Te Radar: The art of war in rugby (and politics) is nailed by et al

It is my belief that it was a moment of supreme national pride when Tana and the other chap, whose name, (thanks to the Lions media spin) I cannot now recall, broke the captain of the visiting Lions.

This event precipitated the spillage of a rather nice Central Otago pinot noir I had been savouring as I threw my hands in the air in joyous celebration.

Of course, suggesting to Lions supporters that the incident was a declaration of our rugby supremacy is a delicious conversational gambit.

It is eclipsed only by mentioning to Act MPs that et al's Braying Toilet was a worthy recipient of taxpayer largesse as it is one of the pre-eminent pieces of art fashioned in this nation in the last thousand years.

Which, of course, it is.

I can say this with absolute confidence despite the fact that I have never actually seen the work.

Without doubt it deserves a respected place in the Auckland Art Gallery, a building I was aghast to discover is predicted to cost a trifling $90 million to restore and renovate.

Regrettably the installation isn't there now for disconsolate Lions fans to gaze at, as it seems an apt metaphor of their tour.

The police were also considering the nature of aesthetics this week.

Unfortunately they seem to have been unable to locate the person or persons who dropped Police Association president Greg O'Connor on to his head.

This could be the only explanation for his suggesting that old style helmets should be reintroduced, as they would "help to rebuild trust in the police force".

Even TVNZ seemed to think it a peculiar idea, as the link on its website to video of the report about it was captioned "Police Ass calls for helmets to return".

Personally I have always found policemen with large feet to be inherently trustworthy.

Maybe we should equip police with oversize shoes, giving them the advantage of being able to fight crime with the long arm and the big foot of the law.

Perhaps the greatest artist currently working in the country is New Zealand First leader Winston Peters, who has once again produced a well-timed masterpiece piece of political artistry.

His statement that it will take him only three weeks, or until the wonderfully named Writ Day, to choose a coalition partner, shows he is clearly revelling in his traditional role as our political Lazarus, (much to the annoyance of Jim Anderton and Peter Dunne).

But, like many of the statements that will emanate from our politicians in the following months his pronouncements reminded me of et al's work.

Perhaps if she had entitled the braying toilet "Campaign Trail" it would have reminded us that it isn't only cream that rises to the top.