RobiNZ Personal Blog

ANZAC Day, Great-Grandfather Ernest Theodore Bock, my Michael Palin's 'Great-Uncle Harry'

I recently 'read' Michael Palin's 'Great-Uncle Harry: A Tale of War and Empire': Some years ago a stash of family records was handed down to me, among which were photos of an enigmatic young man in army uniform, as well as photos of the same young man as a teenager looking uncomfortable at family gatherings. This, I learnt, was my Great-Uncle Harry, born in 1884, died in 1916. I previously had no idea that I had a Great-Uncle Harry, much less that his life was cut short at the age of 32 when he was killed in the Battle of... Read more →

A message for the Health Minister, written at 04:00, on Good Friday, in an Emergency Department

Posted when I saw this Facebook reel. It's 4am, I'm sitting in an A&E watching staff working their arses off, and getting insulted by a pathetic little upstart whose only experience in health organisation is as the ex-spokesman for the group "Stop Family Planning". Read more →

Karanga-a-Hape Station precinct integration (Project K) despair

After years of consultation, design, and after they've started construction, Auckland Transport have backtracked on the people & cycle friendly aspects for spaces around the new Karanga-a-Hape Central Rail Link Station (see the links 1 & 2 below). It's the Canada St, Cross St, Mercury Lane area part seen in the photo below. It's a totally frustrating reaction to a small, vocal, late, opposition group. Don't expect much but nothing ventured... (Annoyingly mixed my directions, re the Cross St turn, corrected below) From: Robin Capper Sent: Friday, 11 April 2025 15:34 To: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];... Read more →

Regarding Treaty Principles Bill submissions | Christopher Luxon

Sent tonight: From: Robin Capper Sent: Wednesday, 2 April 2025 18:53 To: [email protected] Subject: Regarding Treaty Principles Bill submissions Regarding: "Look, we've been overwhelmed by the number of submissions. The positions on the Treaty Principles Bill are well known on all sides of that debate and what's important now is to actually wrap it up and actually move it forward," https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/556877/prime-minister-doubles-down-on-allowing-exclusion-of-treaty-principles-bill-submissions We don't need a Prime Minister who is importing MAGA'fication: your recent 'open to adopting some of NZ First's 'anti-woke', undermining public services to enable privatisation, now undermining democratic process. Resource the select committee to process the Treaty... Read more →