Battle of north vs south
Once upon a time the North Island and the South Island went to war . . . sort of.
For it was a sporting war which for one grand day the rugby populace of both islands abandoned the concept of a national team and put their hearts into the lads from their islands.
A sort of “us” versus “them” approach which had some interesting angles, given a lot of very fine players for places like Otago and Canterbury hailed from the North Island and many equally fine players from places like Wellington and Hawke’s Bay hailed from southern climes.
And for the scarf and wooden clackerwielding crowds it became a day of regional pride where the result would clearly indicate where the heart of Kiwi rugby really lay.
Of course that was ridiculous but hey, when it’s north versus south that’s the way it is.
Across the landscape of history a northern region taking on the southern region of what had once upon a time been a united land happened quite a bit.
Vietnam, Korea and even the dear old US where only recently has the southern Confederate flag been paid to rest officially, although of course it is still flown in a sort of “to hell with them Yankees” stance.
But here in these pleasant lands there has never been a drift toward putting a fence up across Cook Strait and separating the two islands.
That would be ridiculous . . . because the southerners generate more power than us and we kind of need that.
And they need the wondrous syrahs of the north.
Works both ways.
But for those years of rugger’s North Island vs South Island that was the one day we were permitted to declare “righto . . . it’s us versus them and may the best team win . . . and we’ll win all right”.
But of course in the world of sport there can be division within the regions of the same island.
They are called “local derbies” where neighbouring towns, cities and provinces strive to take out their long-standing nearby rival.
On the provincial front Otago has always possessed the burning desire to
get the better of neighbouring Canterbury and in this northern island . . . well you don’t need the neighbourly touch, for when Auckland face Wellington she’s all on.
And so, north vs south . . . on screen, and no rugby ball in sight although there will be a referee.
And all for a good cause.
Well two causes actually, with the northerners in this verbally competitive stoush doing their bit for Women’s
Refuge while the southerners are raising dosh for Diabetes New Zealand.
All Star Family Feud North vs South is set to ignite on Thursday on TV3, with some familiar faces among the fourstrong crews on both sides.
Like Bob Parker, who as well as being the former mayor of Christchurch is also a former member of the television landscape . . . he rolled out a few This is Your Life shows through the years.
One of his teammates on the southern side of the studio border is Jason Gunn who has been all over the television landscape and, as they say, needs no introduction . . . as long as he doesn’t take that stupid Thingee toy along with him.
On the northern side there is newsman Paddy Gower, the only man who can frown at the same time he smiles . . . and according to those who took part in this he really gets stuck into his southern counterparts.
As he’s shown in some of his political one-on-ones, he is not in the habit of taking prisoners.
Then there’s James Rolleston, singer Tami Neilson and telly presenter Amber Peebles alongside him, while Brett and Angel Renall from Married at First Sight team up for their southern chums Parker and Gunn.
Meanwhile, host (referee) Dai Henwood is tasked with trying to make sense of it all.
So it’s thinking caps on, smart mouth answers well rehearsed and let the battle between the north and the south begin.
● All Star Family Feud: North vs South, TV3 at 7.30pm Thursday: It is a game show so don’t expect the more vicious retorts to be too serious, although by all accounts Paddy sends a few pretty good salvoes Jason’s way.
As long as they all raised lots of dosh for two very worthy causes then what’s a few unsettled looks, huh?