How To See and Be Seen : 1. sit on the floor 2. do not lie #SDHB

At Facebook:

The Dunedin Hospital eye department’s throughput is commendable despite the lack of chairs and wait space provided by the fat cat, high fee-earning Team of Commissioners led by lawyer Kathy Grant….

As a user of the department’s services, there’s been no impediment to my eye treatment and monitoring at any time. I have never had to sit on the floor, nor would I even contemplate doing so —silly Sheep!

The staff were exactly right to complain to their union.

—

### ODT Online Wed, 5 Jul 2017
Elderly patients forced to sit on floor
By Eileen Goodwin
Older patients were forced to sit on the floor while waiting for an appointment in the crisis-hit eye department at Dunedin Hospital, prompting a complaint from staff to their union. Public Service Association organiser Julie Morton said the lack of adequate waiting space was a health and safety issue. “There are frequently not enough seats in the waiting room to accommodate those waiting, and they have to sit on the floor,” Mrs Morton wrote to the Southern District Health Board last month. Some of the patients who had to sit on the floor were older people.
Read more

****

D’oh, Ms Kathy Grant doesn’t believe in the value of Democracy in the Southern Region. Does the Southern community want the non-egalitarian, fryable Ms Grant to serve out her term to 2019.

### ODT Online Wed, 5 Jul 2017
Need for elected health board role downplayed
By Eileen Goodwin
The “truly unique” arrangements at Southern District Health Board will not adversely affect the Dunedin Hospital rebuild, commissioner Kathy Grant says. The Government is planning a hospital redevelopment potentially worth more than $1billion, and there are no elected representatives to influence the project because the board was sacked. Mrs Grant said the SDHB’s relationship with the Ministry of Health was no different than if an elected board was in place. “I’m not sure what additional dimension the existence of a traditional board would necessarily bring to that relationship.” […] The Otago Daily Times has been told by a contact, who would not be named, that the Cabinet would consider three options outlined [for the proposed new hospital] in an indicative business case, the most expensive of which costs more than $1 billion. After that decision, the rebuild governance group and the ministry would look at where to build and whether land needed to be acquired.
Read more

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

*Image: dailymail.co.uk – article: Why are my blinking eyes so sore and watery?

Democracy, a little strange looking here and there

ODT 12.5.17 (page 16)

Not sure the above is the “nature of democracy”.
Ownership more often than not has rights to what Democracy might be, for better or worse. Democracy is the dull moving target around traction of tolerance and accommodation, alternately characterised by recklessness, drilling, handholding, gutless audacity and full oppositional war. And finally, perhaps, it is Comedy of Errors (the big CE) – to do with pique, vanity, providence, chess-like cunning, ill temper and quarrelsome kicks, artful dodging, strange bed fellows, lousy cracks at definition, ruthless assaults and incursions, “Territory”, chiming disgust, stiff ultimatums, the surrender to power, corruption or fraud…..and all notions, wagons, bonfires that encircle ‘the final word’ and last stands, angry trumpet votes to Brexit, chaste lookalikes, injury, ill health….. Jesus weeps.

—

### ODT Online Wed, 12 Apr 2017
Hospital rebuild: back off but don’t back down
By Hilary Calvert
OPINION If we asked Otago people what they most want from health services it would likely be health service delivery in the province at least as good as the rest of New Zealand. For example, whatever qualifies for an operation here should be the same that qualifies those up north. The Dunedin School of Medicine is vital to us as well. […] What if harassing of the Government in an imagined party political fashion just makes the Government determined to not give us what we want, since we will likely vote two local Labour people into Parliament this year? If we concentrate on telling the Government what we most want, and stop trying to tell it how it should deliver the services, we have a much better chance of getting the best result.
Read more

—

Comment to What if? Dunedin:

Diane Yeldon
April 14, 2017 at 11:10 pm
“Harassing of the Government in an imagined party political fashion.” Well said by Hilary Calvert. Spot on!
Here’s the meeting video for 21 Feb. Starting from 1.58.24 into the video, you can watch the discussion on the resolution which authorised the [Dunedin Hospital SOS] campaign. This was the Notice of Motion put forward by Cr Benson-Pope and seconded by Cr Hawkins.
There was no information in the agenda about how much the ‘asking for support’ would cost or how the ‘asking for support’ would be carried out. Nor did any councillors ask questions about this. Their attention was focused solely on discussing the rights and wrongs of the hospital siting (with only a couple of councillors saying they didn’t think it was any of their business.)
I can’t help wondering if many of the councillors did not understood that this ‘asking for support’ would result in unleashing a full-blown advertising campaign with leaflet drop, website and newspaper ads costing so far $12,000! I wonder if the motion had been taken in two parts with the second part only about the campaign and its full extent and costs disclosed the majority would have still voted in favour.

Dunedin City Council Published on Feb 26, 2017
Dunedin City Council – Public Forum + Council Meeting – 21 February 2017
Minutes, agendas and reports related to this meeting can be found at https://goo.gl/Eis3sK

—

[decisionmaker.co.nz] formatted by whatifdunedin

—

Related Posts and Comments:
● 8.4.17 Questions over Council’s Dunedin Hospital SOS campaign
● 6.4.17 ODT editor comments strongly #tick —Dunedin Hospital rebuild
● 27.3.17 Site Notice #DunedinHospital
● 26.2.17 Dunedin Hospital Redevelopment
● 6.2.17 Let the Ombudsman recommend for democracy at SDHB
● 24.1.17 SDHB/Govt : Physio Pool GRIEF
● 9.1.17 Audit NZ admonishes commissioner Grant and SDHB #Health
● 18.12.16 DCC set to take away CBD car parks without Economic Impact research
20.11.16 Delta at Dunedin Hospital #worseluck
7.11.16 SDHB #FAILS with Healthcare Communication and Governance

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

*Image: batmanrobin by Mike Luckovich 2016 @njc.com [via truthdig.com] tweaked by whatifdunedin

SDHB change management: 59 roles proposed to go

Updated post
Sat, 29 Apr 2017 at 6:37 p.m.

At Facebook:

### ODT Online Fri, 28 Apr 2017
Roles dumped in SDHB proposal
By Eileen Goodwin
The roles of chief operating officer (COO) and deputy chief executive will be dumped in a sweeping management restructure proposal unveiled at the Southern District Health Board. In the formal document released yesterday, chief executive Chris Fleming said a new director of specialist services would replace the COO role. The proposed restructuring would not slim the executive leadership team. Its number would increase by one to 13 (including the chief executive), but there is quite a bit of change in the make-up of the roles. The brunt of job losses would be borne at the next two levels of management.
Read more

****

Restructure proposal appears to break up a joint decision-making model which involves senior doctors and nurses.

Sat, 29 Apr 2017
Proposal devastates nurses
By Eileen Goodwin
Nurses are “devastate” by the proposed restructuring at the Southern District Health Board. New Zealand Nurses Organisation Dunedin organiser Lorraine Lobb said the proposal removed budgetary and operational control from nursing leadership. There would be fewer nurse management roles, and those who remained would have less say in decision-making, Mrs Lobb said. “We’re quite devastated by this proposal. We’re all about safe staffing, [and that] requires nursing leadership,” she said. The proposal would see a net loss of 23 management positions. It was unclear how many were nursing roles. […] The new chief nursing and midwifery officer would have no control over budgets as their underlings would only report to them on professional matters, she said. […] The proposal also removes operational responsibilities from the board’s top doctor, the chief medical officer. On operational matters, medical directors would report to the director of specialist services, rather than the chief medical officer.
Read more

█ SDHB to consider submissions before announcing the final structure in June.

—

Related Posts and Comments:
8.4.17 Questions over Council’s Dunedin Hospital SOS campaign
6.4.17 ODT editor comments strongly #tick —Dunedin Hospital rebuild
27.3.17 Site Notice #DunedinHospital
26.2.17 Dunedin Hospital Redevelopment
6.2.17 Let the Ombudsman recommend for democracy at SDHB
24.1.17 SDHB/Govt : Physio Pool GRIEF
9.1.17 Audit NZ admonishes commissioner Grant and SDHB #Health
18.12.16 DCC set to take away CBD car parks without Economic Impact research
20.11.16 Delta at Dunedin Hospital #worseluck
7.11.16 SDHB #FAILS with Healthcare Communication and Governance

█ For more, enter the terms *hospital*, *sdhb* and *swann* in the search box at right.

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

Questions over Council’s Dunedin Hospital SOS campaign

Received from Diane Yeldon
Fri, 7 April 2017 at 4:06 p.m.

OPINION

What’s wrong with the DCC Dunedin Hospital SOS Campaign?

If you clear away all the smoke from the party-political bluster, bickering and name–calling arising over this campaign, has the Dunedin City Council really done anything out of order? Or were some councillors, in fact, a majority, just trying to do their best for the people of Dunedin?

Unfortunately, the road to hell can be paved with good intentions. A council communication cannot be a political advertisement.

The Electoral Act more or less defines a political advertisement as anything which persuades or encourages voters to vote in a particular way. But our democratic rights to participate in government decision-making are not limited to voting once every three years. Citizens also have the right to petition Government, make submissions to select committees and other public authorities and deliberative bodies, and lobby MPs and Government Ministers.

If local councillors had been presented with a motion which proposed the following : that the Council encourages and persuades voters to choose candidate A, they would have rightly been horrified and would have rejected it.

In comparison, a single, short and final paragraph in a council motion which proposes that the Council should ask for public support for ONLY its own preferred position on a central government decision, and that people make such views known to central government, looks harmless and is quite likely to pass unnoticed – and, in fact, did. But it is just as political. It encourages people to use their democratic rights in a particular way.

The council staff should have alerted councillors that this was the case and that such political activism was beyond the proper scope of any local body. The difference in wording may be subtle but the democratic principles involved are significant and far-reaching.

Monday, 3 April 2017

[ends]

—

Dunedin City Council’s Dunedin Hospital SOS petition states:
“I demand that central government redevelops Dunedin Hospital in the centre of the city. The government must also make a clear commitment to retain a top flight teaching hospital for Dunedin and the wider Otago/Southland region.
Save Our Site. Save Our Services.”

Petition at the DCC-managed SOS website [framed screenshot]

At the bottom of the webpage, DCC says:
“Dunedin Hospital SOS
The Dunedin City Council (“DCC”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) operates, hosts, or manages a number of websites, including DunedinHospitalSOS.nz. This site was created and funded following a Council resolution (21 February 2017) to communicate to Government its complete opposition to a rebuild of Dunedin Hospital outside the central city. It is not a permanent website.”

—

How the petition got off the ground by Council vote (21 February 2017) on the Notice of Motion:

[screenshots – click to enlarge]

DCC Council 21.2.17 Agenda – 15 Notice of Motion Dunedin Hospital Rebuild

DCC Council 21.2.17 Minutes – 15 Notice of Motion Dunedin Hospital Rebuild

****

The DCC Dunedin Hospital SOS flyer and Facebook campaign cost Ratepayers $7,102 (excl GST). Ratepayers also find themselves footing the bill for a DCC-led SOS media campaign:

ODT Online 8.4.17 [screenshot]

—

Related Posts and Comments:
● 6.4.17 ODT editor comments strongly #tick —Dunedin Hospital rebuild
● 27.3.17 Site Notice #DunedinHospital
● 26.2.17 Dunedin Hospital Redevelopment
● 6.2.17 Let the Ombudsman recommend for democracy at SDHB
● 24.1.17 SDHB/Govt : Physio Pool GRIEF
● 9.1.17 Audit NZ admonishes commissioner Grant and SDHB #Health
● 18.12.16 DCC set to take away CBD car parks without Economic Impact research
20.11.16 Delta at Dunedin Hospital #worseluck
7.11.16 SDHB #FAILS with Healthcare Communication and Governance

█ For more, enter the terms *hospital*, *sdhb* and *swann* in the search box at right.

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

ODT editor comments strongly #tick —Dunedin Hospital rebuild

Junior councillors should think carefully about how they appear in writing and how they might appear in publicity shots on Frederick St, as a band of politicos.

BRAVO to the ODT Editor:

—

Wisely, this editorial had already put dogsbodies in their place:

### ODT Online Thu, 30 Mar 2017
Editorial: Hospital central to city’s needs
OPINION What a shame the Dunedin City Council is divided over its campaign to keep the city’s hospital in the central city. This is an issue which should unite Dunedin. The squabbling is distressing. The council has initiated an effort to keep the rebuilt hospital right in town, with three councillors, Lee Vandervis, Mike Lord and Doug Hall, voting against. Dunedin-based National-list MP Michael Woodhouse waded in late last week, implying the campaign was a front for the Labour Party […] There are two fundamental issues. First, on the siting of the hospital, and second on whether the council should campaign on that. As as been pointed out strongly on this newspaper’s opinion page by two distinguished Dunedin residents, Sir David Skegg (a former University of Otago vice-chancellor) and Emeritus Prof David Jones (a former university medical division head), close links between the medical school and the hospital are vital.
Read more

—

DCC’s ‘Dunedin Hospital SOS’ flyer and Facebook campaign cost Ratepayers $7,102 (excl GST).

[click to enlarge]

DCC says 55,000 campaign flyers were printed, with 50,000 supposedly delivered to households (however, thickish piles of flyers have been found by cleaners about town —gathering dust in corporate office tearooms and reception areas)….

—

ODT 25.3.17 (page 1) – tweaked by whatifdunedin

### ODT Online Sat, 25 Mar 2017
Woodhouse blasts DCC
By Eileen Goodwin
National list MP Michael Woodhouse has lashed out at the Dunedin City Council over its hospital rebuild campaign, implying it is a front for the Labour Party. And Mr Woodhouse said the council’s stance was “confusing” — on the one hand it wants a central city rebuild, but it granted the Accident Compensation Corporation the right to consider buying the Frederick St car park. ACC has a 12-month timeframe to look at development options for the site. […] Mr Woodhouse is also ACC Minister, and he made it clear he was speaking as a local MP.
Read more

—

Related Posts and Comments:
● 27.3.17 Site Notice #DunedinHospital
● 26.2.17 Dunedin Hospital Redevelopment
● 6.2.17 Let the Ombudsman recommend for democracy at SDHB
● 24.1.17 SDHB/Govt : Physio Pool GRIEF
● 9.1.17 Audit NZ admonishes commissioner Grant and SDHB #Health
● 18.12.16 DCC set to take away CBD car parks without Economic Impact research
20.11.16 Delta at Dunedin Hospital #worseluck
7.11.16 SDHB #FAILS with Healthcare Communication and Governance
3.9.16 SDHB ‘food’ : Our eyes glaze over . . . .
23.8.16 Win! to DCC candidate Paul Pope #DunedinHospital
22.6.16 SDHB Commissioners speed-bleed health system
1.5.16 Hospital food according to Gurglars
23.12.15 SDHB underfunded, no bandage
3.11.15 SDHB will ‘takeaway’ more than freshly cooked meals and a head chef
30.10.15 Dunedin Hospital #despair
● 17.6.15 Southern District Health Board sacked !!!
9.6.15 Southern District Health Board
16.4.15 Talk of replacing Southern District Health Board with commissioner
21.8.14 Dirty pool? #SDHB #University
6.8.14 Otago Therapeutic Pool at Dunedin Hospital
1.5.14 Dunedin Hospital buildings SORRY STATE
14.1.14 DCC: Hospital area parking changes #cyclelanes
5.12.13 Swann case: ODHB/SDHB and friends
3.8.12 Extraordinary editorials

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

Site Notice #DunedinHospital

This afternoon David Benson-Pope requested an unreserved apology from the website owner following publication of an image and various comments at a now deleted post concerning the Save Our Hospital campaign that was highlighted in a newspaper story published on 25 March 2017.

The website owner unreservedly apologises to Mr Benson-Pope for the publication of this material and any resulting discomfort or distress it may have caused.

An apology will be emailed to Mr Benson-Pope shortly, copy Sandy Graham, DCC.

Elizabeth Kerr
Site Owner

—

Reference:

### ODT Online Sat, 25 Mar 2017
Woodhouse blasts DCC
By Eileen Goodwin
National list MP Michael Woodhouse has lashed out at the Dunedin City Council over its hospital rebuild campaign, implying it is a front for the Labour Party. And Mr Woodhouse said the council’s stance was “confusing” — on the one hand it wants a central city rebuild, but it granted the Accident Compensation Corporation the right to consider buying the Frederick St car park. ACC has a 12-month timeframe to look at development options for the site. […] Mr Woodhouse is also ACC Minister, and he made it clear he was speaking as a local MP.
Read more

[ends]

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

Dunedin Hospital Redevelopment

ODT Online public notice:

[SDHB media release]

Public forum chance to learn more about Dunedin Hospital facilities

Friday, 17 February 2017

The public is being given the opportunity to learn more about how Dunedin’s new hospital facilities might be configured at an event being held at the end of this month.

A public forum will be held on the evening of Tuesday 28 February to update interested members of the Dunedin community on the redevelopment of Dunedin Hospital.

“The public forum is an opportunity for people to get a better understanding of how we are deciding what facilities we need and where to deliver the best health outcomes for the Southern district. It will provide a great opportunity for people to understand the kinds of issues the team has to find answers for before the architects can complete their work, and the time frames involved in the design and building process,” Chair of the Southern Partnership Group Andrew Blair says.

The forum will include a presentation, followed by a question and answer session.

Southern DHB Commissioner Kathy Grant says the forum will give the community an opportunity to learn how the project is about more than just replacing buildings.

“We want to take this opportunity for members of the public to come along and get a better understanding of this exciting project and the opportunity it presents for developing facilities that can support a modern healthcare system capable of addressing the needs of the next 40-50 years.”

Further information on the project is available at: http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/hospital-redevelopment-projects/dunedin-hospital-redevelopment-project

Public forum details
Date: Tuesday 28 February
Time: 6-7pm
Location: Hutton Theatre, Otago Museum, 419 Gt King Street, Dunedin

Media contact:
SPG Chair Andrew Blair
andrew @blairconsulting.co.nz

SDHB Link

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

Let the Ombudsman recommend for democracy at SDHB

As we know, the slippery triumverate – Kathy Grant, Richard Thomson and Graham Crombie – have had a lot to answer for at both the SDHB and DCC/DCHL. An unsavoury grouping, best dissolved. Unfortunately, Health Minister Jonathan Coleman is not that bright.

—

### ODT Online Mon, 6 Feb 2017
SDHB restricts information access
By Eileen Goodwin
The Southern District Health Board is clamping down on information it has previously released without objection. Last week, the SDHB said it could no longer release commissioner Kathy Grant’s official correspondence unless the Otago Daily Times stated “specifically” which letters it is after. Previously, the board agreed to a general release of top-level inward and outward correspondence, subject to redactions to protect individual privacy. […] The ODT has also complained to the Office of the Ombudsman about the board’s response.
Read more

For more, enter the terms *sdhb*, *kathy grant* and *hospital* in the search box at right.

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

SDHB/Govt : Physio Pool GRIEF

140 Hanover St [rankedbyreview.co.nz]

Pool upgrade supposed to happen a year ago this month.

### ODT Online Mon, 23 Jan 2017
Grant lost as physio pool work stalls
By Eileen Goodwin
A $120,000 grant has been pulled from the Dunedin physiotherapy pool upgrade because no-one yet knows when — or even if — it will happen. And the Otago Therapeutic Pool Trust has confirmed a second grant, of $100,000, is subject to an extension review and a decision is awaited.
Pool trust secretary-treasurer Neville Martin […] hopes to know more by June, when the Ministry of Health is expected to release a shortlist of site options for the $300 million Dunedin Hospital rebuild.
Read more

“To avoid closure of the pool by the Southern District Health Board, the trust has been required to cover all operating costs since the beginning of 2015.” –Neville Martin

—

Related Posts and Comments:
2.10.16 WHO says ‘heritage rules are too restrictive’ —What’s their agenda in the Heritage City
21.8.14 Dirty pool? #SDHB #University
6.8.14 Otago Therapeutic Pool at Dunedin Hospital

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

Audit NZ admonishes commissioner Grant and SDHB #Health

[govt.nz]

“By not declaring all interests, particularly the pecuniary interests, exposes the DHB to an increase in conflict of interest risk and potential for reputational damage.” –Report, Audit New Zealand

The auditors were also disappointed at a lack of progress in other areas. There were no up-to-date disaster recovery plans, a shortcoming identified previously. (ODT)

### ODT Online Mon, 9 Jan 2017
SDHB rapped over non-disclosures
By Eileen Goodwin
Audit New Zealand has told the Southern District Health Board to sharpen up its act on financial  disclosures after finding some interests had not been declared. Commissioner Kathy Grant made new declarations after the issue was raised by auditors, she confirmed to the Otago Daily Times. Mrs Grant had not realised they had to be declared.
….In its 2015-16 audit, Audit New Zealand recommended the DHB implement regular checks of the New Zealand companies office register to check for non-disclosures.
….The auditors said the DHB’s “key challenge” was maintaining sustainable services while trying to improve its financial position.
Read more

● Kathy Grant is a consultant at Dunedin law firm Gallaway Cook Allan.

****

Southern District Health Board
End of year update on the Dunedin Hospital redevelopment project
Wednesday, 14 December 2016
The Southern Partnership Group (SPG) is pleased with progress towards having an Indicative Business Case, with a shortlist of options for the redevelopment of Dunedin Hospital, completed by mid-next year. “Despite the ambitious timeframe, we’ve met our deadline to workshop the longlist of options by Christmas and are on track to have that narrowed down to a shortlist by mid next year,” SPG Chair Andrew Blair says. “The longlist options range on a spectrum from replacing the Clinical Services Building and refurbishing or replacing the Ward Block, to moving all hospital facilities to an entirely new hospital campus either nearby or somewhere else in Dunedin City….”
Read more

█ SDHB Annual Report 2016

█ Audit NZ 2015-16 Management Report

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

DCC set to take away CBD car parks without Economic Impact research

SOMEBODY please work out how many individual car parks stand to be LOST from the CBD —all down to Council making things TOUGH for vehicle users in the Central City.

Starter list via Central City Plan and other developments:
(calculate how many individual car parks lost for each proposal)

1) Rerouting of SH1 one-way through Warehouse area and Queens Gardens ?
2) New segregated cycleways on SH1 one-way system from Warehouse area to North Dunedin ?
3) Pedestrianisation affecting Octagon, lower Stuart St and sections of George St ?
4) Hotel and apartment building, Filleul St/Moray Place ?
5) ORC Headquarters for Dowling St Carpark ? [a great site for ACC]
6) ACC office building for Frederick St Carpark ?
7) New Hospital, block bounded by Cumberland, Frederick, Castle and Hanover Sts ?
8) ORC bus hub (interchange) for Great King St and vicinity ?
9) Other ???

DCC Webmap or Google Earth will give the relative range of car park numbers. A quick sum will do.

—

Mayor Cull might wonder why there’s little or no “growth” likely for Dunedin.

Apart from lack of on street car parking, another starter : the city’s ‘health and position’ is undermined by the degraded Aurora power network that offers NO security of supply ahead. What does this mean for Businesses and Ratepayers via increased Rates and Line Charges, how many Business and Ratepayer defaults ??

After 25-30 years of deliberate neglect to the Aurora network, striving for “economic development” at Dunedin is nigh “Mission Impossible”.

DCC can’t afford to bring the Aurora network up to compliance —as Mayor Cull was told last Tuesday in a private meeting, it will cost a Billion Dollars to do renewals in Dunedin and Central Otago (not counting new build facilities to meet demand in Central Otago).

DCC are well and truly caught with their pants down.

THE BEST THING Central Otago people can do is buy their power network. Once made Safe, their network will generate revenue for expansion across CODC and QLDC growth areas ….Leaving sorry old Dunedin to an impecunious spiral of doom and disaster. How to rid the Dunedin millstone should be uppermost in Central Otago leaders’ minds right now.

—

DCC Webmap – Frederick St Carpark JanFeb 2013 (highlighted)

DCC Webmap – Dunedin Hospital and University health sciences JanFeb 2013

The Mayor and Councillors might think it’s AOK to skip out of an agreement with Southern Partnership Group, the Government-appointed hospital rebuild group…. SDHB and University of Otago had hoped to coordinate their future use of Frederick St carpark; it was a practical and logical proposal for university health sciences and the hospital precinct. Until…. the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) came along, with DCC then deciding to go for a quick buck. Why didn’t DCC offer ACC the Dowling St carpark, instead ? —a better centrally located construction site for the Corporation office building would be hard to find, one that could include public parking on its lower levels (and say BYE to ‘ORC imperialism’).

Squirrelling the Frederick St plum to ACC is the dumbest thing this Council could do. Student graduates – if that is the Mayor’s excuse for the Frederick St debacle – are quite capabable of walking to Queens Gardens for future employ.

Really, there never was a more useless ineffectual Southern town on the map. It has every deterrent sign needed for raccoons and new business. Tumbleweeds, cloned by Mayor Cull.

****

But wait.

Is Southern Partnership Group running scared after finding out how much it costs (a massive sum) to deal to Aurora’s transformer installation located inside the block bounded by Cumberland, Frederick, Castle and Hanover Sts – first site option for the hospital rebuild ?

The network facility comprises old transformers that could blow at any time. Of poor design, the transformers are not isolated from each other : if one transformer blows, they all do. To fuel the fireball, the transformers sit in a pool of oil. The cost to replace or relocate the facility is enough to ‘blow’ the hospital rebuild budget.

OTHER site options for the hospital rebuild rapidly gather impetus.

****

Wakari Hospital [affinityservices.co.nz]

The “somewhere else” option is likely to be Wakari Hospital.
No final decisions will be made until 2018.

### ODT Online Sat, 17 Dec 2016
Hospital may be relocated
By Eileen Goodwin
The Government is considering shifting Dunedin Hospital away from Great King St. A “long list” of site options for the $300 million hospital rebuild includes shifting “all hospital facilities” to a different part of the city. While there has long been speculation about another site, the possibility was revealed in a press statement from the Government-appointed rebuild group. Southern Partnership Group chairman Andrew Blair declined to release the long-list document to the Otago Daily Times, saying it was a “work in progress” … The list was written by consultants, the Ministry of Health, the Southern District Health Board and the partnership group.
Read more

[click to enlarge]
Google Earth – Wakari Hospital 2016

****

If the public hospital was to move from the CBD…..
IMPACTS include:

● Reduced Inner City Vibrancy
● Less Easy Repore and Connection with University of Otago Health Sciences, including Schools of Medicine and Dentistry
● Less Opportunity for NEW Complementary Business Activity/Support in CBD
● Loss of existing Complementary Business Activity and Support in CBD
● Potentially, (ahem) MORE carparks available in the CBD !!
● Distance/Isolation Problem for Hospital patients, their families and supports
● Distance/Isolation Problem for Hospital shift staff between their place of work, homes and CBD
Etc Etc.

—

THE NEWS

ACC given 12-month exclusive due diligence period with view to buying Frederick St Carpark to build multi-storey building. DCC reneged on previous undertaking to earmark site for Dunedin Hospital redevelopment.

15.12.16
ODT: Councillors ‘railroaded’ into carpark decision
Dunedin city councillors were “railroaded” into their decision about the Frederick St car park, and given inadequate information about the risk of pulling out, Cr Lee Vandervis says. Cr Vandervis has taken issue with the Dunedin City Council for presenting the decision last week as “unanimous”, and the council has admitted that was wrong. […] The discussion and decision were held behind closed doors, and councillors were prevented from speaking publicly. Two councillors – Andrew Whiley and Damian Newell – were informally reprimanded for speaking to the Otago Daily Times about the deal. Cont/

****

University of Otago Chief Operating Officer Stephen Willis says proposed ACC building in the middle of area envisaged for health and education precinct. “You’ve got the two book-end anchor institutes and then you bring another one right in the middle that has nothing really to do with health, education, or research.”

11.12.16
ODT: DCC’s ACC building deal criticised
Reneging on an undertaking to earmark a strategic piece of land for the Dunedin Hospital rebuild has undermined the city’s two leading institutions, former Dunedin City councillor Hilary Calvert says. Ms Calvert has criticised the decision to give the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) an exclusive 12-month period to explore options for the Frederick St car park. The council had earlier said it would earmark the site for the health precinct envisaged by the University of Otago. The precinct depends on  Government decisions on the $300 million hospital rebuild, which will not be made until 2018. Cont/

****

8.12.16
ODT: Council backs off land deal
The Dunedin City Council has backed out of its undertaking to allow the Frederick St car park to be used for the $300 million redevelopment of Dunedin Hospital. Instead, the site has been promised to the Accident Compensation Corporation, which is considering consolidating its operations to a proposed multi-storey building there. “That was then,” Mayor Dave Cull said of the council’s change of heart since October when it said the land was earmarked for the hospital. […] ACC has a significant presence in the city, with about 430 roles across the three sites. Cont/

****

15.11.16
ODT: Upgrade on hold till land swap clearer
A planned $8.1 million refurbishment of Hayward College has been postponed because the residential hall might be part of a land-swap with the Southern District Health Board so the area can be used for the Dunedin Hospital rebuild. Yesterday, the University of Otago confirmed it had put off the refurbishment until next year so that it does not go ahead while the Frederick St building’s future is unclear. Cont/

****

“We are aware that it might be important, and that’s why we’re having discussions with them to make sure that we don’t do anything that rules out any use for the site.” –Sue Bidrose, DCC

15.10.16
ODT: Health precinct mooted
Dunedin Hospital could be partly rebuilt on land owned by the University of Otago and become part of a university health precinct under a potential land swap. The university has confirmed it is willing to consider a land swap, whereby it  would own the clinical services building. The Dunedin City Council confirmed it has earmarked the Frederick St car park as a potential part of the plan. The university owns land in the Fraser building block, and on two other sides of the hospital campus. If approved by the Government, it could remove the logistical headache of building on a cramped clinical site. The first business case will go to the Cabinet next year, followed by a detailed one in 2018. Cont/

****

11.2.16
ODT: Green light for $8m cycleways
Construction could begin this year on Dunedin’s $8 million separated cycleways along the city’s one-way system. The New Zealand Transport Agency, which will fund the work, has signed off on a detailed business case setting out the need and basic design of the cycleways. They will be separated from traffic by concrete kerbing and will run along the right-hand side of both the northbound and southbound one-way routes. […] While car parking issues were a potential negative, business owners along the route had offered clever and positive ideas about how those problems could be minimised. Converting the council’s Frederick St car park to a multistorey facility was also “on our radar”, Cr Wilson said. Cont/

****

22.4.14
ODT: DCC mulls Frederick St development
A multi-storey development housing parking and businesses is being considered for the Dunedin City Council-owned Frederick St car park site. A report sent to councillors this week reveals council staff have already had discussions with several parties interested, as tenants or developers, in a development on the site. The report discusses three options for a separated cycle lane through the central city, and a parking study done in the area. It also considers possible ways to mitigate the potential loss of car parks – the major public concern about any new lanes – including possibly providing more commercial parking, such as a parking building. If the council chooses to provide about 100 extra parks on side streets as suggested, the total number of car parks lost to the lane would range from between 80 and 284 under the various options. Cont/

****

20.6.12
ODT: Council seeks $15 million portfolio boost
The Dunedin City Council is sitting on a half-billion-dollar property empire, but the man charged with managing it has big plans to expand … [City Property manager Robert Clark] was appointed to his post in late 2008 … Mr Clark was eyeing several potential projects in Dunedin, including a partnership with an interested private developer to build a $15 million hotel and car-park complex, or one of several variations, on the council’s Dowling St car park. Other plans included an $8 million four-storey car park and retail complex on the existing Frederick St car park. Neither project had been signed off by councillors, but both were expected to be considered later this year, with a possibility one, but not both, would proceed. Cont/

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

Delta at Dunedin Hospital #worseluck

For the moment, at least….
Delta claims to offer “a comprehensive range of specialist electrical services to major industrials, commercial businesses and for new subdivisions”.
“From hospitals, food processing plants and large ports to gold mines, we provide supply and reticulation services including design, installation, commissioning, maintenance and repair. We understand that security of electricity supply is the lifeblood of manufacturing and processing. Customers rely on our smart thinking to solve complex problems, and to work safely and reliably in sensitive environments.”

Our highlighting:

Delta Link

—

We note with irony and concern, and given the names of those who ‘govern’ the SDHB, that Dunedin Hospital wants to SACK Delta over ‘services’ to the operating theatres!

Not only dangerous poles, ‘life-threatening’ theatre suites.

Wow.

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

*Image: generalcomics.com – surgeon

Win! to DCC candidate Paul Pope #DunedinHospital

ODT 22.8.16 (page 6)

*overlay by whatifdunedin

—

Posted by Stop Dunedin Hospital from being downgraded
Monday, 22 August 2016

[screenshot]

Comments on Monday, 22 August 2016 at 7:12 p.m.
[screenshot – click to enlarge]

█ For more, enter the terms *hospital*, *sdhb* and *food* in the search box at right.

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Election Year. This post is offered in the public interest.

Dunedin Hospital #despair

Initially, it was hoped the $11 million upgrade would not get bogged down in a drawn-out approval process.

### ODT Online Fri, 30 Oct 2015
ICU upgrade approval not before March
By Eileen Goodwin
Approval for the long-awaited Dunedin Hospital intensive care unit upgrade has been pushed back to March at the earliest, it has been confirmed. […] The upgrade was considered urgent last year, when the unit lost its accreditation to train specialists, and it was initially hoped building work would start by mid-2015 or sooner.
Read more

—

Related Posts and Comments:
17.6.15 Southern District Health Board sacked !!!
9.6.15 Southern District Health Board
16.4.15 Talk of replacing Southern District Health Board with commissioner
1.5.14 Dunedin Hospital buildings SORRY STATE
25.2.15 South Link Health, hmm that name….
6.8.14 Otago Therapeutic Pool at Dunedin Hospital
14.1.14 DCC: Hospital area parking changes #cyclelanes
5.12.13 Swann case: ODHB/SDHB and friends
10.11.10 Neurosurgery STAYS @Dunedin
6.8.10 SERIOUSLY

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

*Image: clker.com – red cross Joshua Dwire 03-svg-med; text overlay (help) by whatifdunedin

Talk of replacing Southern District Health Board with commissioner

See tomorrow’s Otago Daily Times for more on SDHB.

—

Link received Thu, 16 Apr 2015 at 9:40 p.m.

█ Message: Snap!! – it’s also happening in Dunedin

### whaleoil.co.nz March 27, 2015 at 1:30pm
The waning of Key’s National: the arrogance and irony
By Cameron Slater
The life cycle of any political party leader is clearly understood. What we are seeing now, the vulnerable John Key, the floundering of previously successful people that surround him, and people previously loyal turning their backs on him didn’t just happen in the last four weeks. The by-election simply has made it more visible in a shorter period of time.
Read more

When John Key is out there, he only sees crackpots and sycophants. He’s had so much of it, he can’t even recognise when someone turns up with something genuine and important. The same for his MPs. –Slater

Then there was MAYOR DAVE.

—

Related Posts and Comments:
17.6.15 Southern District Health Board sacked !!!
9.6.15 Southern District Health Board
1.5.14 Dunedin Hospital buildings SORRY STATE

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Dirty pool? #SDHB #University

Dunedin Hospital’s physiotherapy pool has some bent admirers.

GUESS WHO ??

DCC Webmap – subject site

Last week What if? Dunedin received information that the pool’s threatened closure is far from what it seems. A long-term plan has been sighted, in which either the hospital (SDHB) or the University of Otago is shown to be eyeing up the pool building. Note —the pool and a large empty space used for parking immediately adjacent to the University’s student hostel property (at 490 Cumberland Street) are marked for “development”.

It is said the $1 million quoted for the pool’s building upgrade looks like ‘a bogeyman conjured up to make the kids settle down to sleep and stop asking awkward questions’.

—

DCC Rates information (click to enlarge):

—

Related Posts and Comments:
6.8.14 Otago Therapeutic Pool at Dunedin Hospital
1.5.14 Dunedin Hospital buildings SORRY STATE

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Tertiary larks squeeze DCC ratepayers for $30,000

“The two [Auckland] firms had been hired to prepare concept plans and options for projects to improve the pedestrian and cycling environment in and around the tertiary campuses. […] This will enable projects to be ‘picked off’ by the various institutions together or individually.” –Susan Lilley, DCC (via ODT)

● Why are DCC, university and polytechnic not buying LOCAL?
● (Student Ghetto) The streets are PUBLIC, aren’t they? Or are they.
● University and polytechnic not paying enough rates?!
● Heaps of other questions?!

Kate Wilson said Chow Hill Architects and Flow Transportation were hired to come up with a plan, at a cost of $88,000, with the city council paying $30,000, and the rest split between Otago Polytechnic and the University of Otago. (ODT)

### ODT Online Thu, 7 Aug 2014
Auckland firms work on tertiary streetscape
By Vaughan Elder
Two Auckland firms have been hired to investigate options for a revamp of Dunedin’s tertiary precinct, which could include making some areas pedestrian only. The work on the streetscape in the tertiary precinct is being overseen by the “tertiary precinct planning group”, which includes representatives from the Dunedin City Council, Otago Polytechnic, University of Otago, Otago Regional Council, Otago Museum and Southern District Health Board.
Read more

—

Related Posts and Comments:
5.8.14 DCC staff-led CBD projects that impact ratepayers…
4.8.14 Cr Wilson’s integrity ‘in tatters’
1.8.14 DCC: Sorting THE MESS
28.7.14 DCC: Residents’ Opinion Survey 2014
5.7.14 DCC’s debt level — who do you believe?
23.6.14 DCC Annual Plan 2014/15 + Rugby and Rates
2.6.14 DCC: Slip in service levels, why?!
22.5.14 DCC Transportation Planning —ANOTHER consultation disaster

1.8.14 University Partyville, North Dunedin: Put the cameras in ~!!
16.7.14 Stadium: Out of the mouths of uni babes…. #DVML
22.3.14 Dunedin North care less filthy slum
19.3.14 Dunedin North drunks
15.2.14 University of Otago: Starter questions for Harlene
10.2.14 University of Otago major sponsor for Highlanders
19.8.13 Cull on senility (firing up graduates)
31.5.13 University of Otago development plans
25.3.13 University of Otago: NEGATIVE PRESS: Weekly disorder…
20.2.12 University of Otago student orientation
17.12.11 Stadium + Cull love = University of Otago + OUSA party
23.11.11 Judge Oke Blaikie finally said it
20.5.10 Hahaha if you’re still thinking Campus Master Plans look…
17.5.10 Campus Master Plan

North Dunedin – Where Campus Watch are operating [otago.ac.nz]

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

*Image: Cr Kate by whatifdunedin

Otago Therapeutic Pool at Dunedin Hospital

Dunedin Physio Pool, 140 Hanover Street [Photo: radionz.co.nz]

● Built in 1946, the first large, purpose-built therapeutic pool in New Zealand.
● About 50,000 visits by users each year, including patients and members of the public.
● Owned by Southern District Health Board but run by the Otago Therapeutic Pool Trust.
● Water temperature is 35degC.

See story by Bruce Munro, Oasis in the city (ODT 8.11.12)

█ Heritage New Zealand – Registration report and history (List no. 7581)

—

### ODT Online Wed, 6 Aug 2014
Trust will lobby to keep pool
By Eileen Goodwin
In a bid to stop the closure of Dunedin’s physio pool, the trust that runs the facility will appeal to Southern District Health Board members in Dunedin tomorrow. An Otago Therapeutic Pool Trust deputation will ask the board to overrule management and keep the pool open. The meeting starts at 9am and is open to the public. In his submission, secretary-treasurer Neville Martin will tell members the health board should work with the trust and Dunedin City Council to resolve the financial issues.
Read more

****

SOUTHERN DISTRICT HEALTH BOARD
█ Meeting – Thursday, 7 August 2014, 9.00 am
Board Room, Level 2, West Wing, Main Block,
Wakari Hospital Campus, 371 Taieri Road, Dunedin

Agenda: http://www.southerndhb.govt.nz/files/14529_2014080585517-1407185717.pdf

Other meeting information and more about the SDHB here: http://www.southerndhb.govt.nz/pages/boardmeetings/

DONATIONS
At the Otago Daily Times today, in response to a letter from Sue Heap there’s an address for donations:

█ Donations can be made to the Otago Therapeutic Pool Trust, c/o Neville Martin, secretary-treasurer, PO Box 870, Dunedin 9054.

For people who dislike using Cheques, contact Mr Martin (OTPT) via the Health Board for the trust’s bank account number and the correct reference for use.

****

Critic Issue 17, 2014 (excerpt):

█ Read the full article posted by Nina Harrap on Sunday 27 July 2014 at 10:15pm

—

Related Posts and Comments:
21.8.14 Dirty pool? #SDHB #University
1.5.14 Dunedin Hospital buildings SORRY STATE
5.12.13 Swann case: ODHB/SDHB and friends
10.8.13 Garrick Tremain, excellence
15.7.13 Leave Otago white collar criminals ALONE, and other unfairness

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Dunedin Hospital buildings SORRY STATE

An Official Information Act request by Labour health spokeswoman Annette King revealed there had been major equipment failures, including power outages to wards and an incident this year of a public ward block lift “free falling” five floors.

### ODT Online Thu, 1 May 2014
Hospital upgrade tipped
By Hamish McNeilly
Outgoing Health Minister Tony Ryall dropped his strongest hint yet of when a major upgrade of Dunedin Hospital could be expected. “I expect Cabinet will consider a business case next year and an announcement would be made then,” Mr Ryall said last night. Upgrading Dunedin Hospital was “one of our next projects”, following upgrades of hospitals in Canterbury and the West Coast.
Read more

****

### tvnz.co.nz 7:19PM Wednesday April 30, 2014
Source: ONE News
Nurse claims Dunedin Hospital facilities are putting patients at risk
There are disturbing claims the state of facilities at Dunedin Hospital are putting patients at risk. ONE News has spoken to a senior nurse and health and safety representative at the hospital who says it’s now so bad operations are sometimes being delayed. Deslee Howell has had enough of the hospital facilities after working there for the past 14 years. “This is patient safety that we are putting at risk. We’ve got new health and safety legislation coming in in 2015 and I don’t think we’re going to do well,” says Ms Howell.

“If we had been a factory we’d have been shut down.”

Ms Howell says the hospital’s windows were leaking so badly on Good Friday “it was like Noah’s Ark”. She claims that after years of complaints to management and temporary fixes, Good Friday’s downpour was the final straw.
Read more + Video (2:04)

—

Related Posts and Comments:
17.6.15 Southern District Health Board sacked !!!
9.6.15 Southern District Health Board
16.4.15 Talk of replacing Southern District Health Board with commissioner

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

*Image: wikimedia.org – Dunedin Hospital from Signal Hill Sep 2007 (re-imaged by whatifdunedin)

Secret Commissions Act aka ‘Backhanders Law’

Though it is perceived as one of the least corrupt countries in the world, New Zealand is among only a handful of countries including North Korea, Germany and Japan not to ratify the 2003 United Nations Convention on Corruption.

### stuff.co.nz Last updated 09:58 01/12/2013
Century-old corruption law carries wrist-slap penalties
By Rob Stock – Sunday Star-Times
A private eye who has helped two clients lay bribery charges under the Secret Commissions Act in the past month says the penalties need updating as they haven’t changed in more than a 100 years. Danny Toreson of Thompson and Toreson Investigations would not name the clients, but said: “One is a commercial organisation and the other is a government body”.

“We have had an increase in dealing with matters concerning allegations of corruption and bribery,” Toreson said. Maximum penalties under the act amount to only a $2000 fine for a company and up to two years prison for a person, which Toreson says is a “bit light”. “It needs a massive overhaul.”

The Secret Commissions Act is the main law outlawing staff taking backhanders for awarding work and contracts without their employer’s knowledge. For example, a government worker could give a contract to a company in return for a secret payment or benefit.
But despite a rising tide of secret commissions charges being laid, an update of the act is long overdue.
Read more

****

No-trick Xmas Party Question:
What’s the connection between Dunedin and Hamburg (Germany), and why does it matter?

—

Published by Elizabeth Kerr

Voting Closes on Saturday

Dunedin City Council – Media Release
Don’t Forget – Voting Closes on Saturday

This item was published on 07 Oct 2013.

It’s time to get those papers in – voting for the local body elections closes on Saturday.

If you haven’t already sent your voting papers in, now is the time to fill them out and return them. The elections are held by postal vote and papers must be mailed or delivered in time to be received by 12 noon on Election Day, Saturday 12 October.

Wednesday [was] the last recommended date for posting to ensure voting papers are received in time, but people can drop them in at the Civic Centre until Saturday.

The Electoral Officer for the Dunedin City Council, the Otago Regional Council and the Southern District Health Board, Pam Jordan, says if you have not received voting papers, you can cast a special vote.

The best way to do this now is to visit the Special Voting Booth in the Plaza Meeting Room in the Civic Centre. The booth is open Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm, and also on Saturday morning.

Ms Jordan says fewer people have voted so far than at the same point in the past three elections. As of Friday, 18.65% of voting papers for this area had been returned, compared with 28.44% for the same period in 2010.

Daily voting paper returns can be seen at http://www.electionz.com/elections/lgereturns/ELT71DU13_returns.htm

Contact Electoral Officer, Dunedin City Council on 477 4000.

DCC Link

—

Related Posts and Comments:
10.10.13 LGNZ: Local authority election results (advisory)
3.10.13 Exercise your right to VOTE

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

LGNZ: Local authority election results (advisory)

Received by Mayors, Chairs and Chief Executives
Tuesday, 8 October 2013 9:39 a.m.

Local Government New Zealand
MEDIA ADVISORY
Local authority election results – Saturday 12 October 2013

Voting for local authority elections closes at midday on Saturday 12 October. Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) will have a selection of election results available to the media from mid-afternoon on 12 October as follows:

[click to enlarge]

Information on past election results is currently available on LGNZ’s website.

****

Media contact and spokespeople
To request any of the above information or to arrange an interview, please contact Helen Mexted, LGNZ’s Director of Advocacy on 029 924 1221.

The following LGNZ spokespeople will be available to provide media commentary pre and post the election results:

Lawrence Yule – LGNZ President
Lawrence previously represented the Provincial Sector on the National Council. He has been Mayor of Hastings District since 2001, where he also won the honour of being Hastings District’s youngest Mayor. He continues to be at the forefront of not only district, but regional initiatives.

Malcolm Alexander – LGNZ Chief Executive
Malcolm has successfully led LGNZ through a significant period of recent change. He leads the organisation’s day-to-day management, relationships with its members and other stakeholders, and strategy and policy development. Malcolm was previously at Genesis Energy where he held the position of General Manager, Corporate Affairs. He was a member of the Board of the New Zealand Council for Infrastructure Development between 2008 and 2012 and was the Independent Chair of the Telecommunications Carriers’ Forum between 2002 and 2008.

****

About LGNZ and local government in New Zealand
Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) is the peak body representing New Zealand’s 78 local, regional and unitary authorities. LGNZ advocates for local democracy, develops local government policy, and promotes best practice and excellence in leadership, governance and service delivery. Through its work strengthening sector capability, LGNZ contributes to the economic success and vibrancy of communities and the nation.

The local government sector plays an important role. In addition to giving citizens a say in how their communities are run, councils own a broad range of community assets worth more than $120 billion. These include 90 per cent of New Zealand’s road network, the bulk of the country’s water and waste water networks, and libraries, recreation and community facilities. Council expenditure is approximately $8.5 billion dollars, representing approximately 4 per cent of Gross Domestic Product and 11 per cent of all public expenditure.

For more information visit: www.lgnz.co.nz

Download:
LGNZ Media Advisory Local Authority Elections Announcement
(PDF, 280 KB)

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Local body elections: Voting papers due #Dunedin

The *calibre* of unknown candidates, known candidates, and all those “standing again” for the lack of transparency and non-accountability to continue at Dunedin City Council… is set to rack and torture all good voting citizens who want the council SORTED financially. Bankrupt DCC, we hear you say?

—

Dunedin City Council – Media Release
Voting Papers Out Soon

This item was published on 18 Sep 2013.

Voting papers for the October local body elections will be arriving in letterboxes from Friday.

The Electoral Officer for the Dunedin City Council, the Otago Regional Council and the Southern District Health Board, Pam Jordan, says the elections are held by postal vote and voting papers will arrive from 20 September to 25 September.

Voting papers must be mailed back in time to be received by 12 noon on Election Day, Saturday 12 October.

If you have not received your voting papers by 26 September, you can cast a special vote. To get special voting papers posted out phone 03 477 4000 or email specialvotes @ dcc.govt.nz. Alternatively, people can visit the Special Voting Booth in the Plaza Meeting Room in the Civic Centre, which will be open from 20 September. The booth will be open Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm, and also on the morning of 12 October.

The Dunedin City Council and Southern District Health Board elections will be conducted under the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system, while the Otago Regional Council will be elected under the First Past the Post (FPP) system.

Election information, including details about STV, is available at http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/elections.

This year, names on the voting papers will be in random order for the DCC, ORC and SDHB. Each voting paper will be unique.

Contact Electoral Officer on 03 477 4000.

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC website: Candidate profiles

HOT PRESS —.
David Shearer stands down from Labour Party leadership
Mr Shearer stood down as party leader this afternoon, citing discontent amongst his caucus and poor party polling results.

—

LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS

DCC has published all candidate profiles and photographs at its website.

Unfortunately, the web page formatting allows no easy cross-comparison between the candidates since there is no ‘one-glance’ photobank of candidate images (named and dated!) with hover statements and links provided to the full candidate statements.

As usual, the DCC website is from the dark ages.
Happy fishing, everyone.

Why are web designers and graphic designers in the employ of the council? To provide clear information to the council, residents, ratepayers and visitors. No stars for the Nominations Received pages (DCC, ORC and SDHB) and their navigation.

This is not a criticism angled at the highly organised and efficient electoral officer for Dunedin, Pam Jordan.

Visit the DCC website for more electoral information.

—

Mayoral Candidates 2013 Left to right, (top) Hilary Calvert, Dave Cull, Kevin Dwyer, (middle) Pete George, Aaron Hawkins, Olivier Lequeux, (bottom) Steve McGregor, Lee Vandervis, Andrew Whiley

—

Related Post and Comments:
16.8.13 DCC nominations —All the mops, brooms and feather dusters

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Extraordinary editorials

The ODT bellows: “They should be more open.” Their editorial today is a form of tirade directed at the Southern District Health Board (SDHB); with a wrist slap to the University of Otago. The message, however, has sticky parallels.

—

### ODT Online Fri, 3 Aug 2012
Editorial: Open communication
It is natural organisations want to control news about themselves. They want “good news” to spread and bad news to remain as hidden as possible. No-one wants their dirty linen flapping in the breeze. Thus, public relations firms and communications specialists are paid to develop strategies and to help massage and control information. Of course, it pays to be upfront and open because the consequences of not doing so could well be much worse publicity. Often, public relations advisers will, sensibly, advise openness, recognising the longer-term benefits. But no-one should be fooled into thinking that they are operating for wider altruistic reasons. They are serving their clients or bosses.
Read more

—

We’re in NO DOUBT the ODT editor has chosen their words very carefully, but in so doing perhaps they should pause to reflect on their own production of what constitutes local news in the Southern Region. We use the plural.

And here’s the thing, it’s hard for the ‘average reader’ to work out who is ‘speaking’ in each of the newspaper’s editorials these days, since there’s a discernible movement and variance of principle, voice and direction, or so it appears.

The anonymity of the editor – or the actions and beliefs of the team producing editorial material – erodes believability and reader confidence; in much the same way as when the newspaper’s ownership comes to bear (do we detect?) on the printed editorial stance.

‘Open communication’ is the headline. It’s something we expect from the independent newspaper, owing to the less than edifying antics and misdeeds that riddle city power structures and business, tied to in-your-face indiscriminate spending of public funds for little or no perceptible public gain.

In an effective democracy, and particularly when public money at stake, however, transparency should be fundamental. Not only does this diminish the opportunity for the cancer of corruption, but it also – as noted last week by the Law Commission in its report on the Official Information Act – promotes accountability. -ODT

ODT itself should be in no doubt that if it wants to play ‘dumb blonde’ or ‘dull brunette’ then the community’s quest for transparency, exposure and lack of newspaper bias will simply change gear – we’ll slip quietly to other news sources for the information we seek, some published, some underground. Motivated people get what they need, where they can. The work-arounds: internet and web sources are all-powerful for constant/instant messaging and exchange of visual data. The underground news economy.

The newspaper – while the physical paper appeals to the eye and hand – is ‘maybe’ something we’ll continue to buy, as a habit. For the most part, Southern news (and morality) is coming to us via social networking services, phone calls and person-to-person meetings – it’s fast and unabridged. People are taking charge of their information sharing. It’s exciting, it’s risky, it works for good and bad. It’s addictive.

We know that lumbering institutions have trouble sending the ‘real news’ by official means – there’s a lot to hide, wheelings, dealings, and slights.

Watch the silence of city councillors. Most are scared of communicating with their constituents by media; god forbid that social media should come between them and their council paychecks or, for some at least, the kickbacks and advantages received from private interests to propel decisions through council committee and departmental processes.

It’s a small world and the Otago Daily Times could adopt a neutral independent newspaper stance to capture most of the undercurrents. Does it? No. Especially not, if when things get too close.

Why are letters to the editor not printed? Why are online comments deleted, rewritten or abridged without explanation on certain topics? Frankly, it’s not all about bad grammar or actionable comments.

Most of the time we’re allowed to read ‘what is safe’, things guaranteed to not upset the Applecart of Order established by the Otago Daily Times in conjunction with (we suspect…) Dunedin City Council and the old boy networks. Intelligent networked people watch for what’s NOT being printed by the patriarchy.

****

The Catholic Bishop of Dunedin has come out as a misogynist… that ODT won’t allow comments at the online post in the interests of widening the debate for female and male subscribers is a sad indictment on the newspaper. Loudly, it shows the inability of All to participate in ‘open communication’ through the newspaper at yet another critical moment for the great ink-blackened unwashed.

—

Related Post:
28.7.12 Pokie fraud: ODT fails to notice own backyard

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr