Blog Archives

Mr. Electric and the Superdudes body-rock at New Orleans Jazz Fest

Mr. Electric and the Superdudes body-rock at New Orleans Jazz Fest

Up and down South Peters Street, a group of fun-loving folk calling themselves the “Superdudes” led by Mr. Electric (a 30-year-old former model from New Zealand) danced, enlisting as many people as possible to…

Kiwi Miss Marple Uncovers Cult

Kiwi Miss Marple Uncovers Cult

Repairing the premises, handing out leaflets on city streets, fundraising – not your usual college curriculum. But as some sleuthing students told Michael Durham, Winestead Hall is not your usual college, but an outpost…

Australian Style the New Zealand Way

Australian Style the New Zealand Way

“If you look over those lists of favourite shows, as picked by two key international delegates, something even more interesting emerges: a third of the top-scoring designers were born outside Australia. Kiwi born and…

When Love Comes to Boston

When Love Comes to Boston

New Zealand film When Love Comes about a “group of free spirits and sexual stripes” chosen to show at Boston gay and lesbian film and video Festival at Boston Museum of Fine Arts. The…

Frances Alda

Frances Alda

“New Zealand’s most famous daughter” began her career in Europe, singing at Covent Garden, La Scala and the Opera-Comique in Paris, and became a star member of the New York Metropolitan Opera, one of…

William Hudson

William Hudson

The Snowy Mountains (Australia) Hydro-Electric Scheme, begun in 1949, was 25 years in construction, and remains one the world’s great engineering and social achievements. Attaining its goal of irrigating the arid Australian interior for…

Awa Maternity Ward No Picnic

Awa Maternity Ward No Picnic

From the grass skirts and cannibals file: “When Maori women of New Zealand give birth, they deliver on the ground near a stream. The Maori word whenua means both “earth” and “placenta.”

Could You Run Schools Better? Kiwi Educator Asks Scots

Could You Run Schools Better? Kiwi Educator Asks Scots

Ray Newport, the New Zealand School Trustee Association’s general manager is guest speaker at the Scottish School Boards Association International Conference, is spreading the success of New Zealand’s self-governing schools model.

Kiwi Revolutionises Advertising Through Seamless Internet Surfing

Kiwi Revolutionises Advertising Through Seamless Internet Surfing

Financial Times special report “Japanese Internet Tsumani”, looks at how the internet is making reaching customers easy: “you can be sitting in the back of a taxi in a traffic jam checking your stocks, paying bills.  It…

Kiwifruit Big Brand Inspiration for Malaysian Fruits

Kiwifruit Big Brand Inspiration for Malaysian Fruits

Dr Aziz Abdul Rahman claims the answer to Malaysia’s fruit marketing woes: “There is a need to internationalise our products with a brand that will be associated with the country such as ‘Sunkist’ or ‘Kiwi fruit’…

Mucho Loco Baby! Children’s TV Stigmatises Mental Illness

Mucho Loco Baby! Children’s TV Stigmatises Mental Illness

Auckland University researchers have found that children’s television programmes create a negative stereotype of mental illness which encourages young people to develop prejudice.

The Weigh to a Perfect Body

The Weigh to a Perfect Body

Tufts University Health and Nutrition Letter: A study from the University of Auckland has found that the secret to satisfying those hunger pains may not be calories or fat content, but how much the food weighs.

Ernest Rutherford a Particle in Twentieth Century’s Great Scientific Debate

Ernest Rutherford a Particle in Twentieth Century’s Great Scientific Debate

Without Quantum mechanics most of the Twentieth Century’s science and technology would not exist, yet our understanding remains vague and the debate between Einstein and Bohr over first principles was vigorous and unresolved. Bohr’s theory developed when…

Without a Fault, World Champ Wins

Without a Fault, World Champ Wins

Blyth Tait of New zealand, the reigning world and Olympic champion, rode Welton Envoy to a faultless round over all 16 fences to win the Rolex-Kentucky Horse Trails.  

I’m Gonna be a Contender

I’m Gonna be a Contender

David Tua has the respect of World Heavyweight boxing champ Lennox Lewis, “I think Tua deserves a shot”. A possible title fight is lined up for later this year.  

Jonah and a Large Fish: a Biblical Sports Story?

Jonah and a Large Fish: a Biblical Sports Story?

Rugby Superstar Jonah Lomu joins Anna Kournikova and David Beckham to star in Adidas global advertising campaign. The ad was shot in New Zealand.  

Voon New Zealand Fashion Showcased at Lucire

Voon New Zealand Fashion Showcased at Lucire

Wellington designer Sophie Voon brings her distinctively antipodean dresses to the world; from the ‘Pavlova’ (left with buzzy bee) in white, to the ‘Southern Cross’ in mauve. Her latest edition of influential fashion magazine…

Urban Look and Funky Charm

Urban Look and Funky Charm

Designer John Varvatos (former darling of Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren) creates cozy-old look with svelte New Zealand Shearling.    

Wine Wine Wine

Wine Wine Wine

New Zealand corks are popping all over the place: Imperiale of Goldwater Estate Waiheke Island Caberet/Merlot 1990 to be auctioned at Christies (price estimates US$2400–$3800), NZ wine featured in the Guardian and at Marks and Sparks.

Destination: Style

Destination: Style

“This first-hand look at Louis Vuitton’s new Cup Collection, and the glamorous models that showcase the high-rolling styles of the super yacht world, is based in Auckland, New Zealand, home of the Louis Vuitton…

#11 Kiwi Inspirations

#11 Kiwi Inspirations

Edge Message #11 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM To NZEDGE.COM Community Today two stories of New Zealand Heroes, one of them a Knight so deserving of the honour he was awarded two of them: Sir…

Keith Park

Keith Park

A decorated fighter pilot in World War One, Keith Park was Commander-in-Chief of No. 11 Group during the Allied evacuation from Dunkirk (France) in the early part of World War Two. He…

Kiwis to illuminate the dark corners of history at Berlin’s Jewish Museum

Kiwis to illuminate the dark corners of history at Berlin’s Jewish Museum

After gaining worldwide reputations for their work at Te Papa Ken Gorbey and Nigel Cox have been appointed to positions at Berlin’s Jewish Museum, As Project Director, Gorbey will co-ordinate and manage the preparations…

Aotearoa Casts Big Shadow Over Australia

Aotearoa Casts Big Shadow Over Australia

Australia’s population is five times bigger, its economy six times bigger and its defence capability similarly robust. Yet in recent years New Zealand has been the far more influential of the two neighbours in world affairs….

Cultural edge sees Kiwi flying high in De La Guarda

Cultural edge sees Kiwi flying high in De La Guarda

Tanemahuta Gray, a dancer and Kapa Haka teacher, is flying through the air in the hot London aerial dance spectacular De La Guarda, a show that crosses the fringes of theatre, dance and circus. …

Kiwi Dennis Dutton’s Arts and Letters Daily makes Brill’s Content ‘Best of the Web’

Kiwi Dennis Dutton’s Arts and Letters Daily makes Brill’s Content ‘Best of the Web’

“Arts & Letters Daily” combines a Renaissance thirst for intriguing writing with the online imperative of speed – a sensibility evident in the site’s duelling mottoes: “Bookmark This Page” and “Veritas odit moras,” Seneca’s…

Six degrees of connection for Mark de Clive-Lowe

Six degrees of connection for Mark de Clive-Lowe

London’s music press has connected with Clive-Lowe’s  album Six Degrees.  Already played on the main dance-floor at the Ministry of Sound and touted as a new step in “futurejazz” for its blending of jazz…

Sounds of Oceania find home in Amazon

Sounds of Oceania find home in Amazon

For much of last month Kiwi release Oceania was featured on the home page of AmazonMusic.com. “Exotic and mutable, the music of Oceania grounds itself in ancient culture while fully engaging in a modern…

Free to be a Diva: Kiri Te Kanawa

Free to be a Diva: Kiri Te Kanawa

Kiri Te Kanawa isn’t retiring, she’s just trying to see the world.

The seduction of sand: TimeOut falls for Long, Hot Summer

The seduction of sand: TimeOut falls for Long, Hot Summer

“Long Hot Summer is a joy to read. Someone stops breathing in the final scene and the reader holds their breath as well. Like the rest of this cleverly patterned novel, it…

CK Stead explores the dynamic of the network

CK Stead explores the dynamic of the network

Time Out reviews CK Stead’s Talking About O’Dwyer, a “cracking history lesson-cum-psychological profile” that takes in Oxford Dons, Maori makutu (curse) and the effects of distance and time: “As is the way even now…

Kiwi Ex-bellboy Now Japan Dotcom Millionaire

Kiwi Ex-bellboy Now Japan Dotcom Millionaire

Young entrepreneur Jonathan Hendricksen this week became the first foreigner to list a company on the Tokyo Stock Exchange – and overnight made himself a $150 million fortune.  The former hotel doorman has a 15% stake in…

Gardeners Against Government in Main-street High Noon Stand-off

Gardeners Against Government in Main-street High Noon Stand-off

“Nobody actually recorded a shotgun being fired down the main street without hitting anyone, but it could have happened”.  Easter trading hours controversy in New Zealand.

With Time in Hand Tait Wins Rolex Three-Day Event

With Time in Hand Tait Wins Rolex Three-Day Event

Blyth Tait of New Zealand, had a clear final round and no time faults to win on an untried horse, Welton Envoy.  

One of these days I’m gonna get myself maximised

One of these days I’m gonna get myself maximised

Here is man who would not take it anymore … Crowe makes the cover of Empire (the magazine – not the Civilisation). “The man exudes the physicality of a wild animal. Shifting testosterone…

“To Die or Not to Die – Very Good Question”

“To Die or Not to Die – Very Good Question”

Gladiator features breathtaking photography, sets and computer generated images. But the real glory of the show is Russell Crowe who is simply magnificent … Like James Mason, he is one of those actors who…

Short

Short

New Zealand director James Cunningham’s short film – a digital action thriller about a mutant hero that invades a computer system to destroy student loans – has been selected to compete in the prestigious…

Russell’s a lot to Crowe About

Russell’s a lot to Crowe About

“Unlikely Hollywood hunk Russell Crowe may well have saved his best work for his latest film, a career-capping turn as an enslaved general in Ridley Scott’s sensational sword-and-sandal epic Gladiator“.

No Roman holiday and no soccer!

No Roman holiday and no soccer!

Crowe show he’s no slave and rebels against producer’s request: ”I mean, they’d let me run in front of chariots, wrestle tigers, and do battle with 5,000 men in the snow and mud. The…

Magnetic Maximus unleashes Hell to please the masses in

Magnetic Maximus unleashes Hell to please the masses in

Apart from its spectacular visuals the film’s other strength is its acting, “… but everyone else can step aside for Crowe. “Gladiator” should make the Oscar-nominated actor an international star. When he’s in a…

“In New Zealand if you asked for a coffee, it was a teaspoon of Nescafe.”

“In New Zealand if you asked for a coffee, it was a teaspoon of Nescafe.”

Kings Cross, 1986, newly arrived struggling actor waiting tables: an American customer orders a decaf coffee. “Suddenly I’m faced with long black, short black, cappuccino, and cafe latte – plus decaffeinated. So I take her…

“I wanna be Marlon Brando”…

“I wanna be Marlon Brando”…

sang Russell Crowe years ago when he was an aspiring rock star in New Zealand – the idea no longer seems absurd as Crowe brings an intensity and commitment to his craft that sometimes…

Russell reasserts his edge roots

Russell reasserts his edge roots

“Hollywood is carving a bust for Crowe in the action-hero pantheon, but Crowe is keeping his distance. “I’d move to Los Angeles if Australia and New Zealand were swallowed up by a huge tidal…

Veni, Vidi, Vici

Veni, Vidi, Vici

Russell Crowe’s star-making turn reviewed in People, “Gladiator’s pull is potent, thanks to the razzle-dazzle fight scenes (the opening battle rivals that in Saving Private Ryan) and a magnetic performance by Crowe (The Insider),…

Wind Wand Blows Over Hurricanes as Talk of the Town in New Plymouth

Wind Wand Blows Over Hurricanes as Talk of the Town in New Plymouth

In the rural New Zealand town of New Plymouth rugby-loving citizens are normally attuned to talking about the local rugby team, the Hurricanes, but a 45 metre tall wand erected for the millennium has…

Big Spin-off in Positive Trade Ties, Says Kiwi PM

Big Spin-off in Positive Trade Ties, Says Kiwi PM

A successful economic tie-up between Singapore and New Zealand could kick start multi-lateral talks on trade-liberalisation, says New Zealand PM Helen Clark.

“There She Goes.” Moby Dick Move Over as Hunt for Giant Squid Begins

“There She Goes.” Moby Dick Move Over as Hunt for Giant Squid Begins

That 19th Century tale of adventure on the high seas is about to be challenged by a 21st century adventure beneath them, when Jean-Michel Cousteau dives off New Zealand’s Kaikoura coast in search of the mythical…

Popeye Favourite from down-under

Popeye Favourite from down-under

Kiwi spinach gets green thumbs up, “It is the most delicious and abundant spinach – although it is slow to germinate – and it can withstand drought”.  

Expensive as Gold, Rare as Diamonds – Dying Delicacy Revived in New Zealand

Expensive as Gold, Rare as Diamonds – Dying Delicacy Revived in New Zealand

“The truffle’s true future may lie in balmy New Zealand … Do New Zealand truffles taste like Lalbenque truffles? The Kiwis say yes. How can I afford to join the controversy?”.  

Thrills and Spills in Testosterone City

Thrills and Spills in Testosterone City

“Fly is the epitome of the New Kiwi, chattier than the chattiest Aussie, more fashionable than the most fashionable Aspenite”. Minty Church gets a personal introduction to the daredevil sports Mecca of Testosterone City, aka Queenstown,…

Muse behind Watership Down

Muse behind Watership Down

Ronald Lockley, internationally renowned naturalist, died in New Zealand on April 12, aged 96. The Economist obituary dryly notes that “New Zealanders liked Ronald Lockley, admired his reputation as a protector of nature, and…

Improvisation Indian style – NZ expert introduces playback theatre basics to India

Improvisation Indian style – NZ expert introduces playback theatre basics to India

Bangalore’s Summer Project on Theatre (Spot) has this year enlisted the help of New Zealander Mary Good and Australian Bev Hopkins to throw light on the concept of playback theatre.

New Zealand Scholar Suggests Sceptical Slant on Sikh Story

New Zealand Scholar Suggests Sceptical Slant on Sikh Story

Kiwi scholar Hew Mcleod puts claims made in Patwant Singh’s The Sikhs to the test of historical veracity – a task that has made him persona non grata with many members of the world’s…

Quality Not Quantity for NZ Wines This Year

Quality Not Quantity for NZ Wines This Year

Fickle Summer weather and cold autumn southerly winds have made it likely that New Zealand will produce a disappointingly small crop of sauvingon blanc grapes this year … the plus side is that the small vintage…

Phantom Menace Humbled by Diminutive Hobbit

Phantom Menace Humbled by Diminutive Hobbit

The record number of downloads set by the trailer for Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, has been dwarfed by the the Internet preview of of Peter Jackson’s epic movie trilogy The Lord…

Flightless Kiwi

Flightless Kiwi

The Government’s defence refocus causes international comment: turning New Zealand into a province; cutbacks have firm basis says Jane’s Defense Weekly correspondent.