Patrick Lam

Thoughts and travels of Patrick Lam

Email to Minister Chris Penk about glacier renaming

Of all the reasons to not correct historical misspellings…

Posted by Patrick Lam on Monday, April 6, 2026

Trip report: Finally Cascade Saddle, February 18 to 25

Everything came together for us on this Cascade Saddle walk, on the last possible day. The saddle was a spectacular 11-hour day.

Posted by Patrick Lam on Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Letter to Wellington City Councillors about bike lanes

There’s talk of pausing new bicycle infrastructure in Wellington to save rates increases. That would be a terrible idea.

Posted by Patrick Lam on Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Trip report: Angelus Peak Thrice in Three Days, December 5 to 9

I lost my phone near the summit of Angelus Peak, but recovered it on the second try (oof).

Posted by Patrick Lam on Sunday, December 14, 2025

Submission on the NZ Fast-Track Approvals Amendment Bill

Back to the negative submissions about NZ legislation, this time about an underhanded attempt to modify the Fast-Track Amendment Bill by claiming it’s about supermarkets.

Posted by Patrick Lam on Sunday, November 16, 2025

Submission on the NZ Regulatory Standards Bill

Here we go again. The NZ ACT Party also has an under-the-radar Regulatory Standards Bill which is perhaps as bad as the Treaty Principles Bill but much more technocratic.

Posted by Patrick Lam on Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Submission on the NZ Treaty Principles Bill

The libertarian minor party, ACT, has introduced a divisive ‘Treaty Principles Bill’ which threatens to undermine the NZ constitutional order (founded on the Treaty of Waitangi). I submitted to the select committee against this bill.

Posted by Patrick Lam on Friday, December 6, 2024

Trip report: Gisborne, November 28–Dec 1 2024

Three days in Gisborne, with cycling to wineries, stingrays, and walking at Cook’s Cove.

Posted by Patrick Lam on Thursday, December 5, 2024

Thoughts on the Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti

This last Tuesday, the Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti arrived in Pōneke/Wellington after setting off eight days ago from Te Rerenga Wairua / Cape Reinga (as well as on the South Island). Crowd size estimates for Parliament ranged from 42,000 to 55,000, undoubtedly the largest ever for this country. I’d characterize the mood of the hīkoi as ‘determined’. We wanted to send a strong statement that the Treaty Principles Bill should not be further considered. I should hope that the politicians are listening.

Posted by Patrick Lam on Thursday, November 21, 2024

Trip report: Rotorua, October 11-14 2024

Appended to the Flagstaff trip, a visit to Rotorua for the NZ Judo Nationals.

Posted by Patrick Lam on Tuesday, November 12, 2024

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Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo; patrick.lam@uwaterloo.ca

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