Long Term Plan Optimism Bias, more Propaganda, and another Consultation Shambles

The Council isn’t known for its accuracy with figures. They are a bit of a movable feast, as is time, and other elements. So when the Mayor sent out a press release yesterday on the statistics around the Long Term Plan (LTP) and how awesome it has been, with actual statistics, I thought “doesn’t lookContinue reading "Long Term Plan Optimism Bias, more Propaganda, and another Consultation Shambles"

Keeping the Council and the Airport honest, or will Tangaroa have the last word anyway?

Over the last couple of months two important developments occurred regarding the proposed Wellington Airport Runway Extension: Its $90m co-funding by Council found its way into the LTP – despite significant opposition against it, but with some very important caveats Nature has shown us on several occasions just how insane the proposal is to putContinue reading "Keeping the Council and the Airport honest, or will Tangaroa have the last word anyway?"

Keith Johnson: Lavery and Wade-Brown Toggle the Joystick

An excellent blog from Keith Johnson in which holes are found in assumptions around rates rises. I too had much difficulty in finding out what the actual rate rises were going to be. Of the handful of Councillors I polled only one could definitively explain it to me, two were “pretty sure” it was slightlyContinue reading "Keith Johnson: Lavery and Wade-Brown Toggle the Joystick"

Helene Ritchie: Runaway rates for vanity projects (Opinion)

“Wellington City Council’s rates hike at 6.1% is too high. Priorities are skewed in the wrong direction towards vanity projects for political expediency,  and disproportionate “growth-economic” funds and projects.  The result: cuts and deliberately delayed spending on essential infrastructure  eg. to prevent flooding  around the Basin Reserve and Medical Centre) or to strengthen the Capital’sContinue reading "Helene Ritchie: Runaway rates for vanity projects (Opinion)"

The Register: What will the Wellington airport runway extension do for business owners?

Advocates are touting the Wellington Airport extension as a plan that will bring in millions of dollars of economic benefits for the region. However, it also has its detractors – the Board of Airline Representatives New Zealand (BARNZ) has cast doubt on these claims. Can retailers expect more sales if this comes to fruition? TheContinue reading "The Register: What will the Wellington airport runway extension do for business owners?"

Moa Point Road closed again by big waves

Moa Point road flooding at the weekend. Twitter photo from Lyall Bay/Blaize Larsen-Beecroft Wellington.Scoop Wellington Airport warned this morning that the Moa Point road was closed again because of big swells. It had been reopened for less than 24 hours after similar problems over the weekend. Wellington.Scoop – June 15 Wellington Airport advised that theContinue reading "Moa Point Road closed again by big waves"

The Council has its head is in the sand over sea surges

All the locals new it was coming. Sunday dawned bright and early and I was writing the first blog of the week I could see the salt spray drifting across the airport. A quick check showed that a massive storm system was sending waves north, coupled with a high-tide, was always going to result inContinue reading "The Council has its head is in the sand over sea surges"

Radio NZ: Waves close road and partially flood tunnel

Large swells, coinciding with a high tide, have washed rocks and debris onto the road on Wellington's South Coast. The city council was warning people to stay away from the area this afternoon. Photo: Scott George The Wellington City Council said some of the waves had crossed the road and entered properties. MetService forecaster NickContinue reading "Radio NZ: Waves close road and partially flood tunnel"

That Airport Extension: More optimism bias, less facts and is the extension enough for long-haul planes to land?

A corporate finance partner at Deloitte writes in the Dominion Post this week a rhetorical question to which they clearly think they know the answer. “Should Wellington consider an extension to its runway?” What is interesting about this is that the opinion shows further optimism bias coupled with some facts that are incorrect and theContinue reading "That Airport Extension: More optimism bias, less facts and is the extension enough for long-haul planes to land?"

The Dominion Post: Large waves cancel ferry, break Wellington Airport buoy loose, soak onlookers

For a great video, go to the original link. Large swells creating massive waves in Lyall Bay Wellington caught one couple out. Heavy swells and big waves have battered Wellington's south coast, causing ferry cancellations, washing rocks on to a car park and soaking anyone who ventured too close to the surf. The rough conditionsContinue reading "The Dominion Post: Large waves cancel ferry, break Wellington Airport buoy loose, soak onlookers"