Thank you Brendon
commentary by Bill Demeter
Brendon Burns lost his seat in Parliament in an extremely close races with Nicky Wagner. Brendon also announced he would not seek re-election in the future but return to his profession as a journalist.
I just finished re-reading a book that I thought might help me gain insight into how many of our current City Councillors and Mayor think and work.
Youth suicide rates will rise over the next two to four years, as a result of shockingly high youth unemployment rates, Progressive Wigram MP Jim Anderton is warning.
By Rachael Dunningham, Partner, Buddle Findlay
What is CERA?
CERA is a body established by Parliament under the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act 2011 to lead and coordinate the recovery effort following the September and February earthquakes. CERA will exist for five years at which time it is anticipated that the recovery will be sufficiently advanced to end its role.
It has a chief executive (Roger Sutton) and a responsible Minister, (Gerry Brownlee). They each have a number of functions and powers given to them by the Act.
A commentary by Bill Demeter, Chair of It’s Our City, Inc.
In the aftermath of the latest earthquake, everything has centred on one major theme. That theme is always talking about the “Economic Recovery”. There is far more than just economic recovery to be discussed. We need to deal with human recovery and all that is implied by that term.
By Bill Demeter
EARTHQUAKE: We are so fortunate that the earthquake occurred when it did and all of us have many stories to tell. The true reflection of this city is how well we pick up the pieces, help each other, and then plan for the future with vision, patience, and relying on the ideas of many versus a few. We are in a unique position of re-building this city in the right manner to last generations or we can squander it away by reacting versus acting.
by Ann Brower
Senior Lecturer of Public Policy, Lincoln University
Of the recent changes at ECan, sacking the council is the least offensive. The ECan Act shows a breathtaking use of parliamentary power, and could be a game"changer in New Zealand environmental law.
by Grant Nelson
In the past Christchurch has been renowned for its abundant supply of extremely pure, safe and inexpensive water. This water was regarded as being one of the city's greatest assets but now this asset is being gradually turned into one of the city's greatest liabilities.
Normally only councillors who have decided to retire and not contest the October election deliver leave taking speeches in this chamber. Councillors removed by voters don’t get the opportunity.
For me the cover story headline in last week’s Mercantile Gazette, “Democracy drowns in irrigation race” sums up why we are here today. As the article notes and I quote “Canterbury’s gold rush for irrigation water has become a political tsunami sweeping away local democracy.”
“I, Jane Demeter., declare that I will faithfully and impartially, and according to the best of my skill and judgement, execute and perform, in the best interests of the Canterbury Region, the powers, authorities and duties vested in or imposed upon me as a member of the Canterbury Regional Council by virtue of the Local Government Act 2002, the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, or any other Act.”
