Stream of consciousness and other personal thoughts garnered throughout the week and which will be added to as the week rolls on. These thoughts are unrefined, unquantified, unverified, and raw. Any of these may be either be edited, deleted or otherwise spawn out into its own separate post particularly if new information comes to light…

• Happy New Year. Skycity Fireworks were OK and I thank them for continuing to put these on, though I feel they fell short of being “bigger and better than ever” as per mentioned in the RNZ article

• Nice walk up to sentinel rock out near Katikati. Takes around 3 and half hours return including scrambling up to the rock itself. Had some excellent conversations with other hikers similar walking up and down with me.

• Access to Universal healthcare is paramount. It looks like we’re still managing to maintain some level of this which is heartening, but acknowlege it’s not without it’s problems and we need to keep an eye on it and fight tooth and nail to ensure we retain this.

• If the Government wants to encourage public transport use, then the half price fare subsidy (as an integral part of a larger suite of Public Transport improvements) will need to continue for the foreseeable future. The old casual fares prior to COVID-19 pandemic even with using the Public transport fare cards were not a financially compelling enough reason to woo people onto Public Transport.

• All things considered. The fact that House prices have risen faster than one can earn from their wages is an irredeemable stain on the system. It’s come to the point where I remain angry and disappointed at the Governments’ (Both Past and current) for their non delivery. I say this as admittedly a Landlord myself (who further admittedly has profitted on paper from it), that what has now transpired is socially distablizing and disgusting. The value of working has been eroded and people rightly feel disenfranchised.

• Felt the Te Aroha earthquake 5:40 am on 4th Jan 2023. It was almost imperceptible here in Auckland, but did noticed by bed seem to be wobbling a bit more than say what would be caused by my heart beating alone..

Older Stream of Consciousness thoughts can be found here.