Posts by Gareth Ward

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  • Hard News: No Surprises,

    I'm not surprised, but more because this Govt never actually does anything to move the status quo. What major "ambitious" changes have they made since they've been in power with the landslide political capital to burn?
    I can think of... none?

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report

  • Field Theory: The Real Deal,

    Even Chris Rattue was happy with Graham Henry, mostly

    But isn't it absurd that if Carter had (quite understandably) missed that final kick, the calls for Henry's passport to be revoked so he couldn't return from Sydney would have been deafening and letting Deane go would be held up as the greatest loss to NZ statehood since Savage's funeral?

    Winning may be all that's necessary, but a coach needs to be judged on relative performance.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report

  • Hard News: Beautiful Images,

    I particularly loved that the D9 lead actor (Wikus van der Mere) was the producer on Blokamp's short film that was the beginning of it (Alive in Joburg).

    Apparently when Halo fell over and Jackson decided that Alive would be a perfect vehicle for this director he rated, he had them expand the short with a rough pilot shoot. Thinking he might get a bit-role in the production team, the former-producer helped him out and fronted the Wikus character's in-the-office scenes. Jackson then refused to have anyone else play the character.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report

  • Southerly: I Was Dissed By Three Old Ladies,

    Never hesitate to publicly comment on people parking in disability or kiddie parks, especially at supermarkets

    In the same vein of "can I help carry your shopping", I long to grow the balls to yell "OH MY GOD, YOU'VE LEFT YOUR BABY IN THE SUPERMARKET! I'll help you find them" at people who stroll up very alone to their cars in the With-babies spots while I'm hauling the 1y/o out.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report

  • Legal Beagle: Universal?,

    Roger Douglas' bill on Voluntary Student Membership of Student Associations

    Ahhhh. In that case, solid argument...

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report

  • Hard News: Beautiful Images,

    philip - yeah I have seen it (and loved it), hence my suspicion about Avatar. Your film mixup analogy is very true!
    My cousin works for Weta and says they left quite a lot of very cool effect-driven stuff he did on the cutting room floor - surprising for the low budget they did with it.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report

  • Hard News: Beautiful Images,

    Re Avatar - it certainly looks beautiful and technologically amazing, but I have a suspicion that I will prefer what Weta did with District 9 than this.
    I'm certainly glad it's folks like Cameron and Jackson leading this change though - as opposed to Bay or McG.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report

  • Hard News: Smack to the Future,

    Simply add a clause to S59 that states "Nothing is this section shall make a smack as part of good parental correction a criminal offence."

    Or put the "good parenting" bit in the pointless direction to police to not prosecute trivial matters (or whatever the exact term is). You may have legal semantics as to whether or not the criminal offence exists if the legislation tells you not to prosecute in certain circumstances, but it seems to give direct effect to the referendum wording - and surprise, surprise would see zero change in actual prosecutions.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report

  • Hard News: Home, straight,

    If you follow through to the original blog post off that Ratatat Hype Machine track, there's another remix they've done too - Beanie Siegel and Jay-Z. Great instrumental on that one too (if the rapping is a bit average)

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report

  • Hard News: Where your money goes,

    Perhaps the Govt's best play would be providing a centralised, free source to market charities. www.charities.nz or similar with a big billboard, TV etc campaign behind it.
    Then let people come to a central source and choose which charity they want to give to - solves the mass duplication of competitive media spend.

    Combine that with the ratio info from the Charities Commission and you have an incentive for charities to minimise their ad spend and use the central resource to still get the message out.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report

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