Sideswipe

This banner hanging above Karangahape Road gives all Aucklanders something to ponder.

Well, it seems Auckland Museum director Dr Rodney Wilson took note of Friday's Sideswipe dealing with the museum's $5 donation. He says there is "no such need" for avoidance tactics.

Dr Wilson says: "It is a donation and visitors have only to say that they do not wish to pay and they are graciously provided with a ticket. The point, however, is that the donation is very little - approximately 40 per cent of a movie ticket. And the revenue ensures that some $1.5 million is not levied on ratepayers each year.

"So if readers feel they don't want to make a donation, they should say so and not feel that subterfuge is necessary. For those who do donate, we thank you for providing a small amount of relief to the ratepayer, for enabling us to have a system which ensures a contribution from non-Aucklanders, and we hope you have had good value for a very modest contribution."

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Helen and David, Carlton Gore Rd residents, write:

"Written in anger at 10 Sunday night. To the woman seen picking a huge bunch of daffodils from the grassy bank on Carlton Gore Rd next to the art school under cover of darkness, although I imagine you're too obtuse to read a newspaper, I hope that the two days of solitary pleasure you get from your stolen flowers makes up for depriving the thousands of commuters passing by of the beautiful sight of the last of these spring flowers. This type of act is pathetic, cowardly and selfish."

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It's just a few months since Unitec failed in its (latest) bid to become a university. Well, AUT - which earned the right a few years ago and opposed Unitec's bid - has begun calling itself "AUT University" in its press releases.

That's Auckland University of Technology University ... just so there's no doubt.

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I guess you get the team you deserve, if this tale from a couple of Auckland supporters is anything to go by. The diehard fans were, understandably, getting a bit emotional as their team stormed to victory, but were still surprised when two women Harbour supporters angrily demanded they shut up so they could enjoy the match in silence. Lucky they didn't try to pull the same stunt on the terraces. Maybe they should stay at home next time and save themselves the grief.