We are very concerned about a potential increase in the rate of GST.
As a tourist operator and employer in a small business we have already set our rates until Oct 2011. These rates are published overseas and cannot be changed. These are written contracts we have made with international inbound agents.
We have not lifted our rates in real terms since 2008 because of the international situation. We have also provided our staff with regular wage increases and have worn the cost of increased charges for services provided such as post, internet, phone, electricity and other utilities.
We do not see any way of increasing our prices for the FIT traveller as hotels are reducing their rates and the market is extremely competitive. It is well known in the industry that in the last twelve months many operators have left or are planning to exit the industry.
We are appreciative of the efforts the government has made in providing funding for Tourism New Zealand for international marketing but the ability of the industry to sustain an increase in gst is doubtful.
We support the position of TIANZ which has also raised concerns about raising gst. Everyone we have spoken to in the last few days also supports the TIANZ position.
We believe that if gst goes up our staff will have expectations of wage increases to cover their extra costs. We also believe the Reserve Bank will lift interest rates next year which will not only affect our bottom line but coupled with an increase in gst will be inflationary.
Yours sincerely,
Sally James & Gerard Hill
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Super City Submisson
Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill
General
The announcement just before Christmas that submissions were due the 14th of February provided insufficient time to allow for research and to be able to write up the submission.
As a small business owner/operator over the busy summer/Christmas holiday break I have found this difficult to accomplish on time. In essence to make this submission, it has also incurred additional costs for my business. I am not alone as other individuals and tourism businesses have indicated this to me also.
I wish to comment on a few of the clauses and i would urge that these be seriously considered by your committee.
They are as follows:
Clause 17- Power of the local boards
• Despite the commitment of Rodney Hide that the local boards would have local decision making power this had not happened with this bill.
• If the boards were to be truly democratic and able to represent their communities they need more decision making powers. It is not acceptable for a non elected Auckland Transition authority to make decisions on transport, libraries, main streets, swimming pools, community centers and also heritage and urban design. It is worthy of note that despite existing council policies and bylaws there is no protection for heritage and no provisions for urban design.
• This is a shocking omission and needs to be rectified. The transitional authority members can not possibly know all the areas let alone the nooks and crannies and the needs of all the local communities that will comprise of the new Auckland city.
Clause 24- Council Controlled Organisations
• If Auckland is to be truly a city in its own right and not a branch of the central government, local elected representatives should have the power to appoint the people who they think best understand the needs of Auckland. To place these decisions in the hands of cabinet ministers is to secede what should be local economic decisions. This will not suit or serve Auckland well in to the future should this happen.
• The Transition Authority should be just that, to act in the caretaker role of the CCO’s and the elected members of the Auckland City Council should fill the majority of the board positions.
• It is note worthy and wrong that one of the provisions prohibits councilors from being directors of CCO’s. There are councilors with commercial experience and as presumably councilors will know their city and will be able to advise on any proposal that may have potential adverse affects.
• The CCO models can work and definitely will have advantages for the super city. However we do live in a democracy and not a corporate state.
• Aucklanders should have the right to hold the CCO’s accountable who will be making important decisions.
• Transport, re development of the waterfront and economic development. The decisions that these boards will make will impact on various communities in Auckland. These communities need the right to hold CCO’s to account.
• This is best achieved by having elected councilors sitting on their boards who will be publicly accountable. Their decisions will also be more transparent and will actually help get Aucklanders to engage more with their city. This can only lead to civic pride and a better place to live.
• Failure to do this will lead to alienation with a number of unpleasant pleasant side effects to deal with.
• The Transport Agency should be a business unit in the new super city. With the increasing costs of petrol and the effects that this will have on public behavior will create major issues for Auckland from around the years 2014 onwards.
• People will use traditional cars less; we will walk more, some will use cycles and increasingly we will use public transport. The inevitable increase in the real price of petrol will lead to these changes. We will have smaller electric cars in time, which would be used for local trips.
• This futuristic planning is not something that should be left to an independent business unit but should be under the control Aucklanders who will hold the elective representatives accountable for all decisions.
Ward boundaries-
• The new ward boundaries are undemocratic and do not serve the interests of the various communities that make up Auckland. To continue to have these new boundaries intact after the 2013 election is short sighted.
• The newly elected council should have the ability to redraw the city boundaries to reflect the various communities of interest.
• In Auckland I refer to the Hauraki wards which should be extended to include the bulk of residential 1 heritage housing.
• This predominantly lies from Parnell in the east to Pt Chevallier in the west. The northern boundary of this area would be Mt Eden and the south would be Herne Bay. It would also include the existing suburbs of Grafton, Newton, Ponsonby, Grey Lynn, Westmere and Freemans Bay.
• This existing Auckland city council have made these areas protected areas by zoning them residential 1 areas which offers by and large almost comprehensive protection for housing stock.
• These areas also comprise heavily wooded streets and urban forest if you like, some inner city beaches, well established parks and other community facilities such as swimming pools, libraries, sports grounds, community centers and main street committees.
• These neighborhoods have a long term benefit to Auckland not only as a better place to live but from the economic value of tourism.
• Internationally heritage areas are recognised as important for various purposes including nation building, cultural records, and economic value that they bring to cities and regions through tourism. This is best protected, enhanced or developed by all these areas being included in the same ward.
• The number of elected councilors is too small to provide good governance for Auckland. The unequal population balance of the wards is an effect a Gerry Mander.
Clauses 11 and 24- Ethnic Advisory Boards
• I believe that the existing Pacifica boards should be co opted to the Pacific People’s Advisory Panel. These people remain long serving and have considerable community support and knowledge no to co op these folks would be a disservice to this community.
Part 6- Spatial Planning for Auckland
• This is perhaps the most important plan as to how Auckland will be in 50 years time. The council in its preparation must take in urban design and the specific characteristics that make up the unique areas of Auckland. How transport is provided and the provision of services will decide the quality of the city that we live in.
Clause 35J- Vesting of Assets for Water Care Services.
• There are provisions that water care will not be subject to Auckland City council policies and the setting of prices for water until after 30 June 2015.
• Further provisions also reduce the transparency of decision making at water care until after June 2012. There has also been mixed messages about whether cabinet has allowed for the new water company to be privatised after the year 2015.
• This whole area is a concern because of a lack of transparency hence the confusion. And there is no democratic control of the water services of Auckland. The provision of water and the affordability of water are major issues in all societies.
• The best way of ensuring that the public needs are met is by having elected councilors involved in the board that will say who will choose the directors who will be in charge of this asset and its functions.
Clause 45- Board promoting issues of significance for Mana Whenua and Tamaki Makaurau
• An advisory board fails to represent the important interest of the tangata whenua.
• It is worth noting that Prime Minister Key in his Waitangi speech spoke of the need to move forward and to settle all grievances by 2014. The failure to have two Maori representatives elected to Auckland City Council will create a new grievance. It would be far better to avoid this potential conflict by an amendment to the bill to allow elected Maori officials.
General
The announcement just before Christmas that submissions were due the 14th of February provided insufficient time to allow for research and to be able to write up the submission.
As a small business owner/operator over the busy summer/Christmas holiday break I have found this difficult to accomplish on time. In essence to make this submission, it has also incurred additional costs for my business. I am not alone as other individuals and tourism businesses have indicated this to me also.
I wish to comment on a few of the clauses and i would urge that these be seriously considered by your committee.
They are as follows:
Clause 17- Power of the local boards
• Despite the commitment of Rodney Hide that the local boards would have local decision making power this had not happened with this bill.
• If the boards were to be truly democratic and able to represent their communities they need more decision making powers. It is not acceptable for a non elected Auckland Transition authority to make decisions on transport, libraries, main streets, swimming pools, community centers and also heritage and urban design. It is worthy of note that despite existing council policies and bylaws there is no protection for heritage and no provisions for urban design.
• This is a shocking omission and needs to be rectified. The transitional authority members can not possibly know all the areas let alone the nooks and crannies and the needs of all the local communities that will comprise of the new Auckland city.
Clause 24- Council Controlled Organisations
• If Auckland is to be truly a city in its own right and not a branch of the central government, local elected representatives should have the power to appoint the people who they think best understand the needs of Auckland. To place these decisions in the hands of cabinet ministers is to secede what should be local economic decisions. This will not suit or serve Auckland well in to the future should this happen.
• The Transition Authority should be just that, to act in the caretaker role of the CCO’s and the elected members of the Auckland City Council should fill the majority of the board positions.
• It is note worthy and wrong that one of the provisions prohibits councilors from being directors of CCO’s. There are councilors with commercial experience and as presumably councilors will know their city and will be able to advise on any proposal that may have potential adverse affects.
• The CCO models can work and definitely will have advantages for the super city. However we do live in a democracy and not a corporate state.
• Aucklanders should have the right to hold the CCO’s accountable who will be making important decisions.
• Transport, re development of the waterfront and economic development. The decisions that these boards will make will impact on various communities in Auckland. These communities need the right to hold CCO’s to account.
• This is best achieved by having elected councilors sitting on their boards who will be publicly accountable. Their decisions will also be more transparent and will actually help get Aucklanders to engage more with their city. This can only lead to civic pride and a better place to live.
• Failure to do this will lead to alienation with a number of unpleasant pleasant side effects to deal with.
• The Transport Agency should be a business unit in the new super city. With the increasing costs of petrol and the effects that this will have on public behavior will create major issues for Auckland from around the years 2014 onwards.
• People will use traditional cars less; we will walk more, some will use cycles and increasingly we will use public transport. The inevitable increase in the real price of petrol will lead to these changes. We will have smaller electric cars in time, which would be used for local trips.
• This futuristic planning is not something that should be left to an independent business unit but should be under the control Aucklanders who will hold the elective representatives accountable for all decisions.
Ward boundaries-
• The new ward boundaries are undemocratic and do not serve the interests of the various communities that make up Auckland. To continue to have these new boundaries intact after the 2013 election is short sighted.
• The newly elected council should have the ability to redraw the city boundaries to reflect the various communities of interest.
• In Auckland I refer to the Hauraki wards which should be extended to include the bulk of residential 1 heritage housing.
• This predominantly lies from Parnell in the east to Pt Chevallier in the west. The northern boundary of this area would be Mt Eden and the south would be Herne Bay. It would also include the existing suburbs of Grafton, Newton, Ponsonby, Grey Lynn, Westmere and Freemans Bay.
• This existing Auckland city council have made these areas protected areas by zoning them residential 1 areas which offers by and large almost comprehensive protection for housing stock.
• These areas also comprise heavily wooded streets and urban forest if you like, some inner city beaches, well established parks and other community facilities such as swimming pools, libraries, sports grounds, community centers and main street committees.
• These neighborhoods have a long term benefit to Auckland not only as a better place to live but from the economic value of tourism.
• Internationally heritage areas are recognised as important for various purposes including nation building, cultural records, and economic value that they bring to cities and regions through tourism. This is best protected, enhanced or developed by all these areas being included in the same ward.
• The number of elected councilors is too small to provide good governance for Auckland. The unequal population balance of the wards is an effect a Gerry Mander.
Clauses 11 and 24- Ethnic Advisory Boards
• I believe that the existing Pacifica boards should be co opted to the Pacific People’s Advisory Panel. These people remain long serving and have considerable community support and knowledge no to co op these folks would be a disservice to this community.
Part 6- Spatial Planning for Auckland
• This is perhaps the most important plan as to how Auckland will be in 50 years time. The council in its preparation must take in urban design and the specific characteristics that make up the unique areas of Auckland. How transport is provided and the provision of services will decide the quality of the city that we live in.
Clause 35J- Vesting of Assets for Water Care Services.
• There are provisions that water care will not be subject to Auckland City council policies and the setting of prices for water until after 30 June 2015.
• Further provisions also reduce the transparency of decision making at water care until after June 2012. There has also been mixed messages about whether cabinet has allowed for the new water company to be privatised after the year 2015.
• This whole area is a concern because of a lack of transparency hence the confusion. And there is no democratic control of the water services of Auckland. The provision of water and the affordability of water are major issues in all societies.
• The best way of ensuring that the public needs are met is by having elected councilors involved in the board that will say who will choose the directors who will be in charge of this asset and its functions.
Clause 45- Board promoting issues of significance for Mana Whenua and Tamaki Makaurau
• An advisory board fails to represent the important interest of the tangata whenua.
• It is worth noting that Prime Minister Key in his Waitangi speech spoke of the need to move forward and to settle all grievances by 2014. The failure to have two Maori representatives elected to Auckland City Council will create a new grievance. It would be far better to avoid this potential conflict by an amendment to the bill to allow elected Maori officials.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
LE Sud See It Now
Le Sud by Dave Armstrong
A couple of nights ago we saw The Auckland Theatre Company’s laugh out loud production Le Sud at the Maidment Theatre. Even the parking ticket we got while inside did not spoil the evening. The season finishes on the 6th of March so there is still time to book at www.atc.co.nz .
The cast includes some of New Zealand’s top actors: Jennifer Ward-Lealand, George Henare, Andrew Grainger, Gregory Cooper, Michael Lawrence and Miriama McDowell. Jennifer, a Grey Lynn resident who also sings in the Jubilation Choir and her rendition of the Marseillaise made us feel we should be on our feet, hands on heart. Especially as that is the anthem of the South Island.
Le Sud is hilarious, topical and fast paced. Socialist, French speaking South Zealanders have it all whereas the poor old English speaking North Zealanders have to go cap in hand to the French for a lower power price. The teflon coated Prime Minister of the North is stymied by his relationship with two tiny parties represented by a militant Maori female and a right wing free market man. Sound familiar? It is very topical and has a go at the Super city as well.
We need more of this type of comedy and I cannot recommend it enough.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Rotorua
Sally and I have traveled widely and we like to explore countries and places and get beneath the hype and public relations of tourist companies.
We always travel with guide books but over the few years we have supplemented our reading with travel blogs. Now we write them too which we host on our web site www.greatpons.co.nz
The environment means much to us and influences our decisions on what we do and where we stay.
Rotorua has more than its fair share of the world’s natural attractions and it is somewhere were anyone can participate in Maori culture.
We had a two day visit December 2009
Our first choice to stay, Robertson House (www.robertsonhouse.co.nz; +64 (07) 343 7559), was fully booked and therefore unavailable. This was no surprise to us.
We own and operate The Great Ponsonby Arthotel www.greatpons.co.nz so know that many guests love to stay in restored Victorian villas and are often interested in renovations.
However, our second choice the Princes Gate Hotel (www.princesgate.co.nz; +64 (07) 348 1179) was available. This is an original Rotorua hotel dating back to 1919 which is smack bang in the centre of Rotorua opposite the Government Gardens.
It oozes colonial charm and is fully serviced and if you strike the right date you will be entertained by Elizabeth Marvely, a well known Opera singer who is the daughter of the proprietor.
In the cool of the early evening we walked through the gardens and around the lake and found Rotorua’s snazziest bar, the Seismic. The bartender, a Fijian, is a cousin of All Black Joe Rokocoko and made Sally a fabulously good Pina Colada. I settled for a Cosmopolitan which cured my urgent thirst. The rain gods opened and our plan of a leisurely stroll down the streets in search of fine food was unfortunately dashed.
We dined at a less-than-stunning Italian restaurant where the highlight of the evening was meeting Christian, a Danish guy who shared our table. He had already explored Rotorua and enticed us to the Belgian Bar in Arawa Street which is the home of the Bay Of Plenty Blues Club (www.bopblues.com). We share a few Belgian beers and yarns and also listened to a solid old blues band. Peter the publican is a great host and a big blues enthusiast. Not a bad option for anybody anywhere on a Monday night.
Day 2 (16th Dec)
I decided to get a haircut at Bossis’ 11090 Tutanekai street and was lucky to strike Shan a 38 year old Welsh woman as my hairdresser. She is no Lucy Jordan and hails from Newport, where in 1953 the Welsh beat the All Blacks 9-3 and the score board remains up to this very day.
Susan Boyle’s CD played in the background as we had a great chat about Welsh culture, talking of Dylan Thomas, Shirley Bassy and sharing a laugh about Tom Jones. Mary Hopkins even got a mention. I felt great walking out the door. Shan had helped set me up for the day . It doesn’t take much.
We walked to Te Puia (www.nzmaori.co.nz) at Whakarewarewa and looked over the old bridge where the local kids used to dive for pennies. There was interesting stuff about the Maori guides ‘Rangi and Bubbles’ who I remember from my childhood.
Guide Rangi and Eleanor Roosevelt, 1943
The weather warmed up so we taxied back to the Rotorua museum for lunch. Our wait person was an outgoing young guy called Reggie. A fan of the Upper Hutt Possy but he isn’t a Rasta. He is the son of a Ghurkha .
Gate at Rotorua Museum
My vegie feta pie was tasty and the mixed salad fresh. My chardonnay was not over chilled however Sally’s kumara salad was just a huge bowl of cold kumera. If only she had gone to my hairdresser, things would have been different.
After strolling through the old government grounds and hotfooted to the Polynesian Spa for a little pampering. It is located in the old ward baths which were a special part of our school holidays in the 1960s. Mum was ill and we would go there most summers. Mum and Dad would go more often if they could afford to if and my sister Yvonne was available to look after my younger brother Michael and me. The old baths are now gone and live only in old photographs and personnel memories.
The Polynesian Spa (www.polynesianspa.co.nz) is beautiful and it was gorgeous lying in the various pools of varying heats looking out across the lake. Then we had a mud massage although next time I will have the water one.
Polynesian Spa
Following our treatment we return to soak in the pools again. The Bavarian Alps may have more stunning views but with the steam rising off the lake and with the Rotorua hills as a backdrop there is something quite special here.
We return to the Princess Gate Hotel to get warm clothes as our evening entertainment is with Mitai Tours (www.mitai.co.nz; + 64 7 3439132). Their product is a village experience, hangi and concert which are a great introduction to Maori culture and food. Unlike some of the overly staged tours you are able to get in Rotorua; it is very authentic and personal.
Situated beside Rainbow Springs on old tribal land, it is easy to understand Maori affinity with land and nature. There is an added option available of a bush walk in the night to see trout breeding ponds and kiwi in their natural habitat. It was a magical evening as the bush was beautifully lit and it is the first time in my life I had ever seen a kiwi in the wild, so to speak.
Rotorua has been one of my favourite holiday places since as a child we first went there. Regardless of your budget Rotorua has great choices of things to do and places to stay. Hence its nick name of Roto Vegas.
Two of my favourite actitives I have not mentioned namely The Waimungu Thermal Valley and lake Tarawera and the Buried Village.
These choices make a great day out.
Gerard Hill
February, 2010
We always travel with guide books but over the few years we have supplemented our reading with travel blogs. Now we write them too which we host on our web site www.greatpons.co.nz
The environment means much to us and influences our decisions on what we do and where we stay.
Rotorua has more than its fair share of the world’s natural attractions and it is somewhere were anyone can participate in Maori culture.
We had a two day visit December 2009
Our first choice to stay, Robertson House (www.robertsonhouse.co.nz; +64 (07) 343 7559), was fully booked and therefore unavailable. This was no surprise to us.
We own and operate The Great Ponsonby Arthotel www.greatpons.co.nz so know that many guests love to stay in restored Victorian villas and are often interested in renovations.
However, our second choice the Princes Gate Hotel (www.princesgate.co.nz; +64 (07) 348 1179) was available. This is an original Rotorua hotel dating back to 1919 which is smack bang in the centre of Rotorua opposite the Government Gardens.
It oozes colonial charm and is fully serviced and if you strike the right date you will be entertained by Elizabeth Marvely, a well known Opera singer who is the daughter of the proprietor.
In the cool of the early evening we walked through the gardens and around the lake and found Rotorua’s snazziest bar, the Seismic. The bartender, a Fijian, is a cousin of All Black Joe Rokocoko and made Sally a fabulously good Pina Colada. I settled for a Cosmopolitan which cured my urgent thirst. The rain gods opened and our plan of a leisurely stroll down the streets in search of fine food was unfortunately dashed.
We dined at a less-than-stunning Italian restaurant where the highlight of the evening was meeting Christian, a Danish guy who shared our table. He had already explored Rotorua and enticed us to the Belgian Bar in Arawa Street which is the home of the Bay Of Plenty Blues Club (www.bopblues.com). We share a few Belgian beers and yarns and also listened to a solid old blues band. Peter the publican is a great host and a big blues enthusiast. Not a bad option for anybody anywhere on a Monday night.
Day 2 (16th Dec)
I decided to get a haircut at Bossis’ 11090 Tutanekai street and was lucky to strike Shan a 38 year old Welsh woman as my hairdresser. She is no Lucy Jordan and hails from Newport, where in 1953 the Welsh beat the All Blacks 9-3 and the score board remains up to this very day.
Susan Boyle’s CD played in the background as we had a great chat about Welsh culture, talking of Dylan Thomas, Shirley Bassy and sharing a laugh about Tom Jones. Mary Hopkins even got a mention. I felt great walking out the door. Shan had helped set me up for the day . It doesn’t take much.
We walked to Te Puia (www.nzmaori.co.nz) at Whakarewarewa and looked over the old bridge where the local kids used to dive for pennies. There was interesting stuff about the Maori guides ‘Rangi and Bubbles’ who I remember from my childhood.
Guide Rangi and Eleanor Roosevelt, 1943The weather warmed up so we taxied back to the Rotorua museum for lunch. Our wait person was an outgoing young guy called Reggie. A fan of the Upper Hutt Possy but he isn’t a Rasta. He is the son of a Ghurkha .
Gate at Rotorua MuseumMy vegie feta pie was tasty and the mixed salad fresh. My chardonnay was not over chilled however Sally’s kumara salad was just a huge bowl of cold kumera. If only she had gone to my hairdresser, things would have been different.
After strolling through the old government grounds and hotfooted to the Polynesian Spa for a little pampering. It is located in the old ward baths which were a special part of our school holidays in the 1960s. Mum was ill and we would go there most summers. Mum and Dad would go more often if they could afford to if and my sister Yvonne was available to look after my younger brother Michael and me. The old baths are now gone and live only in old photographs and personnel memories.
The Polynesian Spa (www.polynesianspa.co.nz) is beautiful and it was gorgeous lying in the various pools of varying heats looking out across the lake. Then we had a mud massage although next time I will have the water one.
Polynesian SpaFollowing our treatment we return to soak in the pools again. The Bavarian Alps may have more stunning views but with the steam rising off the lake and with the Rotorua hills as a backdrop there is something quite special here.
We return to the Princess Gate Hotel to get warm clothes as our evening entertainment is with Mitai Tours (www.mitai.co.nz; + 64 7 3439132). Their product is a village experience, hangi and concert which are a great introduction to Maori culture and food. Unlike some of the overly staged tours you are able to get in Rotorua; it is very authentic and personal.
Situated beside Rainbow Springs on old tribal land, it is easy to understand Maori affinity with land and nature. There is an added option available of a bush walk in the night to see trout breeding ponds and kiwi in their natural habitat. It was a magical evening as the bush was beautifully lit and it is the first time in my life I had ever seen a kiwi in the wild, so to speak.
Rotorua has been one of my favourite holiday places since as a child we first went there. Regardless of your budget Rotorua has great choices of things to do and places to stay. Hence its nick name of Roto Vegas.
Two of my favourite actitives I have not mentioned namely The Waimungu Thermal Valley and lake Tarawera and the Buried Village.
These choices make a great day out.
Gerard Hill
February, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
A Better Auckland published in New Zealand Herald 26 January 2010
Brian Rudman is right to call for the St James Theatre to be restored and recommissioned as a theatre. It was commercial lunacy as well as an artistic crime to allow the St James to become so rundown. An imaginative developer would restore the St James and make it the centrepiece of the development. It surely would become Auckland’s swankiest residential and sought after commercial address.
Brian is also correct when he says that nothing is likely to happen around the St James in the foreseeable future. But this should not stop Shared Space Project happening. The Shared Space Projects are essential for Auckland. They are pedestrian friendly. This is the overseas experience. Why would it be any different here?
Published in New Zealand Herald 26 January 2010
This Shared Space linking the library and the art gallery will tidy up a substantial part of the town and with the Civic Theatre and Aotea Square help create an arts entertainment zone. When the other Shared Space Project in Fort Street is completed from the bottom of town to the Town Hall will have premier streets which will be wonderful for residents and visitors alike. The Shared Space Projects are a bold move for Auckland. They must happen.
Brian is also correct when he says that nothing is likely to happen around the St James in the foreseeable future. But this should not stop Shared Space Project happening. The Shared Space Projects are essential for Auckland. They are pedestrian friendly. This is the overseas experience. Why would it be any different here?
Published in New Zealand Herald 26 January 2010
This Shared Space linking the library and the art gallery will tidy up a substantial part of the town and with the Civic Theatre and Aotea Square help create an arts entertainment zone. When the other Shared Space Project in Fort Street is completed from the bottom of town to the Town Hall will have premier streets which will be wonderful for residents and visitors alike. The Shared Space Projects are a bold move for Auckland. They must happen.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Music in Parks Auckland City
With excitement I picked up my Music in Parks programme.. The programme has been sliced and diced like Julianne vegetables.
.They proclaim Music in the Parks has come an institution in Auckland summer calendar proclaiming there are few better ways to get amongst summer in the city.
I agree there is no better way to take in the music and cultural diversity that makes Auckland musically New Zealand’s greatest city.
It is important not only to Aucklanders but also to visitors to our city. The high spending visitors known as the interactive tourist who we seek to attract are also regular attendees. They are impressed with the quality of our talent and like to share this experience with locals
By chopping the number of events the council is not serving the interests of Auckland. At least they have put events on in the Southern and Western boundaries of the city and also on Great Barrier Island.
However Mt Eden, Grey Lynn and Ponsonby are sold short.
We only have movies. They can’t even programme the movies right. One would have thought that Sione’s Wedding which was filmed in Grey Lynn would be on in Grey Lynn Park. not Owairaka.
.They proclaim Music in the Parks has come an institution in Auckland summer calendar proclaiming there are few better ways to get amongst summer in the city.
I agree there is no better way to take in the music and cultural diversity that makes Auckland musically New Zealand’s greatest city.
It is important not only to Aucklanders but also to visitors to our city. The high spending visitors known as the interactive tourist who we seek to attract are also regular attendees. They are impressed with the quality of our talent and like to share this experience with locals
By chopping the number of events the council is not serving the interests of Auckland. At least they have put events on in the Southern and Western boundaries of the city and also on Great Barrier Island.
However Mt Eden, Grey Lynn and Ponsonby are sold short.
We only have movies. They can’t even programme the movies right. One would have thought that Sione’s Wedding which was filmed in Grey Lynn would be on in Grey Lynn Park. not Owairaka.
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