RWC puts us all on show
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The Rugby World Cup dominates the stage. This is a great tournament and it is fantastic to see the level of local support
that teams with small pools of followers are getting.
As always there is a group of halfwits out there. They look for short-term gain at the expense of long-term benefits and also make us all look like idiots as well.
We have seen the room price- gouging accusations and it has been a small group that have tainted the rest of the industry. Supply and demand set prices, that is how market forces work, but there is no scarcity of supply that justifies some of the prices mooted. It is a short ride from demand-driven pricing to a straight rip off! Speaking of rides, we now have cowboy taxi drivers doing the same thing, charging outrageous fares to the acute embarrassment of all the other drivers and the Taxi Federation.
Interestingly, I have been approached by the media to comment on individual cases of price gouging on quite a few occasions. Not one of the gougers, I have been informed of was a member of the Motel Association, Holiday Parks Association, Bed & Breakfast Association et al. It does show that members of their trade associations are better informed, educated and have a group to go to for advice. Those who fly alone are far more at risk than those who have the support and advice of their association!
It is also a concern that a Super City still can't organise effective, efficient transportation for the opening of the Cup. After telling everyone to take the train, they couldn't get people there on time and in some cases at all! It will be interesting to hear the excuses and if there is accountability apportioned. The city council still professes faith in the organisation that runs the rail system. Why?
I was staggered by the professionalism of the truly spectacular opening ceremony. It took my breath away as it was so well organised and presented. Too bad some patrons couldn't be there because they were still on the trains. The organisation at all the venues, all those areas controlled by Martin Sneddon and his team, has been by all accounts professional and effective. Perhaps there is an organisational role there for Martin in the wake of the Cup?
We don't get a second chance in accommodation. If we get it wrong there is an immediate effect. The age of Twitter, Facebook and Trip Advisor means that our transgressions get immediate global exposure. We don't have the ability to have an inquest, a royal commission or find someone else to blame. We take it on the chin, learn the lessons and carry on!
Auckland City has just a few more games to get it right. The final is getting closer and a repeat of the opening night debacle is just not acceptable. I hope they just fix it and don't do the traditional council thing of consulting with all and sundry, and putting the fix out to tender long after the tournament is finished. Not forgetting the resource consent process, the appeal process and the environmental impact report – all absolutely necessary components in a democratic, politically correct and responsible council!
