Kerry looked mortified, Celia looked stunned, and the crowd that had gathered in the Wellington Council foyer looked amazed—because there had been no hint, in the media, that the election was other than a shoo-in for Kerry Prendergast.

The Dompost had largely ignored the election, and left voters with the impression that while Celia was a serious challenger, Kerry was a shoo-in. Clearly, they were unaware of the cliff-hanger right under their noses.

Anyway there were great celebrations on Saturday night, as we looked forward to Wellington having its first green-leaning Mayor—an inclusive, grass roots Mayor with a new transport vision and a commitment to working with small business and clean technology.

We were all buoyed by the Auckland election result as well. While Brown was obviously the favourite candidate, I am sure there was an element, in his overwhelming result, of Aucklanders sending a clear signal to Rodney Hide, John key and the government that they hated the way the government had rammed the super-city legislation through without consultation, and the way the government had wiped out eight perfectly well functioning Councils without even consulting voters first.

Hopefully the government will get the message—that if it interferes in local government, and rams legislation through without consultation—there will be a voter backlash.

There’ll be more mass cycle rides organised by the 350.org crew in the lead up to Copenhagen, but in the meantime you can join in.

Mountain bike Olympian Kashi Leuchs today urged cyclists to join 350 movement by placing a green 350 number plate on their bikes. He launched 350 Riders “to unite cyclists, give them a voice on climate change and encourage them to spread the message of 350.”

Green number plate stickers will be available free from specific cafés and at all R&R sport stores nationwide and can be made into a number plate by recycling an ice cream container to use as a backing board.

Alternatively, inspiring artists are encouraged to make their own 350-themed number plates. Riders are asked to take a photo and upload them to the website, www.350riders.org, which will be put together to form a giant collage to be presented to the government on October 24.

Now given the good words written about Iona and Celia it is to be hoped their views on the ghastly monstrosity planned for the home of all cricket in New Zealand – the Basin Reserve start getting some traction.  Many of Iona and Celia’s pals on the WCC seem intent on destroying the character of this Wellington icon by building a huge concrete flyover across the northern side of the Basin Reserve. The good folk at the Save the Basin campaign have got hold of what the Council’s own consultants had to say about this and it ain’t pretty:

The elevated structure for the grade separation of the Basin Reserve will be visually prominent and will affect the perception, symbolic character and context of the Basin Reserve and will impact on the overall character of the wider surroundings. The grade separation may also adversely affect the experience of those using the Basin Reserve.

One of the saddest aspects of this philistinery is that the man known as ‘mystery’ Morrison – a cricketing hero of the late 70s with his droopy mo and oddly unplayable slow bowling appears to be unconcerned by the flyover.   It’s time for readers of my great blog to get involved in stopping this tomfoolery and bowling a few Jeff Thompson style verbal and written bouncers at those advocating for the flyover. 

I enjoyed Russel’s description of budget negotiations with Labour as like being the exciting other woman in a relationship; you get certain fringe benefits, but not a great deal else.

(That said the Greens managed to negotiate about $100 million of Green budget gains out of this year’s budget which is fairly significant for a party not even in Government.  Jeanette highlighted those budget wins in towards the end of her budget speech).

Aucklanders will be pleased to hear that a packed out pub full of Wellingtonians spent quite a bit of time talking about the numerous hurdles the government continues to put in place of the electrification of the Auckland rail network and that fact that it (the Government) continues to spend $6 on roading for every $1 on public transport.

A Green Party member sent me this of Russel with one of Wellington’s three Green local body councillors, Celia Wade Brown.

‘I think there are some [things] we have to do,’ she told The Dominion Post.

…Ms Prendergast said a new Mt Victoria tunnel should be a high priority, regardless of what submitters to the study say.

Well, that will certainly encourage democratic participation.

Prendergast’s tunnel vision is odd given the Council’s long standing cost objections to building a cheaper ($140 million) light rail system to solve exactly the same transport concerns.

As Green Party Wellington City Councillor Celia Wade Brown notes ‘people can’t take their cars on a plane.’ So the real solution to transport to the airport should include extensive public transport, not more roads or holes in our landscape.  

‘The high speed corridor concept reduces the ability to make local trips by active modes – walking, running and cycling.’