Friday, May 13, 2005



Priorities

Via Frogblog: the government can find NZ$10 million for a boat race and NZ$20 million to host the rugby world cup, but can't scrape up NZ$4 million to not have a cricket tour to Zimbabwe? You really have to wonder where their priorities are...

4 comments:

I would suppose their justification is that the Rugby World Cup and America's Cup provide economic advantage to New Zealand. But that is such a right-wing perspective to take. There is more to this world than money, and it just wonders me when this government will wake up to that.

Posted by Tuatara left : 5/14/2005 05:52:00 PM

Why does left wing have to mean stupid when it comes to economics?

Money is not everything but it is somthing. If we have the rugby world cup it is likely that we will have more money afterwards i.e it is a good investment. If we win the americas cup also there will be a financial benefit. This financial benefit can be used to pay for social services. so by refusing to do smart things in economics you are effectively cutting our social welfare system.

Having said that I dont think we should go to zimbabwae anyway. (but that does not mean that investing in the Ac for example is not a good idea - depending on the details)

Actually sometimes the right wing is stupid about this stuff too. getting all upset about the government spending on public goods.

Posted by Genius : 5/15/2005 11:29:00 AM

If the "Emirates New Zealand" syndicate win the Americas Cup (fairly unlikely given recent performance) I'd think it's highly possible that the race will be held in the first country named, e.g. the UAE, rather than New Zealand.

10 million would pay for at least 5,000 boats for kids to sail, or 400-odd rugby coaches.

Posted by Rich : 5/15/2005 08:32:00 PM

Rich - yeah right.

Posted by Genius : 5/15/2005 08:50:00 PM