Manaakitanga and other matters
Years ago, it would have been the late 70’s, and I was working on an arts employment project with Para Matchitt and Jacob Scott at Otatara, the arts campus of the then Hawke’s Bay Community College, I ran into an …
Reo of the Nation
From P to Parihaka and the Pentagon, Den travels the inspirations and issues that make us lively in Aotearoa 2006: the continued exposure to te reo Maori and the repetitive cultural rituals that refuel the soul; the Parikaha Interational Peace Festival and a debate held on the site of Te Whiti’s house about an alternative approach to methamphetamine; a new sense of cultural fusion in Taranaki; new projects at the Waiohiki Creative Arts Village in Hawkes Bay and the Mokai Whanau Ora project in Wellington; Maori Television; media tripe; and Kiwi or Iwi? – “will we be brave enough to use a bicultural approach to create a sense of place and space rather than a division?”
#80: Counting The Beats
Edge Message #80 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM Greetings to new friends at NZEDGE.COM from Toronto, Melbourne, Saskatoon, Hollywood, Sydney, London, Perth, Vancouver, Santiago, Munich, Singapore, JinHua, Chaterlault, Monteria, Abu Dhabi, Manchester and Dublin as well as Wanaka, Wellington, Whakatane, …
Crime and punishment
9,000 New Zealanders will be imprisoned by the 2010. About a billion dollars is being spent on building more prisons. Denis notes Finland had a higher rate of imprisonment than NZ, but halved it. Via a Whanganui gang scrap between the Mongrel Mob and Hells Angels, a run-in with Mayor Michael Laws, and a salute to Robert Muldoon’s “intelligent pragmatism and genuine humanitarianism”, Denis makes a challenge for sustainable strategies that are inclusive, that invest in people’s lives and help them find what is more meaningful in their lives than substance abuse and self-defeating behaviour.
#79: Work to Make
MESSAGE RECEIVED AT NZEDGE.COM DEC 05 Country: Aotearoa Age: 25 Occupation: Studing on a Te reo n tikanga course Comments: Kia ora bro. P iz ripping our people to shredz if you ever come here tell everyone tha pitfallz of …
Each Atom of the Stone
Denis traverses the 125th anniversary of Tareha Te Moananui MP and the continuum of Maori cosmology, the execution of Stanley Tookie Williams, the “P-Promise” in the Hawkes Bay, Chris Tremain’s maiden speech in Parliament, and a Massey University report into methamphetamine use in New Zealand. “The nature of my effort is to mitigate harm and to maximize potential, reduce drag, increase sail, turn criminals to legitimate taxpayers, whatever little shibboleth best sums up the current call to action. Maybe I’m tired and its pre-holiday blues. I’ve had this notion of Sisyphus finishing one haul with his rock up the hill and getting ready for another. On the other hand, that’s what I do so I need to find satisfaction in my travail.”
The Darkside
With $750m going into building new prisons, a 15% projected increase in prison populations, an 85% recidivism rate and 61% of all offenders being Maori, Denis calls time to “whoa!”. There’s got to be a better way, he says, so in tandem with NYNZer John Wareham, Denis starts growing a cadre of change agents. He charts a debate with Wellington’s Darkside and TelecomNZ executives on the subject that “That Pakeha owe Maori a decent living” - and concludes with a Kevin Tamati story from the sidelines of Hawkes Bay rugby league.
Road Trippin’
Denis welcomes his new mokopuna to the world, reflects on the bedrooms of the nation, looks up Muldoon and reminds us there’s no kiwi without iwi. A road trip down south for a special family occasion precipitates a journey through family memories and New Zealand’s history. Graduation day, Paddy O'Reilly's Store, Operation Hurricane, Darksiders, the communes and the co-op movement, Black Power and Baxter.
#78: Dancing In The USA
Edge Message #78 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NEW ZEALAND EDGE GLOBAL COMMUNITY America is my second favourite country to be in. It both magnetizes and repels through its dichotomies of excellence and excess, creativity and craziness, invincibility and …
#77: Generation Edge
Edge Message #77 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM To the Global New Zealand Edge Community Whanau whanui kite au Nui Pull up a chair and a coffee… ADDING SISOMO TO THE EDGE Our new front page www.nzedge.com presents you with …
The Things that Bind Us
Globalisation has allowed us greater access to cheaper labour, products and services - this unfortunately includes drugs such as 'P'. Community and 'social' development have been identified as one way to counter the effects of an increased domestic trade. Denis heads back to school, hits the books, and along with the latest research findings, outlines recent health, education and employment initiatives. And, if you wanted a history lesson on Rugby League, look no further.
#76 Always Take The Weather
Edge Message #76 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM To Members of the Global Network of New Zealanders Greetings to all and especially people who are newly registered at the site, from Auckland to Atlanta and Adelaide, Brisbane to Bogota and …
The Space at the Edge
The Tui sings for contemplation, and Denis reviews the peaks and valleys of the past few months. The importance of attending Tangi, the passing of a Pontif, a visit from the P-Funk Allstars, Napier's Pilot City Trust and Policing in an election year. An indepth run down on the attendees, readings, gang engagement, and uplifting success of March's Heretaunga symposium “Self, Race, Drugs & Justice in New Zealand”. A reflective poem of farewell and new beginnings.
Self, Race, Drugs & Justice in New Zealand
Denis and John Wareham (NYNZer who coaches leadership in the world’s top corporations) team up with Black Power and the Mongrel Mob, the Eagles Foundation of America and the NZ Sensible Sentencing Trust for a transformational symposium “Self, Race, Drugs & Justice in New Zealand” at Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga, Hastings, 4-6 March 2005. Plus a tour to the frontline of methamphetamine, and to Waitangi 2005.
#75: Taking It To The World
Edge Message #75 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM To Members of the Global Network of New Zealanders Taking it to the world News of international achievements by New Zealanders as reported in the world’s media including The New York Times, …
#74: Global Winners
Edge Message #74 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM To Members of the Global Network of New Zealanders Headlines from the world’s online media FIRST, OUR LAMENTS • Arthur Lydiard – Running Man • Pat Hanly – Pacific Ikon • Peter Bennett predicts extinction …
Embracing the positive
Working the real stuff... a supported housing community at Waiohiki - a place that might have a 'P-free whare' status... the Waiohiki Creative Arts Village... addressing suspicion and distrust... looking for keys to unlock a system set on assuming the worst... the Eagles Foundation of USA... the Mokai Whanau Ora project, Aotearoa... "working for things other than money"... working for a high traction entry into 2005...
#73: NYNZ – Edge Meets Center
Edge Message #73 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NEW ZEALAND EDGE GLOBAL COMMUNITY EDGE MEETS CENTER When Kevin Roberts and I deduced the edge metaphor for New Zealand seven years ago and conceived a global network of New Zealanders, …
Joe Walsh – The Sinners Tour
"…At the conclusion of the haka two of the warrior group stepped forward and placed upon the ground a black guitar case. They opened the case and fell back into line. The challenger, eyes flashing, gesticulated to the visitor to pick up the contents. He did so; it was a 12 string Maton 425 "acoustic electric" guitar. The legendary guitarist and rock icon Joe Walsh had just accepted the first challenge of the 'Sinners Tour' a project initiated by Mokai Whanau Ora, designed to raise awareness about methamphetamine use in New Zealand and to bring a message of hope, in that , with help, recovery is possible."
#72: Being Global
Edge Message #72 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NEW ZEALAND EDGE GLOBAL COMMUNITY Greetings from our Antipodes, New York City (NYNZ, center/edge) Nga Kupu Aroha: Words of Love This is a love story from Aotearoa, the world’s geographical edge; …
Nga Kupu Aroha Words of Love
"Life was cool, busy, and pretty low stress until when, two years ago, a friend, a Black Power leader, in a bout of methamphetamine induced psychosis took a knife and gutted himself. His death was a shock, both in manner and cause. When the news reached me I drove through the night and arrived at dawn at the gates of his ancestral marae where he lay, in state. There, beside him I stayed, in the Maori way, with his family and child and relatives and friends, and gang brothers, for the days of mourning, speeches and prayers, haka and song, until the time came to return him to his mother papatuanuku, the earth. And the emotion of these days fired my desire for action, kia whakarite, the desire to put things right."
#71: Going Global
Edge Message #71 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NEW ZEALAND EDGE GLOBAL COMMUNITY Greetings. A brisk memo today. News of New Zealanders reported around the planet: /category/newzedge/ Obituaries for Robert Burchfield (custodian of the English language), Rahera Windsor (spiritual …
#70: Edge – Every World Needs An Edge
Edge Message #70 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NEW ZEALAND EDGE GLOBAL COMMUNITY Welcome to new members at nzedge.com, from Aarhus, Adelaide, Apia, Athens and Atlanta as well as Auckland, Akaroa and Ashburton and other local and global locations. …
#69: Edge Of The Alphabet
Edge Message #69 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NEW ZEALAND EDGE GLOBAL COMMUNITY AOTEAROVEANS IN GLOBAL PROFILE Coverage from the world’s online media featuring edge movers and shakers, including: Janet Frame RIP, Peter Jackson and team in Return of …
#68: New World Modernism
Edge Message #68 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NEW ZEALAND EDGE GLOBAL COMMUNITY DECEMBER’S LIST OF NEW WORLD MODERNISTS IN THE GLOBAL MEDIA: Director! Director! Peter Jackson’s Return of the King everywhere, Weta Workshop, Wellywood, Russell Crowe Master & …
#67: Whoosh Bang
Edge Message #67 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NEW ZEALAND EDGE GLOBAL COMMUNITY night Frank Glasgow sat down at the piano and composed music to describe the English style of play; it went – plonk plonk plonk plonk, plonk …
#66: Get It Wide
Edge Message #66 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NEW ZEALAND EDGE GLOBAL COMMUNITY “Back yourself, Give it a go, Anticipate, Draw, Back Up, Re-invent, Challenge, Change.” Lloyd Jones, The Book of Fame. This dictum might apply to the theory …
#65: This Sporting Life
Edge Message #65 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NEW ZEALAND EDGE GLOBAL COMMUNITY Our placing of sporting heroes on a pedestal above all others has traditionally been something of a national myopia. A one-eyed view, squinting into the sharp …
#64: Matariki
Edge Message #64 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NEW ZEALAND EDGE GLOBAL COMMUNITY AOTEAROA WHANAU WHANUI KI TE AONUI “I have always been caught by a sense of being part of the cutting edge, the edge which guarantees change.” …
The Design of Cultural Identity
The design of cultural identity; the brand state; the dream thing. These are significant areas for discussion. I have definite points of view, and I appreciate the opportunity to share them. I wear many hats; as an information architect, publisher …
#63: Transmit – It’s Cool To Korero
Edge Message #63 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NEW ZEALAND EDGE GLOBAL COMMUNITY: http://www.transmit.co.nz Talofa lava, Taloha ni, Taalofa, Malo e lelei, Ni sa bula vinaka, Kia orana, Kia manuia, Fakaalofa lahi atu … kia ora, G’day. Today the …
#62: Good As Gold
Edge Message #62 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NEW ZEALAND EDGE GLOBAL COMMUNITY SHORT VERSION: MAY’S LIST: Sir Ed, the Anzacs, Richard Pearse, Maurice Wilkins, Peter Jackson, Niki Caro, Roger Donaldson, Lloyd Jones, Possum Bourne, The Datsuns, D4, Alan …
#61: World On Edge
Edge Message #61 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NEW ZEALAND EDGE GLOBAL COMMUNITY The New Zealand Edge explores our place in the world, a position that right now feels like privilege and sanctuary. Te Rangi Hiroa/Sir Peter Buck is …
#60: Edge of Knowledge
Edge Message #60 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NEW ZEALAND EDGE GLOBAL COMMUNITY The edge metaphor is our way of situating New Zealand in the world. This month, two new speeches assert that the world needs to know about …
#59: 2003 Global Warming
Edge Message #59 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NEW ZEALAND EDGE GLOBAL COMMUNITY Welcome to 2003 from the edge. As unsettling winds blow globally, the Aotearoa advantage and geography has never been so prescient. Today we bring you: TOP …
#58: Looking Over The Edge
Edge Message #58 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM NEW ZEALAND EDGE VISUAL STORIES: Today we are proud to bring you a major update to the New Zealand Edge website experience. ‘Imagery’ is a series of picture galleries beginning to tell …
#57 Taking New Zealand To The World
Edge Message #57 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NEW ZEALAND EDGE GLOBAL COMMUNITY: NZEDGE.COM has just hit the million page download milestone since inception. 28,000 NZ Heroes stories downloaded in September. Thanks for the traffic. Thanks for your mail. Published …
#56 ‘Silver Lining to the World’
Edge Message #56 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NEW ZEALAND EDGE GLOBAL COMMUNITY: The kowhais and kaka-beaks beginning to bloom herald a not-too-distant summer (or the fading of one up over). Welcome to the influx of new friends at …
#55 Sounds From The Edge
Edge Message #55 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NEW ZEALAND EDGE GLOBAL COMMUNITY: TODAY, fresh news from the world media about New Zealanders leading, winning, creating, solving, singing, scoring and chopping. /category/newzedge/ SOURCED from BBC, the Guardian, Wired, Boston Globe, …
#54 Spirit of Adventure
Edge Message #54 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NEW ZEALAND EDGE GLOBAL COMMUNITY: Content download from the edge of the planet: Middle earth, moulding faces and modern art. Today nzedge.com brings you the fascinating stories of three artists in wildly …
#53 Praise for Rain
Edge Message #53 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NEW ZEALAND EDGE GLOBAL COMMUNITY: 1350 words so please stick with it. Today: 1. Newzedge: 120 global online media ref to nz achievement /category/newzedge/ 2. Re-Entry: brand new Coming/Leaving Home stories https://www.nzedge.com/hot/coming_home_responses.html …
#52 Re-Entry Project
Edge Message #52 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NZEDGE GLOBAL COMMUNITY Greetings, The NZEdge site has had a spring clean (or autumn if you’re here) – check out the pohutukawa-clad cliff on the new front- page http://www.nzedge.com. Big cheers to designer …
#51 Local Heroes At Oscars
Edge Message #51 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NEW ZEALAND EDGE GLOBAL COMMUNITY PUBLISHED TODAY: Kiwi sharpness on show in the world’s online media /category/newzedge/ (72 items and links, see more below) Edgy opinion and affirmation in the NZEDGE Mailbox …
#50 Kiwis Making The Most Of The World
Edge Message #50 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NEW ZEALAND EDGE GLOBAL COMMUNITY Today we open the doors on an eclectic range of products that celebrate the ready creativity of our South Seas’ paradise. We hope that the range that …
#49 Hot Kiwis Around The Globe
Edge Message #49 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NEW ZEALAND EDGE GLOBAL COMMUNITY Welcome to New Zealand Edge 2002. Today we bring you hot news, a bright preview, and a deep remembrance. HOT KIWIS AROUND THE GLOBE The creative industries …
#48 Remembering The Year Thats Been
Edge Message #48 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NEW ZEALAND EDGE GLOBAL COMMUNITY TO GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF NEW ZEALANDERS Merry Christmas from the city of Middle- earth-on-the-edge, if I can mix metaphors. Hit your printers for holiday reading: NEW HERO …
#47 Kiwi Heroes in the World
Edge Message #47 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NEW ZEALAND EDGE GLOBAL COMMUNITY Greetings. New today on New Zealand Edge is a Links page; we’ve started with 24 websites relating to edge theory, New Zealanders overseas (clubs, networks, friendship societies), …
Golden Weather
Brian Sweeney address to Long Bay College Prizegiving, North Shore, Auckland, November 14, 2001. I am honoured to be here. It’s great to be with such a large group of people. Congratulations to the prize winners on your performance, your …
#46 Alan McDiamond Becomes Nobel Laureate
Edge Message #46 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NZEDGE.COM GLOBAL COMMUNITY POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE We publish today a new Edge Mailbox, 100- plus messages affirming New Zealandness, celebrating edge spirit and heroes, aroha, being homesick and being here. This …
#45 Kiwis Doing Extraordinary Things Around The Globe
Edge Message #45 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NZEDGE.COM GLOBAL COMMUNITY Greetings and welcome to the many, many people who have registered and sent mail in response to our full page ad in the Sunday Star Times “The Global Community …
#44 Remarkable New Zealanders
Edge Message #44 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NZEDGE.COM GLOBAL COMMUNITY Two new stories in NZEDGE HOT: Kiwis generating heat: https://www.nzedge.com/hot/index.html “Sceptic Showman” looks through the lens at the “brilliant” and “startlingly original” techno-paranoid future vision of Oscar nominated scriptwriter/director Andrew …
#43 New Zealand Heroes
Edge Message #43 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NEW ZEALAND EDGE GLOBAL COMMUNITY Today in HEROES we offer you the story of Joseph Nathan, a New Zealand entrepreneur with extraordinary foresight. In 1906 he founded Glaxo, producer of the dried …
#42 Top New Zealander Achievers
Edge Message #42 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NEW ZEALAND EDGE GLOBAL COMMUNITY Today news of tough-nut New Zealand achievers from the online editions of The Times, Japan Times, Times of India, The Guardian, The Scotsman, The Independent, The Age, …
#41 Kiwis Take On The World
Edge Message #41 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NZ EDGE GLOBAL GROOVERS This is a longish message please read it all, I promise it’s worth it. META MAILBOX Today we have the best mailbox ever, 72 messages, go right to …
#40 Backing a Silver Fern
Edge Message #40 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NEW ZEALAND EDGE GLOBAL COMMUNITY Still here, been busy. In NEWZEDGE today, stories of intrepid Kiwis about the globe from the online editionsof The Times, Japan Times, Times of India, The Guardian, …
#39 Showing What We’re Made Of
Edge Message #39 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM TO NEW ZEALAND EDGE GLOBAL COMMUNITY CITIZENS OF THE EDGE ROCK THE WORLD Today in newzedge, culled from the online editions of The Times, The Guardian, The Sunday Times, The Age, Boston Herald, …
