frogblog Archive

• 

  The Nubrella and other cycling news

  
  
  
  Tip of the pen to the Cycling Advocacy Network who provided me with most of these links. First off – welcome to the Nubrella – a hands-free umbrella you can wear while cycling. So long, as CAN says, “you don’t mind looking like you’ve been partially devoured by a giant transparent caterpillar”. So will the Nubrella revolutionise [...] read more
  March 18, 2010 9:00 am - 9 Comments
• 

  Joyce controlled transport for Auckland?

  
  
  
  As I noted last week, Granny Herald has finally woken up to the dangers of Rodney Hide and Steven Joyce’s plans for local government in Auckland. They’ve been running a useful series of articles about the proposed council controlled organizations. In particular, the Herald (and mayors) are concerned that all responsibility for transport issues, will be [...] read more
  March 15, 2010 9:00 am - 9 Comments
• 

  Auckland’s CBD rail loop gets one step closer

  
  
  
  A preferred alignment for an underground rail loop to run through Auckland’s CBD was announced yesterday by ARTA. This is exciting news as it means this crucial project is coming one step closer to completion. You can see that there will be three stations, one near Aotea Square, Karangahape Road, and Symonds Street. ARTA estimate that [...] read more
  March 12, 2010 4:48 pm - 25 Comments
• 

  Protect Our Pacific from climate change

  
  
  
  On Wednesday night I had the pleasure of attending a meeting to hear from Pelenise Pilitati a well known community leader and climate activist from Kiribati. As you can see from this Youtube clip, hearing Pelenise talk brings home the stark reality of the ways that climate change is already affecting Kiribati. She described how in the [...] read more
  March 12, 2010 11:22 am - 33 Comments
• 

  Sign petition to stop National developing Waitakeres

  
  
  
  As David Clendon blogged last week there has been a lot of concern in West Auckland about the  impacts the third super city bill might have on the Waitakere Ranges. First, Westies were concerned that the Bill might lead to the Waitakeres being taken away from the Auckland Council and made into a [...] read more
  February 24, 2010 1:36 pm - 5 Comments
• 

  Stop National stealing the Waitakeres

  
  
  
  I put out a press release yesterday highlighting a well-hidden clause in the third Auckland Council Bill which aims to nationalize Waitakere Regional Park. On Page 163 of the Bill is a clause which would repeal Section 77(1) of the Local Government Act. This means that the Waitakeres would no longer belong to Auckland Regional Council [...] read more
  February 11, 2010 12:24 pm - 6 Comments
• 

  Popping the balloon of secrecy around Waihopai

  
  
  
  Last weekend’s protest at Waihopai was the usual colourful affair. It began with a march through Blenheim, and speeches from Murray Horton, John Minto and myself. We then adjourned to the spy base itself, up the beautiful Waihopai Valley. More speeches and chants followed by the ceremonial popping of 13 white ballons, each displaying a letter [...] read more
  January 26, 2010 2:29 pm - 53 Comments
• 

  Mokihinui – Brownlee’s burp

  
  
  
  So this week our Minister of Mining and Damming (aka Energy and Resources) let slip that the Mokihinui hydro-dam “would not go ahead”. Does he know something or was it just his ‘opinion’? Whatever the brain-burp was, he was ill-advised to say it but it’d be nice to think that there may be Moki fans in Government – perhaps they are closet readers of the 1400-fan facebook page! read more
  November 5, 2009 10:16 pm - 28 Comments
• 

  Love Wild Rivers? Give them your support

  
  
  
  Cool. Today a new campaign has been launched for one of New Zealand’s most iconic features – our Wild Rivers. It’s great to see diverse groups – tree-huggers, deer-stalkers, bird-watchers, knobbly-kneed trampers, sharp-edged climbers, risky rafters, kool-kat kayakers, and angelic anglers – representing “over 100,000 New Zealanders” and united in seeking to protect wild rivers from [...] read more
  October 28, 2009 12:37 pm - 3 Comments
• 

  Frog Week with Gerry and Tim

  
  
  
  It’s frog week! My favourite week of the year. But this one comes under a large grey cloud. My local native frog rellies have not been faring well for a while. They’re threatened by all sorts already. But now they have a new predator – Gerry with his sidekick Tim. All New Zealand’s native frog species are now threatened by mining. read more
  September 29, 2009 6:02 am - 3 Comments