James Zuccollo • Oct 12, 2016 •
I had a bit of a play around with mapping the voter return data from the 2016 Auckland local body elections (raw data available here). I looked at it two ways: What areas had the highest/lowest turnout? (i.e. where is participation high/low) What areas had the highest raw number of votes? (“who elects the mayor”) Maps addressing these two … Read More
Aaron Schiff • Aug 08, 2016 •
Auckland Council has published the geospatial data for the version of the Unitary Plan recommended by the Independent Hearings Panel. I thought I’d use this to take a quick look at the recommended plan’s provisions for protection of things like character and heritage. In the Herald on Friday, Don Stock wrote about the Auckland Unitary Plan (UP) … Read More
Brendan Moyle • Mar 01, 2016 •
Technically I did take this shot on Sunday, even if it has taken a few days to post. As everyone knows, the weather in Auckland on the weekend got very wet. I braved a trip down to Long Bay anyway. Partly just to get outside. In between showers, I got this shot of waves hitting the rocks at Granny’s Bay. … Read More
Lynley Hargreaves • Feb 11, 2016 •
Professor Colleen Ward FRSNZ The more culturally diverse our neighbourhoods are, the happier we are about it – up to a certain point, says Professor Colleen Ward, Director of Victoria University of Wellington’s Centre for Applied Cross-cultural Research. The Royal Society of New Zealand Fellow explains the tipping point of immigration acceptance, what makes kiwis tend to embrace diversity, … Read More
Brendan Moyle • Oct 25, 2015 •
My last two attempts to photograph the Fairy Falls (in the Waitekere Ranges) were thwarted by the weather. On the first occasion, bright sunlight blew out the highlights on the water. On the second occasion, it rained. On Wednesday we had rain and bouts of bright sunshine. But the bits in between worked out okay. I have discovered that most … Read More
Brendan Moyle • Aug 25, 2015 •
Cycling isn’t the most popular travel method in Auckland. If I mention I cycle to or from work, or for recreation, there tends to be a moment of silence, followed by some comment about risking life and limb. It isn’t quite that dangerous. I do wish motorists were a little more aware of me still. Cycling though has a number … Read More
Brendan Moyle • Aug 06, 2015 •
I’m cycling again. Let me clarify. I never stopped. But I did slow down a lot over winter. Things have changed. I’ve gone from using a mountain-bike, to using a road-bike. Somethings are immediately obvious. A mountain bike is a gentle creature, its wide tires, shock absorbers and good seat, provide a more comfortable ride. Its gears go down really … Read More
Eric Crampton • Jul 29, 2015 •
Who's got two thumbs and got 'crisitunity' into a Herald headline? This guy here.I there expanded on the arguments I'd made at the Initiative's blog: if there is any big flood of foreign money that wants to be involved in Auckland housing, it is ridicu... Read More
Eric Crampton • Jun 21, 2015 •
I've worried that perhaps Councils haven't fought back against the NIMBYs because they haven't quite enough skin in the game.The basic model in my head has run as follows:Councillors need to be re-elected. High preference intensity local NIMBYs get dis... Read More
Brendan Moyle • May 31, 2015 •
Well, the rain has set in today, and the great weather we had yesterday is no more. At least I got my PBRF draft portfolio ready for review by Massey. I guess it means that today, we have to dig into the archive for a seascape picture. This is a view of Auckland from Stanley Bay. It has this … Read More