The Loco Loco Yet Again
I am currently out of the country , but the other day I saw that NZTA have agreed to extend the Loco Loco 'trial' by another 2 years . They have reduced their contribution from 70-odd percent , to 60 percent . So their contribution is now $12.2 million for the next 2 years .
Now work that out . That means the cost for 2 more years is 'only' $20million , of which 'we' pay all of , one way or another .
That is $10 million a year , or $833,000 a month , or $200,000 a week , or $30,000 a day . That is how much it is losing . $30,000 a day . 7 days a week . ( Does it run on a Sunday ? ) . I doubt it gets 300 passengers a day , so that is $100 a passenger a day IT IS LOSING . Yes , every day they light a bonfire , and throw on $30,000 !
But wait -- theres more ! It has already cost about $120 million so far . Over $80 million of that is the capital costs , which are basically worth nothing .
So calculate the capital cost , and the on-going losses , and the $25 return ticket is actually costing ratepayers and taxpayers close on $500 . Per Person . Per Day . For another 2 years !
It is never , ever , ever going to get anywhere near break even , so these geniuses for some reason decide we'll throw more money at it for another 2 years .
Even Len Brown says it should be cancelled ( and he always struck me as being not the brightest , and 'left wing' ) , as does Luxon , Seymour and anyone who knows even the slightest about running a business , or logic , or common sense .
Why , oh why ?
What's your favourite tomato recipe?
Kia ora neighbours. We know your tomato plants are still growing, but we're looking ahead to the harvest already! If you've got a family recipe for tomatoes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine to share with our readers. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our February 2025 issue.
Where's your favourite place to buy strawberries?
Strawberry farm Kane’s strawberries might just be the best in the country, prompting Christmas queues and being eaten by generations of families.
The family-owned strawberry farm in Leamington is known throughout the Waikato region for their strawberries, which people say have the best flavour and quality.
Where's your favourite place to buy strawberries? Tell us your reasons in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).
Have you driven past this King Country icon lately?
Months after launching a campaign to have Waitomo’s famous big apple refreshed, the woman behind it has closed her petition and claimed victory.
Once the apple of the eye of passers-by, the big apple had suffered years of neglect, which took the shine off the apple and left a bad taste in the mouths of locals, until Piopio resident Karen Barrett took a bite out of its owners - Tourism Holdings Ltd (THL).
Have you driven past this King Country icon lately? Tell us your thoughts in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).
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