"Party central" is, like the ambassadors' scheme, entirely a creation of government ministers.

Bugger. Just when I found a wharf with an antique shed on it here...

I can't believe none of the MSM has asked Snedden this question yet.

I can't believe none of the MSM has asked Snedden this question yet.

Yeah, it puzzles us too.

Cue another hissy fit from McCully.

I would think he'd be on a warning by now.

I'd been told that 'party central' was to satisfy Heineken. As sponsors their name would be obviously distanced from any potentially damaging debate.

It seemed to make sense...

Yeah, it puzzles us too.

It will puzzle me even more if no one else runs with this

It will puzzle me even more if no one else runs with this

As soon as they get all that egg off their faces, yes. That might take a little bit.

Heineken got its wish to have its product served in metal cans despite protest from Police.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10635331

The fast tracking of liquor licences thru the world cup empowering bill is consistent with backing the booze barons.

I can't believe none of the MSM has asked Snedden this question yet.

Is Media7 considered non-MSM? Is there even a useful definition of MSM now?

Yeah, right, "Taken off the road" with a quick nudge of a Police car and then a shovel?. No danger there, eh?.

That's a bit silly. We can't think of any other way to get a skateboarder off the road?

Whether or not people should be risking their own wellbeing?

Given Sneddon's comments this is looking more amd more likely.

Also, aren't Sneddon's comments refreshingly free of management-speak cliches ?

Twas them that were responsible for the closing of the Gluepot back in '94, apparently they bought in to Dominion Breweries on the proviso that the brewery got out of retail and concentrated on brewing Heineken for the southern market. Bastards.

And I recall watching on TV back then that?

seeing your comment sets me wondering if the Canadian's took their longboards to Dunedin for an attempt on Baldwin Street?

That would be a challenge.

Perhaps you could attach a bungie cord at the top of the road to arrest your sudden descent?

But then the board would become?

seeing your comment sets me wondering if the Canadian's took their longboards to Dunedin for an attempt on Baldwin Street?

About ten years ago a first year student was killed after deciding to ride a wheelie bin down Baldwin St after a night out drinking. It was out of control?

If the particles floating around form an idea in the mind of the prime minister or any minister – then let it be so – they are after all gods stalking this earth – Hmm vanity.

I am sure the economy is managed with?

Tell me again how many extra visitors we will getting for this over priced RWC, was it 50,000 – when we all ready get 2.5million?

I'm going to fall in behind "people travelling incredibly fast down hills on public roads without brakes" are a risk to others.

Like, totally dude. I mean, you know, the risk of having to clean all that gooey flesh out?

I'm suggesting alcohol is a dangerous drug, and one that the Government should take no interest in promoting?

Bombay Skateboarders

Much as I hate to bring up the Scottish topic, the Herald has a pretty strange idea of giving credit where due.

Vid-poster WhaleOil writes on the YouTube page, "Not my video, saw on Facebook..." NZH notes the name of the guy who shot the one-take video, calling?

Remind me, what are the ambassadors for ?

To ambassadate, surely?

It's "chocks" actually ;-)

Normally, I'd agree... but on further reflection of steep hills, skate-boards and beer all in the mix.... "chuck" may well be involved :)

Less all the visitors who choose to skip NZ because it's expected to be full of rugbyheads

Less all the visitors who choose to skip NZ because it's expected to be full of rugbyheads

I hate to break it to you Rich, but New Zealand is full of rugbyheads already.

I hate to break it to you Rich, but New Zealand is full of rugbyheads already.

Some, even have little bodies attached and they are called Rugby fans. :)

Maybe that would create a rugbyhead?

Cue another hissy fit from McCully.

I would think he'd be on a warning by now.

McCully has a long leash because he's National's fixer (of leadership contests).

I say the rugby heads party on John Quay.

I have to be hoenst I've been pretty impressed by how up front and sensible he has been on the planning of the RWC.

You're joking, aren't you? I suspect there's going to be a hell of a story to tell about the very far from up front and utterly?

Rugby support is in decline though. The Phoenix typical gate count is within hailing distance of the rugby now.

It may be in decline in absolute terms, but if you add up all the people who see rugby games at all levels in the course of a year versus those?

Wow good work. A nice frank admission from Snedden, I have to be hoenst I've been pretty impressed by how up front and sensible he has been on the planning of the RWC.

You're joking, aren't you?

Why would he be joking? The response from people who've dealt with Snedden?

The Phoenix typical gate count is within hailing distance of the rugby now.

I can't believe I find myself defending rugby, but I believe it is actually possible that people attend both rugby and soccer games. Although the only sport that I myself follow is roller derby, I'm pretty sure?

Why would he be joking? The response from people who've dealt with Snedden has been uniformly positive. He seems competent and straightforward.

Yes, he certainly was perfectly competent and straightforward in lobbying for "clean venue" legislation that served precisely no public interest, as opposed to the commercial interests of RWC?

The clean stadiums commitment was made in 2005, two years before Snedden was even appointed.

In fact – correct me if I'm wrong – it was NZ's initial inability to make that committment that caused us to actually lose hosting rights last time.

Every major international event, not just sporting ones, has a Clean Stadiums concept. It?s just a modern reality.

he seems to have an odd idea of the purview of a local council's powers

you'd be amazed how many voters similarly have no idea

I think you'll find it's still a nation of rugbyheads.

Versus:

No rugby's definitely in decline, the local city council released a survey last month that shows that more people visited cemeteries in Dunedin last year than went to Carisbrook. Even fewer people went to a city park to watch?

I can't believe none of the MSM has asked Snedden this question yet.

Compare and contrast:

6 pm TV bulletins: Coverage of the All Whites' parade, yesterday. Coverage of this story, today. And for good measure, coverage of Andy Haden's surrealist poems (or "inappropriate comments"), at any time.

TVNZ's Mr?

...the local city council released a survey last month that shows that more people visited cemeteries in Dunedin last year than went to Carisbrook.

Hell! People are dying to get in!
maybe they could charge the visitors,
with the right marketing and if they...
__ "...?

I hate to break it to you Rich, but New Zealand is full of rugbyheads already.

You may have just explained the brain drain.

Can we please get over the notion that Clean Stadiums are an evil thing? Lets move on from 2002.

I apologise for being impertinent enough to question the actions of my government, and believing there's questions to be asked and answered about the very slick (and stunningly effective) lobbying operation?

I apologise for being impertinent enough to question the actions of my government...

And for getting the basic facts of your rant du jour completely wrong, I assume.

You may have just explained the brain drain.

To Australia?

(Timidly) I really like the central column style. I find it much more readable than blocks of text that go all the way across.

Yeah, me too. Also my browser usually only takes up the left side of my screen, with a word processor (yes, or video player or game)?

It's a bit hard to generalise that to "rugby is definitely in decline" for the whole country. Which doesn't mean it *isn't*, but doesn't prove that it is.)

I'd love a follow up on that trying to identify just what rugby, and where, was in decline and wasn't.

I ask,?

Fair enough – saying it's now almost the least-used public amenity is more meaningful.

Its meaningfulness is still bugger all if you ask me. None of those amenities are open only ninety minute a week during the rugby season. Also, you don't pay to visit the cemetery or the library.?

The RWC will have large international sponsors, whose signage will have to appear on all the TV coverage. The normal local sponsors will all have the RWC excluded from their contracts as all their stuff will be taken down.

The RWC will have large international sponsors,

Thanks. So do we know who they will be. Which beer, I guess will be a biggie, (but can you marry beer to sport?) Gawd, I hope it's not McDonalds!

ok soo further back thread, it sounds like Heineken?

People called Stella or Tui, for instance, will be banned from going anywhere between Stout St and the ferry dock unless they change their names. Bizarre but true.

People called Stella or Tui, for instance, will be banned from going anywhere between Stout St and the ferry dock unless they change their names. Bizarre but true.

What about dogs?

Its meaningfulness is still bugger all if you ask me. None of those amenities are open only ninety minute a week during the rugby season. Also, you don't pay to visit the cemetery or the library. (Yet.)

Of course we pay for the cemetery and the library (through our rates).?

Thanks. So do we know who they will be. Which beer, I guess will be a biggie, (but can you marry beer to sport?) Gawd, I hope it's not McDonalds!

They're here: http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/

Mastercard, ANZ, Emirates, Heineken. Toshiba, Brancott Estate.

This is a particularly big issue here in Dunedin where we we've basically been forced to build a replacement for Carisbrook with hundreds of millions of dollars of ratepayer's money

I detected a certain amount of bitterness in the way the data was presented, yes.

if people use public toilets?

in essence the rate payers are subsidising the RWC by more than $200m without a referendum or anything.

You're not demolishing the stadium after the RWC, are you? The point is that it will still attract domestic and overseas visitors to all blacks games and highlanders games and they will?

whilst sucking on a Heineken

Lyrically leads me to th clean jungle (being Friday and all)..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyCAiK3QObk

if people use public toilets and cemeteries more than rugby stadiums we should spend more on them

What a pointlessly stupid assertion to make, but one which to this (Auckland) observer kinda sums up the unreasonably miserly mindset of those who opposed the new Dunedin stadium.

Which isn't to say?

how are we going to raise the billion dollars we need to replace our hundred year old water and sewerage system – it's not sexy like a stadium but it's far more important

And public transport, sustainable energy and affordable broadband infrastructure – cos those are what will count in?

Mastercard, ANZ, Emirates, Heineken. Toshiba, Brancott Estate

And, given that they?re underwriting the whole thing, I really can?t see the issue with their ads replacing existing ones for 6 weeks.

Are they really more evil than Westpac, Tui, Hanover Finance etc that have tended to dominate grounds over the last?

Yes, but they need to have an income. If you're no longer able to bring in visitors from out of town, many of them will close down and your rates will go up.

Really? Are you seriously arguing that the stadium will pay for itself by bringing in external visitors??

There are decent reasons to build stadiums, but increasing your rating base is not one.

I'm not saying it will pay for itself, but it's one of those things that a local economy can benefit from. Wellington certainly does with its stadium, which makes the public investment in it that?

Giovanni: if a bar, or a hotel or a restaurant depends on 5 nights a year to make a profit it's already on shaky ground and isn't going to last.

Are you kidding me? Lots of businesses do depend on key dates on the calendar which are enough to make?

The thing the Dunedin stadium will have going for it is that it?s unique?

if people use public toilets and cemeteries more than rugby stadiums we should spend more on them.

What a pointlessly stupid assertion to make

why? toilets and stadiums are both governed by the same principles – "Bums on seats' :- )

beware false profits...

The money made by?

but those rates will be the same RWC or not, the businesses still have to pay that – no extra gain there...

Again: you need to have businesses afloat in order to have commercial rates at all. I'd suggest a stadium generates more money in the local economy than a?

(And again, I'm not saying the new Dunedin stadium will be a good investment, or that the Cake Tin returned as much money to our city as it was touted – just that it's silly to completely leave the induced benefits out, as if they didn't exist.)

I'm not saying?

Mastercard, ANZ, Emirates, Heineken. Toshiba, Brancott Estate...

And, given that they?re underwriting the whole thing, I really can?t see the issue with their ads replacing existing ones for 6 weeks.

Are they really more evil than Westpac, Tui, Hanover Finance etc that have tended to dominate grounds over the last?

the Otago University school of medicine, of all things, has a long term lease for part of the Cake Tin.

Wasn't the Otago University School of Medicine, it was schools liaison and promotions and a computer lab and whatnot. And the lease ended a couple of years ago and the?

On this basis I plan to get buried out of Dunedin and demand the portion of my rates that go to cemetaries be refunded.

Probably a good idea – the city hiked burial fees by 10% this year to help pay for the stadium debt

I thought us taxpayers were doing a fair amount of underwriting/contributing as well ...

You bet we are. But if it weren?t for Toshiba etc, we?d be doing a lot more of it.

And our ads will be on the side of the roads next to airports.

@Kyle; it?s only?

Probably a good idea – the city hiked burial fees by 10% this year to help pay for the Stadium...

You are indeed being stiffed...

Which I thought was silly – first stadium with a roof in NZ would be ideal location for cricket, guaranteed international games.

How high is that roof?

Other than the indoors variety, has any cricket anywhere been played under a roof? Let alone international games.

Bear in mind the rules?

@Kyle; it?s only T20 cricket. A rugby field should suffice...

The recommended boundary to boundary square of the pitch is 140 yards. The new stadium will only get slightly over half of that. It would be a bit of a mockery of a game, there wouldn't be any outfielders square?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7UmUX68KtE

How high is that roof?

47 metres at maximum height. Which in most games would be fine, but I think occasionally someone would really get hold of one vertically and hit the roof.

Docklands in Australia has a 38 metre high roof, and has been used for cricket, but I'm?

I'm not saying they don't exist but they don't provide benefits to the residents (only 13% of whom went to Carisbrook last year) that match what they're being required to pay.

That's a very different proposition from "Dunedin ratepayers are subsidising the world cup to the tune of $200 million".?

if ya wanted to get all birth town on it, well we'd have the esoteric sounding Invercargill / Te Kuiti Sound...

A few months ago it occurred to me that Chris Knox and my mother would have gone to primary school together. This amuses me no end. (My mother is...?

The list of people that are like Chris Knox, probably isn't very long however.

I'm sure the Shirt Sleeves industry thanks their lucky stars every day for that!

I guess we're used to seeing dramas about people who are still alive, but seldom?

But here's the programme in question:

http://tvnz.co.nz/media7/s5-e8-video-3669131

Noisy.

And I mean that in the nicest possible way ;-) Have a great night.

One of the differences surely is that cemeteries and toilets don't bring in vistors from the rest of the country or overseas?

Ah ha, but... There's KawaKawa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_-PGEfbc8M

Imagine if Hundertwasser had designed a stadium. How cool would that be?

The undulating field might have been a problem though.

The undulating field might have been a problem though

Although I think Hudewasser would do a better job than Escher.
;-)

Hi all. Didn't blog today, owing to me buying an iPad and it being my birthday.

Happy Birthday (yesterday) – and you have the same birthday as my brother.

What do you think of the iPad?

Ah ha, but... There's KawaKawa

sadly this first flush of creative community
facilities was to be a flush in the pan and is
now just a part of life's rich tap history...

Imagine if Hundertwasser had designed a stadium. How cool would that be?

it'd probably look?

Did he sleep with the iPad under his pillow?

Is it like wedding cake? If you sleep with an iPad under your pillow, do you dream of the Apple-designed robot you're going to marry one day?

life's rich tap history

gold

small town NZ Gothic unease that Sam Neill championed

I thought he hated it?

do you dream of the Apple-designed robot you're going to marry one day?

You dream what the Apple board of directors has mandated that you should dream. It's right there in the terms and conditions.

small town NZ Gothic unease that Sam Neill championed

I thought he hated it?

publicised then...

Did he sleep with the iPad under his pillow? That's what I want to know.

No, I actually left it behind to go out to the Italian restaurant we're going to when you get to Auckland.

That being the loudest restaurant in the universe, where it's always at least three?

(Although the one in Wellington where I'd take you is not like that. But the food is fabulous.)

here.

Or and here's a killer idea. We could replace Steven Joyce with M.C.Escher and have all of our roads go downhill. That would save a fortune in fuel costs. (thinks, Will this crop up in one of John Key's speeches soon?)

This whole line of thinking reminds me of a?

Because if not, we should also try to quietly drop that.

That being the loudest restaurant in the universe, where it's always at least three people's birthday.

Gina's?

Last time I was there there was one birthday and two hen's nights on top of our Christmas work dinner..

Given that the topic includes a barefoot skateboarder, it is most definately chucks away.

(google chuck taylors if you disagree)

We pilgrims find that queues enhance the experience

most prefer drugs

but when the pills are grim wait till the
john queue wanes...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9O8oLqY2sxo

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,?

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?

R.E.M. PILgrimage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-El_e9HPtU

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?

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?

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.

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?

John Wayne's birth name

John Wayne's Teeth

Marion Robert Morrison

Otherwise known as Big Jim McLain? Tenuous, but I swear, this is The End.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDN9y2vTdUs&feature=related

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?

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?

I don't think it was terribly informed?

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.

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?

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?

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

well, people are strange...

* 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.

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?

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...
;- )

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

Come on pilgrim, it's time for a holiday song...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kV427v44QY

And I expect it to be awesome.

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

That it does... watched Tennis Open there in Feb this year. Lovely atmosphere. The free wifi helped enormously.

I'm not aiming for the abstract here. It's a simple enough question. Snedden?

show me actual evidence that the IRB decreed "waterfront". I've seen nothing to support that.

I?d be really surprised if the IRB got that specific.

Whether or not the NZRU offered Fan Zones (remember that all centres will have them) as part of its proposal; it?s not an unreasonable requirement.?

I?d be really surprised if the IRB got that specific.

Same, but it's probably going to take a journalist to ask the right questions and untangle this mess. Relevant for informed voting in both this year's local?

Relevant for informed voting in both this year's local elections and next year's national ones.

Informed? There will be a panel, to be sur,to be sur (R.I.P. Mr Leary)
Best get an advisory board eh?

Our supermess

the new mayoral chambers seems set to become the 21st century Tower of Babel, rather than the streamlined centre of focused leadership we've been promised.

Or many dick's and dickess's in conservative garb, as opposed to a streamlined dick in a suit.

The show itself repeats at 9.10pm tonight, Media7.

Again, show me actual evidence that the IRB decreed "waterfront". I've seen nothing to support that.

Sorry my mistake – I suspect we offered up Fanzones, IRB accepted. Location of said Fanzones to be worked out subsequently – I don't think IRB would dictate where these would be (and why?

And I expect it to be awesome.

I don't imagine you'll be disappointed. Would love to see them again if I could.

Next for me is Shihad doing General Electric at the Powerstation. Should be good, but would be better if the Pixies came on afterwards.

If that wasn't enough?

Accidentally discussing that on another thread.

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. I should not post when not fully awake and caffineated.

If that wasn't enough Pam Corkery for ya,

Never enuff! 1 woman against 4 men in that discussion and I heard every word she said. ;)

Had to work on hte same floor as La Corkery for three years. You could hear her quiet, dulcet, hushed tones clear across the?