Mr Gitau, Sorry that you were assaulted whilst attending the Sevens. I trust your wife and yourself can move on from this unpleasant experience. Good luck with school you intend on starting when you go back to Kenya.

Regards,

Mark

I must thank Angela for bringing up what was to me a most unexpected display of insensitivity at the just concluded Sevens. As a Kenyan turning out to support my country, I had to deal with people who had painted themselves black and donned afro wigs supposedly to look black. As if those who inappropriately dressed up in other cultures' religious attire was not enough insult, I had to report to Wellington Police Station after one fan assaulted me before racially insulting me. I must salute Angela for boldly pointing out an area of New Zealand that needs serious reflection. We treat New Zealanders with respect when they come to our countries and we expect the same from them. It would have been a different outcome if this had happened in Kenya.

Angela, leave all this racial stuff to people who get along without having to complain about every politically incorrect thing that happens within view from the bubble in which you reside. What I find funny and racial is the places you have listed have all been invaded by the english, which i'm sure you are from. I am picking you have recently (last 5 years) moved to this wonderful place we call New Zealand. Your complaint is the first that I have read in all 78,0000 people who attended so I guess your the one !!!! The one who got rid of Bull Rush from our schools, your the one who will get rid of the Eskimo lollie, your the one that will change our way of living. P.S Stay away from our sevens it's fine just the way it is !!

Mark

Last year at the Hong Kong 7s I saw an Asian dressed in a suit and was appalled at his lack of sensitivity, dressing up like a European rather than in a Hanfu I too wondered when the rioting would break out.

It would appear that if one wants to watch rugby, one has to simply accept being culturally offended or be labelled as a complaining, bleeding-heart liberal who doesn't like to have fun. If people displayed this kind of insensitivity to others at events in London, Hong Kong, Nairobi, or Beirut, for example, there would be riots. Surely there is a line between having fun, and having fun at the expense of others. I'm all for creative costumes and having a great time watching rugby, I just don't want to have to deal with other people's ignorance while doing it.

Good night Angela, dont forget to hug your tree before you close your eyes in your cooton wool bed!

Will someone please tell ANGELA that Helen Clark is no longer running the country.

Angela Wilton needs to look outside of her glass bubble a little further to realise all those people that filed past her screaming ethnic insults were from all ethnic back rounds. Whilist at the sevens, I witnessed Indians dressed as Tiger Woods, Samoans dressed as Klu Klux Klan, NZ Maori dressed as gospel singers, Chinese dressed as Romans, Irish dressed as sheep, Aussies dressed as Fred Dagg, & Johnsonville people with Mullets....the list goes on. The players themselves rate Wellington Sevens as the best event on the Sevens circuit because of the costumes and the crowd that attends. Is Angela offended by NZ Pakeha who dress up in racial costumes or by all other races who attend the event to have a good party, mix with other people & watch a little rugby if you get bored with the crowd. People are attracted to Wellington Sevens from all parts of the globe to dress up, have fun & make fun of people in general. Angela if you don't like Sevens dress up, stay home watch your T.V and stay less offended.

Regards,

Mark Tainui

There's only one thing to say to this. NZ needs to get over itself. We spend so much time trying not to offend anyone, I doubt we remember how to have fun - without drugs or copious ammounts of alcohol.

The Seven's have been around long enough that the visiting teams know what to expect, and so do the people who attend to watch. Let them have their fun - you don't have to go.

It's only for a couple of days. I enjoyed watching it on TV to see what people came up with. Some were very ingenious and creative.

I think Wellington has the right attitude about it all - and this is from an Aucklander. I hope the Seven's stay there. I doubt anywhere else could pull it off.