Short Thought #1

A new series of posts on current news items and my thoughts on them.
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Eleven people die in Slacks Creek house fire, south of Brisbane

BODIES have been found in a Slacks Creek home after a fire overnight that claimed 11 members of an extended family.
The fire reportedly started just after midnight in the home, in Wagensveldt St in the suburb of Slacks Creek, that was occupied by two Pacific Islander families.

This is tragic absolutely tragic, and my thoughts and prayers go out to the two survivors and the entire extended family, as well as friends, neighbours and the rest of the local Pacific Island community.

There really isnt anything you can say other than that.
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High bus fares drive commuters away, but Translink are set to raise them another 50 per cent

BRISBANE bus commuters are being driven away by high fares, Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk says, and more pain is on the way.

What can I say the State Government through Translink have screwed the public transport network in South East Queensland right royally.

With a single zone adult fare set to rise from $2.65 to $4.04 by 2014 this is simply ludicrous, how are people supposed to be taking public transport if the state government is pricing it out of the reach of the ordinary person?

Cr Quirk has some good ideas about curbing the rise in costs but I dont think they go far enough, if the state government cares about getting people onto public transport and vehicles off the roads then they should do something to stop the rising costs that make Translink one of the most expensive public transport providers.
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Channel 9's live crosses to reporters from news chopper straight from Frontline

IT'S the type of thing that happened in the fictional current affairs show Frontline.
Host Mike Moore would cross to a reporter who was allegedly in a hostile zone, but was really nowhere near danger.
Fiction became reality last weekend when Channel 9's weekend news bulletins crossed to reporters in a helicopter allegedly hovering over the Daniel Morcombe search site "near Beerwah".

What can I say, how in this day in age with all the modern technology about and the fact your competitor is just a few hundred meters away on the same hill, can you expect to get away with a live cross to a helicopter sitting outside your studio?

Once again Channel 9 fail - thats twice now on this blog I've pulled up Ch9, and both times they appear to be faking things to get ratings ...

If you want news you can trust watch Ch7.
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Aus media groups to boycott World Cup

In an unprecedented move, Australia's leading news media organisations have informed the International Rugby Board that they will not be seeking accreditation to cover the World Cup in New Zealand.

So News limited, Fairfax Australia and the Australian Associated Press agency have all announced they wont seek accreditation for the world cup.
Their New Zealand counterparts are covered by a governmental law introduced when hosting was announced so they are fine but they share the concerns of their Australian counterparts.

For an organisation who is trying to globalise their game and match FIFA, the IRB have really shot themselves in the foot with these harsh conditions and rules.

My opinion Rugby Union is a game that will only flourish in the Home and SANZAR nations and wont grow because its governing body is doing everything it can to prevent widespread coverage of their sport and their show piece tournament.

Damaging your band

Adidas are on the verge of damaging their brand in New Zealand with the current fight over the pricing of the All Blacks world cup 2011 jersey.  Adidas have priced it at $220NZD and have said in the media that New Zealanders are comfortable paying for the privilege as they can see the benefit of Adidas's investment in NZ rugby.

Well people power has proven Adidas wrong as Kiwis have been up in arms about the price and the saga has played out in the media.  There has been wide swept public backlash at the exorbitant cost of the jersey in New Zealand, when it is retailing on USA and UK websites for less that $90NZD.

The jersey was retailing in New Zealand for $220 but was listed for sale at US$79.99 (NZ$92.68) on US websites and could be found cheaper on British websites.The jersey was retailing in New Zealand for $220 but was listed for sale at US$79.99 (NZ$92.68) on US websites and could be found cheaper on British websites.

You might say well ok, Kiwis can just buy the jersey from these websites at the cheaper price.  Well Adidas doesn't think so having the companies stopped from selling and shipping to New Zealander's, which has caused even more outcry.

 Even Prime Minister John Key has suggested that Adidas are in the wrong and should reconsider their pricing.  The outcry then moved to the retailers who have less than 7% margin on the jerseys.  A meeting between the biggest retailer Rebel Sport and Adidas didnt result in a positive outcome.  Rebel Sport and other retailer have now discounted the price of the jersey by $50 cutting into their own profits.

The row has turned sour for some Adidas staff with branding being removed from their vehicles as they were becoming the targets of verbal abuse when caught in traffic or waiting at the lights.  Today also saw a peaceful demonstration outside Eden Park in Auckland where an effigy of the Adidas logo was burnt.  Adidas have also canceled a ritzy supporters party due to the 'crisis'

So why is the jersey this price?  Well it certainly isnt the costs of making it, with the manufacturing price per jersey believed to be around $8 as the jerseys are made in Thailand where staff are severely under paid and also young.  So none of the purchase price goes back into New Zealand it is merely a money grubbing multi-national corporation who has sunk their teeth into NZ and seem to be winning.

Adidas have now apologised that this issue has derailed attention in a world cup year, as well as restoring access for Kiwi's wanting to buy the jersey from one of the overseas websites, but the haven't lowered the price, and havent admitted they are in the wrong.

In my opinion they have shot themselves in the foot, and continue to do so, and are in the process of destroying their brand and brand reputation in the New Zealand market.

Read more from stuff.co.nz HERE or HERE or any number of New Zealand media websites - its on them all.