GM’s Dan Ammann Sees the Future as Autonomous
New Zealand-born Dan Ammann, the president of General Motors, is boundlessly optimistic when it comes to the Detroit automaker’s role in the future of cars. “We are inventing a lot as we go. No one’s…
News of New Zealanders via Global Media
NZ’s Winter Shorter by a Month over 100 Years
Studies by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) show that winter has contracted equally at its beginning and end. Winter has gotten shorter by a month over the last 100 years,…
Simon Denny’s Art Approach to Business Creation
Business students from Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management in Cleveland, United States, aren’t consulting with a top business executive; they’re consulting with New Zealand-born contemporary artist Simon Denny. Denny recently worked with…
Life After the America’s Cup for Winning Sailors
For Joe Sullivan (pictured) and Simon van Velthooven, an Olympic rower and cyclist respectively before being recruited as “cyclers” to power the New Zealanders’ revolutionary leg-powered winch grinders, the whole America’s Cup experience has…
When Clarke Gayford’s Partner Became PM
Clarke Gayford, host of televisions series Fish of the Day and partner of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, describes life with bodyguards, a state mansion and a call from Donald Trump in an…
New Zealand’s South Island Seafood Trail
“True foodies and lovers of fruits of the sea won’t want to miss out on trying these fresh seafood delicacies while travelling on the Top of the South touring route in New Zealand,” reports…
Singapore Home with New Zealand Sense of Space
The Singapore apartment of New Zealander Richard Lee and his wife Priscilla Chong was reconfigured to suit their needs, let in plenty of light and maximise views of the sea. Lee and Chong bought the…
Golfer Frank Nobilo Takes a Shot
Former professional golfer, Auckland-born Frank Nobilo talks with Golf Digest about Twitter trolls, debates with fellow golfer, American Brandel Chamblee and terror in a racecar at 290km/h. “I go through these little Twitter boycotts,” Nobilo,…
Jason Lei Howden’s Deathgasm Celebrates Metalheads
Since Mario Bava’s 1963 film Black Sabbath inspired the Brummie band, metalheads and moviemakers have shared a deal with the devil. The Guardian summons the filthy lyrics, moral panics and nostalgia of a genre…
Peter Burling Named World Sailor of the Year
“America’s Cup winner Peter Burling has been named ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year — only the second Kiwi sailor to take the prize more than once,” as reported in an article in…
Wales Coach Warren Gatland Talks Safety
Taking the Lions to New Zealand should have been Warren Gatland’s proudest moment but now back with Wales the coach believes the welfare of rugby’s elite players is a more pressing concern. “I’ve been on…
Helen Clark Appointed To Global Commission On Drug Policy
Helen Clark has been appointed to the prestigious Global Commission on Drug Policy” – “one of the world’s leading think tanks on reducing drug harm on society,” reports the New…
Lonely Lingerie Launches Maternity Line
New Zealand-based label Lonely Lingerie has a cult following – including some of the world’s most famous celebrities – for a reason. The brand creates chic undergarments “for women who wear lingerie as a…
Tuku Iho Exhibition Finds Fans in LA
In July, the Smithsonian hosted Tuku Iho | Living Legacy, an exhibit of more than 70 Maori works of art; before that, the show made stops in China, Malaysia, Chile and Brazil. The exhibition…
Gregory Burke Heads Canada’s New Art Gallery
Canada has a major new modern art museum. The striking 126,000 sq ft glass-and-steel Remai Modern has just opened in the remote prairie town of Saskatoon, located in the country’s vast agricultural midwest, and…
Icebreaker Cuts Deal with VF Corporation
Merino wool clothing retailer Icebreaker, founded by New Zealander Jeremy Moon 22 years ago, has been sold to US-based VF Corporation, which owns The North Face, Timberland and Vans. Moon, who did not reveal how…
Gaylene Preston’s Year With Helen Clark
When Helen Clark ran for the post of UN Secretary-General in 2016, Gaylene Preston was by her side. The New Zealand filmmaker, who initially contacted Clark about documenting her life as the then-head of…
World’s Best Airline is Air New Zealand
Aviation safety and product rating site AirlineRatings.com has just come out with its highly anticipated annual list of the best airlines for 2018, and the winner for the fifth year in a row is…
New Zealand Beat India by 40 Runs
Pacer Trent Boult took four wickets to help New Zealand beat India by 40 runs in the second T20 in Rajkot, India. New Zealand levelled the three-match series 1-1 with the comprehensive victory. Chasing 197-run…
Jacinda Ardern One of World’s Most Powerful Women
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has made the Forbes 2017 World’s 100 Most Powerful Women list, coming in at No 38. The 2017 list identifies a new generation of icons, game-changers and gate crashers who are…
All Blacks Prevail Against Barbarians at Twickenham
“New Zealand were always going to be the winners of this frolicsome day out at Twickenham, no matter how the scoreline panned out,” the Telegraph reported after the All Blacks beat the Barbarians 31-22. “The…
Manta5 Pedal-Electric Hydrofoil Takes To The Lake – Or Sea
What’s the aquatic equivalent of the e-bike? “That’s what New Zealand outdoors entrepreneur Guy Howard-Willis wondered back in 2010, when he conceived of the Manta5,” writes Ben Coxworth in an article for
Chills and Thrills in the Top of the South
From alpine lakes to sunken valleys, the South Island serves up seven days of astounding scenery, adrenaline adventures and great food; the Guardian’s Nikki Marshall and her boyfriend takes the
Keeping Bespoke Designs in the Wickstead Family
When New Zealand-born designer Emilia Wickstead’s mother and business partner, Angela Wickstead, quietly launched a bespoke linen company last year, it didn’t take long for it to catch on among the city’s most discerning…
Sapling Records to Plants Trees for Albums Sold
New Zealand drum ‘n’ bass/ambient producer Fis, real name Oliver Peryman, has a focus on reforestation through music. His new label Sapling Records is foregoing the current vinyl trend in favour of botany.
Dig This an Invercargill Playground for Adults
“A New Zealand attraction has just opened that will allow you to rip, push and pull to your heart’s content using heavy machinery. Dig This Invercargill is first heavy equipment playground, and while it…
John Campbell Named Top Presenter at Global Radio Awards
“RNZ Checkpoint presenter John Campbell has been named Presenter of the Year at the prestigious Association for International Broadcasting (AIB) Awards in London”, reports Radio New Zealand. “Thank you all. And…
Melanie Lynskey on Finding Her Feet in Hollywood
New Zealander Melanie Lynskey is the star of Castle Rock, but it’s not in her nature to act like one, so between takes, she hangs out with the extras and crew. The television series,…
Bones Hillman On Great Circle Midnight Oil Tour
For Bones Hillman, the New Zealander who replaced Midnight Oil bassist Peter Gifford in 1987, The Great Circle “has been more than a tour. It’s reconnecting with people.” After the Oils split in 2002, Rob…
Flight of the Conchords Announce UK Tour Dates
Flight of the Conchords’ Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie are back, and will tour the UK and Ireland in March 2018 for the first time in more than seven years. The ‘Flight of the…
Primer’s Sean Gourley Takes the Load off Humans
New Zealander Sean Gourley, the founder and CEO of Primer, a 2.5-year-old, previously media-shy startup that uses artificial intelligence algorithms to parse vast quantities of data and spit out pithy, navigable digests, is demonstrating…
Interview with Mole Valley MP Sir Paul Beresford
New Zealander Sir Paul Beresford, MP for Mole Valley in Surrey, UK, was born in Levin. He came to Britain in the “very early seventies” and worked in East London as an NHS dentist. “London…
Ohio Professor Ian Young Reflects From His Desk
Described as “reserved and thoughtful” by his students, Bowling Green State University philosophy professor, Auckland-born Ian Young appears to be most at home in the classroom. University graduate Cameron Morrissey, one of his former students,…
Compassionate Conservation a Better Alternative
“It’s a well-known fact that New Zealand is at war with much of its wildlife. Of course, not all New Zealanders agree with this onslaught, the goal of which is to remove all non-native…
Actor Beulah Koale Shines as Heartfelt Warrior
“Miles Teller hits the true note, and so does the rest of a superb cast , in a drama of Iraq War veterans that sidesteps all the coming-home clichés,” Variety’s Owen…
Allbirds Launches Smallbirds for Kids
Allbirds, Silicon Valley’s favourite wool shoe brand, co-founded by New Zealander Tim Brown, just got a whole lot cuter with a new limited-edition line of toddler and kids shoes called – wait for it…
Kea Soars to Bird of the Year Victory
The kea, the world’s only alpine parrot, has been crowned New Zealand Bird of the Year, beating the kereru and the kakapo with thousands more votes cast for the species than there are surviving…
Apple buys Wireless Charging Company PowerbyProxi
Apple, which recently said it was including wireless charging in its latest iPhone X and iPhone 8 smartphones, has acquired Auckland-based firm PowerbyProxi that designs wireless power products for consumers and industry. Wireless charging allows…
New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern Gets Set to Govern
Describing herself as “relentlessly optimistic,” New Zealand’s newly sworn in prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, 37, will face a National opposition of 56 members clamouring at the gates – smarting from losing an election they believed…
Alluring Scenic Spots All Over the Place
“New Zealand’s North Island stands up to its southern sister with its own unique attractions,” Tay Suan Chiang writes for Singapore’s The Business Times. “For adventure-seekers, the South Island lures with many adrenaline-pumping opportunities to…
Emilia Wickstead Throws Jazz Age-Inspired Dinner
According to Vogue magazine, New Zealand-born fashion designer Emilia Wickstead loves New York. This was clear on a recent Tuesday night when she and Alison Loehnis of Net-a-Porter co-hosted a dinner to celebrate a…
Well-Travelled Blogger Jessie Bush Gives Insta Tips
Jet-setting between the world’s fashion capitals to attend runway shows and photograph the best street style looks is all in a day’s work for New Zealand blogger and tastemaker Jessie Bush, founder of We…
Time Travel with Aldous Harding
New Zealander Aldous Harding, who is currently promoting her album Party in Europe, has released a new single from the LP. Elation is The Guardian’s ‘Track of the Week’. Hannah Davies writes for the newspaper: “With her…
Coffin Club Throws Glitter on Idea of Dying
The members of New Zealand’s quirky Coffin Clubs, which consist of senior citizens who seek comfort, community, and coffin-making – is gaining popularity among New Zealanders, as well as internationally. Coffin…
Taika Waititi Puts His Stamp on the Thor Franchise
In many ways, Taika Waititi neatly fits the mould of a lively director plucked from indiedom and placed at the centre of a franchise. He’s stylish, funny and confident, Dan Kois writes in a…
All of Paris on Board with FIAC Says Jennifer Flay
Jennifer Flay, the New Zealand-born director of FIAC who began her job in 2003, recalled a headline in a French magazine at the time that summed up the fair’s ups and downs: “FIAC at…
Step Back in Time With Rebecca Gibney
Crossing the Tasman Sea when she was just 19-years-old, Levin-born actress Rebecca Gibney, who currently stars in television drama series Wanted, has become one of Australia’s most popular actresses. Recently, the 52-year-old four-time Logie winner…
Musician Jordan Rakei in Perpetual Transition
New Zealand-born musician Jordan Rakei’s new album Wallflower is out now, and it’s an intoxicating return that doubles as Rakei’s first true statement as a Londoner, Clash magazine reports. “I only moved here two and…
Teen Plans to Open Elephant Sanctuary in Thailand
Jack Lanting, from Hamilton, was eight years old when he fell in love with Lily, a rescue elephant he met at the Elephant Nature Park in Northern Thailand while on a trip with his…
Kim Chambers Swims with Sharks in New Doco
New Zealand-born Kim Chambers started swimming after a life-changing accident. Just a few years later, she became the first woman to take on a notorious stretch of shark-inhabited waters – a solo swim from…
Why Bob Dylan Matters to Author Richard Thomas
“It took six months for New Zealander Richard Thomas to draft the manuscript for his newest book, Why Bob Dylan Matters, a study, among other things, of the songwriter’s deep and abiding connection to…
Phillipa and Brangka Munan’s Borneo Efforts Pay Off
New Zealander Phillipa Munan and her husband Brangka, who earned his Bachelor of Agriculture and Science from Lincoln University, operate The Milk Shop, an organic dairy goat farm in Kuching,…
How to Win the Man Booker Prize
The upstairs room of an indie bookstore. A book launch for a local author. Crisps and wine are being handed out, a buzz is in the air, congratulations are showered upon the young writer….
Thor: Ragnarok Marvel’s Best Film to Date
Taika Waititi’s Thor: Ragnarok has an “oddly beautiful scuffed-plastic aesthetic”; it’s “funny, charming, dazzling, gorgeously designed, and full of actors you already like,” with Waititi managing “to finally imbue Marvel’s dullest Avenger with a…
Ben Shewry’s Attica Best of the Best
New Zealand-born Ben Shewry has done it again, winning more accolades for his popular Melbourne restaurant. Shewry’s Attica in Ripponlea was named restaurant of the year at the inaugural national Good Food Guide awards…
Why Golriz Ghahraman Entered NZ Politics
New member of parliament Golriz Ghahraman is having her Twitter feed documented by the national archive as a testimony of New Zealand’s 2017 election. “It will be interesting for others to see what happens when…
