Radio NZ - Dr Nick Agar (Response)

Posted 29th March 2014 to Saturday with Kim Hill - National Radio

If you think about the Problem with Humanity and the Planet it is not that
Human are not smart enough don’t live long enough, it is really about
Comfort and Pain.. If we can just figure out how to tone down our endless paranoia,
envy and mental & bodily weakness that makes us so dam insecure that would be a great start

I guess we are the products of Natural Selection so we are naturally driven to strive for superior genetics as
The answer to everything.

But in Sweden at least, they found just having a supportive homogeneous society is just as good.

Living under a cloud of fear and Paranoia makes people weak and stupid as the USA can attest.

All we really need is a World with less waste, war, want and lots more happiness.. Dr Nick : )

Fiordland Advocate - Honeymoon Flights

Posted 19th of March 2014 to the Fiordland Advocate Te Anau NZ

I have to report that Manapouri Airport is very handy place for Honeymoon Helicopter Flights and pilot Gavin Burgess has a great Half Hour flight around the the Hope Arm Area and the Monument “Hill” With some nice landing options... I got to ride with Newlywed Friends from Invercargill Mandy and Bryan Bowley just after their Manapouri Wedding to an amazing & remote lake with an amazing White Quartz Sand beach just beneath the Majestic Mount Titiroa. A mere 6 minutes flying from the Hanger!

Southland Times - Durham Havill Road

Posted 28th March 2014 to the Southland Times Invercargill

Reading Wynston Cooper on Durham Havill’s Optimistic Westland Road Proposal reminds me to ask
the burning question, where do “Paper Roads” come from?

I was told they originate from 19th Century Surveyors and are virtually written in stone!

I once thought they might be a solution to National Park Cycle ways
that can only exist on Paper Roads, but apparently Paper Roads can not be drawn up in this century!

Yet It’s an odd thing, New Roads still are built today, for reasons unforeseen to the Imperial Surveyors of Last 2 Centuries.
Strangely without appearing inked on paper or carved in stone...

Go Figure !

Mountain Scene - Hobbit Sendoff Party

Posted 22nd March 2014 to the Mountain Scene Newspaper Queenstown

Sir:
I have been hoping Queenstown might get a look in with the NZ Premier announcement for the Next and Final Hobbit Movie later this
I know there are a few Kiwis who worked on Peter Jackson’s Tolkien Films who would love to have a reason to return.

But if that fails The Queenstown Events people at the Council should look into a Durin’s Day Festival in October with some of our ex Dwarves
Maybe the Mee Family could open the Old Deer Park Heights for the day for old time sake.

Remember Queenstown is Party Central we expect you guys to give the Hobbit a good Send Off!

Southland Times - Bowen Falls NZ

Posted 13 March 2014 to the Southland Times Invercargill

Thank Goodness for Mike Schuck of the Milford Community Trust pressing to re-install the Bowen Falls Walkway at Milford Sound
It been the Path of Shame for the Old DOC administration of the last ten years and it’s a good sign that the New Team are looking into
Repairing the damage done by previous bad management policy.

Without Doubt, standing at the Base of Such a Waterfall is one of life’s amazing Moments. It’s well worth a Gold Coin Donation for the upkeep
Because to many it would be a real life experience.

There are other places that have been Neglected at Milford Like a Nature Walk / View Point Behind the Underwater Observatory at Harrison’s Cove.
Or the Old THC Water-Tank Post Card Viewpoint of Deepwater Basin.

Hopefully the “New Guys” with the Help of the MSDA and Barry Hanson can bring back a bit of the old “Milford Magic” that is now missing
And stop those European Tourists from avoiding the Sound because they think it’s a “Nasty Place” to visit.

I feel spoiled I got to see Milford Sound in 1971, that really was something else... Honest...

Mark Hadlow on Radio New Zealand

Posted March 10th to Afternoons with Jim Mora on Radio New Zealand.

Hi Chris & Jim.
It must have been nice to chat with Mark Hadlow!
I didn’t Catch all of it and your Podcast isn’t working today..

I would have loved to ask him what he thinks about the plan for a permanent
Historic Reminder of our collective debt to JRR Tolkien when our part in his story is over.

I think Mark sees things in the greater context, from what I know of him.

Radio NZ - Marcus Chown Interview

Posted on March 8th to Kim Hill's Saturday Mornings Radio Programe.

On the subject of life on the pale blue pixel dot.. Marcus Chown Says We should all enjoy every moment of living
Because being alive is such a gift considering the numbers...

But let’s not forget that not everyone is brought into existence to enjoy it.

Some people on the Blue Speck desire an unfeasibly large piece of Blue Speck for them selves to feel enjoyment.

I wonder if Mr Putin ponders of the temporary nature of his existence as a microbe in the celestial Ocean

Of if that thought would stop him for a moment from following his evolutionary programming to grab whatever advantage is going

to preserve his status and his existence.

Anyway It’s all about Universal Real Estate. If you cancel out all the Empty Space, Gas and Rocks plus Planets that is too far off the Transport Grid

The Earth suddenly looks absolutely Huge!

As for Time, we cant go backwards and the future has not happened yet, so we only have now anyway.

Radio NZ - Learning Chinese

Posted March 6th to Afternoons Radio New Zealand.

The Idea Kiwi Kids need to Speak Chinese is an odd thing, China itself has several languages and they are busy teaching English to their kids as a universal language.
China has no guarantee it will remain the World’s biggest trading economy outside the USA and China’s System of Government is subject to shifts and changes that Western Democracies are insulated against. As all our dealings with China are on an executive basis and English IS the Language of Trade. Mandarin is not really useful for Joe Average Kiwi, unless they plan to visit Auckland where I understand a lot of really good Mandarin conversations can be traded these days.

Yes it would be Great if Everyone in the World could Communicate their Ideas as one but sadly by default it will be in boring old English.
The Language we REALLY need to teach is that of Common Sense. That’s something environmentally the Chinese Corporations have yet to learn.

Radio NZ - Mr Brownlee Climate Denier

Posted on the 6th of March to Nine to Noon Radio New Zealand

Apparently Mr Brownlee has not been paying attention to the big Climate Change debate on this planet.
There are going to be more and more floods, storms an higher sea levels in the future. The Earth quake was a one off deal
We have other potential problems to deal with. The Earth quake has given Canterbury a chance to move houses to better locations
But the Government seems to have dropped the BALL. This kind of forward thinking can not happen with the fractured private enterprise model
It’s why we have Government. They are there to look after the big picture.

And if land is in short supply London Style Higher density Terrace Housing is a solution and it fits good in the CBD
We can Leave the Sports and Leisure stuff for the Private Sector and look after the people first.

Southland Times - Mr Putin vs The USA

Posted 5th March 2014 to the Southland Times Invercargill.

Poor old Vladimir Putin just doesn't understand what drives the modern world and why the USA and the West have such a pull on people
Putin thinks macho bare chested threats based on old fashion fear are attractive. America has a Secret Weapon at it’s core Its “the Pursuit of Happiness”directive
Wrapped in Justice, Life and Liberty. It seems blindly Stupid to me that there are still Governments around that Don’t realise that the Pursuit of Serotonin is a fundamental driver of all Human endeavour.

Fear and Thuggery are just not as effective, sustainable and are dangerously unstable.

Of course some cultures work to hard for little reward Like China and New Zealand but he lure of Happiness at the end of the Tunnel still beckons. One thing is Clear, it’s not just wanabe despots that are losing ground, Islamic Leaders are extremely anxious about losing people as well because they can’t compete, even making non belief Illegal in some states.

As for NZ, Perhaps Our Politicians might try the Happiness Platform, A bit More Carrot and a bit less Stick Guys, it is tried and true!

Southland Times - State Asset Investments

Posted to the Southland Times 2nd March 2014

Looking at Mark Winter’s Cartoon on Asset Sales the other day made me think, Are the Shares in Meridian Energy a tangible thing?
I have to say I have not noticed the new shareholders in the Manapouri Power Station coming over to View their investment and kick the tyres.
Nor have I heard of any people Asking superintendent John Twidle to show them around their perspective purchase to see what just they are buying.
Let alone the Tiwai Point Smelter to see what’s under the bonnet, after all they both have a lot of miles on the clock and maintenance budgets have been trimmed
Over the years.

Bizarre behaviour ?

I really don’t know why we have to sell shares in specific Government Infrastructure SOEs I recon They should sell Bonds that cover all State Assets
Not just the Sexy Ones, because they ALL need to work and be maintained... That’s Ideal for the Ma & Pa investors who actually want to live in New Zealand
I would think, I know we already have a share in it all when we pay Taxes but some people Should be allowed to pay More Tax and Get More Benefits.

It’s not a million Miles away from Asset sales. It’s just more holistic and a lot more equitable.

Oh and Everybody Wins.

Published as Everyone's a winner March 4th 2014