The Beths & UMO – Must-Hear Indie Albums
Two albums by New Zealand artists have made UPROXX’ list of must-hear Indie albums of 2018: Future Me Hates Me (The Beths) and Sex & Food (Unknown Mortal Orchestra). “What happens…
December 2018 Archives
Jilly James Earns Spot at Renowned LA Acting School
Aspiring Timaru actress Jilly James, 17, is the first New Zealander to win a globally contested acting scholarship in Hollywood. In February, James will travel to Los Angeles where, along with 15 self-funded students from…
24/7 Geohazards Monitoring Centre Debuts in NZ
A new centre providing enhanced monitoring of natural geological hazards manned 24 hours a day in New Zealand has officially opened in Lower Hutt. The National Geohazards Monitoring Centre is a purpose-built facility located on…
Marlon Williams Album One of 2018’s Best
Marlon Williams album Make Way For Love has been ranked among the 50 best albums (#34) of 2018 in an article by ABC News. “What’s Chasing You drew me into Make…
Freediver Jonathan Sunnex a Dominica Drawcard
World-class freediver and instructor Ngaruawahia-born Dominica-based Jonathan Sunnex, 34, has always had an eye for talent and a vision for success, according to a profile published on the sport’s dedicated website, DeeperBlue.com. In 2011,
Rose McIver Inspired by Duchess in Christmas Role
When A Christmas Prince, starring New Zealander Rose McIver in the lead role, debuted on Netflix late last year, it became a cultural phenomenon. Sure, A Christmas Prince might have served as emotional catharsis for…
Vocalist & Poet Kimbra “Meant For the Stage”
“Kimbra is brave. She came clean with her emotions in her Songs from Primal Heart: Reimagined, as reported in an article on WGN Radio’s website, which reviewed the New Zealand…
NZ Police Sing Christmas Carols
Watch this short clip to hear four members of the NZ Police sing Christmas carols in a stairwell at their headquarters. Their performances of ‘Silent Night’ and ‘Winter Wonderland’ have been…
Hollywood Movies Are Keeping NZ Busier Than Ever
“Hollywood films have shot intermittently in New Zealand for decades, taking advantage of the country’s seasoned film workers, world-famous landscapes and opposite seasons. But Kiwi production veterans say they’ve never seen their crews and…
What Can New Zealand Teach the UK about Brexit?
“Brexit is, to put it mildly, an unusual event,” BBC World Service economics correspondent Andrew Walker writes. “But there are precedents for some aspects of it. New Zealand provides one example.” “The country faced a…
How Rugby Transformed NZ Into a Sports Powerhouse
New Zealand is known around the world for its magnificent landscapes, but also for its success in the game of rugby. Watch this ten-minute film by the Olympic Channel…
NZ Winemaker Begins Solo Atlantic Crossing
26-year-old New Zealand winemaker Isaac Giesen, has just embarked on a roughly 3,000-mile journey, from the Canary Islands to Antigua. The “solo crossing is a feat accomplished by fewer people than have climbed Mount…
Team USA Readies to Sail in New Zealand
Stars & Stripes Team USA has been accepted as a challenger for the 2021 America’s Cup, promising to have an all-American squad in a competition where nationality has mattered little in recent decades. However,…
Farmers Santa Parade 2018
Have you been to this year’s Farmers Santa Parade? Watch the video published by iTravelTube to get a glimpse of the parade, which celebrated its 85th birthday on 2nd Dec…
New Research Explores How Olympic Games Have Shaped NZ Identity
As part of his doctoral thesis, Victoria University of Wellington graduate Micheal Warren explored “the contribution New Zealand’s participation in the Olympic Games has made to national identity.” Phys.org reports. “Micheal…
The Big Fib at the Heart of NZ Picture-Perfect Peaks
“Roys Peak in Lake Wanaka is one of New Zealand’s most Instagrammed day walks, a three-hour hike that offers sweeping views towards Mount Aspiring and the Southern Alps,” writes Eleanor Ainge Roy in an…
EDGE #345: Happy Holidays! Maru Nihoniho One of Forbes’ Top 50 Women in Tech + 15 stories
News of Global New…
Rocket Lab Launches First NASA Mission
New Zealand-founded spaceflight startup Rocket Lab has launched 13 tiny satellites on its first-ever mission for NASA, just a month after acing its first commercial flight. All of the payloads separated from the Electron’s “kick…
Peter Jackson Earns Rare Blue Peter Gold Badge
Sir Peter Jackson has received Blue Peter’s highest accolade – a gold badge. The Oscar-winning director, who is best known for The Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit films, joins just a select…
Maru Nihoniho One of Forbes’ Top 50 Women in Tech
Metia Interactive founder and managing director, Maru Nihoniho, has been named one of the Top 50 Women in Technology by Forbes. “Founding Metia Interactive in 2003, Nihoniho…
Jason Momoa Haka Aquaman Premiere
Aquaman star Jason Momoa has wowed fans when he led a massive red carpet haka at the film’s premiere on December 13. Watch this video by Variety to see…
NZ Study Confirms Environmental Benefits of Building Cycleways
“A new study by researchers from the University of Otago, Wellington and Victoria University has confirmed that building cycleways benefits the planet because swapping four wheels for two leads to a reduction in carbon…
NZ Researchers Argue James Bond Has Drinking Problem
Researchers from New Zealand’s University of Otago and the UK’s University of Oxford “have published a study in the Medical Journal of Australia’s Christmas issue which they say proves that Ian Fleming’s fictional character…
Terracotta Warriors Exhibition Launches at Te Papa
Te Papa’s latest landmark exhibition Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of Immortality has launched. Xinhua reports. “The exhibition features eight warriors standing 180 cm tall, and two full-size horses from the famous…
RBS Boss Ross McEwan Addresses Brexit
Ross McEwan surprised markets in October when Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc made a provision related to Brexit. With Theresa May’s divorce deal from the European Union potentially days away from being defeated,…
Military Braces for Climate Change Battle
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has identified climate change as one of its biggest security challenges, warning that responding to global warming will increasingly stretch its resources. The NZDF said the impact of climate…
Warren Gatland Potential Successor to Eddie Jones
Britain’s Rugby Football Union (RFU) interim chief executive, Nigel Melville, is planning to speak to New Zealander Warren Gatland OBE as part of his search for Eddie Jones’s successor as England head coach, The…
Jason Momoa Performs Haka at Aquaman Premiere
Aquaman star Jason Momoa has wowed fans when he led a massive red carpet haka at the film’s premiere on Thursday night. Variety reports. “For the uninitiated,…
NZ Legends – Education Kits
45+ New Zealand Legends – New Zealanders who have changed or benefitted the world in some way – are featured on NZEDGE.com. Working from…
Steve Hansen to Step Down After 2019 World Cup
“Steve Hansen’s all-conquering reign as the New Zealand coach will end after the 2019 World Cup. The 59-year-old, who has been in charge of the All Blacks since 2012 and has had 16 years…
124-Year-Old Telescope to be Restored in NZ
One of the world’s most famous Victorian telescopes will be restored and available for public viewing in autumn 2019 at Lake Tekapo after spending five decades in storage. Dallas Poll, who is restoring the 124-year-old…
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing
The 19.4 kilometres Tongariro Alpine Crossing is one of the most well-known day hikes in New Zealand. Though beautiful it can be dangerous. Watch the video to get to know…
EDGE #344: Tribute to Daring Douglas Wright – 1956-2018 (NZEDGE.COM) + 21 stories
News of Global New…
Daring Douglas Wright
(1956-2018)
Revered New Zealand dancer and choreographer Douglas Wright died in Auckland on November 14, 2018, aged 62. He was “undoubtedly one of New Zealand’s most magnificent and important artists of…
NZ Leader Grieves For Murdered Tourist
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has offered apologies to the family of 22-year-old Grace Millane, after “the young woman’s sudden disappearance morphed into a murder investigation that has gripped this island nation of…
Why Are Whales Stranding in New Zealand?
While whale strandings are not uncommon, they usually involve just a single animal rather than a whole group. The recent flurry of mass strandings on New Zealand beaches has brought…
Laybuy Founders Take Company to New Heights
New Zealander Gary Rohloff had a great life working in corporate before he co-founded Laybuy, a retail payments platform he started with his son Alex. So why ‘go it alone’? The UK’s Real Business…
Hong Kong-based Anthony Somerset Loves the Outdoors
Making highly urbanised, bright young people feel uncomfortable outdoors is what 52-year-old New Zealand-born Anthony Somerset has done for the last three years, having taken over A Team EdVentures in…
Tiaki Promise – Care for New Zealand
Have you heard of the Tiaki promise? Tiaki means to care for people and place; the Tiaki Promise is a commitment to care for New Zealand while travelling. Watch…
How Allbirds Became a $1.4 Billion Company
“If you started a company that was valued at $1.4 billion after just two years, you’d probably be pretty proud–of the valuation, your product, and yourself,” writes Cameron Albert-Deitch in an article for
Rugby Star Jordan Roberts Wins Plaudits in Canada
New Zealander Jordan Roberts’ play on the pitch for the St. Albert Rugby Football Club (SARFC) spoke volumes as the modest and unassuming captain of the Labatt’s Cup provincial champions was honoured as this…
Flying Pioneer Richard Pearse Never Claimed Honour
New Zealander Richard Pearse may have beaten the Wright brothers, but never claimed the honour. Jeff Glorfeld reports for Australia’s Cosmos magazine. “The story of human flight is filled with many daring characters, and even…
Beats 1 DJ Zane Lowe in the Interview Hot Seat
Zane Lowe talks like he’s rapping. No, really. The man’s words cascade from his mouth so quickly and smoothly that, at numerous points during our conversation, we expect him to slip into a full-on…
Eleven Unforgettable Moments in Fiordland
“Nothing summarises the beauty of New Zealand more than majestic Fiordland where these 11 unforgettable moments will take your breath away,” Wibke Carter writes for Fodor’s Travel. “An area with jagged misty peaks, endless rainforest,…
Wine Lovers Guide to Hawke’s Bay
Hawke’s Bay is fast becoming one of New Zealand’s top wine destinations. Amanda Barnes from Decanter magazine shares her tips on where to go and what to do. More than a million tourists make their…
Why Tyrel Lomax Chose the ABs over the Wallabies
Tyrel Lomax, 22, grew up with a dream to play for the ACT Brumbies and Wallabies. But the closer he got, the more he realised he couldn’t ignore the black feeling in his stomach….
SailGP’s Russell Coutts Makes Tokyo Recommendations
Five-time America’s Cup winner Russell Coutts believes the format used in the New Zealander’s annual SailGP league could be adopted by the Olympics as the sport looks to modernise. Sailing has been a staple at…
Auckland’s The Grove Rated 9th Best in World
Auckland restaurant The Grove has been rated New Zealand’s best and the world’s 9th best fine dining restaurant in this year’s TripAdvisor Annual Choice Awards. “Owners Annette…
AirNZ – It’s Kiwi Safety
Air New Zealand recently released a new safety video – Kiwi Safety. The video is their largest scale safety video with a 600-strong cast including well-known Kiwi actor Julian…
Filmmaking Pioneer Geoff Murphy Shaped NZ’s National Identity
New Zealand filmmaker Geoff Murphy has died aged 80. He was largely credited with helping to shape the country’s national identity with films like Goodbye Pork Pie, Utu and The Quiet Earth. “Geoff Murphy will…
Jacinda Ardern Launches New “Green Fund”
“New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a new NZ$100 million green investment fund on Wednesday, aimed at boosting private-sector participation in a campaign to achieve zero net carbon emissions by 2050,” writes Charlotte…
Amy Maslen-Miller a Force for Samoan Scientists
New Zealander Amy Maslen-Miller is a new kind of researcher focused on indigenous agriculture. Young and passionate about what science can bring to food security, she is also keen to understand traditional approaches to…
EDGE #343: Kelvin Davis on Mission to Keep Māori Out of Prison (The Guardian) + 21 stories
News of Global New…
Len Lye Paved the Way for British Animators
Animation pioneer New Zealand-born Len Lye features in the television documentary, Secrets of British Animation. Made in conjunction with the British Film Institute, the programme “lifts the lid on an eccentric world where infinite pains…
Spanish Culture Permeates Our Own
The presence of a three month-long film festival prompts the question: Are there tangible traces of Spanish culture in New Zealand? The 17th annual Latin American and Spain Film Festival is touring New Zealand, and…
“NZ Perfectly Situated To Change the World”
“New Zealand is pushing the boundaries of innovation as a “country-sized incubator,” and seeking further synergies with Korean small and midsized companies and startups, according to the country’s top envoy to Korea.” Joel Lee…
