Wellington thanks Hokitika and the rest of New Zealand for donating to the Arty classes. Quite often with an arched eyebrow, outstretched palm and slightly superior scratch of the collective chin ;~)

On the point of the high turnstile numbers for Te Papa, thats what happens when every school within 200 km is shipped in for free by Te Gumint.

They joined the EU open market, got subsidies and large direct investment, reformed their tax system – perhaps the “economic pay-off” wasn’t entirely resultant of them switching to pinot & increasing their artists funding.

The way it works now is simple. If you want Arts, and the anti-business, anti-infrastructure attitudes don’t bother you or don’t affect you, you live in Wellington. Otherwise, you join the exodus to Auckland.

A couple of points:

(1) I’ve been to quite a few concerts that sold out the Aotea Centre or the Town Hall in recent years… by the NZSO, NBR (yuck) Opera, NZ Ballet, etc. When you think about it, if you count Symphony under the Stars and the like as broadly classical, you might even find more people indulging in this elitist culture than in pop culture.

(2) That should probably be “Nat-tering” classes. Did you know that the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council was established in 1963 and the New Zealand Film Commission in 1978, for example? What do those two dates tell you?

(3) The Irish seem to have done rather well by subsidising the arts, demonstrating that there is an economic pay-off.

(4) We’re pinot drinkers now.

Nah Many cultural activities such as drama and classical music suffer from the problem that no one wants to go and watch the shit they put on. Splitz Enz concert? Sold Out. DD Smash?? Same thing. Fuck me plenty of people would line up to go and see Howie the Maori sing about how his Old Man’s An All Black.

But why do the NZSO or Ballet need taxpayer subsidisation – cos hardly anyone wants to go and watch that shite. Its welfare for the chattering classes paid for by the working classes.

Why is it okay to throw 20m a year (or whatever amount it is) at the sacred cow the chardonnay sippers call the “Arts” but not okay to throw a couple of mill at a Street race or to do up ‘Puke?

Oh thats right cos a motor race is of interest to the low brow working class – and they only that happen to fund this arts programme (and a braying shithouse for a half a buck isn’t art – its a waste of fucking money thats what it is)

As for Te Papa, they do not have such a contrains. However, more people have donated to Te Papa than AWMM. Simply because they have this donation box at the entrance. They know their consumer psychology and can get your money!

I think in a away, Aucklanders are in Auckland for a reason – they are here to work their butts off so they can have a brilliant holiday in their home town. I am often amazed by the number of people in Slyvia Park the days after holidays, e.g. Christmas. Like, people have never been to a shopping mall on a ‘normal’ weekend? Do they have to come to the shopping mall when the sales last like weeks? Families rather go shopping, see a movie, go to the beach, walk the dogs, sit in a cafe… than going to see a festival, or a concert? Not that there aren’t people who goes to it, but the turnout is relatively small. Quite depressing!

As for John, we know he always want more central government funding to fund Auckland. Good on him. Who knows what you will get if you don’t fight for it eh?

I wonder what ex-serivecemen and women would say to the Te Papafication of AWMM.

I believe you’re “John” under another alias? When did you last visit Te Papa, and did you enjoy the experience?

Wellington Opera and Auckland Opera merged about a decade ago in the face of financial difficulties. The new entity, National Business Review NZ Opera, performs identical productions in both cities. It is logical that it is based in Auckland because Auckland provides greater paying audiences and private sponsorship funding.

I wonder what his problem with Chinese people is all about? Is JSF worried some Chinese criminal might cook him up for a black bean sauce dish?

Spot on Jafapete. Auckland also has significantly more shows, music concerts (big and small), sporting and multi cultural events, better shops, much nicer nearby holiday spots etc etc.

Happy to be a so called cultural philistine if it makes you guys down there feel better about yourselves

This does not mean that art should be or can be provided only by the free market, even if such a thing exists.

I’m quite happy to see a small share of public money, at about the level we currently have it, allocated to the arts. Not because I get to benefit from it (even though I might) but because I can see the benefits for others who can’t afford to pay.

Hard to see how that has worked with the NZSO. They are truly world class, as the reviews of their London concert the other year, and many of their recordings, show.