Dr Michael Bassett: How social engineers stabbed Auckland City in the heart

Beware of ministers and mayors with simple solutions to any city’s problems! A series of snake-oil salesmen have almost extinguished the heart of Auckland City. The announcement that the last department store on Queen Street, Smith and Caughey, is closing its doors after 144 years of trading, can largely be traced back to relatively recent decisions this last fifteen years by fantasists with a single issue aimed at brightening New Zealand’s biggest city.