Atlassian's headquarters, proposed for Sydney, would be the world's tallest hybrid timber tower. Photo / Architecture Australia
Simon Wilson writes about the cities around the world using hands-on design of the city to address liveability and climate-change issues.
Comparing these to Auckland, he concludes our plan "lacks specificity and is not being used to engage in public debate. It's contradicted
by the transport plans and not supported by building plans. It's unclear what's going on."
The consensus around the quality compact city which underpinned the 2012 Auckland Plan seems to have evaporated.
As if to illustrate the point, Steven Joyce, in the same issue, belittles the proposed light rail network as "a tram to Mt Roskill" and calls for more roads. And in the commercial real estate section, we see advertised over 1600 hectares of rural land near Puhoi and Matakana for consented lifestyle lots and possible longer-term residential development.
Leaders simply talk about low carbon-emission targets, the high-emissions model of urban development – while sprawl served by ever-wider roads is proceeding at pace. Stronger leadership on this important issue is essential.
City shaping is a long-term project, but the more we defer some difficult decisions, the more painful the changes will be later when we'll have fewer options.
I recently returned to New Zealand and, like thousands before me, found myself headed to a quarantine hotel.
I was solo, so this meant no one in the room to talk to 24/7. Supervised walks were a treat. So, filling up the other 23 hours in a hotel, others would have been like me, struggling.
New Zealanders can be proud of the expert MIQ medical team tasked to look after those in quarantine. I became unwell and was immediately tended to by a nurse, then the doctor on duty for MIQ hotels in Auckland who happened to be our very own Dr Lance O'Sullivan. Frankly, I could not have asked for more.
Ianthe Kate Veeder, Turangi.
Trevor Smith (Weekend Herald, April 17) provides basic business information and then concludes that he would not invest in a company that selects its board on diversity. Presuming he is as knowledgeable about recruitment as he is about management, he will know that with a changed mindset, bringing people to the boardroom table who not only have the required skillset and meet the appointment criteria, but who also reflect the population of the country, means that you then get other world views and opinions that strengthen decision-making. Living in the past isn't the way to face the future.
Chris Bayes, Torbay.
I wish to respond to Paul Simon's letter (Weekend Herald, April 17), in which he states his reasons we haven't had an out-of-control pandemic – geography and low population density. To compare geography and low population density we must compare NZ's numbers of deaths from Covid-19 per million - 5.29, with similar countries who have borders they can protect and similar populations, namely, Denmark 420 deaths per million; Norway 132; Finland 160; and Ireland 975.
NZ, as the rest of the world knows, is a huge success story because of our government's early action to order a complete shutdown. Since then, we have for the most time, had freedoms that others have not. I am grateful for the determined action, despite being self-employed and impacted by the shutdowns. We, as NZ citizens have to take responsibility for our own actions in part, for failures that are occurring.
Helen White, Freeman's Bay.
K Mansell's mention (Weekend Herald, April 17) of noise levels in restaurants - and probably more so in cafes - is probably indicative of the times we live in, where the choices of a few get rammed down the throats (or ears) of others.
My simple answer would be to not return to these eateries anytime soon. Support the ones who understand suitable background sound and turn down the volume when the place is packed with lunchers and diners.
Also, a very valid point was made about noise damage, where other industries have to adhere to specific health and safety standards and offer appropriate PPE.
Very often, too, you will find that when the owner is off-site, staff take liberties, which they would otherwise not. Maybe, next time you notice the owner being on-site, walk over and comment how pleased you are to see him/her, because today you can actually have a conversation without that loud noise...
Finally, if your local cafe doesn't respect your hard-earned dollar, spend it in a different street, where you are welcomed, respected and treated like a human being.
René Blezer, Taupō.
Dougal Sutherland (Weekend Herald, April 17) states access to mental health support is decreasing - and especially mentions anorexia nervosa. I worked for almost 40 years (1959-97) in our old psychiatric hospitals. Here we had a hospital-based mental health system fully staffed with psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, specialist nurses, occupational therapists, etc.
Any mentally ill person in the land would be immediately admitted by just turning up at the hospital door. After hours nursing staff were authorised to give any mentally ill person a bed for the night – they would be seen by psychiatric specialists first thing in the morning. And, like in public hospitals today, you had the legal right to stay here for as long as it took to come right.
We always had one or two anorexia cases in our (then peaceful) acute units. Sufferers from this dangerous illness ideally need some weeks' hospital treatment while undergoing intensive psychotherapy. Sadly, at times fatally, this is no longer available in New Zealand.
Why should we not revert to having proper, designated psychiatric hospitals?
Andy Espersen, Nelson.
Something is very wrong in this country when the prime children's hospital, Starship, has to publicly fundraise for a $15 million shortfall to increase long overdue capacity, while at the same time the government plans to spend $200 million rebuilding our parliamentary buildings.
In addition, St John ambulance is still not fully funded and we hear numerous examples of how their underfunding is having a real and negative impact on the lives of people reliant on their service. At the same time we have a multimillion-dollar debt which increases by the day, for those in MIQ who don't pay and get away with it.
Do our public officials conduct their own affairs and households in such an inefficient and illogical fashion? Probably not.
Fiona McAllister, Mt Maunganui.
We are told organisers will have 150,000 condoms at the ready for the athletes. It does beg the question of what sort of Olympics they are staging. Dave Miller, Matua.
Having watched the superb precision and implementation of the arrangements around Prince Philip's funeral over the weekend, only a week following his death, surely we should invite the organiser to run our Covid-19 vaccination programme. Ian Collinson, Remuera.
The most poignant moment was when the camera panned to the Queen. There she sat, all alone; bereft of her lover and companion of more than 70 years; no different from anyone else. Gerry Beckingsale, Torbay.
The increased fine from only $80 to only $150 after 12 years compared to $500 in Victoria and $1000 in Queensland for illegal use of a mobile phone by drivers is far far less than the inflation rate on NZ house prices over the same 12 years. Murray Hunter, Titirangi.
So Labour, with their healthy post-election majority, apparently have a new mantra: "Money grows on trees." R. J. Rondel, Birkenhead.
One way to stop live exports now would be to include a crate full of politicians in a cramped area travelling alongside them. P. Salvador, Hobsonville.
It seems to me one spends half a lifetime of sweat and toil to own one's house to live in, and the other half devising ways to escape from it. Gary Hollis, Mellons Bay.
With the planned use of more EV vehicles has the Government started to plan for more electric power generation? Peter Kampenhout, Te Aroha.
I'm seeing more and more of the use of words global and worldwide, etc, preceding "pandemic", even from people who should know better. Frank Sanft, Remuera.
If the royal family want to prove they are not racist, might I suggest they upgrade Tenzing Norgay's George Medal to a knighthood, same as Hillary? C. C. McDowall, Rotorua.
The opening of our bubble to Australia means "the brain drain is on" says Mike Hosking. Anyone with a brain knew they could go in October last year. Steve Russell, Hillcrest.
The perfect photo op when Australian Prime Minister Morrison visits would be with a group of his ex-pat 501s. Matt Elliott, Birkdale.
The Highlanders beating the Blues was simply a case of brains over brawn. Mike Jarman, One Tree Hill.
Opinion: The council's new plans for dog walking are coming to a showdown.