What the hell?

[Lou Girardin]

According to the Herald, the Hikoi is not exactly a march. The drove from Whangarei to Auckland, will walk over the bridge and then drive again.
It looks like even protesters have got soft, Whina Cooper walked the whole way.
Lou

[jrandom]

Life as I know it wont end if i cant use the bridge for an hour or so.

Ooooh, look. Apathy.

*I* on the other hand have to use it twice a day. Hence I am righteously ticked off.

Perhaps they'll let me organise a march across the bridge next week to *support* the Government's policy. And then we can have another march the week after that to protest the inefficient use of public roads by demonstrators.

[RiderInBlack]

*I* on the other hand have to use it twice a day. Hence I am righteously ticked off.

I thought Westies didn't use the Bridge Just teasing Jrandom, besides it's cheap for a Whangarei-ite to hassle a Westie (we make Westies look sofisticated)

[jrandom]

I thought Westies didn't use the Bridge

Nah mate, we just swim across the harbour... actually I have three ways to get to work in Takapuna - over the bridge, via Greenhithe, and up through Riverhead-Coatesville. Bridge is fastest and I'm usually in a hurry, hence Big Dog's stories about a guy on a small blue bike weaving crazily through the traffic every morning.

I'm working from home this morning but if I go in later methinks I'll take the Coatesville road.

Whangarei-ite? Hey, at least you're not from Kaitaia

[RiderInBlack]

Nah mate, we just swim across the harbour...

He he he ha ha ha

Whangarei-ite? Hey, at least you're not from Kaitaia

I'll let you get away with that, only because I don't count Westies as JAFA's

[spudchucka]

I vaguely remember a death of a child in a mid - late 80's protest in some gardens as well...some Muir/Mair? guy leading it (Ken)?

Can't even remember the protest....must've been really effective

It was an occupation of Motua gardens in Wanganui. A little girl drowned in a fountain in the gardens. Ken Mair was one of the main players.

[DEATH_INC.]

I reckon they should have let them walk over the bridge amoungst the northbound traffic.......

[RiderInBlack]

Saw on the News that it cost $50,000 to provide safety for the crossing (guess who's pay that). Although they said there was very little (or no) hold-up to traffic crossing the bridge, they did not mention what the traffic was like on the Upper Habour Highway or the North-West motorway (bet that was busy).

[jrandom]

They were going to do it anyway.

This is an email from Transit NZ to a colleague who asked them about it.

From: Marguerite Fahy [mailto:...]
Sent: Tuesday, 27 April 2004 2:24 p.m.
To: ...
Subject: Re: A message from the Contact Us web page.

Hello Matt

Transit New Zealand has a standing policy regarding the use of the Auckland Harbour Bridge for events.

The event

- is of national significance
- will generate national participation, and have the support of reputable stakeholders (such as local government, the New Zealand Police)
- will be scheduled at such a time and in such a way so as not to create excessive traffic delay
- will generate international interest
- organisers must be able to meet the costs associated with the management of traffic

In accordance with this policy the organisers of the Hikoi were declined their initial request to cross the bridge on foot.

It became clear to the New Zealand Police and Transit as the Hikoi approached Auckland, that attempts to dissuade the organisers from crossing the Auckland Harbour Bridge had failed, and there was a significant risk of disturbance to the motorway lanes on the North Shore. This risk was sufficiently real for Transit to resolve with the police to facilitate the Hikoi to cross safely.

This judgment to facilitate the crossing is appropriate for the circumstances and does not establish a precedent for Transit to allow any or all groups to cross the bridge on foot. Transit does not have a view on the purpose or nature of the Hikoi.

Auckland’s motorway system is an essential economic artery for the city and Transit is fully aware of its responsibilities to keep traffic lanes open. Transit is however keenly aware of doing this without compromising either road users, the Police in their enforcement role or the community at large.

It is Transit’s responsibility to exercise judgement in this regard. We remain of the view that the appropriate decision has been made. We expect that with the advice that’s been provided to the general public, that sufficient avoidable trips will be deferred or delayed. While this creates inconvenience we don’t expect disruption to be excessive.

Marguerite Fahy
Communications Advisor
Transit New Zealand

[Gixxer]

[QUOTE=jrandom]
I'm working from home this morning but if I go in later methinks I'll take the Coatesville road.QUOTE]

so jrandom, did this end up affecting you at all? :spudwhat:

[magnum]

i respect our democratic right to protest but i think most wont be to impressed,different if they walked the length of the country instead they will make there point by pissing off lots of jaffas.public oppinion would help the cause but i think that doing a half pie job wont help there cause.

[jrandom]

so jrandom, did this end up affecting you at all? :spudwhat:

Nope. Went into work about 2pm over the bridge, traffic was back to normal.

[Lou Girardin]

I thought it was a great move by the Hikoi organisers. The more they piss off the silent majority, the sooner Labours social engineers will get booted out of power.

[RiderInBlack]

I thought it was a great move by the Hikoi organisers. The more they piss off the silent majority, the sooner Labours social engineers will get booted out of power.

Not that smart for them, because if Labour goes they will have to deal with National. Cann't see that helping the Maori Radicials. Maybe give them more to protest about