Mountain Scene - Tolkien Festival

Letter to the Editor the Mountain Scene Newspaper Queenstown
28th December 2012

My recent submission nomination to the New Zealand Geographic Board to legitimately name a Mountain Peak between Glenorchy and Milford Sound after Literary Giant JRR Tolkien has shown that our local Tourism Industry has no sense of Fun when it comes to Children, If I where still in Queenstown I would be pushing for a Costume Party up on the Deer Park Heights every year for the works that have inspired Children and the Young at Heart for the last half Century. Maybe bring in the local theatre community for help. Queenstown is after all a Place for the Young at Heart.

Otago Daily Times - Hollyford Road Bru Ha Ha

Letters to the Editor Otago Daily Times 27th Dec 2012

Dear Editor:
Southlanders who hate the Milford Monorail and Tunnel are praising the Haast Holyford Road concept.
I know Southland would like to have a Boarder Crossing into Westland but I don't get the Financial Model they are working from.. Personally if I where the Minister of Tourism I would be looking into this, Its not Money for nothing for Southland Tourism development it's just moving things around with no Idea of unintended consequences!

If I was advisor to the Ministry of Tourism I would point out if the Hollyford Road Made it as Far as boat Landing on the Lower Holyford that would open up Martins Bay and the Pyke Valley to Adventure Tourism and shoring up a 4wd road from the old Lake Wilmot miners camp to Jackson's Bay would give us a world class Wilderness adventure for a fraction of the cost and Like the Grand Canyon it could be done by Mule past Lake Alabaster.
The Consequences for this my be smaller but they would all be good ones, for the last great Westland wilderness.

Southland Times - Public Oppinion 2012

Christmas Post Odentroll Dispatch

It was overheard recently from two Southland Times Journalists that %90 of all Public Opinion in the  Times comes from the Manapouri Te Anau Basin.  I dare say it is partly may doing looking back
So I recon I should give the Times a break.  Perhaps making News instead of commenting on it for 2013 night be in order.

Aaron Nicholson

Southland Times - Mayan Apocalypse

Letters to the Editor  Southland Times posted 24th Dec 2012.

Mr Fallow Sir:
The end of the Mayan Calendar thing sure got a lot of mileage in the Western Media. The Mayans may not have been cleaver enough to invent time travel but at least they had the good sense to become extinct before the Spanish invaded. As for our Modern Media, they now admit that the Mayans had a lot on and just hadn’t got around to making a calendar past 2012, how cleaver is that, they didn’t need one!

So Media Barons, what was the point of announcing a apocalypse? Trying to see if the “War of the Worlds” trick still works in modern times?

Well to be fair, maybe it might just have made people stop and think that our Earth is our home and we should NEVER take it for granted and though it may not be perfect to some, we should never ever treat it like it is in any way disposable as that is Madness pure and simple. And might I add a little distressing for the children.

Signing off for 2012

Southland Times - Highway to Haast

letters to the Editor Southland Times posted 21/12/2012

The Haast Hollyford road link looks like a breeze on paper, being a paper road helps but there are some real Issues to consider like what are the numbers?

I think you will find that on inspection the amount of effort to construct such a highway over the most dangerous inhospitable part of the country is not equal to any benefit,
the old timers knew this, that is why they left it well alone.

We obviously are still dreaming of the Manapouri PowerStation Project where the Government stepped up and said money is no object, just do it!  Today when we have an increasing population of miserable poor people who can't afford food and Miserable Auckland People who can't afford Motorways. We aint going to get a look in.

I have never yet met a tourist who has said I wish I could drive to Milford from Haast or the other way round, just locals and they wouldn't want to pay for any toll-road  so that is going to be a waste of time.

If it was such a big demand Item we would have flights from Haast to Hollyford, 'never seen that happen yet either.

And there is Lake Alabaster, you would need a car ferry to cross because if you ripped the guts out of that shore line  which is a Jewel in our World Heritage crown, we would be heaped with scorn and contempt from every where imaginable.

I know a good compromise though.. Drive through the Hollyford Road to the Jetboat Landing and they can take you from there, or...  hire a Helicopter or better yet, bring back the Pack Horses!

Radio New Zealand - On Madness

email to the Sunday Program 

16th December 2012

One has to ask why there is so much lunacy about in the Human Diaspora
Simply I think Evolution is having to catch up with modern Civilisation...
Natural Selection has to change up from simple agricultural communities to
Complex Hi Tech High Pressure sophisticated beings, it just a case of adjust or perish
Some turn to Religion or join the Tea Party and some go just go Mad / self destructive.

The Coroners are going spare these days with the Suicide rate and the Media Black out
That means no one can talk about it and the factors that cause it but you can bet it has something to do with unfettered capitalism
And the kind of Civilisation that supports.

Southland Times - Off Limits (Milford)

Letter to the Editor Southland Times
7th Dec 2012  (Published with Photo)

I was just pondering if the Milford Authority and the Department of Conservation would allow Local Area Fundraisers to be allowed to tout the Tourists at Milford Sound for a short Guided Tour of the Bowen Falls Walkway and maybe the old THC Watertank View Point. Both areas are off limits to the Public but are both Highpoints of any Milford experience. As you may be aware charity funds are hard to get in our economic climate, perhaps we could be allowed to use these once pubic assets to benefit our Scout Dens, Cycle Trails, Swimming pools, Play Groups? I recon it would be nice to see more Milford Road History Tours too that explore the secret places tours don’t see.

Southland Times - Atheism v Humanism

Letter to the Editor the Southland Times
Published Dec 14 2012  page 6

Good to see you covered the struggle of Atheism and Humanism in the World, on Tuesday Albeit on page 18
If Atheism just means refuting Dogma then Everybody is guilty of that in one form or other, if we started executing people
For that then all the religions would be killing each other off on an industrial scale for the mere act of thinking differently about “the Grand Plan”.
As for Humanism Well We are all Humans so what’s so wrong with believing in our selves instead of Supernatural non specific Deities.
Isn’t it about time All Humans stood up and rebelled against Spiritual Fascism, Maybe that IS the Grand Plan in the end..
Didn’t we use to sing “we never never shall be slaves” before the common market kicked in?

Southland Times - The Tolkien Mountain

Letter to the Editor Southland Times,
Published Dec 4th 2012  page 6

My thanks to Alex Fensome and the Southland Times for Helping Launch the Naming submission of a Local Mountain
On Friday as the 121st Birthday Birthday Present of JRR Tolkien. But what ever you feel about it Feedback is essential
Please Go to http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/12/01/66391-new-zealand-peak-could-be-dubbed-mount-tolkien/
To register a vote or contact the Secretary of the NZ Geographic Board. Or maybe come and see it for yourself
I would also like to thank Southland Historian John Hall Jones
For originally bringing our own Tolkien Story to my attention.

Radio NZ - Pharmaceutical Religion

to Radio New Zealand's Sunday Program
8th December 2012

Kim and Mark
Your Story just on about Dangerous Drugs is something I know personally.
We have a friend recovering in Grafton Hospital Transplant House who has to be fitted with a new Liver
Because his Mother Died and he moved to Manapouri to be near friends and support, he got depressed after finding there was no real work for him and WINZs couldn’t seem to pay him regular benefits so he was always broke.. The Kind Doctors in Te Anau put him on a series of Anti depressants to try and make him happy again.
Unfortunately one of them Destroyed his Liver and he had to be medi-vac’d to Auckland. So effectively the drug companies have cost our tax payers tens of thousands of dollars and will have to look after this guy for the rest of his somewhat diminished life. So any chance the Drug Company will give us massive refund?

As for your Previous Item about Religion Being a Human Default setting, Its not Religion its Blind belief that is our Default Setting and it applys to Doctors, Drug Companies and the FDA! Ask your self Why the FDA would not clear the natural sweetener Stevia for general usage... And let through Nasty Dangerous Cancer Drugs
some of whom don’t even work as good as Pot!

Southland Times - Greenhouse Victory

Unpublished Letter to the Editor  Southland Times
25th November 2012

As 2012 winds away into it’s last month President Obama now has to start thinking about the Ultimate Question, What about Climate Change.
I suspect at Some Point he will show his hand on what the USA is going to do about the Future of this Planet and Obama will have to break some definitive news to the World because his Government has all the facts on our collective future and they are going to have to make a call one way or another.

Adolf Hitler supposedly had a Philosophy that it is not only Innocence that protects itself but Ignorance as well. However I fell that was a somewhat flawed as a strategy and I believe we are all wiser now having seen how that idea served not only Nazi Germany but our whole post war era to the present day.

Obama is just going to have tell us honestly, is the Big Party over.
 That will truly be Judgment day for Earth, and also Victory over Hitler will be complete.

Radio NZ - %100 Middle Earth

Afternoons Radio  27th November 2012

One thing you should remember about Peter Jackson and he admitted it that it is Kiwi Passion and Ingenuity that made his “great” Films.

Peter added great vision and coordination to make it happen. His Films are a National Effort and it has earned him the position as the top Quality Film Maker of our era. Hopefully he will hold that title for years to come.

But personally I think New Zealand will be typecast as Middle Earth and the need for armies of actors and unions here in the Future will be greatly diminished. Though we could sell the Tolkien Connection For Years to come for visitors if we can do Tourism with the same commitment and Vision as we have done for film.

Radio New Zealand - Campervan Violence

Afternoons at Radio NZ

23rd of November 2012


Our Stupid Government lets People Sell Campervan Holidays to Overseas Tourists .
They are told they can park up anywhere they feel like and don’t have to pay,
The country get a reputation as a soft touch as there is little law enforcement on tourists
Breaking our rules, Toilet Etiquette and social morays.

The Rugby World Cup even officially endorsed this behaviour

Not Surprising that the Media Picks up on the Mess that is left in our Cherished Places
Which comes over as contempt and disrespect. And that Brings out bad social reactions .

Travelling was once such a wonderful privilege, now it has been degraded to a more base experience
Thanks to the Near Sighted Travel Industry.

Where has the romance gone of visiting a foreign land and Culture?

It's Trashed, and It will all end in tears if this keeps up.

Southland Times - Consider other Routes (Milford)

Letters to the Editor Southland Times
published 19th November 2012

I have to admit I am curious as to why there is so much need for better access to Milford Sound of late when it is doing just great as it stands.
Two things have come up that are going mean change, Firstly the Chinese boom in Queenstown and Second the boom in Cruise ship Visits..
I was surprised to learn the there is quite a potential demand to Carry Cruise Ship Passengers across our scenic Heartland from Milford Sound to Dunedin.
The numbers are quite staggering if you consider that this season up to 90 Cruise ships will Visit Fiordland. Considering The Scenic Diversion across our Heartland will give passengers a break from Rough Seas around the Roaring Forties on our South West Corner, one can see a quicker Diversion to Dunedin would be very desirable.
I even wonder if the old Wanganella Dock at Doubtful Sound would be pressed back into service if a Te Anau Diversion is ever contemplated...

As for News of the Westland Road Revival, poor old Gun’s Hollyford Camp might end up getting Hammered if a tunnel starts up too! But that’s another story.

I say yes to a road as long as it’s only one lane for light vehicles, in-fact if all main tracks in Fiordland where upgraded to take small ATVs and Bicycles maintenance would be so much easier and cost effective, anyway, I recall that there was already an old bull-dozer track cut from the Pyke to the Cascade in the 60s ?

Southland Times - A Wealthy Dream (U.S.A.)

Letter to the Editor Southland TimesPublished November 14 2012  




I have to say, I feel a bit sorry for the Republican Party in the USA. They forgot their roots of being the party for the upwardly mobile middle class.
Every Nation of any Value is politically based around their middle classites and healthy politics pivots on them. There has to be a Tidal Movement from the lower middle class to the upper middle class and back to keep the Political System from Stagnating. Kiwis Have sorted out Political El Nino long ago. The Republicans beat themselves up needlessly they just have to wait till the Democrats make enough upper Middle Class Voters to fill their Ranks again. They had their 8 years making people poorer and wrecking the Country, they should just let the Democrats do their Job and stop thinking they need to act like a Silly Party or spend Millions on Silly Adverts. Just remember they are the Party of the Middle Class Wanabee Rich persons. Being Rich is something everyone dreams of With or Without crazy Tax Breaks, Wars and Moral Posturing. They don’t need to kiss up to the Wealthy just the people who fancy themselves rich. It certainly worked pretty good here with our old National Party...

Fiordland Advocate - DC3 for Fiordland

Letter to Fiordland Advocate
7th September 2012

Good to see Mark Oremland is going to share his passion for Classic Aircraft with the people and Tourists of Fiordland
In Basing a DC3 air liner at the Manapouri Airport.

And just when I was just speculating that some bright spark could beat the Tunnel and Monorail by flying Milford Bound Tourists to Manapouri from Queenstown
Adding another option to the Milford Experience while Cutting Hours off the Journey.

The Te Anau - Manapouri would make a good place to start a Classic Aircraft Museum to rival Wanaka we could even start up our own Air Show Every December 7th because we at Manapouri have the NZ rights to the Battle of Pearl Harbour!

Southland Times - Pike Miners Justice

Unpublished letter to the Editor Southland Times
6th Nov 2012

I would like to register my disgust at the way the Pike Miners where Murdered by their Bosses this is not a simple case of negligence
This is something else, the almost deliberate calculated extinction of Human Life, it is a Dark Day for New Zealand and New Zealand’s Workers.

Any Sane Manager who thought for a moment his Job Description included making people die horribly should have just quit in disgust.
There is just no accounting for this at all. And I am sure our Government knew this long before today's promise to do something about it.

Criminal Deaths Scare the Hell out of us but Our Bosses kill far more people each year than Gangsters ever do.

Southland Times - Political Systems (U.S.A.)

Letters to the Editor Southland Times
Published Nov 14th 2012

Monty Python was very astute when the broke Political Parties into grades of “Silliness” in their famous Election Sketch
I thought the Silly thing in The USA was that the Swing Voter Demographic was young Ohio Housewives with two Children.. So in the End it they recon it was all down to the attractiveness of the Candidates looks and personality.

America has changed a lot since it’s political System was forged. The Two Party System has set up for one Culture and Not Multiple ones  they really need some form of Proportional Representation so Sensible & Silly People from all walks of life can live together in Harmony and not get frustrated and take it out on other nations.

NZ has it easy in comparison, we have shown in the past that everyone here can live a happy sensible productive life. Just as long as we don’t try and live like Americans !

Southland Times - A Hard Sell (Faith)

Letters to the Editor Southland Times

published 2nd November 2012

Reading you Correspondents letters here I can see Christianity has trying to sell it’s self as a kind of Insurance if I read Robert Rout right.
The Christian “Pitch” has changed tack over the years from the days when it was a club for disgruntled Jews, they then tried the Doomsday Cult angle, then the state religion of Rome, the crusades had Christians dabble in Genocide with Violence and Grand theft but this made them feel bad so they the Soul Redemption Business cranked up and Monasteries cashed in that Big time when the busy rich could pay holy monks to pray for them, Henry the 8th knocked that on the head when they made him look poor! Then European Colonization Brought new global expansion opportunities until Charles Darwin kicked in. more recently they tried to sell Happiness. Now they are acting like an insurance broker against acts of Nature..

I have to say those Ultra Pious Americans on the East Coast might be asking for a big refund from the Church about now. because the Real insurance industry is not going to cope well considering.   What’s next?   Environmentalism?

Southland Times - Affordable Housing

Letter to the Editor, the Southland Times
29th October 2012
Published page 6 Nov 2 2012

Today’s News

I am sorry but Bill English and his Party are in La-La Land when they think high house prices are the product of not enough property Development.

Might it just be that it is because of weak and stupid Governments that houses have become the best investment return in the Country..
Might it also be the density issues around Auckland and Greedy People in the Construction Industry there who can’t even build simple dry shelter?

Back in the good old days when there was a housing shortage and quality issues the Government its self stepped in and did the job .

Which is what it should have done in Christchurch instead for playing free market roulette with everyone's lives.

Then there is the question of overseas landlords. Why is it a good thing for non New Zealanders to grab up our housing stock with their off shore spending power?
Surely they just suck the rent out of the country and inflate our prices...

In Manapouri development has not lowered the house prices or brought in people to live here, it just pushes up our rates and ruins the natural ambience

Otago Daily Time - Festival of Steam

Sent 27th October 2012

Sir:
It is great to hear Dunedin’s Earnslaw inspired Steam Heritage Weekend was sucsessful and is tipped to be an Annual event .
To me Dunedin always seemed to be a Mecca for 19th Century technology and should really celebrate this heritage.

I do recall talking to the Late Les Hutchins Founder of Real Journeys about Kingston becoming a working Tourist Steam Museum
With Replicas of now lost Lake Steamers and Refurbished Steam Locomotives and Railways buildings.

However That would have required Government Focus and Coordination that we sadly lack in the 21st century.

Oamaru works harder at it’s 19th Century Heritage Strategy and will may well become a Steam Punk Capital,
Though they never manufactured Steam locomotives or Ships.

Southland Times: Hitch-Hikers Guide, Galaxy

Published 30th October 2012

      

Nice to see your paper printed a Story on the Heart of our Galaxy with Quotes from the Late Douglass Adams, the greatest Philosopher Humorist of the 20th Century.
I recall he said space is so mind bogglingly big that most intelligent species have learned to settle down is much smaller places for the sake of their own sanity.
Also He stated that to live in a Universe this size the one thing you cannot afford to have is a sense of proportion, which is no doubt why people need religion.
Because if you could truly see the vastness of time and space compared to your own Physical existence the shock would be too much for your brain!

But then, there is a footnote that many respectable scientists have complained that this argument is a load of Dingo’s Kidneys...

That sums up where we are at the moment I think. 

Radio NZ: Hurricane Sandy

Sent 30th October 2012

After Reading some religious Wrath of God against Sinners in the from of Natural Disasters in the Local Public Opinion, and thinking about what Charles Darwin observed in Nature, I think the US might want to take the power of Natural Selection More Seriously.

Natural Selection Made Mankind The Highest Life Form on Earth for one attribute only and that is Superior Intellect. unfortunately it seems that a large chunk of the Human Diaspora have gone off on a dead end where they thought that if they preyed to an Imaginary Supernatural Being they could Act in an irrational manor and not be held accountable or indeed be protected by him. Sadly they have Built our Cities in the wrong places and in the wrong manor thinking we own some supernatural Insurance.

The Indian’s knew About Hurricanes that is why they lived the way they did, but they Lived hand in hand with Nature.

Well Look out, old Mother Nature is back and Global Warming has given her an Attitude, She is a Angry Bitch and Her name is Sandy!

And she could make 9/11 look like a Sunday Tea Party at the Romney's house.

Southland Times: Unaffordable Housing today

Sent 29th October 2012

I am sorry but Bill English and his Party are in La-La Land when they think high house prices are the product of not enough property Development.

Might it just be that it is because of weak and stupid Governments that houses have become the best investment return in the Country..
Might it also be the density issues around Auckland and Greedy People in the Construction Industry there who can’t even build simple dry shelter?

Back in the good old days when there was a housing shortage and quality issues the Government its self stepped in and did the job .

Which is what it should have done in Christchurch instead for playing free market roulette with everyone's lives.

Then there is the question of overseas landlords. Why is it a good thing for non New Zealanders to grab up our housing stock with their off shore spending power?
Surely they just suck the rent out of the country and inflate our prices...

In Manapouri development has not lowered the house prices or brought in people to live here, it just pushes up our rates and ruins the natural ambience.

Southland Times: Tiwai Smelter Opinions

Letters to the Editor Southland Times Sent: 14th October 2012

Mr Bryan Campbell made a dramatic point about the way the Smelter Workers own their Future In Saturdays Public Opinion.

I myself have had only one dealing with Comalco when they where asked if they wanted to support a Community Manapouri/TeAnau Cycle Trail.
We where told by the then Boss that They have done enough Community Support in the region with The Kakapo etc and I gather he probably thought that the community could in-fact support Comalco. Maybe Bryan has found their Human Side and surely, like any body, they only want to be loved! a 20% wage cut would certainly show we care, and when times are better they will no-doubt return that Love with Interest and maybe with luck, floods of Kakapo Parrots into the bargain.

Radio NZ: Knowledge Economy

Read by Jim Mora on Afternoons 25th Sept 2012

What’s all this talk about a Smart Economy?
The up-shot is turning our kids into an export commodity because there is no market for smart people down here!
They might not have noticed you can not churn out %100 PhDs from our school system as it’s not an assembly line for goodness sake
Or is SMART just the wrong term for what modern capitalism desires, it seems the term they really mean is RUTHLESS!

Any way, I think they miss the whole point of our new “faith based” currency is that nobody has to do anything useful as long as they believe they are.

Southland Times: Reverse Racism?

Letters to the Editor 28th September 2012

On reading Sander Biczo’s Comments on reverse racism in NZ  one should recall the past to get things into context
You wouldn’t think it today, but the Maori Population of New Zealand helped rather a lot to make New Zealand one of the
World’s most Ideal Nation states, they did a lot to help bring the working people here up to a decent living standard
Working hand and hand with other ethnic New Zealanders.

The Problem now is that in the 1980s the Douglas-Lange Government used divide and rule tactics on the people of this country
And forced Tribalism on the Maori-Kiwi population then the mess was Compounded bad economics and by a media has really only been interested in the words of angry Radicals and not true leaders like Hone Karr (the Maori Nelson Mandela).

The Question is now Why when the Government tries to Bribe the Maori Aristocracy to support their crooked schemes... why don’t Said Maoris stand up for the good of their Nation as a Holistic Gesture? Have they lost that much faith in it?

Or have all the best ones fled the Country for Australia where they can live and thrive free from the tyranny of Tribalism?
  

Manapouri-Te Anau Merger

Letters to the Editor: Fiordland Advocate
27th September 2012

It seems the District Council says it is time to review the way our communities in the Basin are represented and the Idea of a Merging of the Manapouri CDA and the Te Anau Community Board is being mooted. On the surface I would say if we could all pull together as one it would be a Positive thing also these two communities are so close to each other they effect each other as one community anyway.

But I think the main worry at the moment is the polarisation and hostility that can occur in a smaller community where some individuals can act as if community representation means personal power over others and community assets, something that tends to be less acceptable in larger combined community Boards.

Anyway, if you want to have a say on the Mararoa-Waimea Ward Merger you can apparently tell Tamara through repreview@southlanddc.govt.nz

Borland Lodge Fiordland : ODT

Letters to the Editor: posted 25th September 2012 

After recently checking out and writing about the Historic Hollyford Camp with the Te Anau Scouts I thought I should Comment on the other Great Fiordland Group Camp
“Borland Lodge” at Pig Creek. Also a historic works camp but from a different Era. It too has great new modern facilities but unlike Gunn’s camp they tend to neglect their historic aspect which is a shame. I recall the old Pig Creek Camp and the Epic Construction of the the Manapouri Project Power lines had a large Dunedin contingent
As portrayed in the NFU Film made on the Project. It seems sad that there are not some information panels or indeed that there has never been a reunion of the Men that took on some of the toughest terrain in the World on the smell of an oily rag, war surplus equipment and Kiwi ingenuity.
The Modern “Lodge” is a lot bigger than it was when it was gifted as a school camp and is open to the public when it is not booked up. It is the gateway to the most scenic remote road experience you could imagine. All the original works Huts are gone now but the Main buildings remain, though they need some TLC.

Dominion Post: Dr Who in NZ?

letters to the Editor, 21st September 2012

I read on your Website Peter Jackson Has offered to produce some one off Doctor Who...

I bet they could use Peter & Richard for a big 50th anniversary Special
With all the Doctors in it.

Or they could do a story with JRR Tolkien, like the Shakespeare Code

Maybe they could do the missing Link Movies between Paul McGann and Christopher Eccleston

Or if they wanted to go crazy... Resurrect the lost 1st & Second Doctor episodes again using some Weta Magic!

Being a Dead Actor is not the career killer it use to be, now you can come back as a digital Avatar!

 and if Star Trek can regenerate its self from scratch in the TV Universe I like to think a Time-lord could too.

Any way what ever they do I am sure it would be cool. Though I wish they could re-generate Douglass Adams. They don’t make Writers like him these days!

Two Little Boys Premiere Invercargill

Letters to the Dominion Post
14th September 2012

Just need to thank Duncan and Robert for putting on a great premier show at the Invercargill Civic Theatre
Every body loved to make a fuss of New Zealand’s Coen Brothers doing a Cinematic Road Trip of their Childhood Stomping Grounds
Along the South Island’s South Coast. Hamish Blake and Brett McKenzie played their parts well as Celluloid Southlanders.
My wife and I loved working with the Sarkies in there Southern Films, as did a lot of others lucky enough to be involved.
I just Hope Duncan looks West, perhaps his next script could use the shadow lands of Fiordland National Park, a land of Forgotten Silver where even Peter Jackson has only captured in passing.

Word in the Pub is the Fiordland Cinema is thinking of shooting a sequel to it’s Amazing Ata Whenua Film!

Southland Times: NZ's Fragile Tourism

Letters to the Southland Times
13th September 2012

Interesting feedback on the Monorail Debate from Ray Willet and Ian Collie
Just a couple of thoughts first is Though we feel very confident that we are the most desirable tourist destination in the world
That might be from our own spin and assuming that Everyone and their dog will want to invest in our area because we are so great is a little fanciful.

There is also a myth that we lack great tourist infrastructure because of opposition from the Department of Conservation, So when they actually let people go through the process of discussing New Ideas people feel the flood gates of Money will open and we be swept away with Development.

The fact is Talk is not Money and there is no real danger of a flood of money coming our way any time soon. And Te Anau is an Invisible Town in a little known town in a Country that very few can even find on a map.

I guess we all got a bit HIGH on the financial Boom we just had and are having trouble getting back to normal thinking.

Kevin Roberts the Kiwi Head Man of Saatchi & Saatchi in New York said in 1998 that his Slogan for NZ Tourism was “On the Edge”

Right now that is very accurate, for the whole Country!

JRR Tolkien: 121st Birthday

Note to all:

          9th September 2012

It seem I am needed for great event to mark the Hundred and Twenty-First'ist Birthday of the great JRR Tolkien!

As I happen to have a Mountain Peak in the Fiordland Mountains of New Zealand
that has a Tolkien Story behind it. and I was instrumental in a bid to have another Tolkien name
nominated for posterity I have been asked to help put in a bid for a New Zealand Honor for the          World's most loved fantasy writer.

However I am looking for some online helpers.

I might have failled with the Anduin Reach proposal but it was a great media stunt : )
It seems a shame not to try Mount Tolkien.

* any News story to mark his 100 + 21st birthday will need to go out fairly soon to  be set for Jan 3rd 2013

It could turn out better than this story : http://podcast.radionz.co.nz/aft/aft-20110830-1421-honour_for_our_greatest_space_pioneer_dr_william_pickering-048.mp3

“Aaron Nicholson”

Radio NZ: Christchurch vs Catrina

to Jim Mora's afternoon show
4th September 2012

I have to say that if we had a proper leader in this Nation. One who truly cared for its people that leader would not have tolerated the suffering of the people of Christchurch as they have. Our Government should have got every transportable home company in the South Island Cranking out Houses on an Industrial Scale
And new Villages should have sprung up as fast as Humanly Possible for all the refugees. Then an only then should the rebuilding of Christchurch be discussed
All New Buildings for refugees should have Title Transfer automatically to owners of any lost Red Sticker’d property AUTOMATICALLY.

This was a DISASTER and as such there is no place at all for private enterprise or political posturing

Every one who lives in NZ faces the same danger in some form or other that is why we all have to be ready to help the unfortunate because next time it could be our city that falls, floods or is just plain buried.

As Far as I am Concerned this Distaster has been handled not un-like Hurricane Catrina.

Radio NZ: Media Barons of Austraila

to Colin Peacock of Mediawatch
27th August 2012 

Your show has confirmed the maths,
The Australian Media Barons have been interfering in New Zealand Politics too long now
This Country is the Land of plenty yet we fear to invest in our own industry or people.
Only People who move across the Ditch are spared!

As you pointed out though the small Kiwi Owned papers are holding their own and the Aussie mastheads are sinking

I hate to think what sort of damage has been done to our Nation over the years by being told who and what to fear from over the Tasman

But even worse is Political Wrong doers are not being taken to task, if our national and local governments are allowed to go on their journey of manic
economic delusion unchecked they will wreck this fair country, mark my words!

I submitted a letter to this point to the Southland Times today, It will be interesting to see if it is printed : )

Radio NZ: the Ultimate Question

to Colin Peacock of Mediawatch
23rd August 2012

There is on Question that Every News Broadcaster and News Journalist should have printed on the wall in big Red Letters
To remind them what to ask any politician or person in authority...
“What Gives you the Right” ?

I am not hearing this question being asked as much these days, but it is the REAL job of the media and if nobody ever asks it then civilisation will fall into despair.

This is where corruption starts and tyranny is born.

A Journalist not armed with such a question is just another PR Man

And an Editor becomes a Edit-whore.

Now more than ever, when Money is all electronic and economics is a form of punishment to lazy or disrespectful countries

We need to ask...

Radio NZ: Titanic 2 vs S.S. United States

to Jim Mora's Afternoons show
19th August 2012

Jim & Chris, you should do a follow up on Australian Clive Palmers Titanic 2 Replica
I am sure there are things the Panel Could Talk about with some local Titanic Fans
Like Brian Reeve of the Brentwood Hotel Wellington (you had him on before? )

I had a Thought that Clive has no need to spend 400 Million to Make a modern Chinese Replica when a Liner of similar Dimensions exists today in need of a new Life

The 47,300 ton SS United States would take a brilliant Edwardian Refit though it is now some 60 years old it is tied up and gutted since it had all its asbestos removed
She could be Towed to Harland and Wolf and refitted there (they no longer build Ships)

Yes a retro Bow and Stern would be in Order with a few Dummy Smoke stacks but Clive could have the RMS United States up and running for a bargain price
And she could run Titanic Cruises that would also take in the American Maritime Heritage aspect.. Without the spooky name!

A true Transatlantic ship and a Blue Ribband Holder that would be full 16 knots faster, you could be well gone by the time any Icebergs come by!

Radio NZ: Te Whiti vs Ghandi

to Chris Laidlaw 
19th August 2012

Listening to your programme on Non Violence
I think the best Memorial For Te Whiti O Rongomai would be a Statue of him beside the one of Ghandi at the Railway Station
Perhaps behind Ghandi gesturing to him as if from history..

But as for Ghandi has anyone written an alternative history if he had failed or never existed and the effect on the modern world?

Or what New Zealand would have been like if the Maori Population had not lost their battles with Microbes to which European genetics and medicine was the only
Salvation.