Councillor don’t tell us, we know Dunedin industry and manufacturing is Tops

But Rachel Elder did need to inform Mr Mayor, since it’s he who opines that [singularly ???] “weightless” manufacturing will one day make Dunedin great.
A while back Mr Mayor lauded expansion at Speight’s, Emerson’s and Greggs ….but recently, dreadfully, when interviewed by John Campbell on RNZ Checkpoint, Mr Mayor had trouble remembering these and other multimillion-dollar manufacturing investments in the good people, raw products and knowhow of Dunedin City. As well, he slipped past the convenient fact that the deputy mayor is a director of Scott Technology Ltd, and his old flower Mr McLauchlan, advisor and confidant, is the company’s board chairman.

Notwithstanding, Ms Elder thought it necessary to set herself a free writing project, an op-ed to ‘tell’ Mr Mayor, as well as advertise her paid work skills. Yes, yes, we’re all for free speech and pumping political mileage; however, we are the converted and connected, we know just how great Dunedin manufacturing is and can be —if not for DCC.

It must be said, though, that Mr Mayor’s speech at the Cadbury protest in the Octagon last Saturday was a large complimentary step up from the fatal Checkpoint phone interview.

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“Messaging that it is too expensive to export from Dunedin and that we are too far away from markets and that manufacturing is best not done here does not support the many families and individuals who work in this sector.”
–Rachel (take that Dave Cull) Elder

### ODT Online Wed, 15 Mar 2017
We have skilled workers and can make it all here
By Rachel Elder
OPINION As an employment consultant and someone who advocates for a wide range of jobs in Dunedin, I am keen for Dunedin to be advertised nationwide as a place that is great for manufacturing and production as this will supply jobs to our skilled workers. The fact is Cadbury is owned by a multinational that has caused its demise. Manufacturing can be done here well and efficiently.
Read more

Comment published at ODT Online:

ej kerr Wed, 15/03/2017 – 7:59pm #
As a city councillor Ms Elder should be overtly aware that the Dunedin City Council-owned power distribution company Aurora Energy Ltd does not and cannot offer a safe and secure electricity supply network for businesses, manufacturers and other large power users (this aside from the now obvious inability to offer safe supply to residential users). The mayor and councillors are not listening and not communicating clearly on the state of Aurora’s burnt asset. Thankfully, the Otago Daily Times has filled that void with strong news reporting. At a cost of one billion dollars to repair and upgrade the existing lines and facilities – not counting the cost of new development work required in Central Otago and Lakes District to meet growth and increasing infrastructural demand – there will shortly be a very heavy impost landing on all local businesses via rates increases. Such an unpopular debating topic at the head-in-the-sand Dunedin City Council.

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Truly fine examples of the sort of thing your grandmother and mother will tell you about Dunedin that Mr Mayor can’t:
. . . .

McMeeking Manufacturing, 123 Maclaggan St

Jaytee Baking Cups have been a household name since the 1930s, when the company was founded by a printing engineer James Thomas Williamson, hence the name Jaytee. Since acquiring the company in 1979, McMeeking Manufacturing has been the largest supplier of Baking Cups in New Zealand with exports to Australia and the Pacific Islands. Due to the dramatic increase in bakeries, cafes etc, the range of products – all manufactured in the Dunedin factory – has grown to fulfil customers requirements and follow the latest trends. Read more at https://www.jaytee.co.nz/

. . . .

### ODT Online Wed, 15 Mar 2017
Machine tool smart, versatile
By Simon Hartley
Farra Engineering’s latest $1.3 million machining kit not only has the capacity to work 24/7, but can text its progress to operators day and night. The DMG Mori “multi-pallet (work bench) horizontal machining centre”, supplied by a German-Japanese merged company, has been running for about a fortnight, at Farra Engineering, Dunedin, chief executive John Whitaker said. The DMG Mori could work on castings weighing just a few grams, on pieces weighing up to three tonnes, and castings up to 1.4cu m in size. “Being so productive, we’re going to the marketplace to fill the spare capacity,” Mr Whitaker said.
Read more

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

*Image: jaytee.co.nz – jaytee baking cups

Stadium: Behaviours at Suite 29 (intrepid tales)

Updated post 11.9.14 at 6:24 p.m.

The Otago Daily Times was tipped off about its [Studio 29] closure by a caller who described it as a private bar for a “boys’ club”.

However, a number of girls were allowed in….

Mr Davies confirmed the room was now considered “outdated” for the stadium, and the decision to close it had been made in April.

That being said we had already done lots of photography!

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### ODT Online Wed, 10 Sep 2014
Taps turned off at stadium’s ‘bar for the boys’
By Chris Morris
Last drinks have been called for a male drinking bastion buried deep within the bowels of Forsyth Barr Stadium. The call has been made by Dunedin Venues Management Ltd chief executive Terry Davies, who confirmed the closure of “Suite 29” following a review launched earlier this year. The small room – in the main south stand near the venue’s service entrance – was used as a private social space for DVML staff, high-profile sports stars and other guests, with beer provided.
Read more

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A bit of a rundown….

[Mr Davies] was not aware of any behavioural problems associated with the room, but expected staff would have to find other places to socialise after work.

Behaviours/behavioural problems, indeed.
Ahhh, the stories to tell from Carisbrook, the farm, and Fubar…. the whole continuance, but with the closure of Suite 29 where will DVML staff, executive and friends meet now? And Mr Hansen, we hear he’s doing terribly well and enjoying his flatscreen TVs (2).

“Activities at Suite 29 included ‘celebrity’ attendances to underage drinking and other things. The twitter feed clearly shows the beer line that comes direct from the Speight’s tanks at the stadium.” [Anonymous]

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SAMPLES
Images from the deactivated @29suite Twitter account – due to the lack of space here we’ve held back on publishing too many of the tweets photographed, nevertheless you’ll get the flavour:

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HAPPY DVML PASTIMES

A spot of horse owning….
Rock Of Tara racks up 30th win for Tweedie
Last updated 05:00 18/12/2012
http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/sport/racing/8091489/Rock-Of-Tara-racks-up-30th-win-for-Tweedie

Cars are fun….

Wanting shareholders to help buy things like a car and well, horses….

Oh yeah. They run treasure hunts at work….

Important friends help with the sheep….

Munted farm produce (or they eat well)….

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PAST COMMUNICATIONS
Things that make us go Hmmm….
● Ask about Suite 29 and how it’s used to fund a staff member’s horse and racing car and how staff are bullied into buying space sold on the wall to fund the hobby.
● That tickets are sold to staff to fund Suite 29. It’s only for boys and invited girls who tow the line.
● Ask about the beer keg system installed into this area and who paid for that and the huge amounts of beer. [Also, worth asking where the plumbed-in keg came from and who paid for it. The free beer from Lion!!!]
● Ask if it’s ok for the staff member to use the corporate suites to carry out extramarital affairs.
● Ask the staff fired from the Dunedin Centre about the bullying tactics and how the technical staff had to be moved down there because they feared the staff member’s bullying.
● Use of stadium equipment at the farm.
● Use of language by the staff member in the office which creates a terrible unprofessional ‘rugby culture’ at the stadium.
● An invoice for a taxi to Big Stone Road! Worth over $100.

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THE ANTECEDENT – Dug Out, Carisbrook
Run by the same types….

Cheers!

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

*Images: Screenshots by whatifdunedin – from a photographic series based on a web of Twitter accounts

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

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

Correction: The council received 12 submissions on the application.

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

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

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

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

Read more

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

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

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

180 Rattray St, Dunedin: Proposed historic building demolition means loss of nineteenth century alley

The Exchange area stands to lose the solid Victorian era building constructed of bluestone and brick, with a modern frontage, standing next door to the listed Speight’s Shamrock Building (1912-1913), opposite the listed Crown Hotel (1890). Significantly, the proposed site development at 180 Rattray Street will also destroy one of Dunedin’s outstanding nineteenth century service alleys.

The former P. Hayman & Co. Building (1872) under threat of demolition is located in the district plan listed North Princes Street / Moray Place / Exchange Townscape Precinct (TH03). The building, designed by architect David Ross, is not individually listed for protection in the district plan (Schedule 25.1); nor is it registered by New Zealand Historic Places Trust.

The Dunedin City Council has recently granted demolition consent for the N. & E.S. Paterson Building (date?) and the Barron Building (1875) in Rattray Street.
[ODT link]

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180 Rattray Street, Dunedin
Resource consent is sought to demolish the existing building on site; and to use the empty site for stand alone rental car parking.

The resource consent application from Paterson Pitts, on behalf of building owner Lincoln Darling, says: “Although it was built before 1900 and had bluestone foundations and ground floor, the modernisation of the building had destroyed the original facade to the point it no longer had any heritage significance.”

The application acknowledged the site might be an archaeological site in terms of the Historic Places Act and, if so, an authority might be required.

Closing Date for Submissions: Wednesday 21 September 2011 at 5pm.
Read the application at the DCC website.

### ODT Online Thu, 25 Aug 2011
Application to demolish building
By Debbie Porteous
Consent is being sought to demolish the former Furniture Court Building in Rattray St, Dunedin, and use the site as a car park. The resource consent application from Paterson Pitts, on behalf of building owner Lincoln Darling, states Mr Darling had been unable to attract any tenants after Furniture Court moved to another location.
Read more

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Rattray Street circa 1900. Hocken Collections [c/n E3856/42]
At far left, P Hayman & Co’s store, 180 Rattray Street

Related Posts:
12.4.11 Public outrage – SHAME on those re$pon$ible for building neglect
19.2.11 Owner of Dragon Café/Barron Building has lodged an application to demolish.
26.1.11 D Scene: Honour heritage
22.1.11 SAVE Dragon Café / Barron Building – Sign the Online Petition
13.1.11 Barron Building and Rattray Street
13.1.11 Banks, Barron & Co Building Collapse pics
Lincoln Darling is the current owner of the Barron Building.

ODT Online:
21.5.11 Downfall of the Dainty Dairy
21.5.11 Land, lots of land
3.5.11 ‘Holes’ spoil townscape – DCC

See comments at (14.4.11) Public consultation for DCC Earthquake-prone Buildings Policy. Lincoln Darling is a former owner of the Dainty Dairy on Stuart Street, another historic commercial building under threat of demolition.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DScene bumper stories

### DScene 4-8-10

Hillside group ‘on tenterhooks’ (page 3)
By Mike Houlahan
Hillside engineering workshop workers and supporters have an anxious month ahead as KiwiRail prepares crucial documents for its half-million-dollar Auckland rail contract – paperwork that may hold the key to how much work might be made available to the Dunedin workshop.
{continues} #bookmark

Mayoral candidate (page 3)
By Wilma McCorkindale
Former Dunedin city councillor Lee Vandervis is having another go at the Dunedin mayoralty. Vandervis who polled second after incumbent Peter Chin in the 2007 mayoral race, announced today he is standing for the mayoralty in this year’s October local body elections. He has also put himself up as a council candidate.
{continues} #bookmark

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

Stadium will be on time: Farry (page 5)
By Wilma McCorkindale
Carisbrook Stadium Trust chairman Malcolm Farry, under stern questioning at a meeting Monday, assured councillors the Forsyth Barr Stadium would be finished on time, on budget. Farry said rumours that the stadium was three months behind schedule were nonsense when the subject arose at the Dunedin City Council (DCC) finance and strategy meeting.

Dave Cull said the trust report was “manifestly at odds with reality” and he would vote against the committee accepting it.

Farry said the October critical path had now been superceded by Hawkins Construction Ltd’s critical path which would probably not go public to avoid nitpicking around deadlines not being met.

{continues} #bookmark

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New service in February (page 5)
By Wilma McCorkindale
Dunedin gets its new $28.8m kerbside rubbish and recycling service next February, with another four months before rates for the collection kick in.
{continues} #bookmark

Talk: Dunedin on Dunedin (page 8)
Puzzling over drive
Letter to the editor by Bernard L Esquilant, Wakari
“…it is my contention that during the past six years this city has endured the decision-making of what must be the most inept civic administration in the city’s history.”
{read the full letter} #bookmark

Speight’s pride of the world (pages 12-13)
Dunedin’s best-known beer, Speights, has gone from near extinction to being New Zealand’s biggest-selling beer. Mike Houlahan reports.

Speight’s owner Lion Nathan employs about 40 people at Rattray St across all areas of the business, and is considering further investment in the city.

{continues} #bookmark #bookmark

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Check out the photograph of Rattray St in 1911…
and the superb image work of Otago Polytechnic Art School photography lecturer Max Oettli

A century on (page 15)
New Hocken exhibition depicts Dunedin in 1910 and 2010
By Gavin Bertram
In 1910 there were a mere 440 students at the University of Otago; today there are almost 22,000. The gender split is in favour of women, whereas in 1910 they were a fraction of the student population. This is just one of the huge changes Dunedin has seen over the preceding century, a subject broached by the new 100 UP exhibition at the Hocken Gallery.
{continues} #bookmark

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Post by Elizabeth Kerr