Posts by Russell Brown
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Hard News: The Sky is the limit, in reply to Rich of Observationz,
Over the last decade or so, we’ve had well over a billion of public money (along with designer legislation) gifted to various corporations for events and productions that would, allegedly, transform our economy with a flood of tourists. Did this work?
There's actually reasonable evidence that however much we might cringe, Middle-Earth marketing is effective for New Zealand:
"The 6.0 per cent growth we saw for the year ending December 2013, and the continuing growth of 7.3 per cent through to year-end February 2014, is the kind of growth not seen in a decade. We wanted to know what impact our work was having on this remarkable result.
"While it is clear that improving economies and increased airline capacity are supporting tourism growth, in many countries, New Zealand's high dollar is working against this positivity."
"What NZIER found was that marketing factors were having a considerable impact in five long-haul markets. And the strongest of these factors was the impact of New Zealand's association with Middle-earth and the new Hobbit films," says Kevin.
The LOTR/Hobbit productions have also been pretty good for Wellington, of course.
The rebates for the films cost about the same as (or a little more than) the economic activity they generate, but I don't think tourism is counted in that.
And Auckland got a notable infrastructure boost as part of the Rugby World Cup (how much economic activity the RWC generated is another matter).
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Hard News: The Sky is the limit, in reply to Ian Dalziel,
Vodafone wants our money.
They're becoming notorious for this kind of thing, unfortunately.
In happier news -- I got your package, Ian! Delighted by the contents and the bomb-proof swaddling with gaffa tape. Once a roadie, always ...
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And meanwhile, the Wellington convention centre project Steven Joyce touted yesterday as an example to Auckland just fell over.
What a shambles.
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And so we get to ….
Yes, after stiffing Auckland Council on the CRL out of little more than political spite, the government has the damn nerve to suggest – without even a heads-up to the mayor – that Auckland ratepayers might like to cover its arse.
The Herald understands SkyCity would also like the council to offer millions of dollars in concessions on costly red tape necessary to build the centre. Mr Brown didn’t know anything about Mr Joyce’s idea or potential concessions for SkyCity and appeared reluctant to get involved.
“Auckland Council has not been approached,” he said through a spokesman. The deal was “between SkyCity and the Government”.
And then this:
But Orakei councillor Cameron Brewer said while it would be “a stretch” for ratepayers, a subsidy for the centre should be considered.
So after bitching about and needlessly politicising any number of considered spending decisions, Brewer is happy to kick in a council subsidy on this?
He really wants a safe National seat, doesn’t he?
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I think Jim's review of the third Hobbit movie will be worth a look. He made some interesting observations to me when I picked him up after the screening.
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Access: Feelgood Flicks, in reply to Hilary Stace,
Please don't let him go all up market and studio - keep that authentic bedroom and t-shirt thing going.
And the posters!
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Access: Feelgood Flicks, in reply to Kumara Republic,
Still to get any productive progress from Workbridge and the Emerge Trust.
It's a slog, but we've found Elevator quite proactive.
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Access: Feelgood Flicks, in reply to mark taslov,
your review absolutely nailed why.
Which is the great thing about Jim's reviews. He thinks hard about why he felt a certain way about a movie. The answer might take two days of thinking to come, but he does the thinking.
And thanks for the tech tips. We'll work on those things, for sure.
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Hard News: We're in this together, in reply to David Cohen,
Cheers, David. And best wishes to you and your family for 2015 too.
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Access: Feelgood Flicks, in reply to Hilary Stace,
I guess as parents we just have to be patient – our support just needs to go on and on while others’ adult children maybe sort out their own lives.
I think about this a lot. It's what I say when anyone asks: "You needs to get used to the idea that you're going to be a parent longer than most of your friends."
And celebrate the victories when they happen. Best wishes for more in 2015.
And to you, Hilary!
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