Monday 7 January 2013

What's on this week?

Friday 11 January – Sunday 13 January
Elite Road National Championships
Friday time trial, 10am, Lincoln University
Saturday 12 January: 2013 Tineli Grand Prix Presented by Mainland Foundation Recreational Ride starts at 9.30am
Saturday from noon – Elite Women
Sunday from 10am – Elite Men
Centennial Park and Macmillan Avenue

Christchurch City Council Unit Manager John Filsell says the 2013 Calder Stewart Elite Road National Championships is the biggest event on the New Zealand cycling calendar. "This is the perfect chance to get out and see New Zealand’s top road cyclists in action, from Olympic medallists to Tour de France riders.”

In a first, all seven of New Zealand’s World Tour professional cyclists will take to the road to compete, including Julian Dean, George Bennett, Jesse Sergent, Sam Bewley, Greg Henderson, Hayden Roulston and Jack Bauer.

Please visit www.elitenationals.co.nz for more information.

Saturday 12 January
Beach Blast
North Beach, Marine Parade
9.30am–1pm
Free, cancelled if wet

This free event for 7–12 year olds showcases some of the fun activities kids can enjoy at the beach. Surfing, boogie boarding, bodysurfing, beach races, beach volleyball, cricket, music, a sandcastle competition and much more – all with experts from local surf lifesaving clubs and the North Wai Boardriders Club.

Sunday 13 January
Contact Tri Series
Pegasus
8am

This is a triathlon set against a beautiful backdrop, with the course taking in the clear lake, smooth roads and scenic lake paths offered by Pegasus. The 3:9:3 race (300m swim, 9k bike, 3k run) is the "give it a go" distance, designed for first timers. For something a little more challenging, there’s the sprint distance (750m swim, 20k bike, 5k run). For kids, the 1:2:1 race (100m swim, 2k bike, 1k run) gives them the option of racing individually or as a team.

Please visit http://www.triseries.co.nz/Events/Christchurch.htm for more information.

Ingham Lazy Sundays: Fledge
Archery Lawn, Botanic Gardens
3pm–4.30pm
Free

Fledge is a showcase of material from a combination of musicians. Acoustic and folk artist Hera performs with Jed Parsons and is joined by the House of Mountain band (Moses Robbins, Kurt Preston, Ben Campbell and Jed Parsons) for some upbeat numbers. Happiness Stan (aka Kris Wilson) uses vocals and guitar to deliver a style fitting within the traditional country and dirt genre.

Harlequin Players: The Adventures of Robin Hood
Abberley Park, St Albans
Monday – Friday, 6.30pm
Saturday & Sunday, 11am & 2pm
Gate sales $7, children 2 years and under free

Come one, come all to this light-hearted musical adventure for the whole family written by Roger Hall, one of New Zealand’s most popular playwrights. Lively Celtic dancing, music, sword and stave fighting are included in the funny and boisterous antics of Robin Hood and his outlaws.

These events are all part of the Garden City SummerTimes festival. For more information please visit summertimes.co.nz.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On The 2013 Budget

Among Thursday’s main talking points:

We are apparently on track for a margin-of-error $75 million surplus, now in sight for 2014/15. But this sickly creature is hobbling out of the lab on the basis of all kinds of facilitative conjuring: such as trimming by $200 million the amount of new spending next time around.

With this strictly nominal surplus in sight, the 1984-ish justification for eternal austerity will have a news talisman: namely, getting Crown debt down to 20% of GDP by 2020. More>>

Budget Report, Lockup Audio & Images: Budget Day 2013 As always and especially after the managerial mishaps of the past few weeks and months, (e.g. Aaron Gilmore, the Mighty River Power share float, the GCSB mishaps) Budget Day 2013 was always going to be a pageant of reassurance... More>>

Budget 2013 Comment: Plain Sailing, But It's No America's Cup Pattrick Smellie: Compared to the last four budgets, this year's reflects an economy moving out of recession and into calmer waters... Yet if the fastest annual growth rate we can expect over the next two years is 3 percent - with the Christchurch rebuild in full swing - then you'd have to say New Zealand's underlying low-growth problem is far from fixed. More>>

Auckland Discord: Govt’s Power Hungry Housing Approach A Threat - Labour

Last week the Government said this, ‘The Government commits not to use any proposed or existing powers ... to override the council's planning and consenting processes’. But its housing Bill says this; ‘If an accord cannot be reached in an area of severe housing unaffordability, the Government can intervene by establishing special housing areas and issuing consents for developers’. More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Housing accords legislation passes first reading - Legislation For Housing Accords, Land Supply - Housing package improves affordability, access
• Greens - Budget numbers show National’s failure on home affordability
• Auckland Chamber of Commerce - Budget 2013: Housing intervention needed
• Out-Link - Gareth Morgan: Response to housing problem limp-wristed
• Earlier, Pre-Budget - Auckland Accord announced

Extending Protest Ban, Relaxing Permit Rules: Govt Abuses Urgency To Extend Anadarko Amendment

The Government is trying to pass legislation under urgency which would make the Anadarko Amendment – which limits protest at sea – apply to an additional 1.7 million square kilometres, the Green Party said today. More>>

ALSO:

• Parliament Today - Parliament Resumes To Pass Budget Bills
• Labour - Government to extend protest ban
• Greenpeace NZ - Oil Companies Lacking ‘Expertise’ and ‘Financial Ability’ Set to Be Handed Drilling Permits
• 2010 image via: Pacific.Scoop - Media watcher gives NZ press nil score card for China oil spill coverage