Do not read this without Auckland Council’s permission.

Officials are funny. They’ve officially made an official website for the Auckland Council and have said that, officially, you are not allowed to link to it.

Cheeky Aussies Steal All White’s Glory

Australia is well known for announcing what should be New Zealand’s claims to fame as their own. Russell Crowe, that racing horse, some other stuff. The list is memorable and endless. But last weekend’s World Cup football match for New Zealand just takes the piss! New Zealand is rightfully basking in the glory of what, [...]

How our car was stolen and then recovered

(UPDATE TO THIS POST: I FOUND THE CAR! SEE THE END OF THIS POST FOR DETAILS) This morning, my wife called me to ask me if I’ve moved her car. Questions like this spark immediate concern! Yes, my wife’s car was stolen last night from right outside our house. Ok it was only a 1992 [...]

NZ at War: Killing in the Name of Religion

Think of the New Zealand armed forces and hopefully you think “peace-keeping”. In the absence of no one hating New Zealand enough to attack us, our forces have been involved with various humanitarian and peace support operations from Tonga to Afghanistan. To do this on an international stage, I believe it is imperative that our [...]

10 Reasons to Invade New Zealand

Following on from our last post, here’s a fantastic video made for the Greun Transfer TV show in Australia.

On this show, ad agencies are tasked with creating an advert for something you couldn’t advertise. In this case, it was invading New Zealand.

Irish Dancers off to Scotland

Christchurch is rocking to the sound of an Irish jig right now. These four Irish dancers are raising funds to travel to the 2010 World Irish Dancing championships in Glasgow. Check out the video below.

Christchurch Mayor’s 3HP Ride

Christchurch Mayor, Bob Parker, is right now cruising around the streets of Christchurch on the top of a horse-drawn tram. Beats the Pope-mobile any day.

Boy Racer Terrorises Christmas Shoppers

Hotel So have a new company car for their bar staff.

Ok not really but while I was taking photos of the Christchurch Sky Lens, my cousin, Doug, called me and said “Meet you outside your office. Grab a camera.” Then rocked up in this great motor!

Doug is currently tasked with driving this mean machine around Christchurch while passing out flyers for Hotel So saying “Why taxi when you can stay at Hotel SO”.

[Christchurch Hotel So Car Promo] The mini road trip seems to be working well so far. While I stood with him, at least 8 people approached and asked what the story was.

This is reflective of a lot of marketing today. Businesses need to stir up some interest and give people a reason to make contact. We can pick and choose what interests us and block out anything that doesn’t.

In this case, instead of walking up to someone and forcing a flyer into their hands, people are actively stopping Doug in the street and even taking flyers directly from his wee glove box.

Have fun, Doug. Don’t go using your cellphone while you’re driving that thing.

The Official World’s Largest Scrambled Egg

Sir Edmund Hillary
Lord of the Rings
Beautiful Mountains
Sheep
… and now eggs.
New Zealand is known for a few things and now it has an extra notch to its belt.

This morning, crowds gathered in the rain at Christchurch’s Cathedral Square in New Zealand to watch the official weigh-in of what is now the World’s Largest Scrambled Egg at 1.2 tonnes. That or they just came for the free breakfast. Article at www.redarmband.com

Protestors Could Learn from the French

These guys just walked past my office, heading along the freshly laid tram track of Christchurch’s Cashell mall.

The rally was organised by New Zealand’s Public Sector Union and supported by the Green Party. Sue Kedgley, Green Party MP, said in a speech to the rally:

The disability support workers, who are on strike today; the hospital orderlies, cleaners and kitchen staff, also on strike today, who earn as little as $14.62 cents an hour; Parliamentary services workers, clerical workers, school support staff, teacher aides and librarians, who are also taking protest action today and marching up Queen street tomorrow. Many support workers are working with the most vulnerable children in our schools, doing God’s work, yet they earn as little as $12.94 cents an hour -barely above the minimum wage. It is obscene.

Now I hate politics with a passion but thought that this particular subject was worth mentioning. Sue’s after raising the minimum wage from $12.50 an hour to $15 and that sounds fine to me. Good to luck to you all. Article, photos and video at www.redarmband.com