The Year of the Trump 2017

Posted 21st December 2017 to the Southland Times Invercargill NZ

As the POTUS of America Donald the Trump has dragged the American Political System
Backwards though a hedge and it’s looking very disheveled and confused on year down the track.
The big question now is he taking the Republican Party to hell with him down the road he is going
or will he pivot at the gates and leave them to face the music ? Paul Ryan has just consigned millions of Americans to
misery and death without a hint of remorse  If Donald is a true actor and a closet democrat, as he was in the past...
He could do the mother of all pivots and throw Congress and the Senate under the bus.
And certainly come out a Hero of the People?
But if he signs the bill he will be universally despised and Ryan & co will Push him under the Access Hollywood coach!
Either way the true Donald will OUT very soon and the guessing will end. 

Invercargill's Student Strategy NZ

Posted 16th December 2017 to the Southland Times Newspaper Invercargill NZ.

It was great to see Mayor Tim there for the Southland Institute of Technology for the 2017 Graduation Ceremony
At the Stadium. He really is a celebrity Mayor and very entertaining for any function.

Sorry to see after all the Shadbolt zero frees branding the rest of the country has adapted it for other centres
Which means our branding is redundant.

I wanted to say to Mayor Shadbolt that instead of zero rent or fees for students as an incentive perhaps a
Universal Basic Income for students might be a new angle, that way the cities landlords don’t get
Stressed and there could be conditions attached like attendance and aptitude. Also students  should feel
proud to go to their graduation ceremony as I recall we where back in the 1980s.

If a community gives out free education they should feel thanked for it.  

Published p.6 Dec 18 2017

Queenstown NZ Tourism Revolution needed

Posted 11th Dec 2017 to the Mountain Scene Newspaper Queenstown NZ.

I look at Queenstown these days and I sense despair for the future.. Every thing is hanging on direction for people of great wealth and power coming in from far away to fix Queenstown with a bundle of cash and good intentions. 
The sad fact is there are way to few Paul Brianerds out there to come in and save your bacon.

If people wish to live and work in a place like Queenstown they will need to pull together and form cooperatives.
The Government is too weak and greedy private enterprise are not going to help.

In economic terms you are in a DEAD END unless you pull together.  
As UK leader Jeremy Corbin says there is now no real alternative.

Our property speculation bubble will POP one day and nobody has a plan that I can see
And a lot of our benevolent rich people will turn out to have feet of clay when that happens.  
   
A strong co-operative is unbreakable! 

21st Century Blues & Anti Natalists

Posted 8th December 2017 to the Otago Daily Times Newspaper Dunedin NZ

Donald trump and his extended family have cast a bit of a shadow on the human spirit,
we have been working on the problem of giving humanity a meaningful life for decades now  but it looks to some like South African Anti-Natalist David Bendar are saying that perhaps the existence of sentient beings is a cosmic mistake.

It does seem like even though we have all the tools, knowledge and philosophy at our finger tips we just cant make life fulfilling for more than 1 percent of the human population and even they are riddled with anxiety.  

Meanwhile the United States Government is experimenting with misery as a motivation for better productivity.

Perhaps they should try and use their limited imagination to see a positive end point to all this because our greatest thinkers
are at a loss.  If this is our best effort maybe the anti-natalist have a point.

Let’s hope our own leaders see things differently.  

50 years of Queenstown's Gondola NZ

Posted 21st November 2017 to the Otago Daily Times Dunedin NZ

When I first saw Queestown’s Gondola in action it was only 4 years old  but I thought those little M&M coloured French designed cable cars made Queenstown feel like a magical place. I suppose they also gave the town an International flavour, a taste of things to come. Now that its been around 50 years I don’t suppose those old 1980s Dopplemayer Cars that replaced the stylish Pomagalski 30 year ago are due for a make over ? So Philip Chandler, why not as a sign of respect to Hylton Hensman’s vision paint them the original candy colours because those old cars WHERE legends and style wise it’s just not the 1980s any more.

Stewart Island Ideas Wanted

Posted 16th November 2017 to the Southland Express Newspaper Invercargill NZ

When Garry Tong asks what will help the community in Stewart Island in these uncertain times. I think he has touched on the big picture problem that is effecting all of mankind, that is what some call maggot economics!
Stewart Islands was a place to get away from the problems of the world but I fear the world has got it’s grasp on this last bit of godzone NZ .

If you want to make Stewart Island thrive in our system it has to develop and that means road expansion and infrastructure but making it a DOC National Park is the kiss of death to that kind of land exploitation.
All that’s left now is to make it a Living museum to the way we where and try and concentrate on that.
Or maybe a model self sufficient community if you really want to be bold.

 Let’s face it Southland nearly everything progressive in NZ is sucked into the singularity that is Auckland that’s not going to change any time soon.  


Published p 11 Nov 23 2017

Jim Boldger & The NZ Green Party

Posted October 4th to the Dominion Post Newspaper Wellington New Zealand.

Dear Sir:

Jim Bolger is a pretty level headed Kiwi bloke and he also echos the sentiments of 

some disappointed Liberals when he asks why the Green Party will not form a government with the National Party, after all the main premise of a liberal is to help others.... If you do not hold power then you can NOT help anyone.

It's a problem in the USA as well as the liberals there almost crave noble defeats preferring to hold the moral high ground rather in academia than do any real work.

Any party should be happy to have the Greens help them they are mostly well educated thoughtful people who strive to have good values.

But they have to stop with the politics of identity and try an be a force of good for all.

Seriously If you form a political party with the Idea that it is purely for ones own ego then you really have no darn business putting your hat in the political ring. Now more than ever!  

Sometimes if you are not fixing a problem, you are part of it.

Bill English NZ vs The People NZ

Posted 30th October 2017 to the Southland Times Newspaper Invercargill NZ

 I have to say Bill English seemed like a better leader than John Key but Our new team of Jacinda and Winston and the Greens 
Feels like a good old kiwi family headed by a Ma & Pa compared to the NZ Branch of Global Corp inc we have been dealing with.
They say a change is as good as a holiday  so let’s enjoy the fresh air and feel positive for a change, coalitions are a healthy part of life,
and so is change. I for one would like to see what our new Conservation and Tourism Ministers will bring to our area because our last ones
where noticeable by their absence... Perhaps we should get in early and invite them down to check us out and hear our concerns before they are
bailed up by a mob of stressed out Aucklanders ? 

New Zealand's New Coalition Family 2017

Posted 20th October 2017 to the Southland Times Newspaper NZ

Here is hoping New Zealand is back on track to have inclusive politics shortly and again show others how a good democracy can work

NZ has in the past been a test kitchen for political Ideals and I hope we can again lead the way in the 21st century.

The People of Earth are needing to see faith in human society and civilisation as there is a feeling that our elite seem to be fabricating a
death cult game hell bent on sparking some kind of global Armageddon by enabling  a un-lawful leader (who feels like that German Pilot who wanted to fly his Airliner into a Mountain).
All because they can not bear any sort of compromise in any form.

It all boils down to the winner takes it all vs we all share the winnings  and we all know where Trump stands on the game of winning... He WILL make us sick of it.
Let’s NOT play with Donnie . 

The Art of Signage Te Anau NZ

Posted 20th October 2017 to the Advocate South Newspaper Te Anau NZ

What is it about public creativity that is polarising in this region ?
Te Anau’s Ray Willet  seems to be pushing buttons in that area of late
with his art work inspired by the Department of Conservations lake of advise on Toilet etiquette in the National Park.
I agree with Ray that words and signage are like art as some can be pleasant or disturbing but are an insight into our culture.

History too Is part of our Culture and it needs artistic hands to preserve it and care for it.  Signage might be a start.
But artwork is great too in Public Spaces... Years ago I mooted that a Statue of Quentin MacKinnon in the new Te Anau TOWN CENTRE might be a
A focal point. There are calls for a Statue of Donald Sutherland at Milford Sound  or a better mausoleum for him and his wife now forgotten behind the
Old THC buildings.

There has got to be more to a community than the here and now narrowly focusing on Utilitarian shows of Wealth Conformity & Comfort or we suffocate.
It’s not like we lack heart & soul. 

New Great Walks Ideas for New Zealand

Posted 26th October 2017 to the Southland Times Newspaper Invercargill NZ

So the Department of Conservation is looking for some new “Great Walks” for it’s “brand” and are asking for suggestions.
As I have studied this very Idea for many years now I can point our some Southland places crying out for some attention
though not high in political importance are as worthy as any for shear ambience.. BTW a GRAND FIORDLAND track has been mooted before
linking the Park from North to South by joining existing trails and bridging gaps.

However if I had to pick,  these are some of the best for cycle / hiking:  Borland Lodge to Mt Titiroa, Hidden Lakes Te Anau to Hurricane Passage Manapouri,
Borland Lodge to West Arm Manapouri, Lake Hauroko to Lake Poteriteri or the Old Telegraph Track to Puysegur Point Lighthouse... all worthy places.

If D.O.C. really wanted to think out of the box they could get into running their own boats and open the old route between Crooked Arm Doubtful Sound
and Skinks Head Cove at Breaksea Sound for the mother of all kayak operations in the Dusky Sound area.

The Department may need to pay it’s workers performance bonuses and look after them better. If Southland is still in the running against Queenstown & Auckland. 

Published Sep 27th Page 8

Jane Campion's Womens Camp - Moke Lake

Queenstown NZ Top of the Lake TV Location in the old gold mining area of Moke Lake

A special shipping container camp was placed here for the BBC film crew in 2012 near the Moke lake camping area

Also used in the 1970s TV Series "Hunter's Gold" set in the late 1800s  Gold rush era.

As seen on Google Earth..

...................................................................................................................................................................

Minas Tirith Airport Queenstown NZ

Posted 8th October 2017 to the Otago Daily Times newspaper Dunedin NZ

Art is an important part of our culture and our airports sometimes get used to showcase our creativity to a receptive but sometimes captive audience.
Sir Peter Jackson has something artwork that should live at the Queenstown airport because of it’s very location.

The miniature City of Minas Tirith that Weta Workshop created should be there as the Queenstown Airport sits directly below the city in the Movie Trilogy of the Lord of the Rings,
grafted as it was onto the side of the Remarkables.

Surely it could be loaned for it’s pure iconic nature to mark Queenstown’s place in the history of JRR Tolkien.

After all it was once proudly on display at Te Papa  in Wellington.  

Failing that maybe ask a lego expert... 

Leaky Mini Mansions of Queenstown NZ

Posted 8th October 2017 to the Mountain Scene newspaper Queenstown NZ

I have done a bit of building in my day, I had a grandfather who was a professional carpenter and I was looking at all the modern buildings
In last weeks edition showcasing architecture.

I was surprised to see a large proportion of expensive buildings have deliberately flawed roofing designs that require constant maintenance
making them likely to leak.

Roofs are not rocket science in an area with snow fall loading one must consider the traditional alpine style roofing that protects the building
From harsh weather.. but also excessive sunlight deterioration in summer.

So home builders you might want to ask your architect if common sense is right for you.

Remember in the 21st century, waste IS a terrible thing.

Dinky Swiss Buses for Queenstown ?

Posted 29th September to the Mountain Scene newspaper Queenstown NZ

When reason prevails and cars & coaches are kicked out of Queenstown we might want to look to Zermatt Switzerland where they use a fleet of tiny E-Buses to service there bustling Tourist Industry.
That is if Queenstown wants to keep up with the Big Boys and hold on to a bit of charm.

Winston Peters Election 2017

Posted 28th September 2017 to the Advocate South Newspaper Te Anau NZ

Civilisation is a tricky thing. We all really desire a strong leadership of our nation states and regions but we seem to have forgotten that we not only share our nations with others and our leaders are
Also meant to look after everyone in their care without bias but there has to be justice too.

I guess it all lies on Winston Peters shoulders now because for some unwritten reason Labour and National could never work together.
 Ironically if all politicians believed in their country more than their “tribe” running this nation would be a piece of cake.

Today we have poisonous bile seeping out of the United States political system and it is activating ignorant destructive hateful people around the globe.. Even here..

So our politicians have a lot of work cut out trying to shore up a system that discards and dismisses 98 percent of humanity when there is a storm is brewing.
Maybe they think it is not just innocence that protects itself but ignorance also. Mind you, that quote was from a guy who shot himself in the head in his bombed out bunker.  

Published p6 15th October  

New Great Walks for New Zealand

Posted 26th September 2017 to the Southland Times Newspaper Invercargill NZ

So the Department of Conservation is looking for some new “Great Walks” for it’s “brand” and are asking for suggestions.
As I have studied this very Idea for many years now I can point our some Southland places crying out for some attention
though not high in political importance are as worthy as any for shear ambience.. BTW a GRAND FIORDLAND track has been mooted before linking the Park from North to South by joining existing trails and bridging gaps.

However if I had to pick,  these are some of the best for cycle / hiking:  Borland Lodge to Mt Titiroa, Hidden Lakes Te Anau to Hurricane Passage Manapouri,
Borland Lodge to West Arm Manapouri, Lake Hauroko to Lake Poteriteri or the Old Telegraph Track to Puysegur Point Lighthouse... all worthy places.

If D.O.C. really wanted to think out of the box they could get into running their own boats and open the old route between Crooked Arm Doubtful Sound
and Skinks Head Cove at Breaksea Sound for the mother of all kayak operations in the Dusky Sound area.

The Department may need to pay it’s workers performance bonuses and look after them better. If Southland is still in the running against Queenstown & Auckland. 

Published Sep 27th 2017 Page 8 

  

New Zealand's Political Ideals 2017

Posted 14th Sep 2017 to the Advocate South Newspaper Te Anau NZ

 Manapouri correspondent M Cave has a point about Kiwis on benefits being a sad state of affairs.
But that just small change compared to PRISON which cost dollars like the public putting beneficiaries up in a five star hotels in Auckland.

I recon we have it all wrong going to work and income should be considered a punishment for bad people and a Universal Basic Income should be
Available for nice people or any tax payer who needs it to get started working.

There is little encouragement for anyone under the system we have now and you would know that if you ever have the misfortune to need to visit Work and Income.
And its not enough to stop people from breaking the law to get ahead.

Jails have also replaced Mental Hospital for people who just can not cope.  Obviously or leaders are not that good at looking after our fallen or even doing good business.

Oh after 1984...  I recall our experimental Neo Liberal Government gave up on social responsibilities like Jobs and National Pride... ?

I think that has proved to be a great failure.

Elon Musk - A new reality for man kind

Posted 14th Sep 2017 to the New York Times News Paper.

As Elon Musk eluded to:
Our global mechanisms for looking after the human population and the planet we live on would not win any design awards
I think it is described as a Neolithic People with medieval institutions a the power of gods.

Hillary Clinton even toyed with the Idea of freeing the people of the USA with a Universal Basic Income but her people could not crunch the numbers.

But did they run them by our smartest minds ?

Why are we forever trying to tinker with a system that is a total mess? If the US did not make its own money it would be is a bad way.

The US “way” will not work in other countries without major social disruption.

If we can’t fix the whole problem than we are doomed to fail and our revered  top.1% will be the in a very uncomfortable position indeed.

Just look how much better Cuba is at dealing with Hurricanes than the rest of the Caribbean  Our Insurance Companies would simply fold
If the tax payer did not step in, and still millions of people are going to suffer insurance nightmares for YEARS to come sure as eggs.

 Perhaps the people need to form their own peoples government. Every citizen should get a card to earmark what their taxes will be spent on
If you don’t want Health Care, earmark your money for Golf Courses... Or if you don’t want hurricane relief Insurance send your money to Anti Terrorist projects.
But if you do have bad luck with mother nature you can just sort your self out. Or pay a church to pray for you to get you a better afterlife!

Just don’t complain about it if you hold the wrong colored card

New Zealand Youth Suicide debate

Posted 9 Sept 2017 to the Southland Times News Paper Invercargill NZ

It seemed awfully brave you guys the Southland Times to cover the Southland Suicide Rate especially for young people
It is hard to explain to the young the world we live in today and how to cope with it and I can see journalists are struggling
Just like every one else.

it almost feels like Victorian times when we talk of the PRECARIAT and the dire need of the private sector to create meaning and work
Harks back to the WORKHOUSE and the dreadful term FAILURE TO THRIVE where Children would lose the will to live and waste away.

The amount of wealth we have at our fingertips has never been greater yet our collective efforts seem to make great suffering amongst our people
and bring such emotional darkness and uncertainly as to turn good citizens against each other out of fear.

We also fear TAXES, we all pay taxes when times are good to help us when things are bad the greatest tax is that of Love.

Their lies a great deficit of our time.

Human Civilization reboot due ?

Posted 5th September 2017 to the Dominion Post News Paper Wellington NZ

Reflecting on your editorials, back in the old days of Renaissance Europe the top thinkers of the day decided that the way things where done where in need of some improvement to the human experience have some sort of point to justify it’s existence.

Today our top thinkers are also wondering if human society in it’s current form makes any sense. To those who are schooled in rational thought the world of 2017 is simply barking mad.

There are more bright people in the world today than any other time in history yet all big the decisions are made by child like, confused, unfocused, emotional people.

Interesting to note that some of our brightest minds are now looking into revisiting the renaissance Lets hope they can Crack the riddle of Human Primate global management
or they might have to get artificial intelligence to manage this crazy planet. 

The Air B&B menace - NZ

Posted 24th Aug 2017 to the Advocate South newspaper Te Anau NZ

I must say the new trend in online booking of private homes in the Te Anau Basin is potential toxic to the community
In the past, people invested money in tourism Infrastructure and the community was a separate entity.

Today it a free for all unregulated mess, socially people want to know who their neighbours are on a long term basis and economically we need long term rentals
For our workforce  also Commercial Tourism operators pay a lot in the way of local rates and often put money back into community projects.

If we want the private sector to come to the party and invest in growing sustainable tourism this is not a helpful development.

Add this to all the hoops the our government places on this industry one would question what is the big picture going for Te Anau suppose to be? 

Those nasty poor people & Greenies !

Posted 24th of Aug 2017 to the Advocate South Newspaper Te Anau NZ 

Good old M C of Manapouri is Classic Public Opinion!
It’s heartening seeing the relentless drive of Alt Right slings and arrows toward
the liberals and lefties, softies who are almost certainly responsible for all the problems in the world
especially those “takers” who have no money or power...  They are somehow manipulation the world into a
impossible situation with their snowflake agendas  sadly forcing our malevolent capitalist politicians into a paranoia apocalypse of intolerance, war and money hoarding! 

Shame on you Green Party candidates see what you have done with your dangerous opinions !