2023 – A Year in Review
We’re only a few days away from the end of the year, so it’s time for a quick wrap-up of the most important things that happened in 2023.
Thank you to everyone who has visited the blog and supported us in making Auckland greater.…
55 Comments Weekly Roundup 22-December-2023
It’s Friday again and Christmas is just around the corner. Here’s our final weekly roundup of the year. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday we ran a guest post about the existential threat for NZs rail network – yet again
On Tuesday Matt wrote about how we need better enforcement if AT wants to stop “bad parking cards” CRL Cash Grab
The Herald wrote about how the YMCA are trying to get $18 million out of the Auckland Council for the CRL passing under their property on the corner of Pitt St and Greys Ave
YMCA North Inc wanted $18 million compensation for Auckland Council compulsorily acquiring land under its valuable city site for the $5.5 billion City Rail Link but the council only offered it $262,000.…
Better enforcement will stop “bad parking cards”
There’s been a few articles lately about bad parking cards being used, such as this one from 1 News.
Puzzling “bad parking cards” have been left on windshields in Auckland and Tauranga this week, to the surprise of two drivers confused at what they did wrong.…
Guest Post: Huge Existential Threat For New Zealand’s Rail Network – Yet Again
This is a Guest Post by Michael van Drogenbroek. He is a Rail, Freight and Public Transport Consultant/Advisor at Heriot-Edievale Ltd with 30 years plus experience in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Australia and New Zealand. This post was first published here and has been edited for length.…
Weekly Roundup 15-December-2023
It’s Friday again, here’s some articles that caught our attention this week. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt looked the council’s Long Term Plan discussions and the impact that might have for the government
On Thursday Matt covered the latest advice from the Climate Change Commission.…
The climate will (continue to) deliver its own advice
Yesterday the Climate Change Commission released their final advice for the government’s second Emission Reduction Plan which will run from 2026 to 2030. Notably they titled the release: Government policies must add up to achieve climate goals
While the Commission’s analysis shows the country has made progress, it is not on track to meet its climate goals for the end of this decade.…
“Brown-town”: the Wayne & Simeon show
Last week Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown kicked off what is always the most important thing a Council does every three years – update its ‘Long term plan’. This is the budgeting process for the Council and – unlike central government – the budget has to balance in terms of income and operating expenses.…
Weekly Roundup 8-December-2023
It’s Friday again and Christmas is fast approaching. Here’s some of the stories that caught our attention. This week in Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered some of the recent talk around the costs, benefits and challenges with the City Rail Link.…
Transport Agencies don’t want Harbour Tunnels
It seems even our transport agencies don’t want Labour’s harbour crossing plans.
In August the previous government and Waka Kotahi announced their absurd preferred option the new harbour crossing that at the time was estimated to cost $35-45 billion. It included both road tunnels and a wiggly light rail tunnel extending from Wynyard Quarter all the way to Albany.…
CRL costs money but also provides huge benefits
The City Rail Link has been in the headlines a bit recently so I thought I’d look at some of them.
First up, yesterday the NZ Herald ran this piece about the ongoing costs of the CRL.
Auckland ratepayers will be saddled with an estimated bill of $220 million each year to run and maintain the $5.5 billion City Rail Link once it opens in 2026.…
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