RAM – Residents Action Movement

“ RAM-Residents Action Movement has received advice from the Auditor-General that our concerns have been passed on to Mr Robert Cox, Sector Manager with responsibility for Transit NZ” said Elaine West , ARC Auckland candidate.

“RAM requested that the Auditor-General place a stay on proceedings associated with ALPURT B2 (SH1 extensions from Orewa-Puhoi, as a toll road) and to investigate -

- Government’s continued disregard to collate, analyse and distribute data regarding regional petrol taxes as requested by constituents, and the majority of ALPURT B2 submitters.”

Ms West continues, “RAM has also requested that an investigation into specific public office-holders and their private interests take place so that any conflicts of interest are addressed.”

“Mr Cox will make contact with RAM after having ‘had the opportunity of fully considering the issues’ we have raised.”

“RAM has eight candidates standing for the Auckland Regional Council who have pledged to uphold

the Citizen’s Manifesto – a document put together after eight months of public consultation.”

“Among other things, the Citizen’s Manifesto rejects tolls on New Zealand roads and advocates that Auckland has a greater share of regional petrol taxes for transport infrastructure.”

“It is also worth mentioning at this point” continues Ms West, “that a RAM-led ARC will set up a Register of Interest which outlines all significant assets, including shares, directorships and consultancies, and that the register will be open to public scrutiny.”

© Scoop Media

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>>