I was not going to talk about dolphin-gate- but from first thing this morning, everyone was talking about it.
Sir Russell Coutts has had an epic meltdown over the cancellation of Saturday racing of his SailGP series.
He had to refund the spectator's tickets, which meant at least a third of his income went up in smoke.
Now he's belittling all New Zealand for their bureaucratic torpor that stops go-getters like him getting their way.
I would have raced. And if a foiling boat traveling at 80 kilometres an hour ran over a calving dolphin, turning it into sashimi, I could then say we learnt our lesson- and please pass the rice and the wasabi.
But I think it's important to realise how we got here.
Coutts sailed Lyttleton last year. With dolphin protocols. 1 race-day got delayed. He knew the Lyttleton problem but carried on.
This year he decided to race in Auckland. He wanted to build a stadium and hospitality on the site of a former oil and chemical storage site.
Auckland said you can't put people and food on poisoned land.
Russell said stuff you and flounced back to Lyttleton. There was no investigation of alternative Auckland sites. Or even going to Wellington.
He went back to Christchurch and signed a contract knowing all the protocols and the possibility of disruption. He knew the Lyttleton problem but carried on, hoping for the best.
When the Saturday race was delayed because of a mammal on course the telly coverage, owned by Russell, promptly played a promo praising SailGP's respect for the environment. That they were powered by nature and they look after our marine mammal buddies.
It was good press. Until the dolphin didn't move on.
Then he unleashed a spray about New Zealand holding people like him back. I don't think it's in his construction to admit he made bad choices and to assume some personal responsibility. And then he tried to make it seem like he was a victim.
I don't think this is a left versus right issue. Or a nature versus industry issue.
It was all good until Sir Russell lost some money.
So take a deep breath. Realise New Zealand loves the product. Put it on in an appropriate venue and let's move on, shall we?
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Andrew Dickens: WorkSafe chose the wrong time to announce charges
Andrew Dickens: Our Covid response needs to be judged on a global scale
Nicole Grey on being turned away from police training because of her ADHD medication
Andrew Dickens: Ports of Auckland can't blame Covid for their failings
Topp Twins to play summer variety concert Kiwi Concert Party
A small Irish town claims victory after Biden wins
Andrew Dickens: It's time America turned over a new leaf
Andrew Dickens: You can't blame anyone else - National was basically unelectable
Andrew Dickens: The real fear mongers of the Covid crisis
Woman goes into labour, gives birth in the middle of exam
A lonely otter at a sanctuary finds love online through a dating site built just for him
Andrew Dickens: We're not acting like there's a pandemic on
Andrew Dickens: Business leaders as confused as we are
The shocking moment a passenger took a walk on an airplane wing
Andrew Dickens: NZ and its parties taking it one day at a time
Andrew Dickens: Today marks day one of the most critical battle yet
Chelsea Daniels: Victim impact statements being read in mosque attack sentencing
Andrew Dickens: TVNZ special highlights Covid's seriousness
Gandhi's glasses worth over $28,000 set to be auctioned
Andrew Dickens: Should we continue the wage subsidy?
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Jim & Bill (It‘s Another Day)
HauntingLive
Dr. Paul’s Worldviews
The Ben Shapiro Show
The Tucker Carlson Show