24 December 2004

No need for Trolley Bus fuss

“An application for funding to refurbish Wellington’s trolley buses is yet to be made by the Greater Wellington Regional Council,” said Greater Wellington’s Transport Division Manager Dave Watson.

“Recent speculation that Land Transport New Zealand has rejected an application for funding is incorrect. The situation is we are currently in discussions with Land Transport New Zealand over a procedure by which we can apply for funding. Once we have agreed on a process, Greater Wellington has every intention of submitting a thorough application for funding.”

Dr Watson said that the trolley buses were an essential part of Wellington’s transport infrastructure.

“Not only do they service the cities core routes, they’re also quiet and don’t pollute the streets. The prototype refurbished trolley bus has low-floor access and more comfortable seating than the existing fleet. All of these benefits will be emphasised in our application.”

Dr Watson said that an application to Land Transport New Zealand was likely to be made in March – April 2005.

“There is a lot of detailed work yet to be done before we make an application for funding. While we welcome support for the trolley buses from local MP’s and the public, stories about the trolley’s demise are incorrect. We are doing everything we can to ensure that the case for retaining and refurbishing these vehicles is put as strongly as possible in the New Year.”

ENDS

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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>>