Dollars And Sense

CASH. What's that?

In an increasingly cashless society - accentuated during the Covid-19 crisis - the days when "cash was king" are fading.

That's why a significant event on this day 53 years ago will go largely unnoticed and, yet, it was on Monday July 10, 1967 that New Zealand embraced decimal currency.

It was a big deal back then.

The wonderful encyclopaedia of New Zealand notes (no pun intended): 

"The notes – the first New Zealand paper money to show the reigning monarch – were kept under wraps until June 1967 to thwart counterfeiters. 

"In the weeks before 10 July, $112 million worth of the new notes and $8 million in coins was delivered to trading banks around the country by secret trains carrying Reserve Bank, police and army personnel.

"The new $1, $2, $5, $10, $20 and $100 banknotes each had different native birds and plants on the reverse, and were distinguishable by colour.

"The new coins were in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents."

For our parents and grandparents who had grown up with pounds, shillings and pence a generational change saw us grapple with the "new" dollar and cents. It was exciting for us at primary school as the new notes and coins filtered through the community. Crisp, clean colourful notes and glistening coins. For kids it was bold new age.

That continued as we moved through adolescence and adulthood. 

To be fair there was always something special about having cash in the wallet especially if you were lucky enough to be handed some new notes when you went to the bank.

Many will also remember the days of getting your pay (i.e. cash) in small (very small) square brown envelopes that were hardly the most ideal way of ensuring savings were at a premium. In fact the term of "living from payday to payday" was probably penned for those days.

I've attached an image of the original $100 note because I rarely saw one. 

In fact I wondered at one stage if they existed. The myth of the beautiful crimson $100 note was, however, dispelled in a fundraiser at the rugby club. 

Along with another reserve grade player we were given the responsibility of selling $2 tickets for the chance of winning the elusive $100 note.  

It was a reasonable fundraiser (100 tickets at $2 for a profit of .... you guessed it $100) and given the fact we'd mislaid the "pig in the barrow" (it didn't pay to leave a superbly dressed, as in butchered, pig and the brand new wheelbarrow outside certain drinking establishments in Whangarei during the early eighties) the previous Friday it was full-proof. 

Mind you it paid to have a winner.

* It should be noted that a $50 note was introduced in 1981, and in 1990 the $1 and $2 notes were replaced by coins.

(Image courtesy - teara.govt.nz) 

IT'S difficult to fault (mind you given the current political climate there will be critics) the Government's response to resurrecting the sporting landscape in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis.

The $265 million earmarked for "sport recovery" in the 2020 budget should ensure that all areas are adequately funded.

An initial outlay of $80 million will help community sport and boost participation for those clubs (read all) who are struggling in the post "virus" times.

In a positive move funding to the tune of half-a-million dollars will help the men's and women's national basketball leagues.

I've long been a fan of how basketball has been run at a national level and given this "can do" proactive attitude it's little wonder there's been such wonderful engagement within the community.

HEARTLAND Rugby should have been played this year.

It was a "quick fix" from New Zealand Rugby to red card the competition and, I believe, a retrograde step.

While the decision not to play this season was flagged as fiscally responsible given the economic crisis rugby faced it seems to be rather premature given what could have been achieved.

And there's plenty of angst within Heartland unions that this "could be the thin end of the wedge" as one administrator told me.

"We've been given assurances that the competition is safe but with it not being played this year it's hardly ideal going forward. 

"I think we need to be realistic and realise the competition and the format we used to play is a thing of the past."

It seems that's correct with a "pool" type or conference system (to use an American term) being looked at from next season. 

I'VE had a "love-hate" relationship with Team New Zealand and the America's Cup. 

There's always been a sense of "nationalistic" pride at how our teams, on and off-the-water, have punched above their weight against the heavy hitters.

But that's been outweighed by some of the arrogance, back-stabbing and over-the-top in-your-face nastiness that's often pervaded both Team New Zealand and the Cup.

I got a brutal lesson in that many years ago when I dared to break the story that the much heralded red socks were going to be made overseas and not in the provincial manufacturing capital of New Zealand - Levin. 

To me it went against the very ethos of Team New Zealand being "our" team.

How could you - I wrote and commented on the wireless - be authentic by pulling the pin on a genuine manufacturer and asking us to buy socks made overseas?

It was a good yarn (no pun intended) but Team New Zealand didn't think so and I was given a not so subtle reminder about the issue. Sitting at my desk at the nation's watchdog (aka The Truth) my phone rang (those were the days before mobiles were generally accessible) and before I got out "Doug spea ..." boomed a voice.

"Who the f--- do you think you are? What's this sh-- about the socks? Aren't you with us?"

"Sorry - whose speaking," I squeaked.

"It's Peter Blake - and if you want to write any more sh-- like that come and see me."

So I did. 

Funnily enough it's therapeutic what the sponsor's products can achieve. 

Mind you Steinlager Classic has always been a favourite. It's fair to say Sir Peter and I were never close but we did sort that drama out and I got a few decent yarns from him in the following years.

That's how the America's Cup has panned out for me. 

A seaborne roller-coaster ride over the years. A good example was the shameful Black Heart campaign (orchestrated by  some egomaniac media and advertising types) targeting those who dared leave Team New Zealand for another syndicate, The vitriol aimed at the likes of Russell Coutts and Brad Butterworth was disgraceful.

It also ruined Dave Dobbyn's song "Loyal" for me ... forever.