Kim Dotcom comes to the rescue. Hell---let the dust settle first and then?

The dust not even settled and we hear the Kim Dotcom says that he is prepared to help fund the next Team New Zealand America’s Cup campaign. I nearly did a back-flip when I read that. Actually the page wouldn’t load on my computer when I clicked to get the full story. Maybe it is all too much for the Government to even consider if it too is coming to the party and they put the much maligned secret service on to the Herald for daring to print such ideas.

KDC is not doubt a controversial figure and he has as many detractors as supporters. His reported aim of standing for Parliament would probably benefit from such publicity and at the very least the Government could be spurred to action rather than be left at the gate by KDC’s actions.

I guess we have to ask ourselves---what price do we pay for the continuation of Team New Zealand?  WE are going to be beholding to someone, so it may as well be from a NZ source. Perhaps the debate has to happen and at least check out the ‘home grown’ support for our team. Better that, maybe, than always seeing large overseas companies taking the glory. Is there a downside to KDC’s involvement? I shall watch this space with intense interest.

www.authorneilcoleman.com

Kiwi 'spirit' already shining through! Pick yourselves up and 'at 'em' again.

Fact! ----you will never keep a good Kiwi down. Yes, we will take the odd knock or two, but we always pick ourselves up and we shine again. Yes, for a while yesterday, it was all gloom, but within a few hours people were talking about the next challenge. Sure, there are lots of people who do not want to see tax payers’ money being put into another challenge. They talk about the ‘hip replacements’ etc. -----and they may have a point.

What we need is for a study to be made into the real economic benefits for New Zealand. That will tell us once and for all, whether tax payers’ money is well spent, apart from the ‘feel good moments’ that are immeasurable.

I like what I am hearing about Oracle’s backers wanting to roll out a new competition that moves around the world; possibly one based on boats that are a bit more ‘accessible’ in terms of expenditure. That NZ has already played a strong part in the design, building and overall technology of all three main contenders is evidence that NZ needs to be in this competition. Yes, our boatbuilding industry will be a little quiet until the next phase of the AM competition is known, is something that would have happened whether we won or lost at the last regatta in SF, but the tide will turn as surely as it did day after day in the SF Bay.

So put aside the gloom and doom, NZ and embrace what lies ahead of us. We must be part of it.

www.authorneilcoleman.com

http://www.maoritelevision.com/tv/shows/te-ara-wairua-new-hope/S01E011/te-ara-wairua-new-hope-series-1-episode-11

http://www.maoritelevision.com/tv/shows/te-ara-wairua-new-hope/S01E011/te-ara-wairua-new-hope-series-1-episode-11

http://www.maoritelevision.com/tv/shows/te-ara-wairua-new-hope/S01E011/te-ara-wairua-new-hope-series-1-episode-11

http://www.maoritelevision.com/tv/shows/te-ara-wairua-new-hope/S01E011/te-ara-wairua-new-hope-series-1-episode-11

To the teachers who believed in Eddie-----you gave him the most prescious gift of all----hope. There are more 'Eddies' out there. Our job as teachers is to find them and nurture their dreams. Well done James Cook HIgh and UNITEC!

www.authorneilcoleman.com

The holidays are nigh--a message to all teachers.

Take this time to rest because you deserve it. Don't get sick because I know that so many of you give so much to your students and that you hold little back for yourself. Try to stay away from your school; even though  a large number of you will be 'called back' for training and planning purposes. Do something for you and you alone because your 'head' will still be around your classroom and your pupils. You will be the better for your students if you take some real time out; for you, your family and friends. Teachers in every country have a common goal; to make the lives of their students better in all manner of ways. So teacher/counsellor/parent/social worker---inclusive---put your feet up or if you must, take that special walk and be proud of the influence you have on that student in your class who no one else believed in. Yes teachers----this is your time!
www.authorneilcoleman.com

The day after all the 'yesterdays when we could have' is somehting akin to 'post traumatic stress disorder.'

I have been listening to and observing some pretty dramatic reactions to the results of the last 7 defeats for Team New Zealand over the last few weeks. At work, on the busses, in lines waiting to be served and on the walks with my dog; the scenarios have been quite amazing. I remember the events around NZ’s winning the Rugby World Cup in 2011 but this year, with the America’s Cup, something deep within the New Zealand psyche has emerged. I suspect it has always been there, but the last month has brought this collective underlying feeling very much to the fore.

Before I label New Zealanders as a nation of drama queens or something more serious, I need to point out that similar emotions are evoked amongst the citizens of much larger nations when the Football World Cup is up for grabs. For example, we have not seen the riots when any of our national teams lose, or the murders of those blamed for failures. In many ways one could almost say that our reaction to the crazy ups and downs of the San Francisco regatta are those of a ‘small nation,’ where events prominent in the news channels, newspapers and all forms of social media, take over, to the extent that ‘everybody is talking’ and one would be hard pressed to find people who knew nothing of the stimulus behind the mass enthusiasm.

Of course now that things have gone a bit belly-up, we can expect to see a sense of denial settling in as people claim that they were ‘never interested’ and ‘that it is all a rich man’s sport; a little too much like a disciple denying knowledge or links to Jesus at a particularly difficult time.

Like all ‘events’ in the life of a nation, things do settle down after the inevitability of a loss or victory become less of a focus. People in New Zealand have already begun that process by which they make sense of the San Francisco regatta. Once the dust settles, New Zealanders will do what the rest of the world does; they will get on with the everyday task of making a living, loving their friends, family and waiting for the next ‘big event;’ the one that will once again capture our sense of being a New Zealander. Just let’s hurry that process!

www.authorneilcoleman.com  

New Zealand grieves as the 'Cup,' moves out of sight! Lets get over it.

OK, it's get back to reality time, NZ. We almost had it but in the end, the better boat, or the more richly endowed campaign is going to win. That many NZers were associated with that 'win,' makes it just that much harder, but that is also the new reality of the world we live in. Would we rather have these skilled NZers staying in NZ, not having work or do we encourage Kiwis to travel and take up whatever challenges they can? Some of the benefits of Oracle's win (assuming they cross the line tomorrow ahead of our boat) will flow back to NZ so not all is lost. That the final victory is going to be on the water (unless NZ wins in the next race) is a good result. We must as a nation admire the true grit shown by Oracle. When nearly everyone had written them off, they have bounced back and learnt their lessons well. What better example could NZ emulate in the future? So, come-on NZ; get over this loss and move on. There are many more challenges out there so let us line up and take them on, hopefully with better results. We do not give up when the clouds gather, so do what you can tomorrow and who knows---we have enjoyed miraculous wins in the past. Just let the final countdown happen on the water, not in the courts! Whatever the result----life goes on and won't it be nice, getting our mornings back.
www.authorneilcoleman.com
 

Translating some of my blogs

Over the next few weeks you will notice some of my blogs are appearing in different languages. We will not be using the 'translation' button because quite frankly, they are crap! So I shall be getting friends and colleagues to do the 'hard yaker.' That could be really interesting and at least a bit of fun, because God knows what some of my friends will actually write. Hope they don't tell tales about me!
www.authorneilcoleman.com