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Council’s proposed budget is unfair to Waitakere Ranges
Auckland Council is currently consulting on the Mayor’s proposed budget. One of the headlines is that the Mayor is asking local boards to find 5% savings of our total budget. Of itself this does not sound so bad. But unfortunately when you dig into the detail, as I have done, the consequences are somewhat dire…
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What to do if your land has a slip
I went to Paturoa yesterday morning on a quiet and still day and took this photo. It was serene, but the cliffs bore the scars of some significant slips, parts of the foreshore was washed away and there is still a car deposited on the edge of the cliff as a reminder of the fury…
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Is it too early to talk about climate change?
Cyclone Gabrielle is currently bearing down on Tamaki Makaurau. Locals are nervous. In my home suburb Titirangi a recent storm that fell well outside the definition of a one in one hundred year storm has caused multiple slips and scarring to the local landscape. Some people still do not have power and water is limited. …
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Who still doubts that climate change is happening?
One of the predictions of the effects of climate change is that storms will become more severe. As stated in MFE’s website: Because a warmer atmosphere is a more energetic atmosphere (and can hold more water vapour) the water cycle is intensified. This can result in more frequent and intense rainfall. Yesterday Auckland was battered…
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Why selling Auckland Airport shares is a silly thing to do
As part of the cost cutting Mayoral budget proposal Mayor Brown is recommending that Auckland Council divests itself of its airport shares. Currently it owns 266,328,912 shares, about 18% of the total shareholding. At current prices the shareholding is worth about $2.16 billion although such a large share sale would dilute the market. Thanks to…
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