Because we are running this paper, we thought we would go along to our first political meeting ever to cover it.

Locally based MP Parmjeet Parmar has started running a series of meetings bringing in senior ministers to Mt Roskill. Tonight she had hit the jackpot with Finance Minister Bill English speaking. Outside adding to the atmosphere was a group of protestors, officially pro the Indian students here on fake documents. However, rather than simply promoting that viewpoint, it was more like "rent a mob" with numerous union leaders identifiable. Apparently democracy is won by who can shout the loudest rather than who has the better argument.

The meeting itself proceeded cordially with the speech by Bill English followed by Q&A. A few Labour people present lobbed in their questions and were answered. Bill quipped that at a meeting someone had commented that Bill is the best Deputy Prime Minister that we have. Slightly underwhelming!

Everyone attending the meeting were escorted out by police through the protestors who were shouting"shame" at them. Attempts at intimidation of ordinary voters is somehow meant to make democracy stronger and not extreme like in facist or communist regimes? It is weird to experience this is normally docile Lynfield.

Politics does seem to be getting more polarised and with a degree of frustration and even hatred emerging.

HOLCIM PRESS RELEASE:

MV Westport sold
 
We are happy to announce the sale of the MV Westport which was completed at midday 7 September 2016. 

She has been sold to Aalborg Pearl Shipping Ltd and has been reflagged under the Bahama flag and renamed “Fjordvik”. Her new operational base will be Norway.
 
After preparing for international travel, she is expected to leave Onehunga on this weekend or next week sailing via New Plymouth and the Suez Canal to Gdansk in Poland. A full crew is now on board, along with two Holcim employees, who will oversee the vessel’s operational handover.  A Ports of Auckland pilot will guide the ship through the Manukau Heads for the last time before heading south to New Plymouth. She will undertake an in-water survey before embarking on the long journey she has ahead of her.
 
She will be dry-docked in Gdansk, Poland and undergo maintenance before travelling to Scandinavia for operations as a bulk cement ship.
 
We are very pleased we have sold her and that she will continue to operate as a cement ship rather than going to scrap.
 
Robert Bright
Supply and Operations Manager
Holcim New Zealand

See the earlier reports on the final voyages to Onehunga carrying cement here>>