{"id":158783,"date":"2025-11-28T23:33:13","date_gmt":"2025-11-28T23:33:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/158783\/"},"modified":"2025-11-28T23:33:13","modified_gmt":"2025-11-28T23:33:13","slug":"love-this-city-eden-park-the-port-speedway-cycling-and-santa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/158783\/","title":{"rendered":"Love this City: Eden Park, the port, speedway, cycling and Santa"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n \u201cWho says people don\u2019t come into the city,\u201d said Wayne Brown, when he sent
\n me this photo<\/a> of the launch of the Christmas tree last Saturday in Te Komititanga Square.\n <\/p>\n

Heart of the City\u2019s Viv Beck also sent me a photo of the event, calling it a \u201cwonderful crowd\u201d. <\/p>\n

Christmas is happening, y\u2019all, in the city centre and all over. The famous and much-loved Farmers Santa Parade is this Sunday at 1pm. <\/p>\n

Buses, trains and ferries are the best way to get in. Auckland Transport is expecting up to 150,000 people and is laying on extra ferries, extra double decker buses for the Northern Express routes and six-carriage trains. They\u2019ll also have extra trains on standby at Waitemat\u0101 Station (Britomart) to help people get home afterwards.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s my Christmas wish: that people do their Christmas shopping in shops. If we want them, we have to use them. <\/p>\n

Golly Roger, why don\u2019t you tell us what you really think? <\/p>\n

\"PortsPorts of Auckland chief executive officer Roger Gray. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n

Port of Auckland (POA) boss Roger Gray was guest speaker<\/a> at a business event this month. He complained that the cruise industry calls us \u201cNo Zealand\u201d, and that\u2019s why there won\u2019t be as many cruise visits this summer as he would like. <\/p>\n

What was he actually upset about? Ships being prevented from entering Milford Sound because they had not had their hulls cleaned and inspected. <\/p>\n

Milford Sound is probably the most carefully preserved natural environment in the country that\u2019s reasonably accessible to tourists. That\u2019s a big part of why they go there. <\/p>\n

It beggars belief that anyone thinks we should relax the \u201cbiofouling\u201d restrictions for the sake of \u2013 tourists? <\/p>\n

Gray also complained about rising cruise ship fees. But that\u2019s a worldwide phenomenon. <\/p>\n

And he had a go at the previous Government\u2019s handling of cruise ships in the early days of the Covid pandemic. \u201cJacinda called them petri dishes,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s not clear that Jacinda Ardern used the phrase, but plenty of other people did. Is it really so easy to forget those first months, when the virus was killing thousands and very little was known about it? By June 2020, 40 cruise ships, including some with New Zealanders on board, were carrying infected passengers and crew, and the virus spread rapidly in those closed environments. On the Ruby Princess, which docked in Sydney, 28 people died.<\/p>\n

Gray also told his audience it\u2019s great the Government is importing coal, because that\u2019s been good for the port. He called for more. The things beneficiaries of the fossil-fuel industry say when their guard is down, eh. <\/p>\n

And he predicted the City Rail Link (CRL) will be a disaster. <\/p>\n

Gray is not an impartial observer. Vehicle imports are usually one of the most profitable parts of the POA business. But in the last financial year they dropped 17%<\/a> on the year before, the lowest they\u2019ve been since 2013. <\/p>\n

Gray\u2019s entitled to his views. But his bottom line depends on us buying more cars. He doesn\u2019t want us thinking we might start catching the train. <\/p>\n

Faded beauty: The Pink Pathway turns 10 <\/p>\n

\"TeTe Ara I Whiti, the Lighpath, the Pink Pathway, is 10 years old. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n

Last year, 241,265 cycling trips were recorded on Te Ara I Whiti, aka the Lightpath, aka the Pink Pathway. And as every cyclist who uses it will tell you, there are always others there too: families from the nearby apartments with kids on their trainer wheels, TikTok and Instagram sessions, runners, people walking to work. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s a kind of urban park, as well as a commuter route. And now it\u2019s 10 years old. <\/p>\n

The pink has faded, and with the council\u2019s current cost constraints, it\u2019s hard to think anything will be done about that. But the LED strip lights that change colour as you pass are still doing the business and to commemorate the birthday, there\u2019s a soundscape called Symphony in Space playing there until December 7. <\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the central city\u2019s cycling network progresses. The Victoria St stretch is mostly open, providing an essential cross-town connection. Albert St is mostly open and Mayoral Drive as it passes the CRL\u2019s Te Waihorotiu Station isn\u2019t far away. <\/p>\n

The new bike lanes on and near Canada St are nearly ready too: that\u2019s another essential piece of cycling infrastructure connecting several bike lanes to the CRL\u2019s Karanga-a-Hape Station and K Rd. <\/p>\n

And if you\u2019re still wondering if it\u2019s worth it, all this work to make streets more appealing for pedestrians and cyclists, check out Quay St and Queen St. The planting is luxurious now. Quay St especially is looking splendid \u2013 and it\u2019s highly functional for all its users. <\/p>\n

Don\u2019t believe it? Here\u2019s a tip. Vehicle insurers have ranked the Netherlands as the best country in the world to … drive a car. Sweden and Norway aren\u2019t far behind. <\/p>\n

Why? Because countries with excellent cycling infrastructure and great public transport take cars off the road and foster a general sense of care and politeness. <\/p>\n

As Bike Auckland\u2019s Donna Wynd says, \u201cwe\u2019d love to remind everyone that people on bikes aren\u2019t rivals to drivers \u2013 they\u2019re allies. Every bike you pass represents one less car in front of you at the lights.\u201d <\/p>\n

Still, there is always more to be done. Top of my wish list: safe ways for people from all directions to cycle to Cornwall Park. Imagine it. <\/p>\n

Bike Auckland will be celebrating 10 years of the pinkness on Wednesday, December 3, with an 8am ride on the pathway, plus entertainment and goodies. <\/p>\n

Showtime at Eden Park? <\/p>\n

\"CupcakesCupcakes by Bluebells, presented to the council this week by Eden Park chief executive Nick Sautner. Photo \/ Simon Wilson<\/p>\n

This week\u2019s debate<\/a> about whether Eden Park should have more concerts threw up some basic issues the council and the Government have been avoiding. But they can\u2019t keep doing that. <\/p>\n

First, the park\u2019s calendar is very light for 2026. This cannot be because of the existing restrictions: the concerts of Coldplay and Luke Combs, among others, seemed to prove the value of the park to promoters and everyone else. <\/p>\n

We haven\u2019t heard enough yet about why promoters aren\u2019t building on that in 2026, bringing more big acts to Eden Park next year. <\/p>\n

Next, the trust board that owns and runs the venue seems to have a new strategy to make money, sort-of-unofficially revealed this week by chief executive Nick Sautner. It involves the possibility of apartment blocks on the perimeter, a 1500-vehicle car park (real money spinners, those big car parks) and buildings on the outer field. <\/p>\n

If they keep going down this track, they\u2019ll end up with a plan for a big complex that seems rather familiar. Oh, wait, isn\u2019t that what the Quay Park stadium option proposed? The same Quay Park option the council rejected out of hand? <\/p>\n

Sautner gave the councillors<\/a> a big box of cupcakes during his presentation this week and it was met with bribery jokes. <\/p>\n

He and all the councillors passed it off as a nice gesture, a harmless bit of fun. <\/p>\n

Still, the message was clear enough. He was saying to them, we\u2019re all in this together and we\u2019re going to look after each other. Most of the councillors think that too: they rejected waterfront stadium proposals and voted for Eden Park earlier this year. <\/p>\n

But that leads us to the money. There\u2019s a $50 million debt that isn\u2019t being repaid, and more costs for council every time the park stages a big event. <\/p>\n

And while the council supports Eden Park\u2019s bold plan to add a roof and give itself a full makeover, they have made it clear they won\u2019t pay for it. The Government isn\u2019t interested either. So who is going to pay? <\/p>\n

To my mind, there\u2019s an even bigger problem. This isn\u2019t one of those issues where the complaints will drop away once people see how well it works. The more Eden Park succeeds as a concert venue, the more residents will complain. <\/p>\n

In early 2024, the council approved a new plan to increase the number of concerts to 12. At the time, that was called \u201cthe edge of acceptability\u201d. Now they\u2019ve agreed it wasn\u2019t anywhere near the edge: the new limit will be 32. <\/p>\n

What\u2019s next? Personally, I think the city\u2019s major events venue should be able to stage as many events as it possibly can. Why would we want there to be any barriers at all to its success? <\/p>\n

A summer packed with concerts and festivals and big summer sports; and a winter with more shows under the roof and all the winter sports: that\u2019s the ideal. <\/p>\n

But not if it\u2019s in the suburbs. Residents were fine with 12 and might be fine with 32, but could you blame them for complaining if it\u2019s 50? What if it\u2019s 100? <\/p>\n

The point is, success will breed divisiveness. As the park gets more successful, by staging ever more events, the division will get worse. <\/p>\n

In my view, the council hasn\u2019t thought this through at all. <\/p>\n

Fortnightly rubbish trial rubbished <\/p>\n

\"RubbishRubbish collection in Auckland. Photo \/ Michael Craig<\/p>\n

The council\u2019s plan to trial fortnightly rubbish collection in Te Atat\u016b Peninsula, Panmure-T\u0101maki and Clendon Park-Weymouth has been strongly rejected in public feedback. In all three areas, around 80% of submitters said no, with less than 20% saying yes. <\/p>\n

A decision on whether to ditch the whole thing, or go ahead anyway, will be made in December by the council\u2019s Policy, Planning and Development Committee. <\/p>\n

But the result from the in-person component of the consultation was much more balanced. Of the people who turned up to \u201chave your say\u201d events, 35% were in favour of a trial, 24% were unsure and 41% were opposed. <\/p>\n

There are a few lessons in this. The obvious one is that people want weekly rubbish collections. The second is that when there\u2019s a chance for in-person discussion and explanation \u2013 about a trial, remember \u2013 many people will change their minds. <\/p>\n

And the third is that this issue came up during the council election campaign. A lot. While the good citizens of Mt Eden were angsting about high-rise housing and in Warkworth their main concern was rates, in the trial areas, rubbish collection was the No 1 hot topic. <\/p>\n

Most candidates were committed to opposing the trial and very few of those who weren\u2019t managed to get themselves elected. <\/p>\n

Eighteen other councils run fortnightly kerbside rubbish collections. In Hamilton and Tauranga, doing this has led to households reducing their waste going to landfill by around 50%. Doesn\u2019t wash in Auckland. Maybe it\u2019s the humidity. <\/p>\n

Mike Lee starts with a roar<\/p>\n

\"Waitemat\u0101Waitemat\u0101 councillor Mike Lee, who is likely to join the board of Auckland Transport. Photo \/ Alex Burton<\/p>\n

Veteran councillor Mike Lee was comfortably re-elected last month in the Waitemat\u0101 and Gulf ward, and he\u2019s celebrating with his trademark curmudgeonly disruption. <\/p>\n

At council meetings, the usual format is for councillors to hear presentations from the public, local boards and officials, and ask questions. Speeches and substantial debate are supposed to wait till later. <\/p>\n

But at this week\u2019s council meeting, Lee used question time on one issue to launch a loud and lengthy attack on the Government, the council and, it seemed, anyone who had the temerity to give either of them the time of day. <\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t the first time. His colleague Richard Hills was in the chair and tried to shut him down, but Lee was having none of it, complaining that every chair of every meeting always tries to shut him down. <\/p>\n

This is basically true, because they want him to use question time for questions and keep his speeches for later. Lee\u2019s response to Hills was that he was just going to keep on talking, and that is what he did, very loudly. <\/p>\n

The other councillors took the chance to catch up on TikTok or Facebook, or whatever. <\/p>\n

They have a new electronic voting system, which requires councillors to vote on their computers, with the results flashed up on screens. When it came time for the next vote, Lee busied himself talking with an official, and then turned away. The \u201cvoted\u201d window next to his name on the big screen remained empty. <\/p>\n

Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson and others called out to him to vote and he ignored them all. They waited and waited. Eventually, Lee turned on his mic and launched another attack, complaining about the \u201cridiculous delay\u201d. <\/p>\n

Ready, set, go for speedway <\/p>\n

\"Onehunga'sOnehunga’s Waikaraka Park, with the new track shown here nearing completion. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n

Racing begins this Saturday<\/a> at Auckland\u2019s new home of speedway open: Waikaraka Park, in Onehunga. <\/p>\n

The $11m upgrade includes a new purpose-built track, designed by an architect who is also a former speedway driver, with a new safety wall, catch fence and pit area for 130 drivers at one time. For the spectators there\u2019s new seating for 3000, with capacity for another 1500 on the embankment, new lighting and new toilet facilities. <\/p>\n

The council says the new track \u201chas been designed to promote a faster, closer racing spectacle and allow local drivers to hone their skills in a similar environment to international drivers\u201d. Speedway NZ, the governing body of the sport, has certified its safety. <\/p>\n

Local councillor Josephine Bartley calls the upgrade \u201can investment to support the long-term sustainability of the sport in Auckland\u201d. She expects the speedway will be enjoyed \u201cby Aucklanders and racing enthusiasts from across the country for generations to come\u201d. <\/p>\n

The work was done by T\u0101taki Auckland Unlimited. Chief executive Nick Hill says, \u201cAucklanders and visitors can now enjoy a modern, international-standard speedway facility, with faster racing and an improved fan experience. With a long-term deal secured that guarantees the presence of four-wheel speedway classes at Waikaraka Park, it is great to have a facility that preserves the viability of speedway in Auckland for years to come\u201d. <\/p>\n

The lease on Waikaraka Park is held by the Auckland Stock & Saloon Car Club and is secure until 2051. The council says it \u201csecures the long-term presence of all four-wheel speedway classes, including the open wheel classes that previously raced at Western Springs\u201d. <\/p>\n

The closure of the Western Springs track is still hotly debated<\/a>, although Mayor Brown dismisses the idea it could be changed. It shouldn\u2019t take long to discover if the teams, drivers and fans embrace the new experience. <\/p>\n

Stock and saloon car racing begins this Saturday, with open-wheel classes to start two weeks later. In total, 24 race nights are scheduled for this season, including a minimum of 11 race nights for open-wheel classes. <\/p>\n

To sign up for Simon Wilson\u2019s weekly newsletter, click<\/a> here<\/a>, select Love this City and save your preferences. For a step-by-step guide, click<\/a> here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u201cWho says people don\u2019t come into the city,\u201d said Wayne Brown, when he sent me this photo of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":158784,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[95,51,2199,8809,8142,3685,6043,6044,2882,6048,111,6042,139,69,8143,29268,6046,6045,58605,6037,37525,213,223,1961,6047,6039,6041,6040],"class_list":["post-158783","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-and","tag-auckland","tag-city","tag-cycling","tag-eden","tag-events","tag-exploring","tag-ideas","tag-love","tag-makaurau","tag-new-zealand","tag-newsletter","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-park","tag-port","tag-potential","tag-reality","tag-santa","tag-simon","tag-speedway","tag-sports","tag-the","tag-this","tag-tmaki","tag-transcript","tag-weekly","tag-wilsons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158783","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=158783"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158783\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/158784"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=158783"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=158783"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=158783"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}