Gov 2.0 - SeeClickFix

Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist and a customer-service guru, was riding on a public train in San Francisco, California, recently when something common but annoying occurred: The railcar filled with people and became uncomfortably hot.

If the inconvenience had happened a few years ago, Newmark said he would have just gone on with his day -- maybe complaining about the temperature to a friend.

But this was 2009, the age of mobile technology, so Newmark pulled out his iPhone, snapped a photo of the train car and, using an app called "SeeClickFix," zapped an on-the-go complaint, complete with GPS coordinates, straight to City Hall.

"A week or so later I got an e-mail back saying, 'Hey, we know about the problem and we're going to be taking some measures to address it,' " he said.

Something we would never see here or get to work in New Zealand. A government department or local council shouldering responsibility.

Instead of people saying, 'Well, it's the government's job to fix that' ... people are taking ownership and saying, 'Hey, wait a minute. Government is us. We are government. So let's take a responsibility and start changing things ourselves.

About as much chance of John Key getting something like this included in a Super City.

For some cities and for some governments I could understand that transition can be a scary thing, ... But we feel like it makes governments more accountable, and it makes them function better

Room for an entrepreneur here. Unfortunately, each of the councils and government departments will cry foul on compatibility. INCIS, anyone?

With such a program nationwide, I feel that I could easily forward pics of all those potholes on the short road into town to the Tararua Mayor to see if they elicit a response like an actual repair. Some of those potholes have been repeatedly and annually remarked for repair with white paint for the past decade. The only things that have grown is the number and size of the potholes. Who knows, even the ones opposite her house recently remarked may even get repaired with such an entrepreneurial application.

Anything that makes government function better with a whole lot less of it in my face and wallet is good in my book.

Unfortunately, here in New Zealand, the whitewash is the repair.

Who am I?

The oxygen thieves at Department of Statistics sum up 5 years of work in this short paper.

Fence sitting waste of space. Looking for places to save on the bureaucracy, John?

I am not a European New Zealander or a New Zealand European. Much less a Kiwi or worse still a Pakeha from the fantasyland of Aotearoa.

There is only one answer. Looks like I will still be looking for the Other field and writing in New Zealander as I have done for the past decades.

I am a New Zealander.

"A hornets nest has been strirred"

We will stop them from building houses, we will stop them from building roads, we will stop them from building anything on the land.

Land wars are about to erupt in Northland at Tinopai over a large subdivision as the locals get septic about not being given racially based unelected representation.

Maori will come from the four winds to protect this land as this affects them from all over the land.

Ken Mair's 1995 sit in at Wanganui's Moutoa Gardens doesn't have a patch on what is promised here. Locals have declared the whole area sacred, covering areas like the subdivision they do not own.

Maori are "seething, there's anger all over the place".

As usual, such matters brings the worst out in people.

Central government will have to do something about this situation.

Damned right. I look forward to watching this saga play out.

Corrections: Doin' da business

... six escapes in seven days

... a "technical shortcoming" at Hamilton Central police station

Nice to see nothing has changed for Corrections and Mr Plod with a change of government.

Business as usual. Not unsurprised though, I expected nothing less.

Belt tightening here

In a show of "commitment" Prime Minister John Key will take almost half his caucus with him.

About 20 Labour MPs will also make the trip.

One conference trip that should be cancelled to save money stopping the annual pissing in pockets.

Where it all started

The budget should be balanced,
the Treasury should be refilled,
public debt should be reduced,
the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled,
and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed
lest Rome become bankrupt.

People must again learn to work,
instead of living on public assistance.

A wisdom that transcends the years.

Attributed to Cicero, over 2000 years ago during the world's first ever credit crunch as Rome went deep into the red.

HT The Hound, Rural News Jan 20 2009

Parallel commentary here and here.

Getting on with business

Things are happening in the bearpit.

KiwiSlaver changes - passed.

Tax changes - passed.

Hercepton a happening thing.

Great stuff. A cracking pace. Getting on with business in hand. Action by the hour.

This rubbish from the Opposition about low income people being attacked...if they're hard up it's because Labour ignored them for years

Where is the opposition? Do we have one? The filibustering rabble over the last couple of days is piss weak.

And judging by the positive directions exuding from the Beehive in all directions from those with the reins, these unionised bludgers might do well to take any current offer. For if they hang out too long, the offer fairy might just pack up. After all, unions are now not in a position of strength with head prefect fearless Phil in opposition.