Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The truth about "Party Central"

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  • Ian Dalziel,

    ok at the KawaKawa corral

    We pilgrims find that queues enhance the experience

    most prefer drugs

    but when the pills are grim wait till the
    john queue wanes...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Well done Ian, you are truly our leading PUN dit
    But tell me why it says "Don't phone" over the ranch fence?.


    Interesting and subtle difference between Media 7 and TV3 news.
    At no point did Sneddon conflate "Partay Centralle" with the "Fan Zones" he is required to set up, in fact after mentioning "Pootang Centrum" he specifically referred to the fan Zones as "They", a point edited out of the "Quotes" TV3 put up on the screen.
    It's cons piracy i tells ya!!

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Accidentally discussing that on another thread.

    Is Snedden's RWC2011 organisation contractually obliged to provide a "party central"? No - not a piss up site the way it has been portrayed. As Russell has made clear, that's the Government's own idea on top of the RWC conditions.

    Are RWC2011 obligated to provide a fan zone at the bottom of the CBD? Yes, says Snedden.

    That counts as news, given that Auckland City Council were presumably briefed before they decided to invest public money in Aotea Square as the only CBD fanzone with its new, expensive big screen. Did something change, or did Councillors make a 7-figure decision without proper information?

    Now wondering why the IRB would demand a fan zone 'on the waterfront' as opposed to just in the CBD. Still some investigative journalism required to clarify who has promised what to whom.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    Rapid eye movement, in the public image limited, it's looking grim, but we should all just act our age.

    R.E.M. PILgrimage.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Now wondering why the IRB would demand a fan zone 'on the waterfront' as opposed to just in the CBD. Still some investigative journalism required to clarify who has promised what to whom.

    I think it was implicit that the fan zones would include one on the water front, but it would be just one among many that Rugby NZ 2011 has been calmly preparing around the country.

    The "party central" idea is entirely the government's creation, and it's clear from Snedden's original words to us that it's not helping him in his job.

    Here's a good thought experiment: think about the public perception of next year's RWC. It's a bit ropey; they need to get people back on board.

    Now take out everything that's been subjected to The McCully Touch: the "government ambassadors" scheme and Andy Haden; "party central"; the broadcast rights fiasco; the unseemly squabbling with the IRB over whether RWC volunteers should wear the fern. McCully has been in the middle of all of it.

    To say that he is regarded as an unhelpful presence by people who have to deal with him is putting it mildly.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    I think it was implicit that the fan zones would include one on the water front

    So why did Auckland City Council decide on Aotea Square?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    So why did Auckland City Council decide on Aotea Square?

    That too. If you read Simon Wilson's Metro story on cup preparations from last year, it seems pretty clear that at least a couple of gathering places were envisaged for the CBD: Aotea Square and somewhere on the waterfront.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Perhaps someone should ask Scott Campbell :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Marion Morrison* - home on the range...

    But tell me why it says "Don't phone"
    over the ranch fence?.

    aah well spotted, Pilgrim...
    I'm guessing it's meant to say DONITHONE
    - Tom Donithone being Mr Wayne's name
    in the movie... but the wooden acting lacks
    the ring of authenticity...

    at the risk of being Stipe-cast...

    R.E.M. PILgrimage.

    and well it may not be the Hajj but Journey
    are a trip too...

    this is apparently the top-selling catalog track in iTunes history, at more than three million downloads... (according to Wikipedia)

    * John Wayne's birth name

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • dyan campbell,

    John Wayne's birth name

    John Wayne's Teeth

    auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 595 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    Marion Robert Morrison

    Otherwise known as Big Jim McLain? Tenuous, but I swear, this is The End.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Christopher Dempsey,

    whoops, followed Sacha on another thread...

    That counts as news, given that Auckland City Council were presumably briefed before they decided to invest public money in Aotea Square as the only CBD fanzone with its new, expensive big screen. Did something change, or did Councillors make a 7-figure decision without proper information?

    The concrete in the Civic carpark was found to be failing some years ago. Investigations revealed that the car park would have to be shut and the roof of the carpark, which is the floor of Aotea Square plus adjoining bits of grass, would have to be torn up and replaced.

    (I imagine some tightwad male in the 80s decided to build on the cheap using cheap concrete.)

    In the event - the car park was kept open minus a few carparks as they were needed to house the jacks that kept the roof up. When I saw this I refused to go into the car park or use it until very recently.

    The opportunity was taken to freshen up the much loved square and the front of the Aotea Centre.

    This situation occurred months before RWC even came into being so no, Aotea Sq has nothing to do with RWC.

    Given that, someone in this current council decided that it would a perfect place for some kind of party - all they had to do was find money for a big telly screen.

    So the outlay is only on a telly screen.

    As far as RWC is concerned, wearing my elected rep hat, RWC is obliged to provide areas where ordinary members of the public can gather and watch the action on some big screens. This was to compenstate the good folk of the city for their inconvenience and for the fact that ticket prices would be out of reach for many.

    That's your 'party central' - which once one Mr John Key decided to christen it as a 'party central' (booze palace nudge nudge wink wink) - well there was no stopping some mediocre journalists from having a field day. I really wish John would put a sock in it sometimes and STFU. And I really wish that he had not put Mr McCully in charge; all he has done is fuck up the timing of everything for the sake of his ego , the hallmark of a piss poor politician.

    Doffing said hat.

    And Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie?? WTF? In that case I bags be the disabled child with stumps for arms in Kerre's blended family. What on earth has Kerre been smoking?

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

  • Sacha,

    the outlay is only on a telly screen

    Yes, I know - but locating it involves a decision about RWC fan zones. Was it an informed one?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Christopher Dempsey,

    as informed as council officers could be. I think it was more along the lines of 'wait - we're refurbishing Aotea Square - ummm and there's a big wall overlooking it - I know, lets put a telly up to use during RWC!!'.

    I don't think it was terribly informed - just something along the lines of "rush-of-blood-to-the-head-itis". Enthusiasm and all that.

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

  • Christopher Dempsey,

    And I'll just point out that alot of decisions about entertainment around RWC tend to be justified AFTER the fact.

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

  • Sacha,

    Still curious where the concept of "waterfront" entered

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Christopher Dempsey,

    After Trevor Mallard's moment of 'rush-of-blood-to-the-head-itis'?

    Plausible. Concepts like using the waterfront don't arrive perfectly formed - they are contingent, built upon, layer upon layer till either it comes off nicely, or doesn't.

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

  • George Darroch,

    I think it was more along the lines of 'wait - we're refurbishing Aotea Square - ummm and there's a big wall overlooking it - I know, lets put a telly up to use during RWC!!'.

    I don't mind it. Melbourne has an ultra-large screen above Federation Square, and it makes a wonderful public space.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Concepts like using the waterfront don't arrive perfectly formed - they are contingent, built upon, layer upon layer till either it comes off nicely, or doesn't.

    I'm not aiming for the abstract here. It's a simple enough question. Snedden is quoted as saying they have to deliver a fan zone on the waterfront. It would be nice to know if that was decreed by the IRB or mad-dog McCully or if it's not true.

    I doubt it was Auckland City Council's doing (unless there was some back room manoeuvring we haven't heard about).

    Aotea Square makes good sense unless you're desperately convinced that projecting our poorly developed night-time waterfront to the world will drive prosperity. That notion is silly enough to have come from any of the half-baked oafs of the inner cabinet. But it doesn't explain why someone as sensible as Snedden would stand by it.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Otherwise known as Big Jim McLain? Tenuous, but I swear, this is The End.

    well, people are strange...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    * John Wayne's birth name

    Now here's weird.
    You couldn't have known this but my birth name was, in fact, Pilgrim...

    Home, home on the strange. Where the sheep and the buffalo fly.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    I'm not aiming for the abstract here. It's a simple enough question. Snedden is quoted as saying they have to deliver a fan zone on the waterfront. It would be nice to know if that was decreed by the IRB or mad-dog McCully or if it's not true.

    Fan zones were part of the original prop to the IRB -- the "stadium of four million" thing. Rugby NZ 2011 has been quietly working on setting them up around the country. My interpretation is that it's not a stipulation by the IRB, but an undertaking made to the IRB.

    "Party Central" as a concept is entirely the government's doing, with the ARC, although it's clearly intended as part of the fan zones project. There's no undertaking about building anything, let alone the $100 million palace that was on the table at one point, and the "party central" branding is entirely the government's idea. Snedden clearly hasn't been finding it helpful.

    I don't have a problem with there being more than one gathering place in the Auckland CBD. In bad weather, it would be useful to have Shed 10 available. And I'm delighted that Queen's Wharf has been opened up after all these years. It's just a shame it's turned into such a clusterfuck.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    It takes a Village to raise a Barn(es)...

    Now here's weird.
    You couldn't have known this but my birth name was, in fact, Pilgrim...
    Home, home on the strange...

    strange days and a weird scenes goldmine indeed...

    still time to open that Puritanning Clinic, then...
    ;- )

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    Home, home on the strange. Where the sheep and the buffalo fly.

    Come on pilgrim, it's time for a holiday song...

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    I just want to take the time to say that I'm abandoning my umpteen responsibilities next week, driving 5 hours north to see the goddam pixies. And then driving back again the next day.

    And I expect it to be awesome.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

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