Hard News: The Minister's Brain Has Exploded
260 Responses
First ←Older Page 1 … 6 7 8 9 10 11 Newer→ Last
-
Surely the huge crowds on Friday were more to do with the biggest fireworks display ever seen in the country rather than people desperate to see a rugby match on a big screen?
My pick is that the fanzone will be only lightly attended from now on and McCully will blame the council. -
BenWilson, in reply to
...and during game night!
-
3410,
Surely the huge crowds on Friday were more to do with the biggest fireworks display ever seen in the country rather than people desperate to see a rugby match on a big screen?
I'm going to suggest it has something to do with One News' six-month-long daily countdown, making the first day of the competition seem like the Most. Important. Day. Evah.
-
BenWilson, in reply to
When I took this shot, the tune "da de dah dum dah" came to mind unwilling. The solitary cup on the ground blew across like a tumbleweed. The mysterious warm and open door in the corner, flanked by two police had all the trappings of Solla Sollew. On the banks of the beautiful Waitamata. Waahoo! Where they never have troubles...at least very few. I wonder how many people felt this way on Friday, having tussled through the tunnel of birds, to arrive and find the key slapping Slippard is the only trouble they have? But go down the street to Boola Boo Ball, where they never have troubles...no troubles at all.
-
Russell Brown, in reply to
I checked out Queen’s Wharf last night. Nothing about it inspired me to go back. The place was cold and soul-less, serving all drinks in plastic cups from an extremely limited selection (no spirits!) in a big barn with rugby playing at rock concert volumes on large screens.
Ugh. You'd think at least someone would have the wit to adjust the volume when there wasn't a big crowd in.
To be fair, you were there during a ghastly game of rugby in a tournament where the rugby has generally been good-to-excellent.
-
Law lecturer Dean Knight clarifies what the RWC legislation actually entails.
Much has been made of Murray McCully’s so-called “nationalisation” of the waterfront for RWC party central, through the exercise of reserve powers under the special legislation for the Rugby World Cup.
The legal position is, however, very different. While some regulatory approvals for standard event-based activities may be fast-tracked through a special process under the RWC 2011 (Empowering) Act, the RWC Act does not give the Minister the ability to “take control” of the waterfront. The Minister’s statutory role is reactive only, namely, considering applications made to and assessed by the independent RWC Authority. Any ability for the government to “take the lead” on the party central activities must have been garnered collaboratively, and does not come from the exercise of power under the RWC Act.
In any event, the applications presently being made urgently are conjoint applications from the Ministry of Economic Development and the Auckland Council’s events team. These applications were, I understand, in the process of being prepared collaboratively before the Minister’s announcement. And the fast-tracked approvals currently being sought are largely mundane.
However Knight notes one interesting wrinkle..
Finally, I think McCully may well be forced to relinquish that power to sign-off the applications to some other minister, because his actions may have predetermined the outcome and created a disqualifying conflict of interest.
-
Paul Campbell, in reply to
This must be the massive trickle down of money to the local economy that was heavily touted from the outset...
Today's ODT reports a massive $300k trickle down to the local economy from last week's RWC game in Dunedin - given that the city council had to put up $250k (the NZRFU takes the gate and requires the city to provide all the services without getting a cent in return) - that's a profit to our local economy of $50k - about $2 a head for everyone who attended.
We're obviously not fleecing the punters hard enough
-
Ian Dalziel, in reply to
Fringe elements...
…and during game night!
The Tsar gate is open...
-
BenWilson, in reply to
Yes, it was an intentional dry run, to explore before I commit any effort to assembling people to meet there. Much fairer would be to go there during any game involving England or Australia. I'm not prepared to risk it for an All Blacks game, simply because that is something there will most certainly be a private party for, that I would much rather attend.
-
The weather has been pretty nasty more or less continuously since Sunday night/morning, which is not conducive to partying on an exposed wharf, and might have something to do with the glaring lack of visitors.
Still, it's not as if that's entirely unexpected for September in Auckland. Remind me whose decision was it to put 'party central' there in the first place...?
-
recordari, in reply to
To be fair, you were there during a ghastly game of rugby in a tournament where the rugby has generally been good-to-excellent.
I would love to have been in Whangerei yesterday. What a cracker game!
-
Russell Brown, in reply to
I would love to have been in Whangerei yesterday. What a cracker game!
Watched it last night after doing Media7. It was one of the best games of rugby I have seen in a long time.
-
izogi, in reply to
When someone pays you to provide a service, they tend to have the upper hand in the relationship
I wish somebody would tell this to my landlord.
-
Sacha, in reply to
yes, funny the difference between 'funder' and 'customer'
-
merc, in reply to
Rates.
-
Urgent debate granted by Lockwood now in The House! :)
-
Sacha, in reply to
Ta. Streaming
-
McCully's not in the House, and not a single National speaker has even acknowledged his existence, let alone sought to defend him.
It's pretty clear now that his stunt on Tuesday is regarded as a brain explosion by even his colleagues.
Each, however, has attacked Labour's "negativity" for raising the issue. That's obviously the line.
Best speech so far: a rather legalistic one by Heather Roy.
-
Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to
Best speech so far: a rather legalistic one by Heather Roy.
Yes and worst, Steven Joyce
-
McCully’s not in the House, and not a single National speaker has even acknowledged his existence, let alone sought to defend him.
I spotted him down at party central about 2pm surveying his domain and fending off tourists who wanted Ronnie Corbett’s autograph.
-
How many people were Veolia contracted to ensure got to the game? 15000 I think
How many got there via Veolia? Gotta reckon twice as many as they were contracted to do.
Think if they got there contract fulfilled, it isn't really their fault. Despite all the problems they and the patrons endured. There's one for Craigs team :) -
Sacha, in reply to
fending off tourists who wanted Ronnie Corbett’s autograph
gold
-
Ronnie Corbett.. Cracker. So,,,we all stroll the streets with autograph books - or even better, Tom Scott's cartoon of McCully's head on the gate spikes and ask "Ronnie" for his signature when we see him.
-
Russell Brown, in reply to
Yes and worst, Steven Joyce
I felt dirty after listening to it.
-
Russell Brown, in reply to
How many got there via Veolia? Gotta reckon twice as many as they were contracted to do.
Think if they got there contract fulfilled, it isn't really their fault. Despite all the problems they and the patrons endured. There's one for Craigs team :)It is starting to look that way -- although their promise of better communication and less stifling trains is welcome.
The poor communication between ATEED and Auckland Transport, the inappropriate choice of the key venue, the promotion of that venue to the exclusion of others, and the general confusion of roles in the run-up to the event look the likely contenders.
Post your response…
This topic is closed.