Wellington Mayoralty
November 4th, 2009 at 3:00 pm by David FarrarThe Dom Post reports:
Kerry Prendergast is considering another crack at the Wellington mayoralty, after previously ruling out a fourth term.
But she could find herself in the race of her life against a candidate selected by Sir Robert Jones.
The millionaire Wellington businessman has confirmed he is rounding up a high-profile team to run for both the mayoralty and councillor positions at next year’s election.
This will be interesting. Tickets can be useful for getting a mandate for an agenda. But as Wellington Alive found out, they can also often fall apart.
Already three candidates – green-leaning city councillors Ray Ahipene-Mercer and Bryan Pepperell, and local businessman Jack Yan – have entered the race.
Ahipene-Mercer has always seemed a pretty good Councillor to me, even though his politics are on the left. My comments on Pepperell are unprintable.
I don’t know Jack Yan, but think this is his blog.
Sir Robert expects to announce his election team in the new year, but his name will not be among the candidates. “I won’t be running because I am too contentious.”
His team would ban vehicles from the city’s “Golden Mile” – Lambton Quay, Courtenay Place, Willis and Manners streets – to create a pedestrian mall complete with free trams and cycle lanes.
“The whole ambience of the place would just boom … and the team, who are all name people, feel that Wellington has the potential to be magic.”
I quite like the vision. Not sure how practical it is, but the vision appeals.
Related posts:
- Wellington Region Mayoralty Contests
- Full Wellington Mayoralty SYV Results
- Full Results for Wellington City Council
- Wellington City Council
November 4th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
DPF
It has been a while since I lived in Wellington, I have heard of this Pepperell chap but know nothing about him.
I take it he is from the far left?
Vote:November 4th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
@ big bruv … he’s from the loony left, not just the far left
@dpf suggest you follow jack on http://twitter.com/jackyan as he’s much more active on there than his blog … he also has a website giving his aspirations for Wellington http://yourwellington.org/
Vote:November 4th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
He’s from another planet. He’s not the looniest WC councilor though, that would be [deleted by DPF]
Vote:November 4th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
C’mon llew, that’s a bit harsh.
What’s wrong with a councilman attending meetings in full camouflage gear or a Santa suit !?!
Vote:November 4th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
What’s wrong with a councilman attending meetings in full camouflage gear
He’s that chap who patrols Cuba St?
Vote:November 4th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
First I’ve heard of Bob Jones’ vision. It sounds reasonably workable to me – if the quid pro quo was allowing proper motorways/bypasses along other streets. And, on the face of it, sounds like a great idea.
Vote:November 4th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Jack Yan stood for the Alliance in 2008.
http://www.alliance.org.nz/index.php?s=jack+yan
If this is who Sir Bob has in mind for his Mayoral candidate then he has gone around the bend.
Vote:November 4th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Quite right. Bar cars from the central city, improve access to surrounding areas. With the exception of some with disabilities, if people can’t walk a couple of blocks rather than driving, that’s just plain lazy. The ambience of pedestrian-only areas just blows away anything with cars.
Vote:November 4th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Pedestrian Golden Mile is an excellent idea. Lambton is already virtually useless as a road thoroughfare anyway, and there are plenty of opportunities to simplify and consolidate the surrounding one-way system.
Stephen – Are you thinking of Commando Lady?
Vote:November 4th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
David, we have never met in person. We attended the same primary school and have both blogged out of Wellington since 2003 (I not as successfully as you). You joined the the alumni group on Facebook on my introduction—I was the last chair of the Friends of St Mark’s.
I welcome you to check out yourwellington.org, and some of my ideas on there since July. Whether or not one goes for them, it’s important Wellingtonians have a choice on October 9.
Hopefully free wifi for the inner city is not too loony a campaign idea.
[DPF: Thanks Jack]
Vote:November 4th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Long time followers of Wellington Local Body Politics will be familiar with the rantings of Pepperell
Vote:over the years. He, and others like him have ideas about the operation of the city that are
often at odds with the vision of successive visionary mayors that we have been graced with.
Not content with the vibrant and driving city that has resulted from the drive, direction and
initiatives of Fran Wilde, Mark Blumsky and now Kerry Prendegast, he and Goulden tend to
excited derision of these policies, blind to the thriving city that these have produced. We
should just ignore them really.
November 4th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Hi Jack,
Just had a look at your website, I stopped reading when I got to the words ‘carbon neutrality’.
Regards,
Sonny
Vote:November 4th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
The current WCC is full of wanna-be politicians who haven’t achieved much. [deleted by DPF]
Banning vehicles from the Lambton Quay, Willis St. , Manners St. and Courtenay Place would an idea that appeals to the Greens and parts of the local electorare, but it’s highly impractical and will be challenged by the business sector, the people who pay the lion share of Wellington rates.
This proposed policy only could be the death knell of Sir Robert’s candidate.
Vote:November 4th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Curious to see another anagram Slightyrighty – thank you for that. It’s hardly
unusual to see a variety of left wing politicians assume different identities these days. I have
noticed though, that a number of them have become socially conscious greenies, who
try to pass themselves off as centrists when in fact they are nothing more than
socialists in disguise.
All I am saying is that with the rise of the internet, we are both able to assess and
learn about candidates, their histories and work life, associations and the places of
learning that they may have gone to.
Of course, more relevant matters like how they intend to help people are not
fungible commodities for the claptrap they offer above.
That’s the rub. We get the politicians we deserve in local government. Often, I’ll say
Vote:help us oh Lord, for we deserve better. I’ve seen weirdos in Hamilton, North Shore,
even as far north as Whangarei and as far south as Dunedin ruin our cities.
Mayors are simply not up to the task in far too many places in NZ.
November 4th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
It is only Wellington; I am at a loss as to why anyone cares who the Mayor is of these small provincial towns.
Auckland IS New Zealand and that is all that matters.
http://www.nightcitytrader.blogspot.com
Vote:November 4th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
A few years back JONES threw his support behind a notorius homosexua for Mayor whose name escapes me.(maybe Te Rupe) Maybe intends to resurrect her/him/it
Vote:November 4th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
Sonny: fair enough. To each their own. My point on that is that we can do it without going nuts about it—it’s about working in these ideas without affecting the way we already do things. Believe me, if I had to measure my carbon dioxide output I would go mad. I wouldn’t expect to impose that on any one or any business. But: if we put data about basic things like air quality and carbon dioxide emissions of certain areas online—data we should already have anyway—new businesses, if they chose to, can create initiatives in partnership with the city. Let’s create some innovations and put Wellington businesses on the map. No one is talking about mandating environmental policies (at least not me).
The principle is not so much carbon neutrality (keep reading, Sonny), it is transparency, and giving people the information that they should have. And if there are things the city itself can achieve without impacting the ratepayer—such as some of the things I have already talked about that are (to me) bloody obvious—we should go for it.
The other thing I want to get across is dialogue. I don’t think my opponents would bother even saying hi to you guys. But if I’m to serve, there’s no point my doing it if I’m getting everything filtered through a bunch of sycophants.
Vote:November 4th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Fran had some vision, Mark had some style, but Kerry??? Sorry none of that and has really just tried to hang onto their legacy coat-tails. WCC spending keeps rocketing up without accountability and lots of taking credit for stuff that really wasn’t them. Seriously bloated admin staffing and poor quality spending.
Peperell is ‘agin’ it, but then he is ‘agin’ everything and is really unpleasant to everyone (maybe he charms at voter meetings?) and is a die-hard socialist and would appropriate even more ratepayer funds.
Don’t know who the answer is (Bob who? as the policeman once said). Pity Rodney is not tightening up harder on local government’s splurge.
Vote:November 4th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Bob,
Vote:When you’re done with Wellington can you please come up to Auckland and sort these wankers out. Especially North Shore Shitty Council. It’s a dog’s breakfast at the moment.
November 4th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Jack Yan>My point on that is that we can do it without going nuts about it
By definition, the only way to make Wellington carbon neutral is to balance the CO2 created by people and the CO2 consumed by trees. I doubt if there are enough trees in the city to support a carbon neutral population of more than a couple of thousand people, assuming that none of them work in heavy industry. So where are the rest of us going to go? What do you propose to do with all the vacant real estate? And will Wellingtonians really vote to transform Wellington in to a harbourside Bulls that almost none of us will be able to live in?
Vote:November 4th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Matters to who?
Vote:November 4th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
slightlyrighty. Sushi Goblin.
LMFAO
Keep up the good work!!!!!
Vote:November 4th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Backster, is this a coincidence?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/2946328/Birthday-girl-Carmen-hits-town
Vote:November 4th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Sushi (4:16pm) – I know you needed a word starting with f…..but “fungible”?!!
Sorry, only 9/10
Vote:November 4th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
“Drag queen Carmen says she wouldn’t mind another tilt at the Wellington mayoralty. But first she wants to party. “
Vote:November 4th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Magpie is good fun at parties (or so Whale says) I’m sure he could show Carmen a good time.
Vote:November 4th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Malcolm 5:20pm – Auckland is all that matters for New Zealand; nowhere else is of the least importance or interest to anybody anywhere at any time.
As John Banks put it “there are two types of New Zealanders those who live in Auckland and those who wish they did”
http://www.nightcitytrader.blogspot.com
Vote:November 4th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
How do you know the interests of everybody? Do you know everybody?
Vote:November 4th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Davidp, I’m not going to split hairs on the technical definition. Point taken, but I think I’ve outlined what I need to for now. And if you (or Sonny) actually read what I wrote among my campaign ideas, at no point have I ever spoken about carbon neutrality as a goal or a policy.
Vote:November 4th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Bob Jones is slightly crazy, I saw him last year trying to fight some guy in the street, over something, a real potty mouth too.
That is all.
Vote:November 4th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
RRM, yep, though never actually noticed the sex!
Vote:November 4th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
“backster (343) Vote: Add rating 2 Subtract rating 5 Says:
November 4th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
A few years back JONES threw his support behind a notorius homosexua for Mayor whose name escapes me.(maybe Te Rupe) Maybe intends to resurrect her/him/it”
Horseshit!
Many years ago Trevor Rupe (Carmen) ran for mayor against Jones’ friend Sir Michael Fowler and Jones, as a joke (well covered in Letters ’80 among other books) was part of the campaign.
Vote:November 4th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
The words “Wellington” and “Interesting” used in the same sentence! Fancy that.
Vote:November 5th, 2009 at 7:44 am
Denver in the States has a central street excluded to vehicl;e trasffic with a fleet of electric [ battery] powered buses providing free transport along it. There are wide pavements, two bus lanes, and in the centre recreation and business, stalls etc. I found a group of men playing chess at a permanent table. At one place the ‘centre road’ is bisected by light rail. In Wellington’s case it would make sense for light rail to connect at the lambton Quay/Willis street intersection and Courtney Place Cuba street and at the ‘cinema’ end. It is around thirty years since I have visited Wgton but I lived there for about ten years way back. I’ll put some photos on my website for you.
Vote:November 5th, 2009 at 8:04 am
My blog is at http://jcuknzs.blogspot.com/2009/11/denvers-main-street.html
Vote:November 5th, 2009 at 8:35 am
anyone who is for water meters should back out now!
Vote:November 5th, 2009 at 11:20 am
Auckland is shit Elijah.
There’s two types of New Zealanders, those who are glad to live in Auckland and those that are glad that those tossers from the first group live in Auckland as well.
Vote: