Celia’s e-mail to Councillors
January 15th, 2011 at 9:14 am by David FarrarLike some other bloggers, I received a copy of the e-mail below by Wellingtom Mayor Celia-Wade Brown to her Council colleagues:
Dear colleagues,
I’d like to discuss training, conferences and personal development when we’re back. I hope some courses on chairing, speed-reading, engagement and participatory democracy, new media or the RMA will appeal. We do need to reduce our expenditure but not to zero. Instead of waiting for conferences to be put up at SPC and then trying to decide who should go, what clashes etc, there are other ways – on-line webinars, local tertiary institutions e.g. Otago’s Sustainable Cities or Victoria’s Policy Institute – or LGNZ’s courses.
Or we can take new lessons in te reo, Mandarin or ballroom dancing – all exercise neural pathways and keep us mentally fit. http://www.newsweek.com/2011/01/03/can-you-build-a-better-brain.html
That might explain why skills we’re already good at don’t make us much smarter: we don’t pay much attention to them. In contrast, taking up a new, cognitively demanding activity ballroom dancing, a foreign language is more likely to boost processing speed, strengthen synapses, and expand or create functional networks.For those who consider that mental and physical fitness might be unrelated, have a look at this link… http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100826141327.htm
A study published this year in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience provided evidence that aerobic fitness can keep aging brains healthy. “Even modest amounts of walking, 40 minutes three times a week, can engender substantial improvements in memory, decision making, and other cognitive processes,” said the study’s lead author, University of Illinois psychology professor Art Kramer.
and if you didn’t think it was relevant to your role … “Those with more connectivity … also tend to be better at planning, prioritizing, strategizing and multi-tasking. “- that’s what we have to do – and preferably enjoy doing it!
and for Leonie in particular – Nicotine, they found, has “significant positive effects” on fine motor skills, the accuracy of short-term memory, some forms of attention, and working memory, among other basic cognitive skills. The improvements “likely represent true performance enhancement” and “beneficial cognitive effects.” The reason is that nicotine binds to the brain receptors for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine that are central players in cortical circuits. (Caveat: smoking also increases your risk of dementia, so while cigarettes may boost your memory and attention now, you could pay for it later. ) but I’m not taking it up again – shortness of breath, coughing, lung or throat cancer and most of all, the smell…
Meanwhile, I look forward to us finding efficiencies and shared ways of working so we don’t have to increase prices at Toi Poneke – nor drastically cut library hours ( some may be ok if there really is low use – well said, Stephanie). However we can’t say no to all savings , efficiencies and accept 8% rates!
Warm regards
Celia
Celia Wade-Brown
Mayor of Wellington
Perhaps it would be easier to avoid an 8% rates rise if Council did not spend its Councillor training budget on ballroom dancing lessons for Councillors.
WCC Watch and Phil Quin also blog on this topic. Quin has a response from Celia also.
Related posts:
- Celia favoured to win
- Celia wins
- Wellingtonian on Wellington City Councillors
- A good call from Celia
January 15th, 2011 at 9:23 am
Codswallop, a big dose of pure green codswallop.
Vote:Scary to know these loons and clowns are in charge of a multi-million dollar budget.
January 15th, 2011 at 9:44 am
Well I note that DPF has taken up one recommendation. Twice over the Mangone track in a few days.
“Even modest amounts of walking, 40 minutes three times a week, can engender substantial improvements in memory, decision making, and other cognitive processes,”
May even clear the mind of National Party slogans and allow a more critical look at their performance or lack thereof.
Ballroom dancing proved to be good for a certain middle aged Gentleman and his life renewal.
Lesson there for our host. More exercise catches (oops creates) the baby.
Perhaps Key could require many of his flock to do the same. Oh wait a minute they are all quitting.
Wonder why.
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 9:48 am
Unbelievable waste of taxpayer dollars. No wonder is Wellington is the spend up capital of wastage! FFS what a loony country run by demented misfits!
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 9:59 am
Can’t you just see them all now?
Gabbling away incomprehensively to each other as they stumble along walking to work, chain smoking and spitting in the gutter.
Clearly this lady has recently visited some of the nether regions of China.
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 10:00 am
I suggest courses in colourtherapy, aromatherapy, chrystaltherapy (not meth) and saline nasal inhalation be added to the mix.
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 10:03 am
You link to Phil Quin, but you don’t mention the email that Celia wrote to him in response:
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 10:10 am
A bit dishonest, DPF, to pretend that it is the councillor training budget paying for this crap. Talk about “muck raking”!
If anything, it looks like she’s trying to save money by avoiding flights etc, and encouraging councillors to pay for their own stupid hobbies – avoiding those bullshit “management” and “team building” exercises in expensive resorts that some other mayor used to love.
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 10:19 am
WTF? What a random load of woolly-brained horseshit.
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 10:24 am
Rarely do we see a politican so perfectly aligned with her electorate.
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 11:10 am
Perhaps she is related:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Fisher,_1st_Baron_Fisher
Note:
He was not keen on sport, but he was a highly proficient dancer. Fisher employed his dancing skill later in life to charm a number of important ladies. He became interested in dancing in 1877 and insisted that the officers of his ship learn to dance. Fisher cancelled the leave of midshipmen who would not take part. He introduced the practice of junior officers dancing on deck when the band was playing for senior officers wardroom dinners. This practice spread through the fleet. He broke with the then ball tradition of dancing with a different partner for each dance, instead adopting the scandalous habit of choosing one good dancer as his partner for the evening.[11] His ability to charm all-comers of all social classes made up for his sometimes blunt or tactless comments.[12] He suffered from seasickness throughout his life.[13]
Still perhaps he just got the matelots dancing vertically instead of horizontally. Rum, sodomy and the lash etc:
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 11:13 am
Bureaucrats & scums @ the Wellington Regional Council (well they’re all unproductive leechers & scums) have persecuted a private citizens which drove her into depression & going thru financial hardship.
Irene Van Dyk: beating depression, debt and despair
Can some fucktard leftist (Pete George et al) tell me why is property rights is not really called property rights (ie, this fuckn RMA & government socialist interfering policies)?
Does Pete George understand the objective meaning of property rights or not? Can he tell us of his understanding of the concept (objective & philosophically-based) ?
I don’t know what Van Dyk’s political belief is (may be she is a lefty), but the whole point of fighting the left (ideologically/politically/philosophically) is about this loss of freedom. We (citizens) only own our homes in names only, because we really don’t own them, since we pretty much can’t do anything. Bureaucrats own our homes because they can tell us of what we can or can’t do.
For those who are interested in this monster RMA and how it violates property rights must read this document from Peter Cresswel . It was published in the NZ Herald some years ago.
It’s time to drive a stake through the heart of the RMA
A very well argument based on objective philosophical principles.
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 11:40 am
The Dog catchers and the rubbish dump custodians may well benefit from the ballroom dancing lessons although English lessons may be more beneficial than Te Reo. The Mayor undoubtedly intends that the lessons and conferences etc will be held afterwork which could cut into their beer time. That might not be so bad as they will have less pocket money after paying the associated fees needed for this personnel development.
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 12:14 pm
Sorry i can’t make it to tonights meeting , have mandarin lessons.
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
Interesting questions re property rights RMA etc. If I live on one side of the harbour and someone wants to build a highrise on the other side (on a prominent point say) he should be able to as it is his property right whereas for me he is just fouling the view. The problem is that outside of the garden fence property rights aren’t defind.
Vote:Was it a property right of Chch people to enjoy a city with no infill and not much traffic….. well no!??
I think (wonder) if we would be better if all urban land was under a sort of crown lease and in stages whole blocks were raised and rebuilt with the best design features. I can’t see how expedient slicing up has the best outcome. Capital gains should go back into the community.
Note how Peter Cresswells model doesn’t work if there are limts to growth or humans aren’t masters of the environment.
January 15th, 2011 at 12:50 pm
Interesting point hj. I seem to remember that a plan was afoot to build wind turbines on the headland above the eastern side of Wellingtons harbour entrance.
A shit piece of land for any other purpose.
It was opposed by the jolly good citizens of Seatoun etc. as visual pollution etc, etc and they won.
Time the RMA was gutted I suspect.
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 1:10 pm
hj you seem to be wondering if communism is a good idea. The answer is no.
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 1:15 pm
But it once was a good idea PIA. (Russia 1917/1991). Specially if you wanted to avoid a bullet behind the ear.
Perhaps hj pines for those halcyon days?
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 1:31 pm
Coffee enemas and chakra readings for all.
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 2:39 pm
Celia, your breaking my heart
Vote:what the fuck has she got to do with the health and fitness regimes of the council staff or anyone for that matter.
Wellington .. good luck. I thought we had a right one here in the Auckland region.
January 15th, 2011 at 3:01 pm
With apologies to Simon and Garfunkel
Oh Celia, you’re breaking my heart
You’re shaking my confidence daily
Oh, Celia, I can’t pay my rates
I’m begging you please to relent
Come on girl
Oh Celia, you’re breaking my heart
You’re shaking my confidence daily
Oh, Celia, My parking fees
I’m begging you please to reduce
Come on girl
Dancing class in the afternoon with Celia
Up in my bedroom (learning Te Reo)
I got up to wash my face
When I come back to bed
Hone’s taken my place
Oh Celia, you’re breaking my heart
You’re shaking my confidence daily
Oh, Celia, I’m down on my knees
I’m begging you please to reduce
My rates bill
Jubilation, she fell off her bike
I fall on the floor and I’m laughing,
Jubilation, we had a recount
I fall on the floor and I’m laughing
Jubilation, Kerry got back
I fall on the floor and I’m laughing
Then I woke up
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 3:06 pm
I am suggesting that councillors (I didn’t mention staff), actually keep their brains alert and active. At least David appreciates that walking is good for thinking.
Is that a problem in a democracy? Often elected members are criticised for being ossified in our thinking – or not doing any at all.
The science research makes interesting reading so I hope you follow some of the links.
To clarify, it was a light-hearted welcome to 2011 for my Councillor colleagues and an encouragement to upskill in speed-reading and other areas too, not a proposal to spend more money.
Happy 2011 to Kiwiblog and readers.
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 3:06 pm
(Thanks for the inspiration jaba)
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 3:11 pm
If you are interested in the RMA from a range of perspectives you might like to visit the Centre for Resource Management Studies at
http://www.rmastudies.org.nz/
The government seems determined to silence these research activities. The Centre has been de registered as a charity for being political,
having a single “purpose” and doing nothing to reduce hardship or poverty. This means the Centre is no longer tax exempt and the rules regarding tax free donations are more restrictive.
The Environmental Defense society remains registered of course. Check the Charities Commission web site.
Also visit Phil McDermott’s blog “Cities matter” for some evidence-based commentary on spatial plans etc as opposed to the vision based theories of most members of the planning profession.
Vote:The Smart Growth theories imported from the US, and from California in particular, are directly responsible for the property bubble which encouraged the Banks to lend beyond prudent limits.
January 15th, 2011 at 3:26 pm
johnboy, that was marvelous .. I sense a hidden talent
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 4:30 pm
Celia had originally wanted compulsory “Morris Dancing”…but her mandarins insisted Ballroom would be more suitable.
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 5:36 pm
Did you like my song Celia?
Are you at all related to John Arbuthnot Fisher?
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 6:38 pm
fuck some people are gullible idiots
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 7:14 pm
Actually I don’t mind Celia telling her overweight tired compatriots to get of their backsides and fitness up and learn to read better. Its sound advice for most politicians and busybodies.
Vote:Better fitness will get them out of the chairs and better reading skills will allow them to enhance their mostly poor knowledge.
Can’t be much wrong with that.
Key should give his lot a similar message and they should require it of the fancy CEO’s, spin doctors et al. They might all them resign and we would all be better served.
January 15th, 2011 at 7:14 pm
My, DPF has some of you well trained.
It’s clear that the email has two messages: let’s not waste money on flying ourselves all over the place on “fact finding” jaunts – a long overdue directive in any local authority – and let’s keep our minds limber. Nowhere is it implied that such activities would be funded from the Council budget.
I used to have a boss that’d make sure we all got those “summer school” brochures sent by the local university and would often use staff meetings to suggest “hey, why not study advanced navel gazing… it’s great for personal development”. Sadly, the bastard never offered to pay (though he did offer work time to “study” in – alas I could never convincingly mock up a brochure for “Advanced Blog Commenting” so as to be able to spend a paid afternoon a week pursuing my interests
)
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 7:19 pm
Shit you sure have had a lot of Boss’s Rex.
Does that show that they had discernment or that you did or that both of you were very quick learners?
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 7:33 pm
Poor employment/employer decisions on the part of both parties most likely.
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 7:51 pm
The dancing’s a bit of a worry though V2.
I mean will it be the traditional “man leading” or would that be regarded as sexist.
Perhaps Celia should study Jackie Fisher’s memoirs, after all he got a bunch of brawny sailors to dance with each other without any apparent problems.
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 8:17 pm
sweet jesus, and I thought our Mayor was a liability, this woman is nuts,
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 9:05 pm
Hey johnboy, didn’t do Rodney much harm. Slimmed him down and hardened up the old boy. Seems all middle aged men should do this so they can catch a young un.
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 9:17 pm
Well there is no doubt that something hardened him up.
No idea what though may have been some form of dancing I suppose.
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 9:27 pm
Yep she’s as mad as a meat axe.
A comment from Phil U makes more sense.
Clearly taken all Whaleoil’s random praise her her head after being invited to appear on the informative and entertaining Whaleoil Summer Series.
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 9:32 pm
Johnboy notes:
Took you a while to notice, Johnboy, it was Tane at The Standard two or three years back that first picked up that I seem to have an aversion to prolonged employment.
Actually it’s about 25% resigned, 25% sacked, and 50% the company was swallowed by a bigger one / went broke / stopped trading for some other reason, leaving me redundant. As a result my CV comes in a six volume bound set
Not for nothing did my late best friend dub me “The Albatross”
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 9:35 pm
Interesting that Wade Brown talks about democracy…
She who was elected Mayor with less votes than her main rival.
No wonder these communist bastards love proportional representation.
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 9:41 pm
“A comment from Phil U makes more sense.”
Nah I wouldn’t quite go that far CK.
You’ve obviously forgotten the shit he used to spout here.
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 9:48 pm
“Not for nothing did my late best friend dub me “The Albatross”
”
At length did cross an Albatross:
Thorough the fog it came;
As if it had been a Christian soul,
We hailed it in God’s name.
It ate the food it ne’er had eat,
And round and round it flew.
The ice did split with a thunder-fit;
The helmsman steered us through!
And a good south wind sprung up behind;
The Albatross did follow,
And every day, for food or play,
Came to the mariners’ hollo!
In mist or cloud, on mast or shroud,
It perched for vespers nine;
Whiles all the night, through fog-smoke white,
Glimmered the white Moon-shine.
“God save thee, ancient Mariner!
From the fiends, that plague thee thus!—
Why look’st thou so?”—With my cross-bow
I shot the ALBATROSS.
Seems like a good idea.
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 9:55 pm
Tsk tsk Johnboy, have you learned nothing from Sarah Palin?!
If I go outside and am pierced by so much as a splinter now, it’ll be YOUR FAULT!!!111!!!!11
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 9:56 pm
Come on guys, you’re being unfair on Celia by exaggerating a harmless, well-intentioned New Year message.
By all means hammer her for actual wastage, but not for sharing a couple of articles.
I didn’t vote for her, but I do think we should encourage mayoral enthusiasm and reserve judgment on her performance until we’ve got something tangible to judge.
Let’s leave the exaggeration to climate scientists and other lefties.
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 9:57 pm
Shit:
The Sun now rose upon the right:
Out of the sea came he,
Still hid in mist, and on the left
Went down into the sea.
And the good south wind still blew behind
But no sweet bird did follow,
Nor any day for food or play
Came to the mariners’ hollo!
And I had done an hellish thing,
And it would work ‘em woe:
For all averred, I had killed the bird
That made the breeze to blow.
Ah wretch! said they, the bird to slay
That made the breeze to blow!
Nor dim nor red, like God’s own head,
The glorious Sun uprist:
Then all averred, I had killed the bird
That brought the fog and mist.
‘Twas right, said they, such birds to slay,
That bring the fog and mist.
The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew,
The furrow followed free:
We were the first that ever burst
Into that silent sea.
Down dropt the breeze, the sails dropt down,
‘Twas sad as sad could be;
And we did speak only to break
The silence of the sea!
All in a hot and copper sky,
The bloody Sun, at noon,
Right up above the mast did stand,
No bigger than the Moon.
Day after day, day after day,
We stuck, nor breath nor motion;
As idle as a painted ship
Upon a painted ocean.
Water, water, every where,
And all the boards did shrink;
Water, water, every where,
Nor any drop to drink.
The very deep did rot: O Christ!
That ever this should be!
Yea, slimy things did crawl with legs
Upon the slimy sea.
About, about, in reel and rout
The death-fires danced at night;
The water, like a witch’s oils,
Burnt green, and blue and white.
And some in dreams assured were
Of the spirit that plagued us so:
Nine fathom deep he had followed us
From the land of mist and snow.
And every tongue, through utter drought,
Was withered at the root;
We could not speak, no more than if
We had been choked with soot.
Ah! well a-day! what evil looks
Had I from old and young!
Instead of the cross, the Albatross
About my neck was hung.
I’m fucked:
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
big bruv contends:
I’ve worked for a Liberal Party candidate in a very conservative seat who received te majority of preferences from every single candidate in an electorate race, staying well ahead on the incumbent “Independent Liberal” right up until the very last preference alllocation, when the vast bulk of Labor preferences went to the “Independent”.
Knowing they couldn’t win, Labor had instructed their voters to preference the independent just to keep a very good Liberal candidate out. In every other seat they did preference swaps with the Greens.
Now in a situation like that I’d say STV produced an unfair result, because Labor clearly gamed the system to deny the majority their wish.
But Celia Wade-Brown was ranked ahead of Kerry Prendergast on a significant number of ballots from the four trailing candidates after they were eliminated, which allowed her to overcome Prendergast’s lead after the first round of counting.
So what happened there was that all the people who voted for Celia Wade-Brown got what they wanted, and a handful who first preferenced a minor candidate (knowing they couldn’t win and so probably doing so because they knew them personally or as a protest vote) got what they actually wanted, which was Celia-Wade Brown.
You may well call those people nuts, but I think it’s unfair to blame STV for the result. If it was a FPP vote, those who first preferenced the also-rans would likely have voted Wade-Brown.
Such is Wellington… an odd place, but I love it dearly
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 10:12 pm
“So what happened there was that all the people who voted for Celia Wade-Brown got what they wanted, and a handful who first preferenced a minor candidate (knowing they couldn’t win and so probably doing so because they knew them personally or as a protest vote) got what they actually wanted, which was Celia-Wade Brown.”
Oh Lord forgive us for we know not what we have done.
(Serves the dumbos right actually Rex)
Thank God we got Ray out here in the Hutt.
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 10:14 pm
Do Wellington Mayor Celia-Wade Brown and fellow Councillors know exactly where Wellington rates monies are being spent?
Auckland $upercity Mayor and Councillors apparently don’t.
I did a Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act request to Mark Ford, when he was CEO of the Auckland Transition Agency, dated 11 October 2010, asking which services (on a council by council basis) were:
a) Currently provided ‘in-house’;
b) Provided by a Council Controlled Organisation (CCO);
c) Contracted out;
d) Not Applicable (not provided by that Council)
I also requested information for each one of the 112 possible Council services which had been ‘contracted out’ on a ‘one-by-one basis):
a) The name of the contractor;
b) The length of the contract;
c) The value of the contract;
d) The general ‘scope’ of the contract.
The reply from the Public Information Manager of the new Auckland Council, dated 8 November 2010, stated:
“Under section 17(f) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, we hereby decline your request as the information requested cannot be made available without substantial collation or research.
……………….”
However – Local Authorities have the following statutory duty arising from the Public Records Act 2005:
“› Part 2 Recordkeeping requirements
› Subpart 1—Key duties
17 Requirement to create and maintain records
(1) Every public office and local authority must create and maintain full and accurate records of its affairs, in accordance with normal, prudent business practice, including the records of any matter that is contracted out to an independent contractor. ”
So – what is the state of the Auckland Council ‘books’?
Are there any?
Why is this information not already ‘researched’ and ‘collated’?
If this information is not available for the public – presumably – it is equally not available for elected representatives?
So where is the ‘prudent stewardship’?
The proposed Auckland Council 2011 rate increase is 4.9%.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/auckland-region/news/article.cfm?l_id=117&objectid=10694172
However, it appears highly unlikely that ‘the books’ have been gone through to look at possible savings by the removal of ‘corporate welfare beneficiary’ consultants and private contractors, and replacement with ‘in-house’ Council employees?
‘Economies of scale’?
yeah right.
How about a bigger public trough for fewer, but bigger private snouts?
(As predicted by some of us……………)
Penny Bright
Media Spokesperson
Water Pressure Group
Judicially recognised ‘Public Watchdog’ on Metrowater, water and Auckland regional governance matters.
“Anti-corruption campaigner”.
Auckland Mayoral candidate 2010
Vote:Independent Candidate Botany by-election 2011
January 15th, 2011 at 10:50 pm
Not this again. CWB won fair-and-square under the terms of the election, i.e. STV with a 50% threshold. No ifs, no buts.
Vote:January 15th, 2011 at 11:12 pm
Johnboy says:
Yes, at lonnnnnnnnnggggg last Lower Hutt (and dear old Wainuiomata) gets a Mayor who is actually there for the community and not himself. Tireless, hardworking, dedicated… everything a politician should be (except a snappy dresser
)
Tell him I said hello and congratulations if you see him. Can’t think of a better bloke to be Mayor.
Vote:January 16th, 2011 at 9:54 am
hj you seem to be wondering if communism is a good idea. The answer is no.
Vote:….
leasehold peoperties can be bought and sold. If the city owns the land the capital gain remains the property of the city/town.
January 16th, 2011 at 11:39 am
So what’s the issue with encouraging staff to be more physically active? Especially now that we know from the updates that it has nothing to do with council funds? And what are the issues with the examples of dancing and languages that were used as examples?
The research shows clear benefits – it is awesome to see CWB referencing it.
The in-group circlejerk this place has become is saddening.
Vote:January 16th, 2011 at 11:47 am
She is illiterate with her techno speak language. But Councillors should have training to increase their skill base including getting an understanding on what is driving the cost pressures on the Council.
Vote:January 16th, 2011 at 2:24 pm
What a bunch of rubbish. She’s just said absolutely nothing, but it sounds really technical. Orwell would be laughing in her face with this sort of drivvle. Also, how does this fit with her underlying message? Shouldn’t they be thinking about cutting costs, something which politicians are always uncomfortable with actually doing? Isn’t that more in line with the ‘we learn more when we’re uncomfortable’ message? Not that I agree with it, by that logic you’ll become smarter doing the things you’re not as good at.
Vote:January 16th, 2011 at 2:39 pm
Might pay for you two to actually read up on some of the research over the past 10-20 years on the benefits of phsyical activity, even moderate levels, and mental health/performance. It isn’t exactly “techno speak”. Or ask your doctor maybe.
Not understanding things is not a good reason to rubbish them and their author.
Vote:January 16th, 2011 at 4:40 pm
This post seems a little banal. Sorry.
Vote: