Latest news with #Bloxham
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Coaching in Wales similar yet different: Bloxham
From Wyndham to Wales, netball has taken Reinga Bloxham around the world. The former Southern Steel coach is wrapping up her inaugural season at the helm of the Cardiff Dragons in the Netball Super League in the United Kingdom. The Dragons, who sit at the bottom of the table, head into their final game after recording their second win of the season over the Leeds Rhinos last weekend. "The good thing is I think my team's been improving each week, so I'm really proud of that," Bloxham told the Otago Daily Times from Wales yesterday. "I think the second half of the season we've had some great performances, but again probably just a little bit inconsistent." Bloxham, who stepped down after 11 seasons with the Steel last year, including eight at the helm, has loved her first season overseas. "It's funny because you think 'oh it's still netball' when you're coaching. "There's been things that are really similar, but in the same sense quite different as well." Among the differences was the mix of players in her squad — three Australians, a South African and an English player blend with the Welsh contingent — making for a hybrid style. "For me it's been great because I've had to learn the players. "It did take me quite some time in the preseason to work it out and maybe even a couple of games in to really see it. "That's been great in terms of coaching because I've had to really look at what our strengths are. "It's provided that freshness and that growth in thinking about what am I going to do as a coach." There has been a big push to make the Super League more professional this season. Australia's Super Netball was in a "different league" but Bloxham said there were similarities, and differences, between the UK and the ANZ Premiership. "The best way to describe it for me is over here they've got some great structures, they've got some really quality players who play with speed. "But I talk to the girls about if we had to play against a New Zealand side, I think the physicality of some of the New Zealand players is what this side of the world would struggle with the most. "There's a different level of physical robustness is probably how I would best describe it." The two-point shot has been added in the UK this season as well and Bloxham said there were some "two-point bomb queens" among the teams. The Dragons led by as much as 11 points in some games, only to have that shut down in minutes thanks to two-pointers. Seeing the different tactics across the world had been intriguing, she said. "I was watching ANZ the other day ... a lot of team aren't using the two-point time unless they have to. "Whereas here, everyone uses it — it's just part of the game. "For my team, we've been really competitive in the one-point time and then as soon as it's got to the two-point time, that's where we've probably fell short a few times. "To be fair, I think for myself as a coach, the second half of the season I'm finally getting it right." While Bloxham was initially hesitant about the change, she enjoyed it now. "At the start I wasn't 100% sure how it was going to look. "But I actually do like it, because tactically as a coach it makes you really think about how you're going to play that last five minutes." Bloxham has watched every game of Australia, New Zealand and the UK leagues this season — "my weekends consist of watching netball from morning till night" — and she remained invested in the Steel, staying in touch with coach Wendy Frew. Bloxham said the Steel's connections were finding their feet, and felt for them with another injury-plagued preseason, but was heartened by their performances. "In that Magic game when they came out I just thought 'this is amazing', because you can see the potential of what can happen when it all sort of falls into place. "I definitely think it's there. "Watching them at times I just think 'oh my God, they're playing some really beautiful netball', so I know that they'll be searching for a little bit more consistency and being able to do that for a bit longer." Bloxham will wrap up the season before heading home to reconnect with her family in the coming months and head back to Cardiff for the 2026 season. "I feel like I've got a lot of knowledge in my toolkit now to sort of take into next season, which I'm excited about."
NZ Herald
07-05-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Mayoral candidate, Wellington Live owner Graham Bloxham dresses as banana, talks about arrest, election
Bloxham, the owner of controversial Facebook page Wellington Live, shared images of his red wrist from his personal profile last week, saying he was arrested for failing to stop. Despite initially denying the posts were real, he later confirmed the arrest, saying the charge arose because he couldn't pull over where he was driving. We're not really here to talk about the arrest, but that, followed by why he's dressed as a potassium-rich fruit, are what I'm most interested in. Bloxham has invited us to the City to Sea bridge by Wellington's Civic Square for a media standup, though at this point, the photographer and I are the only ones to have shown up. Another journalist and photographer meander up to the scene as banana-clad Bloxham prepares to speak, so we pivot from standup to individual interviews. He is wearing a red cap with the words 'make Wellington sane again' written on it in black vivid. This is also printed across the front of his banana peel. A twisted lanyard around his neck bears a sign with the message: 'A vote for Blox is a vote for common sense!?' A question or an exclamation? We may never know. I start by asking about how Bloxham got his well-known tiny car back after being told it would be impounded for six months. 'They [police] filled in the wrong form. Bless. We all make mistakes, and they made a mistake; they admitted it. Said in good faith they would give it back, but it shouldn't have happened,' he says. 'I think that the policeman did what he had to do. It was a bit over the top, but they've got a job to do. 'I think I learned a lesson there about calmness, about calming down. No hard feelings. Much aroha.' When asked whether the arrest and criminal charge would impact his run for mayor, he agrees it would. 'I think it will sharpen people's focus on what is happening in the city with crime ... I think half will possibly support me and the other half will want to cancel and be mean, but at least we're having the discussions for Wellington.' He declines to say what he intends to plead at his court date on May 29, but notes he got 'a real tune-up from one of my daughters'. 'It's not a great thing, it's not something I'm proud of ... that's in the courts and I'll just face that on the 29th.' On to the question of the hour: 'Tell us about the banana suit,' I say. The banana was foreshadowed. A photo texted to an NZME colleague by Bloxham showed him buying the costume earlier in the day to illustrate the point he is now trying to make. He says Wellington is officially a banana republic. The term is used to refer to countries, often small ones, that are politically and economically unstable, exploited by foreign interests and typically reliant on a single major export, such as bananas. I ask Bloxham what he believes makes Wellington fall into this category. He says 'debt'. 'It's in a quagmire, it's just stuck. It's also got nepotistic groups of politicians,' he says, adding the council needs to cut about 1000 staff members and, bearing mental health in mind, 'support those thousand workers into other careers'. I ask him what concrete things he wants to see happen in Wellington. He talks about land in Lyall Bay that Peter Jackson has bought, saying he is going to bring 500,000 people into Wellington. I have heard nothing about this number but I – foolishly, perhaps – am not up to date on my Peter Jackson news, so I move swiftly on. Bloxham says he wants to see Wellington bring 'AI experts' in and become the 'AI centre of the South Pacific'. 'I want to see Wellington start to believe in itself again. I want to see it lead again. It is a compact, biodiverse city that kicks arse.' As for the mayoral race, Bloxham remains certain he will win against other candidates, including former Labour leader Andrew Little. 'If he's able to beat me, which I doubt that he is, I would go in as a councillor,' he says. 'You believe that you're likely to win against Andrew Little?' I ask. 'Oh, I'll clean the floor with him,' he says without hesitation, the picture of fruity confidence. 'He's a very, very candid man. But let's face it, the guy has got political ambitions; he's never run a city, nor have I. Yes, he's got connections and I love the fact that he brings that experience, but I just don't think Wellington needs another Labour politician, and I definitely tell you now, Wellington does not need to be used in another political fight.' Bloxham dismissed the other contenders, saying the race came down to him and Little. At present, councillor Ray Chung, conservationist Kelvin Hastie, cafe owner Karl Tiefenbacher, and former councillor Rob Goulden also have their hats in the ring. Mulling Bloxham's assuredness that he will be the next ruler of this banana republic city, I find myself, somewhat unexpectedly, posing for a selfie with him before bidding farewell. As I drive away, I spot the banana walking past me on the footpath, past the Wellington Police Station, and disappearing out of sight.
RNZ News
05-05-2025
- RNZ News
Wellington mayoral candidate Graham Bloxham accused of failing to stop for police
Graham Bloxham. Photo: Supplied A Wellington mayoral candidate was arrested and charged with failing to stop for police in the central city on Friday. Graham Bloxham, 57, runs the Facebook page WellingtonLive and told RNZ he was on his way to cover an incident involving "a distressed person" in The Terrace Tunnel, but found the road south blocked by police. Bloxham - who announced in January that he is running for mayor in this year's local body elections - exited the motorway, but a police officer at the blockade thought he had seen Bloxham take a photograph while driving. "He followed me up The Terrace off-ramp," Bloxham said. Once he realised the lights were flashing for him, there was nowhere for him to pull over, so he did a u-turn on The Terrace and turned into a driveway, Bloxham said. The police officer told him he had failed to stop and then slammed him against the car and cuffed him so hard it had to be re-done, he said. He is due to appear in the Wellington District Court on 29 May, charged with "failing to stop for red and blue lights" on The Terrace. Bloxham declined to confirm whether he would be laying an official complaint about his treatment, but told RNZ he expected the charge against him would be dropped. Police confirmed a man was due to appear in the Wellington District Court on 29 May, charged with failing to stop. When asked to respond to Bloxham's accusations, a police spokesperson said "anybody who wishes to make a complaint about police can do so through the appropriate channels". Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
04-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Wellington mayoral candidate Graham Bloxham arrested for failing to stop for police
'WTF is going on with WLG Police. Has anyone had anything like this..', Bloxham asked. The post, which was soon deleted, included a photo of a marked wrist, which appeared to be Bloxham's. Contacted by the Herald about the incident Bloxham initially said it was posted on behalf of someone else, before claiming the post was fake. A screenshot of Bloxham's post was then shared on popular Wellington community Facebook page Vic Deals. Another photo posted to Vic Deals appears to show Bloxham's distinctly branded miniature car on the back of a tow truck. The Herald has confirmed it was impounded over the weekend. Asked again about the incident after the photo of his car emerged, Bloxham continued to deny he was involved. 'If yiu want to post faked stuff over to u. But I'll never employ you if u do [sic],' Bloxham said in a statement. Police would not identify Bloxham but confirmed the details of the incident. 'A man is due to appear in the Wellington District Court on 29 May, charged with failing to stop for Police' a Police spokesperson said in a statement. Wellington District Court confirmed Bloxham was appearing in court on the 29th. While Bloxham's post was deleted from the Wainuiomata page, a similar post remains up on his Threads account Asked again about the incident today, Bloxham changed his tune, confirming the arrest. He said it happened on Wellington's Urban Motorway after a police officer thought they saw him take a photo of the closed Terrace Tunnel while driving. Advertisement Advertise with NZME. 'I couldn't pull over as it was on the terrace, cars each side, he then arrested me for not stopping,' Bloxham said. 'The nice officers gave me and my dog a ride to the station, gave me a form to get the ONENETWORK WELLINGTONLIVE car back, then drove us home kindly. 'An absolutely crazy experience that I'm sure this officer would rather he didn't do. There was absolutely no reason to do what he did and I still can't feel my thumbs,' Bloxham's statement said. When Bloxham announced his mayoral campaign earlier this year he said he's 'always loved politics and I love this city, I've had speeding tickets, parking tickets, all sorts of things, I've lived and loved in this city'. He said at the time he had sold the Wellington Live Facebook page, but the companies register shows a Graham Harold Bloxham as the current sole shareholder of Wellington Live Limited through holding company In Your Pocket Media Limited. There is no registered company named One Network Group listed on the companies register.
