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..

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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