Important work

Quote of the day:

“It may be that it’s dogsbody work but it’s still work that needs to be done, isn’t it? That makes it important work. If she does it to the highest standard she can then that’s a worthwhile job.” Terry

Queenstown in world’s top 25 destinations

We were in Queenstown for a conference last week.

It was based at the Hilton which looks across Lake Wakatipu to the town.

Attendees came from all over the country and everyone I talked to was full of praise for the venue and its location.

A lot of other people appreciate the town and its attractions too – it’s been named one of the world’s Top 25 Travellers’ Choice Destinations by TripAdvisor.

As well as rising to 25th place on the international list, the four season lake and alpine resort was also named best destination in New Zealand and second best in the South Pacific.

The Travellers’ Choice Destinations awards honour top travel spots worldwide based on millions of valuable reviews and opinions from TripAdvisor travellers. Award winners were determined based on the popularity of destinations, taking into account travellers’ favourites and most highly rated places.

Destination Queenstown CEO Graham Budd was delighted with award and said it was a fantastic international achievement for the resort.

“We’re aware of the power of Trip Advisor in influencing the travelling community, so the news that Queenstown has been ranked by millions of travellers worldwide alongside cities like Paris, New York and London is a testament to the quality of our operators and the exceptional travel experience they deliver.” . .

We’ve been in Queenstown several times this year, which isn’t unusual, and even a reasonable familiarity with the area doesn’t dull its charms.

Thursday’s quiz

It’s your turn to ask the questions again.

Anyone who stumps us all will win an electronic chocolate sponge.

215,000 and counting

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New Zealanders have been very slow to build to suit our variable climate.

Designing and situating a house to make the most of the sun, insulation and double glazing make a huge difference to comfort levels and reduce the need for heating

Better to know bias

Shane Taurima, general manager of TVNZ’s Maori and Pacific Programmes and Q + A interviewer, is seeking to be Labour’s candidate in the Ikaroa-Rawhiti by-election.

He  said he wasn’t a member of the party last week which, as Keeping Stock, points out, means he will have to get a special waiver from the party’s ruling council.

The party’s rules allow that, and I would be surprised if other parties don’t have a similar rule.

If they are sensible, it’s not one they’d employ often.

Taurima blames his non-membership on his job:

He said Horomia, who died last month after battling a number of health issues, had spoken to him in the past about entering politics. . .

. . . “Given my career choice and the absolute need to be impartial, apolitical and professional I would politely decline his approaches and he respected me for that. It wasn’t my time back then. I wasn’t ready. But I am ready now.” . . .

The need to be impartial, apolitical and professional in his work is unquestioned. But is that achieved by hiding strong support for a party?

Wouldn’t it be better for someone in his position to be upfront about his political leanings?

Isn’t it better for viewers to know about a bias and be the judge of whether that affects his work than to hide it and have them wondering?

London terror

A man, believed to be a soldier, has been beheaded in a machete attack, believed to be an act of terrorism.

Prime Minister David Cameron said there were “strong indications that it is a terrorist incident” and the UK would “never buckle” in the face of such attacks.

Footage has emerged showing a man wielding a bloodied meat cleaver and making political statements.

There are unconfirmed reports that the dead man was a soldier. . .

Londoners lived with the threat of IRA terrorist attacks for years.

A reminder of this came today with police charging a 61 year-old man for the 1982 Hyde Park bombing which killed four soldiers and seven horses.

Then there were the 2005 underground and bus attacks and now this act of madness.

So sad, so evil.

The BBC has photos, warning, one shows a suspect with bloody hands.

Ordinary days

“What’s happening today?” he asked.

“Oh just the ordinary things,” she said. “Again.”

“Oh, nothing special, then?” he said.

“On the contrary,” she said. “The ordinary things are special and remind me to count my blessings for being alive, well and free to enjoy them.”