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Author: Paul on the Peninsula

My name is Paul Pope and I have lived in Portobello on the Otago Peninsula for the last 30 years. I served on the the Otago Peninsula Community Board since 2013 and have ben Chairman since 2016. I'm a community-minded problem-solver and advocate for the people and places I represent. As a practicing ecologist and project manager I've paid my dues in the outdoors, board rooms and public halls of communities across Otago. I love storytelling and photography and have a genuine interest in teaching people more about the world around them.
Belajar Rendah Hati di Hadapan Kemegahan Grand Canyon, Arizona

Belajar Rendah Hati di Hadapan Kemegahan Grand Canyon, Arizona

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Perjalanan menuju bagian barat Amerika Serikat sering kali membawa petualang pada sebuah pertemuan yang tidak terlupakan dengan salah satu keajaiban geologi paling spektakuler di dunia. Berdiri di tepi jurang yang sangat dalam, seseorang akan segera menyadari betapa kecilnya eksistensi manusia di tengah bentang alam yang telah terbentuk selama jutaan tahun. Melalui pengalaman luar biasa ini, setiap pengunjung diajak untuk belajar rendah hati saat menatap lapisan demi lapisan batuan sedimen yang menceritakan sejarah bumi yang sangat panjang. Keheningan yang menyelimuti area…

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Waitangi Day at Otakou

Waitangi Day at Otakou

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When you live on the Otago Peninsula you are living in a rich cultural and historical landscape that extends over the many generations whose descendants are part of our community today. The Peninsula sits on a crossroads of historical people and events that defines not only our community but gives its name Otakou to the very region we live in. I’m always reminded of this at the Waitangi Day celebrations held recently at Otakou Marae. The celebrations held every three…

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Dunedin North or South? Boundary Politics

Dunedin North or South? Boundary Politics

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The New Zealand Electoral Commission has announced that the Dunedin South and North electorate boundaries are to be changed. Big deal you might say, how will this affect the Otago Peninsula? The proposal is to remove all of the Otago Peninsula from Ocean Grove to Taiaroa Head from Dunedin South electorate and add it to Dunedin North. The NZ Electoral commission are required under the Electoral Act (1993) to use a complex population formula based on our previous flawed census…

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Remembering What’s Important

Remembering What’s Important

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With the Christmas holiday period fast approaching, we tend to get drawn into the whirlpool of planning family gatherings, school break ups, shopping and overloading our fridges beyond their intended capacity. Worrying whether we should have ham or chicken and will grandma be all right sleeping on a camp stretcher in the spare room removes us from some of the real issues around this period. The holiday season can be a difficult time for some families and individuals. Financial, familial…

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Having Skin In the Game

Having Skin In the Game

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The debate between the Otago Peninsula community and the Otago Regional Council over the provision of bus services for school commuters has been a long and arduous one. Recently, local parent Jason Graham and I presented a petition of nearly 1000 signatures seeking three very simple things; A timetable change An additional bus to create a half hourly service like the rest of the city A minor route change that caters for all users. Over the course of the bus…

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The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round

The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round

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The announcement of the review of the Dunedin City Council Book Bus service is a pertinent reminder to all Otago Peninsula residents of the importance of local services. The review should be treated as an opportunity by the community to consider modernising the services that the Book Bus can supply. These should include WiFi, online services and wider Council customer services. Submissions close on the 27th May 2017 and can be done online or on hard-copy from clicking the link here….

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Dunedin-the Affordable City?

Dunedin-the Affordable City?

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One of the main themes of the Dunedin City Council Economic Development Strategy has been the notion that Dunedin is an affordable city. That’s an admirable idea and one that every person would naturally support. However, when looking at the annual fees and charges that the City Council ask citizens pay for services it becomes clear that our affordability is rapidly being eroded away. These types of costs hurt our community and our economy. What’s new you might ask? Well…

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Ko to tatou hapori i te tuatahi

Ko to tatou hapori i te tuatahi

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I was a little whakama (shy, nervous) about putting out an election sign in Te Reo Maori. However, living on the Peninsula and working in Dunedin has taught me to look deeply at the nature of our community and how we can support one another.Language is one of those ways, and through it we can learn a deeper understanding of the world and place we live in. I’ve been very fortunate to receive much support and guidance from many Maori…

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The Freedom Factor

The Freedom Factor

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In the last few months we’ve seen the knotty problem of freedom camping in areas like Warrington raised by the community. Having spent the last three years on the Otago Peninsula Community Board dealing with this issue its become clear that we must act far more decisively than we have done to date. That means investment, dialogue and looking at innovative ways to control the effects of the activity on local people and local areas. In the Peninsula example the Dunedin…

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Our Hospital and its Future

Our Hospital and its Future

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This has been an issue that the City Council has not engaged with or supported the community. Protest over changes to food contracts have been met with deaf Council ears. The future of the hospital for the community, University of Otago Medical School and employment is a crucial issue for Dunedin. While its true that the City Council has no control over the management of healthcare in Dunedin, hospital services impact on the well-being of the city on social, economic…

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