No Punches Pulled

Some years ago, reporting a discussion with my then 15 year old Australian son as to his ambitions, an Asian refugee woman said, “He want to go to university and do history degree, then go to New Zealand, join company and “learn rope”.

God help us all – More contrived offence-taking nonsense from Foolish Foon just when I hoped he was improving. Commenting (needless to say) on the harmless quip by Sky Sports commentator Joe Wheeler to the Otago rugby captain’s praise of their star Japanese player, despite difficulties with his lack of English, Wheeler said, “he was leally, leally, good”. Being New Zealand, naturally there were predictable media promoted fainting fits and the standard tiresome complaints of racism.

Here’s another piece of news-media created language faddism of recent years.

The media in their usual slap-dash manner have all reported Microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles as the New Zealander of the Year.

Well known Wellington identity Chris Gollins is hyper-active and fast building his commercial property business with three provincial offices established in the last year. Thus he’s a regular newspaper advertiser.

Chris is also noted as a wag who enjoys joking.

His company placed the above advertisement with the Dominion-Post to appear amidst his regular adverts.