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2700 days ago

NZ's Cup Again

Michael from Pinehaven

Listen to the general public and you get to hear more nonsense than you get from most other sports.

Going Into the final at Bermuda and the amount of people who didn't know what the actual score was and what was the maximum number of races required. This included talk-back hosts.

Then we had the guy who said that the previously cheating American team would race with two boats on what turned out the last day of racing in Bermuda and thereby shut or shunt out the NZ entry.

There was another guy who said if we win the thing the defence of it would be held in Dubai because Emirates was the major sponsor.

NZ will host the next America's Cup here in three-four years time and presuming it will be staged in Auckland won't be because of infrastructure from previous Cup regattas is there as the base that was used is no longer available.

Australian Jimmy Spithill was party to cheating in San Francisco in 2013 but otherwise appears to be a dashing and poignant winner and magnanimous loser.

But if he wants to be part of the next America's Cup it may not be in representing the USA. I am sure that rule changes will mean that almost all the crews-etc must be nationals on the boats they sail on or are in the 'background" as team members. This will be to NZ's advantage and should have been put in place years ago by NZ when we had the chance to make the rules and we would not have lost so many topliners to other syndicates.

One of the more amusing comments I heard this morning was a guy who said NZ should host our defence of the Cup on Lake Taupo and insist that all competitors must first sail their boats from their respective countries to the Lake. Some trip that would be. However it is likely that most if not all the competing boats will be built in NZ.

More messages from your neighbours
5 days ago

What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.

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5 days ago

Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.

This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.

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Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
  • 85.2% Yes
    85.2% Complete
  • 13.8% No
    13.8% Complete
  • 1.1% Other - I'll share below
    1.1% Complete
2371 votes
2 days ago

BLACKHAWK CORGI RACES SUNDAY NOV 17

Michael from Trentham

Who is the fastest Corgi in NZ?

This will be decided on Sunday, November 17 at Belmont Domain, Lower Hutt with racing starting at 2pm.

Thirty Pembroke and Cardigan Corgis will take to the 60 metre track for racing like no other.

Competition comes from as far away as Auckland and Whanganui and if you want to stretch it a little - Scotland - with the very recent arrival of Skye and his owners from the other side of the world.

The youngest to compete is 7 month old, Atlas whilst Bonnie at 14 years is part of the seniors (nine and over) event.

Spectators very welcome to this sixth annual championship organised by the Wellington Welsh Corgi Club.