tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59736254261028429772024-03-06T09:40:01.540+13:00Daphne BellIt's not just about politics!daphnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460727019718511980noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5973625426102842977.post-61387075105233439472013-10-03T16:35:00.000+13:002013-10-03T16:35:27.515+13:00Half a day in the life of a councillor (retiring) <br />
<ul>
<li>Signwaving at the Peachgrove/Ruakura intersection at morning"rush hour" to find traffic flowing freely thanks to the ring road and school holidays.</li>
<li>To a playground working group with plans for consultation with the community to include inviting those interested on a bus trip around the city. Helpful to have our playground maintenance guru, Reg on the working group bringing first hand knowledge of our playgrounds. </li>
<li>A short meeting with our Waste Minimisation Officer to pass on the offer of the Tzu Chi Foundation to help with recycling education and awareness: part of their concern for the planet.</li>
<li>On to the opening of the Runanga's kaumatua housing in Frankton with Tariana Turia doing the honours. Great to see the delight of the new tenants and the standard of the units.</li>
<li>Called in to Te Whare o Te Ata, Fairfield community house to find they now have classes in Te Reo, Spanish, Japanese and Mandarin and a new drop in after school programme for reading to kids (thanks to our library staff for help with books) and a new Chinese seniors computer class. Frank, Bruce and Michelle - take a bow!</li>
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<br />daphnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460727019718511980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5973625426102842977.post-34373771568607743182013-09-15T11:48:00.001+12:002013-09-15T11:48:46.375+12:00Key choice for voters <b><i>Dr Patrick Barrett, senior lecturer in political science at University of Waikato, analyses the choice between First Past the Post and Single Transferable Voting:</i></b><br />
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The appearance of Single Transferable Vote (STV) signs around Hamilton has given me cause to revisit the textbooks on electoral systems. I needed more information, without which casting a vote would be similar to my experience in previous council elections when, I confess, I have voted with little knowledge about what candidates have stood for and their likely impact if elected.<br />
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The First Past the Post system (FPP) system is familiar. It gives us a separate vote for each seat to be filled in our electorate or ward. Those with the largest numbers of votes make it on to the council. But how does STV work?<br />
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The name of the system of voting, Single Transferable Vote, tells us a number of things. We get a single vote and that vote is transferable. Under STV, we get to rank all of the candidates in our order of preference - 1,2,3, and so on. If the person we rank as the most preferred candidate gains sufficient votes and does not need our vote, our next preference is counted. Similarly, if our preferred candidate has so few votes as to have no chance of being elected, then our vote is transferred to our next preference. Under STV, the voter, according to the STV Taskforce, is effectively saying something like:<br />
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"The candidate I most wish to see represent me on the council is Joe Bloggs. If Joe wins so many votes that he doesn't need my vote to be elected, then my vote is to be transferred to Bill Smith to help him get sufficient votes to be elected. But if Joe has so few votes that he can't possibly be elected, my vote is to be transferred to Bill."<br />
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STV is known as a more sophisticated system, better suited to the type of multi-member wards we have in city council elections. Its sophistication, though, is both its virtue and its shortcoming. Supporters accept it is more complex than FPP, but argue that you do not need to know the detail of how votes are counted and preferences allocated to gain the benefits from it. It's a bit like not needing to know how the microprocessors in computers work to get the benefit of using them.<br />
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Arguments in favour of STV emphasise its fairness and its potential to effectively represent the preference of voters. There are fewer wasted votes and those elected are more likely to have the support of a majority of voters. We would be more able to identify someone on the council we have helped to elect.<br />
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Arguments against STV emphasise its complexity in requiring voters to rank candidates, count votes and allocate preferences.<br />
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Arguments in favour of FPP emphasise its simplicity and familiarity. It is well understood and there is a degree of public confidence in it. It has an uncomplicated method of counting votes and results are known speedily.<br />
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But FPP is more likely to lead to councils that do not have the support of the majority in the community. Those elected might have a relatively small proportion of the vote and it is more likely that representation is denied to quite a substantial number of voters.<br />
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<b>In the end, our evaluation of the merits of FPP and STV comes down to the value we place on things like fairness, the potential of the system to represent the distinctive personality of our community, and our view on the capacity of the system to allow us to elect candidates that best represent our interests.</b><br />
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<i>A number of excellent information sources are available, such as www.stv.govt.nz which has a link to a great animated display explaining vote counting under STV. </i><br />
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<br />daphnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460727019718511980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5973625426102842977.post-8784881135863166952013-08-26T13:09:00.003+12:002013-08-26T13:09:50.562+12:00Inspiring women <div class="MsoNormal">
In three days last week I heard three remarkable women: New Zealanders Helen Clark and Helen Anderson,
and Canadian Ingrid Mattson.</div>
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Dr Ingrid Mattson was raised a Catholic and became a Muslim
in her twenties. A lecturer in Islamic
Studies she was, remarkably, president of the Islamic Society of North America for four years post 9/11. At this
challenging time this diminutive, white woman was speaking for the North
American Muslim community.</div>
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With her background she is well placed to speak on gender
and leadership in the Islamic world and she applauded the local Wowma programme which is successfully developing the
leadership skills of young Muslim women in Hamilton. </div>
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She also spoke of the range of Islamic communities across
the world with their widely varying cultural practices and the resulting complexities
of identity. </div>
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She has experienced the shift from being part of the dominant group to being recognisably one of a minority group. She encouraged Muslims, who are a minority group in this
country, to build bridges of understanding with the wider community. She emphasised the importance of
neighbourliness and contributing generously to the place where one lives. </div>
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Informed by a deep scholarly knowledge of the Koran, she
spoke with a quietly compelling voice for moderation and inclusiveness. </div>
daphnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460727019718511980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5973625426102842977.post-51960696859431691742013-07-18T18:00:00.002+12:002013-07-18T18:00:47.278+12:00If what most people need is a good listening to, how well do your local politicians listen? <div class="MsoNormal">
<b>2013 local elections <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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At the local body elections in October we will choose our elected
representatives for the next three years to help shape the communities we live
in. There is still time to consider
standing for council, to encourage
others to do so and to support them. </div>
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<b>Community led
approach <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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The challenge for councils and councillors is to engage
meaningfully with their diverse communities and to value their contribution.
The city of Seattle does so in practical terms through their successful
matching funds programme. Importantly, the city requires an inclusive approach in
neighbourhood projects and fosters local leadership. This partnership approach, giving the community a real voice at the table, involves a change of mindset from traditional
service delivery. </div>
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<b>Assessing candidates <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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It can be challenging to vote wisely when faced with a long list of candidates many of
whom we may not know . </div>
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Serious candidates welcome invitations to meetings. If successful they will then already have an understanding of the
contribution a group is making. This is also
an opportunity to assess their experience, skills and commitment. What would they bring to council? How well connected are they to their local
community ? Who is supporting or
endorsing them? Would they contribute to
a more representative council? </div>
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<b>Social media <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Although there is no substitute for face to face conversations
, increasingly candidates are using social media to connect with voters. In Hamilton, one candidate gives a weekly campaign update
on her website, posts regularly to her
Facebook page and links to her blog posts. Whereas candidates are restricted to 150 words in the
official candidates’ booklet, her blogs,
written over a period of time on a
variety of topics, give an in-depth
insight into her thinking and values. (<a href="http://www.anjum.co.nz/">www.anjum.co.nz</a>) </div>
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daphnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460727019718511980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5973625426102842977.post-58110326531630059742013-04-23T14:57:00.003+12:002013-04-23T14:57:40.171+12:00Naomi Kumar <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI22BpS2hYnQeOOa2dXNKuFQ55uRfT1gIJ-spXEkHWt7NyM0o_0e9Fq_NGSR6R3tMAszb3BfB3B5uqA01y6kqkpBTvV3_kk5ZcNsFqM8X5AcQCjdsux7ItbGUEaWJqgglBEz8FOETNbrZ8/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI22BpS2hYnQeOOa2dXNKuFQ55uRfT1gIJ-spXEkHWt7NyM0o_0e9Fq_NGSR6R3tMAszb3BfB3B5uqA01y6kqkpBTvV3_kk5ZcNsFqM8X5AcQCjdsux7ItbGUEaWJqgglBEz8FOETNbrZ8/s1600/download.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />daphnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460727019718511980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5973625426102842977.post-3766921848409527152013-04-23T14:51:00.002+12:002013-04-23T14:51:28.023+12:00to truly belong <br />
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<span lang="EN-NZ">Michael King in “ Being pakeha now” recalls living for a time in Papua New Guinea
and the shock of finding himself for the
first time in his life part of a tiny, white obvious minority among a vast black majority. Something, he wrote, that every European should experience.
I agree. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ">My own moment of epiphany was many years ago on the South Side of
Chicago where for the first time I was
entirely surrounded by Black Americans.
I returned to my privileged life in the majority culture but have never
forgotten the experience of standing out in a crowd in this way.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ">Hamilton’s cultural diversity was plain to
see at Council’s citizenship ceremonies yesterday when we welcomed almost 100
new citizens. Naomi Kumar represented
the Youth Council at the morning ceremony.
She recently won the national Race Unity speech contest in which she
told of the everyday experience of being on the margins, of being the newcomer, not always directly discriminated against
but not fully included either. Her dream
is that it will be different for her children. They will truly belong. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ">Listen to her speak: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIO8L8IoRto">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIO8L8IoRto</a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600"
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="C:\Users\belld\Desktop\download.jpg" border="0" height="275" src="file:///C:/Users/mike/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1" width="183" /><!--[endif]--></span>daphnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460727019718511980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5973625426102842977.post-17361052124499693212013-04-22T13:25:00.000+12:002013-04-22T13:25:24.801+12:00It is time<br />
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<b> “In the future I envision, we are not defined by ethnicity. We are enriched by it, certainly. But it is never a measure of our value as
individuals.” <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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These wise words were part of Hillcrest High School’s Naomi
Kumar’s winning speech at the national Race Unity competition. </div>
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We could equally well say that we should not be defined
solely by our sexuality. It is part of
us certainly but it is never a measure of our value as individuals. </div>
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The Marriage Amendment Bill which passed last week legalised same sex
marriage but had important broader benefits.
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->The conscience vote in parliament and publicity
on the issue gave greater visibility to those who are often marginalised and discriminated
against. Their personal stories,
sometimes bravely told, gave us a
greater understanding of their everyday reality and experience and the need for
change. </div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->A strength of the campaign was the involvement
of young people across the political spectrum.
For many it was their first engagement with the political process. </div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->Locally,
the Legalise Love group campaigned with commitment, style and energy
along with savvy use of social
media. They showed us it is possible to
campaign for a serious issue and have some fun along the way. Importantly, their
group included people across the sexuality spectrum. This made their advocacy
powerful and compelling. </div>
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As a result of the campaign and passing of the Marriage
Amendment Bill, people in the gay and
lesbian community are now better able to stand tall in our community. It is time. </div>
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daphnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460727019718511980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5973625426102842977.post-42843089083034244372013-04-17T21:22:00.001+12:002013-04-17T21:22:36.768+12:00in the poo <br />
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My first balloon flight ended in a farm paddock just south
of the city. The quantity of manure on
the paddock was such that we needed to lay out large squares of plastic before
we could deflate and pack the balloon. I haven't seen so much manure outside of a cowshed yard. It was a graphic reminder of the reality of increasing cow numbers. </div>
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We are only now beginning to understand the extent to which
intensive stocking degrades the soil whereas the pollution of waterways from
dairy farm run-off is obvious. We
welcome the economic benefit from
intensive dairying but it comes at an environmental
cost and could be ultimately unsustainable. </div>
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This is a
recurrent theme in global and national conversations. I will be interested in the results of the
Waikato Regional Council’s recent survey
on attitudes to balancing economic and environmental considerations. </div>
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In 2006 Lord Nicholas Stern warned of the effect of global
warming on the world economy. The main
conclusion of the Stern Report was that the benefits of strong, early action on
climate change would far outweigh the costs of not acting. In February of this year he said that he
had under-estimated the risks in view of the rise of global temperatures. Scientists are predicting more extreme
weather events as a result of climate change and in this summer in New Zealand we have
experienced an unprecedented nation-wide
drought which could become the norm. </div>
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Nationally, the government proposes in the latest RMA
reforms to elevate economic benefit
above environmental considerations; the
discussion paper on Freshwater reforms, while having some positive aspects,
does not address the shortcomings of the ‘first in first served’ approach and
even includes the option of balloting for freshwater allocation. The Commission
for the Environment describes the current ETS regime as a farce. The Minister of Housing and Conservation
speaks of ‘jobs not environment’ , has
cut Department of Conservation staff numbers and in chasing the holy grail of
housing affordability fails to factor in the overall costs of urban
sprawl. </div>
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A group of prominent
New Zealanders, Wise Response, has
called for a cross-party approach to address the issues we face more
responsibly (see <a href="http://www.wiseresponse.org.nz/">www.wiseresponse.org.nz</a> and <i>On
the Brink </i> (Peta Carey) NZ Listener 13 April ) Massey
University’s Vice Chancellor, Steve Maharey in Defining
NZ 2050 (Jan. 2013) writes ‘now
is the time to arrive at a common vision of the sort of place we want New
Zealand to be and to set to work on making it a reality.’ To do so may involve some politically
unpalatable decisions in the short term but prove responsible in the long
term. </div>
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On a more
positive note, locally, it was
encouraging to see that the <i>Waikato Times</i>
of 23 March with eight articles on environmental topics, most substantial. And to hear John Innes from Landcare delight
the large Pechakucha audience at the Summer Gardens Festival on the topic of
birds and their predators. </div>
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The city’s Sustainable Hamilton Strategy speaks of changing
the way we live for a better future. We
will do so through working together and showing leadership to improve our
natural and built environment and reducing our impact on the environment through
a whole raft of actions. The Action Plan to implement the strategy is possibly
ambitious, necessarily multi-faceted and relies on ongoing commitment of
Council and our partners to do so. Establishing an external panel to monitor how we are doing will give us
an independent view on how we are tracking in a way that we might struggle to
do ourselves. </div>
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Council is
undertaking to take a more considered approach to sustainability through its own
Sustainability Plan. </div>
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We have now notified the Proposed District Plan which has
many inter-related sustainability
aspects especially around land use, water, energy, design, hazards and transport. In
addition to regulation , incentives and education are important components of
the approach taken in the Proposed District Plan. </div>
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There
is much to do.</div>
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daphnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460727019718511980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5973625426102842977.post-18706889964879469922013-01-22T16:21:00.000+13:002013-01-22T16:21:37.938+13:00Judy McDonald responds <br />
As coordinator of Living Streets Hamilton, I'd like to note that absolutely NOBODY funds Living Streets Hamilton. We are a voluntary body: there used to be some small government funding of the parent organisation, Living Streets Aotearoa, but that was stopped by the policies of the present National government, whose focus is on road-building rather than sustainable transport of any form.<br />
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I cannot imagine how a bunch of locals who would like to encourage walking for fitness, fun and environmentally positive effects could be in any way likely to achieve global domination. It would be wonderful if we could, mind you, but it's not on our agenda. At the moment we'd be happy with safe walking routes to the CBD and around the suburbs, and we're trying to organise our next set of Sunday afternoon strolls to introduce people to the more picturesque parts of Hamilton. daphnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460727019718511980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5973625426102842977.post-65068056213488747582013-01-15T14:34:00.000+13:002013-01-15T14:34:17.581+13:00From worm farms to world domination <div>
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Last year at the Long Term Plan hearings two submitters asked Council to stop funding pedestrian advocacy group, Living Streets. They saw this group as part of a UN international conspiracy for world domination, views apparently sourced from the US Republican Tea Party and Fox News. For the record, Council does not fund Living Streets which recently organised Sunday afternoon walks which attracted hundreds of people.<div>
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It was disappointing to have a recent article in the "Waikato Times" on Council's sustainability initiatives treat the submitter's views as credible and to be asked, as chair of Council's sustainability working group, if I am part of the conspiracy they see. If I were, I doubt that I would admit to it. If I am unwittingly so, I am clearly a dupe of dark forces beyond my ken.</div>
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I welcome robust discussion on the environmental and sustainability issues we face and am glad to debate the challenges and options we face. We live in a world with increasing numbers of people consuming more of our finite resources. These are global issues where business as usual or blind optimism seem an inadequate response. We should take a long term view rather than operate on short-term self interest. </div>
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Local government needs to be part of changing the way we live so that we all might have a better future. </div>
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daphnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460727019718511980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5973625426102842977.post-54317174407485479802013-01-15T14:06:00.001+13:002013-01-15T14:06:29.515+13:00Councillor profile Daphne is in her third term on Council.<br />
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A deputation of civic leaders (and a large cheque) have persuaded her not to stand for Council again at the next election.<br />
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An arts advocate, she is solely responsible for the expensive pile of tasteless metal junk masquerading as public art in Garden Place.<br />
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She has been responsible for numerous hare-brained and ill-fated schemes ostensibly advancing the cause of sustainable transport which are yet to bring any identifiable benefit to the city.<br />
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Air brushing and extensive plastic surgery have failed to mask her advancing years and mental decline. At best well intentioned but generally regarded as inept, ineffective and ill-suited to political life, she will no doubt continue her incoherent rants on social media - once she remembers the password.<br />
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Daphne comes from a large and exemplary family, none of whom wish to be named in view of her murky past, dodgy dealings and excessive use of poorly-chosen, randomly-selected, cliche-ridden hyphenated language which she would be well-advised to avoid like the plague.daphnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460727019718511980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5973625426102842977.post-7945546434902081032012-12-09T18:23:00.000+13:002012-12-09T18:23:08.041+13:00building community the Seattle way Jim Diers, a former Director of Neighbourhoods in Seattle, presented in Hamilton last week encouraging us to unlock the energy, talents and resources of people in their local communities in partnership with the city.<br /><br />
He gave the example of his own community which was run-down, suffering from increasing crime and loss of local businesses.<br />
<br />
Many ideas came from a neighbourhood gathering, these included:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>painting empty shops so as to look like thriving businesses. They became attractions in their own right and businesses moved back in.</li>
<li>The worst shop on the block was done up and turned into a bike shop which became a community hub to which people gave their old bikes, volunteers did them up, taught others and donated them to locals (and sent 500 to Africa).</li>
<li>They purposely increased the number of places where locals met up - e.g. well placed seats, letterbox libraries, a tea van which visited various localities</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Matching funds: </b>the City of Seattle supports neighbourhood initiated projects by "community match" - matching community funds, in-kind support and costed volunteer hours. The city requires an inclusive neighbourhood approach for projects and has had demonstrable success in involving otherwise marginalised groups. "Everyone has something to contribute".</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Initially modest and tentative, over the last 25 years Marching Funds has grown into a well-accepted and well-supported programme which has generated over 3,000 projects many of which would not otherwise have been possible. More importantly, the neighbourhood groups have been empowered and encouraged to continue on to do more. "<b>Bringing people together is as important as the result</b>. They have reasons to come out of the house." </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In a three-tier approach, from "small sparks" to large projects, Seattle's Matching Funds have supported community initiated projects ranging from park developments, playgrounds, community gardens, public art, trail development, neighbourhood plans, stream clean-ups, events, oral histories, classes, facility development, cultural celebrations and much more. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
While Hamilton City Council already embraces aspects of this approach, we do not have consistency or guidelines around matching funds. If we do so, we will still need skilled staff to work with community groups in this way. We could make a start through a pilot project.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Matching Funds would enable us to do more than we are otherwise able to do through valuing local knowledge, passions and skills.</div>
daphnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460727019718511980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5973625426102842977.post-81619357428296312762012-10-11T13:14:00.001+13:002012-10-11T13:14:20.368+13:00Framing the future - the end of growth?
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Richard Heinberg from the US Postcarbon Institute sees an
inevitable end to the exponential growth we have seen in GDP per capita,
population and energy consumption since the start of the industrial
revolution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sees the present global
financial crisis with its unsustainable debt levels signalling a sobering new
economic reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In considering the impossibility of continued growth, he
examines three major factors: energy, debt and climate change.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Developed countries spend only 10% of their GDP on energy,
but everything in the modern world depends on it: as he notes, once you’ve
turned off the petrol pumps and cut off the electricity, everything stops in
first world countries. Since the start of the industrial revolution we have
substituted the use of renewable sources of energy with the use of immensely
energy–rich but unrenewable fossil fuels, on which we rely for transport,
trade, and this has generated the ensuing “economic growth” we have all been
led to believe is essential. </span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">More people plus more consumption leads to more energy use
which is unsustainable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spikes in oil
prices are usually followed by recession which then chokes economic growth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are faced with a Catch-22 situation in
which, because oil is becoming increasingly difficult to extract, the industry
needs high prices (over $100 US per barrel) to justify its continued
production. However, if the oil price stays over $100 US per barrel, economic
recession results, as transport is affected and trade slows or stops. </span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He regards global debt as a direct consequence of the oil
boom which allowed mass production of all kinds of “stuff” at cheap rates. In
order to sell the products, artificial needs and systems to support the
fulfilment of these needs were created: advertising, planned obsolescence and
consumer credit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order to support the
interest payments on the growing debt, endless economic growth became a
necessity.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Richard gave a graphic illustration of the impossibility of
sustaining growth indefinitely. He cited the “impossible hamster” example.
Hamsters double their body weight on a weekly basis in infancy. If a hamster
continued to do this for the whole first year of its life, it would weigh
several billion tons by the end of the year as a result of its exponential
growth. Until recently, China’s economy has been growing by 10% per year. This
represents a doubling time of 7 years. In other words, in seven years, China would
need twice as many resources as it does now. In fourteen years, it would need
four times as many. Played out in every world economy, the impossibility of
sustaining this on one finite planet becomes very obvious.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We are now facing the limits of cheap oil and debt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Water is increasingly becoming the true
‘blue chip’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are seeing increasing
inequality which in some countries is already leading to social instability.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Heinberg regards GDP as a perverse indicator of economic
success as it measures consumption which may be detrimental to the environment
and could be the result of war or natural disaster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sovereign Assurance is developing a
well-being index for New Zealand which better measures aspects such as
environmental impact. </span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Climate change is linked to our dependence on non-renewable
fossil fuels with GHG emissions continuing to increase. Global warming is well
documented and there is an increasing incidence of severe weather events, with
all their associated costs to society. </span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So this is the global picture which will impact on New
Zealand -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and Hamilton - over the next
few years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What might we do to anticipate the future<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- to be proactive rather than reactive?</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We should be developing economic resilience to absorb
shocks: a ‘steady state’ economy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
would involve a move away from the long supply chains of globalisation towards
more local and more dispersed systems. We should use our renewable energy
sources wisely and reduce our reliance on non renewable energy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As fewer people are able to drive cars due to
cost and unavailability of fuel, we will need walkable cities and public
transport systems.</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We need to encourage the building of homes and
commercial buildings that heat and cool themselves – passive structures that
need little or no external<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>energy
input.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We should be developing small-scale local food
systems, and training our citizens in the arts of food production and
preservation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We should be encouraging alternative currencies,
worker cooperatives, and any other options that produce stronger, more
self-sufficient communities. </span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We have many positives to draw on, including our innovative
can-do approach, community spirit, creative people, and temperate climate. </span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Questions from the large and attentive audience included
querying the government’s lack of leadership and action on these issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
daphnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460727019718511980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5973625426102842977.post-70352979359267617632012-08-30T19:00:00.002+12:002012-08-30T19:01:27.714+12:00Caring for the earth one week at a time <br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Economist Gareth Morgan challenged New Zealanders this week
on national radio to act to stop degrading our environment .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Across the Tasman the Lock the Gate farmers and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>activists have <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>blocked mining companies from accessing their
land to extract gas from coal seams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Although legally entitled to do so these companies have
withdrawn in the face of concerted, widespread community opposition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Drew Hutton from the Lock the Gate movement spoke in
Hamilton this week of the impact and risks of large scale coal seam gas
extraction. The most observable impact is the loss of productive farmland to
gas fields on a massive scale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Less apparent
but seriously concerning is the risk of contamination of water supplies, the
dangers of acid waste water post extraction and the escape of methane to the
atmosphere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A local group has now formed to monitor these technologies
in the Waikato.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At the Waikato Interfaith Forum on Tuesday night
representatives of several faith communities linked their religious teachings
to caring for the earth. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
encouraging that a group from widely varying backgrounds should do so with such
a degree of consensus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This week the Federation of Islamic
Associations in New Zealand<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>mark Islamic
Awareness Week with a focus on the environment. This Saturday our Interfaith Forum will <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>demonstrate their practical commitment to the
environment at a community planting at Lake Waiwhakareke to
continue the restoration of this area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
daphnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460727019718511980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5973625426102842977.post-57549015689494269592012-08-18T16:42:00.000+12:002012-08-18T16:42:19.054+12:00Creating solutions - yes we can!<br />
When the government cut the funding for community education most programmes in the country disappeared. Not so in Golden Bay - a resilient, co-operative community with a tradition of alternative approaches. Their Local Enterprise Trading Scheme, HANDS, uses 'local dollars' as currency in addition to New Zealand dollars. The evening class teachers accepted a pay cut and were paid in a mixture of both currencies. Evening classes in Golden Bay have continued and flourished.<br />
<br />
Laurence Boomert from Golden Bay spoke in Hamilton recently. He established the Environmental Business Network which became the Sustainable Business Network. An engaging, generous and positive speaker, he spoke of creatively re-thinking how we get our needs met and making small changes which could lead to radical transformation. He cited a number of such initiatives where people share and co-operate and in the process build stronger communities. They include pooling savings through credit unions; local money systems such as 'green dollar'; local food projects and time banks.<br />
<br />
Lyttleton's TimeBank proved invaluable after the earthquake in bringing help to people quickly. It could do so because it already had a co-operative network of 400 people.<br />
<br />
Hamilton is planning a TimeBank. Members will earn hourly credits by helping another TimeBank member with something they need. They can then draw on their credit for a service they need or they may donate their time. This enables people to contribute to their community outside the cash economy: ' re-connecting communities, sharing resources and enhancing the quality of life one hour at a time.' <br />
<br />
Elsewhere in New Zealand, Wellington City Council plants tomatoes and peas in Civic Square, councils plant fruit trees in parks and on streets, Palmerston North's Green Bikes recycles and gifts donated bikes, international travellers are hosted through Couch Surfers or Servas, Freecycle <a href="http://www.freecycle.org.nz/">www.freecycle.org.nz</a> allows you to donate stuff you don't want but someone else could use; <a href="http://www.let'scarpool.govt.nz/">www.let'scarpool.govt.nz</a> enables you to share the costs of the ride to work. <br />
<br />
In Hamilton community gardens across the city encourage more people to grow food, the Enderley tool library lends out motor mowers etc., the Milk and Honey cafe operates on a koha basis, Claude Street has a produce exchange table in the street and neighbours combine to restore gullies.<br />
<br />
The global financial crisis has caused us to question the current financial system and to look for alternatives. When times get really tough we could move to Golden Bay or we could build on what is already happening in Hamilton and create our own co-operative solutions.<br />
daphnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460727019718511980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5973625426102842977.post-63419232122980477142012-07-05T18:38:00.004+12:002012-07-06T09:39:12.822+12:00Not English again!Some years ago my roommate was from Argentina. Each morning she would wake up, see me and groan, "oh, no it is English again!"<br />
<br />
I thought of Maria recently when a woman said to me that she should not be expected to sit and listen to lengthy speeches in a language she doesn't understand.<br />
<br />
Here in New Zealand those of us whose mother tongue is English, understand almost every word we hear, the jokes, the allusions, the shades of meaning. <br />
<br />
Occasionally we may be in a situation where the predominant language is not English: on a marae or at an ethnic function.<br />
<br />
We have some choices.<br />
<br />
We can relax and enjoy not needing to pay close attention to what is said, though we do appreicate a brief summary.<br />
<br />
We may enjoy hearing a more musical language than the clickety clack of English. We can surely enjoy the singing and the atmosphere.<br />
<br />
Many years ago Arthur Grimble a colonial office cadet in the Gilbert Islands (now Kiribati) commented to his superior on the protracted, elaborate and repetitive greetings of the local people. He was reminded "we are not here to teach them our manners, but to understand theirs". <br />
<br />
We might consider that we are fortunate to experience something of the richness of another culture with the language and ritual of formal occasions, close to home. <br />
<br />
We could also spare a thought for those whose mother tongue is not English and who operate here every day in our language with all of its challenges including its pesky prepositions and illogical pronunciation.daphnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460727019718511980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5973625426102842977.post-60845155435415947242012-06-13T16:31:00.000+12:002012-06-13T16:31:10.478+12:00Facing Facebook<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Most councillors want to keep in touch with the community’s thinking
on the issues of the day. Traditionally we have done so by reading the letters
to the editor in the local papers, through submissions to council and hearing
directly from those who phone, email, write or chat to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A more recent feedback loop is the online comment on our
local paper’s website. A while back I was I was alerted to the dozen or so
angry comments on the sculpture in Garden Place. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In contrast to the letters to the editor which
cover a range of topics, the online comments on one issue pack a powerful
cumulative punch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Waikato Times now includes some of the online comments
in their print version.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reporter Daniel
Adams covers council affairs and also writes a blog “off the record” - more of
an opinion piece than straight reporting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His blog, in turn, attracts feedback and so on it goes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Comment in the public domain extends still further through
Facebook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last week council was to decide whether to approve an
application to install a temporary artwork on the Wintec wall. The day before
the meeting <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked my Facebook
‘friends’ if they supported this. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within
two hours fourteen people had enthusiastically done so and a number offered other
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>suggestions for the wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the next day twenty-five people had
commented.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be difficult to
obtain such an immediate response in any other way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I recognise that my Facebook ‘friends’ are not a carefully selected
representative sample.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Knowing most of
them, though, I can vouch for their sanity, public spirit and discernment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I accept that there are unlikely to be many
amongst them who regard me as a total tosser who should be gone by lunchtime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will find those folk elsewhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My favourite feedback though comes from council’s citizens
panel which is selected to be representative of the community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From
time to time we ask them questions on issues we are about to debate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their views were particularly helpful before
the long term plan decisions as they covered the broad range of pros and cons
we grapple with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could see where the
consensus lay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whereas we usually hear
from those with strong views, for and against, the citizen’s panel provides a
voice for the silent majority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We can also follow comments<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>on Council’s website which helpfully provides links to councillors’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>emails, facebook and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>twitter to encourage contact from the
community. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As councillors we have a choice whether to explore social
media or not. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we are concerned about
decreasing<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>voting in local body
elections<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and little interest from
younger voters,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>social media offers
additional avenues to reach people - despite the challenges for some of us in
doing so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>daphnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460727019718511980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5973625426102842977.post-71468110951584895622012-05-28T09:59:00.001+12:002012-05-28T09:59:40.877+12:00One week's heroes<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunday a week ago we gathered for a poignant AIDS candlelight memorial service. <strong>Lynda Johnston</strong> organised this opportunity for quiet remembrance of those we have lost to HIV and sadly to hear from those who told us of the continuing stigma that attaches to those with this condition. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Congratulations to <strong>Dujon Cullingford, Logan Reynolds and Kylie Zinsli </strong>for sharing their inspiring stories at the inaugural Youth Chat (aimed at adults) sessions held during the week.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Jeanette Fitzsimons</strong>’ submission to the Electoral Commission last Tuesday in Hamilton combined careful analysis based on long parliamentary experience and a principled approach to the issues. I would say that the Commission will consider her submission carefully. (Jeanette has just been acknowledged by EECA - Energy Efficiency and Conservation Agency - for her outstanding contribution .)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A woman in Wellington phoned to ask if I would visit <strong>Mr and Mrs Zhang</strong> to express her sadness that they had been attacked outside their shop in Melville. When I did so, they assured me that they had received much kindness from the community and that they like living here. I was greatly touched to realise that they were gently comforting me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Hamilton Bluegrass County Band, line dancing and a new fast food sweet treat - Hungarian twisties – pleased the crowd at Hillcrest Park on Sunday. <strong>Paula Law </strong>leads the Hillcrest Guardians who organised the event . Their response to issues on the park some time back was to bring the community together through events such as this. Paula’s energy and leadership makes a difference in this community. </span><br />
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<br />daphnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460727019718511980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5973625426102842977.post-71441596067811996382012-05-28T09:53:00.001+12:002012-05-28T09:53:06.323+12:00This week's heroes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SlrKKW5Y-eUMdtdvSmel3OImEcE6iVmidNfJp8jVfXOrSyICSuFq7AnXIBISBHXIQySjD0BLxn0gJkO1KAZvjcWRqc6omfDS3JF5lNiiY1uC0nj7V5tg3lz9d6MZH7MDdWgv8H3ihYSR/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SlrKKW5Y-eUMdtdvSmel3OImEcE6iVmidNfJp8jVfXOrSyICSuFq7AnXIBISBHXIQySjD0BLxn0gJkO1KAZvjcWRqc6omfDS3JF5lNiiY1uC0nj7V5tg3lz9d6MZH7MDdWgv8H3ihYSR/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>daphnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460727019718511980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5973625426102842977.post-33177541225102593462012-05-20T16:09:00.000+12:002012-05-20T16:09:16.770+12:00The very model of a modern annual meeting<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Successful learners shared their stories at the recent annual meeting of English Language Partners Waikato. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Speaking confidently, Ratana Om told of coming to the Waikato as a refugee from Cambodia. A week later he started work at the mushroom factory in Morrinsville. He had no English so travelled to Hamilton twice a week for evening classes with English Language Partners. He is now managing a mushroom factory in Mercer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Burmese refugee Saw Khon Hmine was elected to the committee. Two years ago when his group arrived I recall being moved by his eloquent speech at the powhiri.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ELP’s committee is enviable for its strong educational and financial skills plus an admirable mix of ethnic backgrounds: Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Indonesian and now, Burmese, with both tutors and learners represented.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Simon Murray from the Talking Tech Foundation, inspired us with the company’s approach to philanthropy - encouraging a culture of generosity. (Subsequent events have tempered my enthusiasm for the CEO of Talking Tech but perhaps we need to separate philanthropy from politics).</span><br />
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<br />daphnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460727019718511980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5973625426102842977.post-84654793329897308502010-12-03T19:44:00.007+13:002010-12-07T14:44:32.186+13:00MMP - makes your vote count<div align="justify">The campaign to keep MMP (mixed Member Proportional) electoral system got underway in Hamilton on 1 December when members of the national campaign for MMP came to town.<br />
</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">For political scientists Ana Gilling and Sandra Grey, MMP is the fairest and most representative electoral system. Other speakers, Jeanette Fitzsimmons, Sue Moroney and Hineraumoa Te Apatu, reminded us that MMP is good for women and good for diversity. <br />
</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Since changing to MMP the New Zealand parliament is much more representative of our diverse community than it was previously. In 1993, women were only 21% of New Zealand's parliament. In 2010, women are 33.6% of the MPs and there are six women cabinet ministers. Thanks largely to MMP, women have a greater opportunity to frame the issues and shape the agenda of parliament. And our parliaments are now much more representative of our ethnically diverse nation.<br />
</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Under FPP (First Past the Post) New Zealand saw governments elected with only minority support who governed with "unbridled power" unrestrained by other views. Those in safe seats were disenfranchised while those in marginal seats wielded undue influence in elections.<br />
</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong>MMP makes your vote count.</strong> It tempers the extremes of a two party system and requires governments to negotiate with a range of perspectives. It is not always a tidy process but it more fairly reflects the community's diverse views. <br />
</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Next year's referendum will decide whether to keep MMP or not. A vote to keep MMP will trigger a review which will give the opportunity for improvements to be debated.<br />
</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">If you would like to help with the Campaign for MMP contact <a href="http://www.campaignformmp.org.nz/">http://www.campaignformmp.org.nz/</a> or email me on <a href="mailto:dbell@wave.co.nz">dbell@wave.co.nz</a> - your help will make a difference. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div>daphnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460727019718511980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5973625426102842977.post-20763347259863640992010-10-08T14:18:00.002+13:002010-10-08T14:33:09.120+13:00A Waikato welcomeThis week the question of who is a New Zealander has been hotly debated.<br /><br />On Friday the powhiri to welcome the latest refugee group to settle in Hamilton showed that in this city we are embracing a multicultural society well. The powhiri is now a well-established tradition supported by Te Runanga o Kirikiriroa, people from ethnic groups, settlement support agencies and the volunteers who support their work. Hamilton is the only centre in New Zealand - thus far - to do so.<br /><br />Our newest refugee group are Burmese who spent their first six weeks in their new country at the Mangere Centre. <br /><br />Refugee Services manager, Rachel O'Connor's confident karanga of welcome rang out clear and strong. Ismail Gamadid from the Somali community and Refugee Forum began his welcome in fluent Maori and continued in expressive English. Kaumatua were supported by waiata which included a Burmese song. When the Burmese speaker told of the long and difficult journey from Burma to New Zealand and their hope for a better future he did so in quiet, eloquent English. I was not the only one moved to tears.daphnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460727019718511980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5973625426102842977.post-40298968701857959662010-09-29T17:32:00.002+13:002010-09-29T17:47:55.661+13:00Birth pangsAt this stage of an election campaign we may forget that for many people local body politics are peripheral at best.<br /><br />As candidates we are understandably focussed on the campaign whereas the critical period is the three years after 9 October.<br /><br />This is somewhat like a pregnant mum's focus on her pregnant state whereas, post partum, the important work of parenting begins.<br /><br />In the brief lull between the end of campaign meetings and knowing the election result, we could do well to reflect on what we have heard on the hustings and where we might look to make changes.<br /><br />I have been encouraged, for instance, by the broad consensus around sustainability issues and the questions about better bus shelters and natural burial show that we live in changing times.<br /><br />In the next three years, on Council or not, I will work for STV - Single Transferable Vote as a fairer system for council elections and will campaign to retain MMP. I am ready to look at open workshops and rating review.<br /><br />I look forward to participating in the October/November forums at the museum: The Tron: conversations on placemaking. These ongoing conversations are what shaping our city is all about.<br /><br />Page thirteen of tonight's Waikato Times lists the candidates that Sustainable Waikato has endorsed - you may wish to check it out - or their website <a href="http://www.sustainablewaikato.org.nz/">www.sustainablewaikato.org.nz</a>daphnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460727019718511980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5973625426102842977.post-43545087514051262872010-09-19T19:00:00.003+12:002010-09-19T19:14:11.460+12:00greening our gullies<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLp999O6cVtNYOi83k4mM5rlVeMAG_YhRCsEkOlpdCLq0e6WuSDrEWkML2xemfvIsjCtJBZgXoQly9XaArEYBpqCO-PfVpbMksZl0TNtYwHO6YOMfKffub46SWOgVivIkBu8R0j26FH5r/s1600/images.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518516264374341634" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 106px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 106px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLp999O6cVtNYOi83k4mM5rlVeMAG_YhRCsEkOlpdCLq0e6WuSDrEWkML2xemfvIsjCtJBZgXoQly9XaArEYBpqCO-PfVpbMksZl0TNtYwHO6YOMfKffub46SWOgVivIkBu8R0j26FH5r/s200/images.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>What would attract about thirty people to Hamilton's Mangaiti gully on a very blustery Saturday afternoon?</div><div> </div><div>They came to learn about restoring this extensive gully system from gorse and willow to native plants. Wayne Bennett, Robin Holdsworth and Council staff shared their knowledge with locals keen to get to work and make a difference. </div><div> </div><div>Hamilton's gullies are the city's hidden treasures and provide welcome open space in a growing city. Mangaiti is one of a number of gully restoration projects where Council works in partnership with a community group. </div><div> </div><div>Thanks to Rex Bushell for his leadership of this project. You can keep track of what is happening on <a href="http://gullyrestoration.blogspot.com/">http://gullyrestoration.blogspot.com</a></div>daphnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460727019718511980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5973625426102842977.post-39918707519808505572010-09-19T18:50:00.001+12:002010-12-04T12:29:52.822+13:00greening the gullies<div></div>daphnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460727019718511980noreply@blogger.com0