While I oppose the installation of water meters—let’s not give technocrats a chance to charge us for something that we should get for free, living on an island—I believe in transparency. Wellington already does well in putting government valuations online, so why not more?
   As I discussed transparency with some of my colleagues at the Medinge Group, it was suggested, especially by Ton Zijlstra, that we could, in Wellington, make data on air quality and water usage (where already available) publicly accessible online. We could also put information on water quality in our rivers online, for instance. This could allow communities and enterprises themselves to come up with solutions to make improvements, giving power to the people.
   It doesn’t mean the city would stop taking responsibility for these issues. However, I believe that being transparent and open can result in innovations we haven’t come across yet. As always, your thoughts are welcome.

air · creativity · information · innovation · internet · public utilities · transparency · water · Wellington · Whanganui-a-Tara

During another meeting today, the idea of an IT park in Kilbirnie makes sense. There’s that data pipe already heading out toward Miramar, and this could help rejuvenate the Kilbirnie area. There’s so much going for what I regard as my home ’burb. I understand ideas are currently being collected at committee level there, but I can certainly envisage new businesses springing up in the Kilbirnie area, which could become a home to new technologies and creativity. We already have a good recreation centre and library—which provide some balance to the public space. Bay Road and Onepu Road could be ideal places to sit back and meet people—if it were better geared for that.
   I certainly feel it is far more than a place people pass through to get to the airport or out to the Lyall Bay retail park. Any thoughts?

eastern suburbs · internet · IT park · Kilbirnie · Miramar · rejuvenation · Rongotai · Wellington · Whanganui-a-Tara

The more I consider this site, the more I wonder why Wellington does not already have one that puts policies out to the people, allows feedback, and helps the Council with decision-making. (I realize there are great Wellington blogs out there—what I mean specifically is one set up by the city.) While I know there’s a tendency for blogs to attract some of the more extreme views—I have been blogging since 2003 and have seen the decline into mud-slinging in some quarters—the city needs something like this.
   While Wellington is one of the few places where you can check the government value of your home online, we need to build on this, and let people have a real voice. Transparency and even more representative democracy should be things we demand of our city. And we can use technology to get them.

Aotearoa · blogging · blogs · democracy · internet · New Zealand · representation · transparency · website · Wellington · Whanganui-a-Tara

Older Wellingtonians will remember when there were many head offices in the capital. Now many are in Auckland. However, filling the void are high-tech businesses, spurred in part by the growth of the film industry, and by the internet.
   It’s a good thing to have this growth sector in the capital, but can we do more to help them, especially entrepreneurs who want to set up business here? Is this something the city should be involved in actively assisting, especially as it’s ultimately beneficial to have a vibrant business community—real and virtual?

animation · Business · commerce · entrepreneur · entrepreneurship · high-tech · internet · multimedia · tech sector · Twitter · web development · Wellington · Whanganui-a-Tara