5:00AM Sunday May 27, 2007By Rebecca Lewis
Marc Ellis out and about in Kumeu.
Marc Ellis has shaved his head and joined the Hare Krishnas.
Spotted yesterday walking out of Blossoms cafe in Kumeu, looking like any other member of the sect, it seemed the wild-boy days of TVs larrikin were gone - temporarily.
Ellis is filming How the Other Half Live, a series focusing on breaking down the religious and cultural stereotypes of Kiwi minority groups. The show, which will screen on TV One, seems topical, given Friday's declaration by Destiny Church Bishop Brian Tamaki that Christianity is New Zealand's "national religion".
Ellis immerses himself with members of different cultures, including the Muslim community, hip-hop dancers in South Auckland and a hippy community in Nelson.
A friend of Ellis told the Herald on Sunday: "The show plays on the fact that there is a lot of ignorance in New Zealand... It's about him getting behind the stereotypes and getting to know the real people."
Sunday 27 May 2007
Hokianga Film Festival
The Hokianga Film Festival showcases established film-makers, both local and visiting.
As well as screenings there will be discussions with directors and community representatives about future projects.
It runs from June 1 to 4 at Moria Marae, Whirinaki and costs $30 for a weekend pass or $5 a session.
A package with marae accommodation, meals and movies is $120. Details online.
Contact: (09) 405 8285, (09) 405 5823
On the web: www.hokianga.com/filmfest2007
As well as screenings there will be discussions with directors and community representatives about future projects.
It runs from June 1 to 4 at Moria Marae, Whirinaki and costs $30 for a weekend pass or $5 a session.
A package with marae accommodation, meals and movies is $120. Details online.
Contact: (09) 405 8285, (09) 405 5823
On the web: www.hokianga.com/filmfest2007
Mountain madness
Mountain madness
The Ohakune Mountain Mardi Gras blends a small-town atmosphere with some of the extreme and fashionable aspects of skiing and boarding.
On June 16 the streets will come alive with stalls, games, rides, demonstrations and street performers and there will be an all-night laser show. The event attracts big crowds, so book your accommodation early.
Contact: 021 897 888
On the web: www.ohakune-mardigras.co.nz
The Ohakune Mountain Mardi Gras blends a small-town atmosphere with some of the extreme and fashionable aspects of skiing and boarding.
On June 16 the streets will come alive with stalls, games, rides, demonstrations and street performers and there will be an all-night laser show. The event attracts big crowds, so book your accommodation early.
Contact: 021 897 888
On the web: www.ohakune-mardigras.co.nz
Matariki
Shine on Matariki
Rug-up warm and take the family to a Matariki event in Russell Park, Waipukurau, on June 8.
The Maori New Year will be welcomed with kapa haka, bands and fireworks, as well as food and craft stalls. From 5pm to 9.30pm, fireworks at 8pm.
Contact: (06) 858 6488
Rug-up warm and take the family to a Matariki event in Russell Park, Waipukurau, on June 8.
The Maori New Year will be welcomed with kapa haka, bands and fireworks, as well as food and craft stalls. From 5pm to 9.30pm, fireworks at 8pm.
Contact: (06) 858 6488
Thursday 24 May 2007
Oyster Fritters
Oyster Fritters Remove oysters from their liquor. Mix enough of the liquor and water into the flour to make a reasonably liquid batter.Drop 4 of the oysters at a time into the batter then spoon them into a pan of hot oil to shallow-fry them, turning once, until golden brown. Drain briefly on paper towels. Serve immediately. Makes 8.
Whitebait Fritters
Whitebait Fritters Whisk the egg, baking powder and salt together with a fork. Immediately stir the whitebait through and drop dessertspoonfuls of the mix into a pan of hot oil and shallow-fry the fritters, turning once, until golden brown. Drain briefly on paper towels. Serve immediately. Makes about 8 fritters
Gallery takes on costumer's legacy
By LANE NICHOLS - The Dominion Post Thursday, 24 May 2007
His intricate costumes have adorned the finest international dancers.
Now, 30 of Kristian Fredrikson's most beautiful designs are being gifted to Lower Hutt's NewDowse gallery in a gesture that honours one of his dying wishes.
The renowned Petone-born costumer designed outfits for countless international ballet, opera, theatre and film productions.
Though he died in 2005, his artistic vision lives on.
Hundreds of his designs – including about 45 tutus – will grace 32 dancers in the Royal New Zealand Ballet's Swan Lake production, which opens at Wellington's Saint James Theatre tomorrow.
Wardrobe supervisor Andrew Pfeiffer said Fredrikson's genius set him apart.
"Over the years he took a lot of photos of dancers in various poses, so he always knew what he could do in a costume.
"He's just one of those people that was never limited by his imagination."
The ballet company is gifting 30 Fredrikson costumes and 200 design drawings to the NewDowse.
The gallery's collections manager Bev Eng said the costumer had wanted his designs to be publicly available.
A Fredrikson tutu was on display and a 2004 exhibition of his work had attracted overwhelming national interest.
The costumes and drawings would be exhibited within the next year.
NewDowse director Tim Walker said the gallery would show how Fredrikson's signature designs became the hallmark of New Zealand's national dance company.
Royal New Zealand Ballet general manager Amanda Skoog said the gift would give future generations access to Fredrikson's vision.
His intricate costumes have adorned the finest international dancers.
Now, 30 of Kristian Fredrikson's most beautiful designs are being gifted to Lower Hutt's NewDowse gallery in a gesture that honours one of his dying wishes.
The renowned Petone-born costumer designed outfits for countless international ballet, opera, theatre and film productions.
Though he died in 2005, his artistic vision lives on.
Hundreds of his designs – including about 45 tutus – will grace 32 dancers in the Royal New Zealand Ballet's Swan Lake production, which opens at Wellington's Saint James Theatre tomorrow.
Wardrobe supervisor Andrew Pfeiffer said Fredrikson's genius set him apart.
"Over the years he took a lot of photos of dancers in various poses, so he always knew what he could do in a costume.
"He's just one of those people that was never limited by his imagination."
The ballet company is gifting 30 Fredrikson costumes and 200 design drawings to the NewDowse.
The gallery's collections manager Bev Eng said the costumer had wanted his designs to be publicly available.
A Fredrikson tutu was on display and a 2004 exhibition of his work had attracted overwhelming national interest.
The costumes and drawings would be exhibited within the next year.
NewDowse director Tim Walker said the gallery would show how Fredrikson's signature designs became the hallmark of New Zealand's national dance company.
Royal New Zealand Ballet general manager Amanda Skoog said the gift would give future generations access to Fredrikson's vision.
Kiwi accent broadens in battle against globalisation
NZPA Thursday, 24 May 2007
Despite the pressures of globalisation, the New Zealand accent is becoming broader, an Auckland University of Technology (AUT) study has shown.
AUT professor of language and communication Allan Bell studied recordings of more than 300 voices over a 30-year period, from ordinary New Zealanders to well-known broadcasting personalities.
Battling the pressures of globalisation and homogenisation of language, New Zealand English was "becoming ever more distinctively itself", Dr Bell said.
"Everybody thought it would end up sounding even more Australian or more American or whatever, but in fact the things that make New Zealand English different from other dialects are increasing rather than diminishing," Dr Bell told the New Zealand Herald today.
The change in the New Zealand accent over the last 30 years was obvious, particularly in some of the vowel sounds.
"There's no doubt we've moved beyond using Queen's English to adopt a broader Kiwi accent," he said.
Dr Bell said New Zealand's indigenous languages were still marginalised, with mainstream media needing to use more te reo Maori and Pacific Island voices."
"We have to give a place for the country's threatened languages such as te reo Maori and other languages such as Niuean and Cook Islands Maori. It affirms the place of the English of New Zealand," he said.
Despite the pressures of globalisation, the New Zealand accent is becoming broader, an Auckland University of Technology (AUT) study has shown.
AUT professor of language and communication Allan Bell studied recordings of more than 300 voices over a 30-year period, from ordinary New Zealanders to well-known broadcasting personalities.
Battling the pressures of globalisation and homogenisation of language, New Zealand English was "becoming ever more distinctively itself", Dr Bell said.
"Everybody thought it would end up sounding even more Australian or more American or whatever, but in fact the things that make New Zealand English different from other dialects are increasing rather than diminishing," Dr Bell told the New Zealand Herald today.
The change in the New Zealand accent over the last 30 years was obvious, particularly in some of the vowel sounds.
"There's no doubt we've moved beyond using Queen's English to adopt a broader Kiwi accent," he said.
Dr Bell said New Zealand's indigenous languages were still marginalised, with mainstream media needing to use more te reo Maori and Pacific Island voices."
"We have to give a place for the country's threatened languages such as te reo Maori and other languages such as Niuean and Cook Islands Maori. It affirms the place of the English of New Zealand," he said.
Saturday 19 May 2007
Greenstone chisel discovered
A historic pounamu chisel has been found in Kaikoura during an archeological assessment.
Ministry for Culture and Heritage senior advisor for protected objects, Ailsa Cain, said it was the first archeological find in Kaikoura this year.
She said there were usually one or two finds every year.
The location of the taonga could not be disclosed as the ministry needed to prevent fossicking, which was illegal under the Historic Places Act. The exact date of the taonga was difficult to determine, she said.
After such an object is found the chief executive of the Ministry of Culture publishes a notice calling for claims of ownership to be lodged with the ministry within 60 working days.
Once claims have been received and any competing claims resolved, the ministry can apply to the registrar of the Maori Land Court for an order confirming ownership.
If several claims are lodged and cannot be resolved, it may go to the Maori Land Court which will require a court hearing.
If no claims for ownership are lodged within 60 working days custody can be granted, which means ownership lies with the crown.
So far the ministry did not know how many, if any, claims were lodged.
Kaikoura Star Wednesday, 16 May 2007
Ministry for Culture and Heritage senior advisor for protected objects, Ailsa Cain, said it was the first archeological find in Kaikoura this year.
She said there were usually one or two finds every year.
The location of the taonga could not be disclosed as the ministry needed to prevent fossicking, which was illegal under the Historic Places Act. The exact date of the taonga was difficult to determine, she said.
After such an object is found the chief executive of the Ministry of Culture publishes a notice calling for claims of ownership to be lodged with the ministry within 60 working days.
Once claims have been received and any competing claims resolved, the ministry can apply to the registrar of the Maori Land Court for an order confirming ownership.
If several claims are lodged and cannot be resolved, it may go to the Maori Land Court which will require a court hearing.
If no claims for ownership are lodged within 60 working days custody can be granted, which means ownership lies with the crown.
So far the ministry did not know how many, if any, claims were lodged.
Kaikoura Star Wednesday, 16 May 2007
Wing-walk a family tradition
by TREFOR MOSS - The Marlborough Express Friday, 18 May 2007
Standing on the wing of an aeroplane 1000 feet above the ground might sound like a pretty amazing feat. But for Susan Alexander, it's just a family tradition.
Remarkably, she is to become the fourth generation of her family to wing-walk when she takes to the skies over Auckland this weekend strapped upright onto the wing of a Tiger Moth.
Although it was her grandfather who began the family's association with wing-walking, it was her great-grandmother, Hilda Alexander, who set records when she wing-walked across Cook Strait in 1971 at the age of 72, going on to become the oldest recorded wing-walker at 78.
"I'd never do a bungee jump or probably a sky dive, but this doesn't seem insane to me," said Susan.
"It should be good; I don't feel nervous. When you see a picture of your nanna at 72 doing it and your uncles have done it, it just feels natural."
The 19 year old divides her time between the Westpac Bank, instructing at Pursuits Gym and studying for an accountancy degree, but "flying is a big passion for me," she says.
Her flight on Sunday will last about 10 minutes and, if she can see through the face full of wind, her dad Steve will be accompanying her in a second plane.
"There is a risk involved because a person standing on top of the wing increases the drag a lot," she said. "But if the pilot's skilled ? and he is ? then there shouldn't be a problem."
It all sounds like a breeze for the latest generation of a wing-walking dynasty.
Standing on the wing of an aeroplane 1000 feet above the ground might sound like a pretty amazing feat. But for Susan Alexander, it's just a family tradition.
Remarkably, she is to become the fourth generation of her family to wing-walk when she takes to the skies over Auckland this weekend strapped upright onto the wing of a Tiger Moth.
Although it was her grandfather who began the family's association with wing-walking, it was her great-grandmother, Hilda Alexander, who set records when she wing-walked across Cook Strait in 1971 at the age of 72, going on to become the oldest recorded wing-walker at 78.
"I'd never do a bungee jump or probably a sky dive, but this doesn't seem insane to me," said Susan.
"It should be good; I don't feel nervous. When you see a picture of your nanna at 72 doing it and your uncles have done it, it just feels natural."
The 19 year old divides her time between the Westpac Bank, instructing at Pursuits Gym and studying for an accountancy degree, but "flying is a big passion for me," she says.
Her flight on Sunday will last about 10 minutes and, if she can see through the face full of wind, her dad Steve will be accompanying her in a second plane.
"There is a risk involved because a person standing on top of the wing increases the drag a lot," she said. "But if the pilot's skilled ? and he is ? then there shouldn't be a problem."
It all sounds like a breeze for the latest generation of a wing-walking dynasty.
Auckland autumn botanic beauty
12:00AM Tuesday April 03, 2007By Heather Ramsay
Auckland's Botanic Gardens are a peaceful place to take a stroll on a sunny autumn afternoon. Grab a map from the Visitor Centre and explore the 65ha garden, which boasts more than 10,000 different plant types originating from all over the world. Roses, camellias, magnolias and other flowering plants add a splash of colour at different times of year. Entry is free, and the gates are open from 8am-6pm daily. The Visitor Centre is open 10am-4pm daily and contains a cafe, gift shop and a gallery. It's at 102 Hill Rd, Manurewa. Contact: (09) 267 1457 On the web: www.arc.govt.nz
Auckland's Botanic Gardens are a peaceful place to take a stroll on a sunny autumn afternoon. Grab a map from the Visitor Centre and explore the 65ha garden, which boasts more than 10,000 different plant types originating from all over the world. Roses, camellias, magnolias and other flowering plants add a splash of colour at different times of year. Entry is free, and the gates are open from 8am-6pm daily. The Visitor Centre is open 10am-4pm daily and contains a cafe, gift shop and a gallery. It's at 102 Hill Rd, Manurewa. Contact: (09) 267 1457 On the web: www.arc.govt.nz
Museums go behind the scenes to mark international day
:00AM Thursday May 17, 2007
New Zealanders are spoilt for choice for museums and galleries, with more per capita than in the United Kingdom, Canada, France or Sweden, a survey has found.
There are more than 500 museums, galleries and related organisations - about one for every 8000 New Zealanders.
Museums Aotearoa executive director Phillipa Tocker said the museum sector consisted of a wide range of organisations that collected, protected, interpreted and provided access to the collections of taonga, archives, creative arts and artefacts distributed across the country.
Ms Tocker said the survey by Museums Aotearoa showed that culture and heritage was "a growing part of our identity and our economy".
"A handful of our museums have been around for more than 100 years, but over a third of our museums and galleries have been established in the past 50 years, with more than one in 10 less than five years old."
They employ more than 3000 staff and 7000 to 10,000 volunteers, she said.
While most of the small museums attracted fewer than 5000 visitors a year, the total number of museum visits was now estimated to be over nine million.
"And although over half of our small museums operate on less than $20,000, the combined operating expenditure for the sector is likely to be over $200 million a year," Ms Tocker said.
"Museums are important to their communities and to the country as a whole."
Tomorrow is the 30th International Museum Day.
Each year a theme selected by the International Council of Museums, is interpreted and promoted locally. Many museums are putting on special events on this year's theme - "Museums and Universal Heritage".
Auckland and Canterbury Museums were offering behind the scenes tours for a first-hand look at little-known treasures and Howick Historical Village would have a "live day" with a Victorian wedding theme.
- NZPA
New Zealanders are spoilt for choice for museums and galleries, with more per capita than in the United Kingdom, Canada, France or Sweden, a survey has found.
There are more than 500 museums, galleries and related organisations - about one for every 8000 New Zealanders.
Museums Aotearoa executive director Phillipa Tocker said the museum sector consisted of a wide range of organisations that collected, protected, interpreted and provided access to the collections of taonga, archives, creative arts and artefacts distributed across the country.
Ms Tocker said the survey by Museums Aotearoa showed that culture and heritage was "a growing part of our identity and our economy".
"A handful of our museums have been around for more than 100 years, but over a third of our museums and galleries have been established in the past 50 years, with more than one in 10 less than five years old."
They employ more than 3000 staff and 7000 to 10,000 volunteers, she said.
While most of the small museums attracted fewer than 5000 visitors a year, the total number of museum visits was now estimated to be over nine million.
"And although over half of our small museums operate on less than $20,000, the combined operating expenditure for the sector is likely to be over $200 million a year," Ms Tocker said.
"Museums are important to their communities and to the country as a whole."
Tomorrow is the 30th International Museum Day.
Each year a theme selected by the International Council of Museums, is interpreted and promoted locally. Many museums are putting on special events on this year's theme - "Museums and Universal Heritage".
Auckland and Canterbury Museums were offering behind the scenes tours for a first-hand look at little-known treasures and Howick Historical Village would have a "live day" with a Victorian wedding theme.
- NZPA
Orbit, Sky Tower
5:00PM Saturday May 19, 2007By Reviewed Bridget Wilson for Canvas
The maple-and-soy marinated venison. Photo / Paul Estcourt
Herald Rating: (Out of ten)
Food:8Service:3Value:5Ambience:7
Thank goodness I didn't wear heels. Belinda did and I felt for her as we wended our way back to the car through the dreadful SkyCity carpark. How come they spend all that money on such a fabulous building and then make the parking experience such an ordeal?
Same with the dining. Great food, stupendous view, but let down by the waitpeople.
But it was a special experience. I fell a little in love with Auckland by night from way up there. It looked so beautiful, twinkling below even that pohutukawa sculpture (a travesty, said artist Belinda) by the start of the motorway looked lovely all lit up. The Herald building was a Lego piece, the container terminal all flashing lights and the size of a piece from a Meccano set; same with the bridge. The city looked so different and we spent a fair time arguing about what was what the lights must have been the Alexandra Park Raceway (or was it Eden Park?). Was that Dominion Rd lined with orange lights? Had American performance artist Christo wrapped the Aotea Centre or does it always look like that? And of course this was all complicated by the fact that we were slowly going around in circles one revolution an hour. So we'd just get our bearings and another landmark would come in to view and wed get disoriented again.
We were pretty hungry after our trek from the carpark - the signs really didn't help and so were glad when some quite good bread arrived pronto. The waitress seemed in a hurry and I wondered if we'd have to eat quickly, too, so our table could be readied for the next sitting. The place was booked out.
The entrees arrived and all three were great. Les maple-and-soy-marinated rare venison ($18.50) was fabulous and colourful. My scallops (S18.50) were a riot of colour and tasted glorious. Belinda got two steamed Alaskan Red King crab legs with a nice buttery sauce ($26), which, despite their long journey (presumably frozen) were very good.
Small service point: I don't appreciate having to clear a space for arriving plates of food because waitpeople haven't bothered to take away empty ones. Big service point: do not scrape leftover food and stack plates at the table no matter how dexterous the waitperson, this is a no-no and not something you expect to see at a top spot.
As the bridge hove into view for the second time we were finishing our mains: eye fillet with kumara mash ($32.50); chicken breast on potato mash with a rich herb cream sauce ($28.50); and grilled salmon fillet ($29.50). It had been a great meal. My very thick but excellent steak had nearly done me in, so Belinda and I decided to do a lap and check out the clientele. No one seemed to be even looking at the view, let alone pointing like us. Odd, I thought was it not cool to be even a bit awed by it all? We certainly were.
The puddings a semi-frozen mascarpone cream with vincotto and Marsala caramel, a honey and mango brulee with pine nut nougatine and mango compote, and far too many handcrafted chocolates (all $13.50) were fabulous.
Included in the meal ticket is a visit to the viewing platform on the floor below. Belinda and I held tightly to a rail as we walked over the thick glass with views to the ground way below while Les kept his back resolutely to the view and watched a little doco about the building process. We shot back down in the lift (more scary glass under foot) and, reeling slightly from the speed of it all, were ushered out into a tacky gift shop bearing no resemblance to our entrance and setting up the whole where the expletive are we? all over again
Where: Orbit, Sky Tower, Cnr Victoria and Federal Sts(09) 363 6000The wine: From $7 to $24 a glass; from $29.50 for a bottle of New Zealand sauvignon blanc to $295 for champagneOur meal: $251 for bread, three entrees, three mains, three sides, one glass of wine, one bottle of beer, one litre of mineral water, three desserts, and three coffees.Verdict: View to die for, very good food, patchy service and hellish parking.
The maple-and-soy marinated venison. Photo / Paul Estcourt
Herald Rating: (Out of ten)
Food:8Service:3Value:5Ambience:7
Thank goodness I didn't wear heels. Belinda did and I felt for her as we wended our way back to the car through the dreadful SkyCity carpark. How come they spend all that money on such a fabulous building and then make the parking experience such an ordeal?
Same with the dining. Great food, stupendous view, but let down by the waitpeople.
But it was a special experience. I fell a little in love with Auckland by night from way up there. It looked so beautiful, twinkling below even that pohutukawa sculpture (a travesty, said artist Belinda) by the start of the motorway looked lovely all lit up. The Herald building was a Lego piece, the container terminal all flashing lights and the size of a piece from a Meccano set; same with the bridge. The city looked so different and we spent a fair time arguing about what was what the lights must have been the Alexandra Park Raceway (or was it Eden Park?). Was that Dominion Rd lined with orange lights? Had American performance artist Christo wrapped the Aotea Centre or does it always look like that? And of course this was all complicated by the fact that we were slowly going around in circles one revolution an hour. So we'd just get our bearings and another landmark would come in to view and wed get disoriented again.
We were pretty hungry after our trek from the carpark - the signs really didn't help and so were glad when some quite good bread arrived pronto. The waitress seemed in a hurry and I wondered if we'd have to eat quickly, too, so our table could be readied for the next sitting. The place was booked out.
The entrees arrived and all three were great. Les maple-and-soy-marinated rare venison ($18.50) was fabulous and colourful. My scallops (S18.50) were a riot of colour and tasted glorious. Belinda got two steamed Alaskan Red King crab legs with a nice buttery sauce ($26), which, despite their long journey (presumably frozen) were very good.
Small service point: I don't appreciate having to clear a space for arriving plates of food because waitpeople haven't bothered to take away empty ones. Big service point: do not scrape leftover food and stack plates at the table no matter how dexterous the waitperson, this is a no-no and not something you expect to see at a top spot.
As the bridge hove into view for the second time we were finishing our mains: eye fillet with kumara mash ($32.50); chicken breast on potato mash with a rich herb cream sauce ($28.50); and grilled salmon fillet ($29.50). It had been a great meal. My very thick but excellent steak had nearly done me in, so Belinda and I decided to do a lap and check out the clientele. No one seemed to be even looking at the view, let alone pointing like us. Odd, I thought was it not cool to be even a bit awed by it all? We certainly were.
The puddings a semi-frozen mascarpone cream with vincotto and Marsala caramel, a honey and mango brulee with pine nut nougatine and mango compote, and far too many handcrafted chocolates (all $13.50) were fabulous.
Included in the meal ticket is a visit to the viewing platform on the floor below. Belinda and I held tightly to a rail as we walked over the thick glass with views to the ground way below while Les kept his back resolutely to the view and watched a little doco about the building process. We shot back down in the lift (more scary glass under foot) and, reeling slightly from the speed of it all, were ushered out into a tacky gift shop bearing no resemblance to our entrance and setting up the whole where the expletive are we? all over again
Where: Orbit, Sky Tower, Cnr Victoria and Federal Sts(09) 363 6000The wine: From $7 to $24 a glass; from $29.50 for a bottle of New Zealand sauvignon blanc to $295 for champagneOur meal: $251 for bread, three entrees, three mains, three sides, one glass of wine, one bottle of beer, one litre of mineral water, three desserts, and three coffees.Verdict: View to die for, very good food, patchy service and hellish parking.
Tuesday 15 May 2007
Police are hunting a taxi driver after a passenger was stabbed for apparently refusing to pay a fare in Auckland last night.
15 May 2007 Police are hunting a taxi driver after a passenger was stabbed for apparently refusing to pay a fare in Auckland last night.There were three passengers in the taxi and police say two of the passengers made a run for it in the suburb of Avondale when the third passenger was stabbed. Police say another taxi driver hit the pair with his taxi at a nearby service station on Race Course Parade at around 9pm. The passengers all have injuries, but none are life threatening.Police are looking for two taxi drivers although no complaints have been made. © 2007 NZCity, NewsTalkZB
Monday 14 May 2007
Your picks:
Matthew M Here's mine, no particular order:(1) Point that thing somewhere else - The Clean(2) Summer Stone - the 3ds(3) Adults and Children - the Gordons(4) Amino - HDU(5) Fat Gut Strut - The Mint Chicks(6) Fast Ostrich - Toy Love(7) Wild for You - Rock and Roll Machine(8) Buddy - Snapper
Phil Hayhoe Into Temptation - Neil Finn. A song about that moment between desire and action... also extremely well constructed, beautiful chords and Neil at the top of his game. Welcome Home - Dave Dobbyn. Captures the essence of kiwi multi-cuturalism in a way that moves me every time I hear it. Dominion Road - Don McGlashan. It's just so us really. JaneJezebel - Jon StevensShe's a Mod - Double J and Twice the T (with Ray Columbus)Life begins at 40 - Dave and the DynamosYep, there's been some goodies.
Rosie"Slice of heaven" - No doubt about it.
T-rock Burrows damn how long have i waited to do this!?1. 'jesus i was evil' Darcy Clay (God bless his soul)and 'riverhead' by Goldenhorse (Kirsten - you're the most gorgeous women alive!)2. 'six months in a leaky boat' Split Enz3. 'gutter black' Hello Sailor4. 'cornbag' Head Like a Hole (HLAH)5. 'coming on' Weta6. 'glad i'm not a Kennedy' Shona Laing7. 'naked flame' Dave Dobbyn (Dobbo you're the frickin man!)8. 'magic what she do' DD Smash9. 'pacifier' Shihad10. 'onwards' Rombus11. 'scorpio girls' Supergroovei'm way over my quota here but special mentions gotta be made of 'be mine tonite', 'heater' (muttonbirds), lots of dragon songs, 'nature', the clean, the chills, the headless chickens, fur patrol, 'bliss', 'she's jive', 'dance stamina' and 'candy arse' by Pluto. i could go for days, but won't.
Matthew M Here's mine, no particular order:(1) Point that thing somewhere else - The Clean(2) Summer Stone - the 3ds(3) Adults and Children - the Gordons(4) Amino - HDU(5) Fat Gut Strut - The Mint Chicks(6) Fast Ostrich - Toy Love(7) Wild for You - Rock and Roll Machine(8) Buddy - Snapper
Phil Hayhoe Into Temptation - Neil Finn. A song about that moment between desire and action... also extremely well constructed, beautiful chords and Neil at the top of his game. Welcome Home - Dave Dobbyn. Captures the essence of kiwi multi-cuturalism in a way that moves me every time I hear it. Dominion Road - Don McGlashan. It's just so us really. JaneJezebel - Jon StevensShe's a Mod - Double J and Twice the T (with Ray Columbus)Life begins at 40 - Dave and the DynamosYep, there's been some goodies.
Rosie"Slice of heaven" - No doubt about it.
T-rock Burrows damn how long have i waited to do this!?1. 'jesus i was evil' Darcy Clay (God bless his soul)and 'riverhead' by Goldenhorse (Kirsten - you're the most gorgeous women alive!)2. 'six months in a leaky boat' Split Enz3. 'gutter black' Hello Sailor4. 'cornbag' Head Like a Hole (HLAH)5. 'coming on' Weta6. 'glad i'm not a Kennedy' Shona Laing7. 'naked flame' Dave Dobbyn (Dobbo you're the frickin man!)8. 'magic what she do' DD Smash9. 'pacifier' Shihad10. 'onwards' Rombus11. 'scorpio girls' Supergroovei'm way over my quota here but special mentions gotta be made of 'be mine tonite', 'heater' (muttonbirds), lots of dragon songs, 'nature', the clean, the chills, the headless chickens, fur patrol, 'bliss', 'she's jive', 'dance stamina' and 'candy arse' by Pluto. i could go for days, but won't.
Your picks: What's the best NZ song ever written?
With five New Zealand singles in the Top 40 this week, local music is arguably more prolific than ever having overcome its cultural cringe status of the 90s.
Yet some of the most popular Kiwi tunes remain tracks from 20 years ago.
In 2001 APRA release a list of the top 100 New Zealand songs of all time, with Fourmyula's Nature taking the top spot.
Crowded House made number two with Don't Dream It's Over, while Dave Dobbyn's anthemic Loyal rounded out the top three.
Six years on, have things changed? Undoubtedly, more local music has been produced, but is it any good?
We asked you to send us your picks for New Zealand's greatest songs so we could compile them and put the most commonly nominated to a poll for you to select the top ten rankings.
Yet some of the most popular Kiwi tunes remain tracks from 20 years ago.
In 2001 APRA release a list of the top 100 New Zealand songs of all time, with Fourmyula's Nature taking the top spot.
Crowded House made number two with Don't Dream It's Over, while Dave Dobbyn's anthemic Loyal rounded out the top three.
Six years on, have things changed? Undoubtedly, more local music has been produced, but is it any good?
We asked you to send us your picks for New Zealand's greatest songs so we could compile them and put the most commonly nominated to a poll for you to select the top ten rankings.
Your picks: What's the best NZ song ever written?
8:40AM Sunday May 13, 2007
Who's best - Dave Dobbyn (L) or Shihad? Photo / Chris Skelton, Richard Robinson
With five New Zealand singles in the Top 40 this week, local music is arguably more prolific than ever having overcome its cultural cringe status of the 90s.
Yet some of the most popular Kiwi tunes remain tracks from 20 years ago.
In 2001 APRA release a list of the top 100 New Zealand songs of all time, with Fourmyula's Nature taking the top spot.
Crowded House made number two with Don't Dream It's Over, while Dave Dobbyn's anthemic Loyal rounded out the top three.
Six years on, have things changed? Undoubtedly, more local music has been produced, but is it any good?
We asked you to send us your picks for New Zealand's greatest songs so we could compile them and put the most commonly nominated to a poll for you to select the top ten rankings.
Who's best - Dave Dobbyn (L) or Shihad? Photo / Chris Skelton, Richard Robinson
With five New Zealand singles in the Top 40 this week, local music is arguably more prolific than ever having overcome its cultural cringe status of the 90s.
Yet some of the most popular Kiwi tunes remain tracks from 20 years ago.
In 2001 APRA release a list of the top 100 New Zealand songs of all time, with Fourmyula's Nature taking the top spot.
Crowded House made number two with Don't Dream It's Over, while Dave Dobbyn's anthemic Loyal rounded out the top three.
Six years on, have things changed? Undoubtedly, more local music has been produced, but is it any good?
We asked you to send us your picks for New Zealand's greatest songs so we could compile them and put the most commonly nominated to a poll for you to select the top ten rankings.
Dobbyn tunes popular choices for all-time favourite Kiwi song
Dave Dobbyn is New Zealand's favourite songwriter, following a Herald online poll over the weekend.
Two of Dobbyn's classic singles - Slice of Heaven and Loyal - are currently leading the poll, which asked readers to select their all-time favourite New Zealand song.
Crowded House comes in a close third with Don't Dream It's Over, a song made even more poignant following last week's announcement that the band is to release a new album this year, more than ten years after the group disbanded.
80s rockers Dragon are sitting at the bottom of the poll, with just three per cent of voters choosing Rain as their favourite song.
More than 2,500 readers have already voted in our online poll. To have your say, visit the poll on the right of our home page.
Top Ten:
Home Again - ShihadDon't Dream It's Over - Crowded HouseWelcome Home - Dave DobbynRain - DragonLove Not Given Lightly - Chris KnoxLoyal - Dave DobbynSlice of Heaven - Dave DobbynAnchor Me - The Mutton BirdsBliss - Th'DudesMessage to My Girl - Split Enz
Two of Dobbyn's classic singles - Slice of Heaven and Loyal - are currently leading the poll, which asked readers to select their all-time favourite New Zealand song.
Crowded House comes in a close third with Don't Dream It's Over, a song made even more poignant following last week's announcement that the band is to release a new album this year, more than ten years after the group disbanded.
80s rockers Dragon are sitting at the bottom of the poll, with just three per cent of voters choosing Rain as their favourite song.
More than 2,500 readers have already voted in our online poll. To have your say, visit the poll on the right of our home page.
Top Ten:
Home Again - ShihadDon't Dream It's Over - Crowded HouseWelcome Home - Dave DobbynRain - DragonLove Not Given Lightly - Chris KnoxLoyal - Dave DobbynSlice of Heaven - Dave DobbynAnchor Me - The Mutton BirdsBliss - Th'DudesMessage to My Girl - Split Enz
Aucklanders will have to get in quick for old car swap
NZPA Monday, 14 May 2007 Aucklanders who want to swap their old bangers for $400 worth of train and bus tickets will have to get in quick...the trial is limited to 600 cars.
Associate Transport Minister Judith Tizard today launched the trial which will run for six weeks or until the vouchers run out.
She said the scheme targeted vehicles that were either unwarranted, would not pass their next warrant, or where the warrant would cost more than the vehicle.
"If you cringe every time your car is due for a warrant of fitness, why not consider trading in your car for $400 worth of bus and rail passes?
"What better way to try public transport than for two months free."
The aim of the trial was reducing dangerous vehicle emissions, improving public health and recycling resources, Ms Tizard said.
Drivers would be able to call a hotline to have their car picked up from anywhere in the city.
Some of the cars would also be given emissions tests to give an idea how the vehicle was performing to get more information about New Zealand's vehicle fleet.
All the cars would be scrapped and recycled.
The trial is supported by the Transport Ministry, Auckland Regional Council, Auckland Transport Authority and the Broken Car Collection Company.
Ms Tizard said the trial was being led by the councils and car recovery company, which would carry the cost.
She said dumped cars were a big problem in many parts of Auckland, with Manukau City Council spending about $2 million a year removing derelict vehicles from streets.
Ms Tizard said she hoped if the scheme proved successful it would be rolled out in other council areas across the country.
Associate Transport Minister Judith Tizard today launched the trial which will run for six weeks or until the vouchers run out.
She said the scheme targeted vehicles that were either unwarranted, would not pass their next warrant, or where the warrant would cost more than the vehicle.
"If you cringe every time your car is due for a warrant of fitness, why not consider trading in your car for $400 worth of bus and rail passes?
"What better way to try public transport than for two months free."
The aim of the trial was reducing dangerous vehicle emissions, improving public health and recycling resources, Ms Tizard said.
Drivers would be able to call a hotline to have their car picked up from anywhere in the city.
Some of the cars would also be given emissions tests to give an idea how the vehicle was performing to get more information about New Zealand's vehicle fleet.
All the cars would be scrapped and recycled.
The trial is supported by the Transport Ministry, Auckland Regional Council, Auckland Transport Authority and the Broken Car Collection Company.
Ms Tizard said the trial was being led by the councils and car recovery company, which would carry the cost.
She said dumped cars were a big problem in many parts of Auckland, with Manukau City Council spending about $2 million a year removing derelict vehicles from streets.
Ms Tizard said she hoped if the scheme proved successful it would be rolled out in other council areas across the country.
Saturday 12 May 2007
Playing with fire
By BEN WATSON - North Shore Times Saturday, 12 May 2007
OUT OF THE DARK: Tim West from Huia creates eyecacthing designs. During summer a group of men and women get fired up every Tuesday night.
In a central city park they gather to dance, twirl and perform the night away with streaks of fire carving through the night.
Welcome to fire night.
Organised by fire dance and performance group Central City Circus, fire night has been lighting up the summer night sky for eight years.
It started at Victoria Park but moved to Basque Reserve in Newton.
One of the organisers of the night Mark Williams says it gives people doing fire poi the opportunity to showcase their skills and learn new ones from others.
Fire poi is an evolution of the traditional Maori poi and, as the name suggests, the ends are set alight with kerosene.
Over the years the pastime has become increasingly popular and although fire night is finished for this season, next daylight saving Mr Williams says they are keen to have more people come along to watch and take part.
The group is also hoping to secure funding to help cover the costs of fuel for the fiery events.
"We're chewing through more fuel than ever so it would be good to get a hand from someone," he says.
OUT OF THE DARK: Tim West from Huia creates eyecacthing designs. During summer a group of men and women get fired up every Tuesday night.
In a central city park they gather to dance, twirl and perform the night away with streaks of fire carving through the night.
Welcome to fire night.
Organised by fire dance and performance group Central City Circus, fire night has been lighting up the summer night sky for eight years.
It started at Victoria Park but moved to Basque Reserve in Newton.
One of the organisers of the night Mark Williams says it gives people doing fire poi the opportunity to showcase their skills and learn new ones from others.
Fire poi is an evolution of the traditional Maori poi and, as the name suggests, the ends are set alight with kerosene.
Over the years the pastime has become increasingly popular and although fire night is finished for this season, next daylight saving Mr Williams says they are keen to have more people come along to watch and take part.
The group is also hoping to secure funding to help cover the costs of fuel for the fiery events.
"We're chewing through more fuel than ever so it would be good to get a hand from someone," he says.
Wednesday 9 May 2007
Solemn day as hero George makes final trip home
RICHARD WOODD richard.woodd@tnl.co.nz - Taranaki Wednesday, 9 May 2007
George the Jack Russell came home yesterday. Steve Hopkinson, the Manaia vet who had to put George down after he was savaged by pitbulls, delivered a small box of ashes to the kids next door to where George lived with Alan Gay.
Eleven days ago, George died trying to protect these children.
The box is marked with a small brass plaque that reads: "George. Our Hero."
Yesterday the children carried the box to Mr Gay's place and it was handed over in silence. The vet also passed on an e-mail from Canada, by someone named Kelly, who wanted permission to put George's photo in a calendar published as a memorial to people who have "lost their furkids".
Mr Hopkinson told Mr Gay that George's injuries, when examined under anaesthetic, were far worse than he at first concluded and he had no other choice than euthanasia.
Mr Gay said he has had more phone calls, from people in Washington, Houston, Montana, Wyoming, California and South Africa.
He says his life is different without George around. "I get up in the morning and he's not there to do his little trip. He used to go up to the local garage, then round to George Brewer's and piddle on his post.
"I miss talking to him. It's like losing a family member, a brother."
Contact with an earlier owner had revealed that George was 14 years old, not nine as he had thought.
A planned memorial to George will be erected in Manaia. A media release from the South Taranaki District Council, published yesterday, incorrectly stated the memorial would be in Hawera. Radio station Classic Hits has begun an appeal for funds.
George the Jack Russell came home yesterday. Steve Hopkinson, the Manaia vet who had to put George down after he was savaged by pitbulls, delivered a small box of ashes to the kids next door to where George lived with Alan Gay.
Eleven days ago, George died trying to protect these children.
The box is marked with a small brass plaque that reads: "George. Our Hero."
Yesterday the children carried the box to Mr Gay's place and it was handed over in silence. The vet also passed on an e-mail from Canada, by someone named Kelly, who wanted permission to put George's photo in a calendar published as a memorial to people who have "lost their furkids".
Mr Hopkinson told Mr Gay that George's injuries, when examined under anaesthetic, were far worse than he at first concluded and he had no other choice than euthanasia.
Mr Gay said he has had more phone calls, from people in Washington, Houston, Montana, Wyoming, California and South Africa.
He says his life is different without George around. "I get up in the morning and he's not there to do his little trip. He used to go up to the local garage, then round to George Brewer's and piddle on his post.
"I miss talking to him. It's like losing a family member, a brother."
Contact with an earlier owner had revealed that George was 14 years old, not nine as he had thought.
A planned memorial to George will be erected in Manaia. A media release from the South Taranaki District Council, published yesterday, incorrectly stated the memorial would be in Hawera. Radio station Classic Hits has begun an appeal for funds.
Monday 7 May 2007
Hobbiton
Tours of the Hobbiton village movie set are available in Matamata, New Zealand. Visitors can see the remnants of the original Hobbiton village set from The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy.
The remnants of the LOTR movie set are on picturesque private farmland near Matamata in the North Island of New Zealand. There are spectacular views across to the Kaimai Ranges from the rolling green hills of the farm, which is a working sheep and beef unit.
The Hobbiton movie set has been returned to its natural state. However, hobbit holes and some structures from the film set are still present.
Your tour guide will escort you through the 10-acre site, recounting fascinating details of how the Hobbiton set was created.Tours of the Hobbiton movie set depart at 9.30am, 10.45am, 12pm, 1.15pm, 2.30pm and 3.45pm each day. Over summer we also offer twilight tours leaving at 5pm.
The remnants of the LOTR movie set are on picturesque private farmland near Matamata in the North Island of New Zealand. There are spectacular views across to the Kaimai Ranges from the rolling green hills of the farm, which is a working sheep and beef unit.
The Hobbiton movie set has been returned to its natural state. However, hobbit holes and some structures from the film set are still present.
Your tour guide will escort you through the 10-acre site, recounting fascinating details of how the Hobbiton set was created.Tours of the Hobbiton movie set depart at 9.30am, 10.45am, 12pm, 1.15pm, 2.30pm and 3.45pm each day. Over summer we also offer twilight tours leaving at 5pm.
Sunday 6 May 2007
Saturday 5 May 2007
Tidy Kiwi
Tidy kiwi success stories
Being a Tidy Kiwi means just thinking about how you dispose of your rubbish, and incorporating easy ideas into your everyday life. Below are some ideas of what other Aucklanders are doing.
At home I got a plastic bag from my cupboard. I live next to the mall and college in my area. I started to pick up the rubbish and once I had collected it all, I found a rubbish bin and I put it in. It's working but only if I keep doing it.
- LF, Whangaparoa
I pick up the litter and put it in the bin at my place. I live next to a main road and a lot of people throw litter out their car windows. I go out and pick it up. As long as I keep at it, it is clean but I wish that they did not throw it!
- LS, Whangaparoa
One morning I was walking to a friend's house when I saw lots of rubbish all over my area in Vipond Road, so I picked it up. I put it in my bin at home. When I keep on seeing rubbish I pick it up.
- MM, Whangaparoa
I take my bin and pick up rubbish around my house then I take it home and put it in the rubbish bin. It keeps the area tidy.
- SS, Whangaparoa
If I drop any rubbish I always pick it up again. Since I've been doing this at school and home while eating lunch, it's cleaner.
- NP, Whangaparoa
These people I sit near on my lunch break play a game of who can get their litter in the bin. When they've finished I go and pick up all the bits that missed. There's never any excess rubbish where I sit. I just in general hate littering and try to be as tidier kiwi as I can.
- CC, Howick
I bought three "green bags" to take when shopping at the supermarket and fruit and vege shops. I also choose to buy fruit and vegetables at a shop that has paper bags. I accumulate hardly any plastic bags - and the ones I do get I recycle. It would be great if more shops would offer paper bags as an alternative to plastic.
-JC, Meadowbank
Our family has a bit of an obsession with picking up bottles and cans, that we see in our area, and taking them home to recycle. We're great role models for our three boys, as they've now started to point out when we miss a particular recycleable item, laying in the street!
- SR, Browns Bay
I make sure anything that can be recycled is. Even if I'm away from home, I bring all my rubbish home and then get rid of it correctly. My success is my kids. They now know the proper way to throw out their rubbish. They never throw anything on the street. If no bin is near, they bring it home, even if it's only one lollie wrapper!! Keep New Zealand the way it should be....Beautiful!
-TP, Panmure
I go out walking most mornings around 5.30am. Where possible I pick up rubbish and put it into bins and add recyclable rubbish to recycling bins.Every little bit helps - would be great to encourage others to do the same!
-GH, Ellerslie
I picked up cans that were littered all over the place in the reserve. I had a lot of success as I go for a walk down there in the morning and if there are any cans I get them before other people see them and think of our area as an untidy area or before kids kick them around.
-CJ, Mangere Bridge
I always pick up paper that is blowing around the street and put it in my paper recycling box. It keeps the street looking tidy.
-Michael, Pakuranga
On weekends when I go for walks I carry a plastic bag to pick any litter on my area streets. I try to talk to my neighbours and our local diary owner to keep giving awareness of how important it is to be tidy! The success I have had is quite good as others too seem to be doing it too...
- NJK, Waterview
To decrease the amount of litter in our street, we (our family) don't put our rubbish out the night before, due to the fact that if we put our bin out the night before hungry dogs may be inclined to knock the bin over and eat the rubbish inside. This obviously causes litter and general household rubbish to fall into the drain and onto the road. An unpleasant look for the street. We started to do this and we also informed our neighbours, so it was like a domino effect. This also stopped the problem of the dogs knocking our bins over, by not giving them the chance to.
-PG Torbay
Our street is on a hill, and all our neighbours recycle but on rubbish day the wind often picks up plastic bottles and scatters them across the street and they don't get collected. My daughter and myself have now started to collect these bottles and place them in the extra recycle bin I purchased. I collect between 3-6 bottles a week and our street looks cleaner and I don't need to worry about my kids or dogs playing with stray rubbish.
-JB, Massey
I have a compost bin in the backyard and I have reduced my rubbish about 50%.
-CY, One Tree Hill
We are composting and have done this for several years. I am recycling paper and carton and bottles. I have also started using my own bags when I do my food shopping at the supermarket, so that I do not have an enormous collection of plastic bags. I also buy things that are not packed or wrapped in plastics, such as bulk foods, to save on plastic bags. Through composting we have our own compost, which means we do not have to buy this (money saver!) and have drastically reduces waste. Same applies to using my own bags for shopping, less waste.
-SV, Morningside
I make sure my cigarette butts are always placed in my ashtray and never throw rubbish from my car onto the street. It's no extra trouble to wait until I find a rubbish bin, or take the rubbish out at home.
-GT, Howick
Being a Tidy Kiwi means just thinking about how you dispose of your rubbish, and incorporating easy ideas into your everyday life. Below are some ideas of what other Aucklanders are doing.
At home I got a plastic bag from my cupboard. I live next to the mall and college in my area. I started to pick up the rubbish and once I had collected it all, I found a rubbish bin and I put it in. It's working but only if I keep doing it.
- LF, Whangaparoa
I pick up the litter and put it in the bin at my place. I live next to a main road and a lot of people throw litter out their car windows. I go out and pick it up. As long as I keep at it, it is clean but I wish that they did not throw it!
- LS, Whangaparoa
One morning I was walking to a friend's house when I saw lots of rubbish all over my area in Vipond Road, so I picked it up. I put it in my bin at home. When I keep on seeing rubbish I pick it up.
- MM, Whangaparoa
I take my bin and pick up rubbish around my house then I take it home and put it in the rubbish bin. It keeps the area tidy.
- SS, Whangaparoa
If I drop any rubbish I always pick it up again. Since I've been doing this at school and home while eating lunch, it's cleaner.
- NP, Whangaparoa
These people I sit near on my lunch break play a game of who can get their litter in the bin. When they've finished I go and pick up all the bits that missed. There's never any excess rubbish where I sit. I just in general hate littering and try to be as tidier kiwi as I can.
- CC, Howick
I bought three "green bags" to take when shopping at the supermarket and fruit and vege shops. I also choose to buy fruit and vegetables at a shop that has paper bags. I accumulate hardly any plastic bags - and the ones I do get I recycle. It would be great if more shops would offer paper bags as an alternative to plastic.
-JC, Meadowbank
Our family has a bit of an obsession with picking up bottles and cans, that we see in our area, and taking them home to recycle. We're great role models for our three boys, as they've now started to point out when we miss a particular recycleable item, laying in the street!
- SR, Browns Bay
I make sure anything that can be recycled is. Even if I'm away from home, I bring all my rubbish home and then get rid of it correctly. My success is my kids. They now know the proper way to throw out their rubbish. They never throw anything on the street. If no bin is near, they bring it home, even if it's only one lollie wrapper!! Keep New Zealand the way it should be....Beautiful!
-TP, Panmure
I go out walking most mornings around 5.30am. Where possible I pick up rubbish and put it into bins and add recyclable rubbish to recycling bins.Every little bit helps - would be great to encourage others to do the same!
-GH, Ellerslie
I picked up cans that were littered all over the place in the reserve. I had a lot of success as I go for a walk down there in the morning and if there are any cans I get them before other people see them and think of our area as an untidy area or before kids kick them around.
-CJ, Mangere Bridge
I always pick up paper that is blowing around the street and put it in my paper recycling box. It keeps the street looking tidy.
-Michael, Pakuranga
On weekends when I go for walks I carry a plastic bag to pick any litter on my area streets. I try to talk to my neighbours and our local diary owner to keep giving awareness of how important it is to be tidy! The success I have had is quite good as others too seem to be doing it too...
- NJK, Waterview
To decrease the amount of litter in our street, we (our family) don't put our rubbish out the night before, due to the fact that if we put our bin out the night before hungry dogs may be inclined to knock the bin over and eat the rubbish inside. This obviously causes litter and general household rubbish to fall into the drain and onto the road. An unpleasant look for the street. We started to do this and we also informed our neighbours, so it was like a domino effect. This also stopped the problem of the dogs knocking our bins over, by not giving them the chance to.
-PG Torbay
Our street is on a hill, and all our neighbours recycle but on rubbish day the wind often picks up plastic bottles and scatters them across the street and they don't get collected. My daughter and myself have now started to collect these bottles and place them in the extra recycle bin I purchased. I collect between 3-6 bottles a week and our street looks cleaner and I don't need to worry about my kids or dogs playing with stray rubbish.
-JB, Massey
I have a compost bin in the backyard and I have reduced my rubbish about 50%.
-CY, One Tree Hill
We are composting and have done this for several years. I am recycling paper and carton and bottles. I have also started using my own bags when I do my food shopping at the supermarket, so that I do not have an enormous collection of plastic bags. I also buy things that are not packed or wrapped in plastics, such as bulk foods, to save on plastic bags. Through composting we have our own compost, which means we do not have to buy this (money saver!) and have drastically reduces waste. Same applies to using my own bags for shopping, less waste.
-SV, Morningside
I make sure my cigarette butts are always placed in my ashtray and never throw rubbish from my car onto the street. It's no extra trouble to wait until I find a rubbish bin, or take the rubbish out at home.
-GT, Howick
Quintessentially quince
Our fortnightly foodie column by Sarah La Touche.
Does anybody here do anything with quinces anymore? Anyone else besides me, that is. Or has this wondrous exotic fruit become another casualty of our very modern, convenient society? Without a doubt it is one of the Queens of the autumn fruits. Quick and easy to prepare, it is not. Which is why, I suspect, it is hard to find in fruit and veggie shops (we won’t even consider the supermarket) around about now. And, which is why we planted two quince trees in our garden on our return from France. Because unless you know someone with a tree in their garden, chances are slim that you will be able to make your favourite quince jelly, pâte de coing (that’s French for quince paste, dulce de Membrillo in Spain), or poached quinces in verjuice.
The other reason we planted our trees is that they must have one of the most beautiful blossoms of all the fruit trees – wide, pale pink flowers burst forth first, followed immediately by similarly wide, iridescent green leaves that frame the delicate flowers which eventually become large, soft-yellow, pear-shaped, perfumed, downy fruit. By autumn they are ready to pick, to do with what you will.
The great thing about quinces is that they work fantastically well with savoury flavours as well as sweet; a tajine of chicken with quince, for example. They are a sour and almost inedible fruit raw but with some long, slow cooking this ancient Asiatic, heady fruit transforms itself to gastronomic heights. Their musky perfume will envelope the whole room whilst they cook. Actually, their perfume is one of their most striking attributes – the French not only used it in cooking but also extracted an essential oil from the fruit for use in perfumery and medicine for centuries.
Perhaps my most favourite way to enjoy them on the sweet side is slow poached in verjuice, with orange zest, cinnamon and star anise. Rich, robust and texturally pleasing with a depth of flavour I have not found in any other fruit when cooked. No need to add anything else once cooked except perhaps a scoop of homemade vanilla-bean ice cream, or a dab of crème fraîche if you like that sort of thing.
They are good baked in the oven prepared just like you would baked apple, only peel them as well as coring them, baste them a bit more, and cook them a bit longer. You’ll know when quinces are done; they turn a beautiful shade of pink, rather like the colour of guava, and go from rock hard to soft. Some slices of poached quince, or a square of firm quince paste works wonders with a flavoursome aged cheddar with a good bite to it, or Gouda too. You’ll think you have died and gone to heaven.
To prepare these beauties, first rub off the down on the exterior with a cloth before washing them. Cut them in to quarters or eights. This takes a bit of effort as they are as hard as a rock; peel and core them well, another aspect of the job requiring patience and a steady hand but believe me, your patience will be rewarded, I promise. Now they are ready to be poached, roasted, sautéed or braised. The Greeks even ate them hollowed out, filled with honey and cooked in pastry cases. Extremely high in pectin and low in sugar (33 calories per 100 grams of fruit) they make fine jellies, jams, conserves and sweetmeats
http://www.waihekegulfnews.co.nz/news/quintessentially-quince.html
Does anybody here do anything with quinces anymore? Anyone else besides me, that is. Or has this wondrous exotic fruit become another casualty of our very modern, convenient society? Without a doubt it is one of the Queens of the autumn fruits. Quick and easy to prepare, it is not. Which is why, I suspect, it is hard to find in fruit and veggie shops (we won’t even consider the supermarket) around about now. And, which is why we planted two quince trees in our garden on our return from France. Because unless you know someone with a tree in their garden, chances are slim that you will be able to make your favourite quince jelly, pâte de coing (that’s French for quince paste, dulce de Membrillo in Spain), or poached quinces in verjuice.
The other reason we planted our trees is that they must have one of the most beautiful blossoms of all the fruit trees – wide, pale pink flowers burst forth first, followed immediately by similarly wide, iridescent green leaves that frame the delicate flowers which eventually become large, soft-yellow, pear-shaped, perfumed, downy fruit. By autumn they are ready to pick, to do with what you will.
The great thing about quinces is that they work fantastically well with savoury flavours as well as sweet; a tajine of chicken with quince, for example. They are a sour and almost inedible fruit raw but with some long, slow cooking this ancient Asiatic, heady fruit transforms itself to gastronomic heights. Their musky perfume will envelope the whole room whilst they cook. Actually, their perfume is one of their most striking attributes – the French not only used it in cooking but also extracted an essential oil from the fruit for use in perfumery and medicine for centuries.
Perhaps my most favourite way to enjoy them on the sweet side is slow poached in verjuice, with orange zest, cinnamon and star anise. Rich, robust and texturally pleasing with a depth of flavour I have not found in any other fruit when cooked. No need to add anything else once cooked except perhaps a scoop of homemade vanilla-bean ice cream, or a dab of crème fraîche if you like that sort of thing.
They are good baked in the oven prepared just like you would baked apple, only peel them as well as coring them, baste them a bit more, and cook them a bit longer. You’ll know when quinces are done; they turn a beautiful shade of pink, rather like the colour of guava, and go from rock hard to soft. Some slices of poached quince, or a square of firm quince paste works wonders with a flavoursome aged cheddar with a good bite to it, or Gouda too. You’ll think you have died and gone to heaven.
To prepare these beauties, first rub off the down on the exterior with a cloth before washing them. Cut them in to quarters or eights. This takes a bit of effort as they are as hard as a rock; peel and core them well, another aspect of the job requiring patience and a steady hand but believe me, your patience will be rewarded, I promise. Now they are ready to be poached, roasted, sautéed or braised. The Greeks even ate them hollowed out, filled with honey and cooked in pastry cases. Extremely high in pectin and low in sugar (33 calories per 100 grams of fruit) they make fine jellies, jams, conserves and sweetmeats
http://www.waihekegulfnews.co.nz/news/quintessentially-quince.html
Mt Eden
The Village
Maungawhau - Mt Eden
Many separate lava flows contributed to the formation of Mt Eden, a large, prominent, scoria cone which is really three overlapping cones, the southern most cone (present day Mt Eden) is the highest and measures 196 meters above sea level and has a wide conical crater that is about 50 metres deep.Even after the heaviest rains, water does not accumulate on the rocky surfaces, but finds its way through the cracked rock, into the old stream channels underneath the solidified lava, and flows along them to reach the surface again at Western Springs.
Archaeological sites bear testimony to occupation of the mountain by Maori and the mountain remains a focal point for the residents of the suburb. In 1869 a road to the summit was thought to have been built for the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh and in the 1870s a reservoir on top of the mountain improved the Auckland water supply. At the same time in order to protect the cone 27 hectares forming the Mt Eden domain was set aside as crown land. In the 1920s access was improved with the laying of paths and steps to the summit and in 1927 a tea kiosk was erected on the mountain. The kiosk was surrounded by rose gardens planted during the depression of the 1930s but have since been removed.
The mountain remains a popular tourist attraction and a wonderful vantage point to view the Auckland Isthmus. The people of Mt Eden love their mountain, it looms over Mt Eden Village and people have to look up, making Mount Eden seem higher than it really is. With green pastures and friendly cattle grazing on the slopes the people of the city have a reminder of their rural past.
http://www.mounteden.co.nz/shop/the-village/
Maungawhau - Mt Eden
Many separate lava flows contributed to the formation of Mt Eden, a large, prominent, scoria cone which is really three overlapping cones, the southern most cone (present day Mt Eden) is the highest and measures 196 meters above sea level and has a wide conical crater that is about 50 metres deep.Even after the heaviest rains, water does not accumulate on the rocky surfaces, but finds its way through the cracked rock, into the old stream channels underneath the solidified lava, and flows along them to reach the surface again at Western Springs.
Archaeological sites bear testimony to occupation of the mountain by Maori and the mountain remains a focal point for the residents of the suburb. In 1869 a road to the summit was thought to have been built for the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh and in the 1870s a reservoir on top of the mountain improved the Auckland water supply. At the same time in order to protect the cone 27 hectares forming the Mt Eden domain was set aside as crown land. In the 1920s access was improved with the laying of paths and steps to the summit and in 1927 a tea kiosk was erected on the mountain. The kiosk was surrounded by rose gardens planted during the depression of the 1930s but have since been removed.
The mountain remains a popular tourist attraction and a wonderful vantage point to view the Auckland Isthmus. The people of Mt Eden love their mountain, it looms over Mt Eden Village and people have to look up, making Mount Eden seem higher than it really is. With green pastures and friendly cattle grazing on the slopes the people of the city have a reminder of their rural past.
http://www.mounteden.co.nz/shop/the-village/
Muffin Break
The Muffin Break caters to the taste of true coffee lovers A whole range of really special coffee varieties are offered by Muffin Break Experience in the selection of perfect coffee beans, precise blending and perfect roasting are the three steps which ensures quality to coffee made by the speciality food provider franchise.Whole coffee beans, decaf whole beans, decaf ground coffee are all made available in take home packets by the baked food provider Classic Espresso, Short Black, Flat White, Cappuccino, Long Black and Café Latte are the different coffee varieties offered by the speciality food provider franchise in order to cater to the tastes of true coffee lovers. Apart from this, cold beverages are also provided by the Muffin Break franchise. These beverages include iced espresso coffee, fresh orange juice and milkshakes. Froot Blast and Morning Muffin are the exclusive innovations made by the Muffin Break franchise. Froot Blast is made by the baked food provider franchise in order to help its customers in beating the extreme heat of summer. This is made available in four different fruit flavours. Morning Muffin is an innovative breakfast item prepared by the speciality food franchise for providing a savoury day start to its customers.
'Been there, done that' caution on houses
5. 00AM Friday May 04, 2007By Claire Trevett
An economist has warned politicians against quick-fix solutions to the housing price boom, saying first home buyers should look to other countries and earlier generations who faced similar problems.
Westpac chief economist Brendan O'Donovan said New Zealand did not need to panic - affordability was still better than in the 1980s and home ownership rates were the same as in the 1960s.
Briefing the commerce select committee's inquiry into housing affordability, Mr O'Donovan said New Zealand had been through the "granddaddy of all housing booms", but it had been in similar places before.
"Prices will tend to flat-line. Wage growth will continue and as inflation abates, interest rates will tend to come down. All these things have been completely against affordability but they will change. In four years, affordability will not be the issue it is now."
He said it was too early for panic over declining home ownership rates.
The rate was about 67 per cent - down from 74 per cent in 1991, but about the same as in the 1960s and similar to the rates in other countries.
Affordability was 42 per cent lower than average, but not quite as bad as the 1980s.
"So we've been here before. It doesn't make it more comfortable, but it shows it's cyclical. These things tend to adjust by themselves."
But today's first home buyers were different to previous generations who had waited and "would sit on beer crates" rather than buying the latest technology.
"They're the Freddie Mercury generation: I want it all, and I want it now."
He said any Government initiatives to help first home buyers, such as income supplements or subsidies, would help individuals in the short term, but there was little it could do to have a large effect on affordability.
He asked the committee to analyse the effect of any solutions it came up with very carefully.
"Every solution has an unintended consequence, in this area more than any other because of interrelated factors."
An economist has warned politicians against quick-fix solutions to the housing price boom, saying first home buyers should look to other countries and earlier generations who faced similar problems.
Westpac chief economist Brendan O'Donovan said New Zealand did not need to panic - affordability was still better than in the 1980s and home ownership rates were the same as in the 1960s.
Briefing the commerce select committee's inquiry into housing affordability, Mr O'Donovan said New Zealand had been through the "granddaddy of all housing booms", but it had been in similar places before.
"Prices will tend to flat-line. Wage growth will continue and as inflation abates, interest rates will tend to come down. All these things have been completely against affordability but they will change. In four years, affordability will not be the issue it is now."
He said it was too early for panic over declining home ownership rates.
The rate was about 67 per cent - down from 74 per cent in 1991, but about the same as in the 1960s and similar to the rates in other countries.
Affordability was 42 per cent lower than average, but not quite as bad as the 1980s.
"So we've been here before. It doesn't make it more comfortable, but it shows it's cyclical. These things tend to adjust by themselves."
But today's first home buyers were different to previous generations who had waited and "would sit on beer crates" rather than buying the latest technology.
"They're the Freddie Mercury generation: I want it all, and I want it now."
He said any Government initiatives to help first home buyers, such as income supplements or subsidies, would help individuals in the short term, but there was little it could do to have a large effect on affordability.
He asked the committee to analyse the effect of any solutions it came up with very carefully.
"Every solution has an unintended consequence, in this area more than any other because of interrelated factors."
Judge's burger tip finds favour
5:00AM Saturday May 05, 2007 By Errol Kiong
It may have been a tongue-in-cheek, eyebrow-raising comment, but "old drinker" Judge Barry Morris seems to know what he was talking about.
During a sentencing this week, Judge Morris asked Hastings drink driver Peter Brittin whether he had "problem with grog or was it just a night out drinking?"
"Take a tip from one old drinker to another. Have a dinkum old-style hamburger first - not the modern ones."
Massey University nutritionist John Birkbeck said yesterday Judge Morris was correct in his advice to Brittin.
"It's not necessarily the amount of alcohol consumed, it's the level to which it rises in the blood. You can either have a lower level of alcohol in the blood by consuming less alcohol, or you can slow the absorption of alcohol.
"Absorption of alcohol largely occurs in the stomach because it's a very small molecule that's easy to absorb. The presence of food, and particularly the presence of fatty food, does slow the absorption of alcohol."
Judge Morris would not comment on his statement yesterday. A Courts of New Zealand spokesman said judges could not elaborate on matters said in court as it could alter the record of what actually occurred, especially when the case was still subject to appeal or review.
Michael Morgan, president of the Hawke's Bay District Law Society, said: "I thought it was intended to be somewhat amusing, but with a serious message.
"I doubt that he was intending to suggest that a good old-fashioned hamburger is a cure to all alcohol-related problems."
Alcohol Healthwatch director Rebecca Williams asked people to make up their own minds.
"The best thing, if drinking, is to plan the trip home before you've been drinking so you don't have the risk of getting behind the wheel of a car, and putting yourself and others at risk."
Appointed an Auckland District Court judge in 1988, Judge Morris hit the headlines in 1995 when he expressed his dislike of taggers to a teenager before him in court accused of tagging. "If I had my way I would hang them and if I couldn't hang them I would put them in stocks and pour paint over them."
In 2001, he labelled the media "ghouls" as he sentenced a woman who stole enough pills to make up to $2 million of the drug speed.
It may have been a tongue-in-cheek, eyebrow-raising comment, but "old drinker" Judge Barry Morris seems to know what he was talking about.
During a sentencing this week, Judge Morris asked Hastings drink driver Peter Brittin whether he had "problem with grog or was it just a night out drinking?"
"Take a tip from one old drinker to another. Have a dinkum old-style hamburger first - not the modern ones."
Massey University nutritionist John Birkbeck said yesterday Judge Morris was correct in his advice to Brittin.
"It's not necessarily the amount of alcohol consumed, it's the level to which it rises in the blood. You can either have a lower level of alcohol in the blood by consuming less alcohol, or you can slow the absorption of alcohol.
"Absorption of alcohol largely occurs in the stomach because it's a very small molecule that's easy to absorb. The presence of food, and particularly the presence of fatty food, does slow the absorption of alcohol."
Judge Morris would not comment on his statement yesterday. A Courts of New Zealand spokesman said judges could not elaborate on matters said in court as it could alter the record of what actually occurred, especially when the case was still subject to appeal or review.
Michael Morgan, president of the Hawke's Bay District Law Society, said: "I thought it was intended to be somewhat amusing, but with a serious message.
"I doubt that he was intending to suggest that a good old-fashioned hamburger is a cure to all alcohol-related problems."
Alcohol Healthwatch director Rebecca Williams asked people to make up their own minds.
"The best thing, if drinking, is to plan the trip home before you've been drinking so you don't have the risk of getting behind the wheel of a car, and putting yourself and others at risk."
Appointed an Auckland District Court judge in 1988, Judge Morris hit the headlines in 1995 when he expressed his dislike of taggers to a teenager before him in court accused of tagging. "If I had my way I would hang them and if I couldn't hang them I would put them in stocks and pour paint over them."
In 2001, he labelled the media "ghouls" as he sentenced a woman who stole enough pills to make up to $2 million of the drug speed.
Rob Hall's 10-year-old daughter fulfills Everest dream
5 :30AM Saturday May 05, 2007
Sarah Arnold-Hall, 10, was born two months after her father Rob Hall (R) died on Everest.
The daughter of Everest climber Rob Hall has fulfilled her dream to visit the base camp of the mountain on which her father died.
Sarah Arnold-Hall, 10, was not yet born when her father was caught 200m from the summit of the world's highest peak because he refused to abandon an ailing client as a storm blasted the mountain.
Sarah visited Nepal with her mother in 2003 for the 50th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary's ascent and wanted to visit Everest base camp, which requires an arduous trek along trekking paths and then across the Khumbu glacier, the Press newspaper reported.
She was told she would have to wait until she was 10 to make the journey.
This week, Sarah made the trek with her mother and her 70-year-old great-uncle to the base camp where Adventure Consultants, the company Hall founded with mountain guide Gary Ball, was mounting its latest Everest expedition.
Also at the camp with the Arnolds was former base camp manager Helen Wilton, who used radios to patch Hall through to Arnold in Christchurch as he lay dying.
- NZPA
Sarah Arnold-Hall, 10, was born two months after her father Rob Hall (R) died on Everest.
The daughter of Everest climber Rob Hall has fulfilled her dream to visit the base camp of the mountain on which her father died.
Sarah Arnold-Hall, 10, was not yet born when her father was caught 200m from the summit of the world's highest peak because he refused to abandon an ailing client as a storm blasted the mountain.
Sarah visited Nepal with her mother in 2003 for the 50th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary's ascent and wanted to visit Everest base camp, which requires an arduous trek along trekking paths and then across the Khumbu glacier, the Press newspaper reported.
She was told she would have to wait until she was 10 to make the journey.
This week, Sarah made the trek with her mother and her 70-year-old great-uncle to the base camp where Adventure Consultants, the company Hall founded with mountain guide Gary Ball, was mounting its latest Everest expedition.
Also at the camp with the Arnolds was former base camp manager Helen Wilton, who used radios to patch Hall through to Arnold in Christchurch as he lay dying.
- NZPA
Pirate City Rollers
Stacey Roper says the sport is pretty cool. Roller derby, the American contact sport on roller skates, is back - complete with theme music, tattoos, skeleton-printed black tanktops, miniskirts and fishnet stockings.Since February, when the sport reached New Zealand, more than 30 women have joined the Pirate City Rollers league, and more are rolling up each week. American Dale Rio, who plays for the LA Derby Dolls, got 12 players together at Skateland in Panmure.Rio started a committee and it wasn't long before the Panmure rink was busy with women determined to have a crack.At a practice this week there were 11 new players, or "fresh meat" as Roper refers to them.In the US, roller derby is one of the fastest-growing sports - from some 3000 players six months ago to an estimated 10,000 now. It seems the same trend is happening here."We are pioneering a new sport, which is pretty cool, " says Stacey Roper, captain of the Dead Wreckoning team."We had two exhibition games recently to get more girls involved and 400 people came to watch the first and about the same came to the second."AdvertisementThis was only from word-of-mouth and a few flyers.Michelle Smales, a former NZ speed-skating champion, is equally astounded at the numbers who have shown up."There are some really good skaters here - I was really impressed."She remembers seeing video clips in the US when she was little and thinking it looked like fun.So what exactly is the allure of roller derby?
"It has some sex appeal because of the uniforms we wear," says Roper. "It's ruthless and empowers women - everyone who plays has a confidence about them. It's the smaller, quiet ones you have to worry about." She thinks one of the reasons it has grown so fast is that instead of the old-style sloped roller derby rinks, players now skate on flat tracks, which means they can play on courts. The sport is pretty brutal, and it is not surprising you have to be 18 years old to play.There are 10 players on a rink at a time, five from each team. Each team involves a jammer and four blockers. The jammer scores the points and does this by passing the opposition. The blockers have to stop the other team's jammer and help theirs through by pushing the other blockers, either with their shoulder or hip.There are three periods of 20 minutes and in each round there are two-minute countdown periods called a "jam", when the teams try to score points.The teams like tough names such as Veronica Assault and Bonnie Collide.Even the nicknames of players are rough. Roper's skatename is "Pieces of Hate" and one of the other players, Bex Wells, goes by the name "Lil Deville". Without doubt roller derby is a spectator sport - the audience loves it and there is never any lack of atmosphere.It is totally American but the new form is so modern and so styly," says Roper. "It looks rad to watch because it's intense and rough."
"It has some sex appeal because of the uniforms we wear," says Roper. "It's ruthless and empowers women - everyone who plays has a confidence about them. It's the smaller, quiet ones you have to worry about."She thinks one of the reasons it has grown so fast is that instead of the old-style sloped roller derby rinks, players now skate on flat tracks, which means they can play on courts.The sport is pretty brutal, and it is not surprising you have to be 18 years old to play.There are 10 players on a rink at a time, five from each team.Each team involves a jammer and four blockers. The jammer scores the points and does this by passing the opposition. The blockers have to stop the other team's jammer and help theirs through by pushing the other blockers, either with their shoulder or hip.There are three periods of 20 minutes and in each round there are two-minute countdown periods called a "jam", when the teams try to score points.The teams like tough names such as Veronica Assault and Bonnie Collide.Even the nicknames of players are rough. Roper's skatename is "Pieces of Hate" and one of the other players, Bex Wells, goes by the name "Lil Deville".Without doubt roller derby is a spectator sport - the audience loves it and there is never any lack of atmosphere."It is totally American but the new form is so modern and so styly," says Roper. "It looks rad to watch because it's intense and rough."
"It has some sex appeal because of the uniforms we wear," says Roper. "It's ruthless and empowers women - everyone who plays has a confidence about them. It's the smaller, quiet ones you have to worry about." She thinks one of the reasons it has grown so fast is that instead of the old-style sloped roller derby rinks, players now skate on flat tracks, which means they can play on courts. The sport is pretty brutal, and it is not surprising you have to be 18 years old to play.There are 10 players on a rink at a time, five from each team. Each team involves a jammer and four blockers. The jammer scores the points and does this by passing the opposition. The blockers have to stop the other team's jammer and help theirs through by pushing the other blockers, either with their shoulder or hip.There are three periods of 20 minutes and in each round there are two-minute countdown periods called a "jam", when the teams try to score points.The teams like tough names such as Veronica Assault and Bonnie Collide.Even the nicknames of players are rough. Roper's skatename is "Pieces of Hate" and one of the other players, Bex Wells, goes by the name "Lil Deville". Without doubt roller derby is a spectator sport - the audience loves it and there is never any lack of atmosphere.It is totally American but the new form is so modern and so styly," says Roper. "It looks rad to watch because it's intense and rough."
"It has some sex appeal because of the uniforms we wear," says Roper. "It's ruthless and empowers women - everyone who plays has a confidence about them. It's the smaller, quiet ones you have to worry about."She thinks one of the reasons it has grown so fast is that instead of the old-style sloped roller derby rinks, players now skate on flat tracks, which means they can play on courts.The sport is pretty brutal, and it is not surprising you have to be 18 years old to play.There are 10 players on a rink at a time, five from each team.Each team involves a jammer and four blockers. The jammer scores the points and does this by passing the opposition. The blockers have to stop the other team's jammer and help theirs through by pushing the other blockers, either with their shoulder or hip.There are three periods of 20 minutes and in each round there are two-minute countdown periods called a "jam", when the teams try to score points.The teams like tough names such as Veronica Assault and Bonnie Collide.Even the nicknames of players are rough. Roper's skatename is "Pieces of Hate" and one of the other players, Bex Wells, goes by the name "Lil Deville".Without doubt roller derby is a spectator sport - the audience loves it and there is never any lack of atmosphere."It is totally American but the new form is so modern and so styly," says Roper. "It looks rad to watch because it's intense and rough."
Friday 4 May 2007
Daring kiteboarders brave polar bears on epic trek
5:00AM Wednesday March 28, 2007
The team will use kites to power their skis and snowboards across Spitsbergen. Photo / Reuters
Fast vehicles, guns and polar bears - as adventures go, it's just about every boy's dream.
When New Zealander Daniel Cardon, Australian Cynan Rhodes, Englishman Charlie Hunter and Irishman David O'Brien set out to become the first people to cross the remote Norwegian island of Spitsbergen on kite-powered skis and snowboards next month, they will be deep in polar bear territory.
"It's a real boys' trip," said Mr Rhodes, 32.
"We've got the kites and skis, so we get to go really fast. We get to carry guns, and there's bears."
The guns, mind you, will be an absolute last line of defence on the trip, dubbed the Bear-dodging Expedition, which is expected to take three weeks from April 7.
More than 2500 polar bears live along the intended route.
It is illegal to kill one unless it poses a very real threat to a human being, so the group will have to try everything from firing warning shots, flares and banging pots and pans to scare them off first.
"If we do kill one, we have to stay where we are and phone the authorities and they'll come out to assess the situation to make sure it's fair that we did kill it," Mr Rhodes said.
Trip wires will provide protection around their tents while they sleep.
"It's one of those situations that you have to manage," Mr Rhodes added.
"If you're English and you travel to Australia, everyone's scared of snakes. You just have to know how to travel in that environment.
"A polar bear attack is quite rare on a person."
That said, and a sense of adventure aside, why would these four London-based friends want to do a trip like this?
"So many people, they go to the South Pole and things, which is something we looked at in depth, and they just do the same trip again and again," said Mr Rhodes, who grew up in Perth but has been living in London for six years.
"That's just walking. You can only go so far because you've got to carry all your bits and pieces.
"With kites, you can still travel cleanly but you can go further. We can see more of Spitsbergen just by moving faster."
The group's mode of travel is not without its drawbacks, though.
Mr Rhodes crashed during a recent training session in strong, gusty winds, leaving him with a bruised shoulder and a conviction that high winds in Spitsbergen would mean a "tent day".
The weather was also threatening to pose problems last week when the temperature in Spitsbergen soared from minus 22C to almost 3C.
Temperatures between minus 10C and 10C make camping uncomfortable because body and tent temperatures melt the snow, meaning clothes and gear become wet and difficult to dry again.
"It is much better when everything remains frozen," the group's website said. "Any sweat turns to ice on the inside of clothing and you just brush it off, or you can just sweep the snow out of the tent.
"Let's hope for some decent cold weather - if we wanted a wet three degrees, we'd just stay in the UK."
The remote island of Spitsbergen, meaning "jagged peaks", extends to 81 degrees north, less than 1000km from the North Pole.
The expedition will first travel to the most northerly point of the island and then head south, covering 900km across a polar ice cap, using the prevailing easterly winds.
Mr Rhodes, a former rally driver, and Mr Hunter, 29, who is the great-grandson of former New Zealand prime minister Sir Joseph Ward, are also planning a race across Antarctica.
The other members of the Spitsbergen expedition are Mr O'Brien, 40, who describes himself on the website as a professional hippy, and Kiwi Mr Cardon, 27, who says he "can sell ice to Inuits".
Inuits are the indigenous people of the Arctic regions.
- AAP
The team will use kites to power their skis and snowboards across Spitsbergen. Photo / Reuters
Fast vehicles, guns and polar bears - as adventures go, it's just about every boy's dream.
When New Zealander Daniel Cardon, Australian Cynan Rhodes, Englishman Charlie Hunter and Irishman David O'Brien set out to become the first people to cross the remote Norwegian island of Spitsbergen on kite-powered skis and snowboards next month, they will be deep in polar bear territory.
"It's a real boys' trip," said Mr Rhodes, 32.
"We've got the kites and skis, so we get to go really fast. We get to carry guns, and there's bears."
The guns, mind you, will be an absolute last line of defence on the trip, dubbed the Bear-dodging Expedition, which is expected to take three weeks from April 7.
More than 2500 polar bears live along the intended route.
It is illegal to kill one unless it poses a very real threat to a human being, so the group will have to try everything from firing warning shots, flares and banging pots and pans to scare them off first.
"If we do kill one, we have to stay where we are and phone the authorities and they'll come out to assess the situation to make sure it's fair that we did kill it," Mr Rhodes said.
Trip wires will provide protection around their tents while they sleep.
"It's one of those situations that you have to manage," Mr Rhodes added.
"If you're English and you travel to Australia, everyone's scared of snakes. You just have to know how to travel in that environment.
"A polar bear attack is quite rare on a person."
That said, and a sense of adventure aside, why would these four London-based friends want to do a trip like this?
"So many people, they go to the South Pole and things, which is something we looked at in depth, and they just do the same trip again and again," said Mr Rhodes, who grew up in Perth but has been living in London for six years.
"That's just walking. You can only go so far because you've got to carry all your bits and pieces.
"With kites, you can still travel cleanly but you can go further. We can see more of Spitsbergen just by moving faster."
The group's mode of travel is not without its drawbacks, though.
Mr Rhodes crashed during a recent training session in strong, gusty winds, leaving him with a bruised shoulder and a conviction that high winds in Spitsbergen would mean a "tent day".
The weather was also threatening to pose problems last week when the temperature in Spitsbergen soared from minus 22C to almost 3C.
Temperatures between minus 10C and 10C make camping uncomfortable because body and tent temperatures melt the snow, meaning clothes and gear become wet and difficult to dry again.
"It is much better when everything remains frozen," the group's website said. "Any sweat turns to ice on the inside of clothing and you just brush it off, or you can just sweep the snow out of the tent.
"Let's hope for some decent cold weather - if we wanted a wet three degrees, we'd just stay in the UK."
The remote island of Spitsbergen, meaning "jagged peaks", extends to 81 degrees north, less than 1000km from the North Pole.
The expedition will first travel to the most northerly point of the island and then head south, covering 900km across a polar ice cap, using the prevailing easterly winds.
Mr Rhodes, a former rally driver, and Mr Hunter, 29, who is the great-grandson of former New Zealand prime minister Sir Joseph Ward, are also planning a race across Antarctica.
The other members of the Spitsbergen expedition are Mr O'Brien, 40, who describes himself on the website as a professional hippy, and Kiwi Mr Cardon, 27, who says he "can sell ice to Inuits".
Inuits are the indigenous people of the Arctic regions.
- AAP
When the chips are down
Auckland's best fish 'n chips
5:00AM Friday May 04, 2007By Kirsten MacFarlane
After fishing for their first course, gulls round it off with a free helping of chips. Photo / Babiche Martens
What do you think? What would you rate as Auckland's best fish 'n chips? As a nation, we love our fish'n chips. A warm bundle of convenience food, with its own set of dining rituals - the rustle of paper, burst of steam, crunch of batter and slurp of tomato sauce.
We love to debate whether it should be salt and vinegar, lemon, or brown sauce. And fries go well with a cup of tea or glass of bubbly.
But our chippie shops are changing, with a breed of boutique seafood delis serving delicacies such as panko-crumbed squid and blackened snapper.
Some of these trendy chippies are even replacing the newsprint parcel with a handy takeaway box, in stark white, no less.
Still, plenty of chippies offer traditional beer batter and packets of tartare to squirt on your fries - and occasionally on your best gear.
It's a tradition that's been enjoyed for generations. Politicians are among the fish'n chip fans. Former Prime Minister David Lange and his four cohorts were known as the Fish'n Chip Brigade - and let's not forget that One Nation's Pauline Hanson was a fish'n chip shop owner.
Bart Littlejohn, from Sails restaurant, nearly caused a customer revolt when he took the fish'n chips off the menu. It was back on the menu 10 days later.
After experimenting with hand-cut chips and special crumbing methods, Sails' owner has come full circle and reverted to shoestring chips and traditional beer-batter for the fish - and that's the way the customers like it.
The Heart Foundation estimates that we wolf down $7 million of fast-food portions every year - the fat runneth over our hips.
But the campaign to change the frying habits of chippie owners is gathering strength. For the past decade, The Chip Group - made up of food service suppliers and the Heart Foundation - has been targeting fast-food outlets to help reduce the fat content of hot chips by 20 per cent.
In 2002, The University of Auckland's Department of Community of Health published a nationwide survey of fast-food outlets that measured the fat content of fries. The average was 11.5 per cent, and ranged from 5 per cent in some places to a whopping 25 per cent in others.
Andrea Bidois from the Heart Foundation says it's difficult to convince takeaway owners, who already operating on slim margins, to switch from unhealthy palm olein oil to recommended deep-frying oils such as ricebran oil or high oleic sunflower oil.
"KFC fast-food chain is among the estimated 80 per cent of fast-food outlets are still using a highly-saturated oil," Bidois says.
But there are signs that the industry is taking up the health promoters' catchcry of shake, bang and hang behind the deep fryer.
Next month The Chip Group will publish the results of a second nationwide survey, and preliminary results show the industry has improved since the survey five years ago. But given the rise in nutrition-related chronic diseases, should we keep eating deep-fried food?
For the past four years, health practitioners in the Mangere Healthy Kai programme have been encouraging retailers and customers to give up fries and eat healthy food.
After three years of intense promotion, people are changing their habits - and the programme a finalist in the Health Innovation Awards.
The golden rule is: eat fish'n chips sometimes but not often.
What's the bet this article will be chip paper tomorrow?
BEST VALUE Grey Lynn Seafood Market
You have to love the classic fish murals on the outside and the fresh fish displays in the window. And the takeaway prices make this chippie excellent value for money. The crumbed gurnard is surprisingly good - thick and juicy to the bite. What's more, it's one of the cheapest on offer. The grilled tarakihi is just as tasty and the chips are great.
Where: 561 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn
BEST PRESENTATION Salt Seafood Deli
The seafood combo - with its sampling of fish and crustaceans - is a family favourite. Buy an extra scoop of chips and a few pieces of buttered bread and you can easily feed a family of five. The combo comes in handy takeaway boxes with lemon slices. If you want to eat in, this place has a classy atmosphere, with the added bonus of street entertainment and good reading matter.
Where: 476 Richmond Rd, Westlynn
BEST SETTING Huia Beach Store & Cafe
Go west to mix salt air with your fish'n chips. Take your bundle of fries and tomato sauce to the shore across the road from the cafe and marvel at the breathtaking scenery. With its soaring volcanic mountains, Huia could be Hawaii at a pinch (of salt). And you can walk off those kilojoules with a quick romp to Little Huia.
Where: 1194 Huia Rd, Huia
And lest we forget, there's the Piha RSA. It serves superb fish'n chips, with Lion Rock making a great background. Viva also highly commends the Piha Bowling Club - it serves delicious fish'n chips and offers a healthy salad to go with them. Cheap as chips, and bowling is so fashionable these days.
BEST BATTER The Fishmonger
Traditionalists may frown, but panko breadcrumbs have a mighty crunch. The Fishmonger chain use hot plates to cook fish coated with Japanese-type breadcrumbs, which are more aerated than normal. Fresh from the hot plate, the fish is crunchy on the outside and juicy inside - just as it should be. Your fish of the day can also be served New Orleans blackened or with a Mediterranean rub. As a boutique chippie, The Fishmonger has an array of salads and special dishes such as tuna skewers with mustard, citrus and rosemary. The seafood chowder from the Upland Village shop is dreamy. Some say it's expensive, but who cares when the seafood is top notch?
Where: The Fishmonger, 612 Remuera Rd, Upland Village and 182 Jervois Rd, Herne Bay; also in Parnell and Howick
BEST NAME The Codfather
You have to love a shop that conjures up a name with Hollywood nostalgia - and they serve good fish'n chips too. Festooned with colourful cartoon characters, this shop raises a chuckle even before you've even placed an order. Just don't try any lame imitations from The Godfather movie, especially Richard Castellano's classic line as Pete Clemenza: "It's a Sicilian message. It means Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes."
Where: 84 Hinemoa St, Birkenhead
BEST POSH FISH The Catch
The fish'n chips are to dive for, not to mention all the other seafood delights. Dine outside under the canopy, glass of wine in hand and succulent fish in the other. Eventually the tank farm in the distance takes on a celestial glow.
Where: Auckland Fish Market, 22 Jellicoe St, City
BEST FISH - FINE DINING Sails Restaurant
Fancy silver cutlery and champagne with your fish dish? Sails restaurant has featured beer-battered fish'n chips on its menu for nearly 25 years and the regulars kick up a storm if there's any mention of it going. It may be a traditional fry-up, but it's top-of-the-line Snapper and John Dory with shoestring fries, caper, gherkin, Spanish onion and parsley mayonnaise. Book a window table and marvel at the collection of marine hardware below.
Where: Westhaven Dr, Westhaven Marina
BEST SQUID Cortado
It was the wafting smell of the spicy squid that lured us into this takeaway and at first bite we were hankering for more - that's if you like sizzled squid with no batter. Highly recommend you stroll down to the beach to scoff.
Where: 29 Waikare Rd, Oneroa
BEST HYGIENE Farteze Fine Food
It came close to claiming the best name - but that would have been nasty. It does take the prize for cleanliness and we even sent a spy around the back of the shop to check it was as impeccable as out front. Serves good fish'n chips to boot.
Where: 52 Oteha Valley Rd, Albany
* * *
ON THE ROAD
If you're on the road, Viva has signposted some of the best chippies.
Best central
Market Fresh Fish grill at Auckland Fish Market. We love the mix of Euro and Asian.
Best heading west
Westgate Takeaways, Massey. Reliable chippie trying to improve chip quality.
Best heading north
Takapuna Fish Supply. Another reliable chippie with decent kai. Further north, try the fish'n chip shop at Leigh.
Best heading east
Focus on Fish, Howick - and further east, Beesties Seafood, Clevedon.
Best heading south
The Chip Ship, Royal Oak; and Fisherman's Catch, Pukekohe.
* * *
SHAKE, BANG & HANG TEST
If you just can't resist a scoop of deep-fried chips, at least go to a takeaway that uses healthy frying methods.
The Chip Group wants to reduce the fat content in fries by 20 per cent. The group of food service suppliers and the Heart Foundation provides tips on healthy frying methods and runs the annual Best Chip Shop competition.
Producing a chip that's lower in fat is easy - use thick-cut chips cooked for three to four minutes in clean fat or oil at 180C. And they must be thoroughly drained.
So how can you tell a healthy chippie? You may not get a straight answer, but ask what oil they're using and keep a watchful eye on the "shake, bang and hang" method.
Nearly 50 Auckland fish'n chip shops registered for last year's Best Chip Shop competition. Here's Viva's seagull rating for five on the list:
Oceanz Seafood Markets, Pakuranga Herald rating: * * * * *Last year's regional winner of the Best Chip Shop competition, and it's still serving tasty fries.
Oneroa Fish & Chips, Waiheke Island Herald rating: * * * *
The Fishmonger, Parnell Herald rating: * * * *
Fishpot Cafe, Mission Bay Herald rating: * * *
Fast Eddie's, Howick Herald rating: * * * *
5:00AM Friday May 04, 2007By Kirsten MacFarlane
After fishing for their first course, gulls round it off with a free helping of chips. Photo / Babiche Martens
What do you think? What would you rate as Auckland's best fish 'n chips? As a nation, we love our fish'n chips. A warm bundle of convenience food, with its own set of dining rituals - the rustle of paper, burst of steam, crunch of batter and slurp of tomato sauce.
We love to debate whether it should be salt and vinegar, lemon, or brown sauce. And fries go well with a cup of tea or glass of bubbly.
But our chippie shops are changing, with a breed of boutique seafood delis serving delicacies such as panko-crumbed squid and blackened snapper.
Some of these trendy chippies are even replacing the newsprint parcel with a handy takeaway box, in stark white, no less.
Still, plenty of chippies offer traditional beer batter and packets of tartare to squirt on your fries - and occasionally on your best gear.
It's a tradition that's been enjoyed for generations. Politicians are among the fish'n chip fans. Former Prime Minister David Lange and his four cohorts were known as the Fish'n Chip Brigade - and let's not forget that One Nation's Pauline Hanson was a fish'n chip shop owner.
Bart Littlejohn, from Sails restaurant, nearly caused a customer revolt when he took the fish'n chips off the menu. It was back on the menu 10 days later.
After experimenting with hand-cut chips and special crumbing methods, Sails' owner has come full circle and reverted to shoestring chips and traditional beer-batter for the fish - and that's the way the customers like it.
The Heart Foundation estimates that we wolf down $7 million of fast-food portions every year - the fat runneth over our hips.
But the campaign to change the frying habits of chippie owners is gathering strength. For the past decade, The Chip Group - made up of food service suppliers and the Heart Foundation - has been targeting fast-food outlets to help reduce the fat content of hot chips by 20 per cent.
In 2002, The University of Auckland's Department of Community of Health published a nationwide survey of fast-food outlets that measured the fat content of fries. The average was 11.5 per cent, and ranged from 5 per cent in some places to a whopping 25 per cent in others.
Andrea Bidois from the Heart Foundation says it's difficult to convince takeaway owners, who already operating on slim margins, to switch from unhealthy palm olein oil to recommended deep-frying oils such as ricebran oil or high oleic sunflower oil.
"KFC fast-food chain is among the estimated 80 per cent of fast-food outlets are still using a highly-saturated oil," Bidois says.
But there are signs that the industry is taking up the health promoters' catchcry of shake, bang and hang behind the deep fryer.
Next month The Chip Group will publish the results of a second nationwide survey, and preliminary results show the industry has improved since the survey five years ago. But given the rise in nutrition-related chronic diseases, should we keep eating deep-fried food?
For the past four years, health practitioners in the Mangere Healthy Kai programme have been encouraging retailers and customers to give up fries and eat healthy food.
After three years of intense promotion, people are changing their habits - and the programme a finalist in the Health Innovation Awards.
The golden rule is: eat fish'n chips sometimes but not often.
What's the bet this article will be chip paper tomorrow?
BEST VALUE Grey Lynn Seafood Market
You have to love the classic fish murals on the outside and the fresh fish displays in the window. And the takeaway prices make this chippie excellent value for money. The crumbed gurnard is surprisingly good - thick and juicy to the bite. What's more, it's one of the cheapest on offer. The grilled tarakihi is just as tasty and the chips are great.
Where: 561 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn
BEST PRESENTATION Salt Seafood Deli
The seafood combo - with its sampling of fish and crustaceans - is a family favourite. Buy an extra scoop of chips and a few pieces of buttered bread and you can easily feed a family of five. The combo comes in handy takeaway boxes with lemon slices. If you want to eat in, this place has a classy atmosphere, with the added bonus of street entertainment and good reading matter.
Where: 476 Richmond Rd, Westlynn
BEST SETTING Huia Beach Store & Cafe
Go west to mix salt air with your fish'n chips. Take your bundle of fries and tomato sauce to the shore across the road from the cafe and marvel at the breathtaking scenery. With its soaring volcanic mountains, Huia could be Hawaii at a pinch (of salt). And you can walk off those kilojoules with a quick romp to Little Huia.
Where: 1194 Huia Rd, Huia
And lest we forget, there's the Piha RSA. It serves superb fish'n chips, with Lion Rock making a great background. Viva also highly commends the Piha Bowling Club - it serves delicious fish'n chips and offers a healthy salad to go with them. Cheap as chips, and bowling is so fashionable these days.
BEST BATTER The Fishmonger
Traditionalists may frown, but panko breadcrumbs have a mighty crunch. The Fishmonger chain use hot plates to cook fish coated with Japanese-type breadcrumbs, which are more aerated than normal. Fresh from the hot plate, the fish is crunchy on the outside and juicy inside - just as it should be. Your fish of the day can also be served New Orleans blackened or with a Mediterranean rub. As a boutique chippie, The Fishmonger has an array of salads and special dishes such as tuna skewers with mustard, citrus and rosemary. The seafood chowder from the Upland Village shop is dreamy. Some say it's expensive, but who cares when the seafood is top notch?
Where: The Fishmonger, 612 Remuera Rd, Upland Village and 182 Jervois Rd, Herne Bay; also in Parnell and Howick
BEST NAME The Codfather
You have to love a shop that conjures up a name with Hollywood nostalgia - and they serve good fish'n chips too. Festooned with colourful cartoon characters, this shop raises a chuckle even before you've even placed an order. Just don't try any lame imitations from The Godfather movie, especially Richard Castellano's classic line as Pete Clemenza: "It's a Sicilian message. It means Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes."
Where: 84 Hinemoa St, Birkenhead
BEST POSH FISH The Catch
The fish'n chips are to dive for, not to mention all the other seafood delights. Dine outside under the canopy, glass of wine in hand and succulent fish in the other. Eventually the tank farm in the distance takes on a celestial glow.
Where: Auckland Fish Market, 22 Jellicoe St, City
BEST FISH - FINE DINING Sails Restaurant
Fancy silver cutlery and champagne with your fish dish? Sails restaurant has featured beer-battered fish'n chips on its menu for nearly 25 years and the regulars kick up a storm if there's any mention of it going. It may be a traditional fry-up, but it's top-of-the-line Snapper and John Dory with shoestring fries, caper, gherkin, Spanish onion and parsley mayonnaise. Book a window table and marvel at the collection of marine hardware below.
Where: Westhaven Dr, Westhaven Marina
BEST SQUID Cortado
It was the wafting smell of the spicy squid that lured us into this takeaway and at first bite we were hankering for more - that's if you like sizzled squid with no batter. Highly recommend you stroll down to the beach to scoff.
Where: 29 Waikare Rd, Oneroa
BEST HYGIENE Farteze Fine Food
It came close to claiming the best name - but that would have been nasty. It does take the prize for cleanliness and we even sent a spy around the back of the shop to check it was as impeccable as out front. Serves good fish'n chips to boot.
Where: 52 Oteha Valley Rd, Albany
* * *
ON THE ROAD
If you're on the road, Viva has signposted some of the best chippies.
Best central
Market Fresh Fish grill at Auckland Fish Market. We love the mix of Euro and Asian.
Best heading west
Westgate Takeaways, Massey. Reliable chippie trying to improve chip quality.
Best heading north
Takapuna Fish Supply. Another reliable chippie with decent kai. Further north, try the fish'n chip shop at Leigh.
Best heading east
Focus on Fish, Howick - and further east, Beesties Seafood, Clevedon.
Best heading south
The Chip Ship, Royal Oak; and Fisherman's Catch, Pukekohe.
* * *
SHAKE, BANG & HANG TEST
If you just can't resist a scoop of deep-fried chips, at least go to a takeaway that uses healthy frying methods.
The Chip Group wants to reduce the fat content in fries by 20 per cent. The group of food service suppliers and the Heart Foundation provides tips on healthy frying methods and runs the annual Best Chip Shop competition.
Producing a chip that's lower in fat is easy - use thick-cut chips cooked for three to four minutes in clean fat or oil at 180C. And they must be thoroughly drained.
So how can you tell a healthy chippie? You may not get a straight answer, but ask what oil they're using and keep a watchful eye on the "shake, bang and hang" method.
Nearly 50 Auckland fish'n chip shops registered for last year's Best Chip Shop competition. Here's Viva's seagull rating for five on the list:
Oceanz Seafood Markets, Pakuranga Herald rating: * * * * *Last year's regional winner of the Best Chip Shop competition, and it's still serving tasty fries.
Oneroa Fish & Chips, Waiheke Island Herald rating: * * * *
The Fishmonger, Parnell Herald rating: * * * *
Fishpot Cafe, Mission Bay Herald rating: * * *
Fast Eddie's, Howick Herald rating: * * * *
NZ Herald
Thursday 3 May 2007
Pair bank on potential of novel website
A new, innovative website with a novel name has the potential to be the next TradeMe, say its developers.
Designed by Hamilton website design company Evos Group Ltd, the website allows users to create a personalised page of web links, like bookmarks or favourites, that can be used on any computer.
Evos director Jamie Moore and his business partner Daniel Karaitiana conceived the idea when Mr Moore's father, Simon Moore, who travels overseas for his company Puku Golf, wanted a platform to easily access his favourite websites.
"People have bookmarked their favourite sites on one computer," Mr Moore said. "If they go to another computer or they are in an internet cafe . . . they don't have those links with them. This (site) will allow them to get those links from anywhere."
Evos Group Ltd began through the Young Enterprise Scheme in 2004 when Mr Moore and Mr Karaitiana were Cambridge High School students.
Mr Moore, 20, is now studying Management at Waikato University and Mr Karaitiana, 21, is a Media Arts student at Wintec. They have two full-time employees and one part-timer.
Their bookmarking website has one major point of difference. Rather than have one specific name, it has many unique names which, by default, lead to the site.
A user accesses it by typing any circle of six letters and/or numbers on the keyboard starting from anywhere on the keyboard, going clockwise or anti-clockwise. They then add '.com'. For example, wedxza.com, t54edf.com, bvftyh.com.
The company has invested $50,000 in the project, having designer Alex Taylor working on it almost exclusively for six months, and buying 580 .com domain names.
Mr Moore said once people got used to using a geometrical shape on the keyboard they were unlikely to forget it.
"The only way it is going to work is by people spreading the word. (It's got) a novelty effect. It's a hook for the tech community to talk about and for people to pass it on."
Mr Moore said the site, launched three weeks ago, had the potential to became highly used and valuable.
Use statistics showed that people already were using it as a homepage.
People could use the site as a starting point every time they went on the web. - "Based on that the potential is massive. It's all about one person finding the bookmarking useful and telling another person."
The site was simple to use, free, and had no advertising.
Mr Moore said highly used sites attracted interest from companies like Google, which had paid millions of dollars for exclusive-search bar rights.
"Seeing lots of people finding it useful would be a buzz," he said. "If that happens then it will make a tonne of money."
By TAMARA PENNIKET - Waikato Times Monday, 30 April 2007
Designed by Hamilton website design company Evos Group Ltd, the website allows users to create a personalised page of web links, like bookmarks or favourites, that can be used on any computer.
Evos director Jamie Moore and his business partner Daniel Karaitiana conceived the idea when Mr Moore's father, Simon Moore, who travels overseas for his company Puku Golf, wanted a platform to easily access his favourite websites.
"People have bookmarked their favourite sites on one computer," Mr Moore said. "If they go to another computer or they are in an internet cafe . . . they don't have those links with them. This (site) will allow them to get those links from anywhere."
Evos Group Ltd began through the Young Enterprise Scheme in 2004 when Mr Moore and Mr Karaitiana were Cambridge High School students.
Mr Moore, 20, is now studying Management at Waikato University and Mr Karaitiana, 21, is a Media Arts student at Wintec. They have two full-time employees and one part-timer.
Their bookmarking website has one major point of difference. Rather than have one specific name, it has many unique names which, by default, lead to the site.
A user accesses it by typing any circle of six letters and/or numbers on the keyboard starting from anywhere on the keyboard, going clockwise or anti-clockwise. They then add '.com'. For example, wedxza.com, t54edf.com, bvftyh.com.
The company has invested $50,000 in the project, having designer Alex Taylor working on it almost exclusively for six months, and buying 580 .com domain names.
Mr Moore said once people got used to using a geometrical shape on the keyboard they were unlikely to forget it.
"The only way it is going to work is by people spreading the word. (It's got) a novelty effect. It's a hook for the tech community to talk about and for people to pass it on."
Mr Moore said the site, launched three weeks ago, had the potential to became highly used and valuable.
Use statistics showed that people already were using it as a homepage.
People could use the site as a starting point every time they went on the web. - "Based on that the potential is massive. It's all about one person finding the bookmarking useful and telling another person."
The site was simple to use, free, and had no advertising.
Mr Moore said highly used sites attracted interest from companies like Google, which had paid millions of dollars for exclusive-search bar rights.
"Seeing lots of people finding it useful would be a buzz," he said. "If that happens then it will make a tonne of money."
By TAMARA PENNIKET - Waikato Times Monday, 30 April 2007
Gamble and McCormick
Gamble and McCormick first on Tuakau Town Hall's new stage
Cafe Kaos in Tuakau has scored a coup in enticing top New Zealand performers Gary McCormick and Hammond Gamble to appear at the Tuakau Town Hall on Saturday May 5, for an evening of laughter, fun and music.
Kaos is donating all profits from the evening to the Onewhero Society of Performing Arts, as a thank-you to all they give the community themselves in the way of culture, humour, music and all sorts of entertainment.
"We feel they enrich Tuakau and beyond with their passion and vision for what they bring to the area, and we thought this would be a great way for ourselves and the community to show support for them." says Elton Raitt from Cafe Kaos.
Radio presenter, commentator and TV star, McCormick is one of New Zealand's most popular celebrities.
His comedy debates are legendary and he has toured with the inimitable David Lange, Tim Shadbolt, Tom Scott and Ginette McDonald.
Hammond Gamble was a founder member of the group Street Talk, out front on lead guitar and singing with his distinctive blues style.
The group played original homegrown rock, packing out venues such as the famous Gluepot in Auckland.
Internationally over the years, Gamble has backed for the likes of Joe Cocker, The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac and Tina Turner.
These days he's mostly a solo acoustic performer, and can be expected to make some magic with McCormick!
Other features of the evening will be the official opening of the fabulous new town hall stage and an Out of the Gumboot extravaganza with prizes donated by local sponsors. Don't forget to bring your lucky ticket number.
If the evening is a success, Caf?aos plans to make this fundraising evening an annual event, choosing different recipients and matching entertainment each year.
"We could even make it a whole day event." he says.
Limited tickets are available at $25 each from Cafe Kaos in Tuakau.
By LINDA HANSEN - Franklin County News Monday, 30 April 2007
Cafe Kaos in Tuakau has scored a coup in enticing top New Zealand performers Gary McCormick and Hammond Gamble to appear at the Tuakau Town Hall on Saturday May 5, for an evening of laughter, fun and music.
Kaos is donating all profits from the evening to the Onewhero Society of Performing Arts, as a thank-you to all they give the community themselves in the way of culture, humour, music and all sorts of entertainment.
"We feel they enrich Tuakau and beyond with their passion and vision for what they bring to the area, and we thought this would be a great way for ourselves and the community to show support for them." says Elton Raitt from Cafe Kaos.
Radio presenter, commentator and TV star, McCormick is one of New Zealand's most popular celebrities.
His comedy debates are legendary and he has toured with the inimitable David Lange, Tim Shadbolt, Tom Scott and Ginette McDonald.
Hammond Gamble was a founder member of the group Street Talk, out front on lead guitar and singing with his distinctive blues style.
The group played original homegrown rock, packing out venues such as the famous Gluepot in Auckland.
Internationally over the years, Gamble has backed for the likes of Joe Cocker, The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac and Tina Turner.
These days he's mostly a solo acoustic performer, and can be expected to make some magic with McCormick!
Other features of the evening will be the official opening of the fabulous new town hall stage and an Out of the Gumboot extravaganza with prizes donated by local sponsors. Don't forget to bring your lucky ticket number.
If the evening is a success, Caf?aos plans to make this fundraising evening an annual event, choosing different recipients and matching entertainment each year.
"We could even make it a whole day event." he says.
Limited tickets are available at $25 each from Cafe Kaos in Tuakau.
By LINDA HANSEN - Franklin County News Monday, 30 April 2007
Tuesday 1 May 2007
Horowhenua Photographs
http://horowhenuahistory.library.org.nz/index.htm
catalogue of the photograph collections owned by Horowhenua Historical Society inc. and Foxton Historical Society.
Depending on the original, prints of all photographs are available, in any size and format you wish. The organisations who own the prints are happy to quote to meet your needs.
catalogue of the photograph collections owned by Horowhenua Historical Society inc. and Foxton Historical Society.
Depending on the original, prints of all photographs are available, in any size and format you wish. The organisations who own the prints are happy to quote to meet your needs.
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