The Star: March 22, 2018

The Star Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Thursday March 22 2018 17
Viewpoint
Speeding up the rebuild
CHRISTCHURCH as we all
know has come a really long
way since the earthquakes.
Amazing projects are being
completed, wonderful new
buildings are being opened,
great new businesses are starting.
For me, though, one of the
most frustrating things over
the last few years has been how
slow and messy a lot of the big
Government-led anchor projects
have been.
From the Convention Centre
to the stadium to the metrosports
facility to the East Frame,
the previous Government’s
model seemed to be big flashy
announcements and then years
of delay and inaction. Projects
that should have been finished
and open to the public by now
are years behind schedule and
often millions of dollars over
budget.
Turning this around and getting
things moving has been one
of my main areas of focus since
taking over as minister late last
year. A big part of how we are
doing this is having the courage
to say that actually what has
been happening over the last
few years wasn’t working and we
need to do something different.
We can’t keep doing the
same thing and expect different
results. That was why when I
discovered a $75 million budget
blowout on the metro-sports
facility, I cancelled the early
contractor involvement.
It’s why I’ve had officials fast
track the work on the stadium
because trundling along year
after year with no real idea of
the shape or cost of such a major
project isn’t workable.
As this work progresses,
I’m sure we will hear from the
previous Government about how
we should just keep pushing on
with the plans it had. But for
me, it’s commonsense, if the
plan you’ve got isn’t working, it’s
time for a different plan, and if
someone is coming in to clean
up your mess, you don’t criticise
the broom.
I’m really confident that, just
like we have with EQC, being
bold enough to make change is
going to help speed things up
and get us facilities in our central
city that are fit for purpose and
deliver what our city needs.
•Megan Woods is the
Minister of Greater
Christchurch Regeneration
Measuring success
THERE is a wellknown
proverb
“what gets measured
gets managed”
It’s attributed to
William Thompson
(1824-1907) an Irish
mathematical physicist who
introduced the idea of making
evidence-based decisions.
He believed that until you
can quantify information or
knowledge and set a target for
results, you don’t know how
to improve, to grow, or to find
solutions to difficult problems.
Establishing a good
knowledge-base, setting targets
and monitoring progress is
essential to human achievement
too. That’s why the National
Government introduced ‘better
public service targets’ in 2012.
They created meaningful
targets to support vulnerable
children, boost skills and
employment, reduce crime,
reduce welfare dependency
and improve interaction with
the Government. Government
agencies spend $25-$30 billion
a year, that’s a huge amount of
money and the BPS targets made
sure agencies had a clear sense
of purpose, that they knew what
the job was, and how it could
change lives.
And after five-plus years of
Nicky Wagner
targets the public service was
beginning to get good at digging
into the hardest long-term social
problems, such as child abuse,
family violence and serious
criminal offending. We’ve seen
a 31 per cent drop in youth
crime, 60,000 fewer children in
benefit-dependent households,
and halving the proportion
of 18-year-olds not achieving
NCEA.
But now the NZ First/Labour/
Green Government is dumping
the BPS targets. They are just
not prepared to be accountable
to people like you and me and
we are all going to miss out. The
public service will continue to
spend billions of dollars of public
money but without knowing
what they’re supposed to achieve.
That’s not how our country
will get ahead. The BPS targets
might not be perfect but they’re
a great foundation for a better
future for New Zealand. Refine
them yes, but don’t chuck them
out.
•Nicky Wagner is a National
list MP based in Christchurch
Central
bathurst home theatre suite
- Sofa with two built-in
electric recliners.
- Electric adjustable headrests.
- Directional reading lights.
- Cup holders with
courtesy lighting.
- Plus two fully optioned
electric recliner chairs.
was $6999
best value
ever!!
now
$3999
limited time only
from
$40
a week
be quick for our genuine bathurst home theatre suite!
beauty sleep
Quality Double
Mattress & Base Set
$
699
cloud rest
Top quality pocket sprung
Mattress and Base set
$
1099
king, queen or super king
pop up
King Single Bed
$
599
was $1265
3 sizes
1 price!
from
$12
a week
and
Phil Dan’s
wakefield
3RR+R+R
Lounge Suite
$
2379
was $4045
free
oxford
Recliner Chair
$
639
was $1055
from
$15
a week
Furniture WAREHOUSE
the furniture you want at the prices you love!
swivel
rocker!
from
$48
a week
christchurch delivery
on any purchase over $599! *
electric
Lift
Chairs
Black &
oatmeal
15a Bishopdale Mall
(South end off
Farrington Ave)
(03) 359 1663
jericho
3 Seater Chaise
mustang
3 Piece Dropleaf
Table and
Chairs
now
$
649each $
was $899 499
from
$19
a week
Available in
dark grey or black
open 7 days!
Finance Now and Q Card: Minimum purchase $599,
lending criteria, fees, terms and conditions apply,
see in store for details. All applications subject to
normal credit and lending criteria. Application fee
and annual account fee may apply. Please note:
proof of address and photo ID required.
modena
Corner Suite
$
959 $
1699
save $500 was $1999
Phil & Dan’s
Left or right
combination
*
Terms and
conditions apply.
Must present
this advert at the
time of purchase.
mustang
5 Piece Extension Table and Chairs
now
$
899