275 Times February 2018

Getting about
By Donna Wynd
New government, new transport
priorities?
The election of a Labour-led
coalition government signals
the possibility of a change
in direction for national and
regional transport planning
and spending decisions.
It’s no secret that the previous
government’s priorities were
roads and, well, more roads.
Not local roads, but expensive
motorways deemed to be
of ‘national significance’.
How expensive? The proposed
East-West link – 5 kilometres
of sort-of motorway – on
the northern shore of the
Manukau Harbour had an
estimated cost of $1.8 billion
and no solid business case.
This road was approved by
the Environmental Protection
Authority’s Board of Inquiry
within days of the new
government announcing
the East-West link would
not proceed as planned.
The new government has
announced that the land
transport funding will be
re-prioritised for greater
spending on rail infrastructure,
cycling and walking.
Associate Transport Minister
Julie-Anne Genter (Green
Party) has campaigned for
years on improving public
transport, cycling and
walking and it is likely she
will be active in pushing
changes in these areas.
In addition, New Zealand First
campaigned on a pro-rail
platform and has solid support
in the regions to advance this.
Most recently PM Jacinda
Ardern has noted that there
is better value for money in
fixing local roads, many of
which are in poor repair as
the result of maintenance
having been deferred to
build state highways.
In response, The National
Opposition – with support
from the road transport
industry – has launched
a petition seeking public
support for its roading
projects, including the
East-West Link. There
have been reports of ‘low
morale’ at the New Zealand
Transport Agency.
The road lobby is wellfinanced
and well connected,
and will have no hesitation
in pushing back hard against
this change in priorities.
We need to make sure the
current government sticks to
its announced changes for
the sake of our health, our
environment and our wallets.
New
275 TIMES EDITOR
Talofa Lava and Kia Ora
Yearly milestones and familiarity. It’s
become almost ‘a thing’ for me to
either embark on bucket-list ventures
or take on new challenges as I near my
February birthday. What an adventure
these past few weeks have been – full
of recollection and discovery.
I am no stranger to the journalism world,
having been a part of the family-run Samoana
Newspaper, which was the longest running
Samoan community weekly newspaper
up until 2006 when it was retired to the
history books. A cousin and I were given the
chance to go ‘find ourselves, develop our
passions and make our mark on the world.’
Making their mark – are the people behind
the SOUL petition and fight to stop the
development of the Wallace Block at
Ihumatao. They have identity with this
land and hope that future generations will
understand and appreciate this taonga
tuku iho (cultural property, heritage).
Summertime in Auckland never ceases
to amaze me. Hot, cold, stormy, wet,
dry, social get-togethers on top of family
barbeques - leaving a whole lot of left-overs
and waste that have filled our rubbishbins.
Our community needs our help and
Talking Rubbish is a good place to start.
Lastly, I want to thank the Māngere/Ōtāhuhu
Local Board. With their assistance, I am able
to be the editor for 275 Times. The local
board are champions in the support of the
peoples’ voice. Fa’afetai tele lava.
See you next month
Tuataga Hermann Arp Jr
No Way to new ‘Hi Sport Bar’ pokie-tavern
By Grant Hewison
No sooner had the local community
succeeded in closing ‘Grace's
Place’ in Māngere East than
the notorious gambling
lounge is trying to
obtain a new licence
under a different name
– Hi Sport Bar.
As a new alcohol
licence, Hi Sport Bar
must be treated as a new
business coming into the
shopping centre in Savill Drive.
But it is right opposite a Medical
Centre. There are two liquor stores
already in the centre as well as
numerous food outlets.
“This is not the right
place for a new tavern”,
says the group
opposing the tavern,
Communities Against
Alcohol Harm.
The shopping centre
is well used by the
community, there are
school kids there on their
way home from school and it
is a family orientated environment.
“What’s more, the owner has not
changed a thing. This business
looks to be first and foremost about
gambling – just like the old one. In
that case, they should not be given a
tavern licence for the same reasons
they got refused one.”
“We encourage everyone in the
community to make an objection”.
Simply send an email to alcohol_
licensing_south@aucklandcouncil.
govt.nz saying - I oppose the new
Hi Sport Bar in Māngere East - for
the kinds of reasons above - as
soon as you can.
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