 Credit: ODT
On Friday I spoke in support of my less than glowing submission on the QLDC’s draft transport strategy.
I felt it lacked a vision for Queenstown, was not comprehensive enough and was more wishful thinking than reality. To sum it up for those who haven’t read it. A well intentioned QLDC meritoriously wants to take 20% of our vehicle movements and redistribute them to walking, biking and bussing by changing the rules around car parking. This will avoid the need to spend any money on roading infrastructure to after 2030 maybe even 2040.
  When you have fallen off the wagon climbing back on can be daunting particularly when it comes to health and fitness. We have all been there, looking up from the bottom of a deep hole desperate to climb out.
Many succumb to the latest fitness craze throwing themselves obsessively into a cataclysmic lifestyle change. Inevitably some don’t make it through the first few weeks. Other’s trawl the internet for quick fixes and miracle cures throwing money away like tipping notes at Calendar Girls. Whatever you do it needs to be compatible with your lifestyle and sustainable in the long term. It can be as simple as moving a little more and consuming a little less for sustained period of time.
In recent days there has been a mind blowing revelation unveiled to the blissfully unaware citizens of New Zealand.....
Apparently our government spies on people, other governments and we may even monitor some of our own citizens communications! WOW, Shock and Awe! This is bigger than Texas maybe even larger than Kim Dot Coms ego, this is a moment of truth on a grand scale akin to the time I found out there was sugar in Coke and KFC's Double Down burger wasn't going to be blessed with the Heart Foundation tick.  I'd like to think like most Kiwi's I'm pretty green at heart. I hunt, fish, love the great outdoors and hope our natural landscape and all the elements I enjoy will be around for the next generation.
We have been lucky to grow up in a country with such abundant recreational amenities provided by our natural landscape but also in a country which for the most part has provided us with first world health, education and standards of living. We have also grown up in a country with environmental choices due to our economic success. The trade off between leaving New Zealand as it was millennia ago and developing it for human habitation has resulted in a great wee country whose population of 4.5 millions Kiwi's punch well above their weight globally. In Politics as with life It's easy to make promises but a hell of a lot harder to keep them.  Nationally the lolly scramble is in full flight and insults are being tossed around freely. Locally the politicians are out in force and the hoardings are up, complete with plenty of childishly scribbled satirical humour.
That’s right, in case you have been living under a rock somewhere and not noticed, its election time!
 As a mainlander it’s always a bit of a chore going to the big city at the top of the other island.
My most recent excursion was pretty hectic; traffic, work and other big city kind of stuff, enough to leave any man parched and in need of a cool, refreshing beverage. I was looking forward to quenching my mega city thirst with an ice cold Speight’s in Air New Zealand’s revamped Koru Lounge. It seemed all that was standing between me and my little slice of home was an arduous journey through the world’s least transit friendly city. Thankfully I was couriered to Auckland Airport by my good friend Jo in her white lightening late 80’s Nissan Sunny negotiating the loony’s on the road with consummate aplomb. What a beast of a car, always a highlight of my trips to the big smoke.  Seeing this seasons NRL roar into life without its signature defensive move the shoulder charge bought to mind the now age old (age old being the last 40 years) debate, “is today’s generation just a pack of slick haired money hungry pansies compared to the hardened men of past era’s”, eras where medical research into head trauma didn’t exist it’s worth noting or as we evolving to a more sensible and mature civilisation which seeks to protect its athlete’s from undue risk?
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AuthorMark Wilson 
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