Edge Message #104 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM
A big shout out to New Zealanders across the world who have registered at nzedge.com following our promotion to members of www.oldfriends.co.nz – 1000+ people from 165 international cities and towns and 42 in New Zealand – big responses from Australia, Canada, Great Britain, and the United States of America – plus call-ins from New Zealanders in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Bangkok, Berlin, Brignoles, Brussels, Dubai, Dublin, Dundalk, Durban, Ho Chi Minh City, Jerusalem, Jinja, Johannesburg, Madrid, Mexico City, Morioka, Mumbai, Norfolk Island, Nuku’alofa, Oostende, Ostrava, Czechoslovakia, Oxapampa, Ras Al Khaimah, Riyadh, Singapore, St Jean De Losne, Suva, Texel, The Hague, Turin, Vientiane, Vilnius, and Yangshou. nzedge.com’s subscriber list now reaches New Zealanders in 1042 international cities and towns and 200 in New Zealand. Aotearoa whanau whanui kite aonui – the global community of New Zealanders. See the full list at http://nzedge.com/mailbox/about_you.html
NEW ZEALANDERS IN GLOBAL HEADLINES
Pictured above: Max Gimblett, Helen Clark, Theresa Gattung, Peter Jackson, Bob Charles
New Zealand headlines in this month’s sampling of global media, appearing in Art World, Washington Post, WA Today, ABC News, DC Examiner, The Age, University World News, Northwest Arkansas News, Telegraph, Guardian, The Seoul Times, Ski Rebel Magazine, Scientific American, Irish Sun, The Australian, and Los Angeles Times include:
• Helen Clark, former Prime Minister, 3rd in charge at UN, heads development
• Max Gimblett, NY/Auckland artist, in Guggenheim Museum US/Asia show
• Theresa Gattung leading the value run of NZ wool as premium world brand
• Peter Jackson works on custom-made iChat system with Steven Spielberg
• Bob Charles “oldest golfer to make the cut on world’s non-senior tours.”
• Jane Peak, Southern Alps, “begging for a beating” by heli-skiers
• Lincoln University to merge with AgResearch in unprecedented move
• David Gendall, High Court judge, approves serving papers on Facebook
• Kakapo, now numbering 100, “evolution’s pitiable errors”, Stephen Fry
• Cut Off Your Hands, play America’s largest festival in Austin, SXSW
• Frank Yukich, Montana founder, celebrates 30 vintages with sculpture
• Rangiora, coastal development near Hokianga, lifestyle replaces pine
• Mt Hutt’s new snow makers and groomers most up-to-date in NZ
• Tuatara baby found at Karori Sanctuary, first on mainland in 2 centuries
• Matilda Hanlon and Beryl Baguley, identical twins and now 100
• 25% of NZers with tertiary education live abroad, highest rate in the OECD
• Roger Hill, naval architect, designs catamaran for Gold Coast moguls
• Ayrlies Gardens, Auckland, part of private tour for US gardeners
• Greytown, NZ’s first planned town, a mix of Victorian and modern
• Karen Walker dresses Barbie in ‘she’s cracked’ for doll’s 50th anniversary
• Le Folauga, contemporary mixed-media Pacific exhibition, in Taiwan
• Sonny Fai, Warriors player, remembered with wreaths on Te Henga
• New Zealand popular destination for ‘ecomigrants’ from the US
THE LIST: In addition, people and places referenced in nzedge international stories from 01 January 2009 include Zoë Bell, Sam Neill, Judy Millar, Francis Upritchard, Tim Finn, Robert Bruce (RIP), Dave Currie, Natasha Bedingfield, Miles Darby, Rhys Darby, Nadya Vessey, Cliff Curtis, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Ivan Clarke, Scott Gray, Malcolm Campbell, Edmund Hillary, Kapka Kassabova, Jock Freemantle, John Wareham, Jack Yan, Air NZ, Te Waka Huia, Christian Pearce, Greg Broadmore, Jane Campion, Danny Lee, Jay Shaw, Kerry Fox, James Flynn, Waikato U, Tekapo, Russell Coutts, Hannah O’Neill, Phillip Gibson, Weta Workshop, Ngati Toa, Denis Dutton, Stolen Girlfriend’s Club, Cloudy Bay, Malcolm Rands, Hokianga, Sara Seruvatu, Herman Seifried, Paul Snowden, Chuck Berry, Sean Marks, Lucy Hockings, Andrew Roy, Gordon Dryden, Mo Zhi Hong, Great Barries baches, Central Otago, Taika Waititi, Margaret Austin, Hanna Frederick, FleurAdcock, Jill Worrall, Martin Henderson, Curt Perano, Daniel Vettori, Jetblack, The Datsuns, Simon Denny, Milford Track, Flight of the Conchords, Christchurch School of Medicine, Abel Tasman park, Greg Locke, Hayden Godfrey, Heath Raggett, Arrowtown, CK Stead, Bic Runga, Gin Wigmore, Katherine Mansfield, Neil Cross, Margaret Mahy, Pelorus, Lindauer, David Hovey, Phil & Ted, Anna Paquin. See /category/newzedge/ for full stories.
NGA KUPU AROHA: WORDS OF LOVE – BY DENIS O’REILLY #31: REGGAE’S DOING FINE, FEBRUARY 2009
Denis O’Reilly’s penetrating critique of social justice in New Zealand.
“It’s a new year and D is right into work. Feedback about the Parihaka Peace Festival, engaging festival goers as participants and bridging the cultural divide between Tangata Whenua and Tangata Tiriti. Den discusses the tragedy around Halatau Naitoko, a young Tongan father, accidentally shot dead by the Police. He commends the Minister and Commissioner for their restorative approach and encourages the gunman to face the Naitoko family and unload his burden. Den sticks up for Social Development Minister Paula Bennett who supported the gang member father of her granddaughter when he was before the Courts. Den reckons she has modelled good whanau leadership, and improved the chances both of a rehabilitated offender, and of loving, respectful relationships between the daughter, granddaughter, and father. Te Ururoa Flavell, stung by the tragic events in Murupara, has voiced his pain, saying that perhaps gang members shouldn’t be allowed on marae, or shouldn’t be gifted the tradition of tangihana. Den reckons that with leadership from within gangs and from within the body politic New Zealand Maori gangism can pass, and be replaced by a widely shared positive focus on personal achievement within a whanau hapu tribal complex. With Ragamuffin coming up, and the Marley whanau in town, Den reminisces about what happened after Bob’s visit to Aotearoa in 1979 and tells the tale of the Keskidee Aroha project, the rise of aggressive black consciousness, and the whakapapa of reggae and Rasta in Aotearoa. Waitangi Day or Bob Marley’s birthday, reggae’s doing fine. (7,151 words) Read more.
NEW ZEALAND EDGE INTERNATIONAL DATEBOOK
• Washington, D.C. 14 April, ‘Wars Without End’ Book Launch
Victoria University of Wellington Professor Danny Keenan gives a guest lecture at Georgetown University, for the launch of his new book Wars Without End. RSVP: CANZ@georgetown.edu
• New York City, 18 April – 5 May, The Sleeper Awakens
NY-NZ playwright Julie McKee hosts a season of her L. Arnold Weisberger Award nominated play, The Sleeper Awakens at the HB Playwrights Foundation,
West Village (122 Bank Street). Reservations call 212-989-7856.
• London, 23 April, ANZAC Day / Spring Drinks
The NZ Society hosts spring drinks to commemorate ANZAC Day at New Zealand House. Bring your camera for the best central London view. Click here for tickets.
• Zonnebeke, Belgium, 25 April, Exhibition at Memorial Museum Passchendaele
New Zealand’s Official World War I Artist, George Butler, features in a
Belgium exhibition beginning ANZAC Day. Sculpture by New Zealand artist Helen Pollock will also feature. See website, ends 15 November.
• Melbourne, 29 April, 7pm, Major New Zealand artworks on Auction
Deutscher & Hackett’s forthcoming auction will feature works by two of New Zealand’s greatest painters, Charles Goldie and Bill Hammond. Visit auction website for info and to view paintings.
Paul Ward, who for several years was chief writer for nzedge.com, is the editor of a fantastic NZ ON AIR-initiated site NZ ON SCREEN http://www.nzonscreen.com/ – hundreds of titles, all free to watch. It’s an amazing team achievement. Congratulations everyone. Here are the March Top 10 titles:
1. Britten – Backyard Visionary (1993)
2. Peter Snell – Athlete (1964)
3. Blerta Revisited (2001)
4. Billy T Live (1990)
5. Monkey Tale (1952)
6. Gloss (1987)
7. The New Zealand Wars (1998)
8. The Piano (1993)
9. Once Were Warriors (1994)
10. Skitz (1998)
Easter Goodwill, Passover Goodwill, from New York. Nga mihi nui koutou.
Top picture from Raumati South looking south, Pukerua Bay on left, Cook Strait in foreground, Seaward Kaikouras, Mana Island on the right. Horizon/edge is just south of Kapiti Island. March ’09.
