Dubious Dubai
In watching the men's and women's rugby sevens in Dubai, and living in Wellington makes one very frustrated.
Ok, a little history. Wellington Regional Stadium staged a leg of the international sevens tournament for years and though it dwindled in spectator numbers due to a number of fixable factors, upwards of 38,000 people had turned up each day of the two day event.
Then it went to Hamilton and good year-on-year numbers went through their stadium gates.
But now - from the 2023-24 internationals series on into the near future at least, neither Hamilton nor any other part of NZ gets to host the sevens. And yet Dubai hosts the event in conditions that can reach an unhealthy, sticky 40c and with several hundred spectators watching main;y from the back of sub-standard stands in largely less than enthusiastic conditions that are dispossessed of such things as ridiculously dressed-up and/or gentle beer swilling people.
And just now like in many other years, NZ is the world number one in both women's and men's rugby sevens.
I enjoyed the international rugby sevens at our stadium both as a spectator and in the capacity as a volunteer. One year my wife and I dressed up in Fijian garb and sat among the Fijian supporters and thoroughly loved it. Another time we dressed as dignified Indians and that was fun too.
But I wouldn't be travelling to Dubai to watch rugby sevens anytime soon. The international rugby sevens in Dubai is not a joke and of course money is finding its way into the coffers of world rugby though not via the turnstiles of the park used for rugby in that city.
Moe mai rā, Nicholas.
We're sad to announce the passing of Nicholas Boyack, our Hutt Valley reporter who has long written for The Dominion Post, The Hutt News and Upper Hutt Leader.
What's your favourite tomato recipe?
Kia ora neighbours. We know your tomato plants are still growing, but we're looking ahead to the harvest already! If you've got a family recipe for tomatoes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine to share with our readers. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our February 2025 issue.
Poll: Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?
An Auckland court has ruled a woman doesn’t have to contribute towards the cost of fixing a driveway she shares with 10 neighbours.
When thinking about fences, driveways or tree felling, for example, do you think all neighbours should have to pay if the improvements directly benefit them?
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83.2% Yes
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14.5% No
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2.3% Other - I'll share below
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