Tim Calder

Drawing on the very same traditions for inspiration that has influenced Highlanders Rugby we have proposed that our Stadium seating block be named after the most famous of Scottish Regiments the Black Watch.  Last night at the Robbie Burns a ballot was draw for the first seats to be picked in the new stadium amongst our Lounge Membership group. I was extremely fortunate this night to be standing next to Professor John Burke whose number was called first. Not knowing what seat to choose John asked me to help him whereby I got to  select the two best seats in the entire stadium for both him AND me! So you may say that I had first pick of the 31,184 seats available at the new Forsyth Barr Stadium at the University Plaza, and of course I chose the best ones to go with our Lounge Membership package!

It all began in 1725 when General Wade, as leader of the King’s Army in Scotland, set up six companies of the Highland “Watch”, dressed in what was to become known as The Black Watch tartan; inadvertently he created one of the world’s greatest and most enduring military brands.

In 1739 George II amalgamated these companies that had performed with such distinction to form a single infantry regiment which became known as ‘The Black Watch’.

The regiment spent the next 266 years fighting for King, Queen and country from its first great battle at Fontenoy in Flanders in 1745 to Fallujah in Iraq in 2005. Along the way The Black Watch collected an incredible 164 battle honours, 14 VC’s and a reputation that places the regiment in a category of its own.

Luke Herlihy and I (and a few other Otago MBA classmates) were going to give it our best shot at presenting the gains to students if OUSA was in support of the construction of the new Stadium at Awatea Street when quorum count was called and the meeting was closed as there were only 136 at the meeting when 196 (1% of student population) was required.

THAT OUSA rescind motion 26/07. “THAT OUSA does not support the construction of the new stadium in Awatea Street”

THAT OUSA rescind motion 27/07. “THAT OUSA does NOT support the construction of the new stadium in Awatea Street if it (or related development) either:

• Contributes to fee increases, or
• Negatively affects OUSA’s ownership or control of UNIPOL”

THAT OUSA actively establish a positive working relationship with the Carisbrook Stadium Trust for the betterment of students and the wider community.

THAT OUSA supports the construction of the new stadium in Awatea Street.

SGM’s are a way in which students can have their say in what they want from their University experience and how things can be improved for their betterment. The problem is though that as the University’s role has grown and technology improved the system in which OUSA is run has not. This system may have worked when the student role was 4000, 1% of this would have meant 40 people. Now that the role is up to close to 20,0o0 people, 200 people are required! This makes the logistics of coordinating the meeting considerably more difficult.

What I believe Edwin Darlow, OUSA President, is looking to instigate is an online voting system whereby all students have the ability to listen to motions via video feed and then after deliberation cast their vote. This would be a far better system as ‘all’ students would have the opportunity to have their say.

Forsyth Barr today announced the appointment of David Kirk to the Board of Forsyth Barr.

David Kirk is appointed as an independent director to the company.

Forsyth Barr Chairman Eion Edgar said, “We are delighted to be able to announce David’s appointment to our Board. David is well-known to most New Zealanders from being captain of the successful 1987 World Cup winning All Black team. He brings to our Board considerable experience and business acumen gained from a wide range of professional roles and public activities. David has enjoyed many achievements in his professional career and we are delighted that he has accepted the invitation to join our Board.”

David Kirk said, “I am delighted to be joining the Board of New Zealand’s pre-eminent locally-based financial services company and I very much look forward to working with a highly regarded Board and management team.”

David Kirk was most recently Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Fairfax Media Ltd for 3 years. Fairfax Media is the largest media business in New Zealand and is the owner of Trade Me. Prior to that David had been Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of PMP Ltd, Regional President Australasia for Norske Skog and in senior executive roles with Fletcher Challenge Paper and Fletcher Challenge Energy. David was also Chief Policy Advisor to the Rt Hon Jim Bolger, Prime Minster of New Zealand for 3 years.

Amongst his many other achievements, David enjoyed a highly successful rugby career playing for Otago and Auckland and captaining the All Blacks in 1986-87, before heading to Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. He has been President of the New Zealand Rugby Players Association since 1999.

He was awarded an MBE for services to rugby in 1987.

This excellent news comes as Boys Club Limited agrees to conmence trading with Forsyth Barr, the new stadium in Dunedin recieves its new name (Forsyth Barr Stadium at University Plaza), and the Otago University Rugby Football Club Inc. prepare for their 125th Jubilee celebrations over Queens Birthday weekend this year.

This afternoon I was the Dunedin guest on The Panel of Radio New Zealand National hosted by Wayne Mowat broadcast from Wingtatui Racecourse. I am not the biggest fan of this type of public exposure but I thought the experience could only improve my public speaking and provide an opportunity to talk positively about the Otago Stadium project being completed by the Carisbrook Stadium Trust. The first half of the show consisted of a political discussion in regards to both the NZ and US elections. I enjoyed the second half more as I had settled into the live discussion and was able to speak comfortably about the stadium as this is a topic I am more familiar with. Over all this was an enjoyable experience thanks to David Allan (Executive Producer), Chris Reid (Senior Producer), and of course Wayne Mowat from Radio New Zealand National.

The Carisbrook Stadium Trust has just completed their latest branding exercise which coincides with their release of a complete product range of stadium seating. The three main products available to the public are the Corporate Suites, Lounge Club, and Open Club reserve.

I have joined a group of colleagues that have purchased 100 seats in the Lounge Club right in the centre of the South Stand. We are hoping that our group will enjoy many years together where we can catch up whenever a sports game, concert or other event comes to Dunedin. It is encouraging to see that the hard work of the trust is finally paying off as everything is coming together as 1000 Lounge Club memberships look likely to be received by the 1st of February.

For those of you NOT on my Our Stadium Supporters Club mailing list, below is a copy of what was sent. If you would like to receive updates on the progress of the stadium please follow this link.

Dear Member

As you may be aware, the district plan change which is needed to re-zone the land for the stadium is progressing and the Dunedin City Council are now accepting further submissions on those that were received in the first round. Here at Our Stadium we noted there were a number of “standard” submissions against the plan change the content of which we do not agree with. We have therefore drafted a further submission and are requesting your help. We are asking that people take the further submission that we have drafted and send it to DCC. All you need to do is:

• Complete your name, address, telephone and e-mail
• Indicate whether you wish to be heard or not at the hearings
• Check you are happy with the contents – by all means please feel free to amend as appropriate
• Then either e-mail or post it so that it reaches DCC no later than 26 September

Your help is very much appreciated

Regards,

Tim Calder
Secretary

[Further Submission Form]

For further information about the project you can visit, Carisbrook Stadium Trust, Our Stadium Supporters Club, and Wikipedia.

10:06 The Sunday Group: The Dunedin Stadium Debate

It’s planned to be the biggest indoor venue in the country, a bright star in Dunedin’s otherwise (some say) flagging fortunes. But the proposed stadium, with its price tag of almost $200 million, has its detractors – concerned citizens who say it will cost a lot of public money, for little public good.

Chris Laidlaw chairs a panel that includes: Malcolm Farry, Chairman of the Carisbrook Stadium Trust; Bev Butler, President of Stop the Stadium; Tim Calder, a founder of the Our Stadium support group; and Otago Regional Councillor Michael Deaker.

Produced by Christine Cessford

While we are upgrading the Our Stadium Supporters website follow this link to Dunedin Stadium Redevelopment Supporters Thread which was formed independently of our group. This tread has provided me with some great insight to some of the activities going on with this development that I wasn’t aware of and has some interesting industry commentary:

Just noting here that cost isn’t an environmental effect, so therefore anyone for or against the stadium will only have their opinion on the environmental effects of a stadium listened to at any hearing.

The RMA specifically excludes financials from environmental effects.

J.H.Kunstler

This tread is a must read for all supporters with questions and comments.

The Our Stadium Supporters Club received an unarranged win yesterday as the Dunedin City Council public notifications to the land rezoning submissions were published with 108 for the stadium and 107 against. Even after heavy negative campaigning by the ‘Stop the Stadium’ group over these past few weeks, a positive outcome was achieved for the Carisbrook Stadium Trusts development. It was the decision of our committee that we reframe from rallying the support of our 3500 strong membership database as this would only slow the already delayed rezoning process. The intention was to produce quality submissions, not quantity, whereby submitters were able to be present to speak to their submission.