Ask Phoebe: Britomart flag flies for shipping tenant

The company flag of A.P. Moller-Maersk Group flies above the Britomart station. Photo / Maersk shipping

Can you tell me the significance of the flag that flies permanently above the entrance to Britomart? It is light blue with a large white star in the centre. Why is it there? Who does it belong to? What is its association with the Britomart building?
Ross Bragg, Kohimarama.

It is the company flag of A.P. Moller-Maersk Group, more commonly known as Maersk Shipping. It leases the upper floor of the Britomart building. The flagpole was there and not being used, so Maersk took advantage of it.

Maersk is based in Copenhagen and is the world's largest container ship and supply-vessel operator.

On Friday, October 29, the Auckland Regional Council ceased to exist for trading purposes. On Saturday, I got a "please pay immediately" letter from the ARC. I had not paid because I was waiting for communication from someone explaining just what was going to happen to these exorbitant levies, who they would be redirected to, and how they would be used. I may have missed the explanatory letter, but I don't think so. Are you able to find an explanation of how this particular aspect of the unwelcome transition will be managed?
Tony Devitt, Auckland.

I also missed an explanatory letter, but I do have the advantage of expert colleagues on all aspects of Super City metamorphosis. The Auckland Transition Agency had the task of merging the budgets of the eight defunct councils, and came up with the figure of a 6 per cent rise for Auckland Council ratepayers for the 2011-12 year. It also predicted this rise could be lowered to 3.9 per cent, mostly through swingeing job cuts, saving $75 million, with a further $95 million saved the next year through more job losses.

The combined rates will be used to carry out the usual responsibilities borne by councils, including those of the former ARC. In Auckland there has also been the cost of setting up the Super City, which came in at about $200 million - a cost to be carried by ratepayers.

Mayor Len Brown would like the rates rise to be no more than the forecast rate of inflation of 2.6 per cent. To achieve this, the council will have to consider freezing spending for three years and abolishing some programmes.

Could you please tell me the difference between a motorway and a freeway?
Bill Smith, Howick.

I can more easily tell you the difference between a motorway and an expressway, as New Zealand has no freeways. Pedestrians or cyclists are not allowed to use a motorway, and drivers can get on to a motorway only at onramps and interchanges. An expressway looks much the same as a motorway, but pedestrians and cyclists can use it, and there is access for people whose properties lead on to it.

In the United States and other countries, a freeway is a dual carriageway main road, or a toll-free highway.