As the Dominion Post insists on publishing the partisan views of former National Party Chief of Staff Richard Long every Tuesday (The Long View) under the guise of political comment, I am henceforth launching The Wide View, the hopelessly partisan views of me, a former staff member of the Prime Minister’s office, coming to you every Tuesday. Continue reading ‘The wide view’
Archive for August, 2007
Weekend sporting thoughts….
August 27th, 2007first off huge congrats to Valerie Vili on winning World Champs gold this morning in Osaka. Her rise to the top of world athletics has been a remarkable and emotional journey. At a young age relatively for shotputters she is at the top of her game. Bring on Beijing. A year or two ago I saw her in the street in Wellington and she is a giant- albeit a gentle one by all accounts. I am a little perplexed that on the Herald website this morning she is not seen as significant as the Warriors win. Is it that it is women’s sport? or athletics? This is a world championship and deserves to be shouted from the rooftops.
I went along to the Phoenix’s opening game yesterday, and it was a great occasion Continue reading ‘Weekend sporting thoughts….’
No more Gliding On – but are you being served?
August 26th, 2007By my reckoning, if Ross Jolly’s character John in Gliding On was still in the public service he would be in his mid 50s and he would probably be Chief Executive of a medium sized government agency by now.
Despite what some in Auckland might think, he will have seen massive change in the public sector in his time. Raewyn is most definitely not bringing the mail around (she works in IT now), there is no tea trolley, (but some nice cafes nearby) and the whole way of working and thinking has changed. John works long hours, and has done for years.
Continue reading ‘No more Gliding On – but are you being served?’
A researcher by any other name…
August 20th, 2007I don’t mind the Dom Post giving me some undeserved academic credibility today, but the notion that I had worked in the PMs office for 312 years sounded very tiring! ( it was 3 1/2 by the way) Good to have the nomination in, and I am looking forward to the selection process. It goes without saying (well it did in terms of which quotes the Dom used in the story) but I also think Charles is a good person and a real asset to the Labour caucus.
Wellington - a sustainable city
August 13th, 2007I have lived in Wellington on and off for twelve years. It is a vibrant and inspiring place to live. But there is opportunity in the hills and valleys. I believe there is an opportunity for Wellington to lead the way in terms of urban development in New Zealand. A starting point for me is the goal of developed Wellington as a sustainable city. The WCC wants Wellington to be carbon neutral, and this is a good start, but we need to think about an overall sustainability approach, in terms social, economic, environmental and cultural development. We can lead the way in urban design, housing quality, energy efficiency and transport. Continue reading ‘Wellington - a sustainable city’
