Yesterdays rally at Manners Mall in Wellington got a whole bunch of activists; students; union members; Young Green and Young Labour members together to loudly call on politicians to “Abolish Youth Rates!”

Around 50 people gathered outside the McDonalds restaurant, a target of the campaign because unlike other business such as Restaurant Brands (Pizza Hutt and KFC) or BP Oil, McDonalds continues to pay discriminatory youth rates: where under 18 year olds only receive 80% of the adult minimum wage.

The campaigners unfurled a large banner reading “Support your mates – abolish youth rates!” and an a activist dressed as Ronald McDonald handed out ‘unhappy meals’ – activist packs containing a stickers, leaflets and campaign information and a lollipop with ‘Youth Rates Suck!’ on it.

Green MP Sue Bradford, the MP responsible for the Bill attempting to abolish youth rates in Parliament took time a way from the house and spoke at the rally, encouraging young people to take action on this campaign.

Despite a lower than hoped for turn-out the organisers felt the rally was a success that got the message out loudly and are committed to organising further actions in the future.

# posted by gareth @ 10:43 AM 0 comments

Save Happy Valley Wellingtons fundraisin’g gig on Saturday night went off. We had around 70 people show up which means we made roughly $600 in profit. First up Jessie Moss, from Harriet and Matches got the gig going with her smooth solo acoustic sounds, followed by slightly louder and more frantic Mr Sterile Assembly who led-up to a fever pitch performance by punk-rock Anaesthesia Associates. Olmecha Supreme headlined the gig and got everyone out of their seats and on to the dance floor with their wicked performance. Gareth got up and said a few words about the campaign and our activities and invited everyone to get down to the Valley this summer. By all measures the gig was a total success and big thanks has to go to Happy for hosting the event, the bands for donating their time, and a special thanks to Rusty for organising the event.

Keep an eye out for our next fundraising gig – A Leonard Cohen tribute concert at the Paramount and our Global Day of Action on Climate Change event – body-painted people and fun kite flying to highlight the destruction wrought by Solid Energy on the Coast and also wind energy as a positive solution to coal burning for electricity production - November 4 at Parliament.

# posted by gareth @ 2:26 PM 0 comments

United Future Leader Peter Dunne, Ontrack Chief executive David George, and Option3 Spokesperson Roland Sapsford will speak at the event.

A review of options for the line is currently underway, and one option being considered by the Greater Wellington Regional Council is to rip up the railway tracks and replace them with a one-way exclusive busway.

"Ripping up an existing, electrified rail line and replacing it with diesel buses is a loopy idea and would constitute a giant step backwards for local residents," Ms Kedgley says.

"Buses are less popular than trains, carry far fewer passengers, already cause congestion in Wellington traffic, and are reliant on fossil fuels which fluctuate in price and produce harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

"Opposition to this scheme is widespread, and transcends party-political lines. Hopefully the Regional Councillors will recognise the folly of this proposal, and direct their attentions instead to upgrading and improving the service on the existing Johnsonville line."

# posted by gareth @ 3:57 PM 0 comments

1. Cost. It is considerably cheaper to upgrade a rail line than it is to install a guided busway
2. Construction delays: this could take 2 years or longer to build causing massive disruption.
3. Undirectionality. The busway operation would be one way requiring confusing am/pm timetables.
4. Congestion. The busway would significantly increase congestion through more buses on the roads and would see traffic problems at:
1. Where the busway joins normal road traffic somewhere near the entrance to the Ngaio Gorge.
2. Lambton Quay where there already is considerable bus congestion. It is unlikely that 35 extra buses could be accommodated.
5. Environmental and sustainability issues:
1. Use of diesel fuel which contributes to local pollution and climate change.
2. Security of diesel supply and cost uncertain
3. Diesel buses produce noise pollution
4. Increased traffic congestion especially on Lambton Quay.
6. Less capacity. Over-all passenger capacity of busway would be less than current rail roughly one third.
7. Less popular. Buses are less popular than trains .
8. Less efficient. Trains are more efficient than buses in terms of rubber-to-concrete vs. steel-to-steel contact.
9. Encourage sprawl. The busway would limit ‘transport orientated development,’ stimulating urban sprawl.
10. High Upfront costs. Capital expenditure can be phased over time for rail option but not so for the busway option.
11. Keeps commuters on congested roads. Rail is more likely to achieve a modal shift from cars to public transport than buses are.
12. Ontrack. The Crown through Ontrack owns the tracks and the have said:
1. They would have to approve the ripping up of the tracks, and:
2. They would be unlikely to, in light of the National Rail Strategy.
3. ‘It would be a big ask to simply hand over,’ the considerable infrastructure of tunnels, bridges, overhead line etc.

# posted by gareth @ 5:02 PM 2 comments