206 days ago

Dubious Dubai

Michael from Trentham

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.

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3 days ago

Poll: Is it still rude to wear a hat inside?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Times have changed and perhaps so has our societal rules around taking off hats when indoors. What are your thoughts?

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Is it still rude to wear a hat inside?
  • 73.9% Yes, take them off indoors
    73.9% Complete
  • 24.9% No, it's not anymore
    24.9% Complete
  • 1.2% Other - I'll share below
    1.2% Complete
2379 votes
G
21 hours ago

What's On: THE WAIKANAE BEACH INDOOR MARKET

Gary from Waikanae

Enjoy a Sunday Family day out in Kapiti and visit this great Community Market which has highly talented stallholders showcasing a huge variety of quality, reasonably priced items/ GIFTS .
THE WAIKANAE BEACH INDOOR MARKET
  • Waikanae Beach Community Hall