Edge Message #126 from Brian Sweeney, Producer, www.nzedge.com

From left: Kim Sinclair; Joe Letteri; Issac Hamon; Mr Sicc; Michael Parekowhai; Louise Chunn

NEW ZEALANDERS IN GLOBAL HEADLINES www.nzedge.com/media

New Zealand headlines in this week’s sampling of global media:

Weta Digital team led by Joe Letteri wins Special Effects Oscar for Avatar – Hollywood Reporter
Kim Sinclair, Auckland, wins Academy Award for Avatar Art Direction – IndieWire
Issac Hamon, stunt double, feels the shockwave in The Hurt Locker – Stuff
Mr Sicc, aka Otara MC Karlos Diamond, does what the beat tells him to at SXSW, Texas – Spinner
Michael Parekowhai, Porirua-born sculptor, selected to represent at 2011 Venice Biennale – ArtInfo
Louise Chunn, NZ-raised Psychologies editor, remembers classless roots – Guardian
Glenn Martin’s jet pack to be commercially produced; “life-saving stuff” – Telegraph
Rudy Heeman, Nelson inventor, auctions hovercraft with wings – Telegraph
Geoffrey Barnett’s recumbent monorail, the Schweeb, like sitting at home on a sofa – Reuters
Zorbing in Rotorua like being in a gigantic washing machine – Houston Chronicle
Kiri Te Kanawa turns 66 in Miami; performs Handel, Debussy at Broward – Miami Herald
Neil Ieremia’s Black Grace “takes its dancing seriously” at Princeton – New Jersey State Ledger
The Brunettes dress in Sydney vintage for Yen magazine; talk cults, jousting and cuteness – Yen
Kerretta play SWSX, Texas; cross between Wu Tang and Bailterspace – Plug in Music
Lissa Twomey, festival of the arts director, triumphs with risk-taking programme – The Australian
Ann Robinson, internationally respected glass cutting doyenne, profiled in Neues Glas
Taika Waititi’s Boy wins Best Feature Film in Berlin; poetic moments speak to us all – Berlin60
New Zealand lakes, rivers popular for fly, sight trout fishing and sheer size – New Straits Times
Auckland’s Albert Park lit up for annual 3-day Chinese Lantern Festival – Xinhua News
Queenstown not just for the thrill-seekers; laid-back luxury also on-tap – Sydney Morning Herald
Stewart Island, “like Conan Doyle’s Lost World”; lush, green and barely touched – The Independent
Timaru embraces Phar Lap connection with tribute Big Red rib eyes – Sydney Morning Herald
Liam Reddy, Phoenix goalkeeper, fends off Perth in penalty shootout – USA Today
Styris, Bond “unlikely heroes” in winning cricket partnership against Australia – Guardian
Dylan Hartley, Northampton and English hooker, 23, to lock ears at Murryfield – The Independent
Glynn Cardy, Archdeacon, says Auckland atheist bus ad campaign “free speech” – The Hindu
Sir Keith Park, Battle of Britain legend, stands on fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square – Times
New Zealand looks to Qatar for shifting business networks to Middle East – The Peninsula
New Zealand to hold election referendum and “real debate” in 2011 – Telegraph
New Zealand risks missing opportunities for economic growth – Wall Street Journal
New Zealand Defence Force to assess UFO data for declassification – Examiner.com

Merchants of Speed: Glenn Martin’s JetPack; Zorbing: Rudy Heeman’s hovercraft; the Schweeb; UFOs; Phar Lap

Change the Flag
nzedge.com has advocated changing New Zealand’s flag for over a decade, however our advocacy has really only been, well, flag-waving, compared to the concerted efforts of business leader Lloyd Morrison to get movement on updating our primary visual identity this century. We replaced our original Silver Fern logo with the symbol Lloyd commissioned as his preference for our new flag. A month ago Lloyd opened a Facebook page Change the NZ Flag which currently has 13,787 fans, about 150 flag designs, and hundreds of comments in the discussion pages. And while you’re Facebooking, check out another of Lloyd’s kick-in-the-pants efforts, A Measurable Goal for New Zealand – “A group for New Zealanders who believe our nation needs an ambitious, measurable long term goal and who want to join in the process of defining and promoting that goal.” The top link in the page is to an article in the current issue of Vincent Herringa’s kick-in-the-pants magazine Idealog called “Smile You’re in New Zealistan” – which after traversing the decline of New Zealand economic productivity and competitiveness – pitches our high-tech, high-margin, knowledge-economy as the only way to avoid being overtaken by Borat’s homeland by 2025.

NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL DATEBOOK

NEW PLYMOUTH, March 27, Govett-Brewster hits 40 pARTy
Celebrating forty years of relentless engagement with the new, the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery hosts a spectacular, artist-led, outdoor multimedia and performance event. 5pm – opening of autumn exhibitions, John Reynolds: NOMADOLOGY [Loitering with Intent] and Len Lye: Trilogy. 6.30pm – outdoor performances from self-playing robotic junk band, The Trons; pioneering electronic dance duo, Pitch Black; and visuals on the Gallery facade by Tim Gruchy. Laureate and Bro’Town creator, Oscar Kightley, is MC for the night. Free entry. Visit Govett-Brewster website for further details.

Here are the Top 10 titles for February:

1. Nice One, TV 1976-78  Legendary afterschool children’s programme: ‘Nice one Stu-y!’
2. Love, Speed and Loss, TV 2005  Stirring doco about champion motor-racer Kim Newcombe
3. On the Mat, TV 1975-83  Larger-than-life popular professional wrestling TV show
4. Score, NFU short 1980  ABs vs France in slow-mo and cut to Tchaikovsky score
5. Such a Stupid Way to Die, NFU short 1971  Infamous bush safety video that ends badly
6. The Janet Frame Collection, Six titles celebrating Janet Frame’s life and work on screen
7. Circuts of Gold, short film 1981  Doco about champion speedway driver Ivan Mauger
8. A Tribute to Kevin Smith, Twelve titles paying tribute to the life of actor Kevin Smith
9. Best of Billy T James Collection, TV 1992  Swansong for much-loved, non-pc comedian
10. A State of Seige, short film 1978  Vincent Ward-directed short based on Frame novel

Top picture, Cincinnati, Ohio; above, Los Angeles. More pictures at www.paradiseroad.com. Fern symbol via www.nzflag.com.