Archive >> January 2007

Two Paddocks Enters Asian Market

Asian market Actor Sam Neill has been busy promoting his Two Paddocks vineyard in Hong Kong, but has dismissed any suggestion of a major expansion into China. “We’re a boutique winery….

Abstract revisited

NZ artist Angela Dwyer is staging two solo exhibitions in Italy in early 2007. The first is at the AMT Gallery in Como, the second at Milan’s Magrorocca Gallery….

Hurricane warning

NZ artist Lisa Ferguson is aiming to crack the competitive New York market after a successful period in London. The former graphic designer has already made a strong…

Sacred Remains Returned

A Scottish museum has returned its collection of tattooed Maori heads to NZ after housing them for more than 180 years. The nine toi moko were acquired by the…

NZ Escapes “Affluenza” Virus

NZ gets off relatively lightly in UK psychologist Oliver James’s treatise on rampant materialism, Affluenza: How to be Successful and Stay Sane. James defines affluenza as an unhealthy obsession…

Muse to Tarantino

Waiheke Island-born stuntwoman Zoe Bell makes a cameo appearance as herself in Quentin Tarantino’s upcoming slasher film Grindhouse. Bell impressed Tarantino as Uma Thurman’s double in Kill Bill, and…

Home Town Tribute

A memorial to legendary All Black captain Dave Gallaher is being planned in his home town of Ramelton, Ireland. The Dave Gallaher Society is proposing the transformation of a bottle recycling…

Kahurangi in Kuala Lumpur

The Kahurangi Maori Dance Theatre will celebrate Waitangi Day in Kuala Lumpur, performing at the Malaysia-New Zealand Cultural Extravaganza. Founded by Tama Huata in 1983, Kahurangi has showcased the…

Astle Bows Out

Nathan Astle has retired from international cricket as one of NZ’s most successful ever batsmen, just six months before the 2007 World Cup. In his twelve year career he has accumulated…

Fuel of the Future

Two national institutes are hoping to reduce NZ’s national oil consumption by developing the production of cellulosic ethanol. Ag Research and Scion (formerly the NZ Forest Research Institute) are working with…

Don’t Dream it’s Over

A new album and world tour by Crowded House, has made headlines across the globe. According to chief songwriter Neil Finn, he and bass player Nick Seymour have been considering…

Online Superstar

The inaugural Forbes Web Celeb 25 – “a list of the biggest, brightest and most influential people on the Internet” – is topped by Mt Maunganui-raised actress Jessica…

Bay of Wonders

The LA Times offers a brief guide to NZ’s Bay of Islands, home to “some of the best scenery in the country.” Visitors are advised to check out the arts and…

NZ’s Home of Motorsport

Taupo’s inaugural A1 Grand Prix meet for the World Cup of Motorsport was a huge success, with 80,000 spectators packing the stands. Adding to the experience, Team NZ placed third overall…

Musical milestones

The Guardian gives a whirlwind overview of NZ music history, from kapa haka to deep house. Milestones of note include the formation of Split Enz in 1971, Flying Nun…

Sir Peter Blake’s Record-Breaking Win

Sailing Quarterly Video Magazine feature Sir Peter Blake’s record-breaking ENZA round the world race.

Guilt-free Luxury

Taranaki’s Eco Inn comes highly recommended in the Guardian. The lodge is constructed from untreated macrocarpa wood and recycled materials, and is entirely powered by solar panels, wind…

Final Tourist Frontier

Christchurch internet entrepreneur Mark Rocket was the first New Zealander to sign up for one of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic space flights. The self-described space nut (he changed his surname…

Kilgour flies solo

David Kilgour of seminal Flying Nun band the Clean has launched a new solo album entitled The Far Now. “The songs sprung into my lap and pretty much…

Star on the rise

Variety magazine (US) named Taika Waititi one of ten directors to watch in the lead up to the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, where he made his feature debut. His…

Testing Times

Durex has decided to test its new latex-free condom in NZ after its global survey showed that New Zealanders have sex more often and are more adventurous in the…

Greatest Ever Motorcycles: Britten V1000

John Britten’s V1000 features at number 6 on the list of greatest ever motorcycles.

Boiling Point

US BusinessWeek profiles “white-hot” New York-based company Fahrenheit 212’s fresh take on innovation for global consumer product companies. Named after the point at which water boils (“when one degree of difference…

For those about to rock, we salute you

Buskers Max Tetley (11) and Alex Philpott (10) opened the show for US rock-comedy duo Tenacious D, after impressing singer Jack Black with their performance in Christchurch’s Cathedral…

CG Cameron

Titanic director James Cameron has enlisted the help of Weta Digital for his upcoming US$200 million sci-fi epic, Avatar. Cameron also plans to shoot sections of the film at…

Doctor vodka

42 Below ambassador and “vodka professor” Jacob Briars discusses dirty drink names, Golden Globe shout outs and the social psychology of bars in an interview with the Sydney Morning…

Icebreakers Canadian Connection

Nova Scotias Chronicle Herald reveals a NZ business success storys Canadian connection. Jeremy Moons outdoor clothing company Icebreaker enjoys CA$100 million in annual retail sales, largely thanks to its revolutionary…

Silver Lining for OpenCloud

Wellington telecommunications support firm OpenCloud has raised US$10.25 million in funding from Advent Venture Partners (London), No 8 Ventures (NZ) and Motorola Ventures (US). The funding will be used to expand…

Connections Made with Past and Present

An American man’s exploration of his Maori roots is the subject of a documentary for US TV’s Travel Channel. Richard Wybrow, a CNN Radio editor, had always wanted to…

More Scottish than Scotland

Otago University has launched a global search to fill its inaugural chair in Scottish studies. The newly created position is one of a small number of its kind in the world…

Japan Nets All Black Great

Former All Black John Kirwan has signed a two-year contract to coach Japan’s national rugby team. Kirwan will lead the side in its World Cup efforts this year, with plans to…

Haka Faux Pas #46

The haka continues to be flavour of the month in international marketing circles. This time, an English women’s rugby team has caused controversy by including an image of a topless haka…

Pre-historic Chic

Shoppers at London’s Selfridges can now purchase the ultimate ecological antique: a piece of furniture carved from 30,000 year-old NZ kauri wood. The NZ government has allowed a limited quantity of…

Wellington: City on the Rise

Wellington has been named one of 10 world cities “on the rise” by the editors of Lonely Planet. The capital is described as “one of the world’s cold-yet-cultural cities … more…

Safe Haven

US travel expert Laura McKenzie includes NZ in her list of the world’s five safest travel destinations. NZ is ranked second only to Monaco in a list which…

Life of a Legend

A film based on the life of NZ motorsport legend Bruce McLaren is rumoured to be in the works. According to Grand Prix website, the production has been…

Sailing Event a “Kiwi Blackwash”

This year’s 420 World Championships have been described as a “Kiwi blackwash” after NZ sailors took out all podium positions in both the Open and Women’s events. Carl…

Local? Outrageous!

NZ TV series Outrageous Fortune has caused a storm across the Tasman, but not for its adult content. Australian screenwriters are threatening protests and possible strikes over a decision…

Black Beauty Takes the Bridge

NZ A1 Grand Prix driver Jonny Reid has set a new record for the fastest crossing of the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Reid crossed the bridge seven times, reaching speeds of…

Master of noir

The newfound appreciation of NZ-born artist James Boswell continues, with a second feature in the Guardian. The article focuses on Boswell’s post-WW2 illustrations for film posters, commissioned by…

San Diegans fall for NZ designs

Christine Nottingham and Andrea Peach have opened a gallery-cum-store in San Diego to showcase designs by established and emerging artists from their native NZ. Moana Design on Solana…

Dance film tackles domestic drama

Shona McCullagh’s short film Break was a highlight of the Dance on Camera Festival at New York’s Walter Reade Theatre, according to the New York Times. Set in rural NZ, ‘Break’…

The Flynn Effect

James Flynn – Emeritus Professor of Political Studies at Otago University, intelligence researcher and “unassuming moral philosopher” – is profiled in the Guardian. Born in Washington DC, Flynn has…

Nevis Bungy Queenstown

Watch this video of the 134 metre bungy, Nevis, in Queenstown.