Raise a Glass to the Coach of the Year
Wales and Lions head coach Warren Gatland has been named the BBC Coach of the Year at an awards ceremony in Leeds. The New Zealander “deserves his moment in the sun, as does the…
News of New Zealanders via Global Media
Simba Impresses in Sydney Lion King Production
22 December 2013 – South Auckland-born Nick Afoa, 27, makes a “fine musical theatre debut as the adult Simba” in an Australian musical production of Disney’s The Lion King. Afoa, “moves with the exuberant…
One Small Step for New Plymouth Student
New Plymouth engineering student Hamish Fagg, 21, is preparing to become the first New Zealander in space having won a prize organized by Unilever-owned men’s product LYNX and endorsed by the world’s most famous…
Australians Unhappy at Avatar Deal
The Government has delivered a huge boost to the New Zealand film industry by cutting a deal with 20th Century Fox that will see the three James Cameron Avatar sequels filmed Downunder. Prime Minister…
Strictly Star Sambas off to Sunderland
Strictly Come Dancing star New Zealander Brendan Cole, who is currently starring in the hit BBC show with celebrity dance partner Sophie Ellis Bextor, is taking his own show, Licence to Thrill to Sunderland…
Like a Weird Untitled Mixtape They Beguile
The songwriting savant behind Unknown Mortal Orchestra, New Zealander Ruban Nielson, 33, spends many of his nocturnal hours locked away in the basement of his Portland, Oregon home, creating beguiling, hypnagogic psych-pop, the Guardian’s…
Treasuring Every Infinitesimal Bite
The food at New York’s Musket Room is “ambitious and meticulously detailed”, New York Times correspondent Ligaya Mishan writes in a review of the restaurant, which opened in Nolita in June. Owned by Aucklander…
All We Want for Christmas Is Bespoke Couture
Emilia Wickstead, having now secured her couture clientele (alongside Alexander McQueen, the New Zealander is one of the Duchess of Cambridge’s go-to designers for foreign visits), wanted to offer a service that was exclusive…
National Theatre Role from Morning to Midnight
Auckland-born actress Gina Bellman – who played Sophie Devereaux in American television drama series Leverage – is currently starring in Britain’s National Theatre revival of Georg Kaiser’s expressionistic 1912 play From Morning…
Strong Brand and the Product’s the Real Deal
Lewis Road Creamery, located at Green Valley Dairy, Mangatawhiri in the Waikato, is included in the “The Monocle 100” list as one of the “innovative minds behind global food production.” “Until last year, the…
Modern-Day Forager Launches Unique Catering Operation
When New Zealander Campbell Rowe is not harvesting lychee, green mango, lime and black sapote, or eggs from a small brood of free-range chooks at his New South Wales farm, he’s visiting farmers’ markets…
Lowe Is ENERGY Personified at BBC 1
In the studio of the BBC’s Radio 1 station, the boisterous New Zealander Zane Lowe is a few minutes into his own show, Peter Robinson reports for the Guardian. “RIDICULOUS SOUND!” Lowe honks over…
Talent Pool Something to Write Home about
From Lorde to Gin Wigmore, to chef Matt Lambert and model Ashleigh Good (pictured), New Zealand punches above its weight, writes fellow New Zealander Kirsten Matthew for the New York Post. It’s not just pop…
Decorated Lifetime of Service at Sea
Rear-Admiral Ted Thorne, who has died aged 89, was a New Zealander who was on hand when female naval personnel suffered their greatest loss of the Second World War. Wellington-born Thorne was under training in…
Middle Earth’s Man Contemplates Doctor Who Offer
Peter Jackson has confirmed reports that he has offered to direct an episode of Doctor Who. “I’m a Doctor Who fan, certainly. I’m of the generation that hid behind the sofa, and Patrick Troughton…
Dancing Her Dreams at Paris Opera Ballet
16 December 2013 – Twenty-year-old Auckland dancer Hannah O’Neill, who has a lifetime contract with the world’s pre-eminent academy, the Ballet de l’Opéra National de Paris, told the New Zealand Herald recently that…
On Set with Once Upon A Time’s Tinkerbell
Flying around in a harness playing Tinkerbell on the set of American fairy tale drama series Once Upon A Time has been “so much fun” for Auckland-born actress Rose McIver. “I am very aware of…
Casting Agent and Playwright a Tour de Force
“To label Ann Brebner an instrumental force in Marin’s film and theatre scene is to undermine the breadth of her work,” writes Stephanie Powell for the Pacific Sun, a local newspaper based in Marin…
Oamaru-Made Gingerbread Cathedral Pleases Exeter Locals
Owners of Oamaru’s Pen-y-bryn Lodge, James Glucksman and James Boussy have built a gingerbread Exeter Cathedral to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the lodge next year. Glucksman explains: “In a nutshell we always make a…
Maori Added to Google Translate
Google has added Maori to the list of languages supported by its online translation service. From today, converting a Maori phrase into English – or vice versa – is as simple as cut-and-pasting it into…
Take a Dream Drive off the Beaten Track
If you are looking for an alternative, and beautiful, route to travel New Zealand, News.com.au recommends 10 “different dream trips … to get you from landmark to landmark.” “More of a dream trip than any…
Table of Ugly Words Star of Feminist Militia Exhibit
“I am sitting at a long antique wooden school table, burning capital letters onto the surface: ‘B****,’” the Independent’s Zoe Pilger describes from exhibition rooms HQ, London. “Other words swarm all over it: ‘Vagina…
State of the Art Voyage to the Deep
New Zealand and Japanese scientists joined forces on a recent expedition to explore underwater mountains and volcanoes 1000km northeast of the country around the Louisville Seamount Chain and the Kermadec Arc. From the research…
Neill Content to Be in Two Worlds
In the latest of a series of opinion pieces for British political and cultural magazine the Spectator, actor and vigneron Sam Neill argues that “actors are allowed to do other things other than act.” “Increasingly…
American eyes Downunder
A foreigner’s perspective on home is valuable insight into aspects of our culture we often take for granted. The outsider’s view can also be funny. Read two recent adulatory articles about New Zealand in…
Michelin Star for Stuttgart-based Chef
Against all odds, Waikato-born head chef Russell Pirrit has earned a Michelin star for restaurant “5” in Stuttgart, Germany. Pirrit, who grew up in Te Kauwhata, suffers from severe dyslexia. Twelve years…
Mentoring Young Snowboarders on the Aspen Slopes
Snowboard coach with Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club (AVSC), New Zealander Tim Ward, 33, talks about his role with the club and about his focus on developing the person first and the athlete…
Awe-Inspiring Film Documents Life on the Ice
One of those working year-round on Antarctica in a non-research role is New Zealander Anthony Powell who as well as maintaining communications networks for a living, is a “self-taught photographer and filmmaker”. His documentary…
Catton A Young World Changer
New Zealand author, Eleanor Catton, has been named as one of TIME magazines 30 under 30 who are changing the world. Catton won the illustrious Man Booker Prize this year for The Luminaries, a 832-page…
Urban Plays Human Cop Patrolling Streets in 2048
New Zealand actor Karl Urban hits the beat in 2048 as “grizzled human” cop John Kennex, alongside Michael Ealy, who plays Urban’s “synthetic” partner Dorian in television sci-fi drama, Almost Human. Premiering this month on…
Movie-Making to Rival Lucas and Spielberg
“Peter Jackson has picked up the pace … The Desolation of Smaug is a cheerfully entertaining and exhilarating adventure tale, a supercharged Saturday morning picture: it’s mysterious and strange and yet Jackson also effortlessly…
Ammann named GM President
New Zealander Dan Ammann, 41, General Motors’ Chief Financial Officer, has been promoted to President of GM. He will manage the company’s regional operations around the world, as well as the Chevrolet…
Lydia Ko Rises to Fourth in the World Ranking
After her first win as a professional, kiwi teenager Lydia Ko has moved up two places to number four in the world rankings. Over the weekend she won the Swinging Skirts World Ladies Masters US$800,000…
Grammy Nominee Crowned WILD Cover Girl
Lorde, who has been nominated for two Grammys for her hit “Royals”, up for both record of the year (for the recording) and best song (for songwriting), “stuns” on the cover of the
Amounting to a Kind of Debonair Psychedelia
“Dean Wareham ranks high among the most faithful disciples of Lou Reed,” the Wall Street Journal’s Andy Battaglia writes in a review of Wareham’s recent New York show at Brooklyn’s Bell House. “He doesn’t have…
Global Recognition for Biofuels Pioneer
Loss-making biofuels innovator LanzaTech’s quest to raise more capital next year has been given a boost after it was named second “hottest” biotech company in the world. Industry bible Biofuels Digest also named the…
New Zealand Trumps at Annual IRB Awards
New Zealand have made a clean sweep at the International Rugby Board (IRB) awards once more, taking away all three major end-of-season prizes, with number eight Kieran Read named player of the year, the…
Taylor Swift Posts Dreamy NZ Holiday on Instagram
In between shows on her Red tour in New Zealand, American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift posted Instagrams of herself busy at “aesthetically pleasing activities … like driving a boat, gazing off into the…
Ko Wins First Professional Title
09 December 2013 – Just a matter of weeks after announcing that she had turned pro, New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko has won her first professional title. The 16-year-old won the Swinging Skirts World Ladies…
For a Vessel You Can Trust
Three “nautical pros” of New Zealand’s multi-million dollar boat building industry feature in “The Monocle 100” special supplement of “things to sample experience and discuss.” “While Emirates Team New Zealand lost the America’s Cup in…
NZ Innovation Shines on World Stage
New Zealand’s reputation for world-leading innovation has been significantly burnished in the latest Deloitte Technology Fast 500 Asia Pacific Index, which ranks the top 500 tech companies across the region based on triennial revenue…
Hobbit Stars Say New Zealand Is More Incredible than Can Be Described
For those who have never been to New Zealand, highlights of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings films are often seeing the remarkable film locations, such as Lake Pukaki in Canterbury, and Mavora…
Photography in the Thick of a Botswana Pride
With the help of a remote control buggy, New Zealand photographer Chris McLennan has managed to capture images of a pride of eight lions in the Khwai region, Botswana. McLennan attached his camera to the…
Bungee Celebrates 25 Years of Adrenaline
To mark the 25th anniversary of the world’s first organized bungee jump made in New Zealand, the Guardian has picked the 10 best adrenaline dives on the planet, including naturally, Queenstown’s 43-metre drop over…
An Audience with Jonah Lomu
Rugby great Jonah Lomu – who had sixty-three caps as an All Black and is the Rugby World Cup all-time top try scorer – was in Lomond, Ireland in November to meet with fans…
Gemma New on Gender Equality in Contemporary Music
New Zealander Gemma New, associate conductor of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and director of the Lunar Ensemble, talks with Bachtrack’s Meg Wilhoite about the question of gender equality in the world of new…
Wellington’s Craft Beer Scene Big Business
How such a small city consumes such quantities of liquid we may never know, but with 50 per cent of New Zealand’s craft beer consumption going on in the capital, it’s little wonder a…
Great All Black Returns to Where It All Began
Richie McCaw returned to where his career began in Dublin for his 124th Test on 23 November, and, just like in that debut game where New Zealand were 21-7 down just after half-time, it…
Kiwi Women Lead Cultural Renaissance
Once upon a time New Zealand cultural values were based on the unholy trinity of rugby, racing and beer. Then the marketing concepts – clean and green; 100% Pure – were added to the…
NZ Public Institutions Trustworthy
New Zealand has been declared the least corrupt nation on earth, equal with Denmark. Rounding out the top four are usual Scandinavian suspects Finland and Sweden, according to Transparency International’s 2013 Corruption Perceptions Index….
Kiwi Exchange Student Makes His Mark on L.A’s Football Fields
One of the stars of Venice High School’s football team this season is seventeen-year-old New Zealand foreign-exchange student James Cherrington. The 6-foot-1, 97-kg Cherrington has six sacks—or Quarterback tackles—playing defensive end for the Los Angeles…
Wine for the Discerning but Diet-Conscious
New Zealand has announced its intention to become the world’s leading producer of “lifestyle wines” – those with fewer calories and lower alcohol levels – for the discerning but diet-conscious drinker. The government has decided…
Island Paradise Enticing Auckland Urbanites
“Waiheke Island is now the go-to holiday home destination for wealthy New Zealand urbanites … with the west coast draw the most punters, in particular the beaches near the island’s main town Oneroa and…
Williams Takes Player of the Year Award
New Zealand forward Sonny Bill Williams, 28, has been voted rugby league’s International Player of the Year, the first ever non-Australian to take the award. Williams was reduced to tears when his team-mates performed an…
Air New Zealand Plane Gets The Hobbit Dragon Decals
An Air New Zealand Boeing 777-300 that the Weta Workshop team in Wellington have fitted with a 54-metre long image of Smaug the dragon from The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug was unveiled yesterday…
From Gibbston to the World – Brennan Pinot Noir a Champion
Sean Brennan’s painstaking approach and his belief in the Gibbston sub-region has brought Central Otago’s famed Pinot Noir to the world, with Brennan Wines’ B2 Pinot Noir 2011 scooping five awards and being named…
