Summer Diary: Gallaghers take in Auckland sights

Gallagher with Occidental waiter Wynne Rhys Jones.

Former Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher reportedly skipped a child-custody hearing in Manhattan to fly to Auckland for today's Big Day Out festival at Western Springs.

He's hanging out with DJ big brother Paul Gallagher, but it's not clear whether new girlfriend Debbie Gwyther is accompanying him too. The paparazzi are out and eager to snap the lovebirds together for the British tabloids.

Gallagher split from wife Nicole Appleton after allegations he fathered a love child with former fling Liza Ghorbani, with whom he is battling in a New York court. The judge adjourned proceedings because of Gallagher's no-show, the New York Post reported, meaning he will have to front up at a later date.

The Beady Eye frontman did a spot of lone retail shopping at World Beauty in Ponsonby, while a minder stood at the door. Gallagher bought two "Love" coffee cups designed by the fashion label for The Village Project, a charity supporting Uganda's water supply.

Later, he stopped for a few pints at inner-city pub The Occidental with a large entourage in tow. He posed with fan Lauren Mcloughlin and waiter Wynne Rhys Jones retaining the all-important expression of apathy, the rock star accessory du jour.

Yesterday morning, he strolled into Parnell sports bar The Paddington with his brother to watch his beloved Manchester City beat Blackburn Rovers. The venue was empty.

They celebrated with coffees and mineral water.

Liam, 41, who famously fell out with his brother Noel, 46, is touring with eldest brother Paul, 47, a DJ, who professed his delight in being here. "Two Gallagher brothers in Auckland for the first time in 16 years #BDO," he tweeted.

Oasis toured Auckland and Wellington in 1998, apparently smashing up the green room at TSB Bank Arena. The boys were at the top of their game, riding high on money and fame.

Beady Eye are just pleased for the gig. They replaced Blur on the BDO bill, the significance of which was not lost on drummer Chris Sharrock, who said : "We got the irony of it. It's no big deal, really. That was all a hundred years ago, wasn't it? [Oasis' feud with Blur]. We're just glad to be out, glad to be going somewhere."

The band jet out tomorrow for the Gold Coast-leg of BDO, but promise they will perform some Oasis hits in Auckland today "to keep the punters happy".

Former Oasis manager Alan McGee told a British paper this week he believes the band will reunite in 2016 for their 25th anniversary. Reports last week said the long-standing feud between Noel and Liam may be over.

Apparently they patched things up at a family wedding in Ireland and are reportedly looking to open a bar together with their mum.

Brash visit to Dotcom

Former National Party leader Don Brash has responded to rumours he was seconded to Kim Dotcom's mansion in Coatesville for secret meetings about providing policy advice to his political party. Brash is reluctant to discuss the internet tycoon, however he told The Diary yesterday he did pay a visit but he has not joined Dotcom's payroll.

"I had a pleasant meeting with Dotcom at the mansion, but I can say I did not get involved with his party at all."

Alas, as to what was said behind the Coatesville walls, Brash won't divulge.

Eight questions of the week

1. Was it Take-Your-Son-To-Work-Day at RadioLive on Tuesday? Broadcasters can be a hard bunch to upstage, but 1-month-old Tracker Lush did just that when he spent time with dad in the studio.

2. Is Adam Rickitt returning to these shores? "Got a new project going called Big Reunion and hoping it might mean we get to head over to NZ to do a gig," he Facebooked. Big Reunion is a British TV show that pits ageing pop stars from the 90s as they try to relive their success. Apparently a tour is on the cards. Rickitt's one big hit, I Breathe Again, is being resuscitated.

3. Is Karl Burnett making a comeback to Shortland St? Well, sort of. The actor who played Nick Harrison for 13 years returns to the production set today. "Apparently all the real boom operators are busy or at the Big Day Out and I'm all they could find. Looking forward to working with several of my old mates again," he said.

4. Is Rachel Hunter getting better with age (er, like Sir Lockwood Smith's chardonnays)? The 44-year-old mum-of-two dazzled at the 50th anniversary party for Sports Illustrated in LA on Tuesday, upstaging Chrissy Teigan and Kate Upton.

5. How much does new TVNZ political reporter Katie Bradford look and sound like her mother Sue Bradford? Spitting image.

6. Is Len Brown starting this year the same way he finished 2013? Lying low in the desperate hope you can ride out the storm that engulfed you is not much of a strategy, Len.

7. Why do so many sportscasters believe we should admire sportsmen for their physical prowess, not what they get up to after the game and they're enjoying themselves in private? All Black Steven Luatua's appearance in that social media video was reckless. Not PC gone mad, as some sports journos attest. He is a member of the greatest rugby team in the world, that racks up millions in sponsorship deals, with a team of PR managers to craft their image, and hordes of impressionable young fans. We are entitled to expect they will conduct themselves in a socially acceptable way. Luatua later apologised for his stupidity. Those sports journos have not.

8. How does Mona Dotcom feel about her Coatesville lawn being destroyed by 300 pup tents and port-a-loos? Martyn Bradbury, prospective Internet Party candidate and policy adviser, had the bizarre idea of turning the Dotcom estate into a hippy tent city filled with geeks, nerds and hipsters.