Archive >> December 2020

Rachel House Counts Souls in Pixar’s Latest Outing

Auckland-born actor Rachel House, 49, is the voice of Terry, a Great Beyond “soul counter” in Pixar’s latest animated comedy-drama, Soul. House recorded remotely for the film from New…

Tech Sector Humming with Mergers and Acquisitions

Specialist in the tech area, Mark Clare of Wellington’s Clare Capital, said the level of mergers and acquisitions, capital raising and general advisory work in the industry was busier…

Weta Digital Looks to Become Content Producer

At a time when much of Hollywood is reeling from Covid-19, Weta Digital, the Wellington visual-effects company behind Avatar and Avengers: Endgame, is looking to pull a growth story…

Rocket Lab Launches Sixth Successful Mission of ‘20

Rocket Lab USA Inc. has completed another mission sending a satellite into space aboard one of the New Zealand-founded company’s Electron launch vehicles, Elijah Chiland reports for the Los…

Marlon Williams’ Records with Saskatoon Soulmates

On tour a couple of years ago in Europe, Christchurch-born musician Marlon Williams was travelling with his band when Canadian folk duo Kacy and Clayton popped up on the…

Martin Henderson Isn’t Just Jack From Virgin River

Auckland-born actor Martin Henderson, 46, stars in Netflix series, Virgin River as the love interest of Mel Monroe played by Alexandra Breckenridge – “who moves to the tiny titular…

Canada-Based Builder Rob Parsons Lauded

New Zealander Rob Parsons a Victoria, Canada contractor known for building high-end homes and for integrity in his business dealings has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Victoria…

How Our Film Industry Boomed During the Pandemic

Thanks to its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, New Zealand is enjoying an unprecedented boom in film production, with directors seeking safe conditions, and that most elusive thing this…

David Howell Talks Architecture with Ralph Pucci

New York New Zealander David Howell and his wife and business partner Steffani Aarons talk architecture and design on the podcast of renowned American designer, gallery owner and entrepreneur…

US TV Host Stephen Colbert Revisits 2019 NZ Trip

Stephen Colbert, host of US television’s The Late Show, has shared footage from his 2019 travels to New Zealand on a recent episode, including a Lord of the Rings-themed adventure…

Richie McCaw World Rugby Player of the Decade

New Zealand’s two-time Rugby World Cup-winning captain Richie McCaw has been named men’s player of the decade by World Rugby, Reuters reports in an article published online by…

Kiwi YouTube gaming comedy trio levels up

New Zealand-based YouTube comedy trio Viva La Dirt League – which is behind popular video game skit series like Epic NPC Man and Game Logic –…

Unilever NZ to follow lead of Perpetual Guardian to Trial 4-day Work Week

Unilever New Zealand will be trialling a four day workweek for one year, representing a fundamental change in the way the company views their workforce, reports Azi Paybarah for…

Emilia Wickstead and Royalty a Perfect Fit

“Any close followers of the Duchess of Cambridge’s style will know the name Emilia Wickstead,” Ciara Sheppard writes for Harper’s Bazaar. “The New Zealand-born fashion designer is the brains…

Harvard Activist Award for PM Jacinda Ardern

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has received a Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for Public Leadership Gleitsman International Activist Award, which was presented at a virtual ceremony on 1 December.

According to…

Vintner Jules Taylor Celebrates 20 Years

As a child in Marlborough Jules Taylor dreamt of another place that offered more options than the animal and vegetable/fruit farming that dominated her area in the late 1970s…

Author Chloe Gong is a New York Times Best Seller

It’s not every day that a 21-year-old debut author lands near the top of the young adult hardcover list, Elizbeth Egan writes for The New York Times. Chloe Gong,…

Former Olympic Athlete Now Criteo CEO Megan Clarken Aims Ever Higher

Internet advertising company Criteo’s first female CEO, Megan Clarken, has had an illustrious career in business so far. For the past 15 years, the native New Zealander has been…

Turn Disappointments of 2020 into Forest of Hope

To say 2020 has been a year full of disappointments is an understatement, but New Zealand is hoping to inspire some positivity for this coming year with its Forest…

Siouxsie Wiles Makes BBC List of Inspiring Women

Scientist and public health communicator Siouxsie Wiles has been named on this year’s BBC list of 100 Women, a roll call of “inspiring and inspirational women from around the…

Furniture Design Company PLN Group Thinks Wellbeing

West Auckland-based furniture design company PLN Group has created furniture for Apple, Google and Disney to reduce sound and boost productivity – and now it hopes to use design…

Ocado Retail CEO Mel Smith Takes on M&S

Mel Smith is a plain-speaking, cheery New Zealander who joined online supermarket Ocado as CEO of Ocado Retail just over a year ago from Marks & Spencer, Harry Wallop…

October and The Eyes Puts Together EP Collage

“October and The Eyes makes music that wouldn’t feel out of place on the soundtrack of an arthouse thriller. Read: dark, sexy and a little dangerous,” Fiona Hartley writes…

Henry Blake’s County Lines Draws From Youth Work

A thoroughly absorbing though deeply upsetting drama, County Lines is a remarkable debut feature from New Zealand-born writer-director Henry Blake. Inspired by his own experiences as a youth worker…