Pffft

Oh he is your son?! He was very helpful & friendly during the NZIFF.

We like our place dark and moody! Great pics man.

As a bar owner in Auckland I can only confirm that the RWC has been a disaster business wise. Most of my colleagues are in the same boat. The locals seem to stay at home and the tourists are not turning up.

I was in Hamilton yesterday and the police was very relaxed despite being there in big numbers. Before the game I asked a cop where we could have our pre-game drinks in peace because the pub was too full and he just pointed us to some places where no cop would bother us.

The problem is that almost every new bar is bigger and brighter than the last. Drink palaces void of any original thought. Margins being squeezed as much as possible at the expense of patrons. Auckland's restrictive licensing makes it nearly impossible for small Bars/Venues to exist.

The Checks in my opinion were just aweful. Highlights for me were The Transistors and Beastwars.

Also I have been to Sydney during the Olympics. All I remember is how easy it was not to see anything relating to the Olympics during that time.

After a great party I never ask "How much did it cost". I see the RWC in that light and I for one can't wait. I know the money could have been spent somewhere else etc but sometimes you just gotta have to have fun.