The Daily Blog Open Mic – Sunday 16th June 2019

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Announce protest actions, general chit chat or give your opinion on issues we haven’t covered for the day.

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2 COMMENTS

  1. A great day for HB/Gisborne thanks for your support to the many fighting for this day.
    Question now is; – when do we reopen the Gisborne line as Gisborne is the most isolated City of its size in NZ today without a rail service?

    Dear rail stakeholders.

    We have a picture of the first train that leaves Gisborne in June 1942 for Napier while 10 000 people wave them off, as the ‘Minister of rail’ (Robert Semple) says it was justified to spend over 6 million pounds to complete the rail service to Gisborne as it was an “isolated” region with few other transport choices.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/113480664/kiwirail-to-celebrate-reopening-of-napier-to-wairoa-line

    KiwiRail celebrates re-opening of Napier to Wairoa line
    Andre Chumko and Bethany Reitsma16:03, Jun 14 2019

    Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones discusses what will happen to truck drivers as a result of the Napier-Wairoa rail line re-opening.

    Mervyn Smiley, an Eskdale resident of 25 years, has longed for the day when trains returned to the mothballed Napier to Wairoa line.
    On Friday, that dream became reality as a brass band and haka welcomed Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones to KiwiRail’s depot in Ahuriri, near Napier Port.

    After a short series of speeches, the minister and various other politicians including Napier MP Stuart Nash, Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP Meka Whaitiri and National’s Lawrence Yule, joined the region’s mayors in boarding the carriages of the first train to make the first full trip between Napier and Wairoa since 2012.

    Among the politicians present were Napier MP Stuart Nash and Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP Meka Whaitiri.

    On the train, Jones held a press conference, where he described the day as a great one for Hawke’s Bay.

    Jones said KiwiRail had had “so little for so long”, and the $6.2 million investment so far was a big deal, especially in relation to moving trucks off the roads.It would also allow businesses to grow their logistics capacity, and boost exports.

    The train stationed at Ahuriri before departing for Wairoa.
    “If we’re in for the KiwiRail journey, it’s a long-term journey. It’s about a nation building infrastructure at a time when there’s a lot of uncertainty about weather.”

    And the “fiscal love” would continue to flow post 2020’s election, he said, forecasting “substantial amounts” being injected into KiwiRail.
    On whether there was a possibility of extending the line to Gisborne, Jones said any business case would be pushing on an open door.

    Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones said it was a significant day.

    KiwiRail chief executive Greg Miller said with work on the line finished, its next focus was on establishing a log-hub in Wairoa so it could begin running trains as soon as August.

    “The amount of timber flowing from forests in the region is expected to quadruple in the next four years and to get all those logs to market will require all transport networks working efficiently together.”

    He forecast up to six trains travelling the line per week, meaning about 5000 fewer truck journeys initially, and more than 15,000 as services increased.

    The Deco Bay Brass group performed for Shane Jones upon his arrival.
    Jones said local civic leaders – mayors, council chairs and MPs – who had lobbied him were to credit for the re-opening.

    “This will substantially reduce their roading bill if they can move more heavy freight onto rail.”

    Transport advocacy groups NZ Transport 2050 and the Public Transport Users Association said in a statement the previous Government underfunded the line.

    Locals were waving at the train the whole trip, happy to see the line back in action.

    “The loss of 20 fulltime jobs in Wairoa was a big hit for a small community. With the railway re-opening today it opens up opportunities for wood processors to again re-establish in the town,” Paul Miller, chair of NZ Transport 2050 said.

    Green Party MP Gareth Hughes said regional rail should be the backbone of the transport system for people and freight, and his party would like to see the line extended from Wairoa to Gisborne.

    Hukarere Girls’ College students performed a waiata for ministers and MPs upon their arrival to Eskdale, north of Napier. The train then departed for Wairoa.

  2. Dreadful journalism by TV1 Sunday.

    Pathetic puerile journalism.

    Still TVNZ’s sponsors and advertisers will be happy. McDonalds, Wendy’s, KFC and other giant transnational industrial animal agriculture corporations don’t want TVNZ looking at the issue of meat and climate change seriously.

    Pathetic TVNZ.

    By contrast, James and Suzie Cameron are an inspiration.

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