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6:00 am, July 13th, 2025 - 31 comments
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Today's Posts (updated through the day):
Jackal: Ray Chung – Arsehole of the week [posted late last night]
As a treat we went to the doubleheader rugby at the Caketin last night.
Wasn't the greatest experience so sent security, NZR and Sky Stadium an email this morning.
Kia Ora katou, I wanted to offer feedback and ask a couple of questions following the double header tests at the Caketin.
Not all the issues relate to each party but they are related.
Firstly, a couple of bouquets, we traveled from the Manawatu to Waikanae and took advantage of the complimentary train to Wellington. A great idea as it saves a lot of hassle with parking and traffic. Well done. Also the half time entertainment of both matches was great, celebrating the youth, talent and culture of our region was excellent.
The issues I refer to are excessive alcohol consumption and supply, crowd behaviour and security and the 'entertainment experience'.
We were had tickets for 31 EE 111-114. Two of our party didn't arrive. We were seated in front of a group (approx 8-10) of young (early 20s) French supporters. They were rowdy and boisterous which is all good even though it was 10 minutes into the Black Ferns match.
During this game there was wine spilt on us and a constant background of loud excited conversation. We asked a couple of times to tone down the shrieking but to no avail. One chap, with the viking horned hat and French flag on his shoulders, lost his headdress a few times onto us which got returned.
In the half time break of ABs, I stood up, to get the blood moving and warm up my feet. This aggravated some behind me leading to abuse and being man-handled repeatedly.
When The 2nd half kicked off Flag man hopped into one of our seats. My wife told him they were ours but we diddn't engage much further due to his intoxication. He was vaping a fair bit, much to the annoyance of the folk down wind of him. He was asked a few times to stop, told twice to stop then when a wee fracas occurred, I took the opportunity to take the vape off him. I told him he would get it back at the end of the game.
It was around this time my wife contacted Security via text. He removed his flag and horn hat around this time. After he had stern exchanges with his colleagues he settled down a bit.
We aren't prudes. I've been a publican so have a had a bit to do with handling drunk people and Sale of Liquor. I get this is a busy environment but it was clear there was too much alcohol being purchased and consumed. The women folk were getting very vulgar near the end of the game and had to be reminded there were kids nearby and to tone it down.
I want to know who has the contract for the supply of liquor at the stadium and what measures security have in managing these sorts of situations.
The other part of the experience was the music played at every break in play. I go to rock concerts and am a music fan. I do not mind loud music. This got to the point of an annoying distraction. As we know, one of the criticisms of rugby union is the time the ball is in play or more pertinently not in play. For us in the crowd, this is an opportunity to talk about the game, the decisions, defence etc. It is also part of the ebb and flow of a game, to seemingly keep everyone in the crowd 'up' or 'excited' is a mis-step in my opinion. If the music aspect is used less frequently it's impact would be greater- less is more. Also to the DJ, I don't recall hearing much (any) waiata from wahine. Ladi 6, Sharon O'Neil, Bic Runga, Goldenhorse, Stella, Holly Smith, Lorde, Gin Wigmore…
I understand the non rugby product is less aimed at my demographic, more a younger group, but the risk is being run of losing that very engaged sector from the live experience.
Regards,
…
I can relate to your comment about the apparent obsession with filling in pauses by playing loud "music". Some years ago I was at a pub quiz where there was no chance for a quiet chat with team-mates between rounds, because the management immediately had thrash metal or some such going through the speakers, amped to the max. Completely different sort of occasion of course, but still bloody annoying.
Social darwinism can be edgy. Sounds like you handled it okay. One must flow with yokels at times to avoid becoming a target. I haven't done live rugby since I was a child in the '50s, but both our teams played well from my seat on the sofa.
The guys did best – in their first half, which came across as more convincing a performance than any other I've seen in recent years. Sky commentators were bemused by their second half lapse, but they did get it together and close down the froggies.
Yep, cheers, Dennis. Social Darwinism is right. Six years as a publican in a small town pub stands you in good stead.
Plus, I've been young and still can be 'excitable'.
Game of two halves, too many kicks that weren't contestable, just giving possession away. Fabian Holland looks the real deal, Tupou Vai keeps improving and the lineout is working well. The Springboks will be a big step up.
With their World Cup imminent the Black Ferns have more than a couple of work-ons. Taking in the restarts, passing and goal kicking. Despite the score, it was an average performance against a lesser opponent.
I am grateful I have absolutely no interest in watching groups of people chasing round and oval balls around a paddock…and crashing into each other…
Among many reasons ..that it seems so life/time-consuming ..
Bread and circuses some would say.
Sport's exploded with the extra cash private equity, the betting industry and other nefarious actors are providing. Saudi money effectively bankrolling the club world cup Auckland FC are now injecting here, job done FIFA.
Perhaps someone could clarify just what the appeal is..?
It's always been a bloody mystery to me ..
I did the soccer dad thing for about seven years…(Shudder..!)
Always been a mystery to me too. I used to think it had something to do with that broken chromosome, or the need to have something to talk about to the bearers of such chromosomes, but then I got to know some women friends who had never been anywhere near a Y chromosome who were mad sports fans, so it is still a mystery.
We did watch the Women's Rugby Sevens on the TV when it was on, and the Women's Soccer – I mean what is wrong with watching a bunch of fit young ladies running around a field – but don't ask me what the rules are or who was supposed to be doing what.
I also wondered if it was pretty much the only socially acceptable way men could hug/have physical contact with each other ..
Just out of historical interest, here is some fellas indulging in physical contact and giving each other a hug. Although it is the 'other code' it shows how far we have come in 50 years.
4 1/2 minutes of the lowlights of Wales vs NZ league test.
Especially 3.15 mins
Lols
You remind me of a trip to Eden Park as an 18 year old with my brother-in-law. I wanted to understand why people liked the game. I asked all manner of dumb questions which embarrassed him because the people around us could hear them. He declared he would never take me to another rugby match and he never did.
I am now in my senior years and still baffled by the obsession with a strange shaped ball being kicked around with wild abandon and more often than with nothing to show for it.
Jeez, I've got no interest in watching " groups of people chasing round and oval balls around a paddock…and crashing into each other…" either.
I do enjoy a game that is a constant contest for possession of the ball, played by folk of many different physiques (stong 'low centre of gravity' props, rangy, athletic loose forwards, thinking tacticians in the halfback/first fives through to the speedsters on the wings), with a mixture of well practiced team set pieces in the scrum and lineout.
All of this is done at high speed, requiring agility, hand eye coordination and strength with a ball that doesn't bounce predictably while another group are trying to deny this happening.
Societally, this pass time has been one of the fabrics of our communities bringing people of different backgrounds, classes and ethnicities together 2 or 3 times a week. Freezing workers with cops with teachers. While coaching juniors it taught them discipline, resilience and what can be achieved with practice for both an individual and a team. It reinforces sportsmanship, going from being adversaries to mates once the full time whistle is blown.
Speaking of whistle, the culture surrounding refs is second to none, a far cry from some of the petulant displays directed at officials by players in the round ball codes.
It has been a big part of our national identity for over 100 years and our men's national team is amongst the 'winningest' of any team in any sport globally. That's who I was watching last night. Elite atheletes by any definition.
Thank you G, you expressed my sentiments entirely.
Most of what you are saying is to do with the players in the game..and yes.. undoubted skills…and the social aspects..for the players..is all good…and good on them..
I am more interested in the voyeuristic aspects of the game…what those who spend their lives consumed by/talking about it all ..what they get out of it..
I can see the social aspects…peer group pressures at play…but I can't see anything else…
And it seems like a full-time job…with a very low pay-off..
And yes…when it all clicks..it can be exciting to watch…
But you have to wade thru so much crap..to get that odd moment…
(Meh..!..)
What you describe as voyeuristic I assume you mean watch.
Like anything with a high degree of skill and competence or mastery, it is attractive to some. I'm not gonna try to convince you to like it. You couldn't pay me to stay engaged in a soccer match.
As to the korero around it, it's akin to a soap opera. Villans, heroes, form, rising stars etc underpinned by performances.
The NZ women's game has been a revelation over the last decade.
A more lithe and liquid game than the male version.
Spent this morning at Scorpio Books in Christchurch. Very big, very solid left.
Great discovery, recommended.
I'll remember that if I ever go down to live on a cold windy winter plain.
There are some interesting software engineering jobs down there. But I remember a number of extremely chilly winter experiences in ChCh. Some of them in summer as well during the night or early morning.
Brrr…
Has a long history, too. My first introduction to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers came via Scorpio Books, early 1980s (possibly under different owners). Was my favourite bookshop when I lived there.
Scorpio sells the Foreign Control Watchdog magazine.
Great bunch of hard-won older deep activists.
Scorpio for new books, Jay Books (?) and The Book Barn on Ferry Road (an offshoot of the fabulous Book Barn in Chertsey) and Dove Books in the Bishopdale Shopping Mall for second hand books.
Christchurch, as the intellectual capital of NZ, is well served with good bookshops.
You can be a judge of it as "intellectual capital" but they also had a pro-Israel march today at the memorial arch.
Clowning around has become endemic in US governance. Latest evidence here: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/12/politics/secret-service-trump-assassination-attempt
So no institutional improvement in performance has happened since govt officials warned of an Arab terrorist threat and higher ups ignored the warnings to cause the WTC Twin Tower collapse. Time to contract out the Secret Service to private industry, the lunatic right will no doubt point out. Fortunately the normal right remain in control, so failure to hold the officials accountable for incompetence will continue as usual. The Dems will be tempted to declare the situation deplorable, but a better option would be to point out that politicians must not interfere with operational matters. The Deep State guys will tell them "Way to go, dudes!" Left/right control freak solidarity will persist.
Really insightful look into how monetary policy is conducted, and how it becomes a wealth transfer mechanism.
RBA cash rate
Penkster does pragmatism in blue lilac and brown: https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/07/10/govt-set-to-quash-death-sentences-on-hundreds-of-quake-prone-buildings/
Such sensible push-back against public service zealotry is the kind of rw governance I can support. To keep pc-folk happy, the servants could post warning notices at the entrance: "This building is an earthquake risk, so you enter at your peril. Earthquakes are God's will, so if you ignore this warning and enter, God can get you anytime he likes." Fear of God has abated extensively since I was a kid, so he must be quite pissed off by now. It's a fun gambling opportunity for punters.
Noteworthy also is the Penkster's colour-scheme: designed to appeal to up-market liberals on top, with the trousers for the country folk underneath (as it should be). Captures the contemporary Nat mind-set perfectly, eh? Maybe he even did it without being told, in which case it's a show of leadership potential…
If god existed we wouldn't have this government.
Either that, or we have been dreadful sinners and need punishing…….. sort of plague of locusts, frogs, lice, boils, flies etc style of thing.
David Seymour must have committed more than one cardinal sin because his mind has been invaded by a plague of AI bots.
More like proof modern evil exists
Earthquakes are generally caused by movement of plates but volcanoes are also known to cause earthquakes. I think the active area is moving off-shore in Auckland so an off-shore wind with an active off-shore volcano could cause shaking damage without destroying the city with too many flying rocks and ash.
And Chch was supposed to be low risk.