Once again, the influence of Tim Power is detectable in maintaining the culture of secrecy which has pervaded KCDC senior management since former boss Mr Dougherty appointed him in 2012. (There is one exception: Mark de Haast, a straight-forward guy who doesn’t try to fudge or obfuscate things.)

There is no justification for maintaining secrecy about the amount of the tender submitted by the council in July 2019 for the property purchase in question on the basis of “commercial sensitivity” (paragraph 2) when the tender was clearly not accepted by the vendor at that time and the council states in paragraph 18 that it intends to maintain ownership of the property “longer term”. The amount subsequently offered by the council and accepted by the vendor was made public by the council once the vendor had told members of the public about it.

For the same reasons, the council’s refusal to supply the information requested in paragraph 14 is unreasonable and the only likely explanation for it is embarrassment to the then councilors about the paucity of information with which they accepted the management recommendation to proceed with this purchase.

It is simply dishonest to imply the council didn’t know what former owner Mulholland’s ambitions with the property were: from what is common knowledge, to build a boutique hotel on it, which would have been beneficial for tourism.  The council will know exactly why the project didn’t proceed.

We asked Karl Webber for his comments, which include:

“I’m stoked council have purchased this property, the empty section and the building on the other section, for a whole lot of cool ideas I could come up with, but I’m not impressed with the way they went about it or the non-transparent and non-engaging manner they have had after the fact.
“The first tender in July is interesting, this is probably when some of us got the heads up council was sniffing around it. I wonder if any of the current elected members at the time were aware? [probably not —Eds]
“Unless unless we are all missing something, the story is Mulholland had a plan to build a multi-story apartment building (where it would bridge over Jan’s cafe, owned by Vista) and Vista would do their food and beverage etc, so a tag team project to some degree. I think there were some issues with title etc., for Vista where they wanted to make the bridge access; also Mulholland’s consent was turned down due to not enough car parks, hence the property being put back on the market, so KCDC would have had plans or some form of application for resource consent, so to me council is misleading us. I think having a good chat to Darren and Sharon Hunter would be advantageous — they know Mulholland and what really went down.
“Mulholland must have applied for a resource consent / building permit etc and supplied plans to council, again I’d check with the Hunters, this doesn’t sound right to me, unless [we] used a wrong word or suchlike and council are not giving [us] a report because [we] asked for a consent-type scenario, they have done that to me in the past.
“My understanding is Maclean Park and nearby is beachfront, the other side of the road isn’t, so under the ‘managed retreat’ policy, only stuff on the Maclean Park side or beachfront is under the no-build policy, but it would probably pay to check this out — keep in mind council wanted to throw $15-20 million at a rebuild of the boat club for their Gateway centre or biosecurity check-in facility; both things have now become unclear.. it’s been one big waste of everybody’s time and a devious consultation process, in my opinion
“We have been told we will have some feedback from the Tourism Recreation Consultants results by the 2nd week of November now, will be interesting to see.
“Paragraph 11: I semi agree with KCDC here, but I don’t like their process to carry out these projects as the council thinks — it’s their job to come up with what the community wants. [One might ask, however, why ‘no interest was registered’ in the offer in 2013; why this huge change in attitude? —Eds]
“Morag in council sent out an e-mail to some of us that stated the new property is not for a Gateway, which is what they are calling the bio check-in for the island and also a larger Gateway centre for the whole Kapiti Coast, she also said they have two Provincial Growth Fund applications in the works that this could be suitable for, so god knows what new PGF projects council have dreamed up for the community, without any consultation or engagement.
“Paragraph 18 — this is a good point, we have one operator, Glen Cooper who says it should be up to the commercial operators and DoC to come up with a bio check-in, not rate- or tax-payers, so that’s interesting, and the council’s original proposed spend of $15-20 million for a Gateway centre in the current boating club, I mean that’s a lot of $ to blow if it was only for the restricted numbers to Kapiti Island; for a Gateway for the whole Kapiti coast yes, but we need that to be near the businesses, cafes, shops etc, not all the way away over by the boat club — and what will we do for a boat club, Coastguard etc? Incidentally, the club has made it very clear our building is not available for a Gateway of any sort so it’ll be interesting to see what the TRC recommendations are.
“Access to a biosecurity facility for people going to the island needs to be over near the departure point, not over by town where the Gateway needs to be, they are two different biscuits.
“The most logical place to have a toilet and bio check-in facility is just south of the Tikotu stream where there is also a current car park, which under the Maclean Park plan is to be upgraded one day, which will give us 2 extra parks at god knows what cost, so really, instead of blowing $500,000 — $1 million on the car park, they should leave it as is and undertake an under $2 million toilet block and bio check-in here and then we can focus on a Gateway for the whole Kapiti coast either over near the shops etc, probably the new property is the most ideal, or we include the Gateway in with the Marine Discovery Centre project for the Raumati pools which I’ve brought the new ED team up to speed with in the last week or so.
“Again, Darren and Sharon Hunter are the other people I’ve been working with on a small iconic biosecurity check in in the carpark south of the Tikotu stream for about a year now, in opposition to council with their grand plan for the boat club, that’s not available, to the extent that the Provincial Growth Fund people said they wouldn’t support either as they didn’t want to get involved in the politics of a community-led project verses a council-led one, still, interesting they are supporting the councils TRC review of the plan for the boat club. Council shouldn’t have wasted any $ re consulting with TRC over the Gateway, they just asked a whole lot of us what we thought or knew, and they had the audacity to argue some points of fact with me regarding some of this process; e.g. they had the numbers allowed to go to Kapit Island all wrong, argued that the island didn’t shut down over winter for 3 months etc when it does, so the whole process has been one big waste of time and $ in my opinion. (Quote: “It is yet to be decided where access points to and from the island will be situated. Any final decisions would of course only be made after extensive consultation with the community and stakeholders.”)”

Out played, out coached and out thought, the All Blacks tumbled out of the World Cup —Marc Hinton, Sunday Star-Times, 27 October 2019

The best team won

by Roger Childs

Sometimes the best team on the planet gets beaten by the number two. It happened at the Netball World Cup to our great delight, but this time New Zealand was the losing side. The England coaches had obviously carefully studied the way the All Blacks thrashed Ireland last week and set out to counter the tactics. It worked.

Was there too much “final gazing” and some complacency and over-confidence in the New Zealand camp? Devotees of the game will recall what happening in 2007 World Cup when Graham Henry fielded some of their second stringers in the quarter-final against France and paid the price.

This time the All Blacks had a powerful side, but there were two selection errors.

• Sam Cane the specialist flanker, should have been in the run-on team instead of lock Scott Barrett.
• Dane Cole is the best hooker and should have started ahead of Cody Taylor.

Anatomy of an epic victory

Basically England took the game to the All Blacks from the start and within three minutes were 7-0 head. A sweeping back movement down field where there were a number of missed tackles by the ABs, took the English close to goal line and a try quickly followed. From then, on, apart from occasional patches of positive All Black attacking, the English dominated all phases of the game.

They were quicker to the loose ball and, lead by speedy flankers Sam Underhill and Tom Curry, pulled off far more turnovers that their opponents. A number of these were actually won by the long, tall lock Maro Ioje, who was also outstanding in the line-out. He also stole two All Black throw-ins.  Ironically it was only an uncharacteristically poor English line-out throw that gifted the All Blacks their only try.

The idea that the big English forwards would be tired out by the ABs running game never happened — England was there for the full 80 minutes. Their tackling was superb and they never allowed the All Blacks to get into the sustained high paced, running rugby which had been the key to the superb performance against Ireland in the quarter-finals.

The English backs were often dangerous and first five George Ford’s goal kicking was deadly with four penalty goals and a conversion.

Essentially England controlled the game from the start and often anticipated All Black tactics, such as having players waiting when the New Zealanders ran through from kick offs, jumped high and palmed the ball back.

All Blacks below par

This was a poor performance from a team that was all class against Ireland the week before. There was too much ill discipline, missed tackles and poor passing. One example of the latter was the try scoring opportunity squandered in the first half when Retallick made an excellent break with two players in support but threw the pass behind them. Jack Goodhue, who was the pick of the ABs backs, gathered it from behind but the opportunity to draw level was gone.

There were a number of errors and ill-discipline incidents which cost the All Blacks dearly.

• Late in the game, Sam Whitelock was guilty of an illegal clean-out about 30 metres from the England goal line and a penalty was reversed which could have seen a line-out 10 metres from the corner. A try at this point would have had the ABs right back in the game.
• Jordie Barrett threw a stupid pass to a forward only a metre away, inside the 22 and from the ensuing knock-on England gained a handy scrum feed.
• Beauden Barrett was also guilty of a couple of aimless kicks down field which the English returned with interest.
• Retallick also conceded a penalty in the second half and Ford duly obliged to push out score.
• Angus Ta’avo gifted another penalty when he tried to pick the ball out of a ruck on the England side late in the game.

There were occasional promising attacking moves in the second half and Sevu Reece was involved in two. Unfortunately, in one of these the pass was thrown behind him. 

Some of the replacements didn’t make sense – both Goodhue and George Bridge were playing well when they were taken off.  

A well-deserved win to the English

This was a great all-round performance and all the team contributed. The English made few errors apart from gifting Ardie Savea a try.

Nigel Owens generally refereed fairly, and there was only one obvious exception. After all the talk and action in most instances, on shoulder charges and dangerous tackles,  the English forward who hit Reece with his shoulder should have yellow-carded late in the game.

No matter, this was a well-deserved victory and England now moves on to the final where either South Africa or Wales will await them.

Not a usual sight, but they are replacing trains to Wellington all this long weekend.  In Waikanae they simply arrive and depart in the station forecourt like the regular buses.

This shows most of the commercial buildings. East at the top.  Thanks to Karl Webber.

by Ann David

Progress over two years

If successful, ACT MP David Seymour’s End of Life Choice Bill would allow a doctor to hasten a patient’s death under strictly controlled conditions and only at the specific request of the patient.   The Bill uses the term “assisted dying” to describe this process.  

The Bill has passed First Reading, Justice Select Committee, Second Reading and Committee of the Whole House stages.   This has been a two-year process.  

On 23 October the NZ Parliament debated the Referendum Amendment proposed by New Zealand First: their Party policy is always to have significant social changes endorsed by the public before passing into law.  

The Referendum Amendment passed 63:57 meaning that Parliament agreed to hold a binding referendum if the Bill passes Third Reading. 

What lies ahead?  

So what’s next?  The Third Reading will probably be on 13 November 2019.   The Bill needs at least 61 YES votes to pass. If it passes, the referendum will probably be held at the next general election – around September/October 2020.   

The referendum question will be: “Do you support the End of Life Choice Act 2017 coming into force?”  Yes/No. 

Voters will be able to read the Act in its final form online at www.parliament.nz 

Changes to the original bill

What changes have been made to the Bill as originally proposed?  Here are the most significant: 

1. Eligibility is now restricted to those with a terminal illness and 6 months or less to live.  This means that those with a “grievous and irremediable medical condition” will no longer qualify. Neuro-degenerative diseases such as Huntington’s, Parkinson’s, MND and MS are among those that do not meet the medical definition of “terminal”.
2. Nurse practitioners may participate in assisted dying (previously doctors only).
3. Doctors may not initiate a discussion on assisted dying with a patient.
4. An employer cannot discriminate against a doctor who exercises the right of conscientious objection not to participate.
5. If coercion is suspected, doctors and/or nurse practitioners must immediately discontinue the process.
6. No-one can access assisted dying by virtue of disability alone, or by virtue of a mental health disorder alone.    

David Seymour MP

Follow the progress of this Bill by watching Parliamentary proceedings on TV: Freeview channel 31, Sky 86 or Vodafone 86.   Or you can watch on your device: www.parliament.nz  

The worldwide movement includes Waikanae

The Dying with Dignity movement is sweeping the Western world.   Country by country, state by state, jurisdictions are adopting assisted dying laws.

Our Parliament is inevitably influenced by liberal social trends that take place in countries with which we traditionally compare ourselves.

The End of Life Choice Society (established 1978 as the Voluntary Euthanasia Society Inc) will have a stall close to the Old Main Road at the Spring Market in Mahara Place Waikanae today.  

Please drop by and say hello if you’re in the area.   Yes, you guessed it: we’re in favour of legalisation as a way of ending unwanted, extreme and hopeless deathbed suffering.

Media release from the Chair of ROBB, Christopher Ruthe.

ROBB’s Win for Readers 

The outcome of votes for councillors indicates the impact ROBB had on election results. Those sitting councillors who supported the cuts and lost their seats were Mark Benton, (Paraparaumu Ward), Michael Scott (Waikanae Ward), Mike Cardiff (District-wide).

Councillors elected on promises of restoring the cuts were Gwynn Compton, Bernie Randall, Martin Halliday,and Sophie Handford. Robb McCann is understood to want to reinstate the book budget.

Councillor Elliott had a change of mind, having earlier supported the cuts. On the campaign trail she candidly explained her change of position. She said staff advice was there was no room for new books. I had this confirmed in discussions with two other councillors who confirmed this is how they understood the advice.

New Councillors expected to fulfil promises

It is trusted the newly elected councillors will challenge staff advice, unlike the ousted councillors. They must keep that in mind and decide that obsequiously acquiescing with the staff’s one-sided recommendations will not happen on their watch. After all that is what they are paid to do — ask critical questions.

Interestingly in Otaki where very few ROBB flyers were distributed, sitting councillors  and Angela Buswell and James Cootes were two of only three book budget cutters re-elected.

41,000 library members were not happy with cuts

ROBB used a strategy that maximized the issue of the appalling cuts made to the library budget. The former council told library members immediate cuts were necessary to help pay for the Waikanae library debacle. That was simply untrue. According to the latest information, KCDC has no intention of repairing the Waikanae library. It will look at “other options” in the next 5 to 10 years

Psychological well-being jeopardized the major issue

ROBB raised a matter that ultimately affects the neurological/mental well-being of a whole community. ROBB’s strongest point was the evidence it produced about the high importance of reading to mental health. (And it’s much cheaper than building new Mental Health facilities). Democracy had a win. Councillors are foolish indeed if they ignore the interests of 41,000 library members.

Spend storage fees on books

The next stage is to get reversed the waste of $32,100 p.a. on storing the Waikanae books. ROBB has already asked why these books have not been incorporated into the Paraparaumu and Otaki Libraries. Simple.  If the bureaucrats raise pointless excuses then they can be stored rent free at the old Raumati Pool complex. Lions have 100,000 books, there is room for 100,000 more. ROBB says put that money into new books.

ROBB is looking forward to working constructively with the new Council. It aims to restore the budget, then moving to having a budget that equals the new book per member expended by Wellington City Council.

The Waikanae Watch team supported ROBB during the elections, but we think it is a little presumptuous to say it was the main issue that swayed voters… In Waikanae there was clearly major anti-Michael Scott sentiment already, and think that was true in the case of Mark Benton in Paraparaumu-Raumati also.  In the council chamber during the seminars this week, newly elected Bernie Randall of that Ward has signaled his intention to move to reverse the cuts next month.  Martin Halliday, now the other councillor of that Ward, is unhappy about the cuts to particular budgets to pay for the Independent Organisation Review and wants them reversed also.  —Eds

It’s a great feeling to have recovered from cancer – to have been through it all and to be living a full and happy life again. I have done it. —Australian Ian Gawler, founder of the Gawler Cancer Foundation

Deaths and survival

By Roger Childs

In NZ 650 men die of prostate cancer every year, but most of those afflicted survive. Conquering the cancer can depend on a number of factors. As with breast cancer, early detection is the key. For prostate cancer diagnosis based on PSA blood test results means that action can be taken sooner rather than later to nip it in the bud. (See Article 1 on 17 October)

Some years ago a visiting Australian medical academic made the point on New Zealand radio that most people with prostate cancer will die of something else – a stroke, a heart attack or just old age. However, obviously as with all cancers, some people have very serious symptoms and may be diagnosed as terminal cases. 

My friend Graham Clouston in New Plymouth had a huge PSA count of 444 and was given only a few months to live back in 2017. Two years on his PSA is 0.28 and he is confident of living for at least another 20 years.

New Approaches – getting the body to fight back

Medical science is advancing all the time and the emphasis with treating cancer is starting to  shift away from trying to kill the cancer cells with lengthy and painful programmes such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, to infusion methods and building immunity to  “instruct” healthy cells in the body to fight the cancer cells. 

New Zealand and Australian research teams are at the forefront of world research and the Wellington based Malaghan Institute is on the cutting edge is pioneering CAR T-Cell Cancer Therapy. The Clinical Director Dr Robert Weinkove explains how it works. 

By re-programming immune cells we can fight cancer in more precise and targeted ways in situations where existing treatments such as surgery chemotherapy and radiation are no longer an option.

He emphasizes that it is early days and the potential of the process is only just beginning to  be understood.

Cures and side effects

Inevitably there are side effects from the various treatments currently available. (Again refer to the first article.)

For example side effects of Hormone Treatment (Androgen Depressive Therapy – ADT) include uncontrolled weight gain, loss of muscle and bone mass, erectile dysfunction, loss of energy and drive, among others, ADT is not considered to be curative. The drug injected as a 3 monthly implant is Zoladex. 

Prostate removal, brachytherapy (radioactive implants )and radiotherapy are considered curative if the cancer is picked up early enough, and if it has not already spread into any  surrounding tissue. 

Some men can have their prostate removed but subsequently due to increasing PSA counts may need go on to have both radiotherapy and ADT, at the same time. This is not very desirable and the programme often has a poor chance of success.

Beyond medical intervention – lifestyle change

If you do what you always do, you get what you always got. —Prostate cancer survivor, Graham Clouston.

Ian Gawler attributes his experience of coming out the other side to a number of factors based around changing the way he lived. After medical procedures have been carried out, he advises:

• meditation as a tool for healing
• a regular exercise regime
• training the mind to think positively
• cancer fighting nutrition
• maintaining healthy emotions
• reducing stress in your life.

His book You Can Conquer Cancer has sold over a quarter of a million copies.

(In the next article we’ll look in detail at cancer-fighting nutrition.)