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Continue reading →: I’m Not Running for City Council—Here’s WhyI’ll save you a read: at the moment, I don’t think this is where I can contribute the most. For more detail, carry on below! Running a Campaign is Expensive In case you missed it: I stood for Hamilton City Council during the 2022 Local Elections. That campaign was the…
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Continue reading →: On DecisionsAnother crash on our roads. Another life irreparably changed. This evening, two central Hamilton intersections were closed so that officials could manage the aftermath of a crash between a car and a motorcycle. Queues of traffic extended for hundreds of metres, catching all manner of car commuters, delivery trucks and…
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Continue reading →: Veilguard RetrospectiveAfter ten long years, we can finally return to Thedas in Dragon Age: The Veilguard—thwarting the world-ending plans of a Trickster God, charting a course through the yet unexplored northern reaches of the Tevinter Imperium, uncovering the histories beneath the mythologies of the ancient Gods, and, of course, making new…
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Continue reading →: Not the Community House We Need, but the Community House We DeserveFull title: Not the Community House We Need, but the Community House We Deserve: The Failure to Upgrade the Pukete Neighbourhood House and What We Can Learn (or, Another Project NIMBYs do not Need to Live With) Author Note: I started writing and researching this piece back in August 2024,…
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Continue reading →: Dragon Age RetrospectiveThe Dragon Age series begins with the original sin. From black, accompanied by ominous music, the Canticle of Threnodies (from the in-universe Bible, the Chant of Light) fades in, and this is the first thing we learn about the world of Thedas. “And so is the Golden City blackened With…
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Continue reading →: Debunking the Empty Bus Myth
What is the Empty Bus Myth? You’ve heard it before. “Why are we paying to run empty buses? Everytime I see a bus, there is nobody on it!” Excusing the fact that there is absolutely no way that this can be true, we may be tempted to agree with the…
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Continue reading →: The Myth of Tax Cuts
Taxes. The word itself feels gross to say, doesn’t it? Leaves a slimy taste in your mouth? So, tax cuts are a good thing, right? Right? The Matters On 14 October 2023, Aotearoa New Zealand held a general election. This is our opportunity as citizens to select who will represent…
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Continue reading →: When Bike Lanes Are Not Enough: My Masters ResearchI have previously talked about my experience studying a Masters degree at the University of Waikato. Now, I aim to share the actual substance of my research. This article is based on my presentation at the New Zealand Planners Institute Conference 2024. This article will take a more casual approach…
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Continue reading →: Te Reo Journey 1
History of Te Reo Te reo Māori is an official language of New Zealand and a taonga [treasure] of tangata whenua – the original inhabitants of Aotearoa, the Māori people. Prior to colonisation by the British, te reo was the predominant language spoken in Aotearoa, even among European settlers. Missionaries…
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Continue reading →: Oh Wellington, My WellingtonI recently had the privilege of visiting Wellington from 15-19 March 2024 to attend the CAN Do Cycling Conference and visit my brother. Here are my reflections. A Living City It is impossible not to remark on how alive the city feels! Wellington, particularly the city centre, is focused on…
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I’m Melissa
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