Water metres not useful in finding leaks
Posted: February 13, 2024 Filed under: Letters | Tags: bicycles, Dave Armstrong, neo-liberal desperation, neoliberal, pedestrians, The Post, water, water meters, water pipes Leave a commentThe Editor, The Post, Wellington
13/02/ 2024
Dear Editor:
Last week Dave Armstrong made the simple and convincing observation that water metres are not helpful in finding household leaks. Yet this week The Post article says water metres are favoured by regional mayors.
How bizarre, yet not surprizing. Water metres have been on the agenda ever since the beginning of the neo-liberal desperation in the 80s. It was seen as a way to outsource the provision of water, privatising profits while retaining public risk. What a waste of money which could be used for future looking projects like helping Wellington Water purge their neo-liberal inclinations and concentrate on finding system leaks, as well as used for the comparatively small cost of providing safe transport access for pedestrians and cyclists.
Sincerely,
Richard Keller
published 17/02/24
Need to further fine tune analysis of WCC by adding Council Staff to the discussion
Posted: March 12, 2021 Filed under: Letters | Tags: "public good", council officers, Council Staff, infrastructure, neo-liberal, The Library, water, WCC, WCC councillors, Wellington City Council Leave a commentThe Editor, The Dominion Post, Wellington
10/03/ 2021
Dear Editor:
After aiming too widely in a recent column having a go at everybody Dave Armstrong hit the mark this time (09/03, death exaggerated) by pulling out a few cliché criticisms which many critics use to attack the city, WCC and individual councillors. Read the rest of this entry »
Water privatization still on the cards
Posted: March 28, 2020 Filed under: Letters | Tags: Dave Armstrong, eighties, eighties decade, Green Party, iona pannett, Labour Party, National Party, neo-liberal economics, nineteen eighties, privatisation, water, water meters, Wellington 1 CommentThe Editor, The Dom Post, Wellington
13/03/ 2020
Dear Editor:
In Dave Armstrong’s rambling discussion of water in Wellington (10/3) he does recall that there was fear that water supply would be privatized in what I would call the ‘there is no other way’ neo-liberal hysteria of the 80s/90s introduced by the Labour government then carried on by National. What we need to understand is that the neo-liberal has quietly settled in and the threat remains. The overriding mentality is still money over conservation. Primarily water meters would still be used as a tool to privatization. Armstrong mentions that Iona Pannett is one who still fears privatization. Keep in mind that Pannett is and was a Green which has not been neo-liberal, unlike Labour and National.
Sincerely,
Richard Keller
published 23/03/20 ??
Pacific Climate Change Conference 2016 – Notes from the keynote speech of Anote Tong, president of Kiribati
Posted: February 25, 2016 Filed under: Other, presentations | Tags: Anote Tong, climate denialism, climate disruption, climate talks, coconut trees, Fiji, New Zealand, Pacific climate foundation, president of Kiribati, resilience, water, weather patterns Leave a commentPacific Climate Change Conference
Keynote speaker – Anote Tong, President of Kiribati – Monday, 15 Feb., 2016 – Victoria University of Wellington
My notes from his speech:
His story: climate change (story not heard)
His means: a moral challenge
His need: an international agreement
His timing: late, but is persisting now
His picture: you must be there to see
His people(1): can no longer hide
His water: fresh or salt?
His worry: weather patterns
His observation: NZ North Is and South Is are large
His nation: some are moving already; who will stay?
His politics: governments have no conscience; elections needed
His humanity: a matter of conscience
His warning: without action, must leave
His finance: to build resilience
His words: realistic, not grumbles
His people(2): are not ‘refugees’
His investment: land in Fiji; leads to attention
His thanks: Fiji will take people
His challenge(1): do the right thing
His progress: corporations are responding
His front line: coconut trees falling
Our front line: coming soon
His frustration: climate denial used as excuse for inaction
His plan: private foundations fund his foundation
His challenge(2): tell the whole story
Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill – submission – 2011
Posted: November 9, 2012 Filed under: submissions | Tags: asset sales, finance sector, globalisation, local government, rogernomics, sustainability, water Leave a commentLocal Government (Auckland Council) Bill
Submission from Richard Keller. Read the rest of this entry »
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