Mayor Bob Harvey

What I've been thinking	Top picks for 2008
What I've been reading	Media releases and speeches
What I've been viewing	Resume
What I've been listening to	Committee membership
Where I've been eating	Mayoral report
What I've been saying	Email the Mayor

What I've been thinking

My granddaughter Isla was christened recently.

I stood by as she was blessed with prayers for her future, knowing her parents' mix of pride and hope.

Instead I felt fear.

Fear for the world she would inherit. Fear she would never enjoy the opportunities I had. Fear her life may even be cut short.

The days before the christening had been spent at the Australia-New Zealand Climate Change and Business Conference. It was a glum affair. Speaker after speaker took the podium with the news all is not well and, even more depressing, it's not going to be.

Their message was clear: Without enormous cultural and social change the world we leave for our grandchildren will be governed by climate change on a destructive scale never seen before.

I don't envy governments, including ours, who are now locked into setting standards for carbon emissions by 2014. It's a complex balancing act. But I'm starting to feel it's just too little, too late.

Doomsday scenarios are now being forecast by believers and sceptics alike. Acclaimed scientific journal New Scientist is predicting at least one metre sea level rise by 2100. Even the sceptics are saying we are looking at a two degrees global warming by the turn of the century. That is considered conservative by the brilliant futurist and commentator George Monbiot, who sees four degrees of warming and a three metre sea level rise.

Consensus is emerging and it is painting a grim picture. Our future world will be one of rising seas, dying reefs and diminishing food sources. And it is coming sooner than any of us predicted.

In that catastrophic setting there will be $600 billion worth of property destroyed and 100 million people displaced. As many as three billion people will suffer water shortages. It is global chaos at a level only the worst horror films depict. The 'lifeboat' states for displaced people will be Great Britain, Australia and yes, New Zealand.

Our country is likely to be colonised by a flood of climate refugees. They could one day come from anywhere in the world. But the immediate issue is right on our doorstep.

I will soon ask the Auckland Mayoral Forum to define areas for resettlement of Pacific Island nations. The science is now showing many low lying Pacific atolls will be underwater by the turn of the century at best, or within 30 years at worst. Larger states such as Samoa will be suffering shortages of food and fresh water and the regular battering of cyclones and storm surges. New Zealand will be the first place they look to.

We have to get real about the impending influx of displaced migrants. Cities cannot turn a blind eye to the massive population that will soon be knocking at our doors. They will need access to food and healthcare. They will need places to live.

Many are in denial even as this future becomes a reality. I've seen first hand the bile that spews out after even small attempts to save the environment. When my city Waitakere announced a goal of going plastic shopping bag free in September, I got at least 20 abusive phone calls to my home. Some said climate change is a myth. Most were just angry they would have to pay 5c a plastic bag.

It's easy to feel like losing hope in the face of such small minded opposition. But this country can't afford to let climate change catch us unawares the way the global economic meltdown did. If we wash our hands of our responsibility to stop climate change, it too will hit us in an unstoppable tsunami of chaos.

I have asked the Local Government New Zealand Metro Sector (which represents New Zealand's eight largest cities) to hold a day long climate change workshop in May. We will be inviting the successful businessman, author and former climate change sceptic Gareth Morgan to address us. He was a keynote speaker at the Melbourne conference and is now in no doubt about the imminent challenges ahead. My aim is that he will stir the leaders of New Zealand's major cities to drastic action.

It could be that we simply need a reality check. Maybe the films showing the destruction our cities - London, New York - have been so fantastical and so unreal we believe only Peter Jackson could deliver that kind of disaster. The movie we should be watching is The Age of Stupid. Its account of how ignorance and selfishness are speeding us toward an apocalyptic future is frighteningly believable.

The climate change disaster is real and it is unfolding before our eyes. Saying it is not will only intensify its impact. But throwing our hands up and saying it is too hard to stop will only make its direst possible outcomes a definite reality. It may be too late but if we give up we will lose any chance we have of averting disaster.

So I say there is still hope. Our choices are still important and we have many left to make. There is still every reason to recycle, to conserve power, to bike to work, to grow your own garden and to say no to a plastic bag at the supermarket.

It's about saving the seaside bach that may be underwater in two generations, still heading to the mountain for winter skiing trips, stopping flooding in your basement or preserving the beautiful shoreline where you take an evening stroll.

As for me, I just want a better world for Isla.

What I've been reading

Remember me

Derek Hansen
Pub: HarperCollins
390 pages

Like Hansen I grew up in the Ponsonby/Grey Lynn area. Same age. Same people. This book rings true. It begins with its young hero being told a terrible secret that changes his life and those of his family and neighbours. The tale is finely woven and brilliantly told. It unfolds its web from Great Barrier Island to Berlin and then back again. Hansen brings the insular and conservative culture of 1950s Auckland to life in this truly authentic adventure. A clever, thrilling tale from a master story teller.

The Human House
Tony Watkins
215 pages

Karaka Bay Press

The Human House by Tony Watkins

In some senses this book is a catalogue of a man railing against a bureaucratic system that seems to make less and less sense as the years pass. It is such a simple conception: to be able to take charge of your own land and your own building of your own house and to do to it what you will without constant interference. It's also a world away from the boom-bust cycle of real estate capitalism that we have seen over the past decade. Tony Watkins still writes with an innate faith in the sensible-ness of ordinary people to make straight decisions.

It's also a meditation, with illustrations and aphorisms to guide any weary soul. It tells you to pay attention to the place that you are in, pay attention to how you turn a shack into a dwelling. The built qualities that make a house a home. At every turn he encourages us to make things ourselves. To make mistakes and to really turn against the alientation of professionalisation that comes with hiring squds of builders, engineeers, architects and the like.

I am going through the full house-building process myself. It is truly hideously over-professionalised. There has got to be no point in history in which modern humans are more alienated from our own capacity to make something our own way in our own time and exactly the way our hands made it.

You don't have to read this book all at once. In fact I recommend that you wait until you are ready to address a change in where you live. Think again about whether you really need to go into debt about it, hire consultants, rack up tens of thousands of professional fees. Pull your own autonomy back to yourself. Recycle more. Make the finished textures under your own hands precisely the way you want them. You don't have to put up with the temporary, the quick, the shiny and impenetrable. Your house should be the favourite jacket that you wear.

If it isn't, read this book again.

Castles in the Sand

Raewyn Peart
Pub: Craig Potton Publishing
276 pages

The coast is my story. I arrived on Karekare Beach as a teenage surf lifesaver. I have never really left. No matter where I go I am always walking down its black sands, feeling the salt spray and hearing the crashing waves.

Castles in the Sand is a call to save the New Zealand coast I grew up with. Its author, Raewyn Peart gives a comprehensive history of how human actions have shaped our beaches. It can make disturbing reading. Evidence is mounting that we are eroding the coast. An explosion of large beachfront properties have been strewn across dunes and ridgelines, bad management has distorted coastal environments.

Peart says we need a Coastal Commission. It would be an organisation with the strength to make sure our coastline is developed in a sustainable way and the vision to provide a backbone of standards and firm principles for our decisions on this invaluable asset.

This is a must read book about one of the most important tasks facing our country. It affects all of us. The coast is not just my story, it is the story of millions of Kiwis. Ask just about any of us our favourite place and chances are we will name a beach. Preserving them is not an option – it is vital to our identity. We owe it not just to ourselves, but our grandchildren and their grandchildren.

Roadhouse Days

Drew Harre and Dave Harre
Pub: Little Island Press
140 pages

This piece of Westie folklore manages to capture the heart of a family and the raw essence of a restaurant. You can almost smell the food as it is rushed from kitchen to table in Oratia’s former Town and Country Roadhouse. The bustle of the kitchen is set against the dynamic of the Harre family as they revolve around the central figure of matriarch Marge Harre.

Though in its essence a piece of family history, the book succeeds in its ability to immerse you within the Harre world. Reading it feels like having a conversation in the kitchen of the Roadhouse of old. Stories, from the scandalous to the ordinary, echo through its pages. They are accentuated by recipes which give flavour and smell to this excellent account of a family, a house and a restaurant.

Healthy Kids, Happy Kids

Lynda Finn
Pub: Random House
255 pages

Lynda Finn is a self described "happy fat lady". But the Waitakere author used to look in the mirror and hate what she saw so much she wished she was dead. In Healthy Kids, Happy Kids she launches a stinging attack on the culture that made her feel worthless as a large Kiwi child. She rails against society’s body size obsession and the dieting industry, claiming dieting doesn’t work and being healthy is more about lifestyle and food quality than size. Her plea to parents is to adopt a holistic approach to their children’s health, based on exercise, nutritious meals and good self esteem.

This is an inspirational, if at times controversial, read. For parents of big children it will bring peace of mind. For those struggling with their body image it will make it much easier to look in the mirror.

What I've been viewing

2012

Roland Emmerich
Running time: 158 minutes

You all need to go and see the film 2012 which is running at West City and Westgate. It's a perfect film following those Norsga marathons that you have been attending lately. But spoiler alert for those of you who haven't: I'm about to give the ending away. Mind you, even knowing the ending won't spoil this one. The world ends. But it's not as they say the destination that matters, it's how you get there.

It seems that about 5,000 years ago the Mayan empire, who were serious astrologers and mathematicians, created a calendar which has rarely been wrong. It's predicted all the planets, comets and galactic heavenly spins and positions. Pretty hard to do without binoculars or a good telescope. Unfortunately for us the calendar finishes abruptly on 10 November 2012 (so at least we get to see the Rugby World Cup) and then says the Mayans, the earth starts heating up. Not warming but seriously boiling. If you are serious about this and I'm sure you are not you could look at the excellent Mayan calendar site on Google.

But now back to the movie. This is the disaster movie to end all disaster movies, more outrageous than Independence Day, and certainly a long way from The Towering Inferno or Battlestar Galactica's rag-tag battlefleet, even The War of the Worlds. The whole of the crust of the earth is pulled apart piece by piece, and then of course there are huge alterations in the earth's crust causing waves over a kilometre high that swamp everything, including the Himalayas. I guess little old New Zealand would be swamped very quickly, in fact even Mt Cook would be under water. Doesn't leave much hope for the Piha and Karekare folk. But wait the good , the bright and the super rich including the Queen, the Whitehouse staff and every head of state - I guess that will include John Key and Phil Goff - are given a ticket and a berth to join a bunch of saviours of the human race bunked down on a fleet of concrete and steel "arks" built in China in the years 2010 and 2011. They are ready to go like rockets and when the waves hit they float up and the gates open and there's triumphal music with powerful chords and the sea is beautiful and it's a new day dawning and oh wait 7 billion people are dead. To be honest the movie is certifiably nuts but then I often think Local Government falls into that category too - now and then.

For those of you working in local government in little old New Zealand, this will be a familiar scenario. We know there aren't enough lifeboats for the elected members, let alone the staff toiling away in the engine room. I smell doom. The institutions that we have built up carefully over the last twenty years are being systematically pulled apart. They had been built to last for a century, and they are simply being ripped this way and that as the governance reforms simply sweep us all away.

If we were really honest, these reforms were not just about efficiency and transparency and the usual bureaucratic nonsense. No, it's much more than that - it's because we all know what goes on inside these massive institutions. We have known for the last twenty years.

What is in here is a code for living together as human beings. It's filled with people who try and give you the time of day. Who try and get things right. Who form plans that try to improve things for everyone. Who don't live as if profit and power and selfishness and survival were the only way of dealing with each other. We're like an alternative to the entire banking system.

It ain't utopia. But it's a place where there are ideals about public service still held. It's a best shot at making things right with the world.

We are now right in the midst of the rage over Copenhagen. We know it will all possibly end in failure, and with that the end of the world as we know it will occur and there is not a damn thing that any of us can now do about it. Because we were all given a chance to get it right, to unify and turn the damage that we had all caused around. Truly, to save the world.

My version of that, our version, Waitakere's version, was called the eco-city. We worked at it for 20 years. That in a sense is our contribution to Copenhagen. I t came from a conference they held 20 years ago about sustainability called Rio. From that, we made changes and united people and healed the land and tried to turn people away from roads and cars towards rail and reducing waste and saving the forest and the water and everything good. We stood for peace. Not everything worked, I'll grant you that. And there are always those who jeer and cross their arms and say good honest selfishness is a lot more efficient. Do nothing.

But the point of the world is to engage with it, to try and change it for the better. To try and be something more than a tiny little cork on a great capitalist ocean where there are no landscapes to enjoy, no way of navigating a better future. Our job as human beings is to try and set out a course and take people with you, because sure the journey really means something. But so does getting there.

I really have no idea any more whether our central government really gets it. Not even the entire world's governments can see it though the facts are plain as day to their faces. I'm not sure I care any more. My own attempt at railing against the destruction of the world - together with thousands of Mayors and cities - is being systematically taken apart and there is not a damn thing I can do about it.

This is the way the world ends for us. We have done our best. We have nothing to regret or to be afraid of any more because there is nothing more that they can do to us.

West City has a deal where for a reduced price for staff and for those of you who are of Senior Citizen status - you can get in for half price. It's about time you get in a movie before Christmas - treat yourself. I think it could help you understand that 2012 is going to be a difficult year. In the meantime I urge you to ... Launch your lifeboats.

Woodstock

Michael Wadleigh
Running time: 185 minutes

Go see what we looked like 40 years ago before KFC and McDonalds wrecked our lives. Didn't we look young, brown and skinny? We were free and in love. It was the age of flower power. Vietnam raged outside, but for three days on that dairy farm near New York, peace reigned. Joan Baez, Crosby, Stills and Nash and Jimi Hendrix provided the music. It was the sound of a generation staking its claim in history.

Strength of water

Armagan Ballantyne
Running time: 86 minutes

Ten-year-old twins Kimi and Melody live on the shores of the Hokianga. A tragedy changes everything and everybody. Beautifully shot and acted, this is clearly the best New Zealand film of the year. A fine piece of work.

Earth Whisperers Papatuanuku

Kathleen Gallagher
Running time: 73 minutes

An Inconvenient Truth gets a Kiwi No. 8 wire makeover. Earth Whisperers Papatuanuku distils the grand theme of saving the world from climate change into a tale of 10 visionary Kiwis. Their efforts to live sustainably are deeply moving in their simplicity. They show people living in the centre of the city can still make a huge difference to their environment.

A beautifully crafted and sensitive documentary made more inspiring by its exchange of flashy production for stunning New Zealand scenery. This is a film that everyone needs to see.

Rain of the Children

Vincent Ward
Running Time: 130 minutes

I spent many years on the Film Commission, and one of the sadnesses and also one of the joys was dealing with the hopes and ambitions of Vincent Ward as he would pitch his new films to the commission. I consider Ward to be one of our truly great creative artists in film; multi talented and totally and absolutely committed to his craft.
Rain of the Children is a masterpiece. It takes a timeline from his early short film, In Spring One Plants Alone, probably the best short film ever made in this country. Ward made this film aged 21, fresh out of film school, and the subject of the film, Puhi, is revisited in The Rain of Children. This new feature answers some of the mysteries that the original work held. Returning to the Ureweras and the site of the original film, Ward now enlarges the scope, vision and cast; flashing backwards and forwards as we begin to understand the mysteries and the deep emotional tragedies that were held sacred to Tuhoe and the Urewera community of Maungapohatu in the time of Maori prophet, Rua Kenana. Be prepared for an emotional heart rending epic . Totally amazing, absorbing. Unforgettable.

What I've been listening to

Woodstock: The soundtrack

Various artists

This double album was played in every flat over every weekend for years. It inspired a million young wannabes to grab a guitar and a mic. It is still a rich and amazing experience to sit back and let the sounds of the big stage take over.

We have tried to recapture that Woodstock sound and culture many times, but our attempts have failed to fly. It was an event that changed the world. Young people claimed the future. Sometimes you look around and wonder, was it all worth while?

Raising Sand

Robert Plant and Alison Krause
Produced by T Bone Burnett
Recording and Mixed by Mike Piersante

The problem with reviewing popular works is that every one knows what you are talking about and this is no exception. These are two real pros, surrounded by beloved and skilful musicians. They are simply amazing and they know it. The work of song after song is simply delivered by two musicians who are at the top and peak of their game. They come with unfailing technique and talent, and the songs, well the songs are brilliant! I thought Fortune Teller and Killing the Blues in particular were truly great in their own right, but its hard to differentiate between any of the tracks, they are just so damn good. Produced by a team of experts from the music industry, the feel of Raising Sand is great music, lyrics and harmony in one stunning CD. And the dedication says it all: "Gratitude to T Bone and the Blue Glow who steered an old dog to new tricks".

Where I've been eating

Let's Go Retro

Retro lovers are revelling in the new Retro Cafe‚ on Henderson's main drag.

Not only is the place decked out with fantastic formica tables and Crown Lynn pieces the menu features good old mince on toast and macaroni cheese.

Owner Tom Gardiner now lives in Laingholm and is loving being a westie but his cafe‚ has Grey Lynn and Ponsonby written all over it. Tom did indeed own and run a couple of cafes in town but his move west is definitely our gain.

The coffee is exceptional and the menu billed traditional Caesar salad is just that - traditional - as well as delicious.

For those visiting the cafe‚ who want to tune into their uber cool city selves there's bircher muesli for breakfast and fennel, pea and lemon risotto for lunch.

And speaking of the menu that's another cool thing about this cafe‚ - the menus are copies of old record sleeves.

Really this place is a veritable feast for those into the retro experience and the great food, coffee and service is simply stand out. What's more the bits and pieces that add to the delightful decor are for sale.

I thoroughly recommend this place and it's just so good to see this kind of outlet in Henderson and the west.

And just on that I should mention that some of the fixtures and fittings at the Retro caf‚e are on loan from Let's Go Retro, a fantastic shop now occupying the old Signal Gallery in Swanson which is well worth a visit, on a regular basis.

Groovy.

What I've been saying

Mayor Bob Harvey's Memorable Quotes

Often the people who slip on banana skins are the ones who peeled the bananas in the first place.
It's not hard for roosters to quickly become feather dusters.
You can fill a hall with people who are against something and only a phone box with people trying to cheer something on.
Westies will do anything if you ask them and nothing if you tell them.
In politics it's wrong to be right too soon.
Never mark the spot where you have buried the hatchet.
My Councillors do all the heavy lifting, I just do leadership.
The Council propose and the voters dispose.
If you get a lemon, make lemonade.

Top picks for 2008

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Top Picks for 2008 (Size 29K)