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from afar

SportNovember 14

From afar: Fine line between profitability and community

Despite concerns about "selling our rugby assets", it has been announced that the Hurricanes and Crusaders have found a licence arrangement that suits all parties, but the Blues and Chiefs are yet to get the nod of approval from the New Zealand Rugby Union.
SportOctober 31

Opinion: Maori All Blacks an ongoing testament to resilience

If the All Black jersey stands for excellence, the Maori All Black jersey stands for resilience
Opinion: Maori All Blacks an ongoing testament to resilience
Opinion: Maori All Blacks an ongoing testament to resilience
SportOctober 24

Opinion: Clean-up of cycling not just about Armstrong

The latest doping revelations by the United States Anti-doping Agency (USADA), upheld by the International Cycling Union (UCI), have seen Lance Armstrong strong-armed out of the history books of cycling. But will his legacy necessarily disappear as well?
SportOctober 17

Opinion: Modern communication comes with pitfalls

Speaking your mind in a public way seems to be more and more acceptable these days. The stiff upper lip is losing ground to the loose-lipped, highly-emotive outbursts that tend to be expressed via tweets, emails, and video blogs. As a lecturer, I find more and more students are expressing their disappointment with their assignment marks via email, by phone, or in online forum discussions.
RugbyOctober 10

Opinion: Super rugby displays a cut-throat, fickle nature

As the end of October approaches, speculation rises about who will or won't make the final cut for the 2013 Super Rugby season, and this applies to players, coaches, and administrators.
SportOctober 3

Opinion: Lock out knockout blow for suspect role model

With the revoking of Mike Tyson's visa to visit New Zealand in November, the National Government, John Key, Kate Wilkinson, Life Education Trust, ticket holders to the 'Day of Champions' event, and New Zealanders in general have narrowly evaded a heavy blow from one of the hardest hitters in heavyweight history.
RugbySeptember 26

Opinion: Time for rugby to reflect on state of ITM

Why was it that last year the condensed NPC was embraced and yet this year, the crowds, coaches and players seem to be giving the 8 week competition the thumbs-down? Rugby overload? Economic recession? Mental and physical fatigue? Less time to actually coach?
NetballSeptember 19

Opinion: Mould-breaker Harrison teaches us something

Watching the Silver Ferns beat the Australian Diamonds in the opening clash of the Constellation Cup is always a great way to kill some time.
NewsSeptember 13

Opinion: Goodbye SBW, it's been good to know you

It's time for New Zealanders to say "Sayonara Boy Wonder".SBW is off to play for the Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan for a meagre $1.7 million before going back to rugby league for a one-season contract rumoured to be worth $800,000.
Opinion: Goodbye SBW, it's been good to know you
Opinion: Goodbye SBW, it's been good to know you
SportSeptember 5

Comments of Pistorius show up myth of fairness

The shock of being beaten after nine years of invincibility in the world of prosthetic runners got the better of Oscar Pistorius as he let loose with accusations about "unbelievably high" and "unbelievably long" legs in the T22 200m final creating a race that was not "fair".
Comments of Pistorius show up myth of fairness
Comments of Pistorius show up myth of fairness
SportAugust 29

Opinion: Halberg voting panel even now spoilt for choice

The Olympics are barely over, the Paralympics have just started, and there are four more months of sporting moments to go before members of the Halberg Trust voting academy need to decide who gets their secret ballot.
SportAugust 22

Opinion: McClennan's successors taking up poisoned chalice

Several New Zealand coaches will feel like they've got the blues (Carlos Spencer), lost the Blues (Pat Lam), gained the Blues (John Kirwan and Graham Henry), or feeling more Bluey than usual (Brian "Bluey" McClennan).
SportAugust 15

Opinion: Ongoing Olympic effort needed to battle drug cheats

In the immediate aftermath of her silver medal at the London Olympics, Valerie Adams was beyond consoling and wanted answers with regards to the administrative stuff-up that created unnecessary stress for her on "game" day.
SportAugust 8

Losing athletes due simple thanks for their effort

Despite being very different in terms of body shape, gender, ethnicity and energy systems being used in their chosen sports, Nick Willis and Valerie Adams both had something in common: the burden of the hopes of the nation to carry.
SportAugust 1

Opinion: Social media a runaway winner at Games

The Olympic motto of "Citius, Altius, Fortius" or "faster, higher, stronger" is being applied aptly to the social media realm.
SportJuly 27

Anticipation and wonder of Olympic Games akin to Christmas

OPINION: Waiting for the Olympics to start is like lying awake with anticipation on Christmas Eve.
SportJuly 18

Opinion: Mental toughness and resilience a valuable lesson

If any of our athletes are in need of extra inspiration leading up to the London Olympics, they could learn several lessons from two of New Zealand's high-profile sports people regarding mental toughness and resilience.
SportJuly 4

Opinion: Brits lapping up quaint traditions of Wimbledon

You can always rely on the British to adhere to tradition and protocol, especially in a year where they celebrate the old (the Queen's diamond jubilee) and the new (London Olympics 2012).
SportJune 13

Opinion: Fight the good fight, girls, however you see it

What would feminists think of the attention women's boxing is getting these days?
FootballMay 30

Opinion: Racism in football exposed again as Euro 2012 looms

A picture is worth a thousand words, and even though government officials are trying to reassure football fans and the world that racism, anti-semitism and football hooliganism are "invented", "mythical" and "isolated" problems in Poland and Ukraine, it is difficult to argue with images.
RugbyMarch 21

From Afar: Bona fide competitions real road to gold

There is something romantic about the idea of plucking someone from obscurity and giving them their moment in the sun.
NewsMarch 19

More efficient rugby set up must emerge

The term liquidation sends a shiver down the spine of many Otago rugby supporters, just as the term liquefaction does for many Christchurch residents.
CricketFebruary 15

Cricket: Proteas promise plenty of drama

Life in South Africa is a mix between a twenty/20 match and a test series.
SportFebruary 8

From afar: Races a window into the human psyche

Dallas and Julie Seymour epitomise the no-nonsense, mentally tough New Zealanders we all aspire to be.
From afar: Races a window into the human psyche
From afar: Races a window into the human psyche