View over the inlet

Christmas Greetings

2008-12-20T11:32:00.003+13:00

As a futurist how should we view this Christmastime ?

For those of us who are Christians this is always a time of intense mystery - God becoming flesh- Spirit becoming mortal like us - these are not easy concepts to grasp but are fundamental to our faith, without them being real to each one of us we are as others have said "the most to be pitied". Having said this though, for many of us who realise what our true mission in this world is, this is the time of year to ensure that we look over our shoulders and beyond our doors to check on how others are coping and to lend a helping hand in what ever way we can- foodbank parcels, gifts for prisoners' children and families, a meal for a family stricken by an accident, building a house for a family who wnat to escape the poverty trap- just some of the ways people in our local church are helping others, which is what Jesus came to encourage us to do. This kind of action shows we have hope for the future....

For those (the vast majority) who see Christmas as yet another holiday or a time for getting together with family and friends for a feast of consumption, well enjoy whilst the good times roll- next year could be very different ! We all need to approach 2009 with a sense of reality as to what is really going on in the world- it is not just more of the same, 2008 has shown us that many of the core trading and financial fundamentals of our globalised world have not only been shaken to the core- they have in fact moved off their base. Trust and honesty - the core basis for good faith bargaining and market transactions has in fact not just been dented, it has disappeared, perhaps forever ? How is it ever possible for a finance broker to lose $US50 bn of funds and no-one be aware of this ?

Many people's futures will now be highly uncertain due to these massive global financial losses, people who once thought they had enough funds to retire on now find they are all gone, or what is left is now earning pitiful levels of interest. Car workers worldwide will be wondering what their future is especially in countries that can ill afford to prop them up. People who were conned into buying a home they could not afford are perhaps now living in a trailer park or in a homeless shelter.

So for many this may be the last good Christmas they will know- unless they too discover for the first time who is the real reason for this season of CHRISTmas...his future is truly dependable.

Chairing our futures....

2008-04-25T14:23:00.001+12:00

Thanks for the confidence a number of locals showed by electing me as the Chair of the Whitby Residents Association last week. I hope to be able to fill Jim Dearsly's shoes adequately !

There will of course be some differences in style and areas of focus. The WRA needs to concentrate on its Village Planning for the next 6-8 months and will need many people to respond to the survey that is published in Whitby Newsbrief this next week. We will also carry a much wider brief to engage with all those authorities who govern aspects of our life.

In the gun this week is.....the Wellington Harbourmaster ! Apparently he controls the activities of those highly noisy and polluting jet skiers on the Inlet ( I presume he has his own jet ski to catch them !). If we see a tug make an appearance we know he's not quite up with the state of play.

At last the drought is broken !

2008-03-29T19:31:00.002+13:00

Rain dancers you can finally get a night's rest ! After all those nights soaking up the sun on extended daylight saving hours your antics have finally worked. The view over the inlet today is once again that of windy, misty rain - hooray.

It means....kids can splosh in puddles....adults can cease sneeking out after midnight to water the tomatoes.....and those who collect rainwater to live on can stop paying out for tanker water (well for a bit).

So what do we need to learn about the great dry of the last 5 months ?

We must accept that up there in the weather control department things are a changing, that new homes need to be built with roofs suitable for storing additional water, and learning finally from Kapiti Coast new homes must be built with grey water recycle systems.

Hopefully some of these very practical matters can be leveraged through Parliament as we approach the electoral silly season !

Time to make the best choice

2007-09-14T19:29:00.000+12:00

HUTT MANA CHARITABLE TRUST needs change

* Change in its investments to get both ethical and socially responsible long term investments that also benefit our local communities
* Change in its fee structure for Trustees/Directors-let's get real
* Change in types of energy efficiency projects it gets involved in

I stand for change and will ensure Porirua gets the best value from this Trust.

Vote Robin Gunston for Hutt Mana Charitable Trust

Let''s get practical about energy efficiency

2007-09-04T08:46:00.000+12:00

Last week Habitat for Humanity dedicated their energy efficient home in Bedford Street, it has many energy saving features, double glazing, under floor insulation, extra wall and ceiling insulation, outside 300l water heater, heat pumps etc. I was pleased to be part of this great community build which sets the standard for years to come. The family that live here will have very low power bills and be very warm and cosy which will be great for their health. Let's do more of this in Porirua !

Standing for Porirua ! Vote ROBIN GUNSTON for Hutt Mana Community Trust

2007-08-20T23:29:00.000+12:00

I live in Whitby and am passionate about helping the Porirua community develop. I am currently Chairperson of the Boys’ Brigade Development Trust Inc. and have had experience, as a Trustee, of managing a large pension fund. I am active in social justice policy development with United Future, have several business interests in sustainable areas and am helping to establish several new ventures within Porirua which are designed to build the community’s resilience.

With my engineering background in the oil industry I fully understand the needs for energy efficiency and am accustomed to evaluating proposals and grant applications. I wish to see the Trust’s funds distributed in a way that builds a greater capacity within Porirua’s community groups and householders to withstand some of the future shocks that will affect us.

Who's stuffed up our inlet ?

2006-12-28T11:32:00.000+13:00

The Porirua Medical Officer of Health has "closed" the Pautahanui Inlet to users until further notice because of dangerous bacteria levels ! This is a serious business and no one has a clue who has caused this huge problem or what to do about it. There are 4 possible groups of suspects as befits any good conspiracy theory

A. Inlet users- these range from boaties, noisy jet skiers, and we gentle sailors and windsurfers plus a few shellfish collectors from time to time. Certainly those who transfer their craft from place to place may be introducing foreign bacteria but the numbers are really small- no I think these guys are probably Not Guilty.

B. Landowners - now here's a likely bunch- ranging from unscrupulous developers (Whitby has at least one !) dumping undesirable material into waterways, farmers trying to get the most yield by overdosing on fertilisers perhaps , road users on Grays Road and SH58 - perhaps some of the traffic accidents recently have contributed to nasty materials getting in there ? Well worth investigating but the horses may already have bolted.

C. Bio terrorists - we all know that around some of the Porirua villages are little hot beds of dissent, stirring up local issues and trying to create a name for something now that SH1 issues are no more to the fore, what would it take for one of them to obtain a culture of some nasty bacteria say from ESR's labs and drop it into various inlet streams ? Watch out for shady creatures poking around late at night or in the grey murk we now call summer !

or D. Perhaps this is a new ruse by some of our Councillors unhappy with the criticism of the Sports and Rec Centre cost blowout they are now looking for a new issue to divert attention to hoping that the Whitby and Camborne activists will spend their energies on this rather than probing the obscure accounting and governance practices of PCC.

Any other good theories ?

Getting real about rail in Wellington

2006-10-05T14:46:00.000+13:00

I've just come into Wellington by rail on a $2 special- that's about the true value of rail travel in Wellington, anything above it is a rip-off by GW Regional Council and Toll Rail ! The train was late (as usual) the staff were surly, the trackside was filthy and we arrived at a barren windswept station full of smokers who obstructed our escape to the fresh windy air of Wellington's streets.

Contrast this with the journey I had in Hong Kong several weeks ago - for a normal fare of HK30 ($6NZ) I got a day's pass for the whole of Kowloon right through the New Territories including bus links. The stations were immaculate, clean, brightly lit, with automatic ticketing (due in Wellington 2020 earliest according to trans metro). There were no guards on the train and some were totally electronic (driverless). The tracks were litter free and the staff helpful (how many of Toll's staff could speak Cantonese or Mandarin ??) it was apleasure to travel on them.

We are a 3rd world nation rapidly becoming 4th world in our rail travel- that's because we have politicans with no Vision and no sense of a future reality.

Inlet Power for the People

2006-06-18T16:58:00.000+12:00

On a bleak cold day with hail, rain and even distant snow on the Rimutakas, one is grateful for gas fired heating and electric lights to keep one warm and able to work, recreate and think about life.

How much longer though will we have these luxuries we take for granted across New Zealand ? There is lots of "hot air" from Parliament about the need to build new infrastructure but few people there who really comprehend how it is that either SOEs or Commercial energy companies actually go about planning for and considering major new capital investments. Having had that role for many years in the oil refining industry I know it is complex but ultimately based on the risk adjusted rate of return on capital. For assets with 50+ years of life taking a punt on what the market conditions are 30-50 years away is quite daunting but it must be done with some certainty to assure shareholders it is the right way to go. No one can have that certainty in New Zealand because of the splintered structure of our electrical supply industry and the foreign ownership of most oil and gas companies.

So what could we do to get more localised production and distribution ? Out here on the inlet we have major water movements most of the day through a narrow channel- I'd like to put a reverse action turbine there and generate power for the Paremata peninsula. If we formed a Community Electrical Company and sold power at no cost to our shareholders we would appear not to infringe current regulations, though no doubt this greedy Government would soon find a way of taxing us for our ingenuity! Supplement this by a grid of small 10kW turbines on our roofs and some high efficiency solar panels we may well be self sufficient within 10 years.

Ah but the other trouble will be RMA and the dreaded PCC whose plans no doubt prohibit self sufficiency- well the answer to that is we shall form an independent state (with Maori) on the inlet and declare ourselves free of all local legislation. Its similar to Pirate Radio's approach of 30 years ago and look how that has bloomed since.

So who's coming to join me ?

Misty future for inlet viewers

2006-05-27T14:41:00.000+12:00

Its a foggy, rainy Autumn day as I peruse the Inlet, in fact I can barely see the edge on my side it's that bad- and this reflects what I am feeling about where we are going as a nation. 9 months into the 4th Labour led Government there's not much that is being properly led if one is honest about it:

There is still no published national vision for New Zealand
There is no sign of Helen Clark grooming or permitting a viable successor to emerge, Heaven forbid we endure her for as long as UK has had Tony Blair !
There is a complete lack of Leadership over on the blue side of the House
The Parliamentary terrier (ACT) is noticeable by its absence with both MPs dancing around issues, one on the TV stage and the other in the bush !
Winston's been quietened and
Peter Dunne has got horribly bogged down in the red tape of Taxation reform

So who will arise and come on to our NZ stage to lead us out of the mist ? There are some great young people I have met recently with incredible passion and values but most of them see the brighter lights of Europe or Asia calling them, at least for a time.

Can we really make a difference this Christmas ?

2005-12-20T10:18:00.000+13:00

Through our doors at this Christmas time come a flood of appeals for dog shelters, downtown ministries feeding the hungry, rescue helicopters, Pakistani earthquake aid etc. Yet this does not appear to divert the majority of our population rushing into the stores to buy things that our bodies, our minds and our souls (yes we all have one) don't really need. We will wrap these in glitter and tinsel and stick them under our plastic Christmas treee with 200 combination flashing lights and call it a meaningful celebration. But hang on a minute - out there in the streets of wellington or on the other side of the Inlet there are stray puppies not wanted, men and women poking around in rubbish bins and still victims of tsunamis and earthquakes who have nothing to be festive about.

So could we possibly act differently this year ? Is there a conscience within us that says that we have a fast decaying society that needs to turn around, be more compassionate and caring, sharing what we have with those who have little or nothing other than the rough clothes they wear every day ? Who is going to lead this change - it is not the role of the Government, many churches are doing their bit, some schools help from time to time, and there are countless not for profits whose whole reason is to meet particular needs who do a great job.

No it is You and I who have to change. Our worldview needs refocussing to see beyond materialism to where this all leads us - a world depleted of aroha and love, a world depleted of its finite natural resources, a world where many are just spectators instead of being involved.

The RadicalCentre of politics is where political action on social justice is rooted- join us in the fight and feel better about doing something for our fragile world and its occupants.

Happy Christmas from NZFuturist !

10 weeks later- where is the shouting ?

2005-12-05T15:43:00.000+13:00

It is 10 weeks past the election here in NZ and one wonders if all the political commentators have taken a holiday already. The only person still generating news is our tennis playing friend from down South ( don't think he really played the game) and the suit clad gentleman from Tauranga who is once again determined to spend his Ministerial salary on fighting a court case ! The so called "Opposition" do not appear to have got their claws into anything and have little policy options to put on the table.

So how did UF come out of the fray of September 17 - with only 3 MPs but with 15 major policies agreed to be developed and/or put in place during the term of this Government. Not bad really and a lot more clout than the lads in blue have (are there any lassies ?). So now it is heads down to turn these into something solid.

Also there is now the chance to claw some reason back into civil society- the first time comes this Wednesday with Gordon Copeland picking up Larry Baldock's Marriage Amendment (Gender Clarification) Bill in an attempt to get it to the Select Committee stage. Let us hope that we can put some pegs in the ground and stop the slide into a socially engineered jungle that will make King Kong's island look tame! On top of Manukau City's Prostitution Local Bill that should make 7December an interesting day in the House (or as a recently transplanted Invernessian pastor would call it - the Hoose!)

Why should you give your vote to a United Future’s electorate candidate over another Christian?

2005-09-03T20:18:00.000+12:00

In this last Parliament the United Future caucus has been predominantly populated by Christians, (all the caucus are happily married people with families), which has been working under the guidance of a highly experienced and wise politician – Hon Peter Dunne, who has been a Minister in both a Labour led and a National led government. This wisdom is necessary to guide aspiring politicians through the quagmire and protocol of NZ MMP politics. Peter is the most highly respected Parliamentarian in the House. It is a barrier to entry for any new party like Destiny that is extremely difficult to overcome.

Any electorate candidate under the United Future banner will therefore enter into a caucus that knows how to be effective, is fully staffed by highly experienced political researchers, press agents and support staff, and will have the mentoring and guidance of a politically astute Board (mostly Christians), as well as the mentoring of one of the best electorate MPs in the country.

In Mana, there is an almost certain situation, according to current polls, where both Winne Laban (Labour) and Chris Finlayson (National) will be elected because they are high on their party lists. Therefore they do not need an electorate vote! Robin Gunston of United Future is passionate about representing the local community and decided to let the voters of Mana decide whether to elect him as their electorate MP by opting not to go on the United Future party list. By voting for him, Mana could have 3 MPs of differing parties representing this electorate. What an opportunity!

For a more independent informed choice VOTE Robin Gunston and United Future for Mana

Tax ! Tax ! Tax !

2005-08-26T16:05:00.000+12:00

Tax cuts
United Future is the only party offering tax cuts for every taxpayer, for every family, for all companies, every business, all superannuitants, every property owner and every charitable and not-for-profit organisation in New Zealand!

1. Every taxpayer
We will do this by
· Making the first $3,000 of earned income tax free. This will yield savings of up to $11 per week for every taxpayer. This will be better for teenagers, students and all of the other 1.1 million taxpayers (many part time) who earn under $17,000, than National’s offer. Labour offers nothing until 2008 and then only a few cents per week!.
· Adjusting the 33 cent and 39 tax brackets by $5,000.
(a) This will give a saving of between $11 and $24 per week to the 1.1 million taxpayers earning between $17,000 and $43,000. This is pretty much in line with National. Labour offers nothing until 2008 and then only about $1 to $5 per week.
(b) For the 682,000 taxpayers with incomes above $43,000 our package will yield savings of between $24 and $30 per week. This is less than National but income splitting for couples with children (see below) may still see many families better off with United Future. Labour are offering between $5 and $10 per week but not until 2008.

2. For every family
United Future will retain the Working for Families package as announced in the 2004 Budget including, unlike National, the extra $10 per week per child in 2007, as a floor for all affected families. None will be worse off. However by lowering tax the delivery mechanism will change so that the “top up” from government will be less. This creates better outcomes for families when their income increases. In addition we will provide income splitting for couples with dependant children. Between 350,000 and 400,000 couples (700,000 to 800,000 taxpayers) will benefit and, taken together with the other personal tax cuts, would see a couple-led family with children at the average gross household income level of $82,400 paying less tax by up to $163 per week! Neither Labour nor National offers income splitting.

3. For all superannuitants
All superannuitants will benefit from the removal of tax on the first $3,000 earned each year since this will affect the amount of NZ super. In addition we will alter the annual adjustment formula so that, instead of being on average 9 months behind changes in the cost of living and the average weekly wage, it will take into account the forecast movement in those indices. Taken together these changes will increase the after tax amounts of superannuation as follows:
Married couple - $21.34 per week or $1,110 per annum
Single living alone: $13.88 per week of $722 per annum.
Singles sharing with others - $12.80 per week or $666 per annum.

In all cases this is a 5.4%increase on current entitlements. Labour is offering no increase in NZ Super. National is offering an increase of $320 per annum for a married couple.

4. For every property owner
GST will not be added to rates. On a rate demand of say $1,350 per annum this will save $168.75 in GST. Labour and National will retain GST on rates.

5. For every business
We will do this in a number of ways.
· By lowering the company tax rate from 33% to 30% over the next three years.
· By a conditional tax free holiday for new businesses.
· By a commission payment of 1% of the net value of GST paid by registered persons up to $200,000 GST per year.
· By reviewing the tax treatment for research and development to incentivise private sector expenditure of 1.5% of GDP p.a.

Labour is offering none of the foregoing. National will also cut the company tax rate to 30% but not until 2008.

6. For every charitable and not-for-profit organisation
United Future will increase the tax rebate on donations by individuals to charities tenfold, from $630 per annum to $6,300 per annum and for companies from 5% to 50% of net profit. Labour and National are offering nothing.

Is the United Future tax reduction package affordable?

The answer is “yes”. The total income lost to government, when fully implemented, will be $2.5 billion per annum, phased in about $1 billion in 2006 and a further $750 million in each of 2007 and 2008. All up tax reductions of $5.25 billion over the three year period. This compares with National’s offer of $9.6 billion over the same period.

After allowing for these tax cuts, and without reducing expenditure on health, education, superannuation, police etc, the government’s surplus over the three year period will still be at least $8.5 billion and perhaps more.

Our tax cuts are prudent, and affordable.

http://www.unitedfuture.org.nz/
Gordon Copeland Finance spokesman 26 August 2005

Preserving the beauty of Porirua

2005-08-17T17:31:00.000+12:00

This is the greatest place in the Wellington Region and I want to be one of those people that preserve it ! Whitireia Park however is being eroded by those who don't care about the environment- on Sunday there were several trail bikes cutting deep grooves out of the hillsides and cars off of the main road. In addition there are parts of the road falling into serious disrepair- something needs to be done by DoC to keep this one of the region's best kept secrets.

TV3 bloopers of the week

2005-08-13T17:50:00.000+12:00

Well done Mark Jennings of TV3 for two major bloopers of the week ! Firstly for affording United Future and Jim Anderton's personal party some cheap publicity at the cost of a High Court filing fee and some QC time - cheap at half the price ! Then you compounded the error by permitting John Campbell to play headmaster as if he were dealing with 8 almost nice schoolkids (or Kiddies as the PM calls them !)- really, are we meant to take your efforts at election reporting seriously ?

I heard on the grapevine that Peter and Jim booked their tickets for the show on Monday - if so is this prophecy or just being astute leaders ?

I don't fancy TV3's chances of getting an invitation or a look in at "The Backbencher" on election evening this time round, unless they offer to pay for the party !

Do we really live in a democracy ?

2005-08-01T15:20:00.000+12:00

In the last few weeks I have asked myself the following questions: If I truly live in a democracy
* Why do I only hear about policies from Labour and National most of the time ?
* Why do the PM and Don Brash keep appearing on TV news ?
* Why does big business and the union movement seek to preserve the status quo of 2 major parties ?
* When will NZ grow up and be mature in its political debate ?
* Will we ever educate everyone about MMP ?

I look forward to your answers !

Confused electorates ?

2005-07-18T12:21:00.000+12:00

The latest polls show the country is very confused ! They want a change of Government but naturally don't prefer Don Brash as PM ! So we are going to have a National led Government with Helen Clark as PM ??? Very interesting- is this a new form of MMP that we never envisaged in 1993 ? This more than anything points out that we need to get away from the 2 major parties having such dominance after this election - if a budding PM knows he or she has to do a deal with a king or queen maker then their style of leadership may change somewhat. Don urgently needs the political pragmatism of Peter Dunne rather than the ebullient swashbuckling style of Winnie Peters to keep him honest and focussed- poor old Rodders is fast slipping off the radar- perhaps he could persuade Don to alter his List and let him in the backdoor at the last minute. So the next 10 weeks are going to keep us all guessing as we gaze over the inlet !

The end of the golden dream ?

2005-07-01T13:28:00.000+12:00

Labour, if today's DomPost is to be believed, have today sacrificed the beautiful Porirua Harbour to gradual oblivion, by refusing to deal with Wellington's long term transport needs, in favour of the red capital of JAFAland. This is probably recognising that in time Wellington will no longer be the capital of New Zealand but it will revert to being located in Orcland. I hope all those civil servants and their lackeys who live in Porirua City are prepared to make the sacrifice of this move North in years to come-if not they should refuse to implement such insane, irreversible pieces of policy.

What should be taxed ?

2005-06-13T14:30:00.000+12:00

Recent correspondence with thinkers has been centred around fairer systems of taxation. There seems to have been little change in these since Robin Hood was on the loose! Possibly the analysis of the inlet's eco-system leads to some new thinking. The inlet is a bit like NZ- it started out really good until events and the introduction of mankind took place, since then it has all been downhill. New elements have found their way into the Inlet- rubber, carbon, silt, sand, algae many of which are based on our consumption based modern society. So what about forms of usage related tax other than just introduced on Carbon which is a bit crude (sorry about the pun !)? Why is there not a tyre tax, not only for disposal of the used tyre in a sustainable way but to take into account the wear and tear on the natural environment, similarly why not a land development tax element that finds its way to people restoring our natural environment? Those that earn more spend more and it is their consumptive ways we may need to send economic signals to if behaviour is to change. What do you think ?

Winter sets in over the inlet

2005-06-01T13:59:00.000+12:00

Its June 1st and this morning it sure felt like Winter had set in for good ! However this is a great time for the Inlet, bacteria don't grow as fast, there are less polluting jet skis but still the wind pushes along those of us with sails. Bird migration still continues in both directions with always the chance of a rare species dropping in for a rest. But what about the future of the inlet and will winter help it recover ? Not likely with another 165 houses to be built at Silverwoods in Whitby- when will the developers and the PCC see sense and realise that one can't keep building large houses for ever ! Who is going to buy them in 20 years time or after an economic downturn ? What value will they be when people living in them can't afford the fuel to drive to their place of work and the nearest bus is 3km away ? We need to take a winter's rest just like the inlet does and take stock of what is best for our future.

Transport around the inlet

2005-05-18T14:01:00.000+12:00

What do you think of the Wellington Region's Western Corridor Transportation Study ? Will this lead our beloved Regional Council to make up their mind about something or will they prevaricate once again as the choice is a difficult one. Sure thing ! But being a politician is about making choices on behalf of one's electorate and many times such choices are hard ones.

As an aspiring national politician let me state clearly what I believe- we need Transmission Gully and we need a few other improvements such as the Granada Petone Link route and double tracking the railway to Paraparaumu. At this stage we should not be overly concerned about cost and who will pay- another 5-10c/litre on fuel in 2015 when fuel may cost some $2-3/litre will be insignificant. I remember that Marsden Point Oil Refinery Expansion was paid for in 6 years by a 16c/litre surcharge on petrol alone, but did the tax ever come off- of course not !

So Mr McDavitt and friends pull out your finger and make the bold decision we all need- if not then resign.

2005-05-13T14:22:00.000+12:00

Our great harbour and inlet

Creating access for the people to the inlet and harbour

2005-05-13T14:07:00.000+12:00

Last night those of us who are concerned about the long term future of our great community met to look at what makes a successful city and community. Some common themes arose- we have a great place to live in but it hinges around the inlet and harbour, where we have allowed a number of people to block out our access and our usage of the edges of these reserves. How will the future dwellers of Porirua City react when there is nowhere they can get to paddle in the water, catch a fish, gaze at the herons, or get their kai moana ? So citizens we need ACTION - we must ensure the new District Plan has in it those barriers to development that mean no-one can ever block out those critical edges. So let your Council know what you want done about it email the Mayor, Jenny Brash, on mayor@pcc.govt.nz and let her know your views.

Long term planning misunderstood

2005-05-10T20:45:00.000+12:00

In the last few days I have heard lots of references from seminar speakers, and on the radio, about the need for long term centralised planning for our resources and infrastructure. As a futurist I can only agree wholeheartedly- there are some things that the market in such a small country as NZ cannot send adequate price signals on. So why do we centrally plan for roads, airports and airways but not for electricity and gas supply ? What is the rational logic for this demarcation- are not all of them "public good" facilities ? So when will we have courageous future facing leadership that will determine that for the long term future of New Zealand we will have a defined level of infrastucture that is aligned to what New Zealanders of future generations will expect in order to maintain their quality of life ?