Australians will probably say temperatures above 30°C are nothing, but Waikanae people aren’t so used to them.  Pics at the beach and at Waikanae Pool.

In a totalitarian state you expect art and architecture to conform strictly to the ruling ideology like everything else, and that was true in the Soviet Union — with the notable exception of bus stops where creativity was not only allowed but encouraged.

Spread over its vast territory the result was a weird and quite numerous collection of esoteric structures that were more bizarre yet more artistic that those that have been created in the West — see the examples in earlier posts.

Canadian Christopher Herwig became fascinated by what he experienced on his travels and deliberately journeyed 30,000 km to photograph these surreal creations.

The result is a book that we were sent recently and makes for a fascinating study.  If you put his name into a search engine (we’re not going to use the ‘g” word) you will see more examples than the few here.

Apart from a handful in Wainuiomata and Eastbourne where artists have been at work on otherwise plain walls (see earlier), no such attention has been paid to bus stops in the Wellington region; the GWRC sees them as stock utilitarian structures only.

If this was done to a few stops in Waikanae to create part of its marketing “brand”, as we have suggested more than once, what icons would be appropriate?  A miniature of Beijing’s ‘Birds Nest’ stadium?  A big wave curving over about to break?  A sea shell?

This display board lists about 60 species that can be seen in the estuary and the Waimanu Lagoons.

And while on the subject, the KCDC has warned people to keep pets away from dead birds in or near waterways, and not to touch carcasses, after a pair of swans died from suspected avian botulism.

The cases were reported at the Waimanu lagoons, immediately north of the Waikanae Estuary.

Parks and recreation manager Alison Law says “a precautionary approach was being taken while formal testing on the two dead swans is underway.”

From stuff.co.nz 2009

The family of a Mataura possum hunter who died from 1080 poisoning 43 years ago want his death publicly acknowledged by the Department of Conservation and Animal Health Board. Both agencies say no-one has died of accidental 1080 poisoning in New Zealand. But Ian Buchanan’s widow, 69-year-old Elva Wicks, of Invercargill, said […]

via Did you know that a NZ man died from 1080 poisoning in 1966? … his family is still waiting for NZ authorities to acknowledge this — Rangitikei Enviromental Health Watch

I have noticed more people are starting verge gardens.  Any garden that breaks up the concrete landscape is good to my eyes, but some verge gardens significantly add beauty to the streetscape.  I recently found one […]

via Marrickville verge garden — SAVING OUR TREES – Marrickville municipality

Below is a job the KCDC is currently advertising, reproduced verbatim.

Our interpretations:

“Kickstart your career“: this is not a position carrying a big salary.

“a fixed term position until January 2020 to provide cover while a staff member is on secondment“: the existing person is exclusively a propagandist for the Ewy extension until then.

“Particular interest in digital communications”: the job will involve monitoring blogs and social media to see what people in Kapiti are saying about us.

“content management systems“: you know how to use web search engines and Ctrl+f

“share that knowledge with others“: we will want you to translate millennial-speak for our older bosses and vice versa.

“top notch written and oral communication skills;” you know how to string a sentence together using correct spelling/grammar/syntax; people will find your utterances comprehensible.

“good judgment and political sensitivity“: we want the most favourable interpretive descriptions possible of what we do, including stuff-ups.

“A current and valid NZ Drivers Licence is essential“: you will need to go to places where ratepayers and other employees gather to talk to them and take pictures of them looking enthusiastic about what we are are doing.

Communications Coordinator – Ref 050
We are looking for a savvy  individual  to join our lively communications team where no two days are the same.

Kickstart your career and develop new skills within a supportive team whose work is highly valued. Working across a range of internal and external communications and engagement activities, this role is a great opportunity for a recent graduate with a particular interest in digital communications . This is a fixed term position until January 2020 to provide cover while a staff member is on secondment.

To be successful in this role you will have:

• Tertiary qualification in communications, media, marketing or a related field
  Great interpersonal skills with a commitment to customer service and ability to work with a wide range of people within and outside the organisation
• Excellent web and social media literacy and and understanding of modern digital communication.
• Experience using content management systems, video and photo editing packages and online publishing tools is desirable
• Demonstrated ability to learn and accept new technologies, and to share that knowledge with others
• Top notch written and oral communication skills, eye for detail and understanding of proof reading and editing processes
• An ability to cope with change; adjust to and work with a variety of situations, individuals and agencies.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively under pressure, remaining calm demonstrated effective time management and organisational skills.
• Demonstrated understanding of the need for and ability to exercise discretion, good judgment and political sensitivity within the unique local government environment.
• An understanding of the role of local government.
• A current and valid NZ Drivers Licence is essential.

Visible in the centre mid-background of this photo (click to get the full view).  The other structure to the left is a sales office, open on Sundays.

This vista is going to change in the near future as the development will be covered with the company’s boxes.

The tree in the foreground looks to be dying or dead — probably it has been poisoned.

The private enterprise operation from Wellington to Longburn lasted from 1886 to the end of 1908 when the government bought it.

This pic was probably taken  in the 1900s.