Latest news with #Aucklanders
NZ Herald
8 hours ago
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Letters: Why we should appreciate the hidden and often undervalued benefits of art and architecture to our communities
Let councils work hard to save money on providing basic services so they / we can afford a few architectural gems that lift the spirit, boost the economy generally, and leave something special for all to enjoy. David Hopkins, Remuera. Power to the people Too many New Zealanders are paying too much for food, water, electricity and housing, essentials for life of every person. New Zealand produces these 'essentials' abundantly and cheaply to meet legitimate needs of the people. Why do New Zealanders pay so much? Your Power To The People article series provides analysis about people unable to pay high-cost power bills, disconnection/reconnection fees plus company responses. Every home needs basic lighting and power for cooking and heating at minimal cost, which requires cheap electricity. People in huge luxury houses, profitable businesses and high-tech data centres using massive amounts of water and electricity should pay market rates. The modest majority of New Zealand citizens and ratepayers want an equitable system, good wages and affordable essential services. This requires the Government and multinational corporations to do better act in the interest of our people and the environment. Laurie Ross, Glen Eden. Get housing right It seems that Housing Minister Chris Bishop thinks Auckland's main purpose is to boost the economy and he knows just how to achieve it – by building lots of high-rise apartment blocks next to railway stations without any consideration for the environment. Forget good design, volcanic views and character areas. He is driven by a mindless economic imperative that will allow developers to throw up the slums of the future. He portrays himself as a housing warrior but he will find that Aucklanders disagree. We want more housing but not at the detriment of this beautiful city. Margot McRae, Devonport. A bilingual world worth striving for Your editorial (July 30) sums up the continued opposition of some of our leaders to all things Māori. Changing the position of the words on our passport – puting New Zealand above Aotearoa – is a symbolically significant, but petty and ridiculous decision, which sadly may gain support from those who firmly believe English, and all things English, should forever come first. We have a unique culture in this country, thanks to the courage, persistence and generosity of the indigenous people, and we should treasure it, not fear it. The language, still at risk, is essential to the culture, so its status should always be recognised, and its wider use ecouraged. The English language, on the other hand, faces no such threats. It's always going to be dominant. A bilingual, bicultural country would be a goal worth striving for. I, for one, would rather live in it rather than in a colourless, defensively monolingual world. J.A. Mills, Whangārei. Passport to discovery New Zealanders travel. A lot. Most who travel as tourists do so to experience other cultures. How proud most of us are of our bilingual passport cover which acknowledges we are a forward-looking country that respects the indigenous culture of those who were here before. How embarrassing it is that our Government is changing this as if it's a good thing. Samantha Cunningham, Henderson. A unique bicultural society I enjoyed the irony in your editorial (July 30) on the proposed switch in the order of name on the cover of the Aotearoa New Zealand passport. Like, is this what is exercising our Government while our country suffers from the major effects of climate change? While house prices are out of reach for many families and homelessness is increasing? While healthcare access and treatment is limited? And the impact of inflation steadily bites the most disadvantaged citizens? Aotearoa New Zealand has a unique bicultural society which increasingly embraces the original indigenous culture whose language has sound and meaning which English, the second culture, does not. Nobody knows where 'Zealand' even is, do they? Christine Keller Smith, Northcote Point.
Scoop
20 hours ago
- Business
- Scoop
Tripartite Accord Positive Step For Auckland
Press Release – Office of the Mayor of Auckland Making the most of Auckland's port and waterfront is a step closer with formal approval of a Tripartite Accord between Auckland Council, the Port of Auckland Limited and port workers represented by the Maritime Union of New Zealand. The groundbreaking accord got the green light at Thursday's Governing Body meeting, cementing the relationship between the three partners and setting a foundation for good faith, co-operation and long-term strategic alignment. 'The Accord will support how the Make the Most of Auckland's Port and Waterfront (the Port Plan) is delivered and reflects our commitment to get better value and returns from our strategic assets, and improve outcomes for Aucklanders, port workers and the port,' says Mayor Wayne Brown. 'The plan was the result of a collaborative process I initiated during the development of the Long-Term Plan 2024-2034 so getting the Accord in place to underpin the plan, is an achievement.' Under the plan, Auckland's port land, assets and operations are retained under council ownership, with the port contributing $1.1 billion in profits to Auckland Council over the next 10 years. 'The Plan and Accord provide the port, unions and council a clear direction, shared goals and an agreed way to work collaboratively together. This Accord acknowledges the needs of our owner Auckland city, our workforce and unions, whilst maintaining port operational reliability and security for our customers. We believe strong relationships between all parties will lead to better outcomes for everyone,' says Port of Auckland General Manager People and Legal, Phil Doak Maritime Union of New Zealand Local 13 Auckland Secretary Grant Williams congratulates Mayor Wayne Brown and Auckland Councillors for their vision in reaching this Tripartite Accord. 'This is the right decision going forward, ensuring the Port of Auckland remains under local control contributing to the city's prosperity and working for the benefit of our community. We look forward to working together to keep Auckland moving.' Developed by a working group of delegates from all three partners, the Accord includes agreed commitments around health and safety, transparency and collaboration. It also enables the establishment of the Tripartite Forum to support conversations, coordination and joint oversight. It will meet regularly, forming working groups to address specific issues collectively. The Mayor will formally sign the Tripartite Accord on behalf of Auckland Council at the first tripartite forum.
Scoop
21 hours ago
- Business
- Scoop
Tripartite Accord Positive Step For Auckland
Making the most of Auckland's port and waterfront is a step closer with formal approval of a Tripartite Accord between Auckland Council, the Port of Auckland Limited and port workers represented by the Maritime Union of New Zealand. The groundbreaking accord got the green light at Thursday's Governing Body meeting, cementing the relationship between the three partners and setting a foundation for good faith, co-operation and long-term strategic alignment. 'The Accord will support how the Make the Most of Auckland's Port and Waterfront (the Port Plan) is delivered and reflects our commitment to get better value and returns from our strategic assets, and improve outcomes for Aucklanders, port workers and the port,' says Mayor Wayne Brown. 'The plan was the result of a collaborative process I initiated during the development of the Long-Term Plan 2024-2034 so getting the Accord in place to underpin the plan, is an achievement.' Under the plan, Auckland's port land, assets and operations are retained under council ownership, with the port contributing $1.1 billion in profits to Auckland Council over the next 10 years. 'The Plan and Accord provide the port, unions and council a clear direction, shared goals and an agreed way to work collaboratively together. This Accord acknowledges the needs of our owner Auckland city, our workforce and unions, whilst maintaining port operational reliability and security for our customers. We believe strong relationships between all parties will lead to better outcomes for everyone,' says Port of Auckland General Manager People and Legal, Phil Doak Maritime Union of New Zealand Local 13 Auckland Secretary Grant Williams congratulates Mayor Wayne Brown and Auckland Councillors for their vision in reaching this Tripartite Accord. 'This is the right decision going forward, ensuring the Port of Auckland remains under local control contributing to the city's prosperity and working for the benefit of our community. We look forward to working together to keep Auckland moving.' Developed by a working group of delegates from all three partners, the Accord includes agreed commitments around health and safety, transparency and collaboration. It also enables the establishment of the Tripartite Forum to support conversations, coordination and joint oversight. It will meet regularly, forming working groups to address specific issues collectively. The Mayor will formally sign the Tripartite Accord on behalf of Auckland Council at the first tripartite forum.
NZ Herald
a day ago
- General
- NZ Herald
Fast fashion v quality: The true cost of cheap T-shirts
My reaction to the story was a yowl of frustration because the 'spin' on this piece, even if it did indeed involve a washing machine, tells a fraction of the story of a producing a T-shirt and conveniently dodges the fact that 'quality' is not the only factor that comes into pricing. Dr Eleanor Scott, of the University of Leeds Institute of Textiles and Colour says: 'If circularity in fashion is to be truly effective, durability must come first'. I both agree and disagree because it depends on which angle to you look at it from. Yes, durability underpins the reuse and resale market, as well as keeping our loved items in use longer, as Scott points out. However, this justification should not be applied to items made with plastic, and the research found that more hard-wearing T-shirts tend to have a percentage of synthetic fibres in the composition, such as polyester, polyamide and elastane (though four of the 10 top garments were made of 100% cotton). Icebreaker went down this route to strengthen their merino T-shirts and added synthetic fibres. However, it soon realised the error of its ways, particularly with regard to its brand positioning, and since 2018 it has been removing synthetic fibres from its clothing (97.56% of fabrics in its 2024 collection are plastic-free). New Zealand designer label Kowtow is now 100% plastic-free, which proves it can be done. The University of Leeds study involved 47 T-shirts being washed and tumble-dried 50 times. And despite the claims price is not a reliable indicator of how hard-wearing a T-shirt will be, I'm not seeing evidence of that in thrift shop stock, sadly. It's mostly a motley bunch of pilled pieces that have clearly been through a tumble dryer too many times. (Though I did manage to score an ace Sass & Bide T-shirt the other day from pre-loved reseller Re:Circle in Onehunga for $20.) I think we're also missing the point that a lot of people don't stop wearing their clothing just because it wears out. According to a report prepared by Sapere Research Group for Auckland Council in 2023, Aucklanders alone are consuming more than 24,000 tonnes of fashion clothing per year but retaining only 7800 tonnes for continued use and wear. If it only costs $9, who cares, right? But it doesn't just cost $9. For starters a real person made your T-shirt. How much do you think the person who made the $9 T-shirt was paid? And what do you think their living and working conditions are like? 'Oh but it was made in Bangladesh where the cost of living is cheaper so it's all relative,' you could argue. Tell that to the families of the workers who worked in substandard conditions and died in the Rana Plaza collapse in 2013, the worst ever industrial incident to hit the garment industry, which killed 1134 people and injured about 2500. Cotton and clothing production is a primary industry in Bangladesh, where child labour is also not uncommon. The reality is it's a massive part of the economy and brands across the globe, including New Zealand, continue to source clothing and T-shirts from Bangladesh, though it's not all bad. Kiwi start-up Thread Project is working with 'a top-tier factory' in Bangladesh and takes the view that if more companies do this, they'll eventually raise the standard for everyone. The other reason I'm giving a wee shout out to Thread Project is because it has also banded together with decorators across the motu to design more durable cotton T-shirts woven with longer fibres that perform better. The Leeds study found cotton T-shirts tended to have higher shrinkage than synthetic ones, which can be exacerbated with tumble drying. No surprises there. My T-shirts have never seen the inside of a dryer, though my partner is guilty of doing this with his (he air-dries his precious merino tees). Drying on a line or rack is where it's at if we're to help save the planet, because combating climate change is linked to energy use. Three weeks ago I had a tour of Auckland decorator Colour Evolution, where I watched T-shirts being embroidered for a New Zealand designer brand. Each had 34,000 stitches and had to be hooped before being embroidered, then trimmed and steamed. I'd expect to be paying more than $9 for that. The most I've ever paid for a T-shirt was $300, which I admit was a lot. That was more than 15 years ago, and it was worth every cent. It's a black cotton Comme des Garcons T-shirt appliqued with daisies in the same colour and cotton and I bought it from Plume in Dunedin. I still wear it and was complimented on it just last week. I'm a T-shirt lover and wearer and invest in one quality T-shirt each year, which I don't think is excessive. I expect to pay between $80 to $120 for a quality T-shirt because I want to know that the person who made my garment was paid a fair wage and that one day when I'm finished with it, it will be enjoyed by someone else and eventually biodegrade and return to the soil.
Scoop
a day ago
- Business
- Scoop
Fix Auckland Announces Strong Candidates For Albany Ward: Victoria Short And Gary Brown To Drive Practical Change
Fix Auckland, led by Mayor Wayne Brown is committed to delivering tangible results for Auckland and fixing the Auckland Council. Wayne Brown is pleased to announce two formidable candidates for the Albany Ward: Victoria Short and Gary Brown. Albany Ward residents can be confident that Victoria and Gary will be strong, effective voices at the Council table. 'Both individuals bring a wealth of experience and a commitment to sound financial management. With their deep understanding of local community needs, they embodyg the "Fix Auckland" ethos of practical, accountable governance. 'The Albany Ward would be well served by Gary Brown and Victoria Short as their Councillors. Their combined experience and dedication to transparent, results-focused leadership perfectly align with Fix Auckland's mission. 'They the importance of fixing our infrastructure, supporting local businesses, and ensuring every ratepayer dollar delivers real value.' Says Wayne Brown. Victoria Short said 'Residents can expect a team that stands firmly for accountability, transparency, and results. One committed to elevating the voices of everyday Aucklanders and are focused on ensuring that every dollar is accounted for." Gary Brown said "As a team we bring a powerful message of transformation, accountability, and community-first governance to Auckland Council. We have a shared vision to reshape how the council operates and we want to ensure that the ratepayer is at the forefront of every financial decision we make.' Biographies Victoria Short brings a decade of experience navigating local and central government, ensuring she knows "how to get things done." As a trained accountant, Victoria will bring scrutiny to financial decision-making and Council spending, driving value for every dollar. Her focus is on transparent, accountable decision-making, with a commitment to fixing infrastructure, supporting local businesses, and improving community services. A dedicated volunteer trustee for Life Education North Shore, Victoria is deeply invested in youth and community well-being. She is committed to listening to residents, fixing what's broken, and fiercely advocating for East Coast Bays, Hibiscus Coast, and Upper Harbour, working constructively with fellow Councillors to cut waste and drive progress for Auckland. Gary Brown, a proven local leader, is currently the Deputy Chair of the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board and a local businessman. He has consistently championed community projects and delivered results. With over 30 years of deep roots in the community, including extensive involvement with North Harbour Rugby and the Silverdale Rugby Club, Gary possesses a profound understanding of the Albany Ward's diverse needs. Gary advocates for locals, wise investment in infrastructure to create a thriving, world-class Auckland. His common-sense approach prioritises empowering local boards, embracing innovation, and ensuring transparent, accountable leadership for better services and value for money. Fix Auckland believes that Victoria Short and Gary Brown will be powerful advocates for the Albany Ward, working tirelessly to ensure the Council focuses on essential services, fiscal responsibility, and tangible improvements for residents.
