JONATHAN COLEMAN MP for Northcote - Media Releases

Kiwis in Afghanistan to protect gains

nospam@example.com (Jonathan) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 11:25:00 +1300

OPINION: Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman explains why New Zealand is not leaving Afghanistan.

New Zealand has played an important role in the international effort in Afghanistan for well over a decade.

In the early days of the campaign we helped root out al Qaeda, then in 2003 deployed a Provincial Reconstruction Team to Bamyan to stabilise and aid in the recovery of a province that had suffered under Taliban rule.

Later, the SAS was redeployed to Kabul to help the Afghan Crisis Response Unit build its capacity as one of Afghanistan's premier counter-terrorism units.

It has been service that has come at the cost of 10 New Zealand lives, sacrifices that have been felt deeply across the nation. Other New Zealanders have been wounded in Afghanistan and have had their futures inextricably altered as a result.

Over the same period, New Zealand citizens have died in some of the world's most high profile terrorist actions since 9/11 – the Bali bombing, the London Tube bombing and the Jakarta Hotel bombing.

That is why New Zealand has continued to support the international effort in Afghanistan so that it cannot again become a haven for al Qaeda and an incubator for international terrorism. Not only is it important to secure the gains of the past decade, but it is also in New Zealand's own interest to be part of the collective security effort to safeguard the future stability of that country.

Cynics point to the historical record, tell you that no nation has ever won in Afghanistan and complain that New Zealand is expending effort in a country where corruption is rife.

While it is true that it is unwise to ignore the lessons of history, the fact is that because of New Zealand's efforts, massive gains have been made for the people of Bamyan province, especially women and children. Before we arrived education and health services in the province were rudimentary, and women and girls were treated appallingly under the Taliban. New Zealand's efforts have seen reconstruction of the hospital and the building of educational facilities.

In 2001 there were fewer than 15 schools open – there are now 353. Almost half primary school children in Bamyan are girls, while 38 per cent of teachers are female and many Bamyan teachers have been aided by New Zealand-supported teachers' training programmes. There are now 2700 students at Bamyan University, 15 per cent of whom are women.

Our support to the health sector has helped significantly reduce both the maternal mortality rate and the mortality rate for children under 5. In the Taliban era there were only two doctors working in the province. Now health care facilities are available across the province, and health professionals include 40 doctors and 150 midwives.

We have also contributed Kiwi money and expertise to major agricultural projects and a solar power project that will provide access to electricity to approximately 2500 homes, businesses and government buildings in Bamyan town. It will be the largest solar-energy system built in Afghanistan and will make a significant contribution to living standards and economic development.

Ad Feedback As to the question of whether the gains in Afghanistan are sustainable, and whether the coalition can " win there, the point is that unlike the armies of history, the ISAF coalition does not want to remain in Afghanistan in the long term. For much of the past 10 years, therefore, ISAF's effort has been largely directed at building Afghan capacity in security and governance so that ultimately the country can stand safe, secure and stable on its own. There is no doubt though that the international community can do so much, but ultimately the will of the Afghan people will determine whether their nation prospers.

If Afghanistan is to continue along the trajectory towards a relatively secure future, it will require on-going international support. This year the wider coalition effort is moving from leading the military mission to supporting and mentoring the Afghan forces so they can manage their own security. That is why New Zealand has announced that following the withdrawal of our Provincial Reconstruction Team in April, New Zealand will continue to make a small but significant contribution to the international security effort in Afghanistan.

Our 27 people will be in headquarters, intelligence, planning and training roles. None will be in front-line combat roles, but they will all be making a valuable niche contribution to a collective effort. Likewise, New Zealand-funded development programmes in Bamyan in renewable energy, agriculture, education and health will continue beyond the PRT.

New Zealanders should be proud of the efforts of our service people over the past 10 years in helping secure and rebuild Afghanistan. It is important now that we help see the job through.

MP zeroes in on Z

nospam@example.com (Jonathan) — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 12:46:56 +1300

Controversial plans for a 24 hour Z service station on busy Onewa Rd are being slammed by Northcote MP Jonathan Coleman.

He says "it is a recipe for traffic mayhem" and safety for school children is his top concern.

In a letter to the North Shore Times, Dr Coleman acknowledges the public submission and hearing process Auckland Council must go through. He says he is "yet to meet anyone who is in favour of the proposal but there is strong opposition to the development".

The service station would be built at 119 Onewa Rd, on the corner of Gladstone Rd and next to St Mary's Catholic Church and primary school.

It would also be on the same side as the west-bound T3 transit lane.

A petition against it was created by St Mary's.

Dr Coleman says: "Many vehicles travelling west up Onewa Rd turning right across two busy traffic lanes, it is a recipe for traffic mayhem.

"It is already a busy area seven days per week and a service station next door will only increase traffic congestion as extra vehicles are drawn to the site.

"There is no local demand for this development and it will not enhance the area. Indeed, I believe that the impact will be negative," he says.

Kaipatiki Local Board confirmed in its last meeting it is opposed to the development.

Z Energy senior communications adviser Sheena Thomas says the company is listening to the public and one of its head engineers will make a submission at the hearings.

"We are going to listen to those concerns people have around us."

The company's top priority is also safety, she says, and policies are in place to mitigate risks.

If the proposal goes ahead it will also be a safe place for parents to drop their children off as opposed to pulling over on the road, she says.

Ms Thomas says research Z Energy conducted showed the service station would only add one new vehicle to peak traffic every two minutes.

Entry and exits for the proposed station would be left-hand turns only to avoid risks.

Ms Thomas says Z wants to meet with Dr Coleman directly "to show we're aware" and give him a "sense of comfort".

Auckland Council will hear public submissions on the proposal on November 29 and 30.

Defence Minister visits Kiwi troops in Bamyan

nospam@example.com (Jonathan) — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 08:34:00 +1300

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman has been in Afghanistan over the past few days to visit the New Zealand Defence Force Provincial Reconstruction Team, as well as to hold talks with officials in Bamyan and Kabul.

“The visit was an opportunity to offer support to the PRT for the important work it has been performing in providing security to the Province,” said Dr Coleman.

“It was fitting to personally express the government’s condolences for the tragic loss of five soldiers that the departing rotation Crib 20 suffered and to thank the group for the on-going professionalism it continued to display.”

“I was also able to discuss New Zealand’s departure from Bamyan with the Provincial Governor and local security chiefs and to assess the work that needs to be done between now and April to ensure that the gains of the past decade are sustained in the long term. New Zealand's decade in Bamyan will have made a massive difference in quality of life to the people there,” he said.

Dr Coleman visited New Zealand development projects in Bamyan including those in solar energy, agriculture, education and health. He also spent a day in Kabul where he met with Afghanistan’s newly appointed Defence Minister and held talks with senior ISAF commanders.

A local police force needed for Bamyan

nospam@example.com (Jonathan) — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 08:28:00 +1300

The Defence Minister, Jonathan Coleman, has told the Governor of Bamyan in Afganistan she should try to put together a local police force to fill the vaccum when New Zealand soldiers leave in April

My vision this year

nospam@example.com (Jonathan) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:06:00 +1300

Last year was intense nationally and locally, with earthquakes, tornadoes, the Rena stranding, the Rugby World Cup win and the general election.

It was a year that saw Auckland on the world stage during the cup. The odd hiccup aside, Auckland rose to the challenge. Many locals saw their city through new eyes as the waterfront came alive and the fan trail opened up previously unexplored nooks and crannies.

So what does 2012 hold and what should we be aspiring to?

On the wider front there’s no question that economic growth is the key priority and that is where the government’s focus is. Ultimately raising export levels is the key to future prosperity. There will also be a continued drive to contain growth in public spending, while making sure that government expenditure produces real results.

At the local level there are some areas I’d like to see focus on in 2012:

Enhanced ferry services. The Beach Haven service is coming later this year with Fullers also trialling enhanced services from Birkenhead and Northcote. However, the public needs to support services to ensure ongoing viability.

Auckland Council taking a sensible approach to transit lanes in Northcote. It is council that controls these, not central government. Why not trial a T2 lane on Onewa Rd and review the Lake Rd Northcote Transit Lane? Once the Victoria Park tunnel and overpass are operating at full lane capacity, it should be possible to let traffic flow far more freely down Onewa Rd on to the harbour bridge.
More information on walking/cycling across the harbour bridge. It’s time to answer some of the detailed questions around funding and access at the Northcote end. There is a wide range of opinion but people want to know how it might work in practical terms.

Continued community engagement about optimising our local environments. Communal gym equipment in reserves might be what some communities want; in Little Shoal Bay, locals might prefer to maintain the environment as is. The point is they haven’t been asked.

A hard look at what we’re actually getting for our council rates spend. Rates are going up beyond the rate of inflation and it’s difficult to see how it’s justified. I believe many people would like to see spending focused on the core services everyone expects a council to provide – like cleaning the overgrown weeds and dead leaves that are choking the Shore’s paths and gutters.

On a personal note, 2011 was a great year. We achieved a record 9379 majority in Northcote and I’m extremely grateful for that vote of confidence. I have new portfolios as Minister of Defence, Minister of State Services and Associate Minister of Finance. There are big challenges but I’m really looking forward to this term as MP for Northcote. Here’s to 2012.

Get on board the Rugby World Cup

nospam@example.com (Jonathan) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:49:00 +1300

Like many Kiwis I love my rugby and the world cup is a very special time – even more so when it’s all happening on your home patch.

You could tell there was something extraordinary happening in the week of the opening ceremony as flags started appearing on cars, and All Blacks banners were draped from house windows and decks all over the North Shore. We’re on track to host an incredibly successful tournament. It’s a big opportunity for the country on so many levels. New Zealand is being showcased to an estimated overseas audience of four billion people – to achieve equivalent publicity through paid advertising would be simply beyond what we could ever afford. Three key factors are combining to make this showpiece a great spectacle which is presenting New Zealand in a fantastic light – the exciting rugby, the special character and exuberance of the touring fans, and the participation of Kiwis as hosts.

The New Zealand public is living up to the promise of a stadium of four million people because ticket sales have gone through the roof. North Harbour Stadium was chocka for the Japan v France game on the opening weekend, and not far off capacity the next day for Australia v Italy. South Africa v Namibia sold out, and the final pool game at the stadium, South Africa v Samoa, is a sellout as well. Overseas fans are a vital ingredient to the colour of the spectacle, as they fill the grounds and party on afterwards. Kiwis have made them very welcome and there has been a huge amount of goodwill going round. Birkenhead has adopted Argentina as its second team and locally we are getting right into the cup spirit. There are Argentinian themed events happening in the town centre right through the cup period and Birkenhead Town Centre manager Kae Condon has done a great job putting together a festival programme. Similarly Takapuna has adopted France, and Browns Bay South Africa.

Financially the RWC is a huge success. Since the opening match $5.5 million of tickets have been sold, taking total sales to within $14 million of the $268 million target. Research recently released by MasterCard estimates the 95,000 overseas visitors could generate $780 million for the economy. The Auckland waterfront has come alive and the opening up of Queens Wharf has finally given Auckland the central, outdoor venue it’s needed for so long. Get along to The Cloud – it really is a great addition to the waterfront, and an excellent place to get a bit of the world cup atmosphere.

This world cup has given New Zealanders something to really enjoy and has engendered a huge sense of pride as our city and country is on display to the world. But can the All Blacks break our 24-year drought? I have faith they will triumph on October 23 at Eden Park.

Whatever happens, just enjoy the Rugby World Cup ride. It’s going to be great.

Upgraded defence site will have good security

nospam@example.com (Jonathan) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 09:25:00 +1200

Birkenhead residents would have welcomed news last week that one of the locals is receiving a long overdue ‘‘home makeover’’.

I’ve been working with Defence Minister Wayne Mapp on upgrading the New Zealand Defence Force munitions storage facility at Kauri Point to ensure the continued long term safety and security of the site.

Dr Mapp announced last Friday that it will undergo a $7 million upgrade to future-proof the facility. Although the New Zealand Defence Force has followed all the necessary safety regulations regarding munitions storage, and public safety has never been at risk, there’s no denying the depot needed an upgrade.

The need to refit Kauri Point was identified years ago and the government has been working on options since 2008.

The 75-year-old facility is no longer fit for purpose. The old brick buildings were starting to deteriorate and their configuration made munitions storage difficult. New igloo-type ammunition storage bunkers and upgraded security systems will be installed over the next two years.

The NZDF has liaised closely with the local community over Kauri Point and Dr Mapp and I, along with the Chair and Deputy Chair of the local community board, met with the NZDF in May to discuss the way ahead. Keeping the community informed about what’s going on is important.

Site security has been a concern – this was highlighted by the recent break-in.
As a result, the NZDF has improved security with upgrades to its fencing and electronic systems. Patrols have been changed and there are more inspections.

The footprint of the new facility will be greatly reduced with fewer buildings, greater security, less environmental impact and the most modern storage technology available to ensure community safety.

There’s been some media coverage recently over plans for a proposed walking and cycling path over the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

The walkway, estimated to cost $23 million, would be attached to the city side clip-on of the bridge and would sit underneath the traffic. I’m all for looking at ways to improve transport options for residents, but the impact on the Northcote Point area needs to be carefully thought through.

If it means a large increase in traffic in and out of Northcote Point, I would not support pedestrians being discharged into Princes St.

Supporters claim the walkway, which would open in 2013, could be built through a public-private partnership and funded by a toll. The plan has been forwarded to the New Zealand Transport Agency for consideration.

The government has no spare money for this project, and ratepayers won’t be keen on a further burden, so supporters need to make sure they’ve done their homework.

Intersection solution must be found

nospam@example.com (Jonathan) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 10:18:00 +1200

Three months ago I wrote about the traffic situation at the intersection of Onewa and Lake roads outside Northcote Primary.
Early one morning a young teacher was struck by a car as she crossed from the BP station to the school. Fortunately she recovered fully, but the accident brought into sharp focus the dangers at the intersection.

Soon after I got together with the school, the police and Auckland Transport to address safety issues at the crossing.
As you’d expect, there’s a huge number of children crossing that intersection to get to and from school, and there’s very real concern for their safety. The road junction is very busy with a lot for drivers and pedestrians to concentrate on in order to negotiate it safely.
There’s movement of pedestrians and traffic from more than one direction. You need good peripheral vision and decision making skills and any split second error of judgment could have serious consequences.

Problems had become much worse some months ago with changes to light phasing that made the patterns confusing for pedestrians. These have partially been addressed, but the unintended consequence has been an increase in people running the red light, putting pedestrians at risk.
Some progress has been made – the police are stepping up monitoring of the intersection and are looking at providing a mobile red light camera to deter bad driver behaviour. The council is apparently making preparations to install flashing red lights warning of the intersection ahead. The aim is to educate drivers and get them to pay extra attention.
That’s all good, but more needs to be done, and it needs to be done urgently. The school wants all traffic at the intersection to stop when kids are crossing.
There’s too much potential for confusion, and for an errant motorist not to see a child on the crossing. Another option might be to move the pedestrian crossings away from the intersection , slightly up Onewa Rd and down Lake Rd respectively. This would mean there wouldn’t be traffic turning through the intersection shortly after pedestrians were crossing.

I’m concerned whether just relying on driver education through warning signs and a deterrence campaign in the form of a mobile red light camera and intermittent police presence will be an effective long-term solution. I don’t believe that stopping all traffic at that intersection while pedestrians cross will have a majorly negative effect on traffic flows.
Moving the crossings should also be seriously investigated. We can’t afford to trial options that may work, but then again may not. The problem has to be comprehensively addressed in the shortest possible time frame. The stakes are just too high not to.

Tunnel the better option

nospam@example.com (Jonathan) — Thu, 26 May 2011 16:02:00 +1200

I’ve always been clear that I prefer a tunnel as the form of the next Waitemata Harbour Crossing and that remains the case.

Bridge v Tunnel has been a matter of public debate – not to mention a number of reports – for years and has become prominent again with the release of the New Zealand Transit Authority document Additional Waitemata Harbour Crossing Preliminary Business Case.

My sense is that all factors considered, most people prefer the tunnel option but would understand that all aspects of the issue have to be thoroughly examined before a final decision is made.

The document takes as its starting point that the next crossing will start somewhere around the bottom of Onewa Rd on the north side and emerge around the Wynyard Quarter/Victoria Park area on the south side. It takes it as a given that the options have been narrowed down to two – a bridge or a tunnel in that alignment.

Both options retain the existing harbour bridge. It describes the two options and presents the pros and cons of each.
It doesn’t select a recommended option – it just focuses on cost, construction feasibility and likelihood of gaining consent. The tunnel option is going to cost $5.3 billion, compared to $3.9 billion for a bridge.

There’s a clear choice to be made there, and consideration needs to be given to how either option would be paid for.

The report indicates that a bridge would have greater difficulty obtaining consent – and the process would take longer – because of its environmental impacts.

My view is that tunnelling is by far the preferable option. We have a harbour that is arguably the most beautiful in the world. The bridge would be an eyesore and would struggle to obtain resource consent. Can you imagine how a second bridge starting at the same point as the current bridge on the north side and then running at a 40 degree angle to it to the south side of the harbour will look?
A number of people may be under the impression that the Government wants a bridge. That is simply incorrect.

However when a large amount of public money is involved, it is reasonable to look at all aspects of the issue, and that is what this NZTA document is about.

People have asked about the timing – why aren’t we starting this project today? This document is the next step.

However, there is work going on to complete the Auckland roading network that will have a greater impact in improving the flow of traffic around the region – completing the western ring route (state highways 16 and 20) as well as the Victoria Park Tunnel.

When you examine where the greatest effect overall for the money spent will be, it is in completing those projects first.

Keep our kids safe on roads

nospam@example.com (Jonathan) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 09:10:15 +1200

Walking to school has been a rite of passage for generations of New Zealand kids. Over the years the local roads have got busier, but thanks to the determination of parents and teachers, huge numbers of children still walk to our local schools.

The benefits of walking to school are obvious in terms of getting kids into active, healthy daily lifestyles. The advent of walking school buses, supported by travelwise programmes, has helped keep the tradition alive.

However, if our kids are going to continue to walk to school, parents have to have absolute confidence that they will be safe. That’s why the recent accident outside Northcote Primary in which a teacher was struck by a vehicle has brought concern about the pedestrian crossings at the Onewa Rd/Lake Rd intersection to a head. I’ve had local parents writing, calling and stopping me in the street about the issue.

There has been concern about safety at the intersection for some time, and recent changes to the light phasing there have made it a more confusing and dangerous spot for pedestrians and drivers alike.

That’s why on the 5th of April I met with Northcote Primary Principal Deborah Heasman, Board Chair Monique Geenty, the Police and Auckland Transport. It was a very constructive meeting, with both Auckland Transport and the Police showing a willingness to implement some immediate solutions.

I’m delighted with the action since then. Auckland Transport has responded with extra signage around the school, and some minor changes to the phasing of the lights at the intersection that should improve safety. The Council is considering a `Barn Dance’ arrangement at the intersection, whereby all traffic stops while pedestrians are able to cross at the two crossings simultaneously. Apparently some modelling of traffic flows is required, and this could take six weeks to happen. There has also been active patrolling of the site by the police, who have been very helpful, and there has been further monitoring via CCTV.

Another step that is being considered is making the area outside Northcote Primary a 40 km/h speed zone. There would seem to be an excellent case for one here. Other measures may include local publicity about the risks at that intersection with a view to raising public awareness.

While you can never eliminate 100 percent of the risk on our roads, there is much that can be done to ensure this intersection is a safe as possible.

Speaking of transport, I don’t agree with Rodney Hide’s comments on the access senior citizens have to SuperGold Card off-peak travel entitlements.

Our ethnic communities help to build trade links

nospam@example.com (Jonathan) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 10:12:58 +1300

Last Saturday the Korean Society held their annual Korea Day celebrations at the North Shore Events Centre in the Northcote Electorate. I’ve been to the previous six events, but this year I was in India on New Zealand Government business and sadly was unable to attend. Korea Day is a great celebration of the contribution of the Korean Community here in Auckland, and of course the heart of that community is right here on the North Shore.

The Korean War forged strong bonds between our two countries, and the relationship is excellent. A free trade agreement is a priority for New Zealand, but underpinning trade are the links between our respective peoples. This is well illustrated by the contribution that Koreans are making to life here on the North Shore in business, sport, academia and community activities. The Korean Garden project has been driven by a group of committed local Koreans whose vision will be realised at a site at the bottom of Barry’s Point Rd. The land has been secured, and I’ve no doubt that although a tough challenge lies ahead, the funds will be raised.

The purpose of my Ministerial trip to India was to broaden engagement with India and help build a long term relationship between our two countries. Cricket is a major passion in India, and it was great to have Sir Richard Hadlee and the Black Caps available to help foster the conversations with local business in Mumbai. We held a function with the New Zealand cricket team, launched the “100% Pure Apples From New Zealand” brand, gave out cricket gear and apples at a charity for street kids, and talked to a range of contacts. The centre piece of the trip was the opening of the New Zealand Consulate in Mumbai, India’s economic powerhouse. The consulate will be a one stop shop for Indian interaction with New Zealand in Mumbai, and brings immigration, trade and tourism services under one roof. With 1.2 billion people and economic growth of 8.6% last year, India presents significant opportunities for New Zealand.

However, there are challenges to realising the potential of our relationship with the Asian economic giants. That is where the links we have through our local Korean, Indian and Chinese communities here in New Zealand are so important; in the case of China and Korea, those expat communities are largely centred here on the North Shore. On the trip to India members of the India New Zealand Business Council travelled from New Zealand to support the Government mission. These people understand the culture and business environment in both countries, and their presence was invaluable.

New Zealand has to be outward facing, engaging at all levels and focussing on exports. Our local ethnic communities are critical in establishing and maintaining the people to people links between New Zealand and their respective countries of origin. These links are vital in building relationships that ultimately lead to mutually beneficial exchanges of goods, technology, skills and people.

Time for urgent look at transit lane bottleneck

nospam@example.com (Jonathan) — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 09:03:42 +1300

Transport – Get the mix right

A couple of weekends ago I thought I’d take a ferry from Northcote Point to the Auckland Seafood festival in the viaduct. Yet there were only three ferries running that day- 7.50am, 8.50am and 5.50 pm. Going by ferry just wasn’t a viable option.

I’m all for public transport, but if it’s just too hard to take, people will drive. There’s no older chest nut in the Northcote electorate than the chronic peak hour congestion of our roads. It’s an issue that’s been around forever, but it now seems to be getting worse. What’s required is flexible thinking that utilises the best possible combination of options available.

Auckland Transport, part of the new Auckland Council, controls what happens on our local roads and decides where T3 and T2 lanes are to operate. Auckland Transport is also responsible for ensuring public transport runs smoothly across the region. Central government is overall responsible for the state highways and has invested heavily into completing Auckland's roading network.

Let’s be clear: there is no silver bullet to fixing Auckland’s traffic congestion. It’s going to take a combination of measures to deal with our growing population; it’s about completing the Auckland roading network and providing a public transport system that takes people to where they need to be in a timely manner. It’s about encouraging people to walk and cycle. No one approach in isolation will provide the answer.

However, there also needs to be a sensible approach to use of existing infrastructure. The opening up of a new transit lane on Lake Rd Northcote has lengthened traffic queues during the morning rush hour, not decreased them. The thinking behind the Lake Rd transit lane would appear to be that motorists should be forced on to public transport at all costs, and that if the transit lane results in increased travel times for motorists, they only have themselves to blame. This approach is plainly ideological, and will never work in the absence of comprehensive public transport and car pooling systems.

To add insult, Lake Rd and Onewa Rd transit lanes continue to be the only T3 lanes on the North Shore- all the rest are T2. It seems inequitable. If T3 is such a great idea, why are the other lanes T2?

Some will argue that changes to transit lanes will only move the bottle neck further down Onewa Rd. Yet the completion of the Victoria Park tunnel in early 2012 will significantly free up traffic flowing south off the harbour bridge, and in turn potentially allow greater flows of traffic down Onewa Rd. The key may well be opening up the flyover / onramp linking Onewa Rd to the harbour bridge to two lanes of traffic, rather than the current configuration of a bus lane and a single traffic lane.

I’m calling for Auckland Transport to commission an urgent independent review of transit lanes. I can’t see that the Lake Rd transit lane is improving transport efficiency, and questions over whether T2 is more appropriate for Onewa Rd need to be answered by an objective study, independent of council.

The Year in Northcote

nospam@example.com (Jonathan) — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 13:09:00 +1300

As with every year, it’s hard to believe that it’s Christmas already. It’s been a momentous year on a number of levels.

Locally the birth of the Super City dominated public political debate; the first meeting of the Kaipatiki Local Board was a milestone for those who follow these issues closely. On the sporting side, Northcote winning the North Harbour Club Rugby Premiership was the high point and thrilled a lot of people. On the cultural side the highlight for me was the publication of David Verran’s excellent “The North Shore: An Illustrated History”, a beautiful book that everyone north of the Bridge should get a copy of. If you live on the North Shore you feel a very strong affinity with the area.

As predicted, local community life and pride won’t stop just because of the Super City. There can be no greater example of this than the annual Birkenhead Santa Parade which took place last Sunday. Thousands turned out to line the streets of Highbury on a glorious day, and the feeling of community spirit, unity and goodwill was overwhelming. Once again Birkenhead Rotary did a fantastic job organising this, and followed it up with an excellent street fiesta on Birkenhead Ave. I hear there were a couple of Auckland Council officials who were sent along to assess the viability of future parades. The message is the parade is a huge success, we want to keep it, and we are determined to do so.

Of course it’s been a tough year for the country with a spate of disasters - Pike River, the earthquake, and then of course financial hits with South Canterbury Finance and the kiwifruit blight. The economy is in recovery mode. There have been real challenges for us in government with these crises but I’m proud of the way that we’ve responded, and also pay tribute to the resilience of the thousands of New Zealanders directly affected by these shocks.

I regard it as a real privilege to be in Parliament and Cabinet, and I want to thank people from across the Northcote electorate and the wider North Shore for the support I’ve had this year. It’s a job I love and I have no complaints. I get a huge boost out of coming home to Northcote each week from Parliament and just being back in my home area.

The team in the Birkenhead electorate office provide outstanding service to the constituency while I am down in Parliament and we’ve had a huge volume of people through the door in 2010. My colleague Wayne Mapp has just announced his retirement at the next election; I am going to be very sad to see a fantastic MP and close friend go.

Finally, on a personal note, the absolute highlight of 2010 was the birth of our second child, a beautiful baby son. The person I have to thank the most for her fantastic support is my wife Sandra.

Happy Christmas, and here’s to 2011.

Ride on cycle path leads to questions

nospam@example.com (Jonathan) — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 08:39:00 +1300

It’s been a few years since I’ve been on a bike, but six weeks ago I decided to build cycling into my fitness routine as summer approaches. Nothing major, but I’ve been getting out on my old mountain bike around the North Shore roads every weekend.

The tragic spate of recent biking fatalities makes you think twice and has highlighted the narrow margin of safety for cyclists. You realize how vulnerable you are on a bike, and how reliant you are on the vigilance and concentration of other road users.

On the positive side, cycling as a mode of transport is not only environmentally friendly, but as a recreation it is an enjoyable way to get some exercise and free your mind from your daily concerns. Secondly, it gives you a detailed view of the nooks and crannies of an area that a car just doesn’t afford you. As an MP, it’s amazing the insights I get into my electorate from the bike saddle, not to mention the people I see along the way.

The extent of the cycle lane network across the Shore has come as a pleasant surprise. The pathways are not continuous, but it’s great that you can cycle to Takapuna and beyond from Northcote, traversing some very busy territory, (think Akoranga Drive up Esmonde Rd to Lake Rd).

However, I’ve been struck by how relatively few cyclists are on these cycle paths at the weekends. Cycling from Northcote Point to Takapuna beach I seldom see another bike. There weren’t a lot on the route to and from Devonport last weekend either.
The question for me is why aren’t more people cycling? In terms of recreation, is it a lack of awareness of the paths that are available? Is it perceived danger? Is it just not that popular? Some will beg to differ and say it’s different during commuter times- I’m just telling you what I’ve seen.

Of course cycle lanes have been controversial (Lake Rd), and the motor vehicle continues to be crucial for Aucklanders. However, if we’re going to accommodate a predicted growth in Auckland’s population from 1.4 to nearly 2 million over the next 20 years transport is going to be even more of a serious challenge. Potentially part of the solution for dealing with Auckland’s transport woes could be encouragement of active transport- cycling and walking. However, there are issues associated with cycling and walking infrastructure that require rational analysis of costs and benefits.

It seems to me that cycling has potential to move people off our roads, although it will obviously not be viable for everyone. The question is, would building more infrastructure increase uptake, or given what I’ve seen on my rides, does the carrot not really work for the majority when it comes to active transport? Will people only get on their bikes once the viability of motoring passes a personal tipping point for them (for whatever reason)? Email me on jonathan.coleman@parliament.govt.nz and let me know what you think.

Prized city is ours for the making

nospam@example.com (Jonathan) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:52:26 +1300

The results are in, and the new Mayor, council and local boards will be looking to the task ahead of them. Len Brown ran a very good mayoral campaign, appealed to a broad spectrum of Aucklanders and deserved his win. It wasn’t to be John Banks’ election, but all politicians accept that the public is always right at the ballot box, and that’s just how politics goes.

I’ve got a feeling that those who fear / hope that Len Brown will melt down under the pressure of the Mayoralty will not be proven right. He’s an experienced local body politician and although his agenda will not be to everyone’s taste, I think he’s going to prove to a solid hand on the tiller. He’s personable, has a strong mandate from the voters, and as a local MP, I’m looking forward to working with him and the new council. However, delivering on his spending wish list won’t be so easy.

Len has laid out his plans for public transport in Auckland, which include rail to the airport, rail to the Shore, and the central city loop. However the Prime Minister has moved to dampen down expectations of the ability of central Government to fund these projects, pointing out that the Government is already putting $1.6 billion into Auckland rail. Overall the Government is investing about $5 billion in transport in Auckland - this includes funding for significant roading projects.

The reality is that all these projects will entail debt financing, and ultimately Auckland ratepayers will have to pay their fair share. So there will be choices to be made, around levels of debt that ratepayers are prepared to carry, and ultimately the rate burden that the public will bear. I don’t know about you, but my personal appetite for rate rises is not high.

The new council will be crucial in all this, as the Mayor is only one vote out of 21. The North Shore ward has experienced representation in the form of former Mayors George Wood and Ann Hartley, and we will be relying on them to make the case for our area at the table. Wayne Walker and Michael Goudie representing Albany will be representing communities with many interests that align with those of the North Shore ward.

The local boards will also be getting to grips with their responsibilities, some of which will not be immediately apparent. However that is the reality of bedding in this new system. I know most of the members of the Kaipatiki local board pretty well, and am looking forward to working with them. One of the key points about the new Super City arrangements is that if we are going to get a good deal north of the bridge, it will be vital that we continue the long held local practice of working across party political lines. I’m confident that will continue to be the case.

So, the new era has officially started. There will be challenges, but the prize of a more cohesive, effective region is there for us all. Congratulations and best wishes to all those elected.