A familiar call after two mayoral campaigns on Wellington’s knowledge economy

The latest Victoria University study, expressing that there is a shortage of creative people, sounds very familiar.    Dr Richard Norman highlights in a Fairfax Press editorial that knowledge economy companies are ‘struggling to capitalise on opportunities for growth because of limited local talent …    ‘Many of these companies are well-seasoned and high-earning—a third […]

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Cities are, or at least should be, driving globalization

  My friend and colleague William Shepherd directed me to a piece at Quartz by Michele Acuto and Parag Khanna, on how cities are driving globalization more than nations—a theme I touched upon on this blog in March 2010. As he said, I had called it three years ago, though admittedly Acuto and Khanna have […]

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Wellington isn’t ‘dying’, but we’re going to have to prove our mettle

That didn’t take long, John.    I know, the economic statistics aren’t pleasant.    Wellington’s economy is stagnant and our population growth lags behind Auckland’s and Christchurch’s. I did predict this in 2010.    The difference is that I don’t give up on us quite so quickly.    I don’t think political leaders should.   […]

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Dialogue on my campaign’s Facebook group: Wellington buses and student discounts

My Facebook campaign group (Back Jack 2013) is getting some traction, though my Facebook page does have more members. Nevertheless, I’m very open to discuss my policies—as much as I have been around Wellington soliciting ideas and feedback, there’s nothing like getting your views on how I’ve interpreted them in my manifesto.    Today, Jonathan […]

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Bridging the Rimutaka divide: Wellington needs Wairarapa

In an interview today, the subject of regional reform and amalgamation came up. There’s quite a good site already seeking feedback on the process, and I’ve taken part in a 2012 forum on the subject as well.    In 2010, the mood in Wellington, based on those I met in the campaign, seemed to be […]

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The dystopian future has arrived, and it’s called Ryanair

This was too priceless to share only with my Tumblr readers. It’s an excerpt from a review of Ryanair, sent to my friend Nadine Isler, who has since published (with permission) on her site: Entering the cabin, I was greeted by a blindingly bright yellow ceiling that would be more at home on the back […]

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Why do the major parties insist on holding us back?

  In 2002, I did something really stupid. I bought a brand-new, 750 Mbyte Zip drive.    After all, I had had three years of use out of my 100 Mbyte one, and since 750s looked like the way of the future, I had one installed.    I can still count the number of times […]

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One year on, the same issues remain pressing

In 2011, the issues that I spoke about during my campaign remain as pressing as they always did.    We still need better, wider and earlier consultation, whether we streamline current processes or create new ones for citizen engagement.    We still need to build a city-wide wifi network, one which exists but needs a […]

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Glimmers of hope for the people of Christchurch

As jobs are vital to any economy, there is, at least, a glimmer of good news from Christchurch’s manufacturing sector.    Tait, Sanitarium, and Steel & Tube appear to have escaped major damage, says The New Zealand Herald.    It’s not much solace to those who have lost everything from homes to limbs to family […]

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Taranaki food shop must be a front for international finance

In the Fairfax Press today, this story: ‘Food shop protest “racist”’.    From what I can make out from this story, New Plymouth District Councillor Sherril George (her address, telephone number and email are here) has been urging people to boycott a Waitara food outlet run by some folks of Cambodian ethnicity.    This business, […]

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