NZPA August 30, 2009, 1:30 pm
Manukau Mayor Len Brown is running for mayor of the Auckland super city council and wants Maori around the council table.
He told a crowd of about 200 supporters at One Tree Hill today he was officially running for the job.
Councillors, representatives from local iwi and South Auckland business people were at the launch to support Mr Brown.
Last week it was announced the super city would not have set Maori seats, which Mr Brown said had caused a sense of loss for local iwi.
He wanted Maori seats because "the mana whenua have an increasing business presence within our city, and we need to inspire our young Maori to excel", he said.
"I want to sit around the table with Maori and I want Maori around the table, so for me, there is a lot of work and discussions to be had."
He had decided to run because "the community has been on my back and determined that I should run".
The super city needed someone who could reach out to Auckland's diverse communities, a job he was best suited for, he said.
"I feel in my heart I have the compassion, commitment and love of the place."
Mr Brown told the crowd he would remain community focused, and that the super city would need to embrace Auckland's cultural diversity.
He would also focus on Auckland's economic growth because in 20 years he expected Auckland to have 50 percent of New Zealand's gross domestic product and 45 percent of its population.
"We need to deliver a better way forward for Auckland through strong economic growth."
Mr Brown pledge to give the entire Auckland community access to broadband internet in the next five years, have half of the city's waste taken to a green waste recycling strategy, and create stronger trade links with Asia and the Pacific.
He also wanted to replicate Manukau's free entry to swimming pools, and have a thriving cultural and arts scene.
A "21st century public transport system" with an integrated ticketing system was also on the cards if he was elected.
Mr Brown stressed he would not sell Auckland's public assets.
"We need to grow our future, not sell it ... I believe in public ownership, I will never sell the region's public assets."
He also stated the need for better education opportunities for Auckland youth.
"We need to empower young people ... we must be a centre of educational excellence."
Former Auckland mayor Dick Hubbard said with Mr Brown running there was no need for him to.
"I've always said I would not run if there is better person than me to run, and I think Len Brown fills that role ," he said.
"I strongly believe Len Brown is the man for Auckland. He's got the attributes that are needed for the first mayor of Auckland super city."
Mr Hubbard said Mr Brown had a strong sense of community, was politically centrist, and has a good , inclusive style.
"I think that he is 'we' and inclusive, whereas I think Auckland city is more about 'I'."
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Plumbing programme to go down the gurgler?
August 30, 2009
In Unison
Unitec is planning to sign a contract with the Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying ITO Ltd which some staff say could end several successful Unitec programmes, and will lead numerous staff to quit.
For about nine years, Unitec has offered its own programmes leading to National Certificates in Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying, which have been developed, moderated and approved according to Unitec policies and the requirements of the Education Act.
New Unitec programmes were approved by the Unitec Academic Board last year to deliver the new qualifications which came into force in January 2009.
The Unitec programmes were requested by the department’s Advisory Committee, and recommended by the Programme Committee. At the same time, both bodies considered a programme being proposed by the Plumbing ITO, and rejected it on educational and practical grounds.
It is claimed by staff members who analysed the ITO programme that it lacked virtually all the characteristics required of a viable programme, with no proper delivery material, and assessments which were incomplete and written at the wrong level.
Despite these concerns, Unitec chief executive Rick Ede says they are negotiating with the ITO but will eventually sign a contact with them, as he says he does not want Unitec to miss out on being part of the national system of plumbing and gasfitting education.
In Unison has spoken to several staff members in the plumbing department, who do not wish to be identified as they say they are now living in a climate of fear. They say they are worried about their jobs, the future of their industry and for the wellbeing of their students.
It is understood about eight staff are considering resigning over this issue.
One staff member described the ITO programme as “completely undeliverable and substandard and not fit for purpose in all respects.”
He says it is written at a level far lower than it should be, and the assessments cut out about 80 percent of what should be tested, he believes it is designed so it is almost impossible to fail.
The Unitec programme for the National Certificate in Plumbing and Gasfitting requires the completion of distance learning over four years, linked to a series of two week block courses where theory is integrated into the practical skills. There are a total of 22 weeks of block courses over the 4 year programme.
This contrasts with only 11 weeks of block courses in the ITO programme.
Plumbing Head of Department, Garry Cruickshank, has been suspended and faces dismissal following a complaint from lawyers acting for the ITO, regarding letters sent by Mr Cruickshank advising students and their employers to carefully consider the merits of both programmes before deciding which one to enrol in.
Other staff members in the faculty have also expressed serious concern at the developments, as almost all the trade programmes run at Unitec fall into the same category of local qualifications as the plumbing programmes, including the Certificate of Applied Technology, which is the single largest programme at Unitec.
It is feared that if the same policy is used in their own departments, it will lead to redundancies and a general lowering of standards.
A letter sent by Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics Quality to Unitec regarding courses and programmes offered by ITOs confirms that they are not able to have courses and programmes approved, and that only programmes offered through providers like Unitec are able to be approved, and courses offered by ITOs are not eligible for funding.
Staff say if this move is allowed Unitec stands to lose the programmes already set up and will lose up to 250 EFTS making the department unviable. It will also lower the student to staff ratio, currently at 24-1, the best in Unitec, down to 11-1, which will also mean losing a third of the staff.
“If Unitec ends up agreeing to that process then the entire basis of UATI collapse,” a staff member says. Dr Ede says concerned staff need to “take a deep breath” and work with the deans and himself over what they are trying to achieve. He says Unitec “cannot afford to be left out in the cold” over this issue, and believes the concerns over the ITO are not justified.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Opensouls' Latest Album Gets A Little Help From Their Friends
Opensouls' Latest Album Gets A Little Help From Their Friends
Sunday, 30 August, 2009 - 12:00
Tyra Hammond's friends may not be aware, but they have played a big part in the Opensouls' latest album, Standing in the Rain. Stacey Knott talks to the Opensouls singer.
Auckland, Aug 30 NZPA - Auckland band the Opensouls have just released their second album to rave reviews, but they don't have too many expectations for it, because it is so different to their debut.
The eight-piece hip-hop/RnB band's recently released Standing In The Rain was written to reflect the sound and feeling of the late-50s, early-60s British and American RnB era.
The Opensouls drew their inspirations from songwriters John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Smokey Robinson, Holland/Dozier/Holland and Van Morrison, to create a vintage quality, reminiscent of Motown in its heyday.
Hammond says the latest offering is very different from their debut, 2006's Kaleidoscope. Hammond and band mate Jeremy Toy wrote Standing In The Rain together, whereas the debut had the whole band collaborating.
The bands' debut album gained them a nomination for the Best Urban/Hip Hop album at the 06 NZ Music Awards and the single What Do You Do? claimed the best hip-hop song at the 06 BNet awards.
However, they do not have big expectations for the latest offering.
"All we can ask is for people to like it because it's just so different from the first one, Hammond says. "We have grown but we are still the same old Opensouls."
Standing in the Rain has been in the works for about a year, and has been ready for release since January, but the band wanted to take their time with it, especially with making and releasing the music videos.
Of the songs Hammond wrote, she says the lyrics are mostly on the theme of love.
However, only a few of the tracks are based on her own experiences.
She borrows stories from her friends' lives to create the rest although in of Blind to See she neglected to tell the friend the song was inspired by her.
"I realised I write a lot about love, I can't help it I wish I could write something political," she says.
"It's funny I usually tend to write for my mates, they will tell me their stories and that will help create the characters for the song, it's almost like writing a story."
The first single on the album, Hold You Close, is one of Hammond's own stories, a love song written for her boyfriend, which she never expected to be the first single.
Another track inspired by her friends is When You Gonna Stop?
"I wrote that about when you are with your girlfriends getting ready for the night and there is one certain track you listen to while you're putting on your makeup." That was inspired by that."
The band is made of Tyra Hammond on vocals, Jeremy Toy on guitar, Bjorn Peterson on vocals, Julien Dyne on drums, Chip Matthews on bass, Isaac Aesili on the trumpet, and Harlin Davey on MPC.
The Opensouls will be touring their new album around New Zealand through September and October.
NZPA AKL sjk dj
Sunday, 30 August, 2009 - 12:00
Tyra Hammond's friends may not be aware, but they have played a big part in the Opensouls' latest album, Standing in the Rain. Stacey Knott talks to the Opensouls singer.
Auckland, Aug 30 NZPA - Auckland band the Opensouls have just released their second album to rave reviews, but they don't have too many expectations for it, because it is so different to their debut.
The eight-piece hip-hop/RnB band's recently released Standing In The Rain was written to reflect the sound and feeling of the late-50s, early-60s British and American RnB era.
The Opensouls drew their inspirations from songwriters John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Smokey Robinson, Holland/Dozier/Holland and Van Morrison, to create a vintage quality, reminiscent of Motown in its heyday.
Hammond says the latest offering is very different from their debut, 2006's Kaleidoscope. Hammond and band mate Jeremy Toy wrote Standing In The Rain together, whereas the debut had the whole band collaborating.
The bands' debut album gained them a nomination for the Best Urban/Hip Hop album at the 06 NZ Music Awards and the single What Do You Do? claimed the best hip-hop song at the 06 BNet awards.
However, they do not have big expectations for the latest offering.
"All we can ask is for people to like it because it's just so different from the first one, Hammond says. "We have grown but we are still the same old Opensouls."
Standing in the Rain has been in the works for about a year, and has been ready for release since January, but the band wanted to take their time with it, especially with making and releasing the music videos.
Of the songs Hammond wrote, she says the lyrics are mostly on the theme of love.
However, only a few of the tracks are based on her own experiences.
She borrows stories from her friends' lives to create the rest although in of Blind to See she neglected to tell the friend the song was inspired by her.
"I realised I write a lot about love, I can't help it I wish I could write something political," she says.
"It's funny I usually tend to write for my mates, they will tell me their stories and that will help create the characters for the song, it's almost like writing a story."
The first single on the album, Hold You Close, is one of Hammond's own stories, a love song written for her boyfriend, which she never expected to be the first single.
Another track inspired by her friends is When You Gonna Stop?
"I wrote that about when you are with your girlfriends getting ready for the night and there is one certain track you listen to while you're putting on your makeup." That was inspired by that."
The band is made of Tyra Hammond on vocals, Jeremy Toy on guitar, Bjorn Peterson on vocals, Julien Dyne on drums, Chip Matthews on bass, Isaac Aesili on the trumpet, and Harlin Davey on MPC.
The Opensouls will be touring their new album around New Zealand through September and October.
NZPA AKL sjk dj
One dead in Waikato crash
NZPA
Last updated 10:34 30/08/2009
A man is dead and a woman badly injured after a two-car crash on State Highway 2 in northern Waikato this morning.
The accident happened Mangatawhiri, 11km northwest of Maramarua, about 6.30am.
Senior Sergeant Emiel Logan said it appeared the cars were travelling into opposite directions when one ran out of control, crossed the central reservation, and smashed into the other.
He said police were still trying to identify the dead man.
The woman driver was in a serious condition in Auckland's Middlemore Hospital.
Last updated 10:34 30/08/2009
A man is dead and a woman badly injured after a two-car crash on State Highway 2 in northern Waikato this morning.
The accident happened Mangatawhiri, 11km northwest of Maramarua, about 6.30am.
Senior Sergeant Emiel Logan said it appeared the cars were travelling into opposite directions when one ran out of control, crossed the central reservation, and smashed into the other.
He said police were still trying to identify the dead man.
The woman driver was in a serious condition in Auckland's Middlemore Hospital.
Len Brown puts hat in ring for super city mayoralty
1:34PM Sunday Aug 30, 2009
Manukau mayor Len Brown today officially confirmed he will run for the mayoralty of the new Auckland super city council.
He made the announcement at One Tree Hill to a crowd of about 200 people, including ex-Auckland city mayor Dick Hubbard, councillors and South Auckland business people.
Brown spoke of his intentions to stand on TVNZ's Q&A programme this morning, although the Herald's Bernard Orsman broke news of the impending announcement on Thursday.
The only other contender to join the race is Auckland City mayor John Banks.
Brown said today he had decided to run because "the community has been on my back and determined that I should run".
He said the super city needed someone who could reach out to Auckland's diverse communities and felt he was best suited for that job.
"I feel in my heart I have the compassion, commitment and love of the place."
His platform would include designated council seats for Maori, future proofing the transport system, increasing tourism, bettering education in Auckland and "bringing communities together in a way that hasn't been done before".
Manukau mayor Len Brown today officially confirmed he will run for the mayoralty of the new Auckland super city council.
He made the announcement at One Tree Hill to a crowd of about 200 people, including ex-Auckland city mayor Dick Hubbard, councillors and South Auckland business people.
Brown spoke of his intentions to stand on TVNZ's Q&A programme this morning, although the Herald's Bernard Orsman broke news of the impending announcement on Thursday.
The only other contender to join the race is Auckland City mayor John Banks.
Brown said today he had decided to run because "the community has been on my back and determined that I should run".
He said the super city needed someone who could reach out to Auckland's diverse communities and felt he was best suited for that job.
"I feel in my heart I have the compassion, commitment and love of the place."
His platform would include designated council seats for Maori, future proofing the transport system, increasing tourism, bettering education in Auckland and "bringing communities together in a way that hasn't been done before".
Suspicious fire at Whangarei museum
7:35AM Saturday Aug 29, 2009
HeraldA suspicious fire has "seriously damaged" a building at the Whangarei Museum.
Eight fire crews fought the blaze last night.
Fire Service northern communications shift manager Jaron Phillips said today the building, used for machinery repairs, was well alight when the firefighters arrived.
He said the fire was being treated as suspicious and the cause was still being investigated.
- NZPA
Activists oppose Auckland zoo's elephant plan
Last updated 17:50 30/08/2009
Animals rights activists are opposing plans to increase elephant numbers at the Auckland Zoo following Kashin's death.
The 40-year-old Asian elephant was put down last Monday because of her deteriorating health. She was suffering from arthritis, foot abscesses and skin infections.
Auckland Zoo director Jonathan Wilcken said the zoo hoped to replace Kashin in the next six to 12 months and had long-term plans to extend the elephant area.
"We want to establish a much larger breeding herd of elephants that replicates a natural social structure for elephants," he said.
The zoo would work with the European Elephant Breeding Programme to secure suitable breeding elephants.
However, Saving Animals From Exploitation (SAFE) campaign director Hans Kriek strongly opposed the plan.
He quoted recent research which showed most elephants died considerably earlier in zoos than they would in the wild.
"Kashin is a perfect example. Her problems – arthritis and feet problems – are very common in captive elephants," he said.
"That's one of the main reasons they have to be euthanased – they just don't cope."
If the zoo was acting in remaining elephant Burma's best interests, they would relocate her to an open range zoo where she could have the company of her own kind.
The zoo could the use the space opened up by the elephant exhibitions closure to give a better environment for other animals that were in" relatively cramped spaces", he said.
"Internationally, there are a number of zoos moving away from keeping elephants simply because they realise they cannot provide them with the environment they need.
"An elephant in the wild on average will roam for 50km a day. What sort of a zoo enclosure can come close to that?"
The zoo today offered free admission to mark Kashin's passing, with more than 17,000 taking the chance to visit.
Mr Wilcken said the public was invited to see Kashin's burial spot, an area the elephant loved, which was not usually open to the public.
"We would take her (walking) around the four corners of the zoo and this was a particular area she loved," Mr Wilcken said.
- NZPA
Animals rights activists are opposing plans to increase elephant numbers at the Auckland Zoo following Kashin's death.
The 40-year-old Asian elephant was put down last Monday because of her deteriorating health. She was suffering from arthritis, foot abscesses and skin infections.
Auckland Zoo director Jonathan Wilcken said the zoo hoped to replace Kashin in the next six to 12 months and had long-term plans to extend the elephant area.
"We want to establish a much larger breeding herd of elephants that replicates a natural social structure for elephants," he said.
The zoo would work with the European Elephant Breeding Programme to secure suitable breeding elephants.
However, Saving Animals From Exploitation (SAFE) campaign director Hans Kriek strongly opposed the plan.
He quoted recent research which showed most elephants died considerably earlier in zoos than they would in the wild.
"Kashin is a perfect example. Her problems – arthritis and feet problems – are very common in captive elephants," he said.
"That's one of the main reasons they have to be euthanased – they just don't cope."
If the zoo was acting in remaining elephant Burma's best interests, they would relocate her to an open range zoo where she could have the company of her own kind.
The zoo could the use the space opened up by the elephant exhibitions closure to give a better environment for other animals that were in" relatively cramped spaces", he said.
"Internationally, there are a number of zoos moving away from keeping elephants simply because they realise they cannot provide them with the environment they need.
"An elephant in the wild on average will roam for 50km a day. What sort of a zoo enclosure can come close to that?"
The zoo today offered free admission to mark Kashin's passing, with more than 17,000 taking the chance to visit.
Mr Wilcken said the public was invited to see Kashin's burial spot, an area the elephant loved, which was not usually open to the public.
"We would take her (walking) around the four corners of the zoo and this was a particular area she loved," Mr Wilcken said.
- NZPA
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