Issue 19 - Sport

19

06.09.21

Salient Magazine

1

03

Editorial

04

Letters and Notices

06 - 11

News

12 - 14

When the Solution is your Problem

15 - 17

Political Games

18 - 20

Artist Profile / Centrefold

22 - 23

Jordans, NBA Streams & Saints

24 - 26

Good Sport Columns

27

Rice to Meet You (27)

Culture

28 - 31

Podcasts (21), Big Saturday Quiz (28), Rugby Mt Rushmore (28),

32 - 34

Entertainment

About Us Salient is published by, but remains editorially independent from, the Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association (VUWSA). Salient is funded in part by VUWSA through the Student Services Levy. Salient is a member of the Aotearoa Student Press Association (ASPA).

Complaints Complaints regarding the material published in Salient should first be brought to the Editors in writing (editor@salient.org.nz).

If not satisfied with the response, complaints should be directed to the Media Council (info@mediacouncil.org.nz).

The views expressed in Salient do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor, VUWSA, or the University.

Sink your teeth into it!

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Editorial 2021 is the 21st century’’s best century sporting year It’s 2021, and as we’re getting our vaccines and submitting to select committees, there’s a sense that history is happening around us. It’s been a hectic last two years and everyday seems more hectic than the last. The only thing that’s kept a lot of students going has been live sport.

We’re back to uni and we’ve missed out on a lot of things due to lockdown. We missed out on supporting our favourite local takeaways, Salient delayed Issue 19 by a week because we couldn’t get our computer, and above all, New Zealand sport got delayed. We have had the Paralympics on. It’s been awesome, we’ve seen New Zealanders give top performances—Lisa Adams won gold in shot put, and Tupou Neiufi and Sophie Pascoe won gold(s) in swimming.

Lisa Carrington won her fifth gold, cementing her position as our best ever Olympian. That’s just undeniable greatness.

This year has been eventful for our national sports teams; the Silver Ferns won the Constellation Cup, the Black Caps have won the inaugural World Test Championship, Team New Zealand won the America’s Cup, and all importantly—we saw our Black Ferns’ 7’s team win their gold at the Olympics. Both of us uphold that Ruby Tui was the GOAT of these Olympics, and she provided excellent TikTok content.

Sally’s local rugby team, the Hawke’s Bay Magpies, are the current holders of the Ranfurly Shield. Matthew’s childhood team, the Auckland Blues, won the TransTasman Super Rugby competition.

We’ve got every game of the Farah Palmer Cup (Women’s Rugby) available on television for the first time ever. It’s been announced that Super Rugby is getting two Pasifika teams and New Zealand is setting up a Women’s Super Rugby competition.

Overseas, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks to their first NBA Finals since 1971. The Melbourne Storm have won a record 19 matches in a row, making them the only team to do so in the 21st century.

Football’s not coming home for another year and to top it off, skateboarding at the Olympics was beyond legendary. We’re applauding that awesome inclusion.

Being a student magazine, we’re looking at sports a bit differently. Tom Andrews writes about the prevalence of gambling in sports for people in our age bracket and Niva Chittock dives into the intersection between politics and sport. Lachlan Ewing talks to us about New Zealand falling out of love with team sports, and Sally interviews basketball fans.

Signing off, Valerie Adam’s last Olympic effort was awesome. Thanks for being a legend.

Locally, it’s been an absolute pearler of a year. Our local Wellington Saints have won the National Basketball League, Hurricane Ardie Savea just captained the All Blacks for the first time this last Sunday, and the Wellington Phoenix had their biggest ever regular season home game, and the Wellington Pride have had a Sally Ward (she/her) and Matthew Casey (he/him) bunch of nail biters but are looking bloody strong in the Farah Palmer Cup alongside a hopeful Wellington Lions in the National Provincial Championship.

Brought to you by Peoples Coffee

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NOTICES & LETTERS A vital part of the Wellington $10 jugs We would like to express our solemn disappointment that Circus bar was not included in the $10 jug article. We feel that it is a vital part of the Wellington $10 jug map and should have been present.

Sincerely, Annoyed $10 jug fans

Yo yo theres a typo yo yo theres a typo on page 9 of this weeks (food) salient! the project is Lakes 380. not 360, that would be like lake Taupo spinning a skateboard or something

Submit Letters and Notices for future issues

by Tuesdays 5pm to editor@salient.org.nz

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Letters and Notices

www.salient.org.nz

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News

VUWSA Election / Vaccination / Halls

Hall Fees / Student Services Levy / Recap

VUWSA Election Dates Changed Matthew Casey (he/him) Salient has been informed that Victoria University of Wellington’s Students’ Association—Te Rōpū Tauira o te Whare Wānanga o Te Upoko ō Te Ika a Māui (VUWSA) have changed the election dates for their 2022 executive election. Voting will now open at 9 a.m. on September 27, a week later than the originally planned date of September 20.

This means that all dates concerning the elections have been moved to a week later than originally planned.

Nominations for the roles open at 9 a.m. on Monday, 6 September and close on Tuesday, 14 September at 4 p.m. Voting opens at 9 a.m. on Monday, 27 September and closes on Friday, 1 October at 11 a.m.

Photo: Student Union Building via VUWSA

After a meeting of the current executive on Wednesday, 25 August it was decided that the dates would change.

The motion was passed via email on Friday, 27 August.

learning. Given this, we believe the above changes would allow the best possible engagement with our nominations and election. Moving our election process back by a week will give students more time to adapt to their online learning environment before opening our nominations and allow further communications from VUWSA to encourage our tauira to run.”

This is the first time in recent history that the VUWSA election dates have changed, according to VUWSA CEO Matthew Tucker.

In a statement to Salient, VUWSA President Micheal Turnbull stated: “VUWSA understands how turbulent a time it is for many of our students as we navigate changing COVID-19 Alert Levels and a return to online

Details of nominations will be available via VUWSA in the coming days.

This article was originally published online on August 30.

Mauri Ora Offering COVID-19 Vaccination to Students

Mauri Ora has said they are contacting students individually when it is their turn to be vaccinated.

Alternatively, students who are eligible can book their vaccination through the Ministry of Health’s ‘Book My Vaccine’ website, or by calling their vaccination helpline.

The results of the elections will be announced at the VUWSA AGM on Friday, 1 October at 12 p.m.

Azaria Howell (she/her), with additional reporting

by Sally Ward (she/her)

Other student health bookings under Alert Levels 3 and 4 are done via zoom appointments or phone consultations rather than in-person visits to limit personal contact.

Mauri Ora, the student health service at Victoria Under Alert Levels 3 and 4, vaccinations are conducted University of Wellington, has been offering the COVID-19 under strict guidelines, ensuring the maintenance of vaccination to students since August 6, and has continued physical distancing and safety. to do so in Alert Levels 3 and 4.

“The Mauri Ora vaccination clinic runs each Monday, and The vaccination clinic is located on the University’s from Wednesday to Saturday, and has strict infection Kelburn campus, where the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 control policies in place to ensure the safety of students vaccine can be administered to all eligible students. and staff” Rowlatt told Salient.

International students and part-time students are included in the University’s vaccine rollout.

Mauri Ora are able to vaccinate 100 students per day.

Associate Director of Mauri Ora, Kevin Rowlatt, confirmed This article was originally published online on August 26 that 1000 doses have been administered as of 2 September. and has been modified for print.

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News

Halls of Residence Operate Under COVID-19 Guidelines Maia Ingoe (she/her) and Azaria Howell (she/her)

Victoria University halls of residence remain open during Alert Levels 3 and 4, however, it’s not an O-Week party. All students are masked up and socially distanced, hand sanitiser is at the ready, and COVID protocols are in place to ensure the safety of both staff and students.

Residents’ bubbles are their assigned floor, and students are strictly prohibited from visiting other floors with the exception of the dining area or to access the laundry. An email sent to residents stated that students must wear a mask when leaving their floor, even when moving around the hall.

Students are also required to sanitise and scan in, and remain a two metre distance from each other at all times.

Salient has been told by a hall of residence manager, who wished to remain anonymous, that they are taking steps to limit contact and remain safe throughout alert levels. “The halls are all undertaking the protocols for student accommodation as advised by the Government. The catering company is undertaking the protocols as advised by MBIE”.

staff in takeaway containers with contactless delivery.

Orders to the hall by the students are also delivered by staff in this case, as students are expected to isolate and must not enter the dining area if they are unwell.

Residents not self-isolating also have “staggered meal collection times with limits on numbers in the dining hall at any one time”, which follows Governmentoutlined protocols.

Katharine Jermyn Hall resident Isla Ren told Salient the halls are dealing with the situation “surprisingly well”, but says the communication from accommodation providers could be made clearer.

Detailing the information she received, Ren told Salient, “initially, they were quite unclear about whether people could return to the hall within the 48-hour travel period. But the advice was pretty much to stay where you were, and I decided to stay with my parents in Auckland.”

“Even though some communication is unclear, I think that’s the nature of the situation. It’s great that the hall is staying open for students that need to stay, but I guess that’s the bare minimum”, the resident added.

If a resident is a close contact of a case, they are required to isolate. No one is permitted to leave their floor if they are deemed a ‘secondary contact’ of an existing case. If this occurs, hall staff will deliver meals to everyone living on the floor to minimise contact and travel throughout the hall.

The University is offering support to students who are struggling during this time; residents who are experiencing financial hardship are encouraged to apply for the Victoria University Hardship Fund. In addition, with VUW switching to an online learning model, those who do not have access to a computer “[If a student is a close contact] the bubble in question can apply for one through the laptop loan scheme. is to isolate, with the close contact isolating for a full Students have also been advised to reach out to 14 days and the other members in the bubble to isolate student support coordinators through their hall if they until negative tests are received. The close contact experience distress. would have their own bathroom designated”, the hall manager explained.

The hall manager we spoke to said “Hall support is provided to all students, whether they are in [a] hall or Dining spaces in catered halls have also been at home. The students know that they are able to reach significantly altered to adhere to Ministry of Health out to the staff whenever via the duty phone as we guidelines. Currently, meals are served to students operate 24/7.” on disposable plates by catering staff, and students are expected to eat in their floor’s common room or Residents are being supported with check-ins, floor their personal bedroom. All catering staff have been zoom meetings, and Facebook groups, and can contact provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) the 24/7 duty RA phone number for support. which they are expected to wear at all times.

“We are supporting students in any way we can”, the If a student is a close contact of a case, Salient hall manager added. understands that all meals would be delivered by hall www.salient.org.nz

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Halls Managed by VUW Waive Fees for Residents Unable to Return in Lockdown

Sally Ward (she/her)

Te Herenga Waka has decided to waive accomodation fees for halls under their management from Monday, 30 August for students who are prevented from returning to their hall due to the alert levels.

The email went on to say, “we apologise for that mistake. Your Head of Hall will be in touch soon to communicate how your hall will be managing credits during Level 4 restrictions”.

In a statement to Salient, the University confirmed that “for students who are prevented from returning to their hall due to travel restrictions arising from all or part of the country being in Alert Level 4, 100% of the accommodation fee will be waived from Monday, 30 August until students return to their hall or the alert level drops to the point where students are able to return to their hall (whichever is earlier).”

The University has confirmed that most accommodation providers not under VUW management have followed suit with the fee waiver, this includes Te Puni Village and Everton. Stafford House has not decided how to proceed and are “still working through their decisionmaking process.”

New Zealand south of Auckland is at Alert Level 3. This will be reviewed on 6 September. Auckland is at Alert Level 4 with a review on 13 September. Northland is Alert Level 3.

At Alert Level 3, inter-regional travel is very restricted, with some limited exemptions.

The University has reported that halls are currently at around 30% occupancy, with around 70% of residents at family homes.

Safety precautions are in place and bubbles are mostly divided up between floors.

Katharine Jermyn Hall resident Isla Ren told Salient she “could not be more relieved” to hear the halls were not going to be charging students during lockdown, as she is isolating in Auckland with her family.

Residents were notified in an email sent by the Director of Student and Campus Living, Rainsforth Dix, about the decision to waive fees.

“It was the right thing to do and will lessen the financial strain on students massively”, Ren added.

It was reported to Salient that some residents received a follow-up email with a correction from Dix saying they This article was originally published online on August had “received a communication intended only for VUW 27, and has been modified for print. managed halls”.

“A change that will directly impact your wallet”: Survey About Proposed Changes to Student Services Levy Released Sally Ward (she/her)

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News

Victoria University of Wellington has proposed changes to the way the Student Services Levy is charged.

A survey is being conducted by VUWSA and the University which asks students which of three options they would prefer for levy charges in 2022. A link to the survey was sent to students via email last week and was open from August 30 to September 5.

The three proposed options are as follows: Options 1: keep the current charging system Option 2: introduce a per-points system for all students Option 3: introduce the per-point system, with rebates for current Wellington based students.

The Student Services Levy covers services designed to support academic life like Mauri Ora, Vic Rec, and clubs. Currently, the levy is charged at a fixed rate. The proposed changes would see the fee charged according to the number of points per course. This would be capped at a maximum of 150 points per year.

According to the VUW website this “would provide a more transparent and simpler charging structure that is in line with the way other universities charge student services levies.”

The proposed per-point charges would be set at $8 per point for students studying on-campus or off-campus within the Wellington region. The charge would be $4 per point for students studying off-campus outside of the Wellington region or overseas.

This would see significant increases in fees for fulltime students who study within the region. It would see decreases for students studying off campus or outside of the region.

While the survey was live, VUWSA President Michael Turnbull said “Completing this survey gives you the opportunity to have your voice heard on a change that will directly impact your wallet and the amount of money you pay towards the Student Services Levy.”

Turnbull added, “through this survey, we are hoping to gain a clear democratic mandate to shape VUWSA’s stance on the proposed changes to the Student Service Levy charging structure, to present to University Council, where the final decision will be made.”

The University Council is set to discuss the proposed changes on September 6.

This article was originally published online on August 31 and has been modified for print.

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NewsRecap: 30 August: West Auckland floods cause extensive damage to property

Extreme rainfall in Auckland on Monday night causing floods as high as “waist deep” has displaced dozens around Kumeū and surrounding areas, and the full extent of the damage is still being revealed. The Prime Minister said in a press conference on Tuesday that in such extreme circumstances, the breaking of lockdown bubbles was necessary. Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins urged those assisting with the cleanup to follow public health measures, keep track of who they are with and not to gather in large groups

31 August: First Afghan refugees arrive in Aotearoa

1 Sept: Judith Collins facing backlash over comments about Pasifika community

During an interview with Indira Stewart on Breakfast, Judith Collins insisted she has been in communication with the Pasifika community at the centre of the country’s largest sub-cluster of Covid-19 cases. The Assemblies of God Church of Sāmoa media spokesperson Jerome Mika told ^Stuff that no one from the church has heard from Collins or her team.

1 Sept: Students caught breaching lockdown travel restrictions

Two students, including one from Victoria, were caught breaking lockdown rules after they flew out of Auckland The New Zealand Defence Force have evacuated airport. The security breach, described by Chris Hipkins over 370 people from Kabul to the UAE following the as “disappointing”, has prompted the airport to ramp up Taliban’s takeover. These include New Zealand citizens, its security. Passengers will now be required to present visa holders, their families, and Afghani translators who documentation proving their eligibility to fly between previously assisted the NZDF. Some have arrived in the regions during lockdown along with their boarding passes country and have been placed in MIQ already, with dozens before flying. more to come. The Red Cross has initiated an appeal for clothing and household items for the evacuees, many of 1 Sept: Investigation underway after whom came with only the clothes they were wearing.

31 August: No more emergency benefits for migrants Temporary visa holders receiving an emergency benefit will get their final two days of payment this week, according to MSD. Among those affected are 25,000 international students. Many are reluctant to return to their home countries due to the Covid-19 situation, and because those studying have already paid exorbitant international fees and wish to complete their courses.

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News

death of Tāmaki Makaurau man following arrest A man in his 20s was taken to hospital after trying to injure himself in his cell, according to police. The man had been placed in a restraint chair by police, but was admitted to hospital when his condition deteriorated.

Police say an investigation into the man’s death on August 31 will be carried out.

Shit News.

Don’t mistake it for the real thing.

New couple enter bubble together because it will “only be three days” Eugene Pipefitter

On Tuesday, 17 August, the Prime Minister of New Zealand announced that the entire country was going into Level 4 lockdown for “three days”, and that Auckland and the Coromandel were likely to be locked down for a week.

Upon hearing this news, recent graduate Veronica called her partner Ronald to invite him to stay at her intimate 5 person apartment because, as Ronald reported, “it was only meant to be for three days, dude”.

Ronald had predicted that he would be in the flat for a long time due to him watching the news and knowing that “the Delta shit is fucked”. Despite his belief that he’d get along with a flat full of girls he “hadn’t talked to too much”, he contacted ^Salient on the 5th day to report that insurmountable tensions have arisen— “The girls she lives with are so toxic”.

“I feel like a guest in my own bubble, Veri Beary (Ronald’s nickname for Veronica) has already sent me to sleep on the couch because my snorings too loud”. He continued, “this was her fucking idea, I’m not whipped though, I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Upon hearing him say Veri Beary, ^Salient sent a private message to the other members of the bubble, whose responses were as follows: “I don’t know why this dude is at our flat, they started going out last week and he’s so cringe, he literally brought an entire suitcase as if he’s trying to move in here”

“They’re just another one of those annoying Wellington couples who aren’t compatible but decided to do lockdown together because they are so desperate to have someone like them” An independent investigation by Salient has found that Ron is in fact the toxic person in the bubble, despite being the person to report these problems.

When speaking to couples psychologist Brick Tamland, ^Salient discovered that this is common, and that “this lockdown, there has been an increase in toxic couples living together because they were deprived of intimacy in the 2020 lockdown. Even though it was only meant to be three days, people were actively aware of likely extensions.”

“This dude is literally shirtless the whole day, not showering, not cleaning his dishes, and Veronica has the absolute gaul to tell us that we need to be nicer to Veronica defended Ron: “I really think I can help him, yet she doesn’t even want to be with him” Ronald change, he’s just a bit misunderstood, like the Joker”.

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WHEN

THE SOLUTION IS YOUR

Tom andrews (he/him)

PROBLEM

In Ian Mune’s 1985 New Zealand film centred around illegal gambling exploits, Came a Hot Friday, the opening scene features a song with the line “The wheel of fortune’s going to spin for me, this time”. It’s always going to be this time, or this time, or this time.

Later in the film a bloke at a casino table says

“If you’re going to gamble, you’ve got to be prepared to accept your losses” —a sad reality not even I can acknowledge.

Young people in their late teens and early 20s have been gambling for all of human history. A sense of financial independence and the dream of getting rich quick has drawn people in this age bracket to get into pyramid schemes, cryptocurrency, and the all-beloved pokie machine.

The one I’ve fallen into is sports and racing gambling through the Totalisator Agency Board (TAB).

The three factors of gambiling being consideration (an amount wagered), risk (chance), and a prize, so my first experiences stem back to buying Weet-Bix for Stat-Attack cards in the hope of getting Sean Fitzpatrick, because he was a rarity around my school (I still couldn’t tell you what position he played).

There is an undeniable sensation when you finally get the big win. According to psychologist Mark It’s fun, it’s taboo, it’s addictive. I can attest to this as Griffiths from Nottingham Trent University, even someone who’s been up past midnight, betting on when a gambler is losing, their “body is still producing teams I’ve never heard of, in the hopes that I could adrenaline and endorphins”. Endorphins are your ‘feel turn the last $2 in my account into $10. In reality, a good’ chemical which you can get from activities such Scottish football team has no interest in turning my as listening to your favourite music or eating really money around for me, and just like that Aberdeen FC yummy food. Gambling can increase your endorphins, becomes my least favourite sports team for that week. which makes it more attractive to come back for That’s until I load another $20 in the account and more. Even winning a ‘free’ ticket in the Lotto can blow it all thinking that it was finally going to be the elicit a positive response, despite it meaning your time that the Wallabies would win the Bledisloe Cup ticket and likely loss got delayed another week. and my $10 bet would turn into $86.

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Feature : When the solution is your problem

in might seem enticing. You can even bet on political outcomes; a friend of mine lost a sizable amount betting on the US elections.

There have been developments in communities because of gambling and getting around sports and racing. I personally am part of a group chat packed full of sports fanatics, and it’s an awesome way to keep in touch and engaged with sports. The group “Boys Get Paid” is “A community of like minded, good people who love their racing.” Their website boasts “a community of 18,000 (and growing) avid racing and sports fans who don’t mind a beer and a bet.”

These communities offer refuge and a place for us to cooperatively enjoy our sports.

The rough part about these groups can be the fact that the commonality is putting up money that you might not have, for money that you furiously want.

Whether or not people are betting on NZ TAB or offshore, it doesn’t really matter when it comes to the issues with gambling.

Gambling Issues

Gambling in New Zealand has been long standing, with notable displays in the mid-1800s throughout the goldrush and at gala events. In his book On a Roll: A History of Gambling and Lotteries in New Zealand, David Grant says “where there was competition there was gambling.” Book makers were first established in the 1860s, and in 1881 our first gambling legislation was passed—the ​​Gaming and Lotteries Act 1881; prohibiting gambling, but with weak enforcement. The TAB that we know today was only possible due to a 1949 referendum to make off (race) course gambling legal. They opened their first shops in 1951, and have offered sports betting since 1996.

Another reality is that a lot of us can find ourselves betting alone. There are three notable TABs in town and from experience, it’s pretty easy for no one you know to notice you’re there. If the public spaces are too exposed, betting is at your fingertips through your phone. With the addition of Lotto and TAB to the iPhone, they have joined the world of online poker and slots, which are notorious outlets to flush through money.

But, this was still a notable problem before the internet. I sat down with Chris*, who was at university in the 1980s, an era without pokies or even sports betting. He reiterated that problem gambling is something that those who are good at isolating themselves flourish in. He points out the difference between gambling and other addictions: “The only way you think you can get out of it is by doing it more [...] The solution is your problem.” Chris’ story started from making his first bets in his early teens, which The number of options we have today is eye watering. traversed into his early twenties working at banks where he forged cheques to bet on the next race. He At 11:57 a.m. on Friday, 20 August—the big lockdown went to his first Gamblers Anonymous meeting at announcement day—there were 21 different sports 21, but only really took control of his addiction in his matches to bet on live on the New Zealand TAB, late 20s. He says the reason he was able to hide it is from Russian table tennis to League of Legends because “It’s not easily visible to other people”. This is Esports. With a lot of people having very little to something which in the modern age of online betting do because of lockdown, it is understandable that has become even easier, when the only real person in betting on Vladislav Chahur to win a game of table the world seeing your bet is you. tennis that could pay out $2.20 for every $1 you put www.salient.org.nz

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Chris reflects on how easy it was to hide. When he started living with his now wife, he would say he was going to his Saturday cricket, and instead spent the day and $500 at the TAB. On the way home, he would rub his cricket whites on the grass to make it look like he’d played the game. Not to the same extent, but I know countless people who tell fibs about their gambling. This is usually justified as ‘withholding the truth’ for their friends and family’s own good.

This is a cautionary tale of someone who was just a casual punter who took it too far. However, you shouldn’t compare your struggle to another’s as a way to justify or invalidate it; Chris adds “look for the similarities not the differences.” This can be said about gambling and other addictions—“Addiction isn’t prejudice, it doesn’t play favourites.”

There are many services that can help if you or someone you know is struggling with gambling.

These include Gamblers Anonymous, Problem Gambling NZ, and counsellors and community groups.

Problem gambling can be financially devastating to the gambler and those around them. It is the silent addiction that can be hidden and grow until it is out of control.

Other Issues : As for the sportspeople who we bet on, the modern world of social media can lead to punters sending scathing and hurtful messages because a league player accidentally knocked the ball on, and that meant that someone who was about to win $2,000 on the game lost all of their winnings. In March this year, Sydney Roosters legend Josh Morris received a message saying “F___ you you dog c__ you f____my multi, I’m out the front of leumeah stadium waiting for your bus to rock up, Wait till you walk out of that back door, you won’t know what hit ya”. This is only one example of some of the vile stuff that gets thrown at these people who are simply playing their sport. As Morris’ twin brother said: “We go out there and put our bodies on the line, you don’t need to come off to people sitting behind keyboards”.

Performance Pressures At a local level, speaking to Joel*, a former New Zealand National Youth League Football Player (Under 20s soccer), he told me about how prior to each season, they would have seminars about the gambling around their semi-professional games.

Notably they were told they couldn’t bet on any soccer game whatsoever, including a World Cup

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Feature : When the solution is your problem

final, because of the chance they could have any connection that could affect the outcome of the match. They were told that over a quarter of a million dollars was spent on each of their matches, but not on TAB or other gambling websites—the games weren’t even streamed. They had people gambling from the other side of the globe, offering these teen footballers large sums to simply supply their team list a day early to a bettor in China, so they could place their high money bets with their own bookie—“I had mates that that had happened to”, sometimes there would be offers like “Kick the ball straight out on kick off and I’ll give you 10 grand.” This correlates to the theme of people our age playing into a need for quick money for little effort. The pressure these gambling markets put on players is clearly immense, even for 19-yearolds playing for Hamilton or Nelson.

From all angles, the extremities of gambling are far closer than we often realise, with sports betting and countless other formats being available at your fingertips. The world has endless opportunities, and now is an opportune time to make sure that we’re keeping an eye on our mates and our own gambling.

There’s help out there, and if it wasn’t for noticing early signs, I think I would have lost a lot more before I realised how easy it was to.

If you or someone you know is struggling, there is help: Problem Gambling Foundation of NZ 0800 664 262 or text 8006 Choice not Chance 24 hour helpline 0800 654 655 or text 8006 Youth Gambling Helpline – 0800 654 659 The Salvation Army – 0800 530 000

Political Games Niva Chittock (she/her)

You can’t seem to have one without the other when it comes to politics and sport, much to the dismay of some. From Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s ‘team of five million’, to athletes taking a knee during the national anthem, and Tom Walsh’s near scratching from his Olympic event—politics and sport mix in a myriad of ways.

If we begin with regional teams, there are a few influences on affiliation, like territorial, societal, and capital factors. The dominant influence is territorial, explained by Dr Barker in familiar terms: “Many people think ‘well ok, where is my family from? I’m going to support that team.’ The most obvious organising principle we have is territory [...] and regional identities.”

Yet despite the varying scenarios, identity remains central to most interactions between sport and politics.

Affiliation, national teams, legends, and derbies just scratch the surface of what is a centuries-old attachment to sporting identity.

But teams don’t have to be designated by region.

In Japan’s top tier rugby union league, teams are primarily grouped based on companies, or capital influences. There are the Ricoh Black Lambs, Panasonic Wild Knights, and Honda Heat, to name a few. Regions come secondary to these differentiations, if mentioned at all.

I soon found out that this is a huge topic to canvas. To get some ideas straight, I sat down with Dr Fiona Barker, a senior lecturer in Comparative Politics and Migration Studies at VUW, to get her opinion on the matter.

We began by addressing an underlying cultural assumption: in Aotearoa/New Zealand, much of our sporting culture is direct from our Anglo-colonial period.

Dr Barker kicked off by saying: “There’s a particular sports obsession of Anglo countries […] [with] individuals doing sport all the time, and I think, it could be very Anglo-Commonwealth. But it’s not something which is shared [globally].”

It’s often not long before the “so do you play sport?” question comes out in social settings, in the hope of finding common ground. As Dr Barker said, this is not normal behaviour—certainly not something shared worldwide. My mother is a European native and initially found the Kiwi ‘obsession’ with sport strange, eventually getting used to it after 20 or so years.

Looking way back, many dominant sporting rivalries are derived from societal rifts, as Dr Barker mentions.

“There are all those local rivalries which, now, are just sporting rivalries. But chants, for a long time, harked back to the original rivalry which often arose around sectarianism or religion or different linguistic groups”.

Take Glasgow, Scotland. Considered to be one of the world’s biggest football rivalries, the two ‘Old Firm’ teams, Rangers F.C and Celtic F.C, originated from immigration and religious beliefs. Celtic came about as a way to help alleviate poverty amongst the Irish immigrant population in East Glasgow, while Rangers was set up by four Scottish friends on a local green in 1872.

From the early 20th century, openly Catholic persons were not “knowingly” appointed to positions of influence or signed as players in the Rangers club.

While not an official policy, it acted as an unwritten rule, exposing the Protestant views of those associated with the club. Celtic was founded upon the Catholic beliefs, often carried by those of Irish descent. Like the wider UK environment, this religious rift has caused many incidents since the inception www.salient.org.nz

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of the two teams. As recently as 2011, Celtic F.C. was investigated for pro-IRA chants at their matches and fined nearly $25,000 (NZD). At Old Firm matches, there is always a strong police presence, with officers separating the two sides in the stands.

then sit in that chest of national shared memories.

That’s part of the domestic (or internal) politics of the national identity of sport.”

Nationalism is present in our standardised, stateendorsed national teams like the Black Sticks, Silver Ferns, and All Blacks. The matching kit and national I spoke to a Victoria University student who moved anthem bind us all. But it can also function through to NZ from Glasgow some six years ago about this informal national teams too, like the Warriors, rivalry. They recall not being allowed to wear team Breakers, and Phoenix, who all represent New Zealand colours to school in case it instigated an attack and in Australian competitions. While not “official” state football shirts were an absolute no, especially in the teams, all those who are involved in that sporting street. Even when walking to games, you weren’t code come together to support the Kiwi team in supposed to have your colours showing, only able to display them once you were in your seat in the stands. Australia. Naturally, our favourite players in these sides may reflect our regional affiliations, but in the end, we still cheer for the team as a whole.

There was, understandably, a huge shock when they went to their first rugby game here.

Dr Barker has seen this herself at Wellington Phoenix games, a team she is a big supporter of: “it’s all about “My dad and I went and we were amazed. We were us and them. One that always makes me laugh is there like ‘what? They’re all just sitting next to each other.’ There were no designated areas for each team, the Phoenix games. When you’re at the stadium, the big chant that comes from the Yellow Fever section everyone was just in together. There weren’t police is ‘same old Aussies, always cheating.’” She then keeping the crowds separated either, just security explained the chant doesn’t make sense because guards [around the pitch].” half the Phoenix team are Australian and the chant Here, our regional team identities are heavily enforced originated from a cricket ball-tampering incident which had nothing to do with football. because we don’t have other ways to differentiate between teams. Dr Barker highlighted that having an affiliation can rub off not just on team culture, but Again, Dr Barker believes it comes back to the tropes associated with teams, and in this case, nations. “It’s on fandom too—much like the Unionist/Republican this very weird national trope which is taken back to debates circling the Old Firm.

“If I think of the Wellington teams, it’s very different to that mainland, heartland [idea] that is my sense of the Canterbury sport identity. In Wellington, it feels to me [like] the long-suffering sports fan is the trope for the teams as they sometimes have success but they often don’t. It’s part of the psyche [...] you sit at the stadium and you sit through the wind and the rain and think ‘oh we always suffer, we always lose, the wind is bad’.”

While we can be fiercely passionate about our regional teams and ties, we put them to the side when it comes to national teams, seemingly without issue. Dr. Barker sees this as an extension of political nationalism. “If we think about national identity it’s about delineating boundaries: who’s us, who’s them...states want solidarity amongst people to create national cohesion.

National sports teams going out onto the international stage provide a symbol for people to gather around…”

Sport fits the mould perfectly as a vehicle for nationalism and solidarity, hence why it is placed up on the pedestal of Kiwi society. Dr. Barker describes sport’s place in national identity in terms of memories: “[T]he idea that national identity is about histories that you share and symbols that are important to you [and the nation means that] great sports victories

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Feature : Political Games

the cricket underarm incident and then it is used to refer to all Aussies.” This is an example of national identity being reinforced externally. Kiwis have projected this image of Australians being cheaters, based on a one-off sporting incident. This has then gone onto ‘stain’ our perception of Australian teams and has seeped through into other codes. Political influence really begins to rear its head here, especially when you have the eyes of the world watching—it’s an immense amount of pressure.

There is no better place to witness external politics than the Olympics. The medal table is seen as the pinnacle for sporting prowess, and in turn, soft political power, on the world stage. In a recent Inside Story panel on Al Jazeera, guest Dr. Ross Griffin, a professor at Qatar University who specialises in the relationship between sport and postcolonial society, discussed this ‘soft’ power at the 2021 Tokyo Games. “[E]very country has a different agenda when it comes to the medal table. [Y]ou have the traditional ‘superpowers’ of sport; America, China and Russia, who will always be looking to the medal table to assert [that their societal sport] model is better than others […] [Then there are smaller states] like Taiwan, who [...] use mega events, such as the Olympics, to establish a sense of legitimacy, a sense of identity [...] And that’s where medal tables really are important for little and larger nations to assert a sense of national identity for whatever agenda is deemed necessary at the time.”

Australia has even gone as far as publishing its first national sport ‘doctrine’. It gives a projection of their sporting goals across society, national high-performance sport, and government agencies.

In the introduction, it states: “The performance of our elite athletes plays a significant role in helping to motivate and inspire, however, we are achieving fewer medals on the world stage, our competitors have improved significantly and our international rankings in many sports have slipped.”

Statistics mentioned in this document show that sport generates approximately three percent of Australia’s GDP, with 1.8 million volunteers and 220,000 employees in the sector.

Image: The trope that “Australians are cheaters” is based off this under arm bowl incident

Great Britain encountered a similar issue following the 1996 Olympics, where they won a single gold medal.

They poured money into grassroots and Olympic sports, in the hope of creating a future contingent of Olympic success, which has ensued since. Dr Griffin also looked at the UK in the context of the Tokyo Olympics, saying: “[With Brexit and the] mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, [the Olympics are something that] Boris Johnson and his peers in Government can cling onto. They can say ‘look, we’re doing something right here.’ I’m not exactly sure how they translate 15 or 16 gold medals into capital but that’s the job of the politicians to do.”

Back here in Aotearoa, we have our own ‘directive document’ when it comes to sport. Last year, Sport New Zealand—Ihi Aotearoa, released ^Every Body Active: 2020-2032 Strategic Direction^. However, unlike Australia’s model, it is more focused on the general population’s ‘sport literacy’, levels of participation, cultural understandings and practices of sport, and the overall wellbeing generated by being active. The purpose of our sporting document is very different to the Aussies. We want to lay out a pathway to get more Kiwis, especially rangatahi, involved in sport.

The impact of politics in sport is easy to see. In Alert Level 4, we can only leave the house for two reasons: to get essential supplies and physical exercise.

In Every Body Active it found that in 2015, 29% of migrants to Aotearoa identified recreation and leisure activities as their main reasons for coming here. Whether you look at it through a regional team, national one, or even our Olympic contingent, sport is integral to the Kiwi identity. Through our political interactions with immigration, national cohesion, public holidays (ANZAC Day and Boxing Day tests) and educational institutions, sport sits pride of place.

Having success at the top is perceived to trickle down As Dr Barker puts it: “[It’s easy to say] ‘oh get politics through the rest, and boost participation (and thus, out of sport!’ Well, you can never get politics out of funding) in these sports, creating a positive cycle. sport.” www.salient.org.nz

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ARTIST PROFILE

Olivia Edginton Hello! I’m Olivia!

I drew the centrefold for this week’s sports issue. I wouldn’t call myself a dedicated sports person, or even someone that exercises regularly. I even came last in the fun run in primary school. But moving your body feels good even if you’re not that good at it. This is for sports dabblers!

Olivia Edginton is an artist based in Poneke. ig @oliviaedginton.

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Artist profile / Podcasts

Salient Podcasts on Sport: How to Improve the Olympics ​​ don’t know about you, but we didn’t realise the We Olympics finished when they did. If it weren’t for the various TikToks from athletes arriving at MIQ in New Zealand, we wouldn’t even know that it had concluded.

Don’t get us wrong, we consider ourselves patriots and love people representing this country (Steven Adams come on man, just play for the Tall Blacks already), and there is no greater honour than to wear the silver fern. However, the Olympics are getting a little bit old. So how can we inject new life into this aging sporting showpiece? One words: Woodchopping.

Is Sports All We Are? When people think of Aotearoa New Zealand overseas, they usually think of one of two things: The Lord of The Rings, or the All Blacks. The All Blacks are a huge signifier of our nation’s culture, celebrating what we love most: big men throwing themselves at one other. The game of rugby is intense and exciting, and our team absolutely gives it their all, earning international title after title, and worldwide fame. They brought Māori culture to the forefront with the haka, which is now almost synonymous with the team to international viewers. But is that a good thing? Do we really want the first thing people think of to be sports, over the rest of our attributes?

Be honest, we need more flair in the games. Fencing? Just rewatch The Princess Bride. Breakdancing? What the fuck is that? Synchronised Swimming? That’s gotta be a typo right? Don’t tell me that if you were channel flicking and you saw woodchopping, you wouldn’t stop to watch in awe at these peak male athletes, plying their trade. The greatest of these is David Foster—Chopperroos royalty.

Let’s compare Foster to a rugby union icon for example (since Kiwis find rugby union more arousing than Rachel Hunter in “Stacy’s Mom”). Richie McCaw is considered the G.O.A.T of that sport, while David Foster is considered the G.O.A.T of woodchopping. Here are their stat sheets.

McCaw has two world titles, over 30 trophies won, and a win percentage of 89% as captain. Truly a legend of the game. Foster has over 1500 world titles, held the world title for 25 consecutive years with a win percentage of 98%.

McCaw wishes that he was as good as David Foster.

So vote to put woodchopping in the Olympics to at least recognise this legend of a bloke. Give the man his flowers.

As someone who didn’t grow up here, or in a sportsdominated household, I knew that sports were a big factor in many people’s lives, but never really grasped that myself. The 2015 documentary The Ground We Won took a close look at a rural NZ community, and the importance that their local rugby team holds. The film follows three team members, across a range of ages. It illustrates how the world of sports presents itself to each of them, and the role of rugby in their lives. While the film does touch on the negative aspects that contaminate some sporting communities, like toxic masculinity, it asks a question of legacy. What is the role of sports in the transfer of intergenerational culture and information?

The way this film presents this makes it instantly clear to me how sports factors into our lives. It is a community. And sure, it’s being increasingly commodified by big industry, but for us here in Aotearoa NZ, it’s a meeting point for people to share in the things they love; to laugh and cry and to celebrate our unique identities together. www.salient.org.nz

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Jordans, NBA Streams, and Saints: A Snapshot of Basketball in Wellington Sally Ward (she/her) I’m sitting up the back of LAWS301, and I can count at least eight NBA streams on screens. Colourfully swooshed feet dribble out of lecture theatres in droves. Steven Adams publishes a book. Basketball is showing up everywhere I go.

Back in 2013, Emily Steel of the Financial Times reported that “the NBA has been a pioneer in exporting its game across the globe”, with games broadcast to more than 215 countries. Steel writes that its global reach was in part established by a 25year effort led by David Stern, the NBA Commissioner who ran advertising campaigns everywhere from China to Portugal.

that other American sports, like football or baseball, haven’t. Basketball was first played in New Zealand in 1908 under the influence of J.H. Greenwood, who was appointed as the physical director of the Wellington YMCA. He had moved from Brooklyn, New York. By 1934, an excitingly big set of courts were put in at Hataitai.

I’m a new fan of the NBA (a Brooklyn Nets supporter) and have only been following the game for a couple of years. I have to thank my friends who shared all their knowledge with me. Last year I was randomly watching How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and was hit weirdly hard by the scene where Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson go to a basketball game, their shiny faces pressed between foam fingers.

Photo: Basketball courts in Hataitai, Timaru Herald, 1934 I realised that I might never attend an NBA game or experience the thrill of live basketball. This sent me on a journey to understand how basketball manifests Throughout the early-to-mid 20th century, the game in Wellington. grew steadily but not hugely. New Zealand went semiprofessional in 1981 when the National Basketball I went to two Saints games in their recently wrapped League was established. The 10-team league is now up season, dug around historical archives, and spoke to played from Invercargill to Auckland. Our local team, three fans of the game (NBA and otherwise). I’ve reached the Wellington Saints, won the 2021 season. There’s the conclusion that the NBA is massive, but we’re largely also the Australian NBL, which the NZ Breakers missing out on seeing the game live due to the potency compete in. of American cultural capital.

“Me and my Dad would shoot hoops in the driveway”, A lot of our other popular sports, like rugby and George Young tells me. This is his first memory of cricket, were inherited from England. Basketball basketball as a kid. In 2008, he visited China and saw is distinct in this sense and has taken off in a way one of the massive ads featuring Kobe that was part

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Feature : Indian Spice Starter Kit

of a Stern’s global marketing push. It was about then that George started taking an interest in the NBA. Initially, it was hard to watch games, but he could check the box scores online. George has been a long supporter of Oklahoma City Thunder because Kevin Durant was his favourite player. He already liked OKC “and then Steven Adams showed up, which I was happy about”.

He reminds me that back in the day Wellington had another team, The Hutt Valley Lakers, “after the big boom of the 80s”.

George sees that there’s been a huge push towards making the NBA a worldwide thing. Talking about basketball is a “go-to at the barbershop because there’s a high chance they’ll know about the NBA.” But George doesn’t follow local basketball. “The NBA is like the best players around the world competing, and that’s cool to watch.” He’s not really interested in the local scene.

Sam reckons “going to the Saints is the best value in town for sports to go and watch, because it’s not very expensive and it’s fun to watch.” He says the Saints are “well supported and have a long history. “It’s half the price of a game of rugby and [is played] inside so you’re not freezing your tits off.”

For Thabiso Sibanda (Thabi), who grew up in Karori, basketball is part of his identity. He’s been following the game from a young age. He remembers seeing it on the internet and understanding it as “a thing that black people do”.

Sam’s favourite local player is Leon Henry, who’s been playing for the Saints since 2004 and has won six championships. Henry also played five seasons for the Breakers in the NBL.

His son, 8-year-old Benny, wanted to comment as well: “the Saints are cool”.

I asked Sam why he thought local basketball isn’t hugely popular compared to the NBA. “People are uneducated that the standard is really good and wouldn’t be aware of how good the standard is.” He also noted that “there’s a lot of turn-over of players, which makes it difficult” to get “It’s like my interest in rap music, it’s still to the core of behind the teams as much. who I am as an individual”, he tells me.

An NZ basketball highlight for Sam was when the “It would be unfair of me to talk about basketball Tall Blacks came fourth in the world champs; “for me culture and not rap music”, Thabi adds. “Like, it being that’s, the most underrated game in New Zealand cool to play basketball was also at the explosion of history”, he said. it being cool to listen to rap music and also sneaker culture.” He summarised this as “black culture being A key theme I noticed in all three interviews is the exported to New Zealand”. way our adolescent experiences inform loyalty.

Associations of watching, playing, and talking about Thabi later started selling NBA singlets to kids at games become shared moments between parents and school. They were around $120 at Foot Locker “which children, and can form friendships between strangers. wasn’t very accessible”. As an enterprising teenager, he found some for $30 on a website and sold them for In New Zealand, the manifestation of basketball $50 at school. At uni, Thabi recalls how the basketball culture is complex. It’s undeniable that the NBA is hoop became the centre of hall life. If people were basketball at its best, in terms of players, sponsorship, shooting hoops you could look down from floors cultural significance, and popularity. It’s bigger than a above; it was great for a run around. Most poignantly, game at this point. The increased accessibility of the Thabi made a friend in a lecture peering over a NBA with the internet and social media has stoked classmate’s shoulder to watch a stream. international fandom. More specifically, as Thabi highlighted, the explosion in popularity of basketball I asked Thabi if he had any interest in supporting owes an awful lot to black culture and the intersection local basketball. “I’m a bit of a basketball snob” he of basketball, rap, and of course, sneakers. admitted, but thinks that it’s something he’d like to show up for.

Basketball is increasingly played as the sport of choice in NZ high schools, and we owe access to this to local Next, I spoke to Sam Fairley who grew up in Mana, organisations and coaches. Maybe I just wanted a Kate Wellington. He is a fireman with two kids, a huge NBA Hudson moment, but I’d say there’s a quiet history to our fan but also attends Wellington games. He played own leagues (both the NZNBL and the Australian NBL). basketball at school.

While we can watch clips and streams of the NBA, there’s something lovely about being at a sold out game at our He watched the Saints play “as a kid all the time. It very own TSB Arena. was really popular in the late 80s when it was on TV”. www.salient.org.nz

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Good Sports

the role of team sports in society has changed, are we missing out?

Lachlan Ewing (he/him)

We all know that teamwork makes the dreamwork.

There is no “I” in “team”. Together Everyone Achieves More. As well as through these corny maxims, many of us learnt the importance and warm fuzzy feeling of being in a team through our childhood sports teams. For many generations of New Zealanders, these frosty Saturday mornings were the start of a lifetime of involvement. However, our generation has mostly hung up their boots. I will investigated the changes in society that have led to lower participation and engagement with team sports at the grassroots level. In a time where so many people lack a sense of community and belonging, getting involved with grassroots sports teams could help to rebuild communities.

One doesn’t have to look back very far to find a time when sports, along with gardening, were the only mainstream daytime leisure activities. This golden age lasted until the 1960s, according to the Te Ara encyclopaedia. Grassroots sports clubs were vibrant hubs at the centre of communities, and you didn’t have to go far to find one. For example, Wellington’s population in 1960 was just over a third of the size of its current population. However, at least double the number of rugby clubs existed. Indeed, rugby reigned supreme not only as New Zealand’s most popular sport, but as its most popular pastime.

A dive into the Salient archives, however, reveals that at this university many other sports thrived. A Salient issue from 1965 covered the upcoming Winter Tournament between New Zealand’s universities enthusiastically. That year we were to send teams to Auckland to compete in hockey, judo, running, golf,

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Feature : Good Sports

table tennis, squash, soccer, badminton, basketball, and the pinnacle of university sporting endeavour, ‘the drinking horn’. Despite a much smaller student body, it appears that in years gone by the University managed to field as many, if not more, teams in most of the sports that are on offer today.

Rather than changing rates of participation, however, perhaps how sport was engaged with shows the biggest differences between that time and now. The Salient archives suggest that university sports teams used to be a matter of serious interest and pride here. This photo from 1950 shows a rugby game played in front of a packed grandstand. You would be forgiven for assuming it is some sort of high-level representative game. It is actually Victoria University vs Marist, 1950.

Maybe we are turning away from involvement and

Photo: Victoria University vs Marist, 1950.

A sense of community and belonging is just as essential to our overall wellbeing as our physical health is.

engagement with team sports at the grassroots level because there is just so much more that we can do now. A weekend can be filled with Netflix, Cuba Street thriftin, and brainstorming hot takes for your Instagram story.

had participated in within the last seven days. The top 15 most popular activities were all individual, such as walking, working out, running, and cycling. Soccer was the most popular team sport, coming in at a humble 16th and only played by 2% of the population that week.

On the other hand, perhaps there is just so much more that we have to do now. Studying and living in this city is a grind, and very expensive. No one would judge you for passing on sports because your weekend is spent working to pay your way, catching up on coursework, or just simply resting after an exhausting week.

Our society has changed, and for various reasons discussed here (and far more complicated ones that I probably haven’t even imagined) the role of grassroots team sports in society has changed. Less people play, and less people engage. This is a massive shame.

With less involvement in sports for a myriad of reasons, we are less engaged with the sports teams around us. Playing sport at university is no longer normalised, therefore, neither is watching it and reading about it. Furthermore, we have access to so much damn content, all of the time. In the pre-internet age, going to support a team on Saturday might’ve been the determining factor in whether you engaged with any other people that day, or learnt anything new.

The sports results from around the Uni might have been the most interesting thing Salient writers knew to write about. But now, the wonders of the World Wide Web are at our fingertips.

The drift away from team sports does not necessarily mean that our society has become far less physically active. Instead, more exercise is done individually.

While less people are likely to grace the rugby field or netball courts, more fill gyms and pound the pavement down on the waterfront. A 2019 study by Active NZ asked people which physical recreation activities they

This article was not written to preach the importance of team sports for physical wellbeing. As highlighted by the Active NZ study, there are many other pathways to being active. With an internet programme, a gym membership, and a bit of free time and dedication, anyone can achieve the same physical health outcomes as chasing a ball around every Saturday.

Nor am I nostalgically advocating a return to the ‘good old days.’ While a New Zealand with “no bloody TV and internet, where all the young men play good honest rugby for their local club on a Saturday” may be many a New Zealand First voter’s wet dream, this fantasy ignores the progress we have made as a society. Exposure to new options and new information has enabled many to express and enjoy themselves in all of the wonderful ways we see today. There were limited roles in the old world, and they weren’t for everyone. For example, there is so much more to look forward to on a weekend for young women who, if born decades earlier, might have spent it preparing food for the post-match function on Saturday and washing uniforms on Sunday. www.salient.org.nz

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For all of our progress, however, many people today lack a sense of belonging and community.

T. S. Elliot reflected that “Television is a medium of entertainment which permits millions of people to listen to the same joke at the same time, and yet remain lonesome.” The same could be said about many 21st century channels of entertainment and recreation. Data on sense of community is not collected across the whole of New Zealand, but the Canterbury Wellbeing Index has collected data for their region over the last decade, which provides a snapshot of the country. The amount of adults who feel a sense of community with those in their neighbourhood has steadily fallen, and they are now a minority. This sense of community was especially low in urban areas, and in young adults. A sense of community and belonging is just as essential to our overall wellbeing as our physical health is. To improve both at the same time, partaking in a team sport could be a two for one fix.

International Relations Master’s student Shriniketh Bharadwaj joined the Victoria Hunters Rugby League Club this year for his first ever season. What he appreciated the most was the family environment fostered within the club. He felt that “Everyone looks out for everyone, no matter how new you are. It’s a cliche saying you’re a part of a sports club for life, but it really feels true with this bunch.” Whether it was with players, coaching staff, or just the supporters, Shrini felt there was definitely something deeper than just the love of rugby league that everyone felt at the Hunters. “It was amazing developing friendships with great people while playing a sport I love!”

Shrini is both very fast and brave, so he scored a few tries and received the club’s Student Player of the Year award. However, we are not all blessed with sporting ability, and even playing in very social teams may be daunting. That is totally understandable, but does not have to stop us from being involved with grassroots sports. There is constantly so much sport going on in the community and around University that anyone is welcome to come and support. Even at the most grassroots level, enthralling drama can be found.

In fact, local games can often be more entertaining than watching the pros on TV. The players are more relatable, the displays of skill more surprising, and the errors more dramatic. Rising to cheer on the sidelines, you may even feel that warm team spirit that has gotten us so far.

So, when lockdown comes to an end/ After emerging from another lockdown, let’s make the most of our freedom to sweat, cheer or jeer in close proximity to our fellow strangers, and get amongst it!

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Feature : Good Sports

Even at the most grassroots level, enthralling drama can be found. In fact, local games can often be more entertaining than watching the pros on TV. The players are more relatable, the displays of skill more surprising, and the errors more dramatic.

Rising to cheer on the sidelines, you may even feel that warm team spirit that has gotten us so far.

Photo: VUW Hunters celebrating and embracing photo taken by Tuna Talamaivao

Hi! We’re Anoushka and Laurelei and it’s Rice To Meet You. From dating, to pronouncing ethnic names, to racial imposter syndrome, we’re Salient’s resident Asian aunties giving completely unsolicited (but somewhat sage) advice.

THE LOCKDOWN LIFE Hello fellow quaranteens! I thought it would be fun to With both of my parents being essential workers, tell you about my lockdown routine because there’s lockdown life isn’t too dissimilar from the times nothing else going on in my life that I can tell you about. before my brother and I picked up an excessive amount of after-school extracurriculars. But after the I wake up most days around 10 a.m. Some days I don’t third time of not paying any attention whatsoever to wake up in the morning and end up having breakfast my backlog of recorded lectures, I’ve decided that a at lunchtime, but we aren’t going to talk about that. far more entertaining way of passing my lockdown After dragging my ass out of bed and immediately time is to over analyse every single thing my family regretting it, I slowly head upstairs. I open the door has ever done. to the living room and stare at my parents for a bit.

They’re both working from home and have little Although my childhood was free of any tigerstations set up to do their work. They stare back at parenting and super strict rules that some of my me and before they can ask me why I’m getting up friends have had to grow up with, my family has so late, I shut the door and shuffle into the kitchen had its fair share of both generational and cultural to fill my empty belly with Weet-Bix. It’s quite a deep differences. While neither of these things are exclusive and meaningful little morning ritual we have going. I to Asian or immigrant families, they ^are especially read while I eat in order to maintain literacy and then prevalent in them for obvious reasons. And being go downstairs again. I usually also go into my sister’s stuck in Level 4 with my family amplifies the good, the room so I can stare at her too… maybe throw some bad, and everything in between. stuff on her bed, mess up her room a little bit, and then leave. Finally, I’m left in my room to catch up on The second best thing that my parents brought over the week six lectures I couldn’t be arsed attending. from their Singapore apartment was the game of By the time it’s evening, I make tea and indulge my Taboo (the best thing being me, duh). Ignoring its newfound and crippling embroidery addiction. Once newly ominous rebrand, the game of unspeakable fun I have cross-stitched until my eyes start hurting, it’s highlights that communication is a big thing in the usually around 2 a.m. and time for sleep. Then I get up literal and abstract sense. the next day and do it all over again. As a wise poet once said, “Same shit, different day.”

Sometimes my and my brother’s heavy use of TikTok references is as confusing to my parents as Tagalog While this routine may seem absolutely rubbish, I hope is to us. Words of affirmation have also never been it amused you for the short amount of time it took you anyone in my family’s strong suit—that stereotype of to read it, and that you feel much more content about almost never hearing the words “I’m proud of you” is the situation we are all in, knowing that you DO NOT kind of true. Instead, I’ve come to learn that my parents have an embroidery addiction. Stay safe and spread will communicate their pride by either a) posting about those legs! it in the extended family group chat because telling a distant aunt that I’ve never met is more important Anoushka Divekar (she/her) than expressing it to my face, or b) bulk-buying a very specific snack that I mentioned I liked once. I don’t think I can eat another bowl of Vogel’s granola ever again, but the sentiment is much appreciated.

Laurelei Bautista (she/her) www.salient.org.nz

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Plan your Saturday night in Wellington and we will tell you which New Zealand sports star you are

1

It’s Saturday night.

Drinking?

If yes go to 2.

2

If it’s to drink an excessive amount of RTDs and have a wild night in town, go to 3.

For a few quiet beers/a tasteful bottle of vino at chill flat drinks, go to 4.

If no, go to 5.

3

What are your plans for the night?

You wake up feeling dusty on Sunday morning. How will you deal with this predicament?

4

If you have a yack, go back to bed, and then rise again in the afternoon to go find some KFC, go to 8.

Good on you for not drinking! Are you still going out anywhere tonight?

If yes, go to 6.

To stay home, go to 7.

Where are you off to?

If you want to go out and learn some new skills, take a night class, or further develop yourself, go to 12.

If you instead plan to give up your Saturday night in service (sober-driving/looking after your toasted mates/volunteering for a charity) go to 13.

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If it was because you got into a heated political argument, go to 10 If it was because you had sports/training the next morning, go to 11.

If you scull a fruit smoothie and hit the gym to sweat the toxins out, go to 9.

5 6

Unfortunately, you had to leave the party early.

7

What are you up to at home?

If you are studying hard/on that assignment grind, go to 14.

If you are going to put on a cosy woollen sweater and make arts and crafts with your flatmates, go to 15.

8 10

You are Colin de Grandhomme!

You are a loveable grub, who cares little for conventional health and wellbeing wisdom. You are the life of every party and the class clown in tutorials. No one is quite sure how you endure the punishment you put yourself through every weekend, but you’re still out here surviving and thriving. Keep doing you boo.

You are Louisa Wall!

Shout out to Louisa Wall, who represented New Zealand at both netball and rugby world cups. You may know her today as an MP for Labour. Like her, you are a bit of an all rounder, but speaking up for what’s right has always been the most important thing for you. Unfortunately, this can land you in hot water from time to time, and your friend circle shrinks a little every time you post on Instagram.

You are Sonny Bill Williams!

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9

You are a bastion of all round excellence, on a continual quest for self improvement. You want to climb every peak life has to offer. It is a taxing path you walk, and as a result you have few friends. You may even have your own posse of ‘haters’. But block them out, they are just simps for New Zealand’s tall poppy syndrome.

14

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You are Jordie Barrett!

You like to party hard, but you back it up with hard work. Your ability to get shit done on a dusty Sunday is second to none. Chances are you’re a Law student who is just as likely to be caught bragging about either how many hours you’ve studied for torts, how many standards you drank at the law ball, or how challenging your F45 classes are.

You are Ruby Tui!

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You’re the fun as Olympic gold medalist Ruby Tui. You bring huge positive energy to those around you, but you’re also disciplined enough to be the best at what you do. No one is as crack up as you are.

Your discipline can lead to you having more humble weekends than others.

You are Roger Tuivasa-Sheck!

If you are reading this, you won the quiz. You are humble, loyal, kind, and brilliant. You have a smile to melt the iciest heart. But you can’t fix everything in the world. Perhaps you are putting far more energy into people around you than they are giving back. Give yourself a break and don’t be afraid to cut them off. You deserve to indulge yourself from time to time.

You are Lydia Ko!

You were a child prodigy, and now you’re a devotee of the #grindset as you to try to realise the impossibly high expectations that were put on you at a young age. You sit alone in lectures, but prefer it that way. Congratulations for graduating top of your class.

15

You are Eliza McCartney!

Taylor Swift is your deity. You are cottage core to the bone. Some people find you adorably cute, some find you infuriatingly cute. Perhaps they are just jealous of how well decorated your room is with achievements

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My NZ Rugby Mount Rushmore Statistically, support of rugby in New Zealand is reducing: half empty stadiums for a Bledisloe Cup Test, and Sky subscriptions going down so less people are watching at home. To be fair, it’s quite boring to watch a nation who has systematically made it so that they win every game.

I am a rugby fan who doesn’t care much for rugby. I believe that’s because the powers that be have made it as undesirable as possible. The rugby players I gravitate towards don’t draw me in through their talent on the field per-say, but rather if they are good people who are also talented on the field.

I have a huge number of conflicts of interests in writing this list, so here it goes. I am born in Australia (Wallabies fan); I think rugby league is a far more interesting sport than union is (Kiwis fan); My local rugby support goes in this order: My mates’ U85kg men’s team’s, Wellington Pride (FPC), Auckland Seagulls (NPC), My Highschool’s first XV, Auckland Blues, and then probably my Godson’s team. I am also a 21-year-old, so my historical view doesn’t go too far back.

Matthew Casey (he/him)

Portia Woodman

Portia Woodman is like the Serena Williams of rugby. She is a person who has played elsewhere, playing netball for the Northern Mystics. Her list of accomplishments goes as such: one Rugby World Cup, one Olympic gold medal, one Commonwealth Games Gold medal, and one Sevens Rugby World Cup. Woodman picked up rugby in 2012, and has since made herself arguably the best player in the world. When Rugby was announced for the 2016 Rio Olympics, New Zealand Rugby Union set up a drive to get some of the best sportspeople across to play rugby for those games, and me oh my, Woodman did not only shine—she became one of the greatest of all time.

Woodman attended Mount Albert Grammar School. I used to go swimming at the pool at MAGS; in fact, I made my primary school’s swim team trialling at those pools.

Honorable mentions go to: Richie McCaw Ruby Tui Patrick Tuipulotu Dr Farah Palmer Brad Thorn Pat Lam Tana Umaga Louisa Wall Jonah Lomu Doug Howlett Salesi Rayasi

All are/were top players with a little bit of something else in their bag of tricks; rugby lacks personality and these are some of the legends who have added some to it.

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Review / Poetry

Sonny Bill Williams

One of New Zealand’s best all round sportspeople.

Sonny Bill has won two Rugby World Cups, two NRL Premierships, one Super Rugby Championship, and has been a heavyweight champion boxer both locally and internationally on top of a bunch of other stuff. He’s a sportsperson’s sportsperson. The talent he brought to the oval ball is undeniable.

Currently living in Australia, he is an advocate for change in both sport and our world. When congratulating Aaron Smith on 100 caps for the All Blacks, he shared this caption: “They say it’s not where you start, but where you finish. To me, it’s about the journey and the growth one gains from it. Congratulations on 100 test caps my bro but more importantly the man you’ve become. Keep leading the way Koro. <3” - very wholesome His cultural impact as being the verbage for a very impressive tackle and the nounage for a very good looking haircut. To be labelled Sonny Bill was one of the highest honours on the rugby field or at morning assemblies throughout my schooling years.

Sonny Bill was raised in Mount Albert like myself. He, like Woodman, attended MAGS. There’s a soft spot there. but I’m literally talking about one of the best sports people this country has ever seen. Big shoutout to NZ League legend John Ackland for scouting him. He played for Marist Saints, who play at Murray Halberg Park, a place where my old man and I run through sometimes. This is a stretched connection, but I’m claiming it.

John Kirwan

I never watched John Kirwan as a player, heck I barely took note when he was the Auckland coach. If you search up his try against Italy in the 1987 Rugby World Cup you’ll quickly see why they rated him as a player. A highlight of his time coaching Auckland was when he brought over Benji Marshall, one of my favourite sportspeople ever Re: 2005 NRL Grand Finals and the skux haircut. Somehow this didn’t work out.

Alice Soper

Alice Soper is one of the biggest activists in women’s rugby, and has been making sure that both the public and New Zealand Rugby are taking the game seriously.

After the best part of the last two decades playing top grade rugby in Wellington, Soper has stepped away from the game as an elite player, but has continued this work as an elite advocate. She’s very much worth an IG or Twitter follow to keep you up to date with the happenings of womens rugby. As a founding member of Women in Rugby Aotearoa, she is the leader of the fan’s subgroup and is doing an amazing job.

The other day I was fortunate enough to sit down and interview her for another media outlet; she taught me about women’s rugby and much more, leaving me with this absolute pearler in reference to going against the grain: “Like, I always think when people grow up, it’s like we’re all on a conveyor belt. It’s up to you when to step off, right? You can go the whole way to the end if you want, like live the life that people tell you you’re supposed to.

But more interesting people are the ones that choose to stay off. And it’s like, what point would you choose to do that? And so the interesting point, I guess, in terms of growing up in that house is that we grew up knowing that the conveyor belt existed and that a lot of people don’t.

And so you spend longer before you realize ‘where am I going?’ Is this actually about me or is this about other people’s expectations of me? And so if you like, [you] can free yourself from other people’s expectations.”

Springbok tour of New Zealand. Pretty much everyone thought this was a bad idea, including JK, so he decided it would be a bit shit if he went. He pulled out.

Most of us now know JK as the mental health advocate, who appeared on our screens growing up advocating for seeking help and going to depression.org. JK has gone on to write books such as “All Blacks Don’t Cry” and set up the Sir John Kirwan Foundation, helping with conversations around youth mental health in New Zealand.

JK is a legend for his work off of the field. In 1986, he and David Kirk were the two players who withdrew from playing for the Cavaliers, a controversial team who toured Another notable fact is that John Kirwan is the only South Africa, rebelling against the NZRFU’s decision person on this list to play for the Mighty New Zealand to not play there, five years after the infamous 1981 Warriors.

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Word Wheels: Make as many words as you can with the letters provided. You can only use each letter once.

Every word MUST have the letter A in it.

2

1

Pass - 8 words - including the 9 letter word Good - 12 words - including the 9 letter word Great - 16 words - including the 9 letter word + the 8 letter word Awesome- 20 words - including the 9 letter word + the 8 letter word

Pass - 8 words - including the 8 letter word Good - 12 words - including the 8 letter word Great - 16 words - including the 8 letter word + a 6 letter word Awesome- 20 words - including the 8 letter word + both 6 letter words

What’s that NZ team?

These are teams found in New Zealand but their titles have been jumbled.

Unscramble to decipher the team name.

wart horsier - Rugby League: ________________ claus pre pent - Netball: ________________ riders bf - Cricket: ________________ ark beers - Basketball: ________________ me fill violin - The Whole Nation: ________________

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Puzzles

Word of the Week

Skuxdoku

“sport” Te Reo Māori hākinakina New Zealand Sign language

Last Weeks Answers

Salients Sticky Sports Problem:

+

= 16

-

= 1

x

= 60

+

-

= www.salient.org.nz

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D Aries

Taurus

Gemini

That break seemed a bit no good?

You were able to have a little bit of a rest but now life’s seemed to get all hectic. You’re doing good persevering through these rough times. The stars love Aries, you’re like the coolest.

Keep up the good work!

Due to meat shortages or personal choices in lockdown, you may have been drawn towards meat alternatives. Just go to stuff like tofu and not fake meat. That stuff doesn’t cook like normal meat. Drink water and smile, you’re a source of energy and you’re shining bright, just like the sun.

Sweetie, let’s face it. You’re bored out of your mind. Lockdown has been arduous and repetitive, you might be wondering what the point was, and how leaving it might be any better. You know why? You have that energy bubbling inside of you.

You’ve always been the life of the party, go prove it now.

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

Gosh, uni is back and in full swing.

Try to hide your shady looks from your non-like minded tutorial partners this week. Your emotions can reach into you so deeply sometimes, and throughout the last couple of weeks, I feel like they have. Give yourself a break, be a little shallow this week.

Leo season was getting far too hectic—the stars were getting a bit jealous of all the fun you guys were having and put us in this weird predicament we’re in right now. Keep your mask on and your head held high; online learning will be rough, but you’ve got this.

It’s that Virgo time of year and all this lockdown stuff has led to a weird start.

Since there’s been an array of weather conditions in Wellington recently, seize your opportunities when it’s sunny to celebrate your time of year.

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

You’ve dragged yourself through hell and back, but what do you have to show for it? You know the meaning of love and relationships, but it’s time someone showed you. Take a step back this week from unrequited love this week, and repair the relationship that you have with yourself.

When dissociating this week, remember what you love and possess. Now think about what you could have, if you both wanted AND actively pursued it. You know pain can be stimulating, so let another type of pain come to focus—regret.

Change your actions, change your future. Maybe that good feeling might stay a little longer.

You’ve entered your Cathy Freeman era. You’re gold! With all the commotion happening, the moon has said that you’re going to do awesome in this final stretch of the year, even if you think you might not be able to at the moment. Let yourself do the joking, laughing and entertaining.

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Ah, my Caps. I love how patient you have been over lockdown; continue to do so with the peers you’re rubbing (virtual) shoulders with once again.

Little reminder, that your life is beyond that of uni. You will succeed, of course. But remember, you don’t have to. Success is boring.

I see you happy, I see you being fulfilled. Being locked in the house hasn’t been all that bad for you. But you’ve still clung to your idea of freedom. Let your air spirit soar this week, in the places and surfaces you hold dear. Smile.

This was the lockdown of intimacy.

What are you truly starved of? Has it been KFC or affection? Let the stars align and give you both—nourishment is your word of the week. What do you feed and what feeds you? Take your time with these questions, as Friday will present you with the answers.

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Columns : To be Frank Horoscopes

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The Team Editors

Sally Ward & Matthew Casey editor@salient.org.nz

Design & Illustration Padraig Simpson designer@salient.org.nz

Sub Editor Jamie Clarke

News Editor

Lily McElhone news@salient.org.nz

Chief Reporter

Feature Writers Tom Andrews Niva Chittock Sally Ward Lachlan Ewing

Contributors

Maia Ingoe Tom Andrews Alex Marinkovich-Josey Gilbert Ostini Tom Watson Norm Mohammed Anoushka Diverkar Laurelei Bautista Elisapeta Dawson

Niva Chittock

Staff Writers Janhavi Gosavi Ronia Ibrahim Lachlan Ewing Azaria Howell

Social Media & Web Manager Kane Bassett and Brittany Harrison

Podcast Manager

Francesca Georgia Pietkiewicz podcasts@salient.org

Centerfold

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NOMINATIONS OPEN 06.09.21 Nominate yourself to be on the VUWSA Executive 2022 and learn more at: vuwsa.org.nz/vuwsa-executive2021 Nominations close: Tuesday 14th Sept 2021

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The VUWSA Student Executive is elected each year by Vic students and are there to make sure the student voice is part of all the important conversations at the university.

This team is the face of VUWSA and you’ll see them on campus, at events, at important meetings and in the media repping student issues.