Big Kudos to all those with the courage of their convictions to protest! Let's hope we have more people willing to do this in 2025 (because, God help us, there's more than enough worthy of protest!)
You are on to something here Nick. What was once sport is now another business, an offshoot of hospo that was so against anything during Covid. So hardly surprising that nothing ‘contentious’ should appear on tv screens across the world, they are just ‘following the money’. A big thank you to the protesters and Neal
I am an ASB customer and have contacted them today to let them know that we will be changing our bank because of their support of an Israeli athlete and their obvious lack of support of our founding document. I’m sure that it will make no difference at all but it will make me feel better. Now to find a banking institution that has some kind of moral integrity….
SBS Bank is another Aotearoa born & bred bank (Invercargill)👍 - quite a few good "local" financial institutions in Aotearoa 💪 - we don't need these "big banks" eh? 🤷
Likewise Ella. I will also be changing banks after nearly 30 years of being an adult customer of ASB. Disappointing but unsurprising allegiance from ASB.
Well said Nick. I was shaking my head over these two events reported in the news, not in surprise, but in the sad realisation that the ASB Tennis Tournament sponsors, and Club tournament organisers/hosts can’t, or more likely refuse, to see what the problem is with having this player in the Tournament when it is blatantly obvious to many Kiwis. As for the Tee-shirt incident? Pretty much what I would expect at a self proclaimed prestigious event. Just another example of how wrong the priorities are of the people running the event.
Nick, you have opened up a can of worms, especially for those of us who have been around for 80 plus years. So many historical and contentious related issues to latch onto here, but I will confine myself to one.
The organisers and sponsors of the tennis tournament are still living in the 1970s and 80s when sport and politics were considered to be separate issues. It is a monstrous misnomer. They cannot be separated which has been proven time and again. Why? Because it is the majority foolish among us who keep electing these unprincipled types in the first place.
Every principled stand in NZ was initiated by former Labour Govts going back to the first Labour Govt. elected in 1935. The Nats only followed suit when it became electorally necessary to do so. The anti-nuclear legislation of the mid 1980s is probably the best relatively recent example. To be fair, there have been individual National politicians who were principled, but most of them were hounded out of the party on some pretext or another. Marilyn Waring was the best example.
Seems crazy to me that no international sporting organisation has banned Israeli participation yet is willing to do so in regard to Russia. Just like our govt others around the world are clearly in thrall to the US empire.
huh...why am i not surprised that the australian owned auckland savings bank has taken this position..what a bunch of mealy -mouthed shitheads they are more than happy to crap all over indiginous people of australia so why not do it here ..their scummy mates in our 3 headed dog of a govt are hell bent on the same thing ..bet luxflakes skidmark et al are all grinning like cheshire cats as they grog it up in the posh seats..phuck them all..
Precisely what we think. Thank you Nick for expressing our views on these two actions. Power and Money before humanity rules and tennis being an elite sport is no different.
Maybe the organisers didn’t want their event to become a showcase for every soul out there with a grievance? After all it might have ruined the appetites of of those people sitting court side feeding their faces .
Big Kudos to all those with the courage of their convictions to protest! Let's hope we have more people willing to do this in 2025 (because, God help us, there's more than enough worthy of protest!)
Supporting Israel, but not our very own taonga, Te Tiriti... unbelievable.
I agree!!
It's par for the course!
Hell, even that southern ocean American state aus has banned IDF personnel from visiting, while we carry on, leaderless/rudderless.
Well done Harding from the Naki
You are on to something here Nick. What was once sport is now another business, an offshoot of hospo that was so against anything during Covid. So hardly surprising that nothing ‘contentious’ should appear on tv screens across the world, they are just ‘following the money’. A big thank you to the protesters and Neal
Yes indeed Keith!
Well said Keith!
Well said Nick. Sometimes it’s just so embarrassing being a Kiwi, now more than ever.
I am an ASB customer and have contacted them today to let them know that we will be changing our bank because of their support of an Israeli athlete and their obvious lack of support of our founding document. I’m sure that it will make no difference at all but it will make me feel better. Now to find a banking institution that has some kind of moral integrity….
NZ Co-operative Bank.
Good for you Ella...I am with Kiwibank..but that could change to the Co-operative or SBS if the proposed changes to my bank go ahead.
SBS Bank is another Aotearoa born & bred bank (Invercargill)👍 - quite a few good "local" financial institutions in Aotearoa 💪 - we don't need these "big banks" eh? 🤷
Likewise Ella. I will also be changing banks after nearly 30 years of being an adult customer of ASB. Disappointing but unsurprising allegiance from ASB.
Well said Nick. I was shaking my head over these two events reported in the news, not in surprise, but in the sad realisation that the ASB Tennis Tournament sponsors, and Club tournament organisers/hosts can’t, or more likely refuse, to see what the problem is with having this player in the Tournament when it is blatantly obvious to many Kiwis. As for the Tee-shirt incident? Pretty much what I would expect at a self proclaimed prestigious event. Just another example of how wrong the priorities are of the people running the event.
Nick, you have opened up a can of worms, especially for those of us who have been around for 80 plus years. So many historical and contentious related issues to latch onto here, but I will confine myself to one.
The organisers and sponsors of the tennis tournament are still living in the 1970s and 80s when sport and politics were considered to be separate issues. It is a monstrous misnomer. They cannot be separated which has been proven time and again. Why? Because it is the majority foolish among us who keep electing these unprincipled types in the first place.
Every principled stand in NZ was initiated by former Labour Govts going back to the first Labour Govt. elected in 1935. The Nats only followed suit when it became electorally necessary to do so. The anti-nuclear legislation of the mid 1980s is probably the best relatively recent example. To be fair, there have been individual National politicians who were principled, but most of them were hounded out of the party on some pretext or another. Marilyn Waring was the best example.
Well said Nick, and thank you for saying what so many of us think.
🎯
Seems crazy to me that no international sporting organisation has banned Israeli participation yet is willing to do so in regard to Russia. Just like our govt others around the world are clearly in thrall to the US empire.
Perfectly written for something I totally agree with but could not find the words Thank you Nick and all this wonderful community
LIKE!
I wore my te Tiriti t-short and got abused. FFS!
Where was that Janet?
huh...why am i not surprised that the australian owned auckland savings bank has taken this position..what a bunch of mealy -mouthed shitheads they are more than happy to crap all over indiginous people of australia so why not do it here ..their scummy mates in our 3 headed dog of a govt are hell bent on the same thing ..bet luxflakes skidmark et al are all grinning like cheshire cats as they grog it up in the posh seats..phuck them all..
Here is some information that Kathrine has sent through:
"Here’s the link to my page, Families in Gaza:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567379739615
Scroll down and make a difference to a family in Gaza.
All campaigns are security checked - for further info, contact Kathy at kathyr@xtra.co.nz."
Precisely what we think. Thank you Nick for expressing our views on these two actions. Power and Money before humanity rules and tennis being an elite sport is no different.
Maybe the organisers didn’t want their event to become a showcase for every soul out there with a grievance? After all it might have ruined the appetites of of those people sitting court side feeding their faces .