#776 ... Good Morning

On the way back from an early morning drop off of one daughter at Wellington Airport ... this was the start of a new day ... looking east across the harbour towards Eastbourne

#775 ... Concrete Man

Waiting for grass to grow ... or waiting for concrete to set ... all the same really ... this guy was actually having a momentary pause while he was floating off the latest concrete pour on the Telecom building between Boulcott and Willis Street.

#774 ... Winter Fashion

Stylista Sean ... displaying an alternative fashion for the winter in Wellington ... well done

#773 ... Evening Massage

At the entrance to the Wellington Railway Station ... a great way to end the day ... a massage on the way home !!!

#772 ... Slip sliding away

We went up the mountain on Monday to Whakapapa ski field and this proves that everyone can have some fun without having to spend lots of money ... these two kids were sliding down the sledge slope on tough plastic sheets.

#771 ... Jet Stars

Going for a spin (literally) on the HukaFalls Jet boat ... hence the apparent sideways movement of the jet boat ... Sitanun (holding onto her beanie) and I (red CanTeen beanie) are in the front seat next to the driver ... oops ... "look mum ... no hands" and with his tounge poking out !!!
We all had a great ... and safe ride!!

#770 ... Replete by numbers

Replet Cafe, Taupo .. always a great place for food, coffee, utensils, and most things to do with preparing food. We all ordered individually ... hence the the mass of order numbers on the table ... at least you can see that we liked to eat here!!

APOLOGY

Hello Wellington Daily Photo followers ... I have been away to Rotorua and Taupo ... in the middle of the North Island ... tiki touring for a few days with our two Asian students .. hence the spasmodic nature of postings ... but as a bonus here are some daily photos of Wellingtonians on tour !! ciao... Jeremy

#769 ... Biker Law

Eyes Right!! ... Two motorbike cops outside Parliament ... part of the cavalcade for a State visit by the Spanish King and Queen

#768 ...Waring Taylor Street

Saturday's post ... Looking east Waring Taylor Street towards the harbour

#767 ... Panda at Parliament

promotion at Parliament grounds ... school children learning about endangered species ... and what they can do about it ... very appropriate at Parliament ... as there are some endangered species there!!!

#766... Yachts & Shares by Degree

View from the Chaffers marina by the Overseas Terminal looking along the pier towards the NZ Stock Exchange Building on Tranaki St wharf. On the hill in the background are buildings of Victoria University ... new ones under construction.

#765 ... Taxing "ching - ching"

The Tax Man's new home opposite the Railway Station ... maybe Inland Revenue need a bigger building to store all the money !!

#764 ... Very Graphic

Graphic design display at the Victoria University "School of Architecture" ... explore + stimulate

#763 ... Still Life

Evans Bay ... looking south towards the Wellington Airport ... centre background is where the pilot's find the runway !!

#762 ... Wicked

Another "wicked" camper van with a very appropriate statement for travelling the back roads of New Zealand

#761 ... Prints Charming

Well this is waht ahappens at the Police Station when your finger prints are taken. Well not always as most times your finger prints are scanned electronically. Sitanun, our delightful Thai student needed to get her fingerprints done for her Thai immigration documents, and the authorised place to do this here, is a NZ Police Station ... this is Wellington Central. Your fingers are individually inked then rolled onto the official document ... note that the image picks up the sides of the finger as well as the central zone of the print. The finished signed, authorised document is then posted to the government authorities in Thailand.

#760 ... On any given night

On any given night at the sports grounds around the city you will likely see people training and practicing for the weekend's match. This is Nairnville Park in Khandallah, where rugby and netball practices are taking place.

#759 ... Wet repairs

Repairs on a wintery morning ... there were dead trolley buses all akong Victoria Street waiting for the overhead electricity supply wires to be fixed. Wellington City Council offices to the left (tan building) and the Lido Cafe in the building behind (the man inthe white hat)

#758 ... EMPTY

empty but waiting to be filled
creative useful porcelain
symmetry in motion
a massive relief
liquidity
U & Al
... ready & waiting for the intermission stampede at the Michael Fowler Centre Wellington. I walked in for some relief and the place was empty ... "empty" .. now that rings a bell ... but no my mind was blank (aka empty) ... empty ... YES the Daily Photo theme day ... ahhhh, the speed of the human brain!!!

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

#757 ... Give us a hand!!

These two students were having a ball promoting "Anti-Flamme" sports rub ... and YES you're right the prime colour of the product container is purple. Photo taken at the end of Lambton Quay beside the Cenotaph ... looking south ... you can see the new bronze facade of the Supreme Court, just to the left of the male "right" hand!

#756 ... Puff's Party

Puff the Magic Dragon, lives by the sea .. and had a birthday celebration in Wellington on the weekend ... although it was abit of a struggle getting all the dragons into the venue .. by all accounts they had a firery great time!

Making an Advert
Wellington has been given a commercial break which is benefiting the whole region.
Several foreign television commercials shot in the city - some with budgets of $1 million and employing a cast and crew of about 450 - have helped bring in the money.

Last year, television commercials, along with feature films, television productions and music videos, pumped $285 million into the region's economy more than double the $128 million generated in 2007. The number of Wellington businesses involved in the screen industry also increased last year by 9 per cent, from 594 in 2007 to 648.

Film Wellington, which promotes the city as a location and helps film-makers, said making foreign television commercials was not just "bread and butter work" for New Zealand crews between other projects but had the potential to bring feature films to the capital.

"It's word of mouth. If someone comes here working on a TV commercial and they have a fantastic experience, they will then go back to the rest of the world and that reputation gets fed back into the feature film industry," manager Delia Shanly said.

"If you are film-friendly to a TV commercial, it impacts on whether or not a $200 million feature film decides to come here."

Last year, Wellington was the stand-in for several overseas cities in commercials. For one session, 40 sheep were shepherded into Wellington Railway Station for a British advertisement, believed to be for a rail company. And Featherston St was also transformed into an English street for an advertisement for British national lottery operator Camelot.

On Saturday, (also go to more photos inner-city residents got a peek at a commercial, shot in Abel Smith St, which included giant green tentacles sprouting from an apartment block. A commercial, for an American telecommunications company (US Cellular), plans to shoot in central Wellington tonight and tomorrow, using a low-flying helicopter and spotlights projected on to streets and buildings.

Ms Shanly could not give more details about the two commercials, but said that usually big foreign commercials shot in Wellington had budgets of between $700,000 and $1 million, and could employ up to 450 cast and crew. A few had budgets of about $2 million. An average commercial shooting for about two days could have a budget of between $200,000 and $500,000 and employ 50 to 60 crew.

Ms Shanly said helicopters for tonight's commercial should finish their flights by 11pm. Filming would continue with lights projected from vehicles and buildings. But if there was heavy rain, filming would be delayed until Wednesday and Thursday nights.

#755 ... Having a Ball

At the pre-ball drinks and "get ready" session ... this delightful young lady with her minders is off to the Wellington Girls' College Ball at the Duxton Hotel ... they all looked fabulous.

#754 ... Flying Fish

How Bizzare ... No Wind .. for the filming of a television commercial for US Cellular (rumoured) .. apparently its much cheaper to come downunder and do the job in New Zealand ... and Wellington is movie friendly .. Lord of the Rings country here !!!. A small team of smart people had built these radio controlled, helium filled flying fish ... and don't forget the translucent people dotted around the street ... and the car covered with blowup rubber gloves ... can't wait to see the meesage behind the bizzare filming ... there were more people walking around with comprehensive tool belts and radio telephones ... CIA eat your hearts out !!!

#753 ... Safety First

School children parade down Lambton Quay to promote road safety ... especially for children in and around schools ... it's a pity there is no sound ... as the sheer joy of parading in the centre of the city sure helped get the message across of looking after our kids.

#752 ... Quay Mist

Jervois Quay .. looking north ... sun through early morning mist

#751 ... Corporate Cafe

Construction workers from across the road at the new Supreme Court building enjoying some fine dining on Lambton Quay ... immaculate in their corporate uniforms ... and note the polite manner in which they have taken their hats off and placed them under the table ... cheers!!
.. and sorry ... I only had the iPhone for today's image

#750 ... Deciduous

Looking from the northern end of Lambton Quay towards the start of Molesworth Street and the bus terminal. The Cenotaph is behind to the left and the gates to the grounds of Parliament can be seen behind the barren winter deciduous tree ... unlike the classic 'kiwi' greens to the left

#749 ... The Victors

The All Blacks leaving the field after winning the test match against the French .. and after clapping the fans for their support. Westpac Stadium on a cold wet wintery Saturday night ... but all the kiwi fans were smiling~!!

#748 ... Sacrebleu

I met two French travellers at the northern end of Lambton Quay ... all dressed up for the rugby test .. they even went to the first test in Dunedin and made sure their itinerary took in the capital for the 2nd test .. they were delighted to be able to show their colours.

THE GAME REPORT (courtesy of TVNZ)
The All Blacks have won the second test but lost the silverware after prevailing 14-10 over France in a titanic rugby arm wrestle in Wellington on Saturday night. An improved New Zealand forward effort proved the difference in a contest spoiled as a spectacle by swirling winds and constant rain.

Both teams scored a try each, including a magical individual try by French winger Cedric Heymans, who brilliantly evaded four defenders, but the All Blacks were deserved winners through creating more chances and winning the all-important territory battle. There was a vast improvement in the physical exchanges that let them down so badly in the 27-22 first test loss at Dunedin last weekend.

Seeking a repeat of the their 2-0 series triumph in New Zealand 15 years ago, France were a danger to snatch it via some unlikely counter-attacking in the second spell that defied the conditions.

Swirling wind played havoc with the tactical kicking game of both teams, along with shots at goal, where France managed just two from six shots and New Zealand three from six. Both sides struggled to string together any expansive play, with All Blacks first five-eighth Stephen Donald enduring an error-prone evening, finding himself replaced in the final quarter by Luke McAlister.

Donald's botched a tricky penalty attempt in the third minute while French second five-eighth Damien Traille narrowly missed a dropped goal attempt soon afterwards as the game quickly descended into a territorial slog.

It wasn't until the 26th minute that either team launched a sustained attack, resulting in a try to All Blacks second five-eighth Ma'a Nonu. Surges from Kaino and hooker Keven Mealamu gained ground before Nonu doubled around winger Joe Rokocoko, who popped a sweet pass in the tackle. They nearly had a second moments later when right winger Cory Jane crashed over in the corner but third match official George Ayoub ruled no try as he couldn't see a grounding.

New Zealand launched several attacking raids but stout France defence produced key turnovers on their own tryline more than once. The All Blacks host Italy in Christchurch on Saturday next week while France cross the Tasman to play Australia in Sydney.

#747 ... "Flying" Visitors

These students and their teachers were on a visit to the Capital City ... the night before they had spent the night at the Wellington Zoo .. for a sleepover ... but it should be noted that Auckland also has a great zoo. They were off to visit Parliament and the Beehive when I met them. Sunderland School name has some interesting 'flying' history behind it so have a look at the links to their website. Like most students ... the opportunity to have a photo taken was welcomed. Hope you guys all enjoyed your time in Wellington
Sunderland School ... a high quality independent School and College opened at the former Waitakere City Council complex in Waipareira Ave in Henderson in February 2007. Strategically located for convenient access for families in the western areas of Auckland, Sunderland is a secular, uniformed, co-educational day school, catering for primary school and secondary college students. Sunderland provides outstanding opportunities for academic, cultural and sporting achievement.

The Sunderland campus was originally proposed to be built on a ‘green fields’ site at Whenuapai. Work began on Sunderland in 2001 but despite strong support from Waitakere City Council resource consent was opposed by Auckland Regional Council. The project stalled at the Environment Court and efforts on that site are now abandoned.

Publicity about Sunderland generated keen interest, confirming the need for a major independent school in West Auckland. When the Waitakere City Council complex in Waipareira Avenue became available in June 2006 the Sunderland Education Trust identified it as an ideal school site and moved rapidly to secure the property. It features quality architect designed buildings situated on 3 hectares of established landscaped grounds. Because the site already has suitable zoning, refurbishments and fit-out was completed rapidly, meaning that Sunderland enrolled its first students for the start of the 2007 school year.

The name Sunderland is derived from the Sunderland flying boats which were based at Hobsonville and which are an integral part of the history of the district.

#746 ... Promotion

Sean and Leah doing some promotion for Telecom as the new sponsors of the All Blacks ... this sort of work is a nice little earner for students .. they were obviously enjoying the day .. and were happy to ensure that I had sent in my cellphone number for a chance to win a trip to Marseille ... YEAH RIGHT

#745 ... Big Wednesday

The television news cameraman filming the action as punters line up to get their Big Wednesday Lotto ticket ... NZ$25 million up for grabs ... but no one won .. so it jackpots to a must win draw for next Wednesday

Article on Problem Gambling
The Problem Gambling Foundation wants the size of lottery jackpots reviewed, saying winning is an impossible dream and they are a cruel hoax. It comes as punters queue in the hopes of netting a record Big Wednesday jackpot worth more than $25 million tonight. But the people who deal with the fall-out from what they call "an impossible dream" want the jackpots kept to a level below that at which excitement reaches fever pitch.

Chief executive Graeme Ramsey wants the current $30 million cap cut to $12.5 million. He says surely that is enough money for anyone in this country - and over that amount people get lured into spending more than they can afford on tickets. Sales can more than double during very large jackpots and some of the foundation's clients have spent hundreds on tickets after getting caught up in the hype.

Communications director David Coom adds record jackpots are an insidious way of sucking people into gambling who can barely afford it. He says it creates a culture of envy and greed at a time when many people are vulnerable due to the economic recession. The Problem Gambling Foundation is also calling on the Government to review the selling of Lotto tickets online, and for greater transparency of the chances of winning. Victoria University anthropologist Peter Howland says people are more likely to die in an plane crash than win Big Wednesday tonight. He says the odds of hitting the jackpot tonight are a dismal one in 38 million, making it a near certainty that if you buy a ticket, you will lose.

"Those odds are so astronomical they're outside of everybody's everyday experience . . . outside of everybody's ability to comprehend." Dr Howland says despite the unlikely odds, two million tickets were sold for Bid Wednesday last week alone.

#744 ... College Creativity

These images are from the Cultural Extravaganza last night at the Wellington Town Hall ... put on by some amazing talent from Wellington Girls College and the boys from Wellington College. The event included Kapa Haka, choirs, orchestra, Tamo o le Pasifika, Poly Club, Hip Hop, emerge Dance crew, Big Band and a re-run of the two Stage Challenge performances ... awesome and entertaining talent

#743 ... Super Subway

This group were having their lunch break from their training course .... looks like the favourite choice was Subway fresh filled rolls ... Midland Park

#742 ... Top & Bottom Sale

It is always interesting to see how the "window dressers" create the eye catching promos to make us buy ... this one is simplicity at the Bendon store on lambton Quay

#741 ... Vision

Getting ready for a fund raising event at the Civic Square .. for World Vision. These Wellington Girls' College students are continuing an event started by my duaghter's good friend Isabella Gawith in 2005,in support of World Vision. The girls take part in a morning of netball with various Wellington personalities and students from other schools ... with sausage sizzles, food and goodies ... With quirky colouful team uniforms, maybe this is also the training ground for the city guardians who keep our roads repaired. In the background is the City Gallery ... and you can also see the barbecue being set up. The netball court was marked out with tape on the brick courtyard of the Civic Square ... well done girls.

#740 ... Misty

A windless misty morning for Saturday ... an awesome magic beginning that unfortunately turned into grey mush for the rest of the day ... but what a way to start the day ... photo taken at about 8:30am of Evans Bay from Cog park

#739 ... Shadow & Light

Shadow abd light on the facade of the National Library building in Molesworth Street ... Wellington Anglican Cathederal in the background

#738 ... Eureka

Well not quite ... but someone struck water and it was bubbling up through the ground outside the office ...Pipitea Street ... perhaps we would have been much better off if it was the black thick oozy stuff.

#737 ... Tuhoe Treaty Settlement

All the way from Tuhoe country ... Maungapohatu ... to the High Court

The Waitangi Tribunal has rebuffed two groups challenging the mandate of the Tuhoe authority Te Kotahi a Tuhoe and the recently incorporated Tuhoe Establishment Trust in the iwi's treaty settlement. Supporters of Te Umutaoroa, a hapu grouping attempting to withdraw their mandate for Te Kotahi to represent them in treaty settlement negotiations; and Robert Pouwhare and Maaki Hokianga, on behalf of Ngati Haka Patuheuheu, lodged urgent applications with the tribunal.

Tuhoe is due to receive $66 million in July from its share of the $400m "Treelords" deal – the Central North Island Forests Iwi Collective settlement – and was required to establish a trust to receive its forestry assets. The tribunal found neither applicant group had showed how significant and irreversible prejudice would accrue to them from the actions of Te Kotahi or the establishment trust.

It also found there were provisions in the Central North Island forests deed of settlement and the establishment trust to resolve mandating issues within Tuhoe. There was also an alternative remedy in the form of High Court proceedings, taking place yesterday and today in Wellington, in which Te Umutaoroa is challenging the process adopted by Te Kotahi trustees for resolution of the CNI forest land claims, and the establishment trust's mandate and representation.

The tribunal said that additional dispute resolution processes had emerged and it understood Te Umutaoroa, Te Kotahi and the Crown had agreed to participate in them.

"Finally, the applicants have not clearly demonstrated that the Crown has an obligation in this particular circumstance to intervene in what seems to be a matter for Tuhoe to resolve internally."

However, the tribunal found a third application, lodged by Vernon Winitana, showed that Waikaremoana iwi Ngati Ruapani was likely to suffer "significant and irreversible prejudice," should it remain included in the Tuhoe Establishment Trust deed and that it should be removed. The tribunal agreed that Ngati Ruapani was scheduled to begin its own treaty settlement negotiation with the Crown and that any such settlement would value the benefit Ngati Ruapani received from the Central North Island forest settlement through its beneficiary status under the establishment trust. However, this situation ignored that Ngati Ruapani would not have had sufficient influence in the manner in which it might benefit from the forest settlement assets. Citing this, the iwi had last year secured the Crown's approval to withdraw Ngati Ruapani's mandate from Te Kotahi a Tuhoe.

"We recommend that the Crown immediately take all necessary steps to facilitate the withdrawal of Ngati Ruapani from the establishment trust and that the trustees of that trust and Te Kotahi take all necessary steps to co-operate fully with the Crown in that regard."

#736 ... St James' Theatre

This photo was taken on the night of the "STOMP" concert ... and WOW that was a great night

St James Theatre - A Building Ahead of its Time
When His Majesty's Theatre (later to become the St James) was built in 1912, it was the largest vaudeville and picture theatre in Australasia. Its designer, Henry White was an architect/engineer of exceptional skill who was well-known on both sides of the Tasman. Besides the St James, he designed 120 theatres, including the Auckland St James, the Hastings Municipal Theatre (now known as the Hawke's Bay Opera House) and The Plaza in Christchurch.

His Majesty's was the first entirely steel-framed and reinforced concrete theatre in this part of the world and boasted the latest theatrical and mechanical stage appliances. Designed for vaudeville, it was lower and broader than usual, allowing for greater intimacy between actors and audience. Inside, the auditorium was highly ornamental, featuring elaborate cherubs, plaster curlicues and painted and gilded lyres, horns, harps, dancing cupids and masks representing Comedy, Drama and Opera. In the mid 1980s, the St James Theatre, although recognised as one of the country's most valuable treasures, faced the threat of demolition.

The people of Wellington refused to sacrifice the theatre without a battle. The St James Campaign, prompted by photographer Grant Sheehan and led by the late Peter Harcourt, mobilised sufficient support to ensure the preservation of the building. The Wellington City Council formed the St James Theatre Charitable Trust in December 1993, and agreed to provide $10.7 million towards refurbishment and upgrading. Other founding sponsors, the Lottery Grants Board and the Community Trust of Wellington, provided funding, and the Trust was expected to raise further funds towards the estimated $21.4 million cost of the redevelopment.

On January 22 1998, the Trust announced Westpac as sole Gold Sponsor with naming rights to the theatre. This, together with other sponsorship and funding initiatives, brought the total amount raised for the redevelopment to $19.6 million. The rejuvenated St James now provides a permanent home for The Royal New Zealand Ballet and offers the best stage for dance in the country. The refurbished auditorium and back of house facility is of an international standard, achieved at a cost few originally thought possible.

Front of house, an impressive new entrance foyer leading to generous hospitality spaces on the first floor enhances the theatre experience for the public, sponsors and patrons. The Jimmy, a street level cafe & bar, open all day and into the evening, adds to the vibrancy of Wellington's Courtenay Place theatre precinct. Through diverse programming and partnerships with local and international tour promoters, the Westpac St James Theatre has once again become a focus for the performing arts of this country. The St James has been recognised by New Zealand Historic Places Trust as a Category I building of outstanding cultural and historical significance and is considered one of the finest lyric theatres in Australasia.

#735 ... The Story

It's all about the story ... advertising for television news on the back of the buses ... bus depot by the Wellington railway station ... photo taken on 2mp iPhone ... as camera was in the car.

#734 ...Old & New

Looking east down Emmett Street in Newtown ... the old house in front is on stilts ... either ready for removal or the basement is being dug out ... behind is a new block of apartments. History in the making or "un-making"

#733 ... Inside Job

late evening inside the Victoria University "School of Architecture".. Vivian Street, Wellington

#732 ... The Word

St John's Church in Willis Street .. a delightful piece of religious humour .. the Lord hath spoken !

#731 ... GO GO GO Wellington

No explanation required!

#730 ... Maiden Wellington

St Mary's College students getting into theme for a week of Shakespeare celebration ... they were running around the grounds of Parliament posing for photos and enjoying the fun of dressup ... enjoy the week and thanks for stopping to be photographed.

#729 ... The Whole Hole

Boulcott Street ... the hole in the ground being dug for the foundations of the new Telecom building. At this time of the year with the sun being low in the sky ... and with this site being surrounded by tall buildings ... this hole never sees the sunshine ... like they say ... "a cold hole"

#728 ... No Name Rego??

Well this registration plate says it all ... REALLY !!

#727 ... the shirt off my back

This fascinating piece of machinery lives at the Mall Drycleaners in Johnston St by Midland Park. Costa, Costa, Staphos and the amazing staff .. who always have a smile and a good word ... run a business that keeps us looking sharp ... I get my business shirts laundered here ... as with a household of six adults, my shirts are generally at the end of the job queue. What is interesting is the machine that is used to dry the shirts and the way that it does it ... a bit like humans really ... by blowing a lot of hot air !!!!

"Sankosha manufactures machines to be sophisticatedly simple for the garment care industry. Our goal is for our customers to be able to produce the finest quality pressed product while experiencing our unparalleled reliability.

Sankosha has built a reputation based on innovative breakthroughs coupled with user-friendly finishing equipment which has become our legacy. Providing the dry cleaning industry with leading warranties and customer service is a top priority at Sankosha. "

The LP-570U
Single Buck Shirt Press
Product Features
•Steam Injection - A new steam injection system covers the entire body width and with a new heated buck body, processing time is reduced.
•Tuck Press - A new lower tuck clamp has been installed along with a tensioning function improving the tuck finish quality.
•Side Expanders - Improved side expanders open early to eliminate wrinkles.