Monday, April 30, 2007

DAVID DICKENS - THE NEW COUNCIL REPORTER


Photograph by
Pepptalk.net

David Dickens
1 May
2007
The new Dominion Post council reporter David Dickens is the former head of New Zealand's only defence think tank - the Centre for Strategic Studies. Dickens spent six years at the centre specialising in defence equipment issues like the future of air force fighters and strategic issues like nuclear weapons in India and Pakistan. His work was published by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at the Australian National University as well as by think tanks in Japan, India, China, Singapore and Malaysia. While part of his job was to give ''independent'' comment on defence and strategic issues he ran afoul of the Prime Minister over the air force's Skyhawks and was shot down - even though his post was supposed to be free from political interference -- along with the air force.
Cheers
Pepp
David.Dickens@dompost.co.nz

Sunday, April 29, 2007

BRYAN PEPPERELL'S DUCATI / A Master Piece of Engineering


My Italian Mistress is a 2oo2 Ducati 750cc ss

Bryan Pepperell on his 2002 Ducati 750ss

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click here for video clip


Friday, April 27, 2007

Back To Simply Paris / The Real Thing in Cuba Street




Top Place, Top Food , Top People and new tables and chairs! The dedicated staff are eager to please. If you visit Simply Paris you'll be back.
Cheers
Bryan

Does this bother You? This really annoys me, It could be yours!

Abandoned or stolen Car on Brooklyn Hill April 2007


Parked on the Brooklyn hill is a stolen car. I say this as its registration plates are still on it. Despite the obvious damage that has been done to this car, it has remained there! Now with no wheels and broken windows and extensive senseless damage it is left with a council ticket giving notice of its removal in 14 days.

As such, these vehicles just slip through the system. They are now a cost to the owner and the community and a powerful symbol of contempt for law and order.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

ARE YOU HAPPY WITH PUBLIC TRANSPORT?


ATTENTION!
WE ALL HAVE A PROBLEM:

FACT:
TOO MANY CARS – MORE EVERY DAY,
CLOGGING WELLINGTON ROADS.

FACT:IT COSTS AN ALARMING AMOUNT TO PARK IN WELLINGTON CBD.

FACT: WELLINGTON’S ROADS CANNOT SUSTAIN GREATER NUMBERS OF CARS.

‘BY-PASS’-ING THE PROBLEM
DOES NOT WORK!

THE ANSWER?

BETTER, MORE AFFORDABLE PUBLIC TRANSPORT

BETTER PLANNING FOR OUR FUTURE!

VOTE
BRYAN PEPPERELL FOR MAYOR

TOGETHER, WE CAN DO IT!

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

ISLAND BAY STATIONERS / BILL & FAY FAR - AN INSTITUTION

Bill and Fay Far April 2007


Island Bay Stationers April 2007
The Fars are in the business of selling books, making a community, and spreading the written word.
I first met Bill Far when he was introduced to me by his friend the late Stan Hyde. Stan held the Fars in the highest regard often referring to them as his best friends. Later I was to discover the feeling was mutual.
Along with a wonderful service to the community the Fars have won the respect of many people including myself.
These are caring people with big hearts who have won the trust of many people. They understand the saying , "It is people, it is people, it is people." Next time you are in Island Bay pay this wonderful book shop and stationer a visit. This small business has many surprises.
Cheers
Bryan


Erskine Hewett / Philosopher, Artist and proud Ducati Paso owner

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-8ogAzapVY
Erskine Hewett is the author of "Work Ethic" published on pepptalk.net philosophy forum, (under the name of Socrates) with over 5,000 visits to his contribution alone . That's an outstanding number of visits to any web site forum and in particular, Philosophy.
Erskine and I go back over thirty years when we met as young motorcyclists when he rode a Vellocette 500 and I rode a 1966 Norton 650ss. We spent a lot of time fixing our bikes, I wrote poetry and Erskine would correct it for me.
We shared the passions of philosophy, art and music. I would talk and he would paint. I have a collection of his art that, from time to time, he has attempted to buy back. Today he makes excellent jewellery and writes the odd piece for the Ducati Paso web site in between listening to jazz and blues music. In between thinking about the philosophy of art he constantly worries about wasting time and believes that only great art can save the world. Today there are hundreds of homes in Wellington with his etchings on their walls. He also invented and sold puzzles that are still in use in many homes and schools. Erskine was a keen amateur boxer who boxed well above his weight in all his endeavours.

Thursday, April 19, 2007

FREE MOTORCYCLE PARKS UNDER REVIEW

Alert!
Alert!
Alert!
Bryan Pepperell at a free motorbike park April 2007
ATTENTION!
ATTENTION!
ATTENTION!
Time To Speak up with one voice
Wellington City Council has commenced a General Parking Review that includes free motorcycle parks.
If you value your free motorcycle parks then now is the time to make your views known to Wellington City Council
You can send your submissions to
Wellington City Council
City Secretary michael.webster@wcc.govt.nz
You can also contact me at Bryan.pepperell@wcc.govt.nz
Cheers
Bryan Pepperell
Back To The Future is the blog on www.pepptalk.net
Strategy and Policy committeeAGENDA
THURSDAY 19 APRIL 2007
9.15 AM
Appendix 2 - page 297
Activity
1.5
e. Provision for motorcycle parking ( to determine quantity of space, location, price )

Appendix 4 - page 306
6.0 Motorbikes
There are issues with allocating space for on-street parking for motorcyclists in residential areas, where there is already significant over demand from other vehicles.
Motorbike parking is free of charge, should a charge be introduced, especially in the central Area?
Regards
Bryan Pepperell
PS -You have my support for retention of Free Motorcycle Parking !

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Publisher: Ian Macfarlane addresses The Residents Coalition



The Man behind Cnews addressed The Residents Coalition .
He is a kind of Hemmingway of The South Pacific with stories to tell . You can see his internet magazine on www.Cnews.co.nz

OLIVIER RIVOALAN / Simply Paris - The real thing in Cuba Street



After the Resident's Coalition Meeting on Saturday Ian Macfarlane and I went to Lunch at Simply Paris and met Olivier Rivoalan. Ian was in top form, a true raconteur telling stories to the wonderful people who work at Simply Paris. I fell off my chair with my camera still in my hand and landed on my already injured arm but no harm done. Olivier came quickly to my rescue and while on the ground I snapped this picture.
Simply Paris is a wonderful place with delicious food and delightful people serving.

Cheers Olivier, I'll be back.

Bryan

Wellington Residents Coalition take a break after discussing up coming Council elections


Saturday 14 April 2007
Are you tired of local body elections just being about personalities and not about the things that affect you? The Wellington Residents' Coalition intends to run a campaign running up to the elections this year, that will focus on the issues.
We want the campaign to focus on what people want. What do you think are the main issues? Are they water, rates, housing, how the Council makes decisions, transport, the Waterfront, the Marine Education Centre or some other things?
We want to hear from you. We are holding a meeting to hear what people think are the most important issues for the City Council, Regional Council and District Health Board elections. We will ask other concerned groups to come and tell us of their concerns, and we hope that we can all share information and work collaboratively to change the Council.

Monday, April 16, 2007

Pauline Swann / Mrs Waterfront speaks her mind at The Residents Coaltion meeting


Thank God for Pauline Swann of WaterFront Watch and her civic commitment to protecting our Wellington Waterfront. Pauline is Pepptalk citizen of the week . Last Saturday she spoke to a meeting of over 40 concerned residents about the state of Wellington's Waterfront and what is happening on the outer T.

Pauline was joined by John Robinson in a power point presentation.

Bicycle philosopher down but not out.






















Bryan Pepperell with broken wing

April 14 2007



I've just had my most serious accident since I returned to bicycling as a way to commute to work and recreate. I broke my collar bone and tore muscles down my right side. My ribs really hurt if I cough and laughing causes severe pain. I've had two weeks of sleep deprivation but I'm now on the mend. I have much to be thankful about, not the least being my lack of head injuries as I was wearing my crash helmet.


Don't let anyone tell you that crash helmets aren't necessary. Careful examination of my helmet shows that it saved me from certain head injury. Strangely my bicycle is undamaged after I crashed at 35 kms.


Climate change and peak oil means this is as good as it gets in the age of human energy. Every day we take risks and Friday two weeks ago was my day. I would like to give a special thanks to Roger Hayes of Island Bay for running me and my bicycle home after my accident.


Cheers

Bryan

Sunday, April 15, 2007

My Message To The Chinese Community


Wednesday, April 11, 2007

STRATEGY AND POLICY COMMITTEE THURSDAY 12 APRIL 2007

Report 1 Bus Priority Plan

5.3 Estimated cost to be $33 million Dollars but is expected to be reduced to $16 million with innovative use of lane lines.

4.3 The ownership and use of private vehicles is growing at such a rate that cannot be accommodated by Wellington's limited roading capacity. Congestion, travel delays and pollution is becoming a major constraint in our ability to grow and prosper.

"The issue of congestion should have been attended to at the beginning of the triennium but Council has failed to deal with this problem and the bypass has done nothing to alleviate it. For the last 10 years I have been calling for a more rational use of private vehicles(including carpooling), a better use of public transport, and encouraging walking and biking. The Mayor and Council have failed to deal with this pressing issue. Now with climate change clearly on the radar of most people's minds, surely the time is right to make a shift away from such heavy reliance on private transport."

Cheers
Cr Bryan Pepperell

…too little, too late
And in an election year?!

It would appear Council Officials have been asked to very quickly ‘come up’ with
an idea to ensure Mayor Prendergast and other Councillors – who until now have chosen to ignore traffic congestion & Public Transport issues, in favour of a motor vehicle attracting by-pass – save their electoral necks from inevitable execution later this year.

Correct traffic management in a city the size and geography of Wellington is not addressed by throwing silly, ill-researched $16 million ‘Band Aids’ with gay abandon
on a wound which has been festering for 40-odd years.

While it is patently obvious a multi-facetted solution must be in place very soon, it must be just that and addressing the problem from one perspective only is not the way forward.

Once $16 million has been spent completely disrupting an already choked arterial system, there can only be one of two outcomes:

Either total gridlock, with motorists unable to move anywhere at anything other than a snail’s pace, or motorists ignoring the proposed system – as often happens in Paremata – the model for this impending disaster.

Central Wellington and parts of it’s suburbs were built before the invention of the Automobile and as a result, it’s streets now have a bad case of ‘Arterial Sclerosis’, unable to cope with the pressure of so many private vehicles.

The answer is not to make the roads wider, or to increase their volume capacity.

There is a good case for adopting a model giving financial incentives to those using Public Transport during rush hours.
Let Council invest in our future with a greater subsidy for buses – new, non-polluting, Trolleys would be a start.

Lower bus fares during peak periods (a system currently used by Trans Metro on the trains) and the introduction of a pedestrian precinct in the CBD are constructive and responsible ways of making leaving the car at home an attractive alternative.
The Inner-City By-Pass debacle has yet to be fixed, allowing better flow of Public Transport but with fewer cars on the road during peak time, life would be a little easier.

While investing in our future, working with Regional and Central Government to improve our commuter rail system would also be beneficial.

…better than dishing out interest free multi-million dollar loans to an aquarium on the South Coast!

Unfortunately, the proposal as outlined, has all the hallmarks of a panicked politician, ready to throw anything at the electorate in the hope they will think she’s addressing the very aspect of Wellington ignored during her 6 year term.

Does this Mayor truly believe Wellington Ratepayers will offer $7 million of their hard-earned cash for the privilege of NOT being able to park in front of their homes?
Wellington City Council

Sharpie

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

ARE YOU HAPPY ? / COUNCIL ELECTIONS 2007


ARE YOU HAPPY?

DO YOU FEEL YOUR COUNCIL
SERVES YOU?


BRYAN PEPPERELL
FOR MAYOR
ENSURES:

A BELIEF IN MAJORITY RULE
- A GREATER EMPHASIS ON PEOPLE OVER BIG BUSINESS


MINORITY PROTECTION
- THE ELDERLY, INFIRM AND
LESS FORTUNATE


A FOCUS ON CORE SERVICES
- PUBLIC TRANSPORT
- EFFECTIVE TOWN PLANNING
- HERITAGE PROTECTION
- CONTROLLING WELLINGTON’S DEBT


MAKES YOU THINK
DOESN’T IT?

VOTE
BRYAN PEPPERELL
FOR MAYOR
THE VIABLE ALTERNATIVE

http://www.pepptalk.net/

BLOODY GREAT TO SEE THE BERET
BACK!!!

GO PEPP!!

PEPP FOR MAYOR!!
BERET POWER!!!
SHARPIE

Thursday, April 05, 2007

Ra McIntosh from the Aro Valley


Ra 5- 4- 2007
Photo by pepptalk.net
Ra McIntosh is one of the new generation of Y people with strong ideas about civic affairs. We will be hearing more from Ra in the future but for now we simply wish to introduce you to a pepptalk person. Ra wants what we already have protected ( heritage) and a high level of transparency with public money.

Sunday, April 01, 2007

Save Our Natural Heritage


Jack Ruben and myself ( Bryan Pepperell ) wanted the Ilott Green kept as a green space. It was the last place we saw Jack Ilott before he died. We thought how fitting that this wonderful man was having a green space named in his honour. You can imagine how disgusted we were to find that this lovely park was to be built on.




Now the South Coast is also under threat with a commercial project.











In October this year we have a chance to stop the commercialisation of our South Coast by Voting for Bryan Pepperell for Mayor










Do we want more of this? Election 2007

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Do we want more of this? / Bypass Kerry

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Do we want more of this? Bypass Prendergast

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Do we want more of this? / Let's Have A City For Us

Posted by Picasa Lets have a City where small is beautiful.
Election 2007