PhD Graduation

So the big day finally arrived.
An initial presentation at the graduate school for all those students graduating, from certificates to PhDs. There were speeches and tears all around. After some professional photos and nibbles it was off to the bar for a brief interlude, before we were at the official ceremony at the Michael Fowler centre.
Then Sara and the other doctorate people starred before the masses came up to receive their degrees. we gave a big shout as Sara was called up to shake hands and be acknowledged.
It was a great occasion and we are all very proud of her.

Scout trip

Last weekend Isaac and I went to the Orongoronga valley with Scouts to stay overnight in a new DOC  cabin. The cabin has been built on the site of the old Khandallah scouts hut that Isaac and I stayed at last year. It is certainly a step up in class from the old one, as it is large, warm, dry and clean! As DOC had to demolish our hut we are entitled to 4 free nights use of the new hut per year. So there were 14 boys and 5 adults over Saturday night.

We walked an hour and a half each way to the spot. It is at  a beautiful spot, as the photos indicate.

The boys had fun: playing in the river, lighting fires, going for walks and generally being young.

I am wondering if Isaac and Joe will go another time to sleep overnight on the river bank in a tent to take in the quiet and night sky. we will see.

I am pleased with the photos as I only used the camera-phone.  Quality improved by using HDR software.

John keeps the keys to the office

The results came in quickly.

The blue team with smiling John Key won a handsome victory with 48% of the party vote-MMP system here. They managed to sneak in the tosser from ACT John Banks via the Epsom seat. With our local nobody one-man-band United Future leader Peter Dunne they have enough MPs to do what they want.
Dunne has ben the local MP for 24 years. He was a Labour Party minister at one time. In recent years he has been the constituency MP for theis area and managed to stay in government as a junior minister no matter the colour of the main party. A bit of a political tart really.

The suprises of the night: the Greens “only” managed just over 10% when they were looking at upto 15%, and the return of Winston Peters and his New Zealand First party. He is the outsider maverick here. A populist especially amongst the grey voters but not a constructive politician at all. He will be a thorn in the side of whoever is in charge.

It could have been closer if Dunne and Banks had not got in through sneaky political maneuvering. Then Key would have needed the support of less sycophantic groups and there would have been greater control. Shame.

 Significantly, the turnout was the lowest in decades-69%. Only 92% of voters were registered. Mostly young people are the ones who do not register. They are disconnected from politics apparently. The parties do not engage them and electioneering is so formulaic.

Look on the positive side. Chance to keep them out in three years time!

Election Day

Today is election day. Shaz and I have already voted. Eleanor is annoyed that she is too young.

National ( the blue team) are  a dead cert to win-probably close to 50%. The main issue is probably whether they will have enough seats to govern alone or will need help. The dysfunctional ACT party look less likely to sneak in and support them. The may need the Maori party again or may have to swallow pride and deal with NZ First if Winston Peters comes back from the political dead. That seems to be out of his grasp?

So which one do you like the look of?