Twice in one day ...

It's not often that I agree with Labour Ministers twice in a day. But it happened on Monday.

First, Prime Minister Helen Clark and Finance Minister Michael Cullen ruled out removing GST on food items, but instead explained that tax cuts would be a better mechanism for relieving pressure on household budgets.

Then, in the evening I attended a panel discussion on whether there should be tighter regulation of television programming to reduce the depiction of sex, violence and anti-social behaviour on television, including having one censorship/complaints office for television, film, radio, advertising, video games, etc to ensure consistency.

Predictably, Independent MP Gordon Copeland wanted to tighten up the rules so you wouldn't see anything that might upset the sensitive. He was very enthuastic about giving away free porn filters to every family.

Green MP Sue Kedgley talked a lot about advertising of unhealthy food and obesity. Every time she talked about children viewing inappropriate television she would always bring her comments back to obesity.

Chris Findlayson from National stuck to the topic, and talked about the different regulators and how effective (and ineffective) they are, and defended the current system.

But when Trevor Mallard spoke, he put it simply. If you don't like what you see or hear, every television, computer and i-pod has an off button. And then followed that up with saying parents need to be responsible for ensuring that children are not watching inappropriate programming.

Which sounds like common sense to me.

ANZAC Day

This morning I attended the Wreath Laying service in the Lower Hutt War Memorial Gardens (by the War Memorial Library). It was a fine morning, so plenty of people turned out.

There were some touching moments - all those seated spontaniously stood for the last post, and afterwards kids wanted their photos taken with the veterans, not the politicians. It was also good to see all the young people there, and that many groups laid wreaths.

And I now also know the difference between Memorial Place and the Memorial Gardens!

Congestion Charging in Wellington

Nothing beats a good headline - how about a proposal that Greater Wellington regional council is pushing a congestion charge for Wellington highways - with charging points at Pukerua Bay, Tawa, Melling, Petone, and Ngauranga. Report the aim is to get commuters off the road and into Public Transport by slapping them with up to $9.00 per day - about the same as using Public Transport for the same journeys.

Of course, there is one obvious problems - the story is not true.

Moving people to public transport and reducing congestion is a worthy goal with benefits for all - but there are other ways of achieving this than congestion charges. The first step is to make public transport attractive as existing services are not up to scratch.

The park and ride carparks at Waterloo are overflowing with cars (with people resorting to 'inventing' carparks or parking in nearby residential streets) and then trains are overcrowded. Most Hutt train services are standing only from Waterloo, and squash room only by Petone. And in the evening services that depart from 5pm - 5.30pm are already packed beyond capacity.

Even worse are the 7.15am service from Taita and the 5.35pm service from Wellington on trains that are older than most of the passengers!

Most people are waiting for new train units arrive in two years time to improve the services, but there are immediate steps that would make public transport more attractive. Improving facilities and parking at train stations is a good first step.

Another step would be to 'borrow' unused carraiges from other parts of the country. Auckland train services could release under-utilised carraiges - even an extra two or three units could allow extra carraiges to relieve overcrowding on some peak Wellington service.

Where was God?

It's a question posed by atheist Peter Cresswell over the tragedy of seven students of a Christian school who drowned in a flash flood.

He asks: "When these young christians died yesterday, where was their God?"

And

"I'm inviting readers to consider this point: that Christians consider themselves protected by God's armour, yet their God was either not there when they needed protection, or else complicit in their destruction."


There is no such thing as God's armour that protects anyone from physical harm - very few Christians believe this. There is only a spiritual armour - while Peter would argue this is a man-made - it's this armour that has done great things for many people.

God wouldn't obviously intercede to save these children - to so would 'prove' his existance. Remember Jesus admonished Thomas for not wanting to believe that He had risen until he saw Jesus for himself, and touched the wounds in His hands, feet, and side. God's plan is for us to voluntarily love Him in the same way He loves us.

So where was God yesterday? He was in the canyon, welcoming seven people home.

What do Marion Hobbs and Chuck Norris have in common?

In the latest Register of Pecuniary Interests of Members of Parliament you have the usual suspects of property, shares and super schemes.

But one thing really impressed me - supermodel Christie Brinkley gave Marion Hobbs a total gym - the one that Chuck Norris sells on TV.

Winston

When Winston Peters goes to bed tonight, he'll be a very happy man. After two and a half years of being ridiculed and treated as an untrustworthy turncoat who betrayed his old battler voters, he finally has just about everyone in the media attacking him over policy.

This is what attracts voters to Winston Peters - he portrays himself as the outsider, fighting against the corruption of big business and self-interest of the major parties. He appeals to voters who remember the old New Zealand - where the Government owned industries and protected labour intensive companies to keep employment high as their primary objective.

So in the past fortnight, Winston Peters has found three issues to diffentiate himself from Labour, National, and both. And he's gotten what he wanted most of all - publicity.

First, Peter Brown makes a statement out of the blue about non-english speaking immigrants - most of whom are Asian - and accusing them of not wanting to integrate into society. Cue an outcry from political opponents, immigrant groups, and the media.

Then, Winston Peters seizes on the Auckland Airport shareholders plan to sell their shares to the Canadian Pension Fund. Don't let Johnny Foreigner own our Airport - it's in our strategic interest to keep it. (How? - but that's not the point) Cue an outcry from the political opponents, business groups, and the business media.

Finally, Winston Peters appears to be mulling over the NZ-China Free Trade Agreement. Hours after he annouces his opposition, adverts appear in the main daily papers - looking all too planned in advance. Cue an outcry from political opponents, business groups, and the media.

Winston Peters has not really gotten anything he called for - there is no chance of a change in immigration policy and the FTA with China will go ahead. He may have shamed Labour into stopping the Auckland airport sale but they're going to take the blame for that from opponents - not him, he'll get all the credit.

But he has got the one thing he desparately wants - publicity showing him as the outsider, fighting the bg boys and their new ways in Parliament. Those that find that appealing will have taken notice, and begin again thinking about voting for 'thier' Winston.

Day 1 in the life of a Community Committee member

Yesterday I attended a half day briefing at the Council on what should concern the two Community Committees in Hutt City. The managers of several business units attended and gave us an oversight of what work they are undertaking, and what they want to progress in the near future. A few caught my attention and think will probably make an appearance on the committees radar as well.

I do feel a little swamped with all the rules and procedures that I've got to bone up on - it's a steep learning curve with lots of reading at the moment. But it's one of the things you do when you want to be an effective member of a committee.

Now - if anyone wants to suggest something for the committee to look at then by all means flick me an email.

Or if you just want to see what happens at these meetings, then feel free to come along - the first meeting is on the 14th April at the Taita Community Centre. You can even make a brief presentation at the start of the meeting on any topic on the agenda!