The little Southland town Tuatapere (pop 600ish) needs the roof fixed on the community swimming pool. So naturally the local blokes have stripped off for a fundraising calendar. The Southern Men Working Hard - Naked Fundraiser 2012, which is more comedy than titillation, sounds like great stocking filler: "Feast your eyes on a different Hardy Southern Legend every month," ethuses the Trade Me auction. "Let's face it, we know you gals have watched that Rugby Game and wondered what those boys look like, stripped bare, mud splattered ... that Woodsman wielding the massive, powerful, chainsaw ...the farmer, outstanding in his field..." Buy it (and peruse it) here.
Election fun #1: Don Brash calls TV3 reporter Patrick Gower a "deceitful bastard", one lone voice of reason in the Kiwiblog comments says: "Media Training 101. All journalists are deceitful and will sh** on you if you give them half a chance. If doorstopped, be polite and tell journo to make an appointment. Keep mouth shut at all times when camera's are present. Buy drinks for special journo's ie Soper."
Election fun #2: Now this is a marvelous idea for fans of politics...a live blog by the Listener's Toby Manhire who rounds up all the political carry-on for the day (as reported in the media) in a personable and informative way. In his latest, he points to this classic clip, the 1984 Leaders Debate between Muldoon and Lange , which boffins will know ends with Muldoon saying: "I love you, Mr Lange."
Election fun #3: Check out The National Party's 1975 'dancing Cossacks' ad - a bit of good old fashioned scaremongering that Labour were really a bunch-o-communists. According to NZ History.net Labour also stirred the pot with a controversial ad featuring an image of a piglet - Robert Muldoon, who is often called 'Piggy' by his enemies.
Election fun #4: An alternative pop outfit from Wellington have released a track bluntly called "John Key is a dick" for download. Sure to get the spin doctors shifting uncomfortably in their seats, the lyrics don't pull any punches:
