Auckland City Council - City Scene

Free standing Maori carvings at the Cup Village Island were recently blessed by Ngati Whatua. The carvings are the work of Blaine Te Rito and depict a theme of voyaging across the sea, with the Island likened to a waka or canoe. The nine statues each represent a particular aspect on the creation of the universe, with the ones at each end representing the prow (Tauihu) and the stern (Taurapa). The carvings were commissioned by Ngati Whatua o Orakei and ACVL in consultation with other iwi groups in 1996. The carvings will remain on display for the duration of the America's Cup regatta.

Council's Planning and Regulatory Committee has approved the draping of the seven fuel silos at Wynyard Wharf. The drapes are expected to carry relevant advertising and would have a dark green and blue background. They will be made from flame proof fabric and will be removed at the end of the Cup festivities. Last week BP announced that its storage tanks will be removed from the area.

The official website of America' Cup 2000 is www.americascup.org. It is now 'live' with pre race coverage and will provide in depth and up to date news on the whole regatta. Leading international and local sailing reporters will provide an extensive coverage of each phase of the races, together with visual position graphics and photographs, boat racing times, and time behind the leader updates. Profiles of each syndicate and their sailing teams will also feature, together with a "Sail Loft" shoppers outlet where merchandise featuring the America's Cup 2000 and Team New Zealand can be purchased.

Young Australia 2000, previously Sydney '95 has been completely overhauled and will shortly be ready for sea trials in the Hauraki Gulf following her delivery from Australia by container ship. While they have missed out on a land base at the Cup Village, the French have created a four storey building at their base made from shipping containers and a maze of steel scaffolding, which is draped with a huge curtain featuring a large blow up picture of their boat racing through white water. All of the 23 containers are made into rooms, the ground floor ones being for sail and mast storage, while above, are the crew quarters, offices and communications room.

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>