Weekender, July 24, 2021
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SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2021 AT WORK: Paul Robinson stands in front of the Tokyo Big Sight convention centre, which has been taken over by the world’s media as the main Olympic broadcasting and press centre for the Games. Picture supplied A lot of data, quickly Reporter Jack Malcolm spoke to Gisborne’s Paul Robinson, in Tokyo for the Olympics, as he made last minute touches to the backend infrastructure of Reuters, one of the biggest news agencies in the world. S the runners cross the fi nish line published online is the one that is picked up eight other cameras all shooting the diff erent technical solutions together, “to make sure in the prestige men’s 100m dash around the world by news publishers, so every running lanes.” everything works”. in the hope of earning a coveted millisecond counts. Even with the camera settings tuned down Since arriving in Tokyo early in July, AOlympic gold medal in Tokyo, the “It’s the name of the game. It’s a competition from shooting the highest quality images, Robinson says he has already forgotten what race for Gisborne-born Paul Robinson and his between the top press agencies in terms of the team will still be receiving gigabytes of day it is in the muddle of working consecutive team will just be beginning. who can get the content out the fastest. information every minute during the high- 12-hour days. Working for one of the biggest news “ e two key moments (for us) are the pressure events. He won’t get a day off until the Olympics agencies in the world, Reuters, Robinson is lighting of the Olympic fl ame and the men’s “It’s a lot of data coming in quickly.” wrap up on August 8, but it’s all part of the tasked with setting up and maintaining their 100m fi nal, which is always a big high- e photos are then distributed to their “fun” of problem-solving complex logistical massive infrastructure system on the ground pressure event.” global network of editors, who caption the and technical challenges, he said. in Tokyo as the team manager for their Special e team on the ground a whole raft of images and publish them online. e fi rst time Robinson touched down in Technology Services Solutions. “toys” to play with — multiple robotically- e agency has installed its own virtual Tokyo in preparation for the games was in Reuters is a newswire service, selling stores controlled remote camera systems traversing network across the country that staff can 2017, for the world press briefi ng, which and images to newspapers around the world, the catwalks above the Olympic Stadium access in any Olympic venue, bypassing the is when the technical team starts their produced by an army of more than 2500 and underwater cameras to capture both the Japanese public internet to ensure they have involvement. journalists and 650 photojournalists. diving and swimming. the fastest connection possible. From there it’s been a process of making Robinson’s role is to ensure the content “For the men’s 100m fi nal we’ll have “ ey’ve all got to come through to us, sure their hardware is up to date, particularly being produced is distributed as quickly probably 10 photographers shooting it, but through our infrastructure, captured by us for the picture team who are “the guys who as possible, in a world where being fi rst is then some of those will also be following then relayed to the teams,” said Robinson. require the most attention”. “everything”. remote cameras. We’ve also got a set-up where His role is to lead the team that is “We’ve been building up to it for a number He says it is common that the fi rst photo someone has a pedal where they can fi re up responsible for the glue that binds the Continued on page 2 2 THE GISBORNE HERALD LEAD BIG EVENTS: Paul Robinson’s job has given him the opportunity to attend some of the biggest sporting events in the world is pictured here with Richie McCaw after winning the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Picture supplied ‘We’re certainly not bored’ From page 1 of years and obviously with the delay and That trip has turned into an extended stay. everything that’s happened. that in itself is In 2009 he was first employed by Reuters as a a massive logistical and technical challenge.” consultant network engineer. His role has allowed him to travel the world, “London was an overseas experience, but setting up systems for some of the biggest it’s turned into a longer stint because of the sporting and political events. company I work for. He’s been on the ground for multiple “The work I do is good and important. The summer and winter Olympics, the Superbowl, people I work with are from all cultures and Wimbledon and the Cannes Film Festival, to nationalities. It’s such a melting pot.” name a few. He found out a colleague was part of the “When we’re not working on events, Reuters’ team that was about to fly out to we support editorial globally for Reuters. South Africa for the Football World Cup Particularly the TV department, they’ve got in 2010, and Robinson knew that was the quite a complex network set up globally. department he wanted to work in. “We’re certainly not bored.” His chance would come a few years later, Although he is still based out of London, and after meeting the boss over beers at the Robinson’s job allows him to work remotely pub, he was offered the job as a network when he is not required at an event, so he solutions architect. was able to work from his father’s home in He welcomed the change from working in Gisborne for the three months leading into an office, seizing every opportunity. the Games. In his first few months, he was already “I do maintain a tight connection with learning how to bandage gunshot wounds as Gizzy. you don’t appreciate it fully until you part of a hostile environment training course leave. before he flew out to Iraq to update their I appreciate it more and more every time I offices in Baghdad. come back.” The first big event he was involved in was After finishing Gisborne Boys’ High School, the 2012 London Olympics. Robinson completed an engineering degree “That was kind of a chance to see how it was through Massey University in Auckland, but done and see the other guys in action and it was not focused on the type of work he has learn from them. ended up doing. “It was a nice way to learn and it was a great He said as he was finishing his degree in Olympics as well; the way the home crowd 1996 he didn’t think he was heading into embraced it.” network engineering, but he learned the Fast forward to 2021, and after last night’s ropes on his first job out of university. opening ceremony in Tokyo, Robinson’s “BIG TOYS”: Reuters staff have some nifty gadgets for covering this year’s Olympics. He lived in Melbourne for three years before systems will be flat out ensuring images and Pictured is one of many remote-controlled cameras that will capture all the action flying to London for “a couple of years” in stories find their way to all corners of the from the rafters of the Olympic stadium in Tokyo. 2003. globe. Picture supplied Saturday, July 24, 2021 3 PROFILE HONOURED TO SERVE Tairawhiti fire chief Charlie Turei will bow out of firefighting in September after 46 years as a firefighter and 15 years as the region’s area fire commander. He talked to reporter Murray Robertson. harlie Turei says he has decided “I have also stayed because Tairawhiti he led his fire crews through the rest of that me in no uncertain terms - ‘you will take the to retire now “because I’m old volunteers need support, need continued difficult, harrowing night, and in the days job’. So now you know who’s the boss in our Cenough to”. backup and need someone to continually that followed. house.” It is appropriate that Charlie advocate on their behalf for the appropriate Charlie started as a firefighter on June Since then Charlie has worked in ends his career in Gisborne and that will fleet and equipment. 6 1975, based at Lower Hutt, then Upper Whanganui (1998) as Deputy Chief Fire happen on September 27 when he makes “It’s not always the best fleet and Hutt, and was appointed to Station Officer in Officer, Fire Safety Officer and Principal way for new area fire commander Peter equipment to be honest, but appropriate,” Central Wellington in 1980. Rural Fire Officer. Clark, who has been part of the FENZ team Charlie said, In those years he attended multiple Then the family moved to Kawerau (1999- in Gisborne before. “Volunteering is so, so difficult to promote structure fires across all of Wellington, 2003) where Charlie was Chief Fire Officer Charlie spent most of his youthful years in and maintain just because our young schools, multi-storey industrial fires, and and Fire Safety Officer. this district. population here are on the move the minute crashes. “That was a dual role also covering all of “I whakapapa back to Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti. they finish school.” “Too many to count,” Charlie said. the Eastern Bay of Plenty from Kawerau to “I moved to Tolaga Bay from Auckland “I’m very excited now that Fire and “My largest fire at that time involved the Opotiki to Waihau Bay.” when I was an 8 year old, and was raised by Emergency New Zealand is certainly going Mobil Oil storage unit at Seaview.