I began wishing my closest Jewish friends and colleagues a happy Hanukkah a few weeks ago. Now, as the next holiday begins, I wish those celebrating Yuletide a very safe and blessed Christmas. We have a lot of work to do in the New Year, and I’ll reveal more of my policies—but for now, it’s important we all have some time with our whanau, families and friends. God Jul, Joyeux Noël, merry Christmas, 聖誕快樂.

2009

Earlier this year, Wellington City Council was proposing to get rid of the green recycling bins, due to a shortfall in the budget, and replace them with plastic bags. Public outcry and a petition ensured the status quo, and the Council has been forced to look for ways to save money elsewhere.
   It seems a no-brainer to continue the recycling programme rather than use more resources to make plastic bags, or sting Wellingtonians with an extra c. $60 per annum.
   We’d be interested in your comments, and if there are more things we can do with our recycling to become even more environmentally responsible.

Creative Commons photograph by

Environment · green bins · recycling · sustainability · waste · waste management · Wellington · Wellington City Council · Whanganui-a-Tara

I have lived in Wellington for more of my years than any other place. I first arrived in 1976, and have been proud to call it my home. I did virtually all my schooling here, from primary to uni.
   When I started my business in 1987, I have watched companies here go through good and bad times. But in business you can only do so much. More recently, I became interested in seeing what we could do to make and sustain positive change for our city.
   Wellington is already a great city. We have a great cultural core, and a population that cares as much about the meaning in their lives as the quality. But there are a few problems, such as our population growth lagging behind Auckland and Christchurch. And what can we do to encourage and grow business here, without losing our essence?
   Can we grow while being sustainable? What safety issues are there for families living here, and can we make it more accommodating for them? How about our roading and traffic? What about our sporting and recreational venues?
   I set up this blog to find ways we can all explore that. I firmly believe if others around us benefit, we each will, too. I want to hear from you, either through my personal site’s feedback form, or here in the comments, on topics we need to address. We’ve kicked off with a few, and we’ll announce this site with a bit more hoop-la toward the end of 2009.

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