Respecting the RATE PAYERS

Posted 29th of May 2019 to the Advocate South Newspaper Te Anau NZ

It was sure great that Southland District Councillor Ebel Cramer came to Manapouri to chat with the locals about council issues and changes we are concerned about now underway,
I think everyone was happy to have a chat to calm the waters instead of a formal procedural meeting. Ebel was a friendly face of the Council and I hope we see more of this idea if the new streamlined Council operation in the future.

Also the Idea of more transparency into unused community rates seemed to have hit the right note.

Hope our good friends in Environment Southland take a few notes on these fresh ideas too. 

Maori on NZ Maps vs Google

Posted 23rd May 2019 to the Advocate South Newspaper Te Anau NZ 

The question of alternative names for features in the Fiordland National Park (23rd May) is tricky,  as a history buff I have said to the NZ Geographic Board a few years back that they need a special map series 

That has historic events and names included especially for lost Maori information.

Luckily in these days of Google the NZGB could now ask to have this fixed relatively easily and not just for Maori Folklore but more recent stories for Middle Earth which is also culturally important to many visitors doing pilgrimages to New Zealand as unlike the old paper maps the Internet has space for everyone!

However before the NZGB gets stuck into it they might want to work on an official Maori History Database with citations and references just to keep things seemly.
That would be nice we would not like to see politics great temptation to rear it’s ugly head.

Milford Sound NZ - Bottleneck

Posted 30th April 2019 to the Advocate South Newspaper Te Anau NZ

So this summer the traffic cues at the Homer Tunnel reached the limit of feasibility and the traffic volume on a un ventilated tunnel also reached it’s sensible limit.
I think the community need to know what is going to happen if the authorities decide they are pushing their luck too far.

The Idea of closing the tunnel to Motor Homes seems to be the first obvious step but will that even be enough.

I know it sound like madness to the Federated Mountain Club
but perhaps it is time to develop another Fiordland experience to take pressure off the Milford Sound Obsession ?

I guarantee there are many other places of equal beauty in the park that are under lockdown for ill defined emotional reasons.
This begs the age old question, are the needs of the many subservient to the needs of the few.

We are living in the Anthropocene era  for better or worse we can not turn back the clock literally or figuratively.
Humans Rule, ignoring that is just as pointless as trying to stop time itself.

Farming Algae in NZ ?

Posted 10th November 2018 to the Advocate South Newspaper Winton NZ

Southland Farmers are always on the lookout for new Ideas to improve their lot but have they thought about farming algae ?

Instead of draining swamps they could be helping reduce the need for imported fuel.. An interesting fact is Algae grows 100 times faster than land based crops it can be rendered into Jet fuel and the by-product can be used as animal feed.

Seaweed is a form of Macro Algae and has been farmed for centuries for food. The Japanese even harvest it now with underwater lawnmowers and rope forests.

Yes it is 2018 and the US Government wants everyone to burn fossil fuel like there is no tomorrow  but it pays to be one step ahead in their game because there will be no tomorrow for burning Fossil Fuel one way or another.

Also Wellington might encourage self sufficiency just in case. 

Department of Conservation Optics

Posted 12 September 2018 to the Advocate South Newspaper NZ

Dear Sir:
I just had a chat with our local Department of Conservation watchdog Ray Willet who is perplexed at the way the DOC
seems to be clueless when it comes to optics. Yes indeed the taxpayer must be wondering were the money goes
as the DOC are clearly not a public service nor are they a business. They do not have to have transparency nor do they have to generate profit. The Building of an expensive new hut on the Milford Track is just another example of this malaise .

There are just so many other things to be done to improve the Fiordland National Park experience that are ignored.
The department management is just not keeping up. The Milford Track is maxed out.

Try something new for goodness sake. Actually fixing problems and making a difference can be so much more rewarding! 

Getting US Political News Abroad

Posted 19th July to the Advocate South Newspaper Southland NZ

It is strange to hear nice people in New Zealand getting caught up into the Brightbart / Right wing American Internet web.
We live in crazy new times where hate groups can get into your home and into your head via the Internet.
Our enemies are laughing at us as they make even the president of the United States crawl at their feet by spreading fear and uncertainty. One can be uncertain about the mechanics of Climate Change but if you all get on the net and undermine confidence in our institutions and our best thinkers because of being tricked by internet trolls and sinister foreign government agents then we ALL are in trouble.  If you slight something by calling it a “religion” is usually means it is a well organised lie that it’s supporters make money out of.  If the Green Party is a religion it is certainly not ticking all the important boxes!  My Question is why when we are richer than we have ever been don’t we want to spend for the future?
And also why are people determined to be miserable in times of plenty? Please try to be happy or the Net Trolls Win.
Just for a change maybe try listening to Pod Save America.  

Fiordland NZ Trail makers and shakers

Posted 7th of June 2019 to the Advocate South Newspaper Te Anau NZ

It was a great milestone for Manapouri township to finally get a trail to the near by National Park on Jun 3rd in the for of the 6th Leg of the Lake2Lake trail. So today our trails trust has by needs and determination become a self funded construction organisation. 

Here is hoping the Department of Conservation will use our FTT to make more much needed trails in the area or upgrade old ones for both cycling and walking.

Who knows one distant day locals will be able to cycle to the hidden lakes at entrance of South Fiord. Or follow the shore to Eglinton River Mouth and beyond.

I guess its all up to our Minister of Conservation now to enhance the health of our community. We should all write and thank them in some form for their help...  Oh and to finish their part of the Lake2Lake.

Fiordland Rescue Services Cuts

Posted 15th April 2018 to the Advocate South Newspaper Te Anau NZ

Just using common sense one might think Fiordland would need a special Helicopter Response team just based on the number of Cruise Ships that frequent our coast. I should think if there was an emergency that they wont be too fussy about how many engines a recue Chopper has, especially if they are in danger of sinking or burning.
Every human activity contains risk, risk is the product of free will. I don’t think we have learned to be robots just yet.  

Fiordland's GODZone Adventure 2018

Posted 16th March 2018 to the Fiordland Advocate Newspaper Te Anau NZ

It is Interesting to ponder what lasting effects the recent GODZone adventure race have on Fiordland now that it’s all done and dusted.

It’s not clear just how many people have followed it beyond the personalities and Fans involved but they certainly showcased some areas less traveled to the public. Some of their routes will be begging to be revisited.

As for photographic coverage there where some classic snapshots of amazing landscape but quite a few gaps and a fair bit of rural Southland mixed in.

The real star of the race was the amazing Lake Herries between Lakes Manapouri & Te Anau high in the Kepler Mountains that proved to be a hidden Gem.

The Manapouri-Te Anau Cycle trail survey route showed itself to be very handy  and could well be a staple in future events  as well as the Lake2Lake trail.

Also a shame they all missed Mount Titiroa but where so close!

Tourism Boom New Zealand 2018

Posted 24th January 2018 to the Advocate South Newspaper Te Anau NZ

 I read that once again Tourists are stressing the local population to the limit because of the weight of numbers
Add this with unseasonal heat and it make for a bit of reflection on where this will all end.
After looking at the problem from an overview, some say it’s the overseas Airplanes that are the problem.
Our resorts and roads where designed for the people of a small sparsely populated nation now the Airlines are a bridge to MASSIVE population centers on a scale we can not comprehend and a lot of those flying  are young people with very little money to spend. So why then come here? It’s a wide open country with a generous taxpayer base who are willing to provide them with infrastructure and scenery as well as personal help in the form of Uber cars, free camping, free National Parks and Air B&B.

The Airlines are not just taking tourists for a ride they are taking us all for a ride. And we have to pay the fare, off shore.
Also the overseas online services are clipping tourism tickets on a big scale too.   

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. 

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 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.

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?