WELLINGTONS BUS FIASCO
"A dozen contractors have walked away with over $1.6 million in the first eight months of Wellington's bus fiasco".
Does anyone accept the feeble explanations that have been expressed regarding this expenditure? ie. a council spokesman said the works were budgeted for and were focused on implementation and ongoing improvements. GWRC employs contractors, consultants etc depending on expertise... Barbara Donaldson said the expenditure was operational and refused to comment.
It's time these people in well paid jobs stood up and took responsibility and did something to justify their salaries - so what if it's operational? its all taxpayer/ratepayer money and we should be getting value for it, as well as knowing what it was spent on. Where are the ongoing improvements - or is it intended to destroy the bus service first then anything following will be an "improvement"?
Chris Laidlaw has previously said he would do little differently. Rhodes Scholar or not, perhaps he should read the post regarding "Commonsense" which was posted on Neighbourly last week.
Why do we need consultants when it seems "everyone else" knows the $1.6 million would have been better spent on recruitment and retention of staff on the front line who are expected to face the ire of unsatisfied patrons.
To Laidlaw, Donaldson and their colleagues I say - ride the buses and explain to patrons yourself why the service is such a shambles, get down to the grass roots and see what people have to put up with. If you can't do the job then go and look for another.
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
Poll: 🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
Want to read more? The Press has you covered!
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52% Human-centred experience and communication
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15.3% Critical thinking
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29.8% Resilience and adaptability
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2.9% Other - I will share below!
Brain Teaser of the Day 🧠✨ Can You Solve It? 🤔💬
Make a hearty dish. Take just half a minute. Add four parts of kestrel. Then just add one. What have you made?
(Trev from Silverdale kindly provided this head-scratcher ... thanks, Trev!)
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!
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