Now, it is our turn

For those of us that live on the Kapiti Coast the M2PP (Mackays to Peka Peka) highway development is providing an evolving and exciting spectacle.  For the 20 years we have commuted the congestion has alternated between choke points at various critical stages.  Paremata, Pukerua Bay, Mackays crossing, Paraparaumu, Waikanae, Otaki.  Huge earthworks, bridges / underpasses, and machinery have transformed the environment.  On the Peka Peka Rd, State Highway One corner anything up to 30 large excavators and earthmoving equipment lined up of an evening is an impressive sight.  It’s the same at the Raumati end, and at various points in between.

We are the junior brother of transmission gully – which exits at or near to Mackays crossing.  By 2020 both will be complete.  My Dad used to work in a garage at the bottom of Paekak Hill – before the coast road was created.  He had wonderful stories of motorists experiences traversing that particular section of Highway One connecting Wellington to Kapiti, over the hill.

Each time I drive south of Auckland via motorway to Bombay and circumnavigate Hamilton I marvel at the transformation since I lived in the South Waikato through the 1970’s.  The transportation and economic progress has evolved together.  Now it is our turn.

As a region we have struggled since the GFC.  Auckland especially has drawn away corporate and business enterprises from Wellington and its environs.  The seat of government, IT, entertainment and the university has saved us, and technology will continue to drive change – Wellington needs to be grateful for that.  Because the rest of us benefit.

As technology evolves at a staggering rate, stress and choke points occur just as they do in all infrastructure.  Our highway transformation is an example, the airport development another.  Whilst Auckland and Christchurch were the recipients of the Asian and American visitors, immigration, business and tourist – we remained the best kept inaccessible secret.  Technology has its dangers (attempting to cross a pedestrian crossing with oncoming hoards on communication devices whilst listening to an iPod at the same time – or drivers attempting to hide their cellphone usage whilst waiting or approaching traffic lights).

But every few years the government policy of culture and collectivism means we get the benefits of their latest refits.  Whilst those privately owned business focused to the profit motive pull our hair out as we go from servers and networks to cloud and split screens, not because we condemn progress and productivity but because we know the governing principle of Moore’s Law means there’s more to come, exponentially.  The public service reacts quickly to change, it has to, to remain relevant and thus the town prospers.  Technology upgrades, office fit outs, new premises, personnel development, consultants of all ilk’s – it’s a wonderful thing for our city and well may it continue.  In fact a change of government often helps.  They change things all over again and hire more personnel – and very soon the public service commuters can choose between taking the unit to Waikanae or driving, without the delays.  We now have the retirement village development and a transport capability the envy of any Aucklander.  All we need is climate change and the city will become outrageously prosperous.

Unfortunately the Wellington region suffered through the 2007 to 2015 era due to the combined effect of public service job losses, KiwiSaver (income into savings as opposed to business growth or personal expenditure) and the Global Financial Crisis.  Our property prices have flat lined, if not declined, more corporates left for Auckland, and earthquakes didn’t help the commercial property market.  The trickledown effect meant retail, restaurants and bars along with service industries have trodden water for some time.  Government works helps, it did in the great depression and it has done so again.  We just don’t need a World War to follow.

As we watch the maturing Auckland market; property, political and business with interest, we can with some comfort rejoice that our economy now has some depth, is more diversified, entrepreneurial, innovative, more productive and transparent because we have had to be.  The cycle is on the up – the next decade is exciting for our region.  We should re ‘Joyce’ (pardon the pun).