Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Auckland, so much enormity to answer for

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  • Phil Lyth, in reply to Paul Williams,

    Yes, public service are often brilliant, make no mistake about that. I suspect that if Sir Mad or Michael Lock's partner had called DIA this morning (wonder if the Locks still had to register the birth?), they would have been helped.

    MPs get called on for the harder bits.

    And as for

    trying to corrupt a politician

    Get off the grass!

    Wellington • Since Apr 2009 • 458 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    Yes, public service are often brilliant, make no mistake about that. I suspect that if Sir Mad or Michael Lock’s partner had called DIA this morning (wonder if the Locks still had to register the birth?), they would have been helped

    There's a clear line between, doing everything you can to help people out and favouring one person over another. I don't advocate the latter.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Yes. And it should be noted that the Butcher was generally pretty keen to be Ms Clark's handbag too. He's no mug.

    So that makes him politically bisexual, right?

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    Actually, he's just mad keen on League (and remember Helen was patron of Mt Albert for as long as I can remember so certainly no late commer).

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Bevan Shortridge,

    Michael Lock's partner

    Micheal Luck, as opposed to fullback Kevin Locke. Although Luck does play in the number 13 jersey, which is the position of lock. Which might confuse.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 122 posts Report Reply

  • izogi, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Ditto for the Wellington hotels in your story -- people have assumed they must be full.

    I'm not sure I agree about this bit. There was only one hotel in that article (the Museum Hotel) complaining it was less full than usual. When I read that story, the "raising of prices well in advance [..] to make sure there were rooms available for last minute international guests" completely explained why the bookings had gone down.

    Hotels often work by charging each individual visitor whatever they think they can get away with, and will happily charge a customer 3 times the going rate if that person walks in the door wanting a room for the night. (At least my wife was trained to try this for the short time she worked at a desk during student years.) This seems like just another time when a hotel took a gamble and lost.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Paul Williams,

    Actually, he’s just mad keen on League (and remember Helen was patron of Mt Albert for as long as I can remember so certainly no late comer).

    Oh, indeed. Clark’s patronage of the club meant she had much stronger ties to league than union.

    I seem to recall certain sorts of blog commenter trying to use her obvious affection for rugby league to depict her as some sort of traitor who didn’t like the All Blacks.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Yeah, they'd be the predictable bunch of wankers hanging at the usual site. Clark mightn't have been a fan of union but she understood it's importance to others and was entirely behind the Cup bid. Incidentally, Hobbs giving McCaw his 100th cap was a major tear jerker.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Paul Williams,

    Was the crucial role of Jock Hobbs acknowledged at all in the tournament's opening ceremony/speeches?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to izogi,

    Faulty Towers...

    “raising of prices well in advance [..] to make sure there were rooms available for last minute international guests”

    I had to laugh out loud at that piece of business acumen...

    This seems like just another time when a hotel took a gamble and lost.

    Though he did sound a tad rueful (at being sadly not roo-full)...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams, in reply to Sacha,

    I actually don't know Sacha, I'd hope so. Hobbs was also critical in the period immediately after the 1995 RWC and personally convinced many All Blacks to stay with the NZRFU rather than sign with Murdoch's alternative (as chronicled in Peter Fitzsimons' The Rugby War)

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to izogi,

    (the Museum Hotel) complaining it was less full than usual

    Yeah that could be the appalling service, I particularly liked the way the concierge refused to talk to my wife who, made the booking, drove the car, and was trying to pay ... but no, all his questions were addressed to me and he actively ignored her when she spoke. It was a nice location but I'll never go back there.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • LegBreak, in reply to Paul Williams,

    The Opening Ceremony wasn’t really about patting ourselves on the back about how we won the hosting rights from under the noses of the Japanese and South Africans.

    Last Saturday was the far more appropriate time to recognise Hobbs

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    I'll have to enter this discussion as a page three boy.

    It indeed was a great atmosphere at the game on Sunday, and we seemed to be surrounded by people we knew, or their children, along with the colourful and ebullient supporters of both teams.

    My greatest regret is at the time I bought the tickets it didn't seem like the kind of place to take the young un's, but they would have loved it. Although it would have turned our area into a day-care centre, which I'm not sure everyone would have appreciated.

    There was this one guy though, doing his best to support Fiji, who seemed to think their whole back line was called Ulysses Bastarde. Or that's kind of what it sounded like with a slur going.

    I also hope the person whose soggy ticket we found on Sandringham road before the game had faith in our population, because the helpful person with a radio I handed it to assured me they could ring in the number and he/she would still get in.

    Auckland was sure good to me this weekend, and let's not get started on the Warriors. I might cry.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    It was quite good when I didn't live here and often stayed there on business.

    It's been on the market for the last few years, I understand.

    (But also, a well run hotel should have maybe 80% occupancy, right. If they don't jack their prices for major events, then they'd only get a maximum 20% revenue boost - which isn't really the promised bonanza. We were hoping to rent our spare room for $150+ a night, but got no takers.

    I reckon F1 would get us more big-spending 'illmans. We could have the track going round the ferry ramps, bus tunnel and Oriental Bay for extra crash action).

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams, in reply to LegBreak,

    LegBreak, agreed. McCaw would've been honoured by Hobbs being the person to award him the cap. Hobbes is a bloke whose All Black playing days mightn't even be his best years such is contribution to the game.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Paul Williams,

    LegBreak, agreed. McCaw would’ve been honoured by Hobbs being the person to award him the cap.

    I was actually wondering how Richie was keeping it together for a while there. When Hobbs paid testament to him as a man, I was tearing up.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    Frustratingly, I can't watch the full footage on the NZHerald site as it detects I'm viewing from outside NZ (other footage I can watch, just not this).

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Christopher Dempsey, in reply to Phil Lyth,

    And as for

    trying to corrupt a politician

    Get off the grass!

    Naughty. He's still a sitting MP with a notoriously sensitive skin about this.

    I, along with family members and partner, did the Fan Trail on Saturday night for the NZ vs France game. Brilliant atmosphere generated in no small part by the French who it must be said a) have treating the game as good fun and not as a life-threatening event that must be violently supported down to a fine art as only the French are wont to do, and b) have the most marvellous collection of symbols they can dress up in - a rooster, a Knight de Chevalier, a Smurf, an Astrix, or any combination of all four. In contrast were the stylish Kiwis, all in black. The only Kiwis I saw using a cultural symbol were three lovely folk on Beach Rd who were dressed up as sheep. I congratulated them heartily.

    The Fan Trail itself was excellent, and well organised with people to guide the walkers where to go. A memorable moment was going up the St Kevins Arcade steps with the French, having discovered how echo-ey it was, were chanting Allez Les Bleus. I was chanting back Allez Les Noirs! which prompted them to chant back and so on we went. All good fun.

    A highlight was coming back into the city - we just wanted to do the Fan Trail - I discovered that one couldn't come back on the trains as I had thought one would. However a kindly driver took pity on us and gave us a lift in his drivers cubicle - so we saw what train drivers see as they errr, drive along. Very amazing. Many thanks to Mr Train Driver.

    Parnell / Tamaki-Auckland… • Since Sep 2008 • 659 posts Report Reply

  • izogi, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    I had to laugh out loud at that piece of business acumen…

    But it's okay, because they raised prices with the best of intentions! :)

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Ballantyne, in reply to 3410,

    @3410: A dictionary definition, eh? And what dictionary would that be?

    I made use of my Auckland City Library card to access the online edition of the OED, which notes the word derives from the obsolete adjective enorm, meaning deviating from the ordinary rule or type, and then goes on to note:

    Excess in magnitude; hugeness, vastness. Obs.; recent examples might perh. be found, but the use is now regarded as incorrect.

    As a subeditor the only way I'll let it through when used with this meaning is in a direct quote, followed by [sic]. I'm surprised the Herald subs feel differently.

    Secretly, I rather like [sic] even if I'd prefer not to use it. It's a subeditor's way of saying "this writer is a dunce."

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 27 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    A dictionary definition, eh? And what dictionary would that be?

    Not a very good one, admittedly, but a dictionary nonetheless!

    I'm surprised the Herald subs feel differently.

    I'm surprised the Herald still has subs. ;)

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • LegBreak,

    Q: How many subs does it take to change a light-bulb?

    A: Too

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • recordari, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Attachment

    I was actually wondering how Richie was keeping it together for a while there. When Hobbs paid testament to him as a man, I was tearing up.

    That was an incredibly genuine moment, I thought. Mana and aroha, for want of two better words.

    The view above was from our corner. Considering the ground had two games in under 24 hours, and 120,000 people through the gates, scrubbed up pretty well.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams, in reply to recordari,

    Great shot recordari, Eden Park is looking very fine. Was their ever thought given to covering it or would that have been a completely new stadium?

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

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