Payrise for low-wage workers in aged care and home support #genderpaygap

About 55,000 low-paid workers, mainly women, are about to get one of the biggest pay rises ever after details of a historic pay equity settlement are revealed today. The deal will cost the Government more than $500 million a year when fully implemented in five years, assuming it is signed off by union members and the Cabinet. The settlement will mean hefty pay increases from July in three government-funded service sectors which employ mainly women on low rates: aged residential care, home support, disability services. Prime Minister Bill English says today’s historic pay equity deal is likely to have ramifications for the private sector. –NZ Herald

At Facebook:

The Herald understands that for the primary litigant, rest home caregiver Kristine Bartlett, it will mean an increase from about $16 an hour to about $23 an hour, more than 43 per cent. […] The case is the first legal settlement in New Zealand that recognises that some jobs pay less because they are done mainly by women. […] The Service and Food Workers’ Union lodged a claim on Bartlett’s behalf with the Employment Relations Authority in 2012. […] The union took the case on behalf of Bartlett and 14 other union members of the 110 employed by Terranova rest home. Their wages were effectively set by the government subsidy paid by the Ministry of Health for rest home services. The case was elevated to the Employment Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. But once the Court of Appeal confirmed that pay equity cases could be heard under the Equal Pay Act of 1972, the Government stepped into the process because it was loath to leave a case with such far-reaching repercussions solely in the court’s hands.

At Twitter:

About 55,000 low-paid workers, mainly women, are about to get one of the biggest pay rises ever https://t.co/VuQjLZOB7O pic.twitter.com/4wCjcpDDE2

— nzherald (@nzherald) April 17, 2017

Equal pay settlement reached – caregivers wages to increase https://t.co/d9CwRXGOA1 #equalpay #caregivers #nzagedcare #resthomes

— INsite NZ (@INsite_NZ) April 17, 2017

Big pay rise for women as a result of historic pay equity settlement https://t.co/L33ItTcrjz via @nzherald pic.twitter.com/IzL8Uq7YCS

— NZ Human Rights (@NZHumanRights) April 17, 2017

Exciting to see the settlement of this historic pay equity case: one step closer to closing the #genderpaygap! https://t.co/YfQQqRLV2M pic.twitter.com/SxSqwEudN2

— NZGlobalWomen (@NZGlobalWomen) April 18, 2017

****

A U D I O

### radionz.co.nz Tue, 18 March 2017 at 8:11 a.m.
Morning Report with Susie Ferguson and Guyon Espiner
money life and society
Low-paid women are at parliament today for an announcement on pay
Tax specialist Deborah Russell says an announcement today on a reported big pay rise for women in low-paid work.
Audio | Download: Ogg MP3 (4′40″)

The New Zealand GST burden:

### radionz.co.nz Tue, 18 March 2017 at 8:15 a.m.
Morning Report with Susie Ferguson and Guyon Espiner
economy
NZ wage earners among the lowest taxed in OECD
A new report from the OECD shows out of 35 countries New Zealand and Chile workers are taxed the least, and those in Belguim and France the most. As Patrick O’Meara report, this comes as the Government considers tax cuts for low and middle income workers.
Audio | Download: Ogg MP3 (3′50″)

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

***Pssst #Delta CEO Grady replaced

An INTERNAL appointment has been made for the position of Chief Executive Officer at Delta Utility Services Ltd.

Which likely means few external executives with relevant experience wanted to apply for lead position in the ‘degraded’ council-owned company —but then, not many executives were left internally. What does that say…….

—

Related Post and Comments:
5.3.17 Seeking the New Grady #Delta

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

Seeking the New Grady #Delta

(try to ignore that sick feeling)

● https://www.seek.co.nz/job/32939468

Advt also at Otago Daily Times, Saturday, 4 Feb 2017
(Employment, page 51)

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

COMPLETE Dis-satisfaction with DCC, DCHL, DVML, DVL, Delta….

Fake it til you make it, and hey, don’t lift the marigolds.

Sorry Daaave, looks like a D for your council’s governance. —Actually, for the avoidance of euphemism, make that D- and lower for DIRE Performance, accompanying Drivel, and Diabolical treatment of Residents and Ratepayers in the aftermath of emergency situations.

Listening to Yes People and your dwindling voter base isn’t your best hope to resolve ongoing multimillion-dollar losses being sustained by a couple of the council-owned companies, to the point where the holding company led by chairman Crombie, fronts with a “qualified audit” only on presentation of its annual report(?) to Council.

[In July 2015 Graham Crombie was appointed to the Commerce Commission as an Associate Commissioner for a five year term.]

Damages to employment, liveability and opportunity in a No-growth city keep stacking.

—

“It is also yet another example of good public service jobs being lost from our smaller towns and cities.” –PSA spokeswoman

### ODT Online Thu, 13 Oct 2016
ACC jobs to go in Dunedin
By Vaughan Elder
After consulting with staff since June, the decision had been made to relocate all the roles over the next 12 to 18 months to the larger Christchurch office and have “one centre for consistent customer and rehabilitation services across the Southern region”.
Read more

****

Asked about people who continued to be negative about the city, he said: “Negativity is an attitude, it’s not a fact.”

### ODT Online Thu, 13 Oct 2016
Survey ‘shows Dunedin on right track’
By Vaughan Elder
A survey showing Dunedin residents feel increasingly positive about their city shows the city is on the “right track”, Mayor Dave Cull says. […] the annual survey was not all good news. Last year’s June flood was picked as a reason for increasing dissatisfaction with the city’s stormwater system [down 13 points to 43%]. Satisfaction rates also fell when it came to public toilets, the suitability of the city’s roads for cycling and the availability of parks in the central city.
Read more

[Chief executive Sue Bidrose] said some of the areas where there had been negative results this year and in past surveys correlated to negative media coverage in the Otago Daily Times.

*1577 survey responses from 5400 residents randomly selected from the electoral roll,

The Talking Head (without helmet, unprepared)

█ Dunedin City Council (media release)
Residents’ Opinion Survey released 12 Oct 2016. Link

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

*Image: cdn.guardian.ng – marigold, tweaked by whatifdunedin

Jafas, come hither…. it’s alright here if warped

Douglas Field Published on Jan 7, 2016
Climate Change Panic 8 1 16
‘Green’ Mayor Cull panics over floods in Dunedin and blames ‘climate change’ and sea level rise as the cause. Promptly debunked by local climatologist and hydrologist as absurd.

—

Commenting at ODT Online
macfod, unduly negative and downcast —not a local economist like John Christie (Enterprise Dunedin), or a Terence Davies (DVML) – who place reliance on bought multipliers to talk up sweet virtue and powers of attraction.
blip blurp blop

Dave Cull couldn’t sell toffee
Submitted by macfod on Fri, 08/01/2016 – 7:33am.

Oh my god, what a big draw it would be saying that we have places such as ..

Cadburys – a factory! Farmers Market and bacon butties – a joke! Museum – visit it once only. St Clair beach – it’s eroding and DCC are doing nothing about it.

What [they] are promoting [is] where they have spent money . . . stadium – unused cycle lanes. I love Dunedin but get so frustrated that we are not growing and not attracting jobs..

Aucklanders are already buying our property, but as investments as the rental returns at approx 8% make it good business.
Read more

—

█ New Zealand Herald: Dunners in drive for Jafas to roll down to Deep South

INFLUX….

█ Jafa is a slang term (usually pejorative) for a resident of Auckland, New Zealand. It is the acronym for Just Another Fucking Aucklander. The term is also misspelled as Jaffa, a chocolate confection from Dunedin.

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

*Image: dunedinnz.com – Jaffa Race, Baldwin Street

alright ● all right ● alright ● all right ● alright ● all right ● alright

Dunedin schools —population demographics

Mural at Macandrew Bay School (detail)

—

Solutions proposed by school leaders so far include closing one or more secondary schools in the city, establishing enrolment zones or implementing roll caps.

### ODT Online Wed, 6 May 2015
Schools baulk at roll issue
By John Lewis
The Ministry of Education is being asked to step up and take responsibility for finding a solution to the city’s declining secondary school rolls, rather than asking the schools’ leaders to solve the problem. During the past eight months, secret meetings have been held between Dunedin’s secondary principals, board representatives and the ministry, to see if schools could agree on ways of making the city’s secondary school network more efficient, sustainable and equitable for pupils.
Read more

****

“We’re not just getting increases in the number of babies being born locally.” –Richard Newton, principal St Clair School

### ODT Online Thu, 7 May 2015
Migrants boost primary school rolls
By John Lewis
The latest Ministry of Education March roll figures show Dunedin’s primary and intermediate school rolls are the highest they have been in six years, despite the secondary rolls being the lowest in 15 years. The rise in overall rolls appears driven by primary rolls, which have been increasing for the past eight years and have reached their highest point since 2001. Intermediate rolls have been increasing for the past four years.
Read more

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Warning! NZ disposable income down

Link received Mon, 6 Apr 2015 at 1:00 p.m.

█ Message: Wouldn’t read this in local media !!!

—

### marketoracle.co.uk Apr 05, 2015 – 01:28 PM GMT
Economics / Asian Economies
New Zealand Economy – There’s Trouble Brewing In Middle Earth
By Raul I Meijer
For the second time in three years, I’m fortunate enough to spend some time in New Zealand (or Aotearoa). In 2012, it was all mostly a pretty crazy touring schedule, but this time is a bit quieter. Still get to meet tons of people though, in between the relentless Automatic Earth publishing schedule. And of course people want to ask, once they know what I do, how I think their country is doing.
My answer is I think New Zealand is much better off than most other countries, but not because they’re presently richer (disappointing for many). They’re better off because of the potential here. Which isn’t being used much at all right now. In fact, New Zealand does about everything wrong on a political and macro-economic scale. […] I’ve been going through some numbers today, and lots of articles, and I think I have an idea what’s going on. Thank you to my new best friend Grant here in Northland (is it Kerikeri or Kaikohe?) for providing much of the reading material and the initial spark.
To begin with, official government data. We love those, don’t we, wherever we turn our inquisitive heads. Because no government would ever not be fully open and truthful.

This is from Stuff.co.nz, March 19 2015:
New Zealand GDP grew 3.3% last year

New Zealand’s economy grew 3.3% last year, the fastest since 2007 before the global financial crisis, Statistics NZ said. Most forecasts expect the economy to keep growing this year and next, although slightly more slowly than in the past year. For the three months ended December 31, GDP grew 0.8%, in line with Reserve Bank and other forecasts. That was led by shop sales and accommodation. That sounds great compared to most other nations. But then we find out where the alleged growth has come from (I say alleged because other data cast a serious doubt on the ‘official’ numbers) […] while the economy ostensibly grew by 3.3%, disposable income was down. That’s what you call a warning sign.

….Meijer’s commentary continues in reference to recent New Zealand news stories:

Stuff: Dairy Slump Hits New Zealand Exports To China
Radio NZ: Export Drop Rattles Companies
NZ Herald: World Dairy Prices Slide 10.8% On Supply Concerns
Radio NZ: World ‘Awash With Milk’
NZ Herald: Stress Too Much For Farmers
NZ Herald: Hot Properties: Auckland Valuations Out Of Date Within Months

He ends by citing NZ Herald: New Zealand’s Economic Winds Of Change:

Chaos theory calls it the butterfly effect. It’s the idea that a butterfly flapping its wings in the Amazon could cause a tornado in Texas. The New Zealand economy has plenty of its own butterflies changing the weather for GDP growth, jobs, interest rates, inflation and house prices. [..] One of the flappiest at the moment is the global iron ore price. It’s barely noticed here but it’s an indicator of growing trouble inside our largest trading partner, China, and it is knocking our second-largest partner, Australia, for six. It fell to a 10-year low of almost US$50 a tonne this week and is down from a peak of more than US$170 a tonne in early 2011.
[…] President Xi has reinforced the contrasting effects of the changes in China on Australia and New Zealand by encouraging consumers and investors to spend more of China’s big trade surpluses overseas. Tourism from China was up 40% in the first two months of this year from a year ago, and there remains plenty of demand from investors in China for New Zealand assets.
The dark side of this tornado in New Zealand after the flapping of the butterfly’s wings in China was felt in Nelson this week. The region’s biggest logging trucking firm, Waimea Contract Carriers, was put into voluntary administration owing $14m, partly because of a slump in log exports to China in the past six months.
That’s because New Zealand’s logs are now mostly shipped to China to be timber boxing for the concrete being poured in its new “ghost” cities. The Chinese iron ore butterfly has flapped and now we’re seeing Gold Coast winter breaks become cheaper and logging contracts rarer.

█ Read full article

Website: http://theautomaticearth.com (provides unique analysis of economics, finance, politics and social dynamics in the context of Complexity Theory)

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Clarke and Dawe (palliative care after extraordinary meeting at #DUD)

ClarkeAndDawe Published on Nov 19, 2014
Clarke and Dawe – Growth first. Then these other things can be dealt with, whatever they are.
“Joe Hockey, Australian Treasurer” Originally aired on ABC TV: 20/11/2014

ClarkeAndDawe Published on Nov 12, 2014
Clarke and Dawe – A Busy Time at the Great Hall as We Prepare for Guests
“Tony Abbott. Prime Minister of Australia” Originally aired on ABC TV: 13/11/2014

ClarkeAndDawe Published on Nov 5, 2014
Clarke and Dawe – The G20 explained
“Godfrey Marketz, Economic strategist.” Originally aired on ABC TV: 06/11/2014

ClarkeAndDawe Published on Oct 15, 2014
Clarke and Dawe – International Diplomacy. A Users Guide.
“Rowan Machine, a resident of Albury.” Originally aired on ABC TV: 16/10/2014

ClarkeAndDawe Published on Sep 17, 2014
Clarke and Dawe – Des is Eliminated Here But at Least he Isn’t at Work.
“Mr Desmond Traction. Fear Maintenance Officer” Originally aired on ABC TV: 18/09/2014

http://www.mrjohnclarke.com | http://www.twitter.com/mrjohnclarke | http://www.facebook.com/ClarkeAndDawe

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Daaave Dodo Cull —highly evolved from turkey

### ODT Online Mon, 22 Sep 2014
Cull calls for end to exploitation
By Timothy Brown
Dunedin’s mayor has added his voice to the chorus of local politicians calling for an end to worker exploitation. Speaking to the Otago Daily Times about the issue recently, Dave Cull said: “It’s a major focus of council to create jobs in this community, but not sweatshop jobs. Those employers aren’t welcome, we don’t want them and we don’t need them.”
Read more

****

█ Sketchy outline of Dodo Daaave’s confusion:

On results of the latest Residents’ Opinion Survey (ROS 2014):

“Mayor Dave Cull said it was ironic the community rated economic development, jobs and businesses so highly given changes to local Government meant councils no longer had a mandate to work in that area.” ODT 29.7.14

****

█ Dodo Daaave saves jobs from extinction:

Dunedin Economic Development Strategy (2013), a blueprint for increasing incomes and job opportunities for Dunedin people —creating 10,000 jobs and lifting the median income by $10,000 pa within 10 years.

Partners: Dunedin City Council, Ngai Tahu, Otago Chamber of Commerce, Otago Polytechnic, Otago Southland Employers Association, and University of Otago.

—

Related Posts and Comments:
1.9.14 Cull’s council spent the cash
9.9.14 DCC: More loose spending on Cull’s watch #SexySummerJobs wtf
14.8.14 Mayor Cull’s reflections on Edinburgh #SisterCity #Junkets
23.7.14 Eddie Cull suffering lead singer’s disease?
23.7.14 Minister of Finance Bill English on Dunedin governance #Regions #Cull
8.7.14 DCC: Mayor Cull and council staff consort with criminal gangs
21.4.14 Dunedin economic development strategy — low flying Year 1
5.3.14 Stadium: Mayor Cull stuck in his rut, ‘going forward’
23.2.14 Mayor Cull ‘handshakes’ Hodgson
24.12.13 Daaave’s $47 million Christmas present to Jinty. We’re paying.
17.11.13 Cull, MacTavish: (to borrow a phrase) “Have you fixed the debt crisis?”
19.8.13 Cull on senility (firing up graduates)
8.7.14 Bloody $tupid cycleways and Cull’s electioneering…
30.4.13 Shrinkwrap the Mayor of Dunedin —Cull snubs Dalai Lama #shame
15.3.13 Dunedin showcase (election year tripe): economic development strategy
28.9.12 Turkey. Cull.

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

*Image: thegreenupgirl.com – Dodo bird

Real reason behind Invermay slaughter/restructure?

Supplied. ODT 6.8.14 (page 25)

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Dunedin product innovation and production #doubleglazing

### ODT Online Mon, 7 Jul 2014
Retrofit double-glazing system catches on
By Sally Rae
A Dunedin-designed double-glazing system, which started as a concept drawn on a paper pie packet, is now being sold in Australia. Thermawood, a patented retrofit double-glazing system for existing timber joinery, was the brainchild of Graeme Clarke, whose background was both as a joiner and a glazier. The system was developed around drainage.
Read more

Website: Thermawood Otago

From the website: ‘An advanced double glazing system for existing timber joinery. A unique, patented double glazing system which has been approved and tested to building standard NZS4211:2008 the industry standard for weather-tightness for windows and doors. Experienced, skilled tradesmen ensure quality workmanship. Thermawood is proudly locally owned and operated from Dunedin, servicing the wider Otago region. All Thermawood materials are 100% NZ made and the Grandadapter is manufactured locally in Mosgiel. Thermawood Otago are also experienced in and offer – retrofitting aluminium windows and doors, double glazing, re-glazing, frameless glass showers, balustrades, painted glass splash-backs, mirrors, architectural glazing systems.’

Note: What if? Dunedin can’t endorse the product; we can confirm it’s a locally available building option.

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

*Image: thermawoodotago.co.nz

DCC: Wise Response Appeal (potential risks), and raw log export by City Forests

City council vote most interesting in the divide – a sign of better things to come at DCC !?

Crs Benson-Pope, Aaron Hawkins, Staynes and Wilson and Mr Cull voted to sign the appeal, but were defeated by Crs John Bezett, Doug Hall, Noone, Andrew Whiley, Hilary Calvert, Mike Lord and Vandervis. (ODT)

### ODT Online Wed, 21 May 2014
DCC votes against backing risk appeal
By Chris Morris
The Dunedin City Council has ruled out throwing its weight behind the Wise Response Appeal, after councillors divided into camps over environmental concerns and fears of party political lobbying. […] Councillors eventually voted 7-5 against the council adding its name to the appeal, and instead decided only to ”note” a staff report detailing the appeal.
Read more

Wise Response http://wiseresponse.org.nz/

****

”What the union is suggesting is that City Forests should take a lower price, make a lower profit, and pay a lower dividend to the ratepayers – so essentially, they are suggesting the ratepayers of Dunedin subsidise the jobs of the wider Otago sawmilling community. It’s a reasonable proposal, but that’s what it means.” –Mayor Dave Cull

### ODT Online Wed, 21 May 2014
Forestry log profit ‘doomed’
By John Lewis
The Amalgamated Workers Union New Zealand has laid blame for the impending closure of Southern Cross Forest Products squarely at the feet of the Dunedin City Council and local forestry growers. Yesterday, receiver KordaMentha announced 101 Otago-based staff at SCFP would be laid off progressively from mid-June.
Read more

● ‘Heads up’ leaves mill workers shocked
● Doubt over $11m owed to unsecured creditors

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC: Back in empire building mode (ZERO HARM staff positions)

Comment and link received from Hype O’Thermia
Monday, 21 April 2014 6:59 p.m.

“…will be a key part of the newly established Organisational Development and Performance team.”

Newly, again? A necessity of course, not a nice-to-have nor even a make-work scheme giving the impression that something they do* will improve other people’s safety.

*Do, meaning make rules and produce forms to be filled in for Compliance, without which the fair and reasonable fee cannot be charged and nothing can happen.

—

http://jobs.odt.co.nz/displayjob.php?JobID=352982&occupation%5B%5D=8

█ Health and Safety positions
Dunedin City Council Opportunities

Help us embark on the next phase of our Health and Safety journey. Dunedin City Council has recently adopted a new Health and Safety Strategic Plan and is embarking on a new and exciting chapter in achieving a Zero Harm goal.

You will be able to influence and support change in a complex working environment, recognising that health and safety is everyone’s business. We are looking to drive continuous improvement within the working environment, supporting our managers, improving the lives of our employees and volunteers, and maximising our performance for our customers and ratepayers.

The roles are new, challenging and varied, and provide an excellent career opportunity to work in a progressive service led organisation.

█ Health and Safety Compliance Officer
You will be a health and safety professional experienced in driving health and safety in a complex environment. You will be able to demonstrate a ‘can-do ’ attitude, have excellent communication skills and an eye for detail. Specific experience of health and safety or contractor management systems is desirable, but more important is your working knowledge of management information systems in general. Experience in a health and safety or human resources role is essential.

█ Health and Safety Analyst
With a strong focus on safety analysis and effective administrative skills, you will provide advice and support to managers within a large multifunctional environment. This is a unique opportunity for an aspiring health and safety or human resources graduate looking to further develop their career and fully utilise their existing skills and knowledge.

An understanding of, or experience working with management systems is desirable. It is expected that you will have well developed analytical skills and a relevant health and safety or Human Resources qualification.

Both roles report to the Health and Safety Manager and will be a key part of the newly established Organisational Development and Performance team.

For informal enquiries about either of these roles, please contact Brian Ballantyne, Health and Safety Manager on 03 477-4000.

For an application pack please refer to our website www.dunedin.govt.nz/jobs or contact our Customer Service Agency in the Civic Centre, telephone 03 477 4000, PO Box 5045, Dunedin. Email address: jobs @ dcc.govt.nz

Applications close 4p.m.,
Friday, 2 May.

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Unlike red carpet…

New Zealand waste recycling

How many businesses in Dunedin have a zero waste policy or strategies in place for minimisation of waste and packaging? Would the city and regional councils even care? Do they facilitate? What is Otago Chamber of Commerce advocating to its membership?

—

Link received from Hype O’Thermia
Saturday, 5 April 2014 10:54 a.m.

### stuff.co.nz Last updated 05:00 05/04/2014
Recycling buyers losing patience
By Abbie Napier
On your way to work you stop and grab a takeaway coffee. A few minutes later, you make the point of putting it in the recycling bin, secure in the knowledge you’ve done your bit for global warming today. A few hours later, a recycling collection truck comes by and ferries the recycling bin contents to a sorting plant. Diligent and nimble-fingered staff grab your takeaway cup off the conveyor belt and throw it into the rubbish pile headed for landfill.

Contrary to popular belief, cardboard takeaway coffee cups are no longer being recycled. Neither are plastic bottle caps, supermarket shopping bags, pizza boxes or beer boxes.

New Zealand is reliant on the custom of foreign recycling companies which set the standards, and they are getting fussy. New Zealand has no recycling facilities. There are plenty of collecting and sorting depots, but none can actually recycle the material they collect. Instead, Kiwi companies sort and grade items. Companies from China, Indonesia, India and Vietnam then tender for a shipment of a certain grade of paper, plastic or aluminium. Bales are stacked into shipping containers and sent overseas, where they are eventually recycled.

Mastagard is the South Island’s largest independently-owned recycling and waste collection company. Quality assurance and shipping manager Dave Oberholzer said the recycling industry was changing. In the past five months, he has had to slowly start excluding items like takeaway coffee cups from his recycling operation. Oberholzer said if a centrally-located recycling facility was set up in New Zealand, it would be well used. It would stop the recycling industry from being dictated by foreign companies and would cost less for local companies.
Read more

—

WHITCOULLS CRINGE PALACE – DUNEDIN
Have you visited Whitcoulls ‘revamped’ store in George Street lately? Books and magazines have been pushed to the back of store, book displays promoting new titles are ho-hum (so bad, why bother?), try finding the book section that interests you… Replacing the books at front of store are shelves and shelves of hideous brightly-coloured ‘over-packaged’ childrens toys and education aids.

With these changes, Whitcoulls transcends the last ten or so years of middle-of-the-road dullness. Not in a good way. Apart from nearly going bust, the company has made the large premises mind-numbingly awful – functionally and aesthetically. This is Cringe Palace.

What is Whitcoulls telling New Zealand families? “Welcome to the throw-away age!” “Books, what are books?! (we don’t know)” “Buy cheap trash from shipping containers, manufactured by overseas underclasses!” “Fight your way through the packaging!” “These products can’t be recycled here, that’s a good thing!” Et cetera.

Whitcoulls has been diminished and devalued by its owners and directors. The retail market is always hard, especially for ‘average’ book stores. But for ‘imagining the scene’ that promotes child and adult education and entertainment, if not stationery supplies… Whitcoulls has concussion and blindness. By abandoning and denying innovation and inspiration, Whitcoulls fails all the challenges that make New Zealand retail fun and edgy.

Whitcoulls George Street resembles another $2 store, with huge mark-ups. The proud historical Whitcoull’s brand is LOST. Packaged Junk is now the primary ‘store presence’. Ghastly.

We won’t be back.

—

Related Post and Comments:
5.12.09 Dunedin’s kerbside waste collections

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC (EDU) invents new job! —Gigatown/Digital Office

Anonymous: In what possible universe does it take a full time role to coordinate sending tweets?

Whatifdunedin: Something Chanel could do in her coffee breaks across the day.

Received.

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Chanel O’Brien [DCC EDU]
Date: Thu, Oct 17, 2013 at 1:11 PM
Subject: New Role – Gigatown Project Coordinator
To: Chanel O’Brien
Cc: “EDU (Economic Development)”

Good Afternoon,

Gigatown will be the first town in the Southern Hemisphere to access one gigabit per second (1Gbps) internet connection. The winning town will be the one that creates the most buzz using social media and online community engagement. The town with the loudest voice will be New Zealand’s first Gigatown and will be positioned to become a leading digital innovation hub for New Zealand.

http://www.gigatown.co.nz/

The Digital Office is looking for a Gigatown Project Coordinator who will help Dunedin with the campaign to win the Gigatown challenge by coordinating, promoting and running events across the City. A pivotal role in this exciting opportunity for the City.

The position description is attached. [see below]

For more information please contact the Digital Office at:

hello @ digitaloffice.co.nz

Thank you

Best wishes

Chanel

Chanel O’Brien
Business Development Advisor
Economic Development Unit
Dunedin City Council

50 The Octagon, Dunedin; P O Box 5045, Moray Place, Dunedin 9058, New Zealand

Telephone: 03 477 4000; Fax: 03 474 3736
Email: chanel.obrien @ dcc.govt.nz

● Position Description – Project Coordinator

—

Related Posts and Comments:
4.2.12 DCC digital strategy, um…
30.9.11 Wellington Towards 2040
20.12.10 Your City Our Future – call for community feedback and suggestions
28.9.10 #AugmentedReality @ Dunedin
3.8.10 Paperless council – more or less transparent?
14.7.10 DScene – wtf the survey’s wrong?
10.6.10 DCC Media Release – Consulting on draft digital communication strategy
24.11.09 DCC: “Linking Dunedin to the World”
18.8.09 Wi-Fi: DCC favours Octagon businesses to exclusion of others
20.7.09 Want/need free Wi-Fi network – do we???

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Commissar Obamanation

Maurice Prendergast says:

I would like to share this very ‘solemn summary’ of the modus operandi of a charlatan and the curiously common characteristics to those exhibited by Farry and his fellow travellers.
This reminds me of the sales pitch used to hypnotise the people into believing that a ratepayer funded stadium would deliver salvation to the all. There are some real parallels – Barack Obama and Malcolm Farry seem to sing from the same song sheet.

—

Email received.

Subject: This belongs in the EMAIL HALL OF FAME
Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2012 23:56:44 -0400

How’s this for apocalyptic literature. This was written by a pastor’s wife in biblical prose as a commentary of current events. It is brilliant.

*****

And it came to pass in the Age of Insanity that the people of the land Called America, Having lost their morals, their initiative, and their Will to defend their liberties,
Chose as their Supreme Leader that Person known as “The One.”

He emerged from the vapours with a message that had no meaning;
But He Hypnotised the people telling them, “I am sent to save you.”
My lack of experience, my questionable ethics, my monstrous ego,
And my Association with evil doers are of no consequence.
I shall save you with hope and Change.
Go, therefore, and proclaim throughout the Land that he who preceded me
Is evil, that he has defiled the nation, and that all he has built must be destroyed.
And the people rejoiced, For even though they knew not what “The One” would do, he had promised that it was good; and they believed.
And “The One” said “We live in The greatest country in the world.
Help me change everything about it!”
And the people said, “Hallelujah! Change is good!”
Then He said, “We are going to tax the rich fat-cats.”
And the People said “Sock it to them!”
“And redistribute their wealth.”
And the people said, “Show us the money!”
And then he said, “Redistribution of wealth is good for everybody..”

And Joe the plumber asked, “Are you kidding me?
You’re going to Steal my money and give it to the deadbeats??”
And “The One” Ridiculed and taunted him, and Joe’s personal
Records were hacked and publicised.
One lone reporter asked, “Isn’t that Marxist policy?”
And she was banished from the kingdom.

Then a citizen asked, “With no foreign relations experience and having
Zero military experience or knowledge, how will you deal with Radical terrorists?”
And “The One” said, “Simple. I shall sit with them and talk with them and show them
How nice we really are; and they will forget that they ever wanted to kill us all!”
And the people said, “Hallelujah!! We are safe at last, and we can beat our weapons
Into free cars for the people!”

Then “The One” said “I shall give 95% of you lower taxes.”
And one, Lone voice said, “But 40% of us don’t pay ANY taxes.
“So “The One” Said, “Then I shall give you some of the taxes the fat-cats pay!”
And the people said, “Hallelujah! Show us the money!”
Then “The One” said, “I shall tax your Capital Gains when you sell your homes!”
And the people yawned and the slumping housing market collapsed.
And He said. “I shall mandate employer-funded health care for every worker
And raise the minimum wage. And I shall give every Person unlimited healthcare
And medicine and transportation to the Clinics.”
(And no Muslim shall pay for their share of healthcare.)
And the people said, “Give me some of that!”
Then he said, “I shall penalise employers who ship jobs overseas.”
And the people said, “Where’s my rebate cheque?”

Then “The One” said, “I shall bankrupt the coal industry and
Electricity rates will skyrocket!”
And the people said, “Coal is Dirty, coal is evil, no more coal!
But we don’t care for that part about higher electric rates.”
So “The One” said, Not to worry. If Your rebate isn’t enough to cover
your expenses, we shall bail you out.
Just sign up with the ACORN and your troubles are over!”
Then He said, “Illegal immigrants feel scorned and slighted.
Let’s Grant them amnesty, Social Security, free education, free lunches,
Free medical care, bilingual signs and guaranteed housing…”
And The people said, “Hallelujah!” and they made him king!

And so it came to pass that employers, facing spiraling costs and Ever-higher taxes,
raised their prices and laid off workers. Others Simply gave up and went out of business and the economy sank like unto a rock dropped from a cliff.
The banking industry was destroyed. Manufacturing slowed to a Crawl.
And more of the people were without a means of support.

Then “The One” said, “I am the “the One”- The Messiah – and I’m here To save you!
We shall just print more money so everyone will have enough!”
But our foreign trading partners said unto Him. “Wait a Minute. Your dollar is not worth a pile of camel dung! You will have to pay more…
And “The One” said, “Wait a minute. That is unfair!!”
And the world said, “Neither are these other idiotic programs you have embraced.
Lo, you have become a Socialist state and a second-rate power.
Now you shall play by our rules!”

And the people cried out, “Alas, alas!! What have we done?”
But yea, verily, it was too late.
The people set upon The One and spat upon him and stoned him,
and his name was dung. And the once mighty nation was no more;
and the once proud people were without sustenance or shelter or hope.
And the Change “The One” had given them was as like unto a poison
that had destroyed them and like a whirlwind that consumed all that they had built.

And the people beat their chests in despair and cried out in anguish,
“Give us back our nation and our pride and our hope!!”
But it was too late, and their homeland was no more.

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

At last, PRODUCTIVITY is?

### ODT Online Sat, 2 Apr 2011
Chamber welcomes inquiry into transport
By Dene Mackenzie
The Productivity Commission’s inquiry into international freight transport services is of high importance to Otago and Southland, Otago Chamber of Commerce chief executive John Christie said yesterday.

New Zealand Property Investors vice-president Andrew King said the research on house prices was misguided. They were not the main cause of poor productivity.

Read more

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This argument I share, thanks Christine!

### ODT Online Thu, 9 Dec 2010
Opinion: Why not tackle real, useful work?
By Christine Fernyhough
We recently journeyed to see our high-country fine merino wool turned into yarn by the Austrian company Schoellers – a company which has done this value-adding work for more than 100 years: no rushing to join the IT revolution or looking for the next great trend, just converting our commodity wool into usable yarn. This is not a low-wage third-world producer, just a company that stuck to what it did and became very good at it.

Taking time to learn a trade is considered somehow inferior to accruing debt studying social sciences or communication at one of New Zealand’s many polytechs and universities, where everybody can be the boss, and nobody actually physically works hard on anything.

Read more

• Christine Fernyhough is a farmer at Castle Hill Station in Canterbury.

Post by Elizabeth Kerr

Stadium: Stakeholders group investigates carpentry contract

### ODT Online Fri, 4 Jun 2010
Carpentry contract: group seeks answers
By David Loughrey
The group in charge of overseeing the Forsyth Barr Stadium project has called for answers in relation to issues that have arisen over carpentry contracts for the stadium. Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin, chairman of the stakeholders group, which includes the city and regional councils, said yesterday he was “trying to find some answers” to why there was a breakdown in communication between the Carisbrook Stadium Trust and major contractor Hawkins Construction.

The legal process had been followed, despite “a miscommunication in the reporting of the process to the trust”.
-Malcolm Farry

Read more

Post by Elizabeth Kerr

Harbourside: more negotiation to come

### ODT Online Sat, 17 Apr 2010
Plan for harbour resolved
By David Loughrey
The Dunedin City Council appears to have staved off what could have been a bitter Environment Court battle with the city’s business community, after a joint announcement yesterday that an agreement on the harbourside development had been signed. For its part, the council has agreed to dump much of stage two from its harbourside plan, meaning a reduction to its “50-year vision” for the area. Businesses have agreed to accept stage one, subject to further negotiation.

THE AGREEMENT
• DCC has signed an agreement with Otago Chamber of Commerce and businesses affected by harbourside development to avert Environment Court battle.
• Council has agreed to drop stage two of the development, reducing its size.
• Chamber and businesses have agreed to stage one, subject to continued negotiation.
• Parties will now negotiate, before taking resolved issues to Environment Court for approval.
Read more

Post by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC media release – Harbourside Stage Two

[Otago Chamber of Commerce Media Release below]

Dunedin City Council
Media Release

DCC To Withdraw Part Of Stage Two Harbourside Development

Dunedin (16 April 2010) – The Dunedin City Council has resolved to withdraw part of its planned Harbourside development partly in response to concerns raised by appellants concerned about effects on local businesses.

Cr Colin Weatherall, authorised to represent the Council in negotiations with the Otago Chamber of Commerce and five affected businesses, says the Council will withdraw part of its proposed Stage Two of the development.

It will continue to mediate with those affected to confirm objectives, policies and rules for the rest of the Harbourside zoning.

Along with all of Stage One, the Council is planning to retain from the original Stage Two parts to the south of Stage one and the designations of the Fairley Street Walkway, and the Heritage Buildings identified in the plan.

Parties to the agreement to withdraw part of stage 2 are local businesses Crawford Glass Dunedin Ltd, Kaan’s Catering Ltd, Bradken Resources Pty Ltd, and Farra Engineering Ltd, along with the Chamber.

The Council’s vision for a revitalised inner Harbourside basin, with a mix of activity, people, places and industry, depends on changing zoning in the area. A change of zoning to Harbourside was approved in February last year, but has looked likely to end in the Environment Court due to concerns about the effects on businesses.

Cr Weatherall says all parties hope that by removing the most controversial parts of the proposal, mediation can continue with goodwill on all sides, hopefully without need to have lengthy appearances before the Environment Court.

He says the parts of the zoning north of Willis Street, which will be abandoned, were unlikely to take place for several decades anyway and, given the changes to Dunedin and the world economy in just the past couple of years, it seems sensible to come back to the inner harbour as the principle focus .

“This allows us to keep the visionary view of what the area can become, but retain the viability of local businesses” says Cr Weatherall.

Public notice of withdrawal of part of Plan Change 7: Dunedin harbourside to the Dunedin City District Plan
Clause 8D of Schedule 1 of the Resource Management Act 1991

The Dunedin City Council gives notice of its withdrawal of the area marked ‘A’ on the map below which was rezoned as Harbourside by way of Plan Change 7: Dunedin harbourside. The area marked ‘A’ on the map below will revert back to Industrial 1 Zone or Port 2 Zone as it was prior to notification of Plan Change 7 on 26 January 2008.

There will be consequential changes to some District Plan provisions to remove reference to the area that is now being withdrawn. A full copy of the updated provisions for Plan Change 7: Dunedin harbourside are available from the City of Dunedin website www.dunedin.govt.nz/harbourside.

The reasons for the Dunedin City Council’s decision to withdrawal part of the Harbourside Zone are:
a) this is a compromise with appellants to resolve the appeals.
b) it allows the objectives of the plan change to be met while protecting industrial activities in the area.

Otago Chamber of Commerce
Media Release

Council Votes to Save Jobs

The signing of this agreement and the resolutions passed by Council on the 29 March 2010, are a clear indication that the Council has listened to the Chamber’s representations and has reassessed its “vision” for the Harbourside development.

The Chamber, on behalf of its members, and in the best interests of the city, has opposed part of the Harbourside development plans as proposed in the conviction that, had it proceeded as planned, existing jobs would be lost along with any future job prospects. The Chamber, together with the other appellants Farra Engineering, Bradken Resources, Kaan’s Catering and Crawford Glass Dunedin, have worked hard with Council representative Cr Colin Weatherall to reach a position that will satisfy many of those concerns.

On behalf of the Chamber and the appellants, and all the industries within the Harbourside, I wish to take the opportunity to thank all those many people who assisted in the outcome. Particular thanks are due to Cr. Weatherall who, on behalf of the Council, has worked tirelessly with us to fully understand our view of the impacts of the proposal on industry and jobs and, having understood, represented those issues to Council with total integrity to achieve this positive outcome.

The Chamber has worked successfully with Council on a number of initiatives over the last twelve months. The Harbourside Plan Change is one of the few issues that have taken longer to successfully resolve.

I take this opportunity to place on record the Chamber’s pride in its working relationship with the Council. On behalf of its members we remain committed to offering the large pool of expertise represented among our members and to working with the Council on issues that will improve the economy of Dunedin and the lifestyles of its residents.

For more information, contact John Christie, Chief Executive on
Phone 03 479 0181 or 0274 915 916

—

Post by Elizabeth Kerr

Streetcars named desire: Obama Administration’s Livability Initiative

“These competitive grant programs will invest in good-paying jobs, livable communities, and a less-congested, more fuel-efficient future.”
– Congressman Peter DeFazio

### US Department of Transportation Tuesday, December 1, 2009
U.S. Transportation Secretary Announces $280 Million for Streetcars
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced the availability of $280 million for urban circulator projects such as streetcars, buses, and bus facilities to support communities, expand business opportunities and improve people’s quality of life while also creating jobs. The money represents the first batch of funding by the Obama Administration for its Livability Initiative, a joint venture of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Read more

Post by Elizabeth Kerr

ONE News forgetful

National television avoids talk of social cost. No community reaction.

### ONE News Tuesday March 03, 2009 3:07 PM
Dunedin stadium wins government backing
Source: Newstalk ZB/ONE News

The government will support Dunedin’s new stadium but it’s unclear what strings are attached. [our italics] Rugby World Cup Association Minister Gerry Brownlee has pledged a maximum of $15 million to underwrite the construction of the stadium.

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