Mate ... because the regatta ended up longer than expected they have repaid the govt. many times over.
The accountants at treasury tend to count things like Internet hits, news items published, etc etc.
The govt. has received hundreds of millions on their investment of only $36 mill.
There are already clusters doing this. I like it because these are well-paid "high skills" jobs. And, as demonstrated by Tim Smyth and others, work at a place like Alloy Yachts or Cooksons and you acquire very portable and marketable skills.
Does not have anything to do with team culture.
The...
Turns out the NZ taxpayer has contributed $98 million to The Hobbit (so far).
So, at one-third of this, the TNZ investment was a very good deal.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11135094
Joyce, the cabinet Minister in charge of the tourism, had an interesting perspective on this.
Like the rest of us, he wanted NZ to win.
But he feels the manner of TNZ losing (and their fortitude and demeanour in the face of loss) was presented to the rest of the world in a positive manner...
Look and listen carefully to this.
Such as: 1. Grant is so overwhelmed by citizen support and the govt. offer of money he feels he is seeing his home "in a new light" 2. they will need (and presumably have planned) "a massive debrief" 3. right now Grant needs to get on his motor bike, kick up...
Kim Dotcom says he will give TNZ time to settle down then go in for a chat.
That chat would be worth the price of admission.
Grant and KDC in the same room. Both nursing a flat white.
Mate .... I was just raising a question.
I am not in the camp of those who consider there was somethig fishy or illegal about the OR victory.
After Grant accepted no rules were broken that was good enough for me.
This post is mostly directed to pjh (Paul) who sent me to that marvellous 2nd hand bookstore up beyond the Presidio (was it Green Apple?).
Yu Hua is one of my favourite Chinese fiction writers and this shop had his lastest - "China in Ten Words" (which I did not know about)
He has taken one...
Do not know where to post this.
Oracle victory is because of superior computing power from N.Z.
Read on .....
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11134945
Of course. So, if you did not want to pay, you didn't have too!
Agreed!
Even so, why did they offer free bleacher seats in the last bit of the regatta.
Because charging for them looked (and was) mean-spirited.
Also, the empty seats looked bad on T.V. Particularly in the helicopter shots.
Today's editorial in the NZH urges to govt. to take its time over TNZ funding.
Idiots!
Take your time and Ashby et al will be gone.
A bird in the hand ....... etc.
Larry ... one other thing.
U.S. citizens might be used to paying money to go to the beach.
But most other cultures are not into it.
So put up seats for the elderly, the infirm and those exhausted by jet lag.
But do not charge for them.
Why piss off international visitors for a few measly...
I do not want to ignite another conflagration.
But, if the AC goes back to SF (which might be likely) Larry et al have to do a MUCH BETTER JOB on public facilities.
The Pier 27 set-up looked like an el cheapo county fair and costs there (for beer etc) were an outrage.
As for the Moa bar, it...
Good idea!
But, with all that wealth, I have a feeling RC's current priority is the mansion at Manly.
However, Coutts waltzing with Kim Dotcom would be a spectacle.
The 1976 UN Habitat Forum was held on the site you describe and was truly an exciting event.
Held as a "counter conference" to the official UN meeting downtown. Utilising wood off the beach and other "found" materials.
Involved Ivan Illich, Barbara Ward, (the then young and lucious) Margaret...