Dave Kennedy - 19 today!

Well done, Mr Kennedy!
No. 19 on the Green Party list.
That's an excellent ranking for a man from the South, in fact, for anyone, anywhere, given the quality of the present-day Green candidates.
We are very pleased for you.
Here's the list:


1. Metiria Turei MP
2. Russel Norman MP
3. Kevin Hague MP
4. Eugenie Sage MP
5. Gareth Hughes MP
6. Catherine Delahunty MP
7. Kennedy Graham MP
8. Julie Anne Genter MP
9. Mojo Mathers MP
10. Jan Logie MP
11. David Clendon MP
12. Holly Walker MP
13. James Shaw
14. Denise Roche MP
15. Steffan Browning MP
16. Marama Davidson
17. Barry Coates
18. John Hart
19. David Kennedy
20. Jeanette Elley
21. Jack McDonald
22. David Moorhouse
23. Sea Rotmann
24. Aaryn Barlow
25. Richard Leckinger
26. Umesh Perinpanayagam
27. Susanne Ruthven
28. Teresa Moore
29. Dora Roimata Langsbury
30. Tane Woodley
31. Chris Perley
32. Rachael Goldsmith
33. John Kelcher
34. Daniel Rogers
35. Richard Wesley
36. Anne-Elise Smithson
37. Malcolm McAll
38. Chris Ford

Exclusive!

So, four plane-loads of Exclusive Brethren have swollen Invercargill's numbers for the weekend and questions are being asked by the interested and the disinterested alike: Why here, why now and other such questiony questions.
Claims are being made too.
Most mysterious of those is that from Invercargill 'Exclusive", Peter Hickmott  who said,
"We had to get people here at short notice and this was easiest", referring to the use of the four planes.
"Short notice"? I thought to myself. Has something come up? There's been talk of the Rapture on the blogs over the past couple of days. Were those usually non-prophetic commentators onto something? There's a national Bible conference being held in the city this weekend - is there a connection here, that I'm not seeing?
"Short notice", though. It has me puzzled. Has someone spotted something in the Good Book that had been overlooked for centuries? It could be a revelation of some sort. "Short notice". Maybe some other town cancelled, but who would dare? Maybe they shift their meetings around, the way the Americans do with whatever they don't want to have recognised as a target. Who would target the Exclusive Brethren? The Inclusives? Is there bad blood? Not enough has been written about this "conference", I'm thinking.
Here's one last thing to ruminate on:

" There were two jets, a Challenger and a Cessna Citation, and two smaller prop-driven aircraft, but she  Invercargill Airport general manager Chloe Scala) was unable to comment on who was on board."

"Unable to comment" eh!
Why's that then, do you think?

You can't fool Shadbolt (for long)

In this week's Mayoral Moments column in the Southland Express newspaper, Invercargill mayor, Tim Shadbolt shows why it is he's risen to the top of local government in the part of the world - he's no fool and not easily fooled. Water, reticulation and the control of both has long been subject to his mayoral scrutiny and comment and he's warned of the inevitable privatization of our shared resource. In his column he goes further than before, describing the insidious way in which the idea is being foisted upon us by the Government. Shadbolt says;  "The Government has already started to invent a new language for this concept whereby larger successful cities will inherit the problems of a small rural town. It's called 'clubbing', 'harmonisation' or 'network pricing'. I believe we are witnessing the thin edge of the wedge of the privatization of all New Zealand water reticulation, including irrigation."

I share, and have shared for some time, Tim's view on the issue of water privatisation. He's bold enough to say that it's happening befroe our eyes, but that it's wrapped in clever words, so as not to alarm us. We ought to be alarmed. Shadbolt goes on to make this interesting statement:
"I had respected John Key because he seemed to be motivated by good old Kiwi common sense rather than ideological dogma." If there's one thing mayor Shadbolt and I do differ on, it's that point, though it looks as though he's finally seen through Key's pretence.
With regard Tim's 'inventing a new language' comment, I have to mention Fonterra and the Federated Farmers who are busy 'reforming' the language around farming, by diluting down the required standard from "best practice" to "good practice". Seems if you can't meet the standards required these days, you just lower the bar by fiddling with words! Watch out for it. It's happening all over. Remember Key's "New Zealand is New Zealand's brand, not 'clean and green'.
Sneaky Mr Key.

Shadbolt fears water privatization

In his column in today's Southland Times, Invercargill mayor Tim Shadbolt again directs our attention to the unhealthy direction we are going in regarding the control of our drinking water supplies. Tim's been alerting us to this for some time and I wonder if he's becoming frustrated by the public's lack of concern over the issue of private control over what is presently a publicly owned resource. Tim says,
"We supply unlimited water to our ratepayers for 85c a day. Neither the Government or private sector could provide such an efficient service, but I'm convinced this will soon be privatised."
I reckon Tim's right.

The bedrock of democracy

More letters in today's Southland Times, from people at Wednesday's 'lignite' meeting, at which, briefly and unsuccessfully, the past-chairman of Environment Southland attempted to subvert the democratic process. These 3 letters describe his failure as well as some values the letter-writers got from the occasion. The editor chose the 'bedrock' heading.

It was disappointing to hear Cr Robert Guyton being criticised for his initiative in organising a meeting to gauge the depth of feeling over Solid Energy's proposal to mine Southland's lignite. (July 7)
  I have always believed that public consultation is the bedrock of democracy and must be employed whenever controversial issues arise.
  It serves the dual purpose of clearing away misunderstandings by providing people with accurate information while also providing the decisionmakers with an insight into the feelings of the people they represent.
  This step may prove to be an inconvenience to those groups that have their own agendas but it is the process that saved the old Southland Electric Power Supply from privatisation and succeeded in retaining it as a consumer owned non-profit trust.
  Robert Guyton obviously shares this view, as well as appreciating the need to avoid breaking the conflict-of-interest protocols or showing any preference.
  In my opinion he succeeded in doing this throughout the meeting by taking a completely disinterested stance, encouraging everyone present to speak and refraining from adding any leading comments. He was there to listen and learn but not lead the discussion.
  This lignite mining issue deserves widespread public debate, because whatever decisions are made today will prove to be highly praised, or roundly condemned, by future generations.
ALAN SWALLOW
Invercargill

Collie questioned

I question Mr Collie in his chastisement of Environment Southland councillor Robert Guyton for what he says are predetermined views, and outspoken viewpoints.
  In Mr Collie's point of view, this means Mr Guyton should not be on a consent hearing committee.
  So how can Mr Collie be so sure that the other Environmnet Southland board members don't also have strong-held predetermined views?
  They may have viewpoints that are totally opposite to Mr Guyton's.
  I suggest to him that just because they are not outspoken doesn't mean they don't have strongly held political and personal biases, that are revealed in their decisionmaking with resource consents.
  Mr Collie's own political biases are well known. I ask Mr Collie, when he was in the position on Environment Southland could he honestly say he never once allowed this to affect the decisions he made or his stewardship as its chairman.
  Thankfully, with Robert Guyton, at least the community knows what he represents.
  Personally, like many at Mr Guyton's meeting, I was appreciative for his giving the public a chance to have a say on the many important environment issues which do now and will affect Southland in the future.
PAULINE MACINTOSH
Invercargill


Attacks don't work

Mr Collie (July 7) needs to stop grandstanding and accept that he is not the chairman of Environment Southland now.
  Attacks on Robert Guyton's integrity did not work at the local body elections. They do not work now.
  Mr Guyton was elected as a well-known environmental activist, just as many well-known farmers and those of other persuasions have been elected in the past.
  Guidelines around conflict of interest are quite clear. It is up to the current chairman of Environment Southland to decide if they exist and have not been declared.
  There is a reason lignite has stayed in the ground so long.; the worst, lowest-energy coal gets mined last, if at all.
  People at Wednesday's meeting wanted to talk about more than briquettes.
  They wanted to talk about why lignite to liquids might not be a good long-term answer; about environmental impacts; about what might be better in energy economics; about the fact that there are more jobs in renewables and in agriculture than in unsustainable mining.
  Fortunately, apart from Mr Collie's interruption, that was what was discussed.
  Good on Robert Guyton for organising such a meeting, and I hope it is not the last such.
LESLEY SOPER
Labour candidate, Invercargill.

Collie out of hibernation

Did he stumble out of his warm, dry cave by himself, or was he encouraged to emerge from his long slumber by those upset by my outspokenness, that's what I wondered as I fielded ex-chairman Collie's terse accusations of bias, at the yesterday's 'listen to the public' meeting in Invercargill. Collie was like a bear with a sore head, and his grumbling was caused by my calling a meeting where, shock, horror, the public was able to say what they thought, without restriction, to a councillor who was willing to listen and note their concerns. Collie thought this most improper and said so. He probably wasn't expecting the stropping that followed! Several members of the crowd that turned out for the meeting vigorously chastised the ex-chairman for his churlish views and stated their strong support for the opportunity the meeting provided for them to have their say. Collie vainly tried to maintain his objections, until Labour's Leslie Soper delivered the coup de grace with some well chosen facts and definitive phrases that ended Collies diatribe on predetermination and made my heart swell with pride! There was applause all round at her words. To Collies' credit, he stayed for the rest of the meeting and got to hear, as I did, what people thought about Solid Energy's lignite mining plans, along with other associated issues. The crowd was a well informed one and covered some very important concerns, all of which I will take to the council I sit on, for their information. I learned a great deal from those people and was hugely grateful for their opinions and their support. The Southland Times reporter, naturally, chose to focus on the conflict, as reporters are bound to do, and I've copy/pasted that story below. Thank you, by the way, very much to all those who came to the meeting. I was very encouraged by what I heard and by the calibre of thought that I heard being expressed.

Environment Southland councillor Robert Guyton has been accused of having a conflict of interest after he held his own public meeting to discuss lignite mining yesterday.
Former council chairman Stuart Collie, who was at the meeting, asked if it was appropriate if Mr Guyton sat on the council's resource consent committee.
Mr Guyton's opinion on mining was "predetermined" and that meant sitting on the resource consents committee was a conflict of interest, Mr Collie said.
"As a councillor you've got some very well-known point-of-views ... from a consent committee point-of-view I don't know how you can operate in that role," Mr Collie said.
Mr Guyton earlier this week announced he would hold the meeting to gauge public opinion, instead of attending a council resource consents committee hearing for Solid Energy, which plans to build a $25 million briquetting plant in the Mataura Valley.
Mr Guyton said he had been careful about commenting on mining, and had stepped aside from sitting on yesterday's actual hearing so he could not be accused of having a conflict of interest.
He had also invited people with all viewpoints to attend, he said.
About 30 people turned up at his meeting yesterday afternoon, and the majority appeared to hold their own concerns about the sustainability and potential negative impacts further mining could bring to the area.
Others attending the meeting threw their weight behind Mr Guyton, with many arguing councillors were elected because of the viewpoints they represented.
Otatara woman Sherry Elton said she was grateful Mr Guyton voiced his opinions. "Robert's views have been Robert's views since he was a kid. I'm pleased there's somebody in there willing to listen to me."
After the meeting, Environment Southland chief executive Ciaran Keogh said he was disappointed to hear Mr Collie had publicly criticised Mr Guyton.
"I think it's inappropriate for him to be saying those sorts of things about one of our councillors," he said. Many councillors had their own opinions, but all had a duty to remain impartial when making decisions.
He declined to comment on whether individual meetings could impact on Mr Guyton's role on the committee.
alana.dixon@stl.co.nz

* As I expected, the council granted the consent applications from Solid Energy at a meeting held at the same time. "The committee unanimously approved the application for a consent period of 20 years etc..."

Nanny State

Such is the liking by our Government for authoritarian measures to control our behaviour, Invercargill streets, and those of other New Zealand centres where rugby games are to be played in the up-coming, royalty-free tournament, will be patrolled by 'ad police'. Enforcement Officers from the Ministry of Economic Development (sound dark to you? Perhaps grey and steely?) will be slinking around Invercargill streets searching for un-authorised advertising. We ought to be grateful I suppose, as such advertising is a serious threat to our well-being and the cost of these '3 or 4' Advertising Agents is a trifle compared to potential Southland lives saved.  My only hope is that some enterprising business-terrorist doesn't take advantage of the Cup Fever that will grip us all over the 6 days of games here, and bang up a life-threatening hoarding that might provoke a shut-down of the city and potential loss of game-time.

Kennedy bags Roy

Dave Kennedy's the Green candidate for Invercargill. He's lining up to give Eric Roy a thrashing at the coming election. Here, he gives both Roy and English a serve over their asset sales soft-soaping.
"A letter in today's Southland Times questions the logic of selling off our public-owned utilities to foreign corporates and likens the sales to "giving our heritage away for two blankets and a musket". Local MP Eric Roy defends the indefensible by attempting to promote the sell off as "gilt-edged" investment opportunities for kiwis and the freeing up of capital for other investments."

Dave Kennedy's onto a winner with this issue and the people of Invercargill will support him in calling the whole plan foul.

The ugly side of snow

The big snowfall has caused an extrordinary amount of damage to buildings in Invercargill, none more so than the stadium, with Wrens building coming in a close second with their collapsed roof. The museum, it turns out, has a roof designed perfectly for events like this, unlike the $100 000 glasshouse in Tweed Street that took a shattering from the weight of the fallen snow. Glass and snow are a bad combination when it comes to clean-up time, but the thought of that is not nearly so bad as that of the dairy farmers pumping the milk that couldn't be collected due to dangerous roads, into their effluent ponds!
Nasty combination!

Landmark #1 - The Rotunda

Are you allowed to ride a bicycle through Queens' Park?
I kinda scooted, rode at a snail's pace and walked beside my bike, depending on the proximity of gardeners and the signs that warned of spy cameras!

Nominations are in, the race is on!

Cue TV has invited all candidates to take part in the series of televised debates and I've booked a seat on the Environment Southland candidates panel. The time frame is very short - an introduction then a series of questions from the floor.

I'm looking foward to it very much, in part and as I said to the Cue TV woman who contacted me, because I'm told I have a great face for radio.

This is not me

Southland Times

"The local body elections in Invercargill will be a prime example of "celebrity" politics, says a university lecturer. "

That's a discouraging start, given that the photo that accompanies the story is of me. However, the author, Kimberly Crayton-Brown goes on to say,

"One Southland candidate who bucks the trend is Robert Guyton, who has been nominated for Environment Southland.

Well-known in environmental circles but not a "celebrity", and not a politician, Mr Guyton said he would be a good person to vote for because he did not have any "vested interests".

I'm grateful that Kimberly made the distinction. From a lengthy phone interview last night, Kimberly extracted this quote about why I'd begun my campaigning-on-a-bike in at Environment Southland HQ,

""I thought it was good fun to start my campaign on my bike outside Environment Southland itself," he said.

"That's where I intend to end up."

Sadly, or perhaps thankfully, the photo has not made it online, but I'm happy with it and it's got to be good for my campaign.

I'm excited too, about the serendipitous offer from Doug Bath of Gladstone Cycles, to park my bike in front of his high visibility bike shop, right at the traffic lights on North Road, when I'm not riding it.

I bought my bicycle from the shop and it just seems right!

Thanks Doug! (I'll 'do something' on the cycle shop soon, because it's so good!).

Candidate roll call

Roll up, roll up!

Those from the Invercargill/Rakiura constituencywith their hands up for a seat around Environment Southland's big table include:

Ernest Rowland Currie,

Robert Lance Guyton,

Neville Mark Gray Cook

and Neil Lester Wyeth.

Ernest, Neville and Neil.

And myself.

Let the tournament begin!