WELLINGTON: ON THE BUS TO NOWHERE WITH HALF-ASLEEP DRIVERSWhat do you do when you are on a bus to nowhere when the driver is asleep at the wheel and the other passengers are shouting you down when you try to wake him [or her] up?
This is more or less the situation that I found myself in 2016 when I stood as a Wellington City Mayoral Candidate in 2016, in a desperate attempt to flag some of the major policy issues that beset the city that I love so much.
Not aided I might add by some condescension and piss-taking by mainstream journos like Nikki Macdonald and Dave Armstrong [apparently any concern on my part for the public good might be interpreted alternatively as hubris by a superannuated nobody – and who really cares if I am slanderously accused of being a Neoliberal!].
I still follow local politics, strictly as an observer, and weep figuratively into my morning coffee – and I shed yet more phantom tears this morning when it was ‘revealed’ that internationally mobile, high earning young professionals in high-end IT-related industries are shunning Wellington because of the high cost of housing and its lousy and long-neglected infrastructure.
No surprises here!
Wake up You Bastards! Do you really want those of our kids who remain to all work as metaphorical shoe-shine boys for cruise ship passengers – or do you have any remnant aspirations whatsoever about what they and our wonderful city should become? That rather than being a twee and ‘boutique’ bolt-hole and airport mall venue for the wealthy – it should become a young, edgy place where ideas thrive and up-to-the-minute opportunities are made and taken to help build a better world?
SEE:
Few skilled workers want to come to world's coolest little capital - report
Damian George and Andre Chumko, NZ Stuff, 13 July 2020
We are meant to be the coolest little capital in world, so why do so many young professionals say they don’t want to move to Wellington?
...
A report based on feedback from law, accounting, technology, and engineering firm representatives, and highlighted a number of worries the sector had. The report said many private sector firms were already looking to downsize in the CBD.
The industry leaders have now called on the council to create a “persuasive positive impression” of Wellington as a city open for business, by fixing infrastructure problems, progressing major projects, and increasing resilience. One industry leader said: “If you can work from home ... there are places easier to buy a house and have a good lifestyle than Wellington.”
...
MY TAKES:
WELLINGTON BUSINESS COMMUNITY [WECC] AND WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL [WCC] NEED WAKE-UP ON ICT OPPORTUNITIES
I went along to the yesterday to make a presentation to the IT Start Up community [hosted by Creative HQ] as part of my mayoral campaign, having previously called in at the Wellington BizDojo space which provides IT-related co-working facilities:
I am very supportive of the IT Start Up community and would like to see the development of a much more definite and comprehensive 10 Year Plan with much augmented funding by Wellington City Council and local business networks.
When Wellington City Council put forward its 8 Big Ideas to Get Wellington Moving, a ‘tech precinct’ was given third priority after the combined Conference Centre – Movie Museum and the Wellington Airport Runway Extension.
However, the differences in the scale of funding are glaring.
The Conference Centre – Movie Museum has been allocated $150 million, and $90 million has been earmarked for the Runway Extension [with undisclosed potential liabilities which could be much greater].
The ‘tech precinct’ has been given a total contribution of NZ$ 3.2 million spread over three years.
The contrast points up once again the tendency for the Council to favour established businesses in the Hospitality, Tourism, Retail and Property Development sectors of the economy at the comparative expense of Knowledge-based, Creative, High Tech Innovative enterprises.
This is a trend which also benefits those who are already well-heeled [Peter Jackson has a personal fortune estimated at $450 million plus and WIAL’s owner Infratil has assets of $2.5 billion and regularly makes returns of 19 percent per annum]. This kind of favoritism clearly also exacerbates income and wealth inequalities.
I asked my audience to imagine what could be done in the IT Start Up sector if it was given, or even loaned, a decent slice of the $240 million that is going to the Conference Centre – Museum and Airport Runway Extension projects?
Not surprisingly, at our meeting, there was widespread blow-back about the lack of understanding of the IT Start Up Sector among councillors and council officers. This is what the current blurb says:
Idea 3: A tech precinct
One of the critical conditions for success in high-tech industries is the opportunity for people to connect with each other, sharing knowledge and ideas, investment and pathways to international markets. A CBD tech precinct would offer opportunities to foster growth in high-tech companies and encourage connections between creatives, business people, investors and the education sector. The objective of the precinct is to put in place the kind of environment that will give small start-ups the tools and networks to grow. Companies like Xero show the huge potential that exists in this space.
But Wellington is getting nowhere in relative terms, with its chicken-feed funding. It does not figure in the Wikipedia list of technology centres in Oceania for example [nor do any other centres in New Zealand for that matter]:
The amounts of money going into these kinds of initiatives elsewhere are mind-boggling.
Hong Kong for example has budgeted US$ 1 billion plus for its Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks (HKSTP) which are home to more than 580 technology players. Companies based at the HKSTP are primarily involved in the following sectors: (1) biotechnology, (2) electronics, (3) green technology, (4) IT and telecommunications, and (5) precision engineering [and their interaction and mutual sparking of synergy and innovation].
Construction work on Phase III of the HKSTP was completed in April 2016. The development represents an investment of US$ 640 million by the Hong Kong government and is intended to boost the development of green technology in the city, as well as to attract high-tech investment from private companies. It can accommodate about 150 green technology companies and create 4,000 research and development positions of green technology in the territory.
Are we being bamboozled by rip-off rent-seeking from parasitic sunset service industries that is depriving us of a High Tech future? Are we creating Mac-Jobs for our young people as baristas, bar-tenders and various kinds of escorts when we could be creating a high-tech future that brings the world to us on a screen rather than a plane?
You might very well ask – but I could not possibly comment. I will though continue to Try to Put a Bit of Stick About’.
My responses to the Wellington Chamber of Commerce Mayoral Candidate Questionnaire 2016 are given below
[you can catch up with the answers given by the other Mayoral Candidates at:
Response from Keith Johnson: Wellington Chamber of Commerce Mayoral Candidate Questionnaire 2016
Overview
1. What is your vision for Wellington?
Wellington’s people are its greatest asset, and its layout and compact form encourage collaboration – we need above all to build on these strengths. We need to encourage entrepreneurs and young professionals and assist them by promoting affordable housing and top-class urban infrastructure, while keeping down costs [especially by containing residential rates and the accumulation of debt by WCC]. Most of all, it is vital that we continue to promote Wellington as a warm and friendly place that is highly liveable and offers a wide range of entertainment and cultural options. |
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2. How would you ensure that Wellington City is business-friendly?
I do not accept that all businesses are equal in terms of their contributions to the welfare and future prosperity of the city. I write widely on my magazine website ‘Keith Johnson Wellington NZ’ where I have expressed scepticism of the way in which the hospitality, tourism, retail and property development sectors appear to secure special assistance from WCC, while little appears to be done to support the development of knowledge-based industries like tertiary education, ICT, design, innovative manufacturing, and cultural and arts activities. I would be especially receptive to initiatives from the latter, less so to those from the former.
3. Would you make any changes to the Long Term Plan 2015/25?
I would take out the provisional allocation of $90 million for the Wellington Airport Runway Extension for starters – to me this smacks of special pleading for the subsidy of a private profit-making enterprise by residential ratepayers. I would initiate a thoroughgoing review of ‘Other Expenditures’ [which cover the proposed capital investments in the ‘8 Big Ideas’ / Big Spend Programme, in the light of the current strength of the Wellington economy, as it was initiated in response to a temporary downturn in 2013. I would also review allocations for the maintenance and renewal of core infrastructure facilities and eliminate deferred maintenance. I would initiate proper project appraisal [including business case analysis] and monitoring for all capital investment projects. I would end the use of covert special development funds and ensure open tendering and full disclosure for all contracts. |
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4. Please list three to five key issues that you consider need addressing by the council over the next three years.
1. Controlling the overall growth in spending, restraining rate rises, eliminating any further rebalancing of rates rises in favour of the business sector at the expense of residential ratepayers, and ending the accumulation of debt [currently set to rise to over $800 million by 2025].
2. Solving [or at least seriously starting to solve] Wellington’s inner city transport woes. |
I propose the participatory negotiation of a multi-interest / multi-modal 25-year horizon Transport Accord, using a co-design approach. I envisage that this will result in an agreed approach to developing the State Highway 1 corridor from the Terrace Tunnel to the Airport; substantial traffic calming and pedestrianization in the CBD; and the continued development of a network of cycle-ways. I could also lead to initial planning for a rapid transit – light rail link from Wellington Railway Station to the Airport [in the meantime emphasis would be given to improving the service quality and environmental characteristics of bus services].
3. I oppose the Wellington Airport Runway Extension project and will rescind WCC’s $90 million commitment to the proposal.
4. Affordable housing and social housing will be key priorities. For example, I would be keen to re-allocate the $90 million saved on the Runway Extension Project to social housing by making good the loss of #120 units that were lost when HNZ’s Gordon Wilson Flats were red-stickered as earthquake endangered. I would ensure that development contributions are made for affordable housing [for first time buyers] in all major projects [e.g. the Mt Crawford and Erskine College developments].
5. I will ensure that all capital projects pass rigorous economic, business case, equity and environmental scrutiny - and that subsequent implementation, as with all council works and services, is undertaken cost-effectively. |
5. What’s you leadership style – how will you lead council and how would you motivate councillors to work together?
I do not believe that Wellingtonians need or want Visionary Leadership built around flashy big ticket spending. Our citizens are practical, creative and independent-minded and more than capable of shaping their own futures, given cost-effective basic services. I have been described as a ‘Typical Wellingtonian’ which I take as a great compliment – my campaign motto is ‘Caring about Costs: Caring about People’ [i.e. as Nikki Macdonald has commented in the Dom ‘Policy + Poetry’]. I want to get councillors back to work in delivering efficient facilities and supporting grass-roots community initiatives. I will reward them for doing the basics well. |
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6. How will you allocate council portfolios – equally amongst councillors or based on councillor’s skill set and capability?
By skill set and capability.
7. How will you work with other councils in the region?
I would put a good deal of effort into working effectively with the other councils in the region – it is clearly a single economy and Wellington City owes some responsibility to the outlying parts of the region in ensuring their continued prosperity and growth. I was very upset to learn that a large proportion of teenagers in disadvantaged areas like Cannon’s Creek have never visited the CBD and would work hard to ensure that Wellington City is seen as a good-hearted neighbour [e.g. by inviting in kids and initiating dialogues with interested communities / community groups in the wider region].
Rates
8. Do you support the use of differential rates, whereby all business ratepayers pay more than residential ratepayers per dollar of rateable land? (The differential is 1:2.8)
YES [See response to Question 9].
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9. Do you think it’s justifiable that Wellington city businesses pays the highest rates in New Zealand? If so, why? (Currently 46% of the total rate-take, while making up 21% of the rateable property. This includes general rates, targeted rates and business-specific levies)
I have been trying to track down some comparative figures for relative business rates burdens across local government areas in New Zealand but so far I have found nothing to substantiate WECC’s claim of unique hardship.
The problem for WECC is that many of its members in the tourism, hospitality, retail and property development sectors are direct beneficiaries of the kinds of Big Ideas / Big Spend ‘Wish List and Lolly Scramble’ promises of the Mainstream Mayoral Candidates – so, to keep these sectors happy, WECC has to try to load further burdens on Residential Ratepayers.
Let’s just explore one of the many ironies here. Mainstream candidate Jo Coughlan has chided Residential Ratepayers and those [like me] who champion their cause in restricting their rate rises. Jo argues that: ‘Council spending, as reflected in the rates burden, is minuscule in the average household budget, being the equivalent of no more than the cost of a cup of coffee per day’.
Ergo, if this is true [it’s not – and rates are a particular burden on poorer householders and first-time buyers – but let’s leave these points for another day], the Business Community of Wellington is buying Two Cups of Coffee per day [+ a biscotti] – hardly worth crying into your Latte Froth about!
And it’s also important to remember that:
Rates are a tax deductible expense for businesses – so that one of their coffees or so in every three comes essentially free
Much of the demand for CBD property comes from central government – again funded indirectly by general tax payers.
And as a friend of mine said with some anger recently: "Why should residential rate payers make any contribution whatsoever to projects like the proposed film museum [where presumably they will also have to pay an entrance user-charge fee] or the convention centre and airport runway extension projects which primarily benefit foreigners, and promoters in the tourism, hospitality, retail and property development sectors?”
10. What are your views on the council’s use of debt to fund projects?
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Debt is a tax on the younger generation – and young people are already bearing the cost of the dismantling of state support for higher education [and the accompanying student loan burden] while the older generation benefits from relatively high central government spending on superannuation and health services. I am totally against further expanding debt levels. |
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11. Do you think the council has an appropriate level of debt?
It should be reduced if possible but provision needs to be made for the responsible financing of capital spending that is already in train. |
Ingredients/Economic Development
12. What initiatives would you promote to grow Wellington City/Region’s GDP?
‘Growth’ can be a simple-minded concept that benefits the few at the cost of the welfare of the many. On all developments, we need to constantly ask:
· Are they properly targeted [effective] and will they be well-implemented and managed [efficient]?
· Are they fair? Do they benefit a wide spectrum of citizens impartially or are they responding to special interests?
· Are they socially and environmentally responsible? Do they look to the longer term interests of the city and its citizens?
That said and done, I will be open to considering any and all proposals from well-meaning and good-hearted project promoters.
13. What do you define as core or strategic assets of council?
The 2002 Local Government Act 2002 states that the purpose of local government is:
- To enable democratic local decision-making and action by, and on behalf of, communities
- To meet the current and future needs of communities for good-quality local infrastructure, local public services and performance of regulatory functions in a way that is most cost-effective for households and businesses.
I will implement the Act [and, with respect to the first point, ensure the development of a much more effective and comprehensive and interactive WCC website to facilitate public participation].
14. Please list three things you would do to attract investment or to attract businesses to set up, relocate or expand in the city/region.
I have spent my career working as a development economist and public policy adviser and would bring my skills and experience to bear on attracting the right kinds and magnitudes of investment. In particular, I spent a good deal of my early and mid-career working in the Middle East and Asia [latterly working for 7 years as an economist and then senior development policy officer with the Asian Development Bank based in Manila, Philippines working on project planning and policy reform issues] and I would use my knowledge and contacts to promote Wellington’s business profile and attract foreign direct investment. I would diversify interest, for example, towards a range of emerging economies in Asia and not put all our eggs in a Chinese basket. I also spent 7 years in Canberra and would promote greater links with our twin sister city, as well as using my UK background and experience to promote links to Europe. I have a very cosmopolitan and open mindset on business opportunities and would emphasize e-networking with potential overseas partners.
Infrastructure
15. What are your priorities for infrastructural investment in the Wellington region over the next five to ten years?
1. Up-to-date physical maintenance and well-planned basic infrastructure asset replacement and the provision of all necessary upgrading to provide security of service and resilience in the case of natural disasters.
2. Active support for the adoption and widespread provision of the latest / most cost-effective Information Communication Technology and its application across all sectors of the economy.
16. Do you support the runway extension at Wellington Airport? If so, how do you think it should funded?
I have written widely about this topic on my website ‘Keith Johnson Wellington NZ’ and have been a long-standing opponent of the project and its proposed subsidization by residential ratepayers.
To me it is utterly extraordinary and potentially catastrophically dangerous to plan to fly in planeloads of tourists from Guangzhou non-stop and land them on a runway which will still not meet recommended standards for Runway Extension Safety Areas [the norm is 210 metres either end – WIAL proposes 90 metres], especially when Wellington can experience gale-force winds on up to 250 days per year.
The idea that residential ratepayers should subsidize this folly, when WIAL has already completed a shorter extension over the southern perimeter road at its own cost and when it admits that its own business case for the project falls well short of commercial viability, is bizarre and monstrously unfair. |
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17. Please list three initiatives or projects you would support to improve public transport in Wellington.
As previously stated, I propose the participatory negotiation of a multi-interest / multi-modal 25-year horizon Transport Accord, using a co-design approach.
I envisage that this will result in an agreed approach to developing the State Highway 1 corridor from the Terrace Tunnel to the Airport; substantial traffic calming and pedestrianization in the CBD; and the continued development of a network of cycle-ways. I could also lead to initial planning for a rapid transit – light rail link from Wellington Railway Station to the Airport [in the meantime emphasis would be given to improving the service quality and environmental characteristics of bus services].
I have written and recommended a ‘Swiss-style’ bus service which involves buses running at 10 minute intervals on all major routes – this is becoming more feasible with self-drive vehicles and the development of eco-friendly / electric technology. I want to see the end of big ‘cattle trucks’ and the advent of a large fleet of smaller and technologically smarter people carriers. |
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18. What initiatives or projects would you suggest to improve business resilience in the city?
See my answers to Questions 15 and 19. |
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19. In the event of major shocks or stresses, how would you ensure business would return or stay in Wellington?
Having low levels of debt and well-maintained infrastructure are vital to both current prosperity and resilience. I am concerned that, in the event of major natural disaster shocks [tsunami, earthquake etc.] and economic downturns [like a re-run or even greater global disruption than the 2008 Great Recession], Wellington would be unable to pick itself up, given the accumulation of debt [which stems in part from the ‘8 Big Ideas’ programme and would be much accentuated by the rash promises on capital projects that are being made by the other mayoral candidates]. Physical and Financial resilience need to run hand in hand.
MAYORAL CANDIDATE KEITH JOHNSON’S POLICIES ON HOUSING IN WELLINGTON
General Statement: Greater Opportunities for Collective Social Housing
My Background
My career has encompassed over 30 years of direct involvement in project planning, project economics and public policy, with work in 27 different countries. I hold a BA/MA in Geography from the University of Cambridge, UK and a PhD in Economic Geography from the Australian National University in Canberra.
My doctoral thesis focussed on the economic evaluation of a major road investment programme [the ‘Beef Roads Program’] in the Northern Territory.
I have worked as a member of staff for the UK Department of Economic Affairs [on regional development[, for the multi-disciplinary engineering company Dar Al-Handasah [on regional planning and project planning in the Middle East and Nigeria], for the Project Planning Centre for Developing Countries at the University of Bradford [lecturing on regional and infrastructure project planning], for the Asian Development Bank in Manila, Philippines [conducting economic research on project evaluation techniques and developing operational policies and travelling widely in Asia], as a Senior Analyst with Housing New Zealand Corporation and for the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research [conducting project and policy consulting assignments which include a report on the development of a private sector housing project at Brooklyn Heights, Wellington].
I am still involved in writing on housing issues. See [for example]:
MAJOR ARTICLE
Exploring the Optimum Mix for Social Housing in New Zealand
SELECTION OF RECENT ARTICLES ON HOUSING-RELATED ISSUES PUBLISHED ON THE WEB
Damp Homes – Dumb Policy
The Economics of the Proper Maintenance of Social Housing
NZ Housing – Fright is No Solution
Negative Gearing in Housing Tax Reform
On the Integrity of Economists – and Introducing a Land Tax
Leaky Buildings and Leaky Finances
RESPONSES TO THE QUESTIONS ASKED BY RENTERS UNITED
[Renters United is a membership organisation formed in 2014 to campaign for a better deal for renters in Wellington. We are contacting you are you have announced you are running for Mayor.
As part of our efforts we will soon be launching a campaign to coincide with the council elections to encourage more renters to register and vote in the elections, and to give renters better information about which candidates across Wellington are offering what for renters].
1. Wellington City Council has declared its intention to introduce a rental Warrant of Fitness [WOF]. Do you support the introduction of a rental WOF? If so, how will you go about its introduction?
I support the introduction of a rental WOF system – there are far too many dreadfully maintained properties and exploitative landlords around and the evidence linking poor quality damp housing with bad health [especially among children] is incontrovertible.
In results from a WSM Healthy Housing WOF pre-test, of 144 houses that were assessed, only eight (6%) passed the WOF.
The top five reasons for failing the rental housing WOF checklist · 40% of houses did not pass the water temperature check. · 38% of houses did not pass the security stays check. · 37% of houses did not pass the check for having a fixed form of heating. · 31% of houses did not pass the check for having handrails or balustrades that meet the Building Code Standards. · 30% of houses did not pass the check for not having working smoke alarms.
The Report noted that introduction was feasible with inspections costing $200 - $300 per house, and would be unlikely to raise rents or reduce supply, but noted the need for training programmes for assessors.
2. Are there any other steps you would you do to improve the health, quality and safety of rental homes in Wellington?
Not at present but I am open to suggestions.
3. How would you address homelessness in Wellington?
We have lost 110 – 120 flats which used to be available with the red-stickering of HNZ’s Gordon Wilson Flats. The Council must make good this shortfall [hopefully with help from Central Government]. This would be a good way of using the $90 million that would be saved by NOT contributing ratepayer cash to the private sector for the Wellington Airport Runway Extension project.
4. Do you support the building of additional council housing and if so how much housing should be built in the next council term?
Yes - see above.
5. Are there other measures you would take to increase the supply of quality rental housing in Wellington?
We need to increase the supply of Affordable and Social Housing in general. I would like to see Development Contributions for Social Housing used selectively for large-scale developments [e.g. development of the Mt Crawford – Shelly Bay sites].
6. What do you think are the main reasons rents in Wellington are increasing? How would you ensure rents in Wellington are affordable?
Inadequate supply is clearly a factor in the cost of housing in general and making more land available for development through improved physical planning is needed. We need a two-pronged approach which first aims to encourage home ownership – and we need to foster mixed rent-to-own approaches delivered through Housing Associations.
7. Many renters face discrimination on the basis of their gender, family status, age and ethnicity and when trying to find a home in Wellington. What steps would you take to address this?
Any kind of discrimination is unacceptable – offenders should be named and shamed.
8. Do you support dedicated tenant advocacy services to balance the influence of landlords and rental agents? If so, how should these be funded?
I would certainly give these kinds of suggestions a sympathetic hearing and ask for advice on them.
9. Would you take steps to tackle persistent bad landlords who do not meet their obligations to renters?
With a WOF system in place, offending landlords could be barred [just as cars cannot be sold or leased out without WOF coverage].
10. How would you ensure renting is more stable / secure?
Again, the WOF system would do much to help.
11. Do you have any other policies that you believe will have a particular impact on improving renting for renters in Wellington?
Over the long-run, we need to stop the slide in home ownership which is being encouraged by the tax breaks that can be accessed by multi-property owners – but this is a long-standing national problem. One way WCC might be able to help is in assisting Older People in relocating from single-family homes to more suitable accommodation, thereby releasing housing to first-time and collective buyers.
BY NIKKI MACDONALD
Last updated 05:00, August 29 2016
Photo Ross Giblin
Wellington mayoral candidate Keith Johnson promises common sense policies and financial resilience if elected mayor.
So here's the deal. Keith Johnson pays his two teenage sons their school bus money upfront. If they walk, cycle or scoot instead, they can keep the dosh.
"Economic incentives," he explains. It's that economist's pragmatism that Johnson wants to bring to Wellington's council table. But only if he can be boss.
At 72, the salt-and-pepper-stubbled policy adviser is one of the oldest Wellington mayoral candidates. He's quick to put that in context – "not as old as Bernie Sanders, a little older than Donald Trump and slightly older than Hillary Clinton".
While a lifetime of experience in development and transport economics would make him well-qualified for the council, he's only standing for mayor. He did stand in the southern ward on a Labour ticket in 2010, but rated a distant fourth.
Things have changed since then, with the rise of social media – his primary campaign tool. He admits he's a long shot – but then look at global politics.
Johnson wants everyone to sit down for a nice cup of tea. Set it down on one of his Ten Guitars faux-record coasters and stare out the window at Island Bay's Tapu Te Ranga island and fishing boats. Take time to control debt and rates rises and finish what the council has started.
All those big-idea projects are just about councillors getting their name in the paper, he says. Every time they give your money away they get a headline. So, no new projects – for the next three years at least.
Johnson's a Buddhist – Zen, not the Cambodian variety, like the monastery up the road. There's a story he likes, about an old monk being set upon by ruffians breaking his silence to complain.
"The other monks are saying, 'How come you're making all this noise?' He says, 'Well, sometimes there are times when you should yell and scream'. That's what I think about the current situation with council."
From his lounge window, perched on the suburb's hilly boundary, you can almost see the cause of much of the council hand-wringing – the infamous Island Bay cycleway. He doesn't think he opposed it, he was just sceptical about how it was done. I point out a quote from his "citizen journalist" blogposts – "I am not a supporter of Island Bay's cycleway but I do feel that, having gone this far, we should give it a fair trial and learn as much as we can from the experience."
Johnson grew up on a dairy farm in Cheshire, England, the posthumous son of a father killed eight months earlier in an air force accident.
He won a scholarship to Cambridge University to study geography – he was interested in the way things fit together. It's the same reason he's interested in leading the council – because its disparate parts don't tessellate.
"I think there's a dysfunctional ethic in the council where they just want to spend more and more."
Johnson, meanwhile, has spent his professional life scrutinising spending projects. He did a PhD on the impact of road transport on beef cattle production in Australia's Northern Territory. He worked for Arab project management company Dar Al-Handasah, worked through coups d'etat, typhoons and volcanic eruptions for the Asian Development Bank in the Philippines, lectured in planning at England's Bradford University and consulted here for the Transport, Health, Housing and Social Development ministries, and the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research.
He's probably the only mayoral candidate to have been shot at, he jokes. [at Beit Eddine in South Lebanon circa 1977]
These days he's a stay-at-home Dad who blogs about politics, poetry, country music and fiscally irresponsible councillors. A 3.6 per cent rates rise with inflation at 0.4 per cent is a disgrace, he says.
There's a fat Guardians of the Bay ring-binder on the dining table. Unlike most of his fellow Guardians, Johnson does [sorry Nikki there was a typo here in your published version] oppose the airport runway extension, per se. And he especially opposes the "scandalous" suggestion the council should contribute $90 million to a profitable company.
[As for opposing it ‘per se’, my position has always been that, as with the Basin Reserve, we have to let due process, and referral to the Environment Court, take their course. My submission to the EC opposes the proposal on a wide range of grounds that include environmental impacts].
Ditto plans to build space into the council-funded convention centre to house Peter Jackson's movie museum. And while we're on the subject – has anyone even run a proper ruler over the convention centre business case?
And do we really need people boozing after 3am? From personal experience, no good can come of that, Johnson says. Actually, if he's honest, it's probably a decade since he's been out after 1am. His partner, Jane, is a Health Ministry nursing adviser so alcohol impacts are a hot topic.
In 10-20 years, Johnson wants to see a rapid transit system running under Mt Cook and Newtown. But for now, Wellington's growth is already outstripping Auckland's, without any major new projects. So there's plenty of time for that cup of tea.
FAST FACTS
Party politics: Independent, but stood for Labour in 2010
Pick for deputy: Andy Foster
Campaign budget: Nil
A Wellington weekend: Keith Johnson's typical Wellington weekend starts with the boys' soccer. There's probably socialising on Saturday night, recovery time on Sunday morning and a long walk or drive on Sunday afternoon.
- Stuff
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