The Basils: my fragrant and faulty of 2020
Nau mai, haere mai! From the cold, wet basil patches of Newtown – yes, it’s midsummer here in Wellington – we present the 2020 Basil Awards. For many, it’s been a dreadful year and we are looking forward to putting it behind us. Then again, I remember people saying exactly the same thing this time last year.
Yet, despite the tough year, I retain the optimism of a National electorate MPon election night staring at a 3000-vote loss thinking they might pull through on specials. So here are the 2020 Basils. Socially distanced drum-roll please! Razzle Dazzle Basil Best Community Event – Unlike most of the world, we could enjoy large outdoor concerts, test matches and a host of other major outdoor events most of this year. But the one that will stick in my heart and mind is standing outside my front door during lockdown, clapping the nurses, doctors and others doing their utmost to prevent the spread of Covid. Yes, it was an idea copied from overseas, but it was also great fun, showed our enormous gratitude, and brought neighbours together at a difficult time.
Fresh Basil Refreshing New Approach – After years of excuses, union bashing and blaming others, it was refreshing to see Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) start to own its bus problems. Well done, Daran Ponter and Roger Blakeley. Things certainly aren’t perfect and GWRC was helped by reduced passenger demand thanks to Covid, but the new approach is appreciated. But I note cancellations have increased in recent weeks, so let’s not drop the ball in 2021. Sweet Basil Local Body of the Year – In recent years, when people moaned about the dysfunctional Wellington City Council, Iwould always say ‘‘yeah, but if you think that’s bad, look at the Hutt’’. This year, not so much. New leadership? New councillors? I’m not sure, but it seems that, with the odd exception, there was a much more unified and purposeful approach in the Hutt. Wellington, take note.
Shredded Basil Wellington Local Body Issue of the Year – A draw between the Draft Spatial Plan and Shelly Bay. The first issue showed a rancorous
It takes enormous talent to not make money on property in the current Auckland market.
generational split more than a Left-Right one. I suspect housing supply and affordability will be a massive local and national issue in 2021. The second issue showed that our mayor is in a minority in a divided council. He needs to plan carefully if he wants to have some wins in 2021. Otherwise, he will find himself a spectator helpfully adjusting the guy ropes of the tent pitched by the majority of councillors.
GMBasil New Words of 2020 – What would you have thought in December 2019 if someone had said, ‘‘I was in a zui on the effect of water meters on housing intensification in the deserted CBD but started doomscrolling to find that Ashley reckoned that, despite the vaccine, the team of five million needed to keep recording their visits to avoid a summer super-spreader, so I ordered some more masks and made the sourdough I’d perfected inmy bubble during lockdown.’’?
Purple Basil Award for Best Loser – The All Blacks lost to Argentina for the first time and we coped. Winston Peters was turfed out of parliament and didn’t turf his toys out of the cot. But the winner is NationalMPNick Smith, who, on losing his seat of 30 years, went to LabourHQ to personally congratulate his successor. Meanwhile, in the White House, the orange-haired one has still not conceded defeat.
Lemon Basil Cafe´ of the Year – Chances are it will be in the suburbs. When people were forced to work at home, many realised that they could get just as much done, if not more, than in the office. If they did venture out, it was to the local cafe´ or shop. As suburban businesses boomed, the CBDs suffered. What to do? It’s tricky, and no-one wants a depressed CBD, but you can hardly blame people for choosing not to travel an hour each way every day to do something that, much of the time, is achievable at home.
Basil Fawlty Public University of the Year – Victoria University wanted to run its own quarantine facility for overseas students even though it couldn’t push through its own administrative restructure. Massey University plans to gut its science faculty while establishing ‘‘international pathway offerings’’ with private companies. But the prize goes to Auckland University, which managed to sell a home it purchased for the vicechancellor at $1 million below valuation. It takes enormous talent to not make money on property in the current Auckland market.
Crystal Basil Look Out For in 2021 – Though it’s been a tough year, don’t be downhearted. 2021 promises Wellingtonians much. Next year we can look forward to a) Transmission Gully opening* b) amoderate rates increase* c) upgraded Central Library designs being agreed upon* d) the detailed design on the Golden Mile revamp being revealed* e) more electric buses*.
* = could be delayed or not happen.