September 2015 Archives

Stephen Taberner’s Choir a Bit on the Spooky Side

Stephen Taberner’s Choir a Bit on the Spooky Side

Georgian polyphonic singing enthusiast, Christchurch-born Stephen Taberner leads the 16-man Australian choir Spooky Men’s Chorale which recently performed in London at the Islington Assembly Hall. The Guardian’s Robin Denselow reviewed the evening. “It takes a…

Force Of Black – Adidas Rugby

Force Of Black – Adidas Rugby

Our fans. Our culture. Our history. Everything we stand for. Prepare for the might of the almighty All Blacks!

#181: Historic Win for Lydia Ko

#181: Historic Win for Lydia Ko

News of New Zealanders via Global Media

Historic Win for Lydia Ko

Historic Win for Lydia Ko

Lydia Ko made golfing history when she won Sunday’s Evian Championship in France as the youngest winner of a women’s major. The win was her fourth LPGA win of 2015 and the ninth of…

How I Learned to Win the Rugby World Cup

How I Learned to Win the Rugby World Cup

On 23 October 2011, the New Zealand All Blacks won the Rugby World Cup Final against France 8 to 7. It was “culmination of a 37-year career’” for Graham Henry – one of the…

NZ Star Wars Geeks Rule the Galaxy for a Day

NZ Star Wars Geeks Rule the Galaxy for a Day

Walt Disney’s new Star Wars toys have been released in New Zealand – the first place in the universe for the toys to go on sale in “Disney’s Apple-like round-the-globe rollout of new toys”. “It’s…

Murchison’s Never-Ending Fire

Murchison’s Never-Ending Fire

A seemingly typical clear and swift South Island river, the Blackwater has one unmistakable trait: the water carries a whiff of kerosene. It’s faint, but it was enough to give the Blackwater its name,…

Photographer Robin Hammond Witnessing Change

Photographer Robin Hammond Witnessing Change

While producing Condemned, an in-depth look at how the mentally ill people are treated in several African nations, New Zealand photographer Robin Hammond believed that the mere act of making their condition visible would…

All Blacks Depart for England to Defend Their Title

All Blacks Depart for England to Defend Their Title

The All Blacks have departed for England on Thursday hoping for a number of firsts: “To become the first team to defend the Rugby World Cup, the first New Zealand team to win the…

World’s Biggest Waterslide: Jimi Hunt at TEDxAuckland

World’s Biggest Waterslide: Jimi Hunt at TEDxAuckland

Jimi Hunt is founder of the depression charity Live More Awesome, author of A Bit Mental and the only person silly enough to lilo the Waikato River. A sufferer…

Christchurch Returning to Cycling Roots

Christchurch Returning to Cycling Roots

After the 2011 earthquake, Christchuch residents were asked what they wanted from the city once known as ‘Cyclopolis’. They demanded a greener, more people-focused city – and investment in new cycleways means it is…

New Zealand Launches First Chinese Language Week

New Zealand Launches First Chinese Language Week

New Zealand’s first Chinese Language Week has been launched from September 7 until September 13 and will be celebrated during the second week of September each year to coincide with the Chinese Moon Festival. “Learning…

New Zealand Voted Best Destination for Solo Travelers

New Zealand Voted Best Destination for Solo Travelers

New Zealand has been ranked the best destination for solo travellers on a list created by Travel and Leisure. Safety and the ability to connect to people and culture while travelling are…

Krampus – Official Trailer

Krampus – Official Trailer

Director Michael Dougherty brings a terrifying side to Christmas this year with new horror-comedy Krampus which stars Adam Scott and Toni Collette. Krampus was filmed in New Zealand, and…

First Images of Holiday Horror Krampus Released

First Images of Holiday Horror Krampus Released

First images of “Michael Dougherty’s new stab at holiday horror” Krampus have been released. Krampus tells the story of Max, who stops to believe in Santa more and more when his “dysfunctional family gathers for…

Pietra Brettkelly’s Doco Premieres in Venice

Pietra Brettkelly’s Doco Premieres in Venice

Multi-award-winning director and producer Pietra Brettkelly’s documentary A Flickering Truth, filmed in Afghanistan, made its premiere at the 2015 Venice International Film Festival. New Zealand-born Brettkelly’s 2008 film The Art Star and the Sudanese Twins…

On the True Detective Set With DOP Nigel Bluck

On the True Detective Set With DOP Nigel Bluck

Recently rated by Variety magazine as one of 10 cinematographers to watch, New Zealander Nigel Bluck, 43, has been working as director of photography on the second season of popular…

New Plymouth Boys High Scool Haka

New Plymouth Boys High Scool Haka

Hundreds of New Plymouth Boys High School students recently banded together to perform the famous haka war dance that would send chills down the spine of the most hardened…

Introverted Dancefloor’s Latest Effort Far from Shy

Introverted Dancefloor’s Latest Effort Far from Shy

“Not nearly as introspective as the eponymous album title would have you believe, Bevan Smith’s latest project as Introverted Dancefloor is restrained, yes, but far from bashful,” UK arts magazine the Skinny…

Teen Ayla Hutchinson Impresses at US State Fair

Teen Ayla Hutchinson Impresses at US State Fair

Ayla Hutchinson, 16, may be the youngest and farthest-travelling entrepreneur to showcase at the Minnesota State Fair this year. Hutchinson, who is from Taranaki, conceived of a safer approach to splitting kindling in 2012…

Hello Sailor Frontman Graham Brazier

Hello Sailor Frontman Graham Brazier

Dave Dobbyn is one of a number of local artists who have paid tribute to Hello Sailor frontman Graham Brazier (pictured centre), who has died in Auckland aged 63. Dobbyn described Brazier as the consummate…

Everest – IMAX Trailer

Everest – IMAX Trailer

Director Baltasar Kormákur chronicles an incredible true life story of strength, willpower and courage which explores the tragic 1996 Mt Everest disaster which claimed the lives of famed climbers,…

Coach Joe Schmidt Granted Irish Citizenship

Coach Joe Schmidt Granted Irish Citizenship

He has long been considered an honorary Irishman in the eyes of rugby fans. But Ireland’s head coach Woodville-born Joe Schmidt, 49, was made an official Irish citizen in a special ceremony organised by…

Racing Star Mitch Evans Proponent of F1 Noise

Racing Star Mitch Evans Proponent of F1 Noise

New Zealander Mitch Evans, 21, one of the leading lights of single-seater junior auto racing, says he believes Formula One’s audiences could accelerate if the series returned to 2.4-litre V8 engines which it dropped…

Flight of the Conchords Musical Is Coming

Flight of the Conchords Musical Is Coming

The upcoming Flight of the Conchords movie is shaping up to be a musical like no other, co-creator Jemaine Clement has promised – albeit tentatively. The film is “definitely a couple of years away,…

THE SBW Breakdown

THE SBW Breakdown

All Blacks midfielder Sonny Bill Williams talks about what inspired him to be the player he is.

#180: Richie McCaw Most Powerful in Rugby Union

#180: Richie McCaw Most Powerful in Rugby Union

Richie McCaw Most Powerful in Rugby Union

Richie McCaw Most Powerful in Rugby Union

Richie McCaw, “arguably the greatest All Black of all time”, has been named the most powerful person in the “50 Most Powerful People in Rugby Union” ranking by The Daily Telegraph. “The flanker’s…

NZ – Rugby World Cup Breeding Ground

NZ – Rugby World Cup Breeding Ground

“The All Blacks may be favoured to retain the Rugby World Cup but New Zealand’s influence on the global showpiece will extend far beyond its national team”, according to an article on

Kids Design Playground in New Zealand

Kids Design Playground in New Zealand

Local kids have helped to design a new playground as part of the rebuild of the Christchurch city center following the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes. The Christchurch city council consulted the community about the rebuilt…

Three Million Reasons to Celebrate Tourism’s Value to New Zealand

Three Million Reasons to Celebrate Tourism’s Value to New Zealand

Over three million visitors have travelled to New Zealand in the year ending July 2015, according to data released by Statistics New Zealand. The 7.3 % per cent increase of visitor numbers is good news for…

New Zealand Launches Currency Notes

New Zealand Launches Currency Notes

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has launched new banknotes with new security features, which will go into circulation later this year. “The polymer notes are striking in their design and innovative in their security with the…

Three Million Reasons to Celebrate Tourism’s Value to New Zealand

Three Million Reasons to Celebrate Tourism’s Value to New Zealand

Over three million visitors have travelled to New Zealand in the year ending July 2015, according to data released by Statistics New Zealand. The 7.3 % per cent increase of visitor numbers is good news for…

New Zealand Kicks off Record Cruise Season

New Zealand Kicks off Record Cruise Season

New Zealand is expecting its biggest cruise season with 267,800 passengers in 2015-16. According to Cruise New Zealand the summer season has already begun with the arrival of Sea Princess in Auckland. “The next two…

Milford Sound – The Eighth Wonder of the World

Milford Sound – The Eighth Wonder of the World

Experience the majestic beauty of New Zealand’s Milford Sound.

Otahuna Wins Andrew Harper’s 2015 Reader’s Choice Awards

Otahuna Wins Andrew Harper’s 2015 Reader’s Choice Awards

Otahuna Lodge in Tai Tapu, New Zealand has been voted the world’s Top International Hideaway by readers of one of the world’s most influential luxury travel reader’s polls, Andrew Harper’s…

Final Designs for New Zealand’s New Flag Chosen

Final Designs for New Zealand’s New Flag Chosen

“For more than a century, New Zealanders have fought wars and won Olympic medals under a flag with four red stars on a blue background and Great Britain’s Union Jack in the corner”, writes…

Casting for the Elusive Mr Brown on Ruakituri River

Casting for the Elusive Mr Brown on Ruakituri River

“As we cut through the clouds in the small Bay Heliwork chopper, the sky opens to a stunning view of Hawkes Bay and the legendary Ruakituri River where the elusive ‘Mr Brown’…

2015 All Blacks Squad Announcement – Steve Hansen

2015 All Blacks Squad Announcement – Steve Hansen

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has named his new squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup which will be hosted in England and will run from 18 September – October 31….

Janet Frame Travels Home Around the World

Janet Frame Travels Home Around the World

Janet Frame’s 1963 novella Towards Another Summer reimagines the New Zealand author’s “roots crisis” and is a sharp drama of fleeing, and missing, home, Catherine Taylor writes for the Guardian. The novella’s theme – taking…

New Zealand Has Some Filmtastic Backdrops

New Zealand Has Some Filmtastic Backdrops

Many of the grander surroundings in Craig Zobel’s new film Z For Zachariah were filmed in New Zealand. Women’s lifestyle site Bustle takes a look back at other notable films shot throughout the country…

Domestic Market Key to Demise of Imperiled Dolphins

Domestic Market Key to Demise of Imperiled Dolphins

American environmental writer Andrew Revkin, in his regular column for the New York Times, says local nets, not faraway markets are the key to the “deeply imperiled toothed whale” New Zealand’s Maui’s dolphin. “The subspecies…

The Shannara Chronicles- Official Trailer

The Shannara Chronicles- Official Trailer

The brand new trailer for MTV’s stunning adaptation of Terry Brook’s The Shannara Chronicles is here. This high fantasy TV series was filmed throughout New Zealand and stars big…

Gin Wigmore Embodies Casual Tough Girl Style

Gin Wigmore Embodies Casual Tough Girl Style

New Zealand-born musician Gin Wigmore has a fashion sense equally eclectic as her sound, according to style site Paste Magazine. With unfussy platinum blonde locks, a beautifully detailed tattoo sleeve and rings for every…

Lips Argue Against Online Streaming

Lips Argue Against Online Streaming

New Zealander Steph Brown and West Virginia-born multi-instrumentalist and producer Fen Ikner are Lips, an electronic pop act characterised by a girl with giant lips for a head. The duo has just relocated from…

Comedy Show Nominee Trygve Wakenshaw Shines

Comedy Show Nominee Trygve Wakenshaw Shines

The “angular New Zealander” Trygve Wakenshaw, who was nominated for best show at this year’s Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy awards, “has the audience in raptures with his wonky physical comedy – and a brilliantly inventive…

Sir Peter Jackson – WW1 Exhibit Creator

Sir Peter Jackson – WW1 Exhibit Creator

Academy Award winning filmmaker Sir Peter Jackson talks about his new Great War Exhibition in Wellington, and how he used filmmaking technology to bring colour to a war that, until…

Teddy Tahu Rhodes Has a Devil of a Time

Teddy Tahu Rhodes Has a Devil of a Time

New Zealander Teddy Tahu Rhodes, “the drawcard” of State Opera SA’s recent season of Faust, “brings his powerful voice of dark charm to the role of Mephistopheles, an imposing icon of evil,” Adelaide Now…

Locust Jones Permanently Plugged into Chaos

Locust Jones Permanently Plugged into Chaos

It is a rare and rewarding moment to stumble across an exhibition that is as cohesively considered as Christchurch-born artist Locust Jones’ A Week in the Life of the World, not only in its…