KEY POINTS:
British television show Top Gear has had its budget slashed and will have to cut back on the often outrageous stunts and car damage that has been a feature of the programme. That's the word from across the ditch, where the Australian version of the show gets a new look this year. The economic downturn has forced the BBC to cut its overall programming costs by around $40 million due to a reported $380 million funding shortfall. The programme's executive producer admitted in a humorous blog on a Top Gear fan site that the inevitable cuts would have some impact. Host Jeremy Clarkson last year signed a contract said to be worth around $5 million a year while co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May reportedly earn more than $650,000 each.
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Top Gear has come under fire in the US from electric sportscar-maker Tesla over a segment that showed a test car suddenly stopping with Clarkson at the wheel and then being pushed into a warehouse for a replacement battery. Tesla said that the onboard computer in the Lotus Elise-based Roadster showed no fault or flat battery, but Top Gear defended its presentation, saying that the car was "videotaped being pushed to show what would have happened if the Roadster had run out of charge". Tesla said the segment was a "cheap stunt".
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Reader Kim writes in response to last week's item about the new toll road north of Auckland: "Has the option of allowing motorist to pay toll fees via mobile phone been considered? Someone driving through could just send a text message and the fee gets billed to their mobile phone account. Even for an additional charge, it would save so much time and effort and remove payment barriers. Similar to the concept used by Txt-a-Park for carparking in the city."
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Another reader is cranky about payment options at the new international carpark at Auckland Airport. Why, he asks, does the exit barrier swallow the parking ticket? Why can't it return it in the form of a receipt, like other carparks? He said he forgot to get a receipt at the busy automatic payment station after an overnight business trip and can't now be reimbursed for parking fees.
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While we are on airport congestion, the international terminal was a shambles trying to cope with inbound flights around midnight on Tuesday. A dormant carousel forced some passengers to wait 35 minutes for their bags. The baggage office blamed a "technical difficulty" - but only after complaints. Frustration in the snaking lines to immigration booths increased at bio-security, where there were too few staff and many angry exchanges. An Australian visitor said: "Jeez, you go from one bottleneck to another in this place." Privately, airport staff admit it's a dog's breakfast. Any complaints, don't phone Air NZ, bio-security, or immigration. Phone Auckland International Airport Ltd, the public company that runs the show. Tell it that it desperately needs to improve its communication skills.
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A British millionaire has paid around $330,000 for the number plate 1 HRH. The businessman, who wished to remain anonymous, said he'd bought the registration as an investment and, because of its potential royal connotations, was "determined to keep it in British hands". He said: "In my mind, there aren't many registrations that can better 1 HRH." The mystery buyer will use the plate on either his Bentley or Rolls Royce.
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Forty-five Lancashire police officers assigned to help install road signs had to complete a two-hour course on how to safely climb the 1m ladders they would use. A police spokesman told the Daily Telegraph: "If we didn't do it and people were falling off ladders, we would be criticised."
alastair.sloane@nzherald.co.nz
