Jimmy Spithill and Wing sail Trimmer Kyle Langford in a reflective mood. Photo / Richard Gladwell
Watching the cup interviews with Oracle skipper Jimmy Spithill, I have noticed something that so far he has been very good at covering. The mouth is smiling but the eyes show fear.
During the last cup he remained confident because he knew Oracle's financial resources would pull through in the end and he managed to get under the skin of the serious Dean Barker at every press conference. But you feel this time things are different.
Spithill concentrates his sarcasm on New Zealand and Burling because he knows Burling is a much bigger threat than Barker. Burling has been learning this game from the ground up since he could walk. This big boat is new to him, and you can see him on a huge learning curve every time he goes out.
Every time he makes a mistake he just tucks the experience away and comes back stronger. His ability to learn quickly was demonstrated by his manoeuvre earlier this week which conned the course marshalls into giving a penalty against Artemis, something Andy Haden would have been proud of.
Spithill is talking up the other teams and will undoubtedly do all he can, maybe even throwing a race or two, to ensure New Zealand is not in the final. But my money is on Burling.
Geoff Minchin, Kawakawa.
Having just learned the US has signed a nearly US$110 billion ($155b) deal to supply arms to Saudi Arabia, I think it apt to quote Winston Churchill addressing the House of Commons in 1901. Opposing a scheme to reorganise and expand the British Army, Churchill described the militarisation as, "the costly, trumpery [sic], dangerous military playthings on which the Secretary of State for War has set his heart".
Eion Field, Hamilton.
The drop in building consents in April is possibly due to Easter. When I budget factory production, April always has the lowest quantity after December and January. Three public holidays that reduce April's working days by 15 per cent. Luckily we don't celebrate the Queen's birthday on her April birthday or the month would be down by 20 per cent. Perth has it in October as it has a June holiday for Foundation Day.
Why don't we find a New Zealand person or event to celebrate in June rather than an excuse for a day off that has no meaning?
Murray Hunter, Titirangi.
Congratulations to Vector and the council for being visionaries. Smiles, happiness and joy have been my overwhelming observation on the faces of crowds swarming to events with lighting displays. The lantern festival, Antarctica lights at the Museum, the fairy lights in Franklin Rd, Art in The Dark, and the amazing Gleem that happened in Corban Estate Art Centre some years ago. The city rivers in Rome, London and Paris are a joy to nightly walkers along its pretty lit bridges and banks. Last year the 2 degrees light up of the Harbour Bridge was delightful. Pretty lights make people happy, rich or poor, under a bridge or in a mansion.
Virginia Gaye, Waiake.
Don Braid of Mainfreight made another plea for a national transport plan on the back of the company's results this year. National planning is more than an issue for business, it affects everyone. Scotland has a national planning framework. Wales has a spatial plan for a One Wales and the Netherlands has one of the most comprehensive national spatial planning systems in the world. New Zealand should be seriously looking to develop the tools for its own plan, looking out 30-50 years, built around sustainability and resilience.
Dory Reeves, Professor of Planning, University of Auckland.
I spend a lot of time in Auckland City Hospital and the food is good. Yes, it could be better but breakfast is either cereal, yoghurt, milk and/or toast and toppings and a small fruit juice. The toast is either white or brown, albeit cheap bread, and served warm. Lunch is either a hot meal or soup and sandwiches, with even a chef special of meat and salad on rye plus a piece of fruit.
Dinner is either sandwiches or a choice of chicken, beef, pork or fish, followed by desert of either icecream and jelly or fruit or a cake with custard.
I have been in and out for about 13 years and this is the best yet. People forget there are budget constraints as well as some people's dietary requirements, like the pregnant, diabetic vegan I was next to once. The staff were in and out all the time ensuring her needs were being met.
Yes, there is nothing like home cooked meals but I would rather the budget was spent on medical equipment than food.
Pat Hooper, Whenuapai.
I am delighted the media are covering the America's Cup. Knowing nothing of sailing but being a very "proud to be a Kiwi", I am always interested in those who represent our little country on the world stage whatever their accomplishments. Here we are, definitely the minnows, against five of the world's rich and powerful, not only holding our own but displaying wonderful innovative thinking.
What an amazing crew we have, from skipper Glen Ashby, to Peter Burling, Blair Tuke and those wonderful cyclors. Come on New Zealand, forget your gripes about it only being a sport for the wealthy and revel in their performance. Win or lose, they deserve our loyal support.
Patsy Lambert, Howick.
I'm appalled to learn that many teenagers' parents buy alcohol for their under-age children. This enabling behaviour must stop. Well-documented research shows that the human brain doesn't fully mature until we're in our mid-20s - and that's only in the absence of alcohol and other drugs. If alcohol is introduced before then, the brain doesn't have a chance to develop properly, and the brain's reward pathways become well entrenched. If the disease of addiction is already embedded in the DNA of that young person, they will almost certainly gravitate towards alcoholism or other drug addiction.
Buying alcohol for young people is a set-up: the possibility is that you're opening that door for your son or daughter to develop a dependence on alcohol. Drinking alcohol is our national pastime and it's time to start educating our kids about the dangers of alcohol. They need to experience the consequences themselves - ie breaking the law and the possibility of being caught, or deciding whether to use their own pocket money which doesn't go far. Alcohol is a powerful drug that causes much heartache in our community.
Bridget Wilson, Newton.
A TV news programme showed a picture of the Gisborne rail line washout and used it as an analogy for KiwiRail, as a "... big black hole into which money is thrown". A poor analogy actually. As KiwiRail was unable to stump up the $5m needed to fix the washout, they closed the line. This meant that in the six months following, NZTA had to stump up $12m to build three passing lanes because of the increase in truck traffic.
People confuse above-rail and above-road profits with infrastructure costs. KiwiRail as a transport company makes an above-rail profit as MainFreight makes an above-road profit. If all transport companies were expected to pay the full cost of infrastructure, nobody would make a profit.
It is time the Government funded rail like roads. I would also suggest journalists looked more closely at the subject they were reporting and not just repeat the usual popular platitudes.
Niall Robertson, Balmoral.
Can all the "vanillas" and "muggles" who think they know everything about trans please shut up now. It's just astounding how much you don't know about the subject. I understand you can't complain about the "poor" at school anymore like your grandad did, you can't complain about "dark skins" at school anymore like your dad did, can't complain about "gays" at school anymore cause it's not the 80s, or the Chinese anymore cause it's not 2010. Humans have evolved well beyond your biases and will continue evolving.
Randel Case, Bucklands Beach.
It's no wonder Helen Clark failed to get the top job in the world if all she can worry about on her return to New Zealand is pathetic smokers like me exercising their right to freedom of choice. I suppose it is a step up from light bulbs but once a control freak, always a control freak. Isn't there a job in Syria, the Lebanon or even North Korea that she could apply for? If not, Trump needs some help.
Richard Quatermass, Muriwai Beach.
Armed Offenders Squad and drug detector dogs executed two search warrants on Wednesday.