Key's optimism spreads to Black Caps
Not content with battling the worldwide economic woes, Prime Minister John Key today set himself a much stiffer task: talking up the struggling New Zealand cricket team.
Not content with battling the worldwide economic woes, Prime Minister John Key today set himself a much stiffer task: talking up the struggling New Zealand cricket team.
After yesterday greeting figures outlining an unemployment increase with hopes the worst was over and the economy was on the up, Mr Key today adopted the same approach when asked on Radio Sport about the Black Caps' World Cup chances.
"Obviously they're up against it, partly because they're up against fantastic sides there and they're playing in what will be hot and difficult conditions. But, I would say, you never write them off," Mr Key said.
"You never know, they are a team that from time to time has put in some real blinders, so they've just got to put it together and hold it together over that period of time.
"The odds of them winning the World Cup are low, but they can improve as a side as a result of participating in the event."
Mr Key also spoke about this weekend's rugby sevens tournament in Wellington, saying he would be missing the event because of the clash with Waitangi Day.
"I might see a little bit of it on TV but obviously I won't get to go down."
Mr Key nominated Sports Minister Murray McCully as his preferred Cabinet mate to attend the event with, but said Gerry Brownlee and Jonathan Coleman would also have got into the sport.
"There's a whole bunch of them we could take along, go as the National Party -- it's election year, why wouldn't you?"
Controversy followed Mr Key's radio spot with broadcaster Tony Veitch last week when he listed a number of female celebrities he would have on his "wish-list", and called British actress Liz Hurley "hot".
International media labelled the remarks sexist, but Mr Key did not step back from the comments when asked about them this week.
Questions were also raised about the appropriateness of Mr Key appearing on a radio show with Veitch, who was convicted in 2009 of the violent assault against his former partner Kristin Dunne-Powell.
NZPA
Fri, 04 Feb 2011
Fri, 04 Feb 2011
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Key's optimism spreads to Black Caps
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