Futuristic Foot Power
New Zealand-invented pedal powered monorail shweeb opened in 2007 at Rotorua’s Agroventures Adventure Park as a “direct response to the transportation needs of today and the future.” Each capsule holds a single rider. Each…
July 2009 Archives
Perfect for picking
Andrew McKenzie’s mid-orchard home is featured in this month’s Dwell magazine as the perfect example of a marriage between economy, sustainability and design. The house earned Architects Cecile Bonnifait and William Giesen a regional…
To a job well done
The life and work of distinguished New Zealand architect, Marshall Cook— whose career spans over 40 years and across six countries — is paid homage in Issue 03 of design magazine Habitus. “Inspired by…
Bombs away in 3D
Peter Jackson has told the Telegraph he thinks “a World War Two bombing raid in 3D would be neat”. While it may be pushing the boundaries of good taste, Jackson, the director of The…
Pam Does Auckland
Air New Zealand Fashion week, which runs from September 21–26 at Auckland’s Viadiuct Harbour Marine Village, could see Pamela Anderson and Richie Rich’s eco-friendly swimwear line Muse participating in the line-up. It’s an interesting…
Saving Fish Stocks
Research from an international team of scientists, including Pamela Mace of the New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries who helped write the study, shows that a handful of major fisheries across the world have managed…
Singing his praises
Ashburton-born opera singer Simon O’Neill, 37, has been named in a list of the world’s top 10 tenors by an influential London radio station. Rankings in the July issue of Classic FM magazine position…
Stopped Making Sense
Former Christchurch model Jenna Sauers, 23, has revealed that she was the face behind feminist website Jezebel’s correspondent “Tatiana”, who acted as a mole during the 2008 New York Fashion Week. “She’s smart! She’s…
Sauvignon Surplus
The New Zealand wine industry is primed to suffer from a surfeit of Sauvignon Blanc in the coming years, as wine production expands exponentially and prices drop. Sauvignon Blanc, which makes up 80 percent…
Sun out soon
Crowded House frontman Neil Finn has collaborated with the Smiths’ Johnny Marr, Radiohead’s Phil Selway and Ed O’Brien and new additions Wilco to produce a double-disc collection called The Sun Came Out, proceeds of…
Adamson meets Mister Pip
New Zealander Andrew Adamson will direct his own adaptation of Wellington-based Lloyd Jones’ award-winning novel Mister Pip. Producer Robin Scholes, who was behind Once Were Warriors and The Tattooist, plans to film Mister Pip…
Finding Originality
Director Peter Jackson talks to Los Angeles Times reporter Geoff Boucher about producing sci-fi film District 9, hobbits and the proliferation of remakes, sequels and adaptations in Hollywood. District 9, which is set in…
Sidhe’s smashing game
Wellington-based game production studio Sidhe Interactive has launched its self-published title Shatter onto the Playstation Network, a game which combines classic brick-breaking with the latest effects and a fully scored soundtrack by Wellington multi-instrumentalist…
Shaking Us All a Little Closer
The recent Fiordland earthquake (strongest earthquake in 78 years) has left New Zealand and Australia a little closer – 12 inches to be exact. The magnitude 7.8 quake on July 15 struck the South…
New Zealander in NY
Former Prime Minister Helen Clark, now in the role of administrator for the United Nation’s Development Programme (UNDP), talks candidly to TV1’s Breakfast show host Paul Henry in New York about “fitting in” as…
Walker Looks to London
Kawerau BMX rider Sarah Walker, 21, took first place at the World BMX championships in the cruiser class (large wheel diameter) and the elite women’s title indoors at the Adelaide Showgrounds. Walker, a bronze…
Roots of laughter
New Zealand comedian Rhys Darby, 35, is returning to the UK and standup comedy performing a number of London gigs at the Bloomsbury Theatre and a stint at the upcoming Edinburgh Festival August 6…
Sustainability Ninja Exits
UK Green party member, adviser and Treasury antagonist Jonathan Porritt, 59, has left his post as chairman of the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) after nine years “trying to crash the gears of the machine of…
Keeping it to Himself
Recent émigré to New Zealand, British media-specialist David Jeffries, 43, says he misses nothing about England in his new hometown of Auckland where he runs the award-winning company Mere Mortals, which also has an…
Behind the Foliage
Dr Kevin Burns and a team of researchers from Victoria University of Wellington have discovered that New Zealand trees have evolved a camouflage defense mechanism to protect themselves from extinct giant birds. “Plants are…
Win on a Mistral
Emirates Team New Zealand has won the Sardinia Trophy of the Audi MedCup series off Sardinia making it two in a row after their win in Marseilles. The bush was on fire along the…
Out of Town Delights
Waiheke Island, Martinborough and North Canterbury’s Waipara Valley, each a short drive from a main centre, are all worth exploring for “epicurious travellers” from across the Tasman. Residents of Auckland would doubtless prefer that…
Fronting up at Comic-Con
Wellington director Peter Jackson spoke last week at the 40th annual Comic-Con in San Diego — the largest comic book and popular arts convention late last week — much to the delight of 6,500…
NZ Wines On Top
New Zealand’s reputation as one of the world’s leading producers of high-end wine was reaffirmed at this year’s International Wine Challenge in London where it won international trophies for both Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc….
Sustainability ninja exits
UK Green party member, adviser and Treasury antagonist Jonathan Porritt, 59, has left his post as chairman of the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) after nine years “trying to crash the gears of the…
Bledisloe Cup Memories
All Black Evan “Ted” Jessep, who was born in 1904 and died in 1983, debuted for New Zealand in 1931 at Eden Park against the Wallabies as the second hooker in a two-man front…
Small Screen Shenanigans
Actress Lucy Lawless, 41, who stars as gladiator camp owner Lucretia in the American network Starz’s epic series Spartacus, told the crowd at Los Angeles convention Comic-Con that it was “big fun back on…
Closing Time
The All Blacks head to South Africa for the Tri-Nations Tournament as the best closers in rugby. In the last five meetings between the All Blacks and the Springboks, the All Blacks have dominated…
Pretty as a pair
The newest and most adorable additions to the Auckland Zoo arrived last month with the birth of two baby Asian Otters. Asian otters are closely related to ferrets and skunks and are the smallest…
#113: Seddon Bennington, 1948 – 2009
Edge Message #113 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM Pictured above: Zane Lowe, Lt. Col. Jeremy Ramsden, Simon O’Neill,…
Holiday on the Right
Driving a camper van in New Zealand is “disconcerting… through a right-hand-drive country” but the “best part of driving the was the door it opened for conversation with waitresses, shop clerks and fellow…
Miniature Lawn Mowers
Winemaker Peter Yealands hopes to avoid having to use his tractor to mow the grass around his 10,000 hectare vineyard, so he’s looking to the miniature sheep babydoll to do the job, potentially saving…
Lifetime of History
Dunedin historian Hew Mcleod, world-renowned for his work researching Sikh history, has died aged 77. McLeod first travelled to Punjab in 1958 as a Christian missionary. Soon after settling down in Batala, 40km from…
For the Big Spenders
A St Mary’s Bay, Auckland home, on the books at Boulgaris/Maguire Properties, is advertised in The New York Times’ international real estate section, which also provides an overview of Auckland’s current property market. Foreign…
Best in show
Rural New Zealand is explored by Canadian freelance journalist Judy Schultz who stumbles upon a Pukekohe A&P show, explores the historic community of Waiuku and samples local wares at Awhitu Country Market in Matakawau….
Flying Doctors
New Zealand hospitals and medical clinics are attracting American doctors hoping to find “adventure, fulfillment” and a change. Kathryn T. Starkey, MD, a gynecologist in a two-physician practice in Auburn, N.Y., liked providing medical…
Roberts Honoured
nzedge.com co-founder and Saatchi & Saatchi CEO Worldwide, Kevin Roberts, received an honorary degree of Doctorate of Laws at a colorful ceremony at Lancaster University on 16 July. The honorary degree was awarded for “contributions…
New beginnings in Alaska
Former director of natural environment at Te Papa Carol Diebel will begin a new role overseeing the University of Alaska Museum of the North in October. In addition to her work leading Te Papa’s…
On show in Melbourne
New Zealand jeweller and artist Warwick Freeman is exhibiting his new work, ‘Spring Collection’, at Gallery Funaki in Melbourne until 1 August. Freeman has been making jewellery for over 25 years and is credited…
Aiming for Two
Auckland Indy Car champion Scott Dixon, 28, “is the driver to catch” ahead of the Rexall Edmonton Indy on July 24 -26, and with three wins under his belt already this season, Dixon says…
Papped in Venice
“Anna Paquin arrives at Gjelina’s, her favourite LA restaurant, on a pale pink pushbike, asks for her usual lemonade, smiles and starts to chatter,” writes the Daily Mail’s Lorien Haynes. “Not nervous, over-your-head chatter,…
Limelight Shy
Wellington author Eleanor Catton, 23, who is based in Iowa studying at the prestigious Iowa Writers’ Workshop, says in an interview with the Irish Times that she is enjoying travelling the world promoting her…
Battle Commences
The All Blacks have won their first match in the 2009 Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations series against Australia 22–16 at Auckland’s Eden Park. With skipper Richie McCaw back to lead the way, the All…
Flirtatious Fins
Kaikoura’s Dolphin Encounter marketing manager Jo Thompson says the acrobatic and sociable dusky dolphin is the “big tart of the dolphin world” and “unique for travelling in pods of up to 1000.” The Sydney…
Extolling winged virtues
A New Zealand manufactured turbine-powered bush plane, the P750 XSTOL is being promoted in Alaska by a Californian dealer who says the aircraft rivals the traditional Cessna turbine aircraft for travel in the American…
Mobile Bach Adventure
A Christchurch Classic Camper Volkswagen Vanagon is rented by Los Angeles Times’ reporter Mary Engel and her husband who says the rented vehicle makes for an “experience still more up-close and personal”. No taller…
Top Lodge Spots
The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs has been voted No. 1 Lodge/Resort in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific in the 2009 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards readers’ survey, with The Farm at…
Charismatic Leader
Chief executive of New Zealand’s national museum, Te Papa, Dr Seddon Bennington, 61, died on July 15 tramping in the Tararua Ranges, a sight Dr Bennington admired from his office window, “frequently think of…
Rise of the Grape
Brancott Winery’s Ivan Yukich – who planted his first vines in the Waitakere Ranges in 1934 – was a visionary who fought through poor economic times, prohibition and New Zealand’s preference for beer and…
#112: New Zealanders in Global Headlines
Edge Message #112 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM Pictured above: The Datsuns, Dick Frizzell, Francis Upritchard at Venice,…
This is really a dog
Gisborne dog owner Cheryl McKnight believes her 6-month-old Maltese puppy Scooter, which stands at just 8cm tall, is a Guinness World Record potential for the smallest dog by height. McKnight says he hasn’t grown…
Radio with Pictures
New Zealand-born DJ, radio host and television personality, Zane Lowe, 35, is piloting an initiative by BBC’s Radio 1 to make radio a visual medium, with Lowe’s antics being filmed by no less than six television…
If Trees Could Talk
Much movie magic is created “in and around Wellington, the San Francisco-like capital city situated at the southwest tip of North Island” writes Boston Globe correspondent Ethan Gilsdorf. “In the city limits and within…
