tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post6823246848059957279..comments2024-03-26T10:03:51.827+13:00Comments on Karl du Fresne: Auckland: a city without a heartKarl du Fresnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05054853925940134404noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-19451653610775690682012-04-15T20:48:17.706+12:002012-04-15T20:48:17.706+12:00For all that, while Christchurch had its thriving ...For all that, while Christchurch had its thriving areas, even before the earthquake it did not have much of a heart. Cathedral square was mainly Asian tourists and much of Manchester St and Columbo St south of Ballantynes were dying old brick buildings. Now, after the earthquake it is a donut with a void in the centre. Nobody can agree just what should fill the void. The liberal elite have all sorts of fancy plans for low rise open spaces but those that will invest the money can not see how that kind of development will make their investment pay.Rab McDowellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16864370891083101277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-5231826920563827102012-04-15T11:25:56.095+12:002012-04-15T11:25:56.095+12:00I couldn't agree with you more, Karl.
There ...I couldn't agree with you more, Karl. <br /><br />There is nothing worse than approaching Auckland via the Southern Motorway, and passing mile after mile of *grotty* 50-year-old housing that wouldn't be out of place in a Philippines slum. <br /><br />I haven't been to Queen St for decades, but it amazes me that the powers-that-be in Auckland are so slack-arsed that they lack the ability and drive to "get it together" and make that area worth visiting (rather than avoiding). <br /><br />I tell you what - as a Wellingtonian, I would rather visit Christchurch (red zone and all) ten times a year rather than Auckland once a decade.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-68612500980311142602012-04-13T16:55:35.743+12:002012-04-13T16:55:35.743+12:00Solely by necessity, I have survived the big smok...Solely by necessity, I have survived the big smoke for some 47 years.<br /><br />Karl, it is a "soul-less" place if you take it as a whole. What you find is that within that hole is a vast number of small, close and (generally) very active communities. I suspect that this parochialism is in large part the cause of most of the intertia in Auckland's local government; probably since the time of Robbies first term. It is only since the "outliers" (the little boroughs to south, west, and north) were absorbed that the magnitude of that problem became apparent.<br /><br />I have been into the CBD three times in this past year; first to take a look at The Viaduct, aborted because it was pissing sunlight again; next to the first Breakers game at the Arena, first time I have been there as well; third, to the Viaduct again in the brilliant rain one afternoon, reaction disappointed.<br /><br />The downfall of Queen St probably started with the Hare Krishna. For a country lad like me - and I spent some 15 years working in the CBD until I saw the light - it was a noisy stinking canyon. The cleanest part were the trolleys.The probligohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-15543265504242449612012-04-13T16:21:11.424+12:002012-04-13T16:21:11.424+12:00Disappointing really-I think you taken have a very...Disappointing really-I think you taken have a very superfical look at Auckland. I agree the central city is truly awful but having got to know the other more interesting parts (which you may not have seen - and I do not live in the city) I can truly say it is an interesting place. Doesn't compare of course with inner city Wellington but it is hugely better than Dunedin which I have to visit because I have son there and seems to me to be composed of all of the most awful aspects I remember of the 1950's.<br /> You have to remember that few Aucklanders bother with the inner city anymore.<br /> I do some running about for a son who lives in Auckland but he provided me with a GPS so its really easy to find suburbs.Jigsawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13906156865367357834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-3078425204167771182012-04-13T07:27:29.692+12:002012-04-13T07:27:29.692+12:00On the other hand, Lindsay, the signage on the mai...On the other hand, Lindsay, the signage on the main roads in and around Auckland is atrocious. Most signs give directions to specific streets and roads rather than suburbs. To an outsider with no knowledge of Auckland, they would be as useless as an ashtray on a motorbike.Karl du Fresnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05054853925940134404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-59962841623037532132012-04-12T20:54:00.475+12:002012-04-12T20:54:00.475+12:00Last time I visited Auckland ONE thing impressed m...Last time I visited Auckland ONE thing impressed me (apart from their wonderfully traditional museum). That they managed to convert many roads into unimpeded dual carriageways with no on-street parking thus promoting cross city traffic flow. Look at the pathetic efforts we have made with Mana Esplanade by way of contrast.<br /><br />Oh, and I do like the way that parts of south Auckland actually feel like Pacific Island ...islands.Lindsay Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04437693272797130833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-71614753103713207862012-04-12T18:25:04.869+12:002012-04-12T18:25:04.869+12:00Well from one from south of the Bombays and an ex ...Well from one from south of the Bombays and an ex Wellingtonian I have to agree with you. Never have Ifound the place intersting nor exciting and as I have to deal with Aucklanders regularly I have to say that they are thick, non service minded,ignorant to a fault, demanding without the returning the favour and generally have become not such nice people. <br />The POAL argument is a good example of them. Noisy but essentially useless.Vikinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05462490696358761442noreply@blogger.com