Last Saturday, a fine time was had at the opening of SkyCity's new restaurant, Masu. John Key, Judith Collins and Nikki Kaye were all there. In his speech, SkyCity boss Nigel Morrison noted the international success of Japanese restaurants such as Masu and Nobu, mentioning the connection with actor Robert De Niro (Japanese food fanatic and Nobu's co-owner) and why this was all so apt, given De Niro's role in the movie Casino (right). An interesting choice - if the Insider remembers correctly, De Niro's character plays fast and loose with the law while working for the Mafia, and the whole thing ends in murder, car-bombing, drug-taking and general mayhem. Makes arguments over a convention centre seem tame.
Iwi on the inside
The process of putting together an organisation to lead the development and management of Christchurch's convention centre is picking up pace. The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority is tendering for a company to run the operation as design work starts. It is expected the expanding powerbase that is the Ngai Tahu iwi will have a significant say in who gets the job, and may also be keen to have an interest in it.
The blue view
Reactions to Monday's televised scrap between Energy Minister Simon Bridges and TV3's John Campbell provide an interesting insight into how people's politics colour their judgment. While many people declared Bridges the loser of the overheated exchange about oil and gas drilling, in National Party circles he is seen as a hero for tackling the "hand-wringing liberal" Campbell head on.
