197 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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2 hours ago

Here's another riddle for you!

Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

What dies after drinking water?

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2 hours ago

Check the list!

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

We've pulled four names this week of members across the country. The winners of the $100 Mitre10 cards are:

Cynthia Chozas from Botany Downs

Mabel Dawson from Stratford

Michael Pascoe from Amberley

Sarah Gebhard from Nelson

Winners can get in touch here or by emailing helpdesk@neighbourly.co.nz before 25th June.

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1 day ago

Do you volunteer or know someone who does?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

It's NZ Volunteer Week (16-22 June) and we know there are real good sorts in your community.

Often these kind acts and regular volunteering efforts go unnoticed but let's put a stop to that.

Let us know below who is making a difference in your neighbourhood so we can all appreciate them for the great work that they do!

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