KEY POINTS:
The Government has announced plans to build a giant rugby ball-shaped venue in Paris during this year's Rugby World Cup.
From early October for about three weeks, the 12m high and 25m long structure, will stand on the Champs de Mars, close to France's iconic Eiffel Tower. Over 40,000 people are expected to experience a "virtual" New Zealand by visiting the venue while in Paris, but many more will pass by.
What do you think of the idea? Here is the latest selection of Your Views:
Chopper
If Helen Clark thinks it's such a good idea, why doesn't she get the private sector to pay for it? I'm sick of money that could be spent on fixing our shagged out health system, corrections, et al being spent on tourism via large rugby balls and yacht races for the super-rich. If the tourism industry is going to benefit, get them to put their hands in their pockets, oh that's right, their pockets are already full with the Government ripping over-estimated surpluses out of their taxes.
Boomshanka
I'm not into the usual Kiwi ego-stroking that goes on with NZ media but, quick, get the lawn mower out, someone has an idea that is a bit radical! There is so much negativity in these forums. $4.6m is nothing compared with the amount of exposure. Thank you to the French people for allowing this in your beautiful city.
Andy (London)
Good to see NZ getting promoted around the world, especially after the bad rap over here about "food miles". Sad to see the small minds in NZ that have to complain about any money getting spent at all to promote their country. Is it really the government's responsibility to feed people? Thought getting a job was up to the individual. Would throwing $4.6m at crime make it go away? Crime is a social issue that all NZers are responsible for. Consider that it's only about 2m euro which is very cheap considering the number of people that will visit that area in the 6 weeks of the tournament. In case you don't realise Norway is having a big push promoting itself as the "alternative" NZ at the moment. We need to do something to prevent them profiting from our reputation. I also note the whining about the Am Cup millions. Quick to bash the team for losing, but God-forbid we give them the money to be competitive.
Ian Morine
Why am I not surprised at the small-minded views of some of the contributors to this column after all when the old "natural party of power" (Nats) were in power, NZ failed to register on the world stage at all and just languished somewhere in the Pacific as another "forgetful" South Pacific nation. Now the rest of the world are taking notice when NZ asks a question, with great success for NZ's future! It's time some perpetually negative people in this country were dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century. 4.6 million is an incredibly small price to pay for such huge exposure for Kiwi innovation on the world stage.
Srumma (Perth)
This is a PR assignment that the country and the All Blacks are doing by taking rugby and New Zealand globally round the world where people may want to buy an All Black jersey or memorabilia or even visit our country which is what this is all about promoting the country. It's not our fault France or any other country can't come up with these PR assignments so the only way they can shut us up is win the cup and then it may be a waste of tax payers money, but money I think is well spent as the All Blacks have probably made the country more money than any other sport for many years that we have enjoyed success from them.
May be they could put Maori designs on the big ball so that it looks more attractive, stands out now on a computer graphic but would be even better with Maori designs, bloody great idea.
Fred Avril (Paris)
I happened to read these comments. I do understand money concerns. But as a French, with all the respect I have for your opinions, let me just point out that here, I experienced that 1 person out of 10 can actually say where New Zealand is, and yet, he may be mixing it up with New Caledonia! I feel the aim is not so much to promote rugby, but more to inform people about New Zealand itself, which, unlike some other islands, appeared to me as a very open-minded country, with issues as everywhere else, but with an overall great spirit. Cheers.
Kim (Henderson)
When are us "real" New Zealanders going to stand up and rid ourselves of these feeble minded idiots who are in Government. I am absolutely appalled at recent discoveries of the amount of money our country invests in ridiculous, non-beneficial, overseas ventures. Like most Kiwi's I am an avid rugby supporter; but with the last few months of natural disasters in this country why do the Government insist on such distasteful spending? 45million in total to the Yachting, 4.6million for a rugby ball? Refugees receiving $10000 handouts and a State House? Immigrants signing up straight away for the benefit? The Government is a disgusting bunch of Baboons! A re-election surely needs to be called immediately!
Dan
So first we blight our own cities with unbelievably abysmal architecture and shoddy garbage-y buildings (the roof coming off an entire apartment block? Only in NZ!) But do we now have to spread our propensity for urban blight to one of the world's most beautiful cities and monuments with this abomination! Embarrassing doesn't even begin to describe it. How come so much of what NZ does lately makes me cringe? Are we that backward and out of touch with the rest of the world? Yes, actually.
Carl Forster
Another waste of taxpayers money, and who do you find supporting it? The Labour party.
About time Labour fixed NZ problems?
Labour pains!
What a waste of money. Helen is nothing but a poser! Happy to look great to everyone else around the world while back home her nation is a mess. Put the money where it counts, not on yourself for once Labour!
Strapper (Auckland)
Over $100 per person ($4.6m for upto 40,000 visitors) for a promotion that the All Blacks will do all by themselves on the pitch? Not a business decision I would make.
The Kiwi
I think it would be a fantastic idea for the Herald newspaper to help foster a better relationship between France and New Zealand by sponsoring Fred Avril's love to travel to Paris for the occasion of this "bold and innovative" giant ball. While there she could also help educate him on the true gravity of New Zealand's weed war. I'm sure she would be pleased to provide a daily account to the paper of her travels and of the ball's construction.
Ian Morine
Absolutely wonderful, what an amazing achievement by the government to get the French to agree to this in the first place, just goes to show what an excellent reputation we have overseas! This has to be the biggest achievement in promoting NZ to the world, in our entire history, even bigger than the America's Cup. I can't wait to see the structure actually in place and the reaction it will get from visitors to Paris and around the world, during the World Cup.
B
There are people going hungry, roads that need to be fixed, crime that needs to be sorted out- and Helen is spending 4.5m on a rugby ball to raise the profile for the world cup. Is it me or this completely backward?
Simon (Auckland)
I think it'll be a blight on Paris. I'm all for leveraging profile from events, but this one is going to look really awful, really not that good an idea.
James
The mayor of Paris will do anything to appease those who remember the Rainbow Warrior. C'mon Helen, don't fall for the beads and mirror routine like the natives did 100 years back. If we were innovative and credible as this venue is claimed to model kiwis we would not seek the alliances of maritime terrorists to blast our way into recognition.
Trevor
Ummm, what's it for? A giant inflatable rugby ball? Sounds cheap and tacky. I'd say most of the 4.6m will be for the land! This government is so out of touch with reality its gone beyond a joke!
Andrew
Isn't is sad when NZ has to hijack these events? The event is in France. It is a chance for France to be on the world stage. NZ has its chance in 2011. And doesn't it show the sad state of rugby when NZ marketers have to roll into Paris to stir up the public?
Scrumma (Perth)
This is wicked, it's awesome, New Zealand and the All Blacks are really doing a good job of promoting the country, this is what professionalism about, and with the culture wow, the world will be astounded once again, just like when my cousin had his mugshot taken and hung off the side of a building in England as a Maori warrior, when they hosted the world cup in 1991. All that's missing to complete the assignment is the Web Ellice Trophy that's eluded NZ for two decades. If we win the world cup it will be well worth the expense the country has put in, and last but not least a thank you to the mayor of Paris for letting this project go through, but I know what the French rugby team will be thinking.
JJ, Kiwi in Aus
It is great that the government are willing to spend the necessary money and take advantage of opportunities like this, especially at a time when there will be a lot of attention to NZ. We cannot compare it to $4.6m worth of bandages or baby vaccinations as is the clichéd argument. That is primitive and simplistic thinking. It is an investment which returns to local industry. With this sort of support to the economy then perhaps NZ govt will be able to give more NZers reason to stay in the country and not find jobs elsewhere, as they do.
Le Fox
With the way French review the rest of the world it will be a waste of money. Oddly enough I find it strange that Helen will spend only a few million of the country's national sport but megabucks on sailing.
Mike (Wellington)
It's laughable. It's embarrassing. It's a waste of money.
Fred Avril (Paris)
I'm Fred Avril, a French musician, soooo in love with a Kiwi. I'm really embarrassed by history, especially as she happens to work in Greenpeace. Could I ever say all the good that I feel about your country. I'm in love with Wellington, "4real". On my first day there, I bought your newspaper. The big headline on the front cover was "NZ War on Weeds". As a foreigner, I thought it probably was about cannabis issues. Then I understood you actually gave the front-cover to a man who had the innovative idea of using a painting gun to prevent weeds in agriculture. That's when I fell in love with your country. So, first thing, I think this balloon project is crazy and great, I'm very glad to welcome it on Champ de Mars. Secondly I hope the relationships between our countries will get better and better (I'm not talking rugby! God, if you could only see how our daily puppet show dealt with it, hilarious). Thirdly, we would like my girlfriend inside the balloon for the trip: Could anyone help?
