Queenstown NZ - Social Media Trends

Posted 27th June 2017 to the Advocate South Newspaper Winton / Te Anau

Hot Topic:
It is interesting to study populations by their online Community, Southland I think generally has a helpful healthy bunch of Facebook moderators who
can handle community discussions..

Queenstown is interesting though as they only had one community site and it was like the lord of the files in there, ask a simple question and you get some
Intelligent conversation but also slings and arrows by what appears to be spoilt kids armed with i-phones and curse words.
Post anything they find controversial in that town and they all go up like a tinder box.

Sad to think that nice people don’t actually like to visit Queenstown like they use too.  Perhaps they checked out the online community!
It WAS a well loved place full of history and charm, Today nobody can afford to live there except for outsiders with bags of cash and trust fund kids
With little or no feeling of community or history.

Perhaps some Southland Facebook moderator might want to go in and fix this but It would be a hard road indeed. 

NZs Tourists Bubble - Milford Sound

Posted 17 July 2016 to the Advocate South Newspaper Te Anau NZ

As a tax payer I would like to point out that our taxes are being used badly when it comes to Milford Sound.
I fail to see why we are subsidizing the Boat Operators by supplying unnecessary Campsites at Cascade Creek just to fill the early boats.

Time was the Late boats where the budget cruises and that meant it was Ideal to stay in Te Anau to do a Milford cruise at leisure.

If DOC HQ  wants to take pressure off the National Park Camp sites they should start running their own budget cruises after 3pm
At least until the current glitch of ultra cheep airfares stops the tsunami of free campers from washing up in our Resorts.

...And Ultimately getting washed down the Eglinton River in the next big flood at Cascade Creek Like the one that saw Ngai Tahu pack it in.

Some Fiordland History Recalled

Posted 12 July 2016 to the Advocate South Newspaper Te Anau NZ

I am trying to see if we can entwine some of our unique Local History along the Cycle Trail From Te Anau to Manapouri
And there are some names that might need to be included that are not enshrined by the New Zealand Geographic Board on the Maps.
Run-holder Freeman Jackson who owned the Balloon Loop Homestead and Sheep Run is obvious as is Elizabeth Bowes–Lyon the reason Queens Reach was named.

There where a lot of smaller players on the Upper Waiau and Cycle route as well a few tragedies  I dare say Wilson Campbell, Richard Henry,
And the Explorers Charles Nairn and William Stephen came this way in 1852 Guided by George and Rawiri from Riverton who stopped on the River to do some Fishing for Eels
En route to a camp where the Dam is today.

David Comer made the River well known to movie-goers this century by borrowing it for the Lord of the Rings Trilogy of Films.
Ted Roberts dreamed of a Steam railway along the Shore from the town to the Dam. Wilson Campbell dreamed of a New Zealand Disneyland and Frana Cardno dreamed of a Te Papa type Museum
Near the trail head  And the dream Township of Murikura somehow became the Te Anau Golf Club.

At the Manapouri end Les Hutchins dreamed of building a Boat Marina at Supply Bay and Christine Sheard dreamed of a Tea Rooms at View Hill,  (a hill mentioned in Maori Folklore) that for some reason aligns with the Summit of the Monument Summit over at Hope Arm.   And there are more names from Stage Coaches, Road Building and Power Projects now all but forgotten.

So if anyone remembers the people that where part of this route it would be good to hear about them.

A E Nicholson.

Te Anau's Playground - Fiordland National Park

Posted 29th June 2016 to the Southland Advocate Newspaper Te Anau.

Dear Advocate:
The Grand Opening for the first leg of the Te Anau to Manapouri cycle trail shows that the People of the Te Anau Basin would like to go out and enjoy the Conservation Estate.

At the Moment though Cyclists can not cross the line of the National Park Boundary in lieu of Departmental Review..

Here is a though.. maybe the Department can make a dispensation for the people of the basin to have special status in all the National Park Land on the East of the Upper Waiau River
And South of the Eglinton River.. After All, It is our back Yard.  So why cant it be our play ground as well?

Still It was good to see Todd Barclay and Garry Tong came to support our community effort Cycle Trial,  uniquely well constructed and under budget with no money from Central Government
or even a wink from our cycle-trail loving Prime Minister.

The opening event  was a great moment for me as I had been suggesting Cycle-ways in the Park since the 1980s.
It also goes to show expensive over long Cycle trail are not needed if you have a lot of cool scenery and landforms in one small area.

 *Publication confirmed

Farewell Fiordland Advocate Newspaper 2016

Posted 7th May 2016 to the Southern Advocate Newspaper Te Anau Southland NZ

 It is sad to see the end of the Fiordland Advocate Newspaper, it was fun while it lasted having a
Te Anau Newspaper
Good luck to the Advocate South (technically South & West)   I can see the agricultural sector had a need for print media that the Southland tourism sector couldn’t match
which is a shame because Tourism has so much more “zing”  and the Advocate did a good job of showcasing our region to visitors perhaps in the Tourist Season the
Fiordland Advocate can come back with it’s more vibrant mast head as an “insert” just like the farming pages use to be in days past..

Hollywood Film Crews in New Zealand

Posted 4th May 2016 to the Advocate South Newspaper Te Anau NZ

 I must say as a follower of both Science Fiction and Local History I found the disrespect to our local media by Film crews has been confusing..
Since Peter Jackson Hit Te Anau in the early 2000s Film Crews have been acting like they are “Special Ops” for the CIA.
Even the Duel Survival TV crew that Filmed a silly bugger Survival Episode up the North Arm of Manapouri where making every one they talked to sign secrecy agreements
that turned out to be non binding bits of Xeroxed scrap paper put out, it seems, for their own ego gratification.

I think, not letting the Local media on the sets for the sake of recording of History is in-fact arrogant type behavior with no real commercial context.
It could even be seen as trying to cover up potential wrong doing for Studio Lawyers .

As for Ridley Scott, he now works to the Hollywood formula as his last film attests there are no secrets worth stealing from the discount DVD bin of history.
Where even the great Peter Jackson eventually ends up.

Wilding Pines of New Zealand

Posted 23rd of April 2016 to the Fiordland Advocate Newspaper Te Anau NZ

 We read that the natural Self Seeding of Pine Trees in New Zealand is offending people again
It seems to be a NZ thing that some Trees have to conform to a set of rules or pay for their anarchist immoral ways.
It is somewhat odd to me that this has become a political “thing” when it is clear that all our Real Ecological Disasters
are cause by unfettered capitalism combined with an almost reckless lack of Statesmanship from our elected leaders,
Velvet-Leaf being the latest in a pile of stuff ups.

The Idea there is No Place in New Zealand for Exotic Flora seems to be somewhat quaint in the face of Global Climate Change
but our Government appears to think the Anthopocene (the era of Human Modification of the Planet) is not applicable to remote
Island Nations so I can not see our situation getting any better... Pine Seeds or no. 

Climate Change Oppinion - Trilobites !

Posted 7th November 2015 to the Fiordland Advocate Newspaper

John Baird of Winton has brought up a problem Scientists have with this planet, that is that it is a wonderfully complicated place
And one can not explain it’s complexity to the average person without having to make every argument a one issue problem.
Too much Co2 is not our single problem on planet Earth. Nor is the presence of Human beings, but it is a deadly certainty that
current Human Political thinking is going to choke the Planet to Death if it fails to address the Finite Nature of our resources on this pale blue dot we live on.
The Trilobites managed to Rule this Planet for 270 Million Years because they just got on with living without Wars, Agriculture, Energy Extraction, Religion or Politics..

We are way smarter than Trilobites are we not? We have 269.99 Million Years to go to beat them!

The Cycle Trail Solution - New Zealand

Posted 25th Oct 2015 to the Fiordland Advocate

 I don’t wish to comment on the State of Cycle Trails in New Zealand today and if they are a panacea..
I don’t think we are on a bandwagon when we ask for the use of our National Park for a new Recreation Resource
And Tourism Product....  It’s been 30 years since the Kepler Track was cranked up and I think we can afford to try something new.
The Trail From Manapouri to Te Anau was a merger of two Ideas.. In the 1990s I mooted that if the Kepler Track was extended to
Manapouri Township so we could have a Bus Service between Towns to service Trampers, Shaun Cantwell was pushing a decade later to
Make a Recreational Cycleway down the Upper Waiau River then someone had the bright Idea to Combine the Ideas and Join the Communities
togeather with a Showcase Fiordland Project. And the odd thing was, at the start... The Department of Conservation was going to drive it.
So really, there was no real downside... In 2007...


A E Nicholson

* Published 29th Oct
 

Fush the Right Stuff - Toilet Issues NZ

Posted 25th August 2015 to the Fiordland Advocate Newspaper TeAnau NZ

The Story of the District Council Staff having to Repair Sewage Pumps because of the Flushing of non-dissolvable items needs
some proactive coordination from Regional Mayors who’s ratepayers are taking the brunt of the Cost..
One thing that should be done is to stop the advertisement of Baby Wipes for adults as a New Wonder Hygiene Product on TV..
This Idea is one of the worst Ideas ever thought up by a business executive, I think He or She should be made to repair a Sewage Pump as Punishment
and all our Mayors should get together and get them to pull this product as it’s quite clear it’s not going in the Rubbish Bins.

BTW If Te Anau is keen on Sewage Pumps, Tourists are great users of disposable Undies so if you plan to pump dung to Manapouri be warned!

 

Dragon's Teeth - Devil's Advocate

Posted 6th of July 2015 to the Fiordland Advocate Newspaper Te Anau NZ

 In response to the Devil’s Advocate

Before Global Media was invented, distant War and Disaster never bothered us because we lived in blissful Ignorance.

All the Problems of the Earth are now piped into our lives to where ever we live in the Western World and as allies of the USA we feel directly linked into backlash from the endless damage that is the by-product of complex job of keeping a Superpower Democracy up to scratch In both War and Peace.

No Mistake It’s a healthy thing in any Democracy to hear Arguing or Demonstrations in times of stress because when they stop, that’s “Alarm Bell” time.

As for the People of the Middle East, If they are a danger to NZ it is because their countries have become “unlivable” not just that they have no chance of debate, it’s because they actually need to flee to be able to LIVE.

And it’s a known fact that the World’s big problems are caused by displaced / unwanted people and especially their offspring.

 Some call it Sowing Dragon’s Teeth.... Another problem OUR Kiwi children will need to deal with..... Like Poisoned Land Sick Oceans and Bad Air ...

It’s a Sort of Justice for Humanity thing.  Sorry for the inconvenience. *

Brian Mason NZ Astronomer Rememberd

Posted 21st June 2015 to the Fiordland Advocate Newspaper Te Anau NZ.

In 2009 there was a call for ideas to Mark the International Year of Astronomy, as it played out the Kepler Mountains between Lake Manapouri and Lake Te Anau ended up playing a big part in this event as they became home to the Great New Zealand Names in the field of Astronomy Beatrice Hill-Tinsley who gave us the infinite Universe and Sir William Hayward Pickering who was the man in charge of exploring our Solar System and Getting NASA of the ground so to speak. There was one more Great Kiwi Astronomer who was up for a place in the Kelper Mountains but as he was still alive at the Time the NZ Geographic Board Rules excluded him from having any landform named after him. Brian Harold Mason who was a leader in the study of Meteorites & Mineralogy
Was also the Curator of the American Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian Institute and received many other honors and metals for his Life’s Work.

Brian actually  died on the very last month of the That Year of Astronomy so today he is now eligible for a place in the Kepler Mountains.

I had a hand in suggesting Mt Pickering and Mt Tinsley and in my opinion Mr Mason should be given the “Crater like” Circe Lake on top of the Jackson Peaks
because of it’s amazing outlook and accessibility.  But it would be nice if someone else could put in the submission on this proposal. 

 

Fiordland Advocate - Cue Television Ends

Posted 19th April 2015 to the Fiordland Advocate Newspaper Te Anau NZ
 

 I see Southland’s Cue TV has gone off air for good after years of struggle to keep afloat financially. Cue had covered many TV Items in the Fiordland Area for years despite the lacking a Te Anau News team, so Cue will be remembered here albeit on a limited Youtube selection.

Cue had a low profile in the South West but now there is going to be very little TV coverage of Stories unless some disaster happens. 

It would have been handy if the TV let people know of the Overcrowding In Milford Sound this Summer or covered the visit of the Daughter of Sir William Pickering one of the most famous New Zealanders of all time to Fiordland, but sadly all the Big Network News journalists are glued to Auckland now. 

Maybe A regional Southern Lakes Tourist info Channel might be born one day but it will be out of Queenstown no doubt .

William H Pickering - Memorial Pilgrimage NZ

Posted 23rd February 2015 to the Southland Times Newspaper Invercargill NZ

 Thank you Southland Times for your coverage of the historic visit of Sir William Hayward Pickering’s Daughter Beth Mezitt and Her Husband Wayne.

They where really impressed with Southland, Especially the Kepler Mountains. But my thanks goes out to NZ Geographic Board and the Department of Conservation for
making it all happen, and Te Anau Helicopter Services Pilot Daniel Harrison for getting us there and back !  And Beth’s Friend Elizebeth Harrington for Paying the bill.

Sir Bill had a lot of Great Friends, I hope they are inspired to visit as well.
Some are even Astronauts...

Oh and your photographer Barry Harcourt was impressive to see in action despite getting light hearted cheek from Senior Ranger Ken Bradley..

It certainly was a great day out.

Chasm of Despair - Fiordland National Park

Posted to the Fiordland Advocate Newspaper 23 February 2015

 A Chief Ranger once told me what a Burden it is running a National Park and being expected that every one in it will be safe from harm in it.
Just Lately I bet he is glad he no longer has that responsibility.
People forget Fiordland is a dangerous place and one must keep ones wits sharp in you want to get home to live another day. Every Bush walk can fool you if you stray too far
Especial at right angles, every waterway can be a pleasure or a Peril.
But people are spell bound to seek out our Wilderness and that means we have to present it in a way that is not only safe but satisfies the desire to explore and to photograph.
And though the Department of Conservation has done a great job for Mass Transit to the Chasm they sacrificed the Ambience it once had for the needs of the Tour Companies.

If you want to find the REAL (Milford) Chasm today you have to risk life and limb to see it.  There should be a second walkway for Nature Lovers to see the lower reaches that look magical on Camera. I think that falls in the mandate of a National Park Management dialogue. Same goes for the Bowen Falls, we don’t want to walk around the airport, Let us see the Darn Waterfall. Perhaps we have to put up signs outside the Park that it is in-fact a wilderness and you are on your own if things go wrong. That’s the deal with Wilderness. It’s a bit Wild and Natural Selection Rules there.

Haville Highway - Haast to Milford

Posted 24th Jan 2015 by A Nicholson to the Fiordland Advocate Newspaper Te Anau

 I read in the Advocate that The Haville Milford to Haast Turnpike is all go on paper now if not In the physical world.
But alas time is against the good people of South Westland it seems, scientists say if we do not stop burning carbon
and ripping up the Planet like there is no tomorrow there might actually be NO TOMORROW. It takes a while but  our Governments will
Eventually Turn Green to ensure Civilization does not go down the proverbial toilet, Sorry this will Clash with the Highway on some Fundamental Grounds.
When the Green Revolution comes to pass, we will all have sacrifices EVEN the South Westland Council. Or should I say “Especially”

This material is not secret, it is out for all to read. Oh and If you are building a Highway along the Alpine Fault You should probably read up on that too.

My advice is If your going to build it, do it sooner rather than later.

 

Lou Sanson's Doc Shakeup

Posted 19th November 2014 to the Fiordland Advocate Newspaper.

I hear the new Director Lou Sanson on the Radio Saying that He wants to Straighten out the Department of Conservation
Because they are in a mess after restructuring and internal cooperation is under stress and so are safeguards set up after the
Cave Creek Disaster...

I suppose 1080 is like Cave Creek viewing Platforms as it has a level of danger attached to it if not done right.
I was asked recently why 1080 drops are Illegal in the USA and not here... I suppose the answer is that Nobody in
America would ever want to open them selves up to litigation if a drop went wrong because that could be massive.

In New Zealand we don’t need to care about collateral damage, that is why there are few warning signs posted
Around our lakes and Parks about possible man made Toxins and low level effects.

Personally I think it’s a branding problem, 1080 sounds more toxic than Bird Restoration Sprinkles or Eco Balancing Agent.

Te Anau's Silly Sewage Sceme

Posted 20th September 2014 to the Fiordland Advocate Te Anau NZ

 If you think about it Te Anau Sewage Answer is staring at it in the face.. Native Beech Forest is Idea suited to absorb Nutriments for waste water and there are No People there to be offended by it.

Clearly if we can Dump 1080 all over it then Waste Water should be far less environmentally intrusive to wildlife and after all we got’ta put the National Park to use for something if you cant fish shoot or safely walk through it.
The Kepler Mountains would be Perfect and if you play it right  any surplus waste water could drift safely out to sea via the Manapouri Power Station and make some extra electricity Into the bargain !

Come on Southland District Council, where is your plucky spirit, a true Heath Robinson sewage system Is like the Movie “Field of Dreams” Let’s Build it and People will Come to use it.  let Nature deal with the pesky microbes.