Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Wall and the Paper

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  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Stephen Judd,

    Fran O’Sullivan we’ve all bagged at one time or another, but she’s not unreasonable per se, just starting from a very different set of political axioms.

    And her actual reporting is pretty damn solid – she has good contacts and knows how to use them.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Paul Williams,

    Honestly, how’s a complete prat like him ever attain any standing? It is beyond my comprehension

    Name recognition, pure and simple. He kept his complete prattishness well disguised until he went off with Winston. After that, he was electable anywhere, as the burghers of Whanganui found out. Even crap can create its own momentum.

    Watching the local government election from the inside last year was both educational and unnerving. Some of the people elected are absolute morons, and they've been getting elected for years, purely because people now know their names. It's the first time that's the hardest.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock,

    Exit thru the Gift Shop

    Wonderful film

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Heather Gaye, in reply to Richard Matthews,

    Surely they are not next to go? Does anyone know where they exactly are?

    Outside my window. :)
    That mural’s the one to which Sofie refers on the corner of New North Road and Morningside Drive, behind the shops. It’s viewable from Morningside station (one stop west of Kingsland). There are other pieces right by the railway tracks on both sides*, in a car tunnel in the shops on the other side of New North Road, and on the end of that block, by the busstop.

    * the Health & Sports piece pictured, & opposite is graffiti that I imagine isn’t commissioned.

    Morningside • Since Nov 2006 • 533 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Richard Matthews,

    The first one on the article you linked to is on the corner of Morningside Drive and New North Rd behind the dairy on the carpark wall. It is massive. Cant miss it, and you wouldn't want to, it's fantastic. Those others look like platforms to train stations.Guess you need to take a ride. :) Glad to see Jackie Clark had her Dad recognised in New Lynn.
    The point is though, it is in the eye of the beholder and one man cannot decide what I want to see (Mr Sheilds!) This bland (and often mismatched, not even similar toned,) blanket wall covering will sooner than you think, turn our world battleship grey. UGH!

    And I see... "All together now" ;) Heather is faster than me writing in the dark

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    -- but suddenly Askew exploded on Twitter. He would not be painting the wall because, he said, the Auckland Council's graffiti prevention advisor, Rob Shields, had intervened. Shields spoke to the building's owner and convinced him that he, Shields, should take charge of the repainting of the private wall -- and stipulate its content. Askew was invited to apply to paint the wall, according to Shields' guidelines, which proposed a historical theme and (curiously for street art) no use of words in the painting.

    If Auckland Council's graffiti prevention adviser Rob Shields is really going 'round applying some sort of political acceptability test to Art on private property, well, that's just not acceptable, I'm afraid.

    I'd appreciate hearing from the mayor or councilors as to whether or not this is official policy.


    P.S. What's a "graffiti prevention advisor"?
    Sounds pretty bloody self-appointed, if you ask me.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to 3410,

    I’d appreciate hearing from the mayor or councilors as to whether or not this is official policy.

    Oh, I’ll be cynical enough to guess Len will be cheerfully playing “blame the officials” with the best of them. But may I suggest it’s an easy way to score some positive ink from people who are keenly aware that the next election will not be a referendum on John Banks.

    If Auckland Council’s graffiti prevention adviser Rob Shields is really going ’round applying some sort of political acceptability test to Art on private property, well, that’s just not acceptable, I’m afraid.

    I’m honestly not trolling for a fight here, but isn’t “heritage” all about political acceptability applied to private property? Seriously interested in where people draw the line.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    I'm honestly not trolling for a fight here, but isn't "heritage" all about political acceptability applied to private property?

    It's a Zen thing, like 'how many babies fit in a tire?'.

    Firstly, my money's on this guy having gone a bit Colonel Kurtz, rather than this being actual policy. Let's find out.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    I’m honestly not trolling for a fight here, but isn’t “heritage” all about political acceptability applied to private property? Seriously interested in where people draw the line.

    I think where-the-line-is-drawn is actually the nub of this issue. What powers does Shields have, what policy was he acting under, what are the damn rules anyway?

    In general, the issue of council officers' power vs. that of elected representatives is worth discussing in the Super City.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • recordari, in reply to 3410,

    P.S. What's a "graffiti prevention advisor"?
    Sounds pretty bloody self-appointed, if you ask me.

    Think they are very much self appointed. We had one badgering us to paint over a tag outside our work. Admittedly for free, but there was a point at which the line between community spirited service and judgemental stand over tactics became a bit blurry. We did let them paint the wall in the end, as it wasn't at all picturesque, but could see how they might just paint first and ask questions later in other circumstances.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Russell Brown,

    In general, the issue of council officers’ power vs. that of elected representatives is worth discussing in the Super City.

    It's worth discussing everywhere; because I truthfully have a lot of sympathy with officials who have to try and apply policies that have a high degree of, shall we be polite and say, politically useful strategic ambiguity. "Tagging is evil" is never going to lose anyone votes on the campaign trail, but making it work is another kete of kai moana entirely.

    It's also politically useful that those despised bureaucrats can't (and shouldn't) respond to with the international sign for "dude, I've seen sceptic tanks less full of crap than you." (If you'd like to make one at home: Take one clenched fist, then fully extend your middle finger. Repeat until you feel better.)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to 3410,

    3410:

    P.S. What's a "graffiti prevention advisor"
    Sounds pretty bloody self-appointed, if you ask me.

    Craig R:

    but isn’t “heritage” all about political acceptability applied to private property? Seriously interested in where people draw the line.

    The difference between graffiti and tagging is like porno - hard to define on paper, but you know it when you see it. Still, even officially approved graffiti is Degenerate Art to some.

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

  • BenWilson, in reply to Cecelia,

    Did he ever have one?

    He's like a Twinkie. Will still be edible in the post-zombie-apocalypse world, but not really very nice even when brand new.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Richard Aston, in reply to BenWilson,

    He’s like a Twinkie. Will still be edible in the post-zombie-apocalypse world, but not really very nice even when brand new.

    Ben you crack me up - and after consumption you get a slightly toxic feeling that only a hot shower can remove

    Northland • Since Nov 2006 • 510 posts Report Reply

  • Thomas Johnson, in reply to BenWilson,

    He's like a Twinkie. Will still be edible in the post-zombie-apocalypse world, but not really very nice even when brand new.

    I must say that after a mis-spent childhood reading comics that advertised these things, it was a major disappointment to actually eat one the first time I was in the USA. Talk about unmet expectations!

    Wellington • Since Oct 2007 • 98 posts Report Reply

  • Tamara,

    I will admit to subscribing to the SST (for the timebeing). I generally like the Focus and the Culture insert but was quite disappointed last weekend to read two references that I found sexist and youth-hating. Some comment about a third year university student being bored to her low-riders and another one with a 14 year old scrawling pictures of boys she likes. Neither was necessary, or clever or funny. Wot, don't they think women or parents or teenagers read their newspaper?

    New Zealand • Since Oct 2010 • 115 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    she has good contacts and knows how to use them.

    I've only seen her in those yellow tinted glasses.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to nzlemming,

    Even crap can create its own momentum.

    Even after it has his its own fans.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    isn’t “heritage” all about political acceptability applied to private property?

    Isn't it about the public interest in both private and public property and spaces that are part of our shared history in this place? Its balance with private interests is a political decision, yes.

    Who gets to decide what colour you paint your house?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    I must say that after a mis-spent childhood reading comics that advertised these things, it was a major disappointment to actually eat one the first time I was in the USA.

    A bit like chewing on a sweetish sports sock. Did once see a great art piece (in Washington DC) of ‘Twinkies At War’–a reconstruction of a naval battle, made entirely of Twinkies.

    In respect of Gawif Morgan, he is being a complete arse over the Maungatautari ecological mountain/island south of Cambridge–threatening to withdraw sponsorship money in order to deny local iwi a rightful place on the governance board.

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Carol Stewart, in reply to Sacha,

    Who gets to decide what colour you paint your house?

    Well, actually, in Norway, the authorities do. Apparently, in some locations at least, there is an approved range of paint colours for house exteriors. And you know what? The landscape is really very beautiful and harmonious as a result. Check this out - Norway is quite well represented in this list.

    NB: my sole claim to authority here is in having a Norwegian auntie, and in having visited the countryside around Sognefjord.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Fran O'Sullivan writes a solid article about shareholder activism against the recent Hotchin spinfest. It's the balancing of power and challenging of fellow media I'd like to see more of from our journos and editors.

    Frankly, it is important that the counter-view to Hotchin's claims gets aired. Herald columnist Brian Gaynor did a great job puncturing some of the myths in his March 4 column - "Mark Hotchin - own up or shut up".

    ...

    As [shareholder activist] Hepburn disclosed in his letter to the TVNZ board - which covered some of the material in a previous letter to Close Up producer Mike Valintine and frontman Mark Sainsbury - the issues that the Securities Commission and Serious Fraud Office are probing are much more complex than a media tussle between Hotchin and Allied Farmers' Rob Alloway as to which of them sold the former Hanover depositors the greatest pup.

    ...

    Surely TVNZ has it within itself to get these facts in front of its audience. Particularly, as the Hotchin PR campaign has now created a groundswell where some - who should know better - are turning the finger back at greedy investors for investing in risky finance companies.

    It's surely obvious that the authorities are basing their investigations on more solid ground than that.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to David Herkt,

    I don’t miss Braunias – wittering Kiwiana has only so much to give and he’s been on repeat for a very long time.

    The Sunday column waxed and waned, but Braunias still has powers of description well beyond those of most columnists. He's one of relatively few NZ print columnists who make me think "I wish I'd written that".

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • David Hood,

    I’m sorry, when someone mentions Norway, and house decoration (in a thread titled wall and paper), I cannot help but think of
    this visual symphony
    be sure to check out the full glory of the interior decoration.

    Dunedin • Since May 2007 • 1445 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Andrew, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    the international sign for “dude, I’ve seen sceptic tanks less full of crap than you.”

    +1 Sceptic tank - is that like a think tank that's pretty sure you're full of shit?

    Hamiltron - City of the F… • Since Nov 2006 • 900 posts Report Reply

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