All posts in the topic Guest Speakers (Short link)

From: Dan Randow, Forum Manager, Canterbury Public Issues Forum Date: 2007 May 10 04:09 UTC Short link

Hi Folks,

I am arranging a series of Guest Speakers to stimulate conversations in
the forum. They'll be high profile or otherwise well-qualified to
contribute views about local issues. The Guest Speaker will make an
opening post and contribute to discussion for the next week. They can
participate in the forum before or after that week if they wish, of course.

I have already approached a number of people about this, and confirmed
two Guest Speakers.

   21-27 May (Youth Week[1]): Tony Milne
   12-18 June: Bob Parker

If you would like to be, nominate or suggest a Guest Speaker, please
email me directly. There's a bit more info about what's involved, below[2].
    

cheers

Dan

--

Dan Randow, Forum Manager
Canterbury Public Issues Forum
http://canterburyissues.org.nz
<email obscured>
ph 03-377-5377


[1]  http://youthweek.co.nz/

[2] Info for prospective Guest Speakers in the Canterbury Online Public
Issues Forum

   http://canterburyissues.org.nz

The purpose of having Guest Speakers is to attract people to join and
participate in the forum. The benefit for you would be the chance to engage
directly and visibly with citizens, to hear their points of view, and to
let them know about yours.

Being a Guest Speaker would involve joining the forum, being in it for
seven days, and making a few posts. You'd make an opening post, raising
one or more local topics of interest, and inviting responses. Over the
next week, you would respond to questions or views that came up. The
expectation is that after that period, you would no longer take an
active part in the forum, though of course you could do so if you
wished. Anyone is welcome to open any topic in the forum at any time.

The forum is all online, so you could participate from anywhere at all,
and at any time of day. For the opening post, I expect you could adapt
something that is already written, although it would be good to keep the
tone conversational. I'd suggest allowing 10 to 20 minutes per day to
follow the discussion and respond. The overall commitment could be two
or three hours over the week. This is difficult to predict as it depends
on how much discussion ensues. If the discussion becomes busy, it may
help to have an assistant follow the responses and summarise them, so
that you can focus on your responses. Please keep in mind is that the
forum is Canterbury-specific, so issues that are unique to Christchurch
and/or Canterbury are best.

If you would like to be a Guest Speaker in the forum, please suggest
know a seven day period (starting on a Tuesday) when you would be
available to do so.

From: Tony Milne Date: 2007 May 20 23:40 UTC Short link

Thanks Dan, and thanks for the opportunity to be a guest - it is a real honour.
Social innovators are as important as a economic innovators - and debate and
discussion (in forums such as this) are crucial to societies that are cohesive
and strong.  So congratulations for all the hard work in getting this forum up
and running.

Just a bit about me before I do my first post later today.  I was born in
Invercargill and moved to Christchurch in 2000 to go to University.  I am 26.

Since completing my first class honours degree I have dedicated myself to
public service – working in the youth heath sector, standing for Parliament for
Labour twice, working in Parliament for two years, and working across
Christchurch with the key community, voluntary, business and political leaders
on issues of city-wide significance on behalf of the five Canterbury Labour
MPs.

(for my full bio see http://www.tonymilne.org.nz/About.aspx).

I'm looking forward to some interesting discussion, and will post on my first
issues later today.

With kind regards,
Tony Milne
    

From: Dan Randow, Forum Manager, Canterbury Public Issues Forum Date: 2007 May 23 23:04 UTC Short link

Thank you Megan Woods[1], for agreeing to be a Guest Speaker.

Here's the current Guest Speaker programme.

   21-27 May (Current): Tony Milne
   12-18 June: Bob Parker
   24-30 July: Megan Woods

I am steadily inviting more public figures to be Guest Speakers, so expect this
list to expand (and keep emailing me directly with suggestions as to who would
be suitable).

cheers

Dan

[1] http://megan4mayor.com
    

From: Bob Parker Date: 2007 Jun 12 01:36 UTC Short link

Hi, I am Bob Parker, writing from my home in Central Christchurch.

I was born in Christchurch, grew up in Heathcote Valley (next door to the
Valley Inn Pub!)in Flavel Street.
Went to Heathcote Primary, South Intermediate, Cashmere High and University of
Canterbury (1 year). Then went to Wellington to study pharmacy and later
returned to Christchurch.

Later I worked as a broadcaster based in Nelson, Christchurch, Wellington and
Auckland before being involved in a computer software/hardware startup (video
edit systems) in a joint venture with Aoraki Corporation (Jade Software).

I chose to return to my home town of Christchurch around 16 years ago, bought
an old house in Akaroa, and maintained a small apartment in the Arts Centre in
central Christchurch. More recently Joanna (my fiancee) and I have purchased an
older apartment in the central city which has become our home.

I have three adult sons (Nick -electronic engineer in Perth, Anson - software
and design in California, Daniel - broadcaster in Auckland), and I am about to
remarry.

I am currently a councillor with the Christchurch City Council and will be
putting my name forward as a candidate for the Mayoralty in the local
government elections in late September/early October this year. Joanna is
currently completing a post-grad course in Art Curatorship at Uni, and is an
artist in her own right.

I have had 14 years experience in local government at the level of community
board, councillor and for 5 years as the mayor of Banks Peninsula, now part of
Christchurch. Following the merger of the City and Peninsula I stood in the
by-election and was elected to the CCC as a councillor.

I have chosen to stand in the mayoralty as a non-aligned candidate and do not
belong to any political party (now or in the past).
As the mayoralty must represent a City with many perspectives, political,
cultural, social and economic, many people have told me that they think it is
important to have a mayor who is above party politics - and I agree with them.

As this is a two-way dialogue, I am interested in the issues that you believe
are the important ones facing Council in the coming three years.

Looking forward to the conversation,
Bob Parker.
    

From: Bob Parker Date: 2007 Jun 13 08:57 UTC Short link

Hello, and thankyou for the interesting (even provoking) dialogue on peak oil
and the issues you have raised around motoring habits and public transport, and
the urban response to them. Following is a long, and I hope, useful answer.

In my view the issue is not just peak oil, but also a wider awareness of energy
issues and moving toward to a more sustainable pattern of development and
transport at the centre of which is an efficient public transport system. A
system that is so convenient that we will use it as a matter of choice,
preference even.

As the Chair of the Greater Christchurch Urban Development Strategy (UDS) for
the past two years it is something close to my heart, and that I have spent
much time thinking about as well as talking to some of the experts in the
field.

Roads will continue to have a vital role. We have some pressing roading issues
that we need to resolve. One is the completion of the Southern and Northern
arterial routes that connect the City to the state highway network – these are
planned, part-funded, and are a priority to finish based on current traffic
requirements – including safety and public bus transport. One of the goals of
the UDS is to access special funding from Central Government – much as has been
the case in Auckland and Wellington but so far with no success in Christchurch
– by presenting a comprehensive and detailed sub-regional development plan for
the “Greater” Christchurch area.

Another issue is the increasing number of “bottlenecks” within our existing
urban network that need to be resolved. Here we do have a number of innovative
opportunities that can better utilise existing roads in a less
capital-intensive manner: bus lanes, clearways and incentives for car-pooling
are just a few of them.

That will help deal with current issues but it is far from the complete answer.

Our road based bus service is another key – and with technological advances in
electric and other “alternative” fuel systems it will have a large part to
play. Already bus patronage is rising to levels we haven’t seen for a
generation. In Christchurch cycling is still the alternative mode of transport
of preference that is more popular than buses – and we can do better here as we
continue to build our cycleway networks (again, as per the UDS).

But right now something is missing, and that is a technology that around the
world is playing a vital role in enabling urban regeneration and
intensification, the rebuilding of social connectedness, and the emergence of a
more sustainable development form. It is “light” rail.

In my view we need to make a commitment to begin the planning and redevelopment
of rail-based public transport. Not overnight, but staged and over time.
In other words passenger carrying or “light rail”. I prefer to think of it as
modern, fast, efficient trams.

So lets imagine that a majority of residents of Christchurch, after a good
community discussion, come to the same conclusion and empower us as politicians
to explore this path. What could it look like?

I grew up in a Christchurch that still had passenger rail transport – and most
of the railway lines that were utilised then are still in place. These are
often referred to as “heavy rail” or lines with the capacity to carry large
amounts of freight as well as passengers.

We could begin with passenger services based on those existing lines and offer
services with at least three distinct routes:
(1)	Rolleston - Hornby - Addington – City
(2)	Rangiora - Kaiapoi - Belfast - Papanui - Riccarton - Addington – City
(3)	City - Linwood - Opawa - Heathcote - Lyttelton

Here then are three routes that would need suitable rolling stock and platforms
with connections to parking and buses. As the South West of the City continues
to grow we also have the remnant of the old Hornby to Lincoln line (which
currently finishes near Prebbleton). We should consider extending this into the
Halswell catchment.

We should also turn our minds to planning and reserving land for a new eastern
line connecting at Belfast, travelling down the coast behind Brighton and
looping back and joining the existing heavy rail in the Linwood area. This
would then complete the “Circle Line” around the City, and which would run
through some of the most densely developed residential areas in Christchurch.

How about a new main City station at Jade Stadium linked to a bus exchange with
a light rail link which also travels through the south of Lichfield precinct
(“SOL”) into the heart of the City – perhaps to Cathedral Square.

The next step, a new light rail network that forms the “spokes” within the
outer circle line and, in some cases, crossing it to bring in outer suburbs.
Within that are a couple of special links. The University is connected back to
the Central city – perhaps to SOL, bringing back the energy and vibrancy of a
strong young group of citizens right into the heart of Christchurch with a
range of inner city accommodation.

I believe that we should plan for a central city (lets say inside the four
avenues) where the use of a private car is the least likely transport choice a
resident would make. Walking, cycling and a light passenger rail (modern tram)
system provide all of the access and mobility required for resident and
visitors alike.

I believe we can do this, not overnight but over time, by engaging as a
community around this vision.

Some experts may say that we don’t have the urban densities or the capital to
be able to realistically afford to have this vision – and I disagree. There are
compelling economic, social and environmental reasons why I believe this can be
achieved. Again, not overnight, but staged and over time.

If we wait until the sceptics believe we have reached critical economic mass
(in the narrowest sense of economics in my view) before we plan and envision
our future then we may find that, just like Auckland, the train has already
left the station – and we have been left behind. If we look to our future with
optimism then I think we will say we can afford to plan for the resurrection of
passenger rail in Christchurch.
    

From: Amelia Dalley Date: 2007 Jun 14 07:14 UTC Short link

Hi Bob,
I notice that you said you are non-aligned.  I think that after the 2005
general election it is important to know who the politicians are aligned to in
terms of who is donating to their campaign as they are obviously going to align
themselves with their financial supporters.  I was wondering if you would be
willing to let the public know who you are aligned with so as to assist us in
making an informed choice for mayor.
Cheers,
Amelia
    

From: Bob Parker Date: 2007 Jun 14 09:25 UTC Short link

Hi Amelia,

Yes, I have chosen not to align myself with any political party. On a council
of 13 plus a mayor I really cannot see how a mayor joined to a political gang
with a set of pre-determined policies can make for better local democracy.

As to funding, I have deliberately set myself at arms length to the process. If
someone offers me help of any kind I thank them, and put them in touch with my
campaign manager. I do know that, as well as my own input, donations of time
and money have been offered by my family, my fiancée Joanna, and friends. I am
very grateful for this help. As the campaign gets into full swing I hope that
others will want to contribute on the basis of getting to know my priorities.
However they will be dealing with the campaign team not me.

I come from a proud local kiwi working-class family, and it is fair to say that
they would be solid (as far as I know) Labour supporters. However I have always
voted on issues and for individuals, and not a party ideology. As the former
mayor of Banks Peninsula it was important to have a good relationship with
local MP’s such as Ruth Dyson (Labour), David Carter (National) and the late
and much missed Rod Donald (Greens). I was a speaking guest at various
functions they organised, and helped raise funds for all of them.

Christchurch is made of many different political, social, ethnic and cultural
groups. Many residents have told me that they think it is important to be a
non-aligned mayor, and I agree. I just believe a mayor should represent the
views of Christchurch, not some predominantly North Island based political
ideology.

Equally I have no “higher” political ambitions – for example standing for a
political party in the general elections, and thus do not view standing for the
mayoralty as a training ground for a parliamentary career. I am a local
government enthusiast of 14 years experience (some friends have suggested I
should seek counselling for this) and I love Christchurch.

Perhaps you are concerned that someone will “buy” me? Remember that a mayor has
only one vote at a table of 14 (on rare occasions if a vote is “tied” the mayor
may use a casting vote - generally to preserve the status quo).

Being a mayor is also about being a good chair and working to build a team from
a cross-section of perspectives.

Over the last two years I have acted as the independent (non-aligned) chair of
the Greater Christchurch Urban Development Strategy. The governance body
consisted of representatives from four local bodies, many different
perspectives, and presumably many different political views. I am very proud
that we reached the end of the process, including hearings, with no split votes
and a unanimous outcome.

Regards, Bob Parker.
    

From: Andrew Doherty Date: Jun 17 13:55 UTC Short link

Dear Bob,

I am Andrew Doherty, although I don't currently live in Canterbury (I teach
Physics at the University of Queensland) I grew up in Christchurch and am a
regular visitor. I have been taking a keen interest in the upcoming mayoral
election.


The issues of campaign funding and political alignment seem to be ones about
which voters will be hypersensitive. In voting for mayor I would look for
effective management and a vision for the future of New Zealand's second
largest centre. Although I agree that it has little bearing on the day to day
management of the city, I do believe that one way of communicating to people
about your broad thinking on a range of issues is membership of a political
party or grouping. As an independent (or non-aligned!) candidate people will be
looking harder for information about your priorities. Moreover, in the wake of
the 2005 national elections I suspect that voters will look at campaign
contributors for clues about the thinking of candidates, or at least for an
idea of the kind of people who believe that they broadly agree with the
candidate. For example, in the Christchurch mayoralty property developers seem
to be one group of people whose choice of candidate could be quite
illuminating.

In this context I have two slighty fussy questions about your comments here on
funding issues: specifically with regards to the following


>As to funding, I have deliberately set myself at arms length to the process.
If someone offers me help of any kind I >thank them, and put them in touch with
my campaign manager. I do know that, as well as my own input, donations of time
>and money have been offered by my family, my fiancée Joanna, and friends. I
am very grateful for this help. As the >campaign gets into full swing I hope
that others will want to contribute on the basis of getting to know my
priorities. >However they will be dealing with the campaign team not me.

I am very interested in the logic of keeping yourself at arm's length from your
campaign contributors. Perhaps you feel this arrangement will help you to serve
disinterestedly if elected, however I would have thought that the way to avoid
a Hollow Men style loss of credibility would be to make your own judgements
about who it is appropriate to accept money from and then to publish a complete
list of donors?

The second point is really a clarification. I am sure it is a slip but the
phrase  "others will want to contribute on the basis of getting to know my
priorities" is quite disturbing as it seems to play directly to public's fears
that increased influence and awareness of future policy are available to those
who can afford to make large donations to political campaigns. I very much hope
that as one of the leading candidates for mayor you will be able to inform all
voters about your priorities regardless of whether they have donated to your
campaign!

Regards
Andrew Doherty
    

From: Paul Sutherland Date: Jun 18 01:13 UTC Short link

In the light of openness should the voting records of Councillors be published
in the minutes of meetings on the council website?
    

From: Andrew Groom Date: Jun 18 01:48 UTC Short link

I think that's a marvellous idea, Paul, especially if it was easily
browsable, e.g.:

- a list of decisions (or whatever the term is) with links to who voted what
- a list of councillors with links to a list of votes they've made on
the above decisions

Cheers, Andrew.

Paul Sutherland wrote:
> In the light of openness should the voting records of Councillors be
published in the minutes of meetings on the council website?
    

From: Alan Hamilton Date: Jun 18 04:47 UTC Short link

Please stop sending emails regarding canterbury issues

thankyou
    

----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew Groom" <<email obscured>>
To: <<email obscured>>
Sent: Monday, June 18, 2007 1:48 PM
Subject: Re: [Canterbury Issues] Guest Speakers


>I think that's a marvellous idea, Paul, especially if it was easily
> browsable, e.g.:
>
> - a list of decisions (or whatever the term is) with links to who voted
> what
> - a list of councillors with links to a list of votes they've made on
> the above decisions
>
> Cheers, Andrew.
>
> Paul Sutherland wrote:
>> In the light of openness should the voting records of Councillors be
>> published in the minutes of meetings on the council website?
>
> Andrew Groom
> Bryndwr, Christchurch
> Info about Andrew Groom:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/andrewgroom
>
> This topic's messages may be viewed at:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/5zxma64ovf7T9xFOk2WkvU
> -----------------------------------------
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> (before June 22)
>
>  To post, send your message to: <email obscured>
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From: Rosalie Taylor Date: Jun 19 22:50 UTC Short link

Please take my name off your list
Thank you
    

----- Original Message -----
From: "Sue Milligan" <<email obscured>>
To: <<email obscured>>
Sent: Monday, June 18, 2007 1:33 PM
Subject: Re: [Canterbury Issues] Guest Speakers


> Hi Paul,
> That sounds like a great idea, particularly if accessible through the
> website.  What may make the information even more digestible would be if
> they were published not within lengthy minutes, but perhaps in a table
> format with each councillor and each issue mentioned,
> Kind regards,
> Sue
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Paul Sutherland [mailto:<email obscured>]
> Sent: Monday, 18 June 2007 1:15 p.m.
> To: Canterbury Public Issues Forum
> Subject: Re: [Canterbury Issues] Guest Speakers
>
>
> In the light of openness should the voting records of Councillors be
> published in the minutes of meetings on the council website?
>
> Paul Sutherland
>
> Info about Paul Sutherland:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/paulsutherland
>
> This topic's messages may be viewed at:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/1hdH4wNvLUd0PR2ZTZ0Deq
> -----------------------------------------
>  DON'T FORGET TO FILL OUT OUR SURVEY: http://e-democracy.org/blog/posts/97
> (before June 22)
>
>  To post, send your message to: <email obscured>
>  To leave or for daily digest, type "unsubscribe" or "digest on,"
>  in subject line and send to: <email obscured>
>
>  More info about Canterbury Public Issues Forum:
>  http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/canterburyissues
>
>  E-Democracy.Org rules: http://e-democracy.org/rules
> -----------------------------------------
> Technical assistance thanks to our friends at http://OnlineGroups.Net
>
> Sue  Milligan
>
> Info about Sue  Milligan:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/suemilligan
>
> This topic's messages may be viewed at:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/4GotrfBBbyUct8NkLTbUsQ
> -----------------------------------------
>  DON'T FORGET TO FILL OUT OUR SURVEY: http://e-democracy.org/blog/posts/97
> (before June 22)
>
>  To post, send your message to: <email obscured>
>  To leave or for daily digest, type "unsubscribe" or "digest on,"
>  in subject line and send to: <email obscured>
>
>  More info about Canterbury Public Issues Forum:
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> Technical assistance thanks to our friends at http://OnlineGroups.Net
>

From: Dan Randow, Forum Manager, Canterbury Public Issues Forum Date: Jun 27 07:01 UTC Short link

Hi Folks,

I am pleased to announce a schedule of eleven Guest Speakers in the forum over
the coming months. We have one MP, five Environment Canterbury Councillors,
three Christchurch City Councillors, a Mayoral candidate and a City Council
candidate. Details are below.

There are still a few slots left before the local government elections on 13
October, and plenty afterwards, so if you are a public figure interested in
being a Guest Speaker, then please let me know.

cheers

Dan

. . . . .


GUEST SPEAKER SCHEDULE

Tue 3 Jul to Mon 9 Jul: Sally Buck
Christchurch City Councillor – Fendalton/Waimairi Ward
http://www.ccc.govt.nz/Council/CommunityBoards/FendaltonWaimairi/#SallyBuck

Tue 10 Jul to Mon 16 Jul: Tim Barnett
MP for Christchurch Central
http://www.timbarnett.org.nz/

Tue 17 Jul to Mon 23 Jul: Alec Neill
Environment Canterbury Councillor, Christchurch West
http://www.ecan.govt.nz/About+Us/Council+Info/Councillors/AlecNeill.htm

Tue 24 Jul to Mon 30 Jul: Megan Woods
Christchurch Mayoral Candidate
http://www.megan4mayor.com/

Tue 31 Jul to Mon 6 Aug: Richard Budd
Environment Canterbury Councillor, Christchurch East
http://www.ecan.govt.nz/About+Us/Council+Info/Councillors/Richard-Budd.htm

Tue 7 Aug to Mon 13 Aug: Bob Shearing
Christchurch City Councillor – Riccarton/Wigram Ward
http://www.ccc.govt.nz/Council/CommunityBoards/RiccartonWigram/#BobShearing

Tue 14 Aug to Mon 20 Aug: Bob Kirk
Environment Canterbury Councillor, Christchurch South
http://www.ecan.govt.nz/About+Us/Council+Info/Councillors/Bob+Kirk.htm

Tue 21 Aug to Mon 27 Aug: June Slee
Environment Canterbury Councillor, Waitaki Constituency
http://www.ecan.govt.nz/About+Us/Council+Info/Councillors/June+Slee.htm

Tue 28 Aug to Mon 3 Sep: Bill Woods
Environment Canterbury Councillor, Selwyn and Banks Peninsula
http://www.ecan.govt.nz/About+Us/Council+Info/Councillors/Bill+Woods.htm

Tue 11 Sep to Mon 17 Sep: Matt Morris
Christchurch City Council Candidate
http://www.myspace.com/matt_morris

Tue 2 Oct to Mon 8 Oct: Sue Wells
Christchurch City Councillor - Spreydon/Heathcote Ward
http://www.ccc.govt.nz/Council/CommunityBoards/SpreydonHeathcote/#SueWells
    

From: Sally Buck Date: Jul 01 11:37 UTC Short link

Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this forum.

I  grew up in Christchurch – we lived in North Beach and New Brighton. Later I
graduated from Canterbury University with a Masters degree in Education and
also qualified as a teacher and speech/language therapist. It was in this area
that I worked, for a few years before becoming an early intervention teacher
and advisor. Later I became a lecturer in special needs and after that  worked
as an employment consultant.  Then I was employed as an ESOL teacher for adult
new migrants for 5 years before I stood for Council.

My husband and I were married in 1977 and we lived in Auckland for about 6
years but came back to Christchurch in 1983. We have four adult children -
three sons and a daughter. We currently live in the Burnside area.

In 1998 I stood for Council as an independent and  was elected to represent the
Waimairi ward. In 2004 the wards were amalgamated so I now represent the
Fendalton-Waimairi ward. I have no political party affiliations.  This is my
third term as a councillor.

In Council my interests are many and varied -  the environment, sustainability,
energy, waste, recycling, sewerage and drainage, water reticulation, planning
and public transport.

I have been a strong advocate for waste minimisation and cleaning up our
environment especially the water-ways. My voting record shows I have
consistently voted for sustainable projects and policies. I support cycle ways
and better public transport.

Although I can usually see other peoples point of view I find it very hard to
compromise my views on issues which will have  long term effects for
Christchurch such as our future drinking water supply. I have not supported the
Central Plains Water Scheme and I will do a separate posting on this issue
under topics.

I also take a keen interest in planning as I believe we have not had any town
planning in New Zealand for at least 15 years and the effects of this are
showing with 2-3 storey poorly designed  ‘sausage flats’ all in a line on long
narrow sections. The areas in which these are predominant will be the slums of
the future.

Recently I initiated a sustainability working party which will have input into
the
development of a Sustainability Policy which will help Council meet its legal
requirements under the LGA 2002 in terms of taking a “sustainable development
approach” (Part 2, Section 14) and in considering present and future, social,
environmental and economic wellbeing etc (Part 2, Section 10). I hope that
people who have knowledge on climate change and sustainability and wish to be
involved in this working party will contact me so we can involve these people.

I have enjoyed reading the postings on this forum and am looking forward to
hearing from you about the issues that you see as the most pressing for our
city.
Sally
    

From: Dan Randow, Forum Manager, Canterbury Public Issues Forum Date: Jul 16 00:41 UTC Short link

Thank you, Tim Barnett
  http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/post/7l1ocCV4ZqZqdWh9oTnX49
for being with us this week as Guest Speaker. If you have any further comments
on the topics you have contributed to,
  Who should be the new Mayor of Christchurch?
  http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/4n03uZQd2ACEfKexMXjDFw
  The Mayoralty - the issues
  http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/7Ht7USBY4K7Td4hOGrYnPU
  the Role of Christchurch as a "Peace City"
  http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/79I69wKZwCuBuhmc8Ks3nQ
please feel free to make them. I hope that you will stay in the forum, and
continue to participate in the conversations.

Welcome aboard, Alec Neill, Guest Speaker for the next week. Thank you for your
introduction,
  http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/post/47VO8b7xNumwqfyUto1C1j
and for agreeing to open up conversations about Environment Canterbury.
    

Dan

From: Dan Randow, Forum Manager, Canterbury Public Issues Forum Date: Jul 30 10:38 UTC Short link

Thank you, Megan Woods for your contribution as Guest Speaker this week. Thank
you, too, for your words of support for the forum and for adding a link to it
from your website. I hope you will stay on in the forum.

By the way, here is a link to all the posts made in this forum by Megan Woods.
http://forums.e-democracy.org/s/index.html?s=&g=canterburyissues&a=meganwoods&t=0&p=1&f=0&r=0&i=0&l=6
and a web feed of the same.
http://forums.e-democracy.org/s/search.atom?s=&g=canterburyissues&a=meganwoods&t=0&p=1&f=0&r=0&i=0&l=6

And welcome aboard, Richard Budd, as Guest Speaker for the next week. Thanks
for your intro,
  http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/post/25l9tR7WuxZrZlDKP9YgjT
Richard.
    

Dan

From: Dan Randow, Forum Manager, Canterbury Public Issues Forum Date: Aug 13 23:20 UTC Short link

Many thanks, Bob Shearing for your posts
http://forums.e-democracy.org/s/index.html?s=&g=canterburyissues&a=bobshearing&t=0&p=1&f=0&r=0&i=0&l=6
in the forum this last week as Guest Speaker. Bob, I hope you will stay in the
forum.

Welcome aboard, Bob Kirk, and thank you for your introduction.
  http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/post/6BGfPTjturo8Sk6fXiatWY

I am impressed by the time that Guest Speakers take to read and respond to
discussion in this forum. I think a high standard has been set. Whether or you
not you agree with what is being said, community engagement is occurring, on
this side of the election at least. My thanks to all of the Guest Speaker, and
to the other forum participants who ask hard questions and engage with the
Guest Speakers.
    

cheers

Dan

From: Dan Randow, Forum Manager, Canterbury Public Issues Forum Date: Aug 21 04:18 UTC Short link

Thank you, Bob Kirk, for your contribution this last week as Guest Speaker.
Bob, you and the other Guest Speakers have made a significant contribution to
the steady increase in the number of posts, and number of people posting to
this forum.
  http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/canterburyissues/stats.html

This week's Guest Speaker, June Slee, has withdrawn, so we have a week off
Guest Speakers until Tuesday 28 August, when Bill Woods starts his week.
    

cheers

Dan

From: Dan Randow, Forum Manager, Canterbury Public Issues Forum Date: Aug 21 05:27 UTC Short link

Helen, we're going to have a week off Guest Speakers, but please open whatever
topics, and invite whatever responses you wish.

Dan
    

From: Dan Randow, Forum Manager, Canterbury Public Issues Forum Date: Aug 30 07:24 UTC Short link

Unfortunately, this is another quiet week in the Guest Speaker programme. This
week's speaker, Bill Woods, has joined the forum, and completed his profile
9you need to be logged in to see profiles)
  http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/billwoods/
but I haven't heard anything else from him, despite my efforts to make contact.
If you're reading this, Bill, it's your week until Monday, and it would be
great to hear from you.

If anyone has a particular question to ask of Bill, I suggest you ask it the
forum anyway. Perhaps that will prompt Bill to make a debut.

In fact, if you have a question of any local public figure, whether they're in
the forum or not, why not ask it. Let's see if they hear about it and join the
forum to respond.
    

Dan

From: Dan Randow, Forum Manager, Canterbury Public Issues Forum Date: Sep 04 04:05 UTC Short link

Thank you, Bill Woods, for your contribution as Guest Speaker,
  http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/post/jeww0SDVPTTzFDK7JZv18
and welcome to your week as Guest Speaker, Eugenie Sage.

Our programme of Guest Speakers hasn't changed since I last posted it.
  http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/post/uE16kRHRJ12FPl3woqpqm
Strangely, there has not been a crush for the slots after 22 October. I plan to
continue the Guest Speaker programme after then but will give the local
councillors some time to get settled in, while I focus on other public figures.
I'm open to volu