In his latest BayBuzz magazine article — Boomers … Living in Paradise — Douglas Lloyd Jenkins asks: “Does Hawke’s Bay’s growing reputation as a baby-boom paradise have the potential to […]
Posted inAccountability, The Buzz, Tom's Blog
The devil is in the details
On Wednesday, the Regional Council adopted this resolution regarding a study of the Bay’s socioeconomic prospects and local governance: “Approves the investment of $40,000 for efficiency and effectiveness studies be […]
Posted inAccountability, The Buzz, Tom's Blog
Leaders take stand
Over the weekend, this ‘Better Hawke’s Bay’ ad ran in Hawke’s Bay Today. Its headline: We Want A Better Performing Hawke’s Bay, Do You? Although that sounds like a bit […]
Posted inAccountability, Environment, The Buzz, Tom's Blog, Water
Race to the bottom
Over the last couple of days, I spent a few hours listening to submissions heard by a Regional Council hearings panel on the proposed Napier BTF sewage treatment plant. The […]
Posted inAccountability, The Buzz, Tom's Blog
Regional Council in sales mode
There’s no job recession at the Regional Council these days. Currently advertised on the HBRC website are three communications positions, with salaries totaling $190,000 (that’s without the cost of benefits […]
Posted inOther, The Buzz, Tom's Blog
Sep-Oct BayBuzz magazine available
If you were a paid subscriber, you would already have received your advance personal copy in the mail. Hint! Hint! (Here’s how) You can get a copy of the Sep-Oct […]
Posted inMagazine, The Buzz, Tom's Blog
The Truth about Council Debt
BayBuzz’s research underscores the need for an independent, professionally-conducted review of the financial positions of our local councils … rendered in plain English
Posted inMagazine, The Buzz, Tom's Blog, Water
Water Pressure
Decisions to be made over the next 18 months will set the ground rules for freshwater protection and management in Hawke’s Bay for decades to come.
Posted inMagazine
Boomers… Living in Paradise
Does Hawke’s Bay’s growing reputation as a baby-boom paradise have the potential to limit the region’s future appeal and eventually its economic performance?
Posted inMagazine
My Name is Hawke’s Bay and I have a Drinking Problem
“So what have you got planned for the weekend?” my father enquired of the girl at the cafe. “I’m gonna get smashed” she announced with an air of keen anticipation. […]
Posted inMagazine
Hawke’s Bay’s Online Merchants Sell to the World
A thriving underground of virtual retailers gains momentum.
Posted inMagazine, Other
They’re Back
Prodigal sons and daughters are returning to the Bay. Who are they, why are they back and what have they brought with them?…
Posted inMagazine
At war with the brat kids
A lecture and an interview set the two opposing camps against each other. The lecture I attended was the keynote address at this year’s Dwell on Design show in Los […]
Posted inMagazine, The Buzz, Tom's Blog
Battling Capitalism
David Trubridge advocates war on capitalism, declaring environmentalism and capitalism to face a “direct head-to-head confrontation”. He’s run out of patience with “light greens”, who he sees as “getting nowhere”. […]
Posted inMagazine
Fallen arches
Ronald McDonald trudged slowly along the side of the road. There were no footpaths along this stretch of roadway. Just long-grass verges and open drains. He was perspiring in the […]
Posted inMagazine
Hawke’s Bay … stuck in the past or looking to our future?
We are already one region – we just need to start acting like it.
Posted inMagazine
Hastings hosts entertainment extravaganza
Visit Hastings in September and there’ll be no doubt you’re in a vibrant Pacific city. The Hawke’s Bay Opera House precinct will hum with the National Waiata Music Awards on […]
Posted inMagazine
The Buzz of Bees
For my first column for BayBuzz it only seems fitting to write about NZ beekeeping. Can you remember a time when bees weren’t in the news? Where have they gone? […]