Ask Phoebe: Laos Rugby World Cup fans spot daylight saving slip

Rugby World Cup All Black Conrad Smith during a training session. Photo / Getty Images

Many people in Laos have been watching the RWC but are a bit confused regarding the kick-off times for games on Saturday, September 24 because the RWC "official" schedule indicates that they are on at NZ daylight saving time. As I understand it, daylight saving doesn't start in New Zealand until early morning on Sunday, September 25, meaning the kick-off times for Saturday's games (18:00 and 20:30) are at "normal" New Zealand time (GMT plus 12). Is that correct? The times for Sunday's games on the other hand (15:30, 18:00 and 20:30) would be New Zealand daylight saving time.

John Biddle, Vientiane, Laos.

Nice to hear people in Laos are watching the games. And you are correct with regard to the match times; daylight saving begins on Sunday, when 2am becomes 3am. Saturday's games are at the present time of GMT plus 12, and subsequent games are scheduled for New Zealand daylight saving time.

I may have misheard, but I thought I picked up on the radio the other day that some RWC team training sessions are open to the public and free. Can this really be so? Where are they and when?

John Sargeant, Sandringham.

It is indeed so. Australia, Fiji, France, Samoa and Tonga are holding open practice sessions at venues around Auckland, including Onewa Domain, Western Springs Stadium and Mt Smart Stadium. Practice sessions for other teams are not open to the public. For a list of where and when the open sessions are being held, including those at other venues around the country, visit www.auckland2011.com/The-Tournament-in-Auckland/Team-Bases.aspx

A week ago I visited the Viaduct area and there was no sign of the $1.2 million waka. Could you please advise what its present status is?

David Bentham, Torbay.

The waka, nicknamed the "Plastic waka", seems to be still under construction. It is being built at a cost of close to $2 million and is not actually a waka but a pavilion in the shape of a waka. It is made of material similar to that used in the Cloud, with laminated timber ribs, and is designed to be taken apart and shipped around the world for use in other events.

Waka Maori, as it is called, will be in place on Te Wero Island near the Viaduct from October 13-23.

With all the visitors coming to the Rugby World Cup games in Auckland, are there to be pedestrian crossings painted in Galway and Tyler Sts outside Britomart? Currently there are none and you need to be aware of buses backing down these streets when leaving their stops.

L. Mcguire, Auckland.

I do not know of any plans to introduce pedestrian crossings in this area. Having said that, I don't really see a need. I think one can reasonably assume that visitors from overseas, no matter their country of origin, will be familiar with buses. And buses, like most large vehicles, have reversing alarms, so one can hear them coming.