Tag Archives: resilience

New Zealand Forestry: Getting off the Love affair with Simple

The British Columbian forestry sector imploded through 2018-2020. There are lessons here for New Zealand and elsewhere. Continue reading

Posted in Forestry, Land Use, Land use policy, Reimagining, Resilience Thinking, Strategic thinking, Thought Pieces, Wicked Problems | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Industrial Farming: The Deeper Roots of Animal Cruelty

My father was a gentle stockman, and he cared for people the same. He taught us how to hunt up and how to use presence and eye when mustering, and how not to push cattle too hard. He had a … Continue reading

Posted in Land Use, Thought Pieces | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Propaganda and the Rhetoric of the Ruataniwha Dam

“Political language… is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.” George Orwell I was taught propaganda at school. Our English master, Mr Brown, liked words. He had an inspirational … Continue reading

Posted in Land Use | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Managing Complexity and Uncertainty in Natural and Socio-Ecological Systems

I wrote most of this as an internal document for a Regional Council in 2009 when it was apparent that both the internal management style and the approach to the wider natural systems and communities was not conducive to long … Continue reading

Posted in Building Regional Economies, Resilience Thinking, Socio-ecological Systems, Thought Pieces | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Building Land Systems for Drought-Flood Resilience

A few notes from a morning rant “Although rainwater harvest has been accomplished by humans in virtually every drought prone region of the world for millennia, our society seems to have collective amnesia about the utility, efficiency, sustainability and beauty … Continue reading

Posted in Land Use, Resilience Thinking, Wicked Problems | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Two strategic directions for Land Use in New Zealand: Where do we stand?

I wrote this what seems light years ago.  I think it was 2007 or 2008. This is very rough, a mind dump.  It was done quickly, and is more to do with me getting thoughts out of my mind and … Continue reading

Posted in Land Use, Thought Pieces, Wicked Problems | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Loss of the Napier-Gisborne Rail Link: Things fall apart, the centre cannot hold

This article criticising the current government’s decision to close the Napier-Gisborne rail line was published in the NZ J Forestry in December 2012. ================================================================ Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart, … Continue reading

Posted in resilience, Strategic thinking, Transport strategy, Viewpoint | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

There are Alternatives to the Ruataniwha Dam

There are Alternatives to the Ruataniwha Dam. via There are Alternatives to the Ruataniwha Dam.

Posted in Transfer, Viewpoint, Water retention | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Land and Water Concerns of Federated Farmers and Irrigation NZ

Federated Farmers and Irrigation New Zealand Questions Chris Perley Ngaruroro Ward, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council Federated Farmers and Irrigation NZ provided the following questions (italicised within text).   Here is my response. Introduction I am passionate about the potential of our … Continue reading

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Does Ozymandias Live in the Bay?

Does Ozymandias Live in the Bay?.

Posted in Resilience Thinking, Thought Pieces | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Adapting to Climate Change – What Change? What Levels of Response?

Initial notes as the basis for a presentation to the Hawke’s Bay Royal Forest & Bird Society, February 2013 What adaptations do we make for climate change? The question of adapting to a future that is inherently uncertain – as … Continue reading

Posted in Land Use, Resilience Thinking, Thought Pieces | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments