“Early Request For New Public Transport Service Tenders”

The Auckland Regional Council is seeking tenders for new trial services earlier than usual, to take best advantage of the Government’s Patronage Funding kick-start scheme.

“We normally call for tenders for new services around July, but this year we’ve already opened the tender round, so that new services can start as soon as July,” said Transport Committee chairman Les Paterson. Under the new scheme, for eligible services started in the 2001/2 financial year, the ARC will receive a 60% contribution from Transfund.

“We want to build and enhance the existing public transport network. Here’s a great opportunity for operators to come up with innovative and creative new services. We’re encouraging all operators to submit tenders for new bus, train and ferry services around Auckland,” said Cr Paterson.

“We will be looking favourably on tenders offering services using quiet, low emission vehicles such as alternative fuels or pollution-reducing mechanisms.

“We will also be weighting services that support localities with lots of young families or elderly residents, ones that take wheelchairs, prams and pushchairs, and ones that service areas where there’s intensive or new residential development.”

“Services that provide new or improved connections during peak hours especially to major employment areas will be very favourably weighted.”

“We’re also interested in receiving tenders for late night services (past midnight), services where passengers can use one ticket across different connections, and where services will reduce travel times during peak hours.”

Tenders for new services close on 6 June, and successful new tender services will be confirmed after the 7 July Transport Committee meeting.
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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>