Went with a friend from uni this afternoon. And more then impressed.

Saw two games played. First Canada v Colombia which was a 1 all draw. The second NZ vs Denmark.

The two games were a complete contrast to each other. The first was very graceful and skillful. The second was intense with lots of running from one end of the field to the other.

And so were the crowds. The first game had around 4000 people watching (which is a massive crowd for the typically empty North Harbour Stadium) the majority of who were backing Colombia so lots of colours, drums, and chanting, it really felt like you were in Europe.

The second game had a massive 11,170 people at it, which is rare for soccer in NZ, the last All Whites game only had 7000 people at it. This crowd was much quieter, no drums, no drums, just claps and people on their feet only when NZ scored a goal. And disgusting boos when Denmark did anything good.

That was the most disapointing thing about the NZ game. New Zealanders are bad sports. A women in the row behind us kept on yelling abuse at the ref and the other team. Really disgusting stuff. Then me and my friend were told to sit down when we kept on jumping up when NZ did something good.

Look at the atmosphere of a soccer match in Europe. And then look at NZ. Little wonder we get small crowds. We have to many sore losers who try and ruin it for others.

Overall I really enjoyed it and may go again on Wednesday and possibly the final later on in the month.

Tickets are $10 per day and the final $20 which is dirt cheap for a world class sport event.

Filmed last night… Great fun… Check out: http://www.a-mess.org

I am a bit late in blogging this because I was away. But these were the conditions that I had to contend with when heading to the airport last Wednesday morning as a second large storm hit.

A bridge on SH17 between the Albany township and the Albany Tavern was underwater earlier today but reopened by 6.20am.

All lanes of Oteha Valley Road were flooded on the eastern side of the motorway but the road was passable, police said.

Press Release: MASSEY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION FEDERATION

Massey University dumps on International Students

From 2009 all new International Students studying at Massey University will face an immediate 6 - 7% average increase in tuition fees and ongoing annual tuition fees increases due to a removal in fee Grand-parenting for International students.

Fee Grand-parenting of tuition fees for International Students ensures that students do not face tuition fee increases throughout their course. Massey University introduced fee Grand-parenting in 2005 to give International Students stability in their finances while they study.

“The decision by the Massey University Council last Friday to remove these protections for students’ financial wellbeing will severely hurt international students” says Albany Students’ Association (ASA) President, Brad Heap. “This decision was made entirely behind closed doors; students had no knowledge of this move and the University did not consult with a single student on the changes.”

“Massey University has decided to put profits before pastoral care of students and I find this disgraceful. You would expect the University to have a social conscience and protect their students not dump fee increases on them without consulting them,”said Heap.

MUSAF is committed to ensuring that the University treats all students as individuals and does not treat its International Students as ‘cash-cows’. MUSAF will continue to work with students across Massey University’s three campuses to ensure that the University actively consults with students and in the meantime urges Massey University Council to reverse its decision.

ENDS