Hamilton won the toss and elected to bat on a soft looking Taupo wicket. Te Ahu Davis and Tony Goodin started well for the Bay bowling reasonably tightly and going past the bat at least once an over. Hamilton looked to take very quick singles and did... Read More

In his book The Vision of the Anointed, economist and senior fellow at the Hoover Institute, Thomas Sowell, describes how the great catastrophes of history have typically resulted not only from ill-advised policies, but from the fact that public feedback... Read More

It is not easy to rile New Zealanders, but Hone Harawira's abusive email clearly did. By claiming that he was entitled to rip off taxpayers with his jaunt to Paris because Whities had been ripping off Maori for centuries, Hone Harawira exposed the racist... Read More

At a special meeting of Project & Services Committee elected members received a detailed presentation from staff and consultants on procurement of council goods, services and contracts. There were no media present. With $1.3 billion expenditure in... Read More

The Bay team has five huge matches in the next three weeks as it seeks to become the challenger for the Hawke Cup - against holders Hawke's Bay in February. The Bay leads the points at this stage after matches played at the end of last summer that... Read More

One of the reasons for the increasing ferocity of youth crime is the breakdown of the family and the dysfunction of relationships within what is left of the family. The most obvious changed aspect of today's families is the absent father. That alone... Read More

I have a problem with my balls. No, it's not what you're thinking. This is not a physical issue; my family jewels were relegated to the veterinarian's incinerator many years ago - which I know you all find surprising, considering my exuberant levels... Read More

Kiwi director Niki Caro (Whale Rider) adapts Elizabeth Knox's novel about a peasant winemaker in 19th century France, starring the great Vera Farmiga (The Departed) and Keisha Castle-Hughes as a foxy salt-of-the-earth peasant girl. Sobran Jodeau (Jeremie... Read More

Warning: this column contains asterisks between the Fs and the Ks and nothing between the SH and the IT Hi there, it's your favourite pale-face mofo here with another column. Actually you're lucky to be reading this, it nearly didn't happen. I was... Read More

They say it's a woman's prerogative to change her mind and as far as today's column goes, I've changed it twice already. So here we go, third time lucky. I'd initially decided to elaborate upon a disagreement I had recently with someone for whom I... Read More

The BOP men's team travels to Taupo for the six team Northern Districts one day tournament this weekend. If the Bay wins three, or even two games, we will be in a top position to secure a Hawke Cup challenge against Hawkes Bay. We have two matches... Read More

After last week's effort trying to tip the winner of the Melbourne Cup, I have decided that there will be no more gazing into the crystal ball. However, I intend to keep with the horseracing theme for this week's contribution as the races come to... Read More