Kerre Woodham: It's the same old song the world over

It doesn't matter where you are, what country you're in, the news is the same. Naturally, the tsunami in Asia has dominated headlines the world over, but even the slants being taken are the same.

There has been a focus on local people involved in the tragedy; the amount of money being raised by the people of each country and the failings of the leaders in responding to the tragedy.

Helen Clark has had to defend the time it took her to get back from her Christmas break, cross-country skiing in Norway; British Prime Minister Tony Blair has been on the back foot since his family holiday in Egypt.

There are other stories too that are strikingly familiar. Authorities in England and Ireland are unapologetic about the use of hidden speed cameras and penalty points doled out to speeding drivers, and members of the public are apoplectic about what they see as government revenue gathering. Sound familiar?

And in Dublin, my taxi drivers were tearing out their hair over the inability of the council to come up with ways of solving the traffic congestion. They told me there should have been a light rail system put in years ago. They complained about the cost of extra roads being built and said that would just add to the snarl-ups, and they were furious at political procrastination.

They all expressed surprise at how well informed I was of their city's traffic problems and when I told them it was because exactly the same thing was happening in my home town, they appeared relieved. Maybe we're not the only useless bollocks in the world, one of them muttered.

I was able to reassure him that when it comes to useless bollockses, Auckland's council is up there with the best of them.