got a council not focused on business and focused on cyclists, but there are no cyclists.” –Roger Fewtrell

### ODT Online Wed, 30 Jul 2014
Threat to move over cycleway
By Debbie Porteous and Chris Morris on Wed, 30 Jul 2014
A Dunedin business owner potentially affected by changes to an intersection on the route of the new harbourside cycleway has threatened to move his enterprise to Auckland. […] Southern Hospitality managing director Roger Fewtrell said the council’s decision meant his company would consider its options at its board meeting early next month.
Read more

24.12.13 Daaave’s $47 million Christmas present to Jinty. We’re paying.

█ For more on DCC’s cycle network project for Dunedin, enter the terms *cycle*, *transportation* or *disaster* in the search box at right.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Unhappy, ruined #overpoweredbythugs

Received from Anonymous
Sat, 19 Jul 2014 at 10:11 a.m.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC: Residents’ Opinion Survey 2014

Remember last year’s DCC Comms spin on the ROS results?
Another farce this year, look at the Council’s headline.
[in case DCC won’t say it] “DEEP DISSATISFACTION WITH STADIUM BLOWOUTS AND THE CITY’S STALLED ECONOMY”

████ DCC: Public finance forum [invitation]
Tuesday 12 August 2014 at 5:30 – 7:30 pm | Venue to be confirmed

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Residents’ Opinion Surveys
These surveys measure residents’ satisfaction with the Council’s performance and with Council owned facilities. The output of the surveys enables the Council to assess the extent to which the Council has met its performance objectives.

Dunedin City Council – Media Release
Residents’ Satisfaction Still on the Up

This item was published on 28 Jul 2014

Residents’ satisfaction with the Dunedin City Council’s performance continues to rise. Results of the 2014 Residents’ Opinion Survey, released today, show 58% of respondents are satisfied or very satisfied with the DCC’s overall performance. This is the highest level recorded since the question was first asked in its current form in 2003. The survey also shows significant increases in satisfaction with customer service (Customer Services Agency up nine percentage points to 88%), communication (FYI newsletter up seven points to 77%), the suitability of the roading network for cyclists (up seven points to 29%) and retention of businesses and jobs (up six points to 22%).

Acting General Manager Services and Development Nicola Pinfold says, “These substantial jumps in satisfaction are fantastic and reflect the organisation’s hard work and commitment.” Mayor of Dunedin Dave Cull says, “It’s great to see satisfaction with economic development and cycle facilities moving in the right direction. These are two key areas where the Council has been putting in a particular effort.”

Once again, satisfaction was highest with the Dunedin Botanic Garden, Otago Settlers Museum, Dunedin Public Libraries and rubbish collection – with satisfaction scores of more than 90% in these areas. Decreases in satisfaction were noted with the Dunedin Ice Stadium (down 10 percentage points to 71%), stormwater services (down seven points to 59%), the look and feel of the South Dunedin retail area (down six points to 25%) and traffic flow at peak times (down six points to 47%).

Survey respondents identified encouraging economic development, reducing DCC spending, debt and rates, providing cycleways and improving the look and feel of the city as the top priorities for the DCC over the next 12 months. Mr Cull says, “The overall results are pleasing and show the DCC is increasingly responding to the needs of Dunedin residents. The information gathered through the survey will help the Council as we begin preparing our Long Term Plan for 2015-25.”

Of 4,500 residents randomly selected from the electoral roll and invited to complete the survey, 1,248 did so – a response rate of 27.7%. A further 705 residents independently chose to complete the survey online. The results of the ‘opt-in’ sample are analysed separately, but still provide the DCC with valuable feedback on how it can improve its services. The survey was carried out by independent research company Key Research of Tauranga. [We can’t possibly contract Dunedin companies because they might conduct honest research or sneak in survey questions DCC won’t approve for the results it doesn’t want, horror!]

█ www.dunedin.govt.nz/ros

Contact Mayor of Dunedin on 027 434 6917.

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Related Posts and Comments:
27.6.13 State of the City —DCC or Dunedin? [2013 ROS here]
13.6.12 DCC: 2012 Residents’ Opinion Survey
25.4.11 Oh wait, you mean…. | 2011 Residents’ Opinion Survey
1.5.10 DCC: Residents’ Opinion Survey – complete it online
6.7.09 DCC 2009 Residents’ Opinion Survey

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Missing person

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

NZ journalism, Ean Higgins got it in one #knowwhatwethinkofGerry

Come back Ean Higgins, too true — ALL IS FORGIVEN !!!!!

Journalist Ean Higgins of The Australian newspaper asks a question during a media briefing [zimbio.com]

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### stuff.co.nz Last updated 07:47 27/07/2014
Brownlee lashes ‘tosspot’ journalist
By Steve Kilgallon and Neil Reid
The Australian journalist who fled New Zealand after being labelled a “boorish tosspot” by National minister Gerry Brownlee for his insensitive approach to the Pike River mine disaster has declared it the finest moment of his career. Brownlee, however, has told the Sunday Star-Times that Ean Higgins remained a tosser, but had also proven himself a fantasist and an “obnoxious twerp”.
[…] Higgins’ self-congratulatory essay about his brief Pike River coverage was certainly inflammatory.

He called New Zealand “a small, meek and mild democracy” and said: “The New Zealand journalists didn’t ask any uncomfortable questions, being happy to accept whatever the police, the company and the miners’ rescue people told them . . . the Australian journalists, coming from a more robust tradition . . . did ask the tough questions”.

He describes the two groups of journalists dining separately in “the only good restaurant” in Greymouth and the Aussies deciding “we were really going to get stuck into the company and the authorities and show the Kiwis real journalism and workshopped a few really brutal questions”.
Read more

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Related Posts and Comment:
1.8.13 Politicians keeping DIA/SFO quiet on ORFU and TTCF #pokierorts
7.6.13 Peter Dunne, undone
7.2.13 DIA not releasing report #ORFU #NZRU #pokierorts
24.1.13 Pike River, Department of Internal Affairs #skippingthebusiness
13.11.12 Martin Legge replies to Sunday Star-Times story #DIA #coverup

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Greater Dunedin: developing image

Received from Anonymous
Fri, 25 Jul 2014 at 4:40 p.m.

Message: “Clever” monkey Cull would have to be the one on the left smiling and staring blankly into space. At least the other monkeys know something is wrong! An apt Dunedin variation on “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil”. Maybe a new logo for Greater Dunedin?
[ends]

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

*Image supplied

Eddie Cull suffering lead singer’s disease?

Received from Another Anonymous
Wed, 23 Jul 2014 at 8:05 p.m.

The Far Side (undated cartoon) by Gary Larson

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

█ Urban Dictionary: lead singer’s disease

Minister of Finance Bill English on Dunedin governance #Regions #Cull

Received from Anonymous
Wed, 23 Jul 2014 at 6:29 p.m. and 7:02 p.m.

Message: Watched a few moments of Question Time from Parliament today and in response to a question on regional development Minister of Finance Bill English said (citing the most recent ANZ survey) “the top two areas for business confidence are Otago despite the complaints of their civic leadership, and the Waikato”. Have a look from about 3’20” of this clip. Great stuff.

Bound to receive not a word of reportage from the ODT.

A really big dig at Cull.

In The House – Question Time
Topic: Growing Gaps among Regions
23/07/14 23.07.14 – Question 4: Hon David Parker to the Minister of Finance
Does he agree that there are growing gaps among the regions of New Zealand, making the economy and society increasingly unbalanced; if not, why not?
Url: http://www.inthehouse.co.nz/video/34086

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Mosgiel Pool: Taieri Times, ODT…. mmm #mates

Taieri Times 23.7.14 (page 2)

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Received from Brian Miller
Wed, 23 Jul 2014 at 8:16 p.m.

Message: How’s this. I write about the pool trust declining to comment about my letter today (see Taieri Times) and they won’t publish it. Look at the weak excuse. Just who is the ODT protecting.

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From: Bruce Quirey [mailto:bruce.quirey@odt.co.nz]
Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2014 2:13 PM
To: Brian Miller
Subject: Re: pool trust

Brian,
I am not going to publish this latest letter in the Taieri Times, because I published a letter from you in today’s issue.
Yours faithfully,
Bruce Quirey
Co-ordinator
Taieri Times

Bruce Quirey
COPY DIRECTOR
Otago Daily Times

——————————————

On 23/07/2014 12:08 PM, Brian Miller wrote:

The Editor Taieri Times.

It is concerning that the Mosgiel Pool Trust is prepared to make public statements concerning the pool, but when questioned publicly to substantiate their claims, decline to comment. The Pool Trust is funded by the ratepayers, there is an expectation that those who pay the piper call the tune.
It would appear that the pool trust is not competent enough to deal with this project, or prepared to gain public support by keeping the public informed.
I now call upon the pool trust to resign, and for [the] Community Board who are our elected representatives to take back the control of the proposed Mosgiel pool facility on behalf of the community, that they are handsomely remunerated to represent on such issues. If the board is not prepared to be counted on this issue. Then they should consider standing down, and being replaced by those with a desire to represent their community, warts and all.
Regards,
Brian Miller.

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Related Posts and Comments:
16.7.14 Stadium: Exploiting CST model for new Mosgiel Pool #GOBs
4.2.14 DCC: Mosgiel Pool, closed-door parallels with stadium project…
30.1.14 DCC broke → More PPPs to line private pockets and stuff ratepayers
20.1.14 DCC Draft Annual Plan 2014/15 [see this comment & ff]
16.11.13 Community board (Mosgiel-Taieri) clandestine meetings
25.1.12 Waipori Fund – inane thinkings from a councillor
19.5.10 DScene – Public libraries, Hillside Workshops, stadium, pools
12.4.10 High-performance training pool at stadium?

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DVML catering and commercial kitchens….

FB Stadium: The exclusions included a kitchen fit-out, broadcasting facilities, electronic turnstiles, score boards and replay screens.

FB Stadium: On site commercial kitchens with secondary kitchen facilities on Level Two and Level Four
– Bar areas on Level Two and Level Four
– Suites and lounges on Level Four with air conditioning

Questions, questions.

Why is Dunedin Venues Management Ltd (DVML) getting rid of their employees in order to employ Compass Group (the caterers) employees?

Perhaps because Compass were going to pull out as it wasn’t viable to do business at the Stadium? If Compass pulled out they would make Dunedin City Council pay them back the $3 million they invested in catering equipment at the stadium?

Oi! What events?!

Images: projectstainless.co.nz

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Related Posts and Comments:
19.3.11 ‘Forsyth Barr Stadium Base Building Further Requirements’

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DVML: No harassment policy or complaints procedure II

Received from Bev Butler
Mon 21 Jul 2014 at 11:44 p.m.

Message: Just received the attached letter from Terry Davies, dated 17 July 2014.
There are still NO sexual harassment or complaints policies in place at DVML in spite of my letter to ODT at the end of last year alerting Sir John Hansen.
Sexual harassment has allegedly taken place, complaints were made against a senior manager of DVML and no action taken.
Why did Sir John Hansen not take this issue seriously enough to put these policies in place to protect the DVML staff?
[ends]

DVML Sexual harrassment and complaints policies (PDF, 458 KB)

Related Post and Comments:
20.12.13 DVML: No harassment policy or complaints procedure, really?

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Carisbrook Stadium Trust —were the trustees paid?

Supplied. The peculiar reply.
ODT 18.7.14 (page 16)

█ The CST continues to be registered as a charitable trust with the Charities Commission. What is the trust’s current work all about? Are the trustees still being paid? From which funding source?

For more information, enter *carisbrook* in the search box at right.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

God bless the ditch

The pointed disclaimer mentioned at ODT Online today:

The Australian blogger this week posted details of the man – including his name, former occupations and details of his offending – on his blog with the proviso: “WARNING: It is illegal for this editorial to be accessed by New Zealand readers because of suppression orders in that country”. (ODT)

Go to http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/309904/digital-era-subverts-suppression

What’s with a disclaimer these days. ODT knows. God knows.
Say hello to the blogger who never wastes words.

Rodney Hide at the Herald on Sunday.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Whaleoil / Cameron Slater on ratepayers’ lament

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█ Cartoon of the Day (Len Brown by SonovaMin)
Posted by Cameron Slater on July 18, 2014 at 11:00am

█ Len Brown’s failures will cause Auckland headaches for decades
Posted by Cameron Slater on July 18, 2014 at 11:30am
A Local Authority like Auckland Council plans capital expenditure for urban projects – like the pretty CBD road and footpath improvements. The problem with infrastructure maintenance is that it is very expensive, and it occurs in the future. Competing against the pretty high profile projects it suffers because it takes second place. On the Audit NZ website is a document that records an audit of the performance of Local Government that is pertinent to this topic.
Read more

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

John Wickliffe House – application to paint exterior

Updated post 25.12.14

LUC-2014-203 Repair and exterior painting 265 Princes Street
Closes: 18/07/2014

Notification of Application for a Resource Consent – Under Section 93(2) of the Resource Management Act 1991.

The Dunedin City Council has received the following application:
Resource consent is sought for a restricted discretionary activity, being the repair and exterior painting of the John Wickliffe House at 265 Princes Street within the North Princes Street/Moray Place/Exchange Townscape Precinct (TH03). The paint will cover the existing precast concrete, the soffit and vertical concrete fins and the steel window frames.

An assessment of effects is provided with the application.

█ LUC-2014-203 DCC Planner’s Report (PDF, 4.78 MB)

[click to enlarge]

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Related Post and Comments:
13.11.14 John Wickliffe House, 265 Princes Street LUC-2014-203 | Decision

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

*Images: Baker Garden Architects (via DCC) – extracts from Application; primecommercial.co.nz – John Wickliffe House

Stadium: Exploiting CST model for new Mosgiel Pool #GOBs

Synchronised: Highlanders-to-be (sports star training at Mosgiel)

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Unaccepted for publication at ODT Online today. Aww.
Hard to sell at Logan Park
new
Submitted by ej kerr on Wed, 16/07/2014 – 11:49am.
What a fine accommodation for professional rugby this aquatic scheme for the Taieri truly is. Shades of the model so well utilised by the earlier trust named after Carisbrook and headed by Malcolm Farry, still operating as a boon to Dunedin city ratepayers. In the months ahead let’s see how many times the new patron leaves out the word ‘Rugby’ (capital R) or the phrase ‘private property development costs on the City’ in favour of philanthropic zeal expressed for healthy retirement living and enhanced aged care facilities (hydrotherapy for aching rugby shoulders and thighs), sunshine and splash for young families – don’t forget schools! – as the Taieri’s high class soils get carved and private forests near Brighton assist the housing build. Yeah, don’t say there’s merely a saint in goggles amongst us, Lord be praised, it’s the second Dollar coming. An epiphany.

ODT article: Gerrard backing pool bid

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Related Posts and Comments:
15.7.14 Stadium: Who is being protected?
15.7.14 Rugby stadiums not filling #SkyTV
13.7.14 Great quote: men
12.2.14 DCC: Growth v development contributions
10.2.14 University of Otago major sponsor for Highlanders
4.2.14 DCC: Mosgiel Pool, closed-door parallels with stadium project…
30.1.14 DCC broke → More PPPs to line private pockets and stuff ratepayers
20.1.14 DCC Draft Annual Plan 2014/15 [see this comment & ff]
16.11.13 Community board (Mosgiel-Taieri) clandestine meetings
2.4.13 Dunedin: Developers stoop to resource consents instead of…
25.1.12 Waipori Fund – inane thinkings from a councillor
19.5.10 DScene – Public libraries, Hillside Workshops, stadium, pools
12.4.10 High-performance training pool at stadium?

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

*Image: kpbs.org – Men who swim

Stadium: Out of the mouths of uni babes…. #DVML

Paint party at Fubar

ODT champions the stadium using the local (primary school for socioeconomics and slant misconstrued statistics) A+ student president. Was she invited to write the column or is she a Farry Follower (the next best thing since ‘Our Stadium’, not sliced bread). Aren’t Terry Davies and Nick Smith close in the ‘make it work’ factory. Let’s do some research, aye~!

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Forsyth Barr stadium is important to and popular with students, writes Otago University Students Association president Ruby Sycamore-Smith.

### ODT Online Wed, 16 Jul 2014
Opinion
It’s here now, so make the most of it
by Ruby Sycamore-Smith
The future of Forsyth Barr Stadium is important to students. The OUSA represents just under 20,000 members of the Dunedin population and we are high users of the stadium. We see it as a great benefit to Dunedin people. The 2013 OUSA student survey of Dunedin facilities showed a very high satisfaction with the stadium. […] The financial concerns cannot be ignored. And some of the antagonism caused by the provenance of the stadium remains to be settled. Our experience is that DVML is working to ensure the facility is used. We are working with them as much as possible for our own events but also events the DVML team brings to Dunedin that have student interest.
Read more

An obliviously astute and illuminated young woman.
Pride of the South.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Stadium: Who is being protected?

Received from Russell Garbutt
15 July 2014 at 4:30 PM

What is an advertisement, and what content of an advertisement needs to be able to be verified?

Readers of the Otago Daily Times, and followers of the on-going stadium debate which shows no signs of lessening in its intensity may be intrigued to know just where the sensitivities of the ODT lie.

Let us look at some simple facts which cannot be in dispute.

The Carisbrook Stadium Trust which was acting as an agent of the Dunedin City Council, decided to publish a full page advertisement in the 31 May 2008 issue of the ODT. The advertisement was headed up “The Facts about the New Stadium”.

In this advertisement it was claimed that “The funding target establishes a debt free stadium. On this basis the business plan for the stadium shows that it makes a profit. Unlike nearly all other Council owned facilities it will not need annual funding support. This assessment has been confirmed by two of New Zealand’s leading accountancy firms”.

This is published and accessible and the wording of the advertisement cannot be interpreted in any other way as the heading refers to all that followed as “facts”.

The advertisement also claimed that the Trustees of the CST were “committed to delivering this stadium, under budget, on time and to achieve its financial, social and economic goals”.

Now of course some advertisements for wrinkle cream use all sorts of phrases like “clinical tests prove etc etc”. Many people are ready to pounce on claims that are unable to be substantiated, or are untruthful, or are misleading, or cannot be proven. In other words, the makers of the wrinkle cream need to be able to show that there were indeed “clinical tests”. The fact that the clinic may have been part of the company making the cream is sometimes understood, and in any case, the makers of the cream hardly ever claim that “totally independent clinical trials using double blind processes found what we are claiming is true”.

But this is not some pot of wrinkle cream.

The CST claimed a number of facts in their advertisement that they said were verified by two of New Zealand’s leading accountancy firms.

So, I submitted a very brief letter to the Editor of the ODT that simply asked this:

Dear Sir

In light of the continuing operating losses of the Awatea Street Rugby Stadium, and the on-going debt costs from its construction, it would be interesting to be informed of just who the two leading NZ accountancy firms were that confirmed the Carisbrook Stadium Trust’s claims published in the ODT in 2008 that the stadium would be built debt free and would return an annual operating profit. Maybe these two companies could now tell us how the reality differs so much from the published claims.

Yours sincerely

The ODT has informed me that my letter was noted but not selected for publication. This is newspaper speak for it’s been binned.

Why should this be?

Should the ODT not be interested in ensuring that an advertisement of a major size on a subject that had divided the City was not at all misleading in the same way that claims were made that may not be able to be substantiated, or could be shown to be unfactual?

Is the ODT particularly sensitive to the views of those that decided to publish this advertisement?

Had the ODT entered into any understanding or arrangement that the paper would support the stadium project which may have led to less than stringent standards of advertising being followed in this case?

But perhaps more telling is that to my knowledge, the ODT has not followed up on the obvious story of just who these two leading NZ accounting firms were that supported the claims of a debt free stadium and an annual operating profit. My point is that time and distance show us that these claims were so at odds with the claims made and published, that serious questions remain unanswered on just how the CST and these two companies got it so wrong.

Maybe another newspaper sees the story that the ODT doesn’t?

[ends]

█ Legible copy: CST Advertisement, ODT 31 May 2008 (PDF, 200 KB)

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Related Posts and Comments:
9.7.14 John Ward, no mention of stadium or CST trusteeship
23.5.14 Stadium | DCC Draft Annual Plan 2014/15 ● Benson-Pope…
9.5.14 DCC Draft Annual Plan 2014/15 Submission by Bev Butler
12.3.14 Carisbrook Stadium Trust: Financial statements year ended 30.6.13
8.3.14 Carisbrook Stadium Trust subject to LGOIMA
24.2.14 Carisbrook Stadium Trust: ‘Facts about the new Stadium’ (31.5.08)
22.2.14 Carisbrook Stadium Trust costs
24.1.14 Stadium: It came to pass… [stadium review]

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Rugby stadiums not filling #SkyTV

Waitakere Stadium may replace Eden Park

“Still the historical home of Auckland rugby and provided we get cost-effective venue hire, we can make it work.” –Andy Dalton, Auckland Rugby

### nzherald.co.nz 5:00 AM Tuesday Jul 15, 2014
Auckland rugby looks at new home
By Campbell Burnes
The Auckland Rugby Union is looking at the possibility of shifting their ITM Cup home games away from Eden Park as paltry crowds hit them financially. Auckland Rugby has been an official tenant of Eden Park since 1925 and historically has always been associated with the ground and sporting success there. While nothing has been formally tabled, and all five home ITM games this year will take place at Eden Park, the Herald understands there is a growing feeling that a venue such as Waitakere’s Trusts Stadium would be more suitable from 2015 or 2016.
Read more

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Stadium/Rugby propped by Dunedin ratepayer subsidy (direct and hidden)

“When you look back at this time last year when we were all crying into our soup…” –Roger Clark, Highlanders

### ODT Online Tue, 15 Jul 2014
Rugby: Real money to be made from hosting games
By Steve Hepburn
The Highlanders were due to arrive in Durban early this morning and begin preparing for their playoff match against the Sharks on Sunday morning. The side ended up sixth in the table after the final round of games in the weekend and will be on the road the entire time it is in the playoffs. Highlanders general manager Roger Clark said the franchise would make a little bit of money out of making the playoffs but the real benefits came to those that hosted the games. He was yet to finalise how much money the team would receive for making the playoffs but it was not significant, he said.
Read more

█ See comments to this article at ODT Online by russandbev, QsRC, MikeStk and others.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

*Images: stuff.co.nz – Eden Park; newstalkzb.co.nz Forsyth Barr Stadium

Great quote: men

Received.
Sunday, 13 Jul 2014 at 5:56 PM

Symbiosis across a number of threads (including for DCC, CST, DVML, ORFU, Highlanders, University of Otago, NZRU, DIA) but go to recent comments here and here.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC: Public finance forum [invitation]

Event: DCC Public Finance Forum
Date: Tuesday, 12 August 2014
Time: 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Venue: To be confirmed
ALL WELCOME
Notes: Questions in advance to Cr Richard Thomson, Chair of Finance Committee.

Email received.

—– Original Message —–
From: Richard Thomson
To: Elizabeth Kerr
Sent: Sunday, 13 Jul 2014 at 11.04 AM
Subject: Public Finance Forum

Dear Elizabeth

when we did the last finance forum there seemed general agreement that it was a worthwhile exercise and I suggested that we schedule another for after that adoption of the annual plan. That has now ocurred and we have set a date of 12th August for this. I would be grateful if you could advise your network on What if of this. As last time it would be really helpful if people could advise questions in advance. Often they require specific information and if we have them in advance we can provide that on the night which is good for others there as well. I am happy for these to be forwarded directly to me. The meeting will be held from 5.30 to 7.30 on the 12th August. Venue to be confirmed but I imagine it will be the same room in the Council chambers as we used last time.

Regards
Richard [Cr Richard Thomson]

Mobile Contact: 027 2245739
Office Contact: 03 4770623 ext 12
Fax: 03 4774028

[richard.thomson @ xtra.co.nz]

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Related Posts and Comments:
17.12.13 DCC, Dunedin City Treasury and 3 big banks [Interest Rate Swaps]
23.11.13 DCC: Finance Committee [public forum] 27 November
17.11.13 DCC Finance Committee: Public meeting 27 November

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Stadium: Climate change benefits

Sat, 12 Jul 2014 at 6:49 p.m.
YouTube link received with comment — “The Ratepayers will be praying for a climate change storm that puts the stadium in the hands of insurers but without reaching Emerson’s Brewery.”

Published on May 11, 2014

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Climate Change Debate (HBO)
John Oliver hosts a mathematically representative climate change debate, with the help of special guest Bill Nye the Science Guy, of course.

Subscribe to the Last Week Tonight YouTube channel for more almost news as it almost happens: www.youtube.com/user/LastWeekTonight

Find LWT on Facebook like your mom would:
http://Facebook.com/LastWeekTonight

Follow LWT on Twitter for news about jokes and jokes about news:
http://Twitter.com/LastWeekTonight

Visit LWT’s official site for all that other stuff at once:
http://www.hbo.com/last-week-tonight-…

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

John Ward, no mention of stadium or CST trusteeship

The University of Otago chose to profile its chancellor, Invercargill’s John Ward, in the June 2014 issue of Otago Magazine (pages 22-24). Note Mr Ward omits to mention the Stadium, or his trusteeship on the Carisbrook Stadium (Charitable) Trust. Isn’t that funny. Well, he looks a bit pursed in the photograph anyway.

Source: http://www.otago.ac.nz/otagomagazine/otago072837.pdf
Thumbnail: Photo by Alan Dove

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Related Posts and Comments:
20.5.14 Tim Hunter on Ward, McLauchlan, Hayne #Highlanders
10.2.14 University of Otago major sponsor for Highlanders
31.5.13 University of Otago development plans

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC: Mayor Cull and council staff consort with criminal gangs

Image: article.wn.com

First alert of Bro Cull’s mixing with criminal gangs: a joint submission by Notorious Mongrel Mob and Black Power to the DCC Draft Annual Plan 2014/15.

Supposedly this is a very cool thing to spend ratepayer money on: the rehabilitation of violent mobsters and thugs, or their drug-damaged lower ranks – they and their ‘equipment’ financed on the proceeds of serious crime.

Of course, this ‘news’ to law abiding citizens (the very few left at Dunedin) also brought a number of clots out of the trenches to say how freaking wonderful and ah, what a grand and sympathetic gesture it is, raining congratulations on Mr Go-between Cull for getting these guys Sorted ~!!!!

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### ODT Online Fri, 9 May 2014
Dunedin gangs keen for work after burying hatchet
By Vaughan Elder
After burying the hatchet, the Notorious Mongrel Mob and Black Power are keen to take up a council contract and cut some of Dunedin’s grass. The once warring gangs gave a joint submission at yesterday’s annual plan hearings, asking councillors to consider giving them a contract to maintain some of the council’s green space. They also asked for access to City Forests to provide firewood for families who struggled to stay warm during the winter.
Read more

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Are other community groups in need of manual work being similarly advantaged? Is this another mayoral spending gesture like the one affecting the clan of Taranaki.

Our dear Mr Cull — such generosity, as Dunedin City Council burns down around him, awash with its own plagues (plural) of multimillion-dollar fraud and corruption. All chargeable to the ratepayers.

Lord, have mercy, the gangs of ill repute – the violent assaulters, drug manufacturers and dealers, serial rapists, murderers and burnt out amongst them – are Dunedin ratepayers too. Enlightenment and Empathy are JUST CRAZY like their patches.

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BUT THEN

“We are looking at perhaps having a [trial] under the economic development strategy.” –Rebecca Williams, DCC

### ODT Online Tue, 8 Jul 2014
DCC considering contracts for gangs
By Vaughan Elder
The Dunedin City Council is investigating giving council contracts to Notorious Mongrel Mob and Black Power.
This comes after the once warring gangs made national headlines when they gave a joint submission at annual plan hearings in May, asking councillors to consider giving them a contract to maintain some of the council’s green space. Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull said since then council staff – as part of a wider review of procurement practices – had begun looking at ways council contracts could be awarded to smaller groups, such as the gangs. This would likely involve breaking up some council contracts into smaller packages, Mr Cull said.
Read more

The ratepayers of Dunedin City owe these clowns Nothing.

This correspondent puts it marvellously well at ODT Online:

Good initiative
Submitted by farsighted on Tue, 08/07/2014 – 8:19am.

This is no different than previous council contracts being awarded to Delta, for example.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr