Field Theory by Hadyn Green

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Field Theory: Four Years Ago

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  • Yamis,

    After carefully considering what happened last Friday night I can confidently say that the Government effed up, AT effed up, and Veolia (?) effed up. I don't know why they haven't ALL taken responsibility. The mayor has said sorry and that's about it. The government and council centralised everything when they should have spread the party zones out. AT should have clicked that those coming into the city for the celebrations would be putting demands on the PT that the fans going to the games would need, and Veolia shouldn't have trains where you have to inspect all 30 emergency stop buttons to know which one was activated before re-setting the brakes. How antiquated is that? My crappy 5 year old computer probably has better technology in it.

    The whole afternoon/evening was like the perfect incompetence storm.

    Since Nov 2006 • 903 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Kumara Republic,

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

  • Yamis, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    Labour --> National
    National --> AT & Veolia
    AT --> unprecedented demand
    Veolia --> unprecedented demand

    But nobody seems to want to say what created this "unprecedented demand" and why it wasn't planned for given it was entirely constructed and promoted by central government and Auckland Council. It wasn't an act of god. A Taniwha didn't rise up out of Rangitoto and tell people to hope on a bus, a train, a skateboard and head to the waterfront.

    hot potato hot potato...

    Since Nov 2006 • 903 posts Report

  • Yamis, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    That's funny Sofie. For a minute I thought they'd flown to the wrong country altogether.

    Since Nov 2006 • 903 posts Report

  • Grant McDougall,

    My money's on it being Murray McCully

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report

  • Rich Lock, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    We don't have interactive in NZ?

    There seems to be a problem with the wireless link. I had my Wii controller on 'Jonny Wilkinson', but I couldn't seem to get it to kick straight - the ball was going all over the shop. Is it something in the settings, or is there a patch I can download?

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

  • BenWilson, in reply to Yamis,

    But nobody seems to want to say what created this "unprecedented demand" and why it wasn't planned for given it was entirely constructed and promoted by central government and Auckland Council.

    They did plan for it. Nearly all capacity was directed to the event, which became enormous due in no small part to public transport, and the suggestion to use it, and they do deserve some thanks for the hundreds of thousands of people who were successfully delivered. I think that given the history of Auckland on PT, that what was unexpected was that people followed the advice given in such numbers. Also, how can you really plan for events when Kiwis are so bloody non-committal about their interest in things? Just as public transport in Auckland has no experience coping with such numbers, so also Aucklander have no experience coping with public transport in such numbers.

    At the end of the day they delivered about as many people into Auckland and Eden Park as it was feasible to do, and it was only through good weather and good will that that number was not far too many people, leading to really serious incidents. People missing out on events when they are incredibly popular just isn't that serious an outcome, frankly, it takes a pale second position to public safety. Imagine how packed the central city could have been, if there actually *had* been the capacity to deliver all the people left behind straight to Britomart.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    Any bets to lay on who the Minister for Bad Manners is? My money is on Wayne Mapp.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Rich Lock, in reply to BenWilson,

    My money is on Wayne Mapp.

    I think that's long odds. Mapp is about the only cabinet minister I'd give the time of day to. Could be any one of the rest of the incompetent fools, though.

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

  • Carol Stewart, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    There is a ban on buskers?
    On Sunday night there was an entire string quartet playing in the tunnel under the bus station! They were glorious.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to BenWilson,

    Any bets to lay on who the Minister for Bad Manners is? My money is on Wayne Mapp.

    I'd say Dr Mapp comes across as too urbane for that sort of thing. McCully, though, does add up.

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

  • DexterX, in reply to BenWilson,

    The lift in play of the minows is in no small part to the the roll of ex All blacks in coaching positions developing the game and skill levels.

    It would be great to see Warren Gatland and Todd Blackadder go forth as the next great AB coaching dynasty - I don't think the ozzies will be willing to let Deans go.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Yamis,

    Queuey bono...

    But nobody seems to want to say what created this “unprecedented demand” and why it wasn’t planned for given it was entirely constructed and promoted by central government and Auckland Council.

    I'm just wondering what this unprecedented spike in train users converts to in earnings for Auckland Transport/Veolia?
    And did I hear right in the interview on Close up last night (with the man and his elderly mother-in-law who were stuck on the train and sadly didn't get to the game at all) that the RWC tickets included "Free public train or bus transport" ? and if so didn't the RWC company then contribute to the random factors of numbers travelling by train?
    And also how were those trips costs to be reimbursed to the provider?

    Joyce is impressive at rushing to close the stable doors after the horse has bolted - this friday's game will not have an opening ceremony or downtown harbourside spectacular in the mix, but he'll probably take credit for fixing it when it all goes smoothly...
    Will the TAB be taking bets on this?

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    Move over Buster Bloodvessel...

    ...the Minister for Bad Manners...

    Terry Gilliam's new movie 3 Monkeys ?...

    "I saw no sign of anything," Williamson said.
    "I enjoyed the game, it was an excellent match, there was no controversy and I've talked to everybody that I sat with now, and no one knows anybody that did anything. So where I was - there was nothing.*
    I have no idea what has generated [the story] but all I know where I was [with the] the Australian High Commissioner, several other ministers, I saw nothing, heard nothing, of even the slightest [controversy]."

    (from the Stuff article linked to above)

    *never a truer word spoken!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • BenWilson, in reply to Rich Lock,

    I think that's long odds.

    Seems like long odds whether the incident actually happened at all.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Martin Lindberg, in reply to BenWilson,

    Seems like long odds whether the incident actually happened at all

    and it's pretty unlikely that it will happen again on RWC opening night. at least in AKL. in 2011. in fact, it really is so unlikely to happen again that it probably did not happen at all.

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report

  • Stephen Judd, in reply to BenWilson,

    Depends what you think the incident was. The Aussie reports, read closely, don’t go further than quoting an un-named person as saying that another person was a cabinet minister. I imagine if I were a harried hospo worker, telling an Aussie reporter that some random drunk in a suit was a cabinet minister and couldn’t be controlled would be both a great way of getting them off your back and playing a hilarious jape. It wouldn't surprise me at all if the incident of the staff member tweaking the journo really happened.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Paul Williams, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    Great story, thanks Sofie. Great to hear kiwis are still so hospitable, to South Africans even.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes,

    So, who's to blame.
    First the problem.
    200,000 ish people were at the waterfront. Why?
    When the powers that be i.e. the NZRFU, decided that Eden Park would be the Venue for most of the Auckland games the Waterfront proposal should have been dropped.
    But...

    "Party central - it'll be a place to congregate. There'll be large TV screens and bars and places for people to come along and celebrate and you can imagine it won't just be the six weeks of the campaign," says Prime Minister John Key.

    Fact is it was the decision to keep Eden Park as the Main venue that was the fumble. With the Rugby season stretching out into the Spring and starting sometime shortly after after it finishes, it needs a stadium of its own, not Eden Park "The Home of Auckland Cricket"

    The Park became the home of Auckland Cricket in 1910. The Auckland Rugby Union leased the Park in 1914, officially making Eden Park its home in 1925.

    Note, leased not owned.
    Trevor Mallards idea for the Waterfront Stadium should have gained more traction but

    Sports Minister Trevor Mallard refused to comment today on the Auckland Regional Council's decision to support a revamped Eden Park rather than a planned new stadium on the city's waterfront.

    So, we could have blamed the ARC and they do these things so well but they are no longer, and who's decision was that, eh?. Needless to say

    Mr Key has not given any hint as to whether he endorses the report.

    Relaxed I suspect.
    I have to admit I didn't like the idea of the Waterfront Stadium but in retrospect, it would have been great. We could of had total chaos.
    ;-)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Rich Lock,

    Those were state of the art in 2003. You should have upgraded long ago.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    When the powers that be i.e. the NZRFU

    Hilarious

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Sacha,

    Hilarious

    Why?

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    that anyone reckons the RFU had much of a say

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Sacha,

    that anyone reckons the RFU had much of a say

    I guess that as the NZRU is no longer called the NZRFU I stand corrected.

    the national union was known as the New Zealand Rugby Football Union or NZRFU. The name was officially shortened in 2006 with the removal of the world “Football”.

    But who is this RFU of whom you speak? An easy mistake I accept as

    The decisions announced today were unchanged from those recommended by the Board of RNZ 2011 Ltd and ratified by the Board of Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) which met in Dublin, Ireland, on Wednesday.

    Or did you mean the IRB?

    ETA. IMHO, AFAIK, IANAL, WTF YMMV, Annat, innit?
    ETAA. Acronyminity not intended to offend. ;-)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • 3410,

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report

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