https://www.sunlive.co.nz/election-debate.html The Sunlive byelection debate last night was an interesting discussion about some important topics, so as an independent, non-aligned organisation, we’d encourage Tauranga residents to watch it before you vote. The most striking difference was Labour’s candidate being (unsurprisingly) strongly in favour of the removal of democratic elections for Tauranga City Council, while the… Continue reading Tauranga By-election and Local Democracy
Category: Opinion
The Journey of the Underpass
by Jo Wills A few years ago, for a period of five years from 2016 to 2020, the community came together to fight for the underpass to be reinstated as part of the Bayfair to Baypark project. On Wednesday 20th April 2022 the new underpass was finally opened to the public. Riding through the underpass… Continue reading The Journey of the Underpass
Tauranga’s Civic Redevelopment – Expensive Concrete Jungle or Affordable Green Paradise?
by Jo Wills and Glen Crowther Tauranga City Council is calling for feedback on the city centre redevelopment, a chance (as Commissioner Tolley put it) for the community to decide ‘’…do they want to be part of creating a vibrant exciting centre city…or do we just want an ordinary civic centre and rebuild the library… Continue reading Tauranga’s Civic Redevelopment – Expensive Concrete Jungle or Affordable Green Paradise?
Cycling is a Mode of Transport
Getting more people cycling instead of driving is a challenge that many cities are facing. Roads are clogged up with passenger vehicles, emissions are soaring, and nothing is changing. Safety is used as an excuse – “the roads aren’t safe for cycling”. The problem is that improving safety is fast becoming the default excuse for… Continue reading Cycling is a Mode of Transport
A Sustainability Perspective on the TCC Election
Given the lack of any public forum or feedback process, we followed the lead of local business networks, property developers and others, and shared our views with the Minister of Local Government. 28 February 2022 Hon. Nanaia MahutaMinister of Local Government Parliament, Wellington RE: TAURANGA CITY COUNCIL ELECTION Dear Minister Mahuta. We understand that you… Continue reading A Sustainability Perspective on the TCC Election
Tauranga’s Lack of Carbon Emissions Targets
We’ll come back to this important topic in more detail at a later date, but this recent article (yes, paywalled) makes it clear we all need to get on the same page around the issue of CO2 targets and Tauranga City Council’s plans. Here is the key section of this Bay Times article: Robson said… Continue reading Tauranga’s Lack of Carbon Emissions Targets
Tauranga City Council needs a sustainable plan
Tauranga City Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP) usually attracts submissions from a few policy geeks and annoyed ratepayers. This year’s LTP is different, coming at a crucial time in the city’s democratic history, with commissioners in charge and looking to deliver on central government’s ‘growth agenda’. Sadly, they are peddling the same unsustainable ‘SmartGrowth’ plan,… Continue reading Tauranga City Council needs a sustainable plan