The Auckland Sandpit

I think the Auckland unification into one super-council is a great idea, and its about a hundred years late. So they have a lot of work to do.

I just hope and pray that none of the existing childish leaders get the job. Right now we have Banks calling Williams a lunatic, Harvey looking after his own image, Lee stuck in 2006 and calling Bobs ideas 'elitist bullshit'...and so the sandpit handwringing continues.

Auckland deserves a fresh face for the 'Lord Mayor' role, I just hope that for the sake of the country they get one in order to start this brave new future on the correct foot- a complete divorce from the past is required.

Auckland Super City

Finally, after decades of disasterous planning it looks like Greater Auckland is going to come together under one Governance umbrella, somewhat like the model applied to London.

Its about time, if it had such a structure in place already the city may just have the following:

• A National Stadium on the Waterfront
• A second harbour crossing
• A fully functional public transport network
• Political vision
• Full owernship of civic and community direction accross the region.

It will take leadership and a rare skillset to bring the conglomerate of political bodies together, and I suspect any sitting Mayors may struggle.

It could be a great role for a proven political juggler, someone like Helen Clarke, as a wildcard....

One Week To Go

Well I'm into the last week before the Drift South begins. Bit sad to be leaving DOC but all my projects are in good shape and I know they will carry on just fine without me. Its all come round pretty fast in the end. I could have left six months ago when the crap hit the fan, but I'm glad I stuck it out- DOC has been good to me and going to places like Great Barrier, Kawau, Rangitoto, Tiritiri, etc for work is pretty sweet really.

Theres no doubt the wider experience of living in the Jaffabowl is pretty vibrant. Of course I'm not going to miss the traffic jams...but overall Auckland ain't that bad, its a shame the political masters around the Council tables are still suffering from decision making paralysis though, the Queen City I believe is on the cusp of really great things, provided they find the right leadership. Personally I think the biggest issue is that 5 Councils running one city is a bloody disaster waiting to happen- and sadly in some cases it already is, as evidenced by Stadium debates, Roading disasters, and most recently the shameful decision to continue to allow wasterwater to be pumped into the harbours in order to continue meeting a profit target. But overall there are many worse places one could live- you don't have to look far overseas to see where!

So next Friday is the last day, theres actually three of us finishing on the same day -forming an orderly queue at the exit door! No doubt thats going to be a bit of a rowdy night on North Head. From there the plan is to catch up with Rattus in Tauranga, and then carry on down to Wellington for a couple of days before jumping on the ferry and being in ChCh very soon after that.

The good news is my faithful car Ubi is now in full working order. The bad news is its taken a grand total $1826.24 to get it there....but at least its now a machine I can sell for an overall profit rather than push off the cliff out Piha way! So if you hear anyone wanting a wagon that'll get them through a couple of years at a Razor Sharp price come and see me!

So anyway, overall I have learnt to appreciate Auckland a lot better this time round, it will be a wonderful place to visit in the years to come! One day I'll get round to giving the place a full review....

The Final Run-In

Well I absolutely stuffed myself on the 15km run home for work in what will be the last big hit out before Saturday Race Day.

Probably had something to do with the 20km in the Waitakere's yesterday from Karekare to Whatipu along the hills and then back up the beach. What a stunner of a day I'll let the pics do the talking!

So it's off to the Mainland tomorrow and the drive down through Central Otago is always a treat at this time of year- the colours of autumn like no other place in NZ.

Latest weather prognoses for Saturday range from snow to 700m down there to a big fat high sitting over the South Island. Fingers crossed for the latter... but snow would be quite surreal given I had my first ever May swim in the ocean in NZ yesterday- and yes it was even warm!