Discrimination damages our image

Posted Fri, 18/06/2010 - 11:46am by John Bishop

There's a club in Auckland whose rules ban turban wearing Sikhs from the club. The reasoning is that it's part of setting standards for club members. Allow turbans and you'll have people wearing hoddies and balaclavas next. Perish the thought.

There's quite a bit of fuss about this and the overseas media are making quite a play of it. The effect of banning the wearing of turbans is that Sikhs can't become members or enter the club. Adult Sikhs wear turbans as part of their religion. Covering their heads is a fundamental part of their religious beliefs.

So the Manurewa Cosmopolitan Club is telling Sikhs that they are barred. That's discrimination, and that's against the law (See http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10652054

Closing New Zealand: an economy measure

Posted Mon, 14/06/2010 - 3:23pm by John Bishop

New Zealand is to close two days a week as an economy measure, the Prime Minister has announced.

"Most people don't do anything useful at work on at least two days a week now so the government has decided that we might as well make it official. Cabinet this morning has agreed that shutting down altogether for two days out of seven just makes a lot of sense."

The Prime Minister admitted that he had got the idea from former Prime Minister Jim Bolger's bold plan to reduce household postal deliveries to every second day and also to cut out Saturday deliveries.

This was in response to falling letter volumes. Many houses don't get more than one letter a week, some none at all for weeks at a time, Mr Bolger has said.

Andy Haden opens a sewer

Posted Sun, 06/06/2010 - 4:05pm by John Bishop

Andy Haden's comments about 'darkies' and racial quotas in the Canterbury rugby team brought out the predictable storm of denials, calls for his dumping at a sporting ambassador, and demands for evidence.

Bernie Fraser, the well known Wellington winger and former All Black, claimed that he also had been told that Canterbury operated a policy of no more than three Polynesians in the team, although like Haden, he didn't offer any sources or evidence for this.

Debates about quotas and "darkies' aside, the issue has quickly morphed into an examination of the state of rugby, and why the All Blacks haven't done that well lately.

A carless Golden Mile?

Posted Wed, 02/06/2010 - 12:36pm by John Bishop

Getting all the cars out of the Golden Mile within twenty years is a great election ploy. It sounds like a worthy aim. It sound green. It's lofty in its aspiration, and it's far enough out that no politician backing it now will be around when and if it becomes a reality. The practicalities of it don't matter that much, because the advocates of far out goals time wise can always acknowledge that there will be issues to be resolved along the way.

Drinking: what's age got to do with it?

Posted Sun, 23/05/2010 - 11:35am by John Bishop

There are strong elements of class and age rage entering the debate over our liquor laws, with the comments of that exemplar of fine taste and manners Sir Geoffrey Palmer leading the way.

He wandered through Courtney Place one night and witnessed scenes that "no civilized society can relish."

All that proves is that he has led a very sheltered life. Did he never go to a Labour Party booze up when he was an MP back in the 1980s? Those were scenes that no person could relish. (Not that the Nats were much better in those days).

What makes Courtney Place objectionable in the eyes of patricians like Palmer is that people are doing their boozing in public, enjoying themselves, and part of that enjoyment is behaving in an unrestrained and even outrageous manner.

It's different in the provinces

Posted Fri, 09/04/2010 - 1:13pm by John Bishop

There is something about going out of town that makes one appreciate the quality of service and food in our city.

I spent part of Easter in Blenheim, home of many vineyards, and far too many to visit in one holiday period. However I was impressed by lunch at Wairau River, by the pate and "Wallop" chardonnay at Alan Scott's and by the quality of the wine and service at Nautilus. No doubt others are good too, but I didn't get to everyone.

Hoverer that is more than can be said for the town itself. Two stories to illustrate my point. Dinner in the hotel looked like a good option on Good Friday night. The menu had bouillabaisse as a starter. This wonderful French seafood soup calls for about eight times as much seafood as tomatoes, plus onion, celery, saffron and wine.

Hurricanes blow off fans

Posted Sun, 28/03/2010 - 2:48pm by John Bishop

It's easy to bag the Hurricanes. But it gives no satisfaction to vent about their continued inadequacies, about how they can't win games, about how they haven't got enough application, grit, determination or team work. And their supporters have regularly despaired over their making silly mistakes, taking the wrong options, playing as individuals, lack of ability to recover the ball from kickoffs, weakness under the high ball, and generally being outsmarted by teams that they ought to be able to put away. None of it is new.

Watching the dream back line of Cullen, Loma and Umaga regularly fluff their lines was a form, of vicious therapy for fans back in the day. It's not any better now, seven years on. So bagging the Hurricanes is not new and it doesn't do any good to anyone.

Phoenxi outdo Hurricanes and Black Caps

Posted Sun, 21/03/2010 - 2:23pm by John Bishop

Want excitement?  The Stadium is the home of excitement in Wellington, but you wouldn't know that when the Hurricanes play there. Why? Not enough people is one reason. Poor play and a very predictable season outcome are others.

Cricket can be different. The first 20/20 against Australai went down to the last over and so did a couple of the one dayers. Tension, excitement and an uncertain outcome. That's what the fans want.

Michael Clarke and the blonde

Posted Thu, 11/03/2010 - 4:27pm by John Bishop

It's fascinating how the media and public opinion can work to create a mess of people's reputations. Mind you the celebs contribute a fair bit to their own difficulties.

Take the Michael Clarke business. He's a professional sportsperson on tour with his national side and he flies home to be with his distraught girlfriend.

Is this appropriate behaviour given his position as vice captain? Ricky Pointing has apparently sanctioned it saying he can take the time he needs to sort matters out.

If he were going home to comfort his fiancée of two years, the underwear and fashion model, Lara Bingle, that would be one thing. But now reports are emerging that he is about to dump her. Why can't he just text her like a normal bloke would, asks one on line comment.

It's Kerry again, but be warned

Posted Wed, 03/03/2010 - 11:17am by John Bishop

Kerry Prendergast has now confirmed the city's worst kept secret; she is going to run for a fourth term as mayor, and no doubt she will win. There is no one among the list of candidates announced so far who can see her off.

I confidently expect that based on what we know so far she will sweep in for a fourth term, and no doubt a damehood towards the end of that term - if not sooner. However her expected victory should not blind us to three other important factors about the council she has led for the last nine years.