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    • WATCH: Chatting about calligraphy with Stan Chan.
      • Local artist and calligrapher Stan Chan hosted a calligraphy demonstration at Wellington’s National Library as part of Chinese Language Week on Wednesday. Chinese Language Week is a yearly celebration of Chinese culture running from the 23rd to the 29th of September. Events held across New Zealand aim to bring more attention to Chinese culture. A small group of attentive students watched Mr Chan demonstrate painting techniques, and talk about his experience as a bilingual artist. He told them that learning to paint or speak a language are based on the same principles. “To me, painting and language are a similar way, you’ve got to use it. You’ve got to learn it and keep drawing on it in exercises” he says. Mr Chan is also an art teacher with many years of experience. He says he prefers the word sharing to teaching. “I share my interests and what I know, because sometimes I can learn from my students as much as they learn from me” he says. “Sometimes you look at a young person and you think ‘Wow this is amazing. Why didn’t I think of that?’” Mr Chan runs inkLink art studio in Left Bank Arcade on Cuba Street where he teaches art on Saturdays. More information on Chinese Language week can be found at https://www.nzclw.com/ To contact Stanley Chan for more information or schedule lessons, visit https://inklinkstudio.com/ The post WATCH: Chatting about calligraphy with Stan Chan. appeared first on NewsWire.co.nz.

    • Black Grace dancers try out Te Auaha – and scout talent
      • Black Grace dance founder Neil Ieremia is preparing to take his latest work to the US – and he is back home looking for new talent. He and Black Grace performers are doing workshops with Maori and Pacific Island performers at Te Auaha. Neil says the US as their “biggest touring market at the moment”. “I’m always looking, male, female anyone who’s looking for a run,” he says. “We spend most of our time in the US. “What I’ve noticed in those big cities around the world and what I really enjoy, is the diversity,” he says, particularly New York. “I’ve been going there for 15 year and it’s all the same, it’s full of life. “I’ve been on the road since about 18 or 19, so it’s a bloody long time ago now,” says Neil, who created Black Grace in 1995 He choreographed shows himself and travelled around New Zealand before going international. “As humans we want to explore and become interested in people’s stories, that interest is really important because it opens us up as people, we can sympathise, we can empathise. “And it’s the same as European countries. Asia is really interesting because for a long time it was just Asian but now you see more and more people from across the world, it’s quite amazing,” he says. At the beginning of this year he premiered a section of his new upcoming work Crying Men. “I’m now making it a full length work and that’s quite a hefty work. “Crying men, which is about masculinity from a Pacific lenses.” Crying men will premiere in the second half of this year, first in Auckland then in Porirua before then touring the US “We’re committed to touring throughout New Zealand,” he says.     The post Black Grace dancers try out Te Auaha – and scout talent appeared first on NewsWire.co.nz.

    • Schools team together on the Battalion
      • The Battalion is the first production combining St Oran’s and St Patricks College Silverstream. Director Jim Moriarty chose the play The Battalion for the first production combining St Oran’s and St Patricks College Silverstream. This is his third engagement with St Oran’s and first with St Pat’s. The Battalion is a moving story about friendship, loyalty, madness and redemption in the 28th Maori Battalion – seen through the eyes of Paora Matene, a war veteran, and relayed to his wayward charges Rimini and George. Paora tells Rimini and George about his experience in World War 2. Play director, Jim Moriarty He said The Battalion was an important play for New Zealanders to see because we just celebrated ANZAC Day. Some of the challenges for the students in performing the play were creating a family environment, and fitness, for example they did 100 squats in warm-ups and some army drills. The challenge for Moriarty was how to present The Battalion. He is the father to eight children and so knows it has to be relevant to younger people. He thought the group of young people from the colleges learned from the old man looking back on World War 2. NewsWire sat down with six of the cast members during a break in rehearsals. Some of the actors have had experience in productions like The Battalion before, in fact Annie Ashton and Shifna Shahabdeen have worked with Te Rakau before. Te Rakau is a Maori Community Theatre and Theatre in Education company run by Moriarty. Some of the main characters were played by different students during the course of the week. Shifna played Eleni, one of the main characters, who is based on Helen Pearse-Otene, the author of The Battalion. Annie and Sarah Fulbrook played Sue, a caring social worker. Sarah based her performance on her mum and dad. Kiann Goonewardene played Wiremu, a character who loved cars and hanging out with his mates. Kiann said he was able to base the character on himself. The cast worked through 300 hours of rehearsals. They had to do research including watching dance moves and pronouncing the Maori words correctly. They say they’ve learned to be disciplined and respect other people when participating in theatre. The highlight for them was the opening night. There were benefits of the students from St Oran’s and St Pat’s Stream working together on The Battalion. Shifna said in the production with St Pat’s they had a good bond. Kiann said he enjoyed working with the girls because it helped him not to be shy around them. They felt nervous when they finally performed the play to the audience after all the preparation, and the work on the performance earns NCEA credits. The Battalion is the play Moriarty is most proud of. Moriarty was awarded a Member of NZ Order of Merit for services to drama in 2001 and he thought it was a surprise, it was a good honour and he accepted it on the behalf of the people who worked for. Moriarty has previously worked with inmates in prison and he thought of choosing to work with prisoners and to give them the experience of theatre because he loves theatre.   The post Schools team together on the Battalion appeared first on NewsWire.co.nz.

    • WATCH: Lighting up Te Auaha
      • Creative students showcased their talents on Wednesday night to celebrate the turning on of the lights in the new Te Kāhui Auaha campus. Crowds gathered to watch the work of students who will be occupying the new centre to showcase what will be on offer by Whitireia Polytechnic and Weltec Institute of Technology. The included performing artists, After the performance, Mayor Justin Lester pressed a remote switch, turning on the lights at the building Te Kāhui Auaha for the first time. Te Auaha New Zealand Institute of Creativity will open its doors in March next year. From page image: Sarah McMullan

    • Big yellow container showcases new creative educational institute
      • With the new Te Auaha building opening up, a “Big Yellow Container” has been on Cuba Street. It is showcasing what the new collaboration between WelTec and Whitireia Polytechnic will offer potential students. The two schools will offer everything from music, visual arts, performing arts, literature, broadcasting and journalism. AIMEE EASTWOOD checks it out.

    • REVIEW: Five women figure out The First Time at Circa Theatre
      • When was the last time you looked back on the experiences that shaped you, and way you live today? The First Time is a rare chance to do just that, through the eyes of five women not unlike ourselves. We meet the women (pictured above) one by one, taking their seats on a minimalist set of just five chairs at Circa Theatre. They awkwardly sit, and in the darkness inhale deeply in unison, before a spotlight illuminates the first woman and she begins to speak. The First Time follows the women figuring out what’s happening to them, or by them. We learn about the people in their lives, how they feel about themselves and the people they love, and what they want from themselves. Jim Moriarty, (Mahana, No Petrol, No Diesel!) acclaimed New Zealand actor was in the audience. He describes the story as “an unravelling of what life does to people, and what sets us up.” Their laughter fills their awkward silences when they say something that isn’t “chill”, they’re not too comfortable calling themselves “depressed” or “homosexual” yet, and they’re constantly challenging themselves for struggling with something. Sound familiar? We only hear from one at a time, save for a few wonderful illustrations where the actors play out the scene being described. In this way, the spotlight not only illuminates the story, but the issue at hand, be it a struggle with depression, a pressure to succeed, or family trouble. Writer Courtney Rose Brown, one of the youngest playwrights to have her work performed at Circa Theatre, has created a piece which moves effortlessly from story to story without losing us in between. Why? Because we know these women by heart. We all know an Alana, who vanishes into her new relationship and leaves her friends behind. We’ve all been there for our Mereanas whose depression and hardship weighs down on us too, and we’ve certainly all been there with Te Rina who can’t understand why choosing to work full time instead of going to university is such a crime. The goal is to work full-time anyway, isn’t it? She says. So I’ve done it? What’s wrong with that? Rose Brown’s characters are so real that while learning about them intrigues us it doesn’t surprise us. But that isn’t the point. These women aren’t here to shock us or blow our minds. In a New Zealand where one in six of us will be diagnosed with a mental illness at some stage in our lives, The First Time exposes the realities of what that actually looks like, and feels like. The women lift up the rug we’ve been sweeping depression under all these years and call it what is is: “…annoying”. “I reckon it will be really good for young people to see it so that they come to understand what happens, or get a sense of understand what happens when we form relationships,” says Moriarty “Those relationships are what lay the foundations down for how you’re going to respond to the world, and to other people.” When the theatre doors open to Circa Two, Lorde’s Green Light is playing. The New Yorker called Lorde the “patron saint” of the movement towards authenticity in popular music. It’s apt then, that after we watch a tumultuous, emotionally tiring relationship crumble, we hear Lorde sing “You’re a little much for me, you’re a liability”. What Lorde and Rose Brown have in common is their ability to let us see ourselves in their art but simultaneously learn so much. The First Time is playing at Circa Theatre till the 1st of July at 7:30. Tickets between $18-30.  

    • Female harmonies meet loud guitars on stage
      • Wellington band HEX. From left, Kiki Van Newtown, Liz Mathews and GG Van Newtown Haunting female dual harmonies and loud guitars are part of the pagan folk punk-metal that Wellington indie band HEX blends on stage. The group, Kiki and GG Van Newtown and Liz Mathews played CubaDupa’s Garage stage at 3pm to a relaxed afternoon crowd. The all female three piece has been busy over the last year and a half. They have played the Newtown festival this year, and are at Auckland’s Psych Fest this weekend. Bassist Kiki Van Newtown They also opened for New Zealand post rock band Jacob late last year. “They were just super nice, super friendly,” Kiki says. “I’m always a bit nervous when we open for big acts that have an established following, because it’s usually quite a masculine following and that night we were the only women on the stage.” “But everyone was so cool, so chill.” Kiki, who plays bass in the band, contrasts festivals and clubs. “The festivals have a totally different vibe because people aren’t going home,” she says “I think people are way more relaxed at festivals and it feels like you can goof around a bit.” The band formed when wives GG and Kiki Van Newtown moved to Auckland for six months and were joined by drummer Liz Mathews. “Then GG and I moved back to Wellington and about a year or two later Liz followed us. “We started playing music again together, did about four shows and then we stopped because I had a baby but we started playing again late 2015.” Drummer Liz Mathews GG and Liz are chefs and Kiki is an administrator in their day jobs. Kiki says the fact GG and she are wives does impact the songwriting process. “Ever since we met, we’ve been playing music together, we’ve always been in bands together. “I think that’s part of what our relationship is based on, it’s rare to meet someone who you musically connect with, “I think that’s a large part of why we love each other so much.” Also the fact that guitarist GG is actually a drummer and Kiki is a guitarist makes their songwriting styles complimentary. Part of the band’s sound are the vocal harmonies between Kiki and GG. “I love vocal harmonies. If I could be in a barber shop band that played the music we do I totally would be,” she says Guitarist GG Van Newtown “GG also loves harmonies, we both grew up in school choirs and in musical theatre, so it just comes out of us.” However Kiki says doing harmonies wasn’t a conscience choice. “We’re just those people who are listening to the radio in the car and automatically sing the harmonies.” Wellington, despite its population of just over 200,000 people has over 200 gigs every month and Kiki’s says the strength of Wellington’s scene is the fact it’s small. “There’s so many insanely good bands in Wellington at the moment and it’s the most supportive I’ve ever felt it being.” The group released an EP last year and are currently working on their debut full length album. They also plan to tour Australia later this year. Check out HEX at the following sites. https://www.thebesthex.com/ https://witchesofthehex.bandcamp.com/ https://www.facebook.com/witchesofthehex/?fref=ts

    • Te Auaha director gets first taste of student talent at CubaDupa
      • Te Auaha creative hub’s new director Victoria Spackman ONZM got a taste of her new job on the weekend when students performed at CubaDupa. Spackman is recognised as one of New Zealand’s most influential business women and advocate for the creative arts sector and received her ONZM for services to theatre, film and television. Te Auaha New Zealand Institute of Applied Creativity is a partnership between WelTec and Whitireia polytechnics and will open early 2018 on the corner of Cuba and Dixon streets in Wellington. Roger Sowry, chair of the two institutions, says Spackman has the skills and experience to lead the formation of  Te Auaha. “She is very well placed to take up this leadership role particularly with her experience as a chief executive and board member of Education New Zealand.” Spackman is a lawyer, ran Bats theatre for about 12 years, ran a film and television production company as well as being a shareholder and director of the Gibson Group for which she is chief executive. She wants to help staff and students realise their dreams. A big part is being the connection to the industries and sectors that Te Auaha is develop students for and to help make the institute world-class and world-leading.” She sees the new concept as an amazing opportunity “To bring together all these disciplines in a way that helps them collaborate  across those boundaries and help improve the creativity of everyone. “Creativity leads to innovation and I think that’s going to be a really important part, to help people use their creativity to change the world. “Te Auaha will be a leading contributor to Wellington’s creative scene. “It will match Te Papa and WOW as a major drawcard for students and visitors to Wellington,” says Spackman. Te Auaha’s new campus is on Cuba/Dixon Streets and Sowry says it is being fitted-out to a very high standard reflecting a modern tertiary learning environment with outstanding facilities for theatre, performance, music, broadcasting and art. Spackman will take up her role in May 2017 when she leaves her currently role of CEO of the visitor experience, film and television production company Gibson Group.      

    • Japanese anime meets Maori myth in Wellington artist’s new mural
      • Ruaumoko by Taupuruariki Brightwell Japanese anime and Maori myth fuse with a new mural by Wellington artist Taupuruariki Brightwell on Bond Street in Wellington’s CBD. The work depicts Ruaumoko, the Maori God of earthquakes, volcanos and thunder as part of the street art group Vivid’s project called Paint Hell Pizza on Bond Street. She chose Ruaumoko after the earthquakes of November last year. Ruaumoko is the Maori God of Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Thunder “He’s quite an angry and vengeful God,” says Taupuruariki. “When his brother’s separated his parent’s, none of them came to consult him about it and so when the other God’s went to control their domains like the sea, forest and so on, they left him behind. “But before they did, they gave him the gift of warmth, but they didn’t consider what he thought about that.” The warmth became the source of his power. “As a consequence he decided to use this power of warmth to harness it into heat and fire, creating magma. “From creating magma, he then created volcanos and thunder. “So he’s got a lot of power.” Taupuruariki Brightwell Although talented in many areas, especially digital, Brightwell says she loves large scale mural painting the most and would like to do a lot more of it. “I really enjoy getting down on my feet, getting dirty, flapping paint around and working on something massive,” she says. “There’s something about that I find, compared to everything else I do, you just can’t compare to painting something large like that, all on a big wall.” Growing up, she was thrust into martial arts, canoeing and art. Taupuruariki’s father is Matahi Brightwell, who is a highly skilled and respected Maori carver and artist. She is aware she had big shoes to fill as his daughter. “He’s one of the last remaining traditional carvers in New Zealand as well as one of the key founders of the outrigger canoeing sport. While her father is traditional, Brightwell grew up loving Japanese Manga. Brightwell moved to Wellington from Gisborne in 2007, and has studied at both Victoria University of Wellington and Massey University. She says life in the city has influenced her greatly. The mural was part of Paint Hell’s Pizza on Bond Street It is also where Brightwell, who is transgendered, started her transition in 2014. “Though that journey up to this year, has really made me settle in and really appreciate the city for what it is. “And sculpted me in the character I am today,” she says. “I’m not sure it influenced my art. I think what it did is now that I have nothing to hide, I feel free.” Although her influences lie in Japanese Anime and Manga, and later American illustrators, she says she has a new found appreciation for her native culture. “I’m starting to go back to my origins in terms of my identity as a Maori/Polynesian and I’m now starting to pull out and incorporate things from my culture into my work. “But stylise it and present it how I see it in my own mind.” She is currently in the initial stages of creating an animated telling of traditional Maori myths. However she wants to depict the Maori Gods as something different to the human-like Gods of past tellings. Brightwell is also considering applying to be a police officer as well as carrying on her art.

    • Ethiopian coffee and vegan food proves popular in Newtown
      • Mother of Coffee cafe in Newtown, Wellington. The smell of freshly roasting coffee beans is not unusual in Ethiopia, but is turning heads in Newtown. The Mother of Coffee café is becoming popular with Newtown locals, not only for its vegan Ethiopian food but also for traditional Ethiopian coffee which is roasted in store every morning. Joel Teka ensures coffee doesn’t burn. The café which opened earlier this year is owned by Ethiopian immigrant Joel Teka. Joel prepares the coffee using traditional Ethiopian ceremonial methods. The coffee ceremony starts by roasting green coffee beans in a pan and stirring them regularly so they don’t burn. “It creates an atmosphere with the smoke and people like that, it’s different and it (the coffee) tastes different because it’s fresh,” he says. Joel says the traditional coffee ceremony is such a hit with customers because it changes how the coffee tastes and people enjoy watching it. Joel was born in Ethiopia and came to New Zealand to be with family and study. Joel Teka roasting coffee using traditional Ethiopian ceremonial methods. He went to secondary school here, and then went on to study communications, english and media studies at Weltec. He then started selling his food and coffee at the Newtown fair. He found people really liked his food even though the menu was small, because it was healthier than anything else available. “It’s still a small menu, but it is very healthy and people like that,” he says. He says his success at this year’s Newtown Festival was the reason he opened the Mother of Coffee café. It was very popular, attracting big crowds and had people lined up outside his stall.  

    • Local talent wows alongside NZ’s biggest stars
      •   Request Dance Crew: Kaea Pearce, Ling Zhang, Corbyn Huch, Maddy, Martina Toderi, Leilani De’Marco ,Bianca Ikinofo, Zena M’Bengue at Creekfest. Four young bands from Porirua got to share the stage with big national acts such as Aaradhna, Donell Lewis and Request Dance crew at Creekfest 2016. The local bands Le Art, Swaggin Wagon, Jah-mon Fever and Blue Rhythm are not completely inexperienced. Le Art, a three piece band from Aotea College, have performed at the Beehive for the Prime Minister’s Youth Awards and were excited when asked about their time on stage. “It was like an adrenaline rush,” Anastasia Sirila, Tiresa Fomai and Rosetta lopa said. They were also humble when asked about performing in Porirua alongside their fellow peers. “We feed off their vibes. Anytime we go out and perform we always watch the others.” “It’s amazing, we love any events like this, even if it’s in Porirua, we love it when it’s in Porirua, it’s our hometown.” They are working on original song and then looking at recording in a studio. Jah-mon Fever: Tipapa Bracken, Julian Wright. Another local band Jah-mon Fever said it was good and different performing at Creekfest this year. “We perform a lot but it’s different when it’s in our hometown, so with this performance, we were nervous,” said band members Tipapa Bracken and  and Julian Wright. Their band started two years ago at school and were unsure about pursuing it after school. “We’ll probably do gigs together, yeah, like we just come together one day before our actual performance and we just put something together. That’s the good thing about our band, everyone’s so talented that we can do that. “We’re pretty much doing our own thing but if someone calls us up for a gig or something we come together.” Swaggin Wagon are a country band from Porirua who have two New Zealand Country Music Awards. Swaggin Wagon “They’re called the Golden Guitar Awards it’s the pinnacle of country music in New Zealand,” said band member Tiana Miti. “So it’s very big for us to go down there then come back home to Ptown where country music isn’t really known that well so it’s really an amazing experience.” They were a little sceptical about performing in Cannons Creek. “It’s kind of weird singing country in the Creek because it’s not the music youth our age would normally listen to but it was something we were brought up on so it was all good, it was fun.” They were also excited about performing alongside their idols. “I heard Aaradhna is coming, Request and we all actually listen to them not just country, surprise. “But it’s so amazing like I can’t wait till she comes on, she’s like an idol to all of us.” They’re looking at doing more gigs this year. The last of the four bands is Blue Rhythm, a five piece band from Porirua College. Their tutor came up with their name and they were put together two years ago before the Pasifika Beats regionals. They said their time on stage was good and also one of the other local bands were an inspiration to them. “Yeah definitely, definitely Jah-mon Fever” band member Kalo Samasoni said. They’re looking at regionals then nationals this year. Blue Rhythm: Tupe Smith, Kalo Samasoni, Chris Ruaporo, Obeda Ngatuakana, Zion Sepelini              

    • Celebrating 10 years with cultural awareness
      • PORIRUA Strong Pacific Families is celebrating ten years with cultural awareness performances and exhibitions for the public this week in Porirua City. Porirua Strong Pacific Families member Lorna Kanavatoa (left) and a volunteer. The Porirua Strong Pacific Families community group is hosting the events in tandem with the Nga Toanga community group from November 23-27, 2015. The week will consist of Polynesian movie nights, a song night with prolific Tongan singer/songwriter Bill Savesi, and a cultural heritage exhibition. The movie nights will be a compilation of Koa O Tokelau cultural films called The Precious Gems made in the Pacific Islands. Porirua Pacific Families Committee member Lorna Kanavatoa says it will be great to show some of our movies and give them insight into life on the Islands. “The film festival is an extension on the cultural exhibition, it’s just another way to celebrate our past going forward.” The cultural exhibition is in the Porirua city centre and displays many Pacific pieces such as beautiful woven mats, model scale pacific canoes, and traditional Island clothing. “We have had quite a lot of interest in the exhibition with people coming to check it out as well as Pacific school children coming to learn about their culture,” says Mrs Kanavatoa. The exhibition is focused on eight Pacific island cultures including Fiji, Kiribati, Cook Island, Tokelau, Niue, Tuvalu, Samoa and Tonga. Last year Porirua Strong Pacific Families Group walked around the community donating food to people in need, like they do in the Islands. However this year decided they should showcase Pacific Island culture through movies and song. “The Pacific community has the right to feel celebrated, and the exhibition and the movie nights will be a great finish to ten years with the Porirua community,” says Mrs Kanavatoa. Traditional Pacific outfits on display at the cultural exhibition

    • Classic children’s book retold with a kiwi twist
      • CLASSIC children’s book, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, has been retold with a distinctly kiwi twist with the help of a Petone artist. Patrick McDonald with a copy of We’re going on a Moa Hunt. ‘We’re going on a Moa Hunt’ was adapted and published by Penguin Random House Zealand and illustrated by Petone’s Patrick McDonald. The book spent seven weeks in the Neilsen Weekly Bestsellers New Zealand Children and Teens top 10 list. The story follows a group of children on their quest to find the Moa, which replaces the bear in the original book. Mr McDonald says he thinks the New Zealand setting will help Kiwi children relate to the story. “Whenever there’s something that children can relate to in picture books, it makes it a lot more engaging.” “We’ve gotten so used to seeing panoramic, picturesque depictions of New Zealand in the media and I think it makes sense that that’s also represented somewhere in the picture book media as well.” Mr McDonald says he felt pressure to do the original book justice, but equally thought his illustrations needed to be different. “There was a lot of opportunity to make it a lot more modernised and, I suppose bolder in a lot of ways. “We don’t need two We’re going on a Bear Hunts,” he says. Computer software was used to vividly illustrate a wide range of New Zealand scenery, flora and fauna. He says the technique contrasts sharply with the watercolours and softer colour palate of the original book. Mr McDonald says he is fond of the original story, written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, having reread the book many times since he was child. He says the story has a simple and effective structure, is memorable and easily lends itself to being adapted and retold. An Australian version, We’re going on a Croc Hunt, has also previously been published as has tongue-in-cheek drinking adaption, We’re Going on a Bar Hunt: A Parody. We’re going on a Moa Hunt is the second children’s book Mr Mcdonald has illustrated. Mr McDonald gained his first children’s book credit, A perfect chirpy Christmas, as part of a prize for winning the 2013 Storylines Gavin Bishop Award for his illustration.

    • Sir Ed’s adventures bought back to life in children’s book
      • WELLINGTON artist Phoebe Morris has illustrated a children’s book about the exploits of Sir Edmund Hillary. ‘First to the Top – Sir Edmund Hillary’s Amazing Everest Adventure’ was written by author and journalist, David Hill and published by Penguin. Phoebe Morris with a copy of First to the top. The book chronicles Sir Ed’s journey from childhood to the top of Mount Everest. It also explores Sir Ed’s later adventures and his enduring friendship with climbing partner, Tenzing Norgay. After working on the book for over a year Phoebe says she learnt a lot about Sir Ed. “When I started off, I didn’t know a heck of a lot about him.” Having researched Sir Ed for the book, she is amazed at how much he managed to fit into one lifetime. Sir Ed’s iconic status meant Phoebe was conscious of portraying him in the right way. She began by drawing several realistic studies of Sir Ed before she began stylising him for the book. Because he remains in the living memory of many New Zealanders she was conscious of the need to do him and his story justice. The book got the go ahead from Sir Ed’s children, Peter and Sarah. Phoebe says their approval was a relief and she was glad they didn’t have an issue with how he had been depicted. While the book is factual, it is written like an adventure story which Phoebe thinks is important in keeping children engaged. “It might be the first time many kids are introduced to Ed and his story, so it’s important to make sure it’s a good one,” she says. Phoebe is about to start work on a second book commissioned by Penguin and will again be working with David Hill.

    • Young Saxophonist wins Alex Lindsay music Award
      • NOTHING could stop saxophonist, Reuben Chin, from winning the Alex Lindsay Award for young musicians. The 23-year-old broke his saxophone and had to borrow one to record his submission. Then technical problems followed him to the concert room where he could only record one of the four pieces he needed for his application – the rest he taped on his own recording device. Due to all the issues he, “wasn’t feeling too great about it” he said. Now he has won, he plans to spend the $3000 prize money on a new saxophone he has had his eye on since last year. Chin has been playing the saxophone for 12 years since his intermediate school teacher suggested he take up a serious instrument for high school. His passion for the saxophone took him to the New Zealand School of Music at Victoria University. He completed a both a Bachelor and Postgraduate Diploma of Music and a Bachelor of Arts in Musicology and Chinese. He hopes to continue his study in the Netherlands under distinguished saxophonists, Johan van der Linden and Arno Bornkamp. He enjoys playing music with other people, and the highlights of his career have been performing with the New Zealand Youth Orchestra in 2010 and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra last year. Chin says the saxophone isn’t a standard orchestra instrument so he would like to get into chamber music. “Doing chamber music gigs, maybe saxophone quartet or, just small ensemble stuff, that would be sort of the dream.” Chin said. The other 2015 Alex Lindsay Award winners were, Annabel Drummond for the violin and Alexander McFarlane for the viola.

    • PHOTO ESSAY; Memphis Belle Cafe
      • Memphis Belle is a popular café situated in Dixon Street, central Wellington. Owned by 28 year old barista, John Matis, the café has been operating for five years gaining a reputation for being a very friendly and community based café. To view photo essay click here

    • REVIEW: Taken 3 falls short of franchise success
      • “I DON’T know why, I don’t know how, but I’m gonna find out,” and with that Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) goes off the grid again to find the bad guys. It seems as if the cycle of revenge premise for the first two Taken films could be prove endless. However the writers missed a key plot, central to the franchise, this time. Although Taken 3 starts off much the same as it predecessors, things quickly take a different turn. The new twist? No one is ‘taken’. Instead Bryan Mills is framed for murder. Much of the cast remains the same although they seem to have lost some of their verve and luster for their roles. Their apathetic performance to what is happening around them looks like they too are bored with the franchise. Forest Whittaker, the newest addition to the cast, plays an extremely clever LAPD detective. He performance is believable enough, if you overlook the actual likelihood of the deductions he is able to make throughout the film, such as eating evidence to discover something is amiss. As expected, action is a large component of the film but the plot is a little thin this time. Lots of quick cuts and camera movements were used in rapid succession in an attempt to make the film look action packed. The result is a mess of body parts leading to confusion as to what just happened. This confusion was usually quickly overcome as something inevitably blew up almost immediately. The budget for explosives was not curtailed while impressive stunts were somewhat lost. That said, the films only redeeming feature in the action department is a car vs plane sequence towards the end. Fifteen minutes before the end, Mills’ daughter (Maggie Grace) is once again taken. In this film she shows some more vim and vigor, which was nice to see – but so close to the end, who cares? All in all, I was left disappointed with this third installment to the brilliant Taken original, and a completely viable sequel. Even for the action lover that cares more about gun fights, hand-to-hand combat and car chases, I imagine this one will leave you feeling empty. TAKEN 3 (M) (109min) Starring Liam Neeson, Forest Whitaker, Maggie Grace, Dougray Scott Directed by Oliver Megaton

    • From island beginnings to movie screens
      • HEAD TUTOR: Sima Urale is into her second year of teaching at the Film Shool, working on her own creative ventures on the side. Life is more certain now for Sima Urale, as head tutor at the New Zealand Film and Television School, but she can’t help but dive back into projects on the side. After two years at the school, Urale is enjoying the structured existence which is so different from her life in the film industry and its uncertain pay days. She is now inspiring the next generation of New Zealand film makers, drawing on her 20 years working on commercials, short films, feature films, television, and documentaries. But having the steady job in Wellington has not stopped her working on her own independent projects, which keeps her passionate. “They have accepted me as the film maker who is also the head tutor, which is a good thing because I think we need to be active in the industry to keep up the energy and the verve for the sake of the students.” Born in Savai’i, Samoa, at a time when there was no electricity on the island, Urale migrated to Wellington in the 1970’s with her family at the age of six. Overcoming the challenges of adapting from simple village life to the western world, she has gone on to become one of New Zealand’s most influential women in film, having won numerous national and international awards. Her feature film, Apron Strings, opened the 2008 New Zealand Film Festival and won best actor, best actress, best cinematography, and production design at the Qantas Film and TV Awards, as well as the Diversity Award at WIFT international in Los Angeles. Her short films - O Tamaiti, Still Life, and Coffee and Allah - have won awards at festivals in the United States, Venice, Canada, Switzerland, Russia, Hawaii, Australia and NZ. Velvet Dreams won best documentary in 1997 at Canada’s Yorkton Film Festival, and her music video for King Kapisi’s Sub-Cranium Feeling, which was filmed underwater, won a handful of awards in NZ. Coming from an island without white people, and where only one car would drive through the village every three months, New Zealand was a major culture shock for Urale. The hustle and bustle of a big city, with strange looking people speaking a foreign language, was worlds apart from her existence in Samoa, where all houses are open-air without walls. “That was really quite significant – noticing that walls were up – and then TV, this little box with what I thought were miniature little people in it.” Urale says she remembers watching cowboy and Indian movies, and thinking it was strange to see how the Indians kind of looked like Samoans but they were always getting killed off. Her mother, a school teacher, embraced this new world with electricity, and used it as an opportunity to expand her children’s minds. She exposed them to documentaries on war, prostitution and drugs. “We couldn’t watch Batman and Robin. “We had to try and squeeze in any after school programmes quick before mum came home and then we had to sit there and watch all this quite heavy stuff. “She would call us kids in and say ‘come and watch and learn something’.” Urale describes her parents as liberal and outspoken, and says that is probably what opened doors for their six children, who now all have successful careers in media and the arts. Urale’s younger brother is well known New Zealand rap artist King Kapisi, and her older brother, Tati, is a senior producer at TVNZ. Her sister Makerita is a documentary film-maker and works at Creative NZ, older sister Natasha is a singer and younger sister Maila is a successful artist. “I love it that we came from a different world and are able to work with both. It’s been a real bonus I think, creatively too.” Urale says she did not feel suited to the mainstream school system so her parents encouraged her to explore her artistic side. She ended up studying drama at Toi Whakaari, and for the following two years after graduating she had a successful stint acting in a diverse range of roles and shows. Although she loved working as a professional actor Urale wanted to tell her own stories instead of other peoples so applied to film school in Melbourne. After graduating in 1994 with the student of the year award, she returned home to make her first short film, O Tamaiti (The Children), which has been one of the most widely screened New Zealand films around the world. The 35mm black and white film was told from a young Samoan boy’s perspective and reflected the responsibilities and pressures face by the eldest child in traditional Samoan culture. All of Urale’s films explore different cultural and political issues. “I’ve had offers to go to Hollywood but I’m not interested, I don’t think it’s my route.” Urale attributes her film success to recognising the kind of filmmaker she is, and being true to herself. “I do it for myself first and foremost. That sounds selfish but it’s not. “It’s actually about sticking to your guns, having a strong sense of self belief without being arrogant, hopefully.” Whitireia arts faculty dean Kaye Jujnovich says what Urale has brought to the film School is her story-telling ability. “She is just a creative, and that creative process she instils in the students. “Filming is about storytelling and a creative way of doing that, and that’s what she does extremely well. “She brings the whole parcel to the project of film making.” Urale’s key advice to students is establishing good relationships with others, always giving it 100 percent, and accepting that in the film industry there will be times you will be without work. “It’s part of the artist life.” Urale remembers watching television as a child and only seeing brown faces – usually in a negative light – while watching the six o’clock news. This is one of the reasons she got into film making. “You didn’t see them in commercials. There was no way you were going to see them on a toothpaste add.” “For many indigenous people that’s actually one of the major problems. Media has marketed a certain image of the majority to the majority so that’s all they are used to.” She says TV has a huge responsibility in programming shows to try and convey the positive stories about minority groups, and not programme them at “ridiculous” times like they so often are. Having grown up in a western world, one life ambition Urale says she has yet to achieve is dealing with her cultural family traditions. Despite her early success with O Tamaiti, she says she feels like an amateur when it comes to her Samoan side. “Eventually when I am mature enough, I probably won’t do it until I’m in my 70’s, I will deal with my cultural stuff.”

    • Whitireia performers gear up for Taiwan
      • TAIWAN-BOUND: Whitireia will represent New Zealand at the annual Nan Ying Folk Festival. IMAGE: Matthew Lau THE HAKA Ka Mate Ka Mate reverberated out of Karori West Normal School hall when pupils joined Whitireia Performing Arts degree students in action. The rendition was part of a visit by the Whitireia students who performed an array of Māori, Samoan and Cook Island pieces on Friday. The Whitireia crew used the show as build-up to their Wananga to Tainan City in Taiwan next week to showcase cultural performances at the annual Nan Ying Folk Festival. Around 500 pupils and teachers were kept engaged for the best part of two hours by the Whitireia group. Using minimal props, the performers were able to fill the stage with their presence, telling a story in each set. The dramatic facial changes were executed with conviction, the high tempo acts were timely balanced with the more delicate performances. At each interlude, a different member of the Whitireia crew had the pupils on their feet engaging in an activity. The highly-responsive pupils were particularly roused when Performing Arts tutor, Kereamu Te Ua, gave them the opportunity to perform Ka Mate as a collective. The Haka, commonly associated with the All Blacks, produced deaf-defying sounds in the school hall. The school’s deputy principal, Janice Jones, says she was impressed at how captivating the high-energy spectacle was. “We really liked how it pushed the boundaries of Kapa Haka. It gave our Kapa Haka teachers inspiration of new ways of presenting material.” The tables turned after the show, when a group of enchanted children gave the Performing Arts troop a Kapa Haka performance of their own, executed after just eight practises. KA ORA! KA ORA!: The Whitireia performers chill out with the Karori West performers. IMAGE: Matthew Lau

    • 18th century violins centre stage in lunchtime concert
      • VIOLIN HISTORY: (From left) James Jin and Julian Baker hold the Hungarian and Italian violins gifted by Clare Galambos-Winter.  IMAGE: Amanda Carrington A COUPLE of 18th century Italian and Hungarian violins were center of attention at a recent concert at the New Zealand School of Music . Te Kōkī New Zealand School of Music at Victoria University held the concert in memory of the late Clare Galambos-Winter, the musician who gifted the two violins to the school. The school annually awards the violins to two outstanding students: this year James Jin and Julian Baker are the recipients Ms Galambos-Winter has also gifted financial scholarships to the school. James Jin has been playing the violin for 21 years and received both the Hungarian and the Italian violin during his time at the school. James says the Hungarian violin helped with expression and tone production. “It is a huge improvement on any violin I have played previously but needs to be played more, so I have now been encouraged to do so,” he says. Julian Baker has been playing the violin for 16 years and received the Italian violin this year, as an undergraduate in his third year of study. He  says it is very different to others he’s played. Julian says it’s all about first impressions when you try a new instrument and it’s really important that you click with it. “It’s got so much sound and a special character to it and it’s amazing to think that if it was made in 1793, how many people have actually played it,” he says. Events and Marketing Coordinator at the music school, Stephen Gibbs, says the violins have their own personality with a feminine and masculine characteristic. “Clare didn’t want the violins to be put in a museum or a case and used as an artifact. She wanted them to be used by musicians and that’s why she gifted them,” he says. Both violins are made by a Luthier, or string-maker, which makes them unique. He says they’re not factory made and certainly not your average student’s violin. You can watch a documentary on Clare Galambos-Winter on the Victoria University School of Music website.

    • 3D pop out dress wins supreme award at wearable art show
      • SURPRISED WINNER: Taihape Area School student Millie Law holding the supreme award trophy at the Evento wearable art awards in Feilding. IMAGE: Amanda Carrington. A YEAR eleven student from Taihape Area School has taken out this year’s Supreme Award at Feilding’s annual wearable art show Evento. The show was hosted by the local high school and has been running for 18 years. There were 150 entries from high school students in Feilding, Wanganui, Taihape and Palmerston North. There are different themes every year and this year’s themes were Celtic Lore, Dr Seuss, Black and White, Vintage Toys and Amazon. Event organiser Amanda Street says the small  but strong team back-stage is the secret to the shows success.. “Everyone is a volunteer, no one is paid. They don’t care if they get yelled and screamed at, they come for the love of the show,” she says. It was the second time Supreme award winner Millie Law was called up to accept the big prize. She previously won the Supreme award in 2012. Her winning design called ‘Rubix Ronde’ was a 3D pop out dress made with plastic, cardboard and twisty ties. Another double award winner Pip Littlejohn,  entered Evento three years ago when her friends asked her to help design a costume. The year 12 student from Freyberg High School in Palmerston North says it’s an amazing show to be involved in. Pip won two awards on the night, in the Vintage Toys and Best use of recyclable textiles categories. Her  design called ‘Puppet Paradox’ , which won the Vintage Toys section was inspired by Russian nesting dolls. “My design is made of old calico curtains,  has a wooden  base with added foam for texture and a black design stencil for more detail,” she says. For more information, visit the Evento website. SUPREME DESIGN: Millie Law’s design ‘Rubix Ronde’, a pop out style dress. IMAGE: Amanda Carrington

    • Choc-dipped huhu grubs wriggling onto plates
      • UNIQUELY NEW ZEALAND: Some of the unique New Zealand Ingredients Rata Cafe is using in this years Wellington on a Plate. ANYONE for peanut butter-filled, chocolate dipped huhu grubs? Karori’s contribution to Wellington on Plate is this week being dished up at Zealandia’s Rata Café. The café now use mainly Wellington suppliers, free-range chicken and pork, and only sustainable fish. “It’s our new direction really, it’s just being more in line with the ecological side of the sanctuary”, head chef Mike Dennis says. The Forest and Forage Degustation Beer Match evening on August 29 and 30 showcases the changes. The seven-course dinner uses plants endemic to New Zealand, traditional Maori herbs, and sustainable fishing. “What we’re trying to do is tell a story and make it more visually exciting and appealing for people, and give them a real opportunity to try different herbs and products that they’ve never tried before,” he says. The third course of a wild rabbit sausage tells the story of one of the pests that has been eradicated from the sanctuary. Chef Dennis picks some of the fresh ingredients for the dinner like kawakawa, horopito and lemonwood from a small garden onsite. The dinner also offers an eighth course of peanut butter-filled, chocolate-dipped huhu grubs “for the brave”. “Most people don’t want to look at a live animal and stick it in their mouth so what we’re doing is piping them full of peanut butter, and we’re dipping them in a Wellington Chocolate Factory chocolate, which is a local company that makes fair trade chocolate. “You can either have it here, or take it home with you for when you’re feeling brave,” Chef Dennis says. Beer blogger Neil Miller has matched each item on the degustation menu with a local beer. GO NATIVE: The Go Native Lamb Burger features unique New Zealand produce such as pikopiko and horopito. The café also has a special lunch menu during the event featuring the Go Native Lamb Burger, which Chef Dennis says he is proud of. “We’re slow roasting it so it goes in the oven for about six hours, it comes out and it really melts in your mouth, kind of beautiful”, he says. He says Wellington on a Plate is a great way for the out-of-town café to show that they can compete at this level. Rata Café’s is participating in Wellington on a Plate for the second year.

    • Artist with A Careful Eye returns to the Hutt
      •   SNAPPY MAN: Photographer, Peter Peryer outside The Dowse Art Museum THE AWARD winning artist behind the latest exhibition at Lower Hutt’s Dowse Art Museum says he has found his voice in the nearly 40 years since he last exhibited there. 73 year old Taranaki artist Peter Peryer’s exhibition called Peter Peryer: A Careful Eye, features over 50 of his best works. He first exhibited at The Dowse nearly 40 years ago. His first exhibition mainly consisted of black and white portraits, unlike the current one which features coloured photos and no portraits, a move he says reflects his age. “I’ve lightened up and evolved with age. I’ve found my voice. I have more to say through my work,” he says. A lot has changed in the nearly four decades between the two exhibitions at The Dowse but the artist says his work still remains instantly recognisable. Digital cameras, iphones and coloured print have all changed the platform for photography, changes which  he’s embraced. Mr Peryer says his favourite thing to shoot on, because of ease and fluidity is his beloved iphone. “My friends barely see me with a camera,” he says. He says his photos are often born out of curiosity, and he can’t pin-point the inspiration behind his work. “I will walk down the street and things just call out Peter, Peter! I have no choice but to stop and take the picture, just to see what it looks like on camera,” he says. Mr Peryer got his first camera as a gift from a friend over 40 years ago and can’t imagine his life not taking photos. “If I don’t take photos I don’t feel right, I feel fluey,” he says. A Creative Eye curated by Sian van Dyk is being exhibited at The Dowse Art Museum 45 Laings Rd, Lower Hutt  23 Aug – 23 Nov 2014. IMAGE: Provided by The Dowse Art Museum

    • School and University join forces for children’s opera.
      • IN PREPARATION: Kelburn Normal School students from left Lara Vautier (9), Maddie Campbell(9) and Eilish Harding (11) rehearse for the Children’s Opera Brundibar to be held at St Andrews on the Terrace at the end of August. IMAGE: Amanda Carrington A history lesson with a difference. Kelburn Normal Primary school is joining forces with the school of music at the nearby Victoria University to stage the German children’s opera Brundibar. The production involving 32 members of the school’s choir will double as a history lesson according to the music teacher Charles Bisley. Brundibar, composed by Hans Krása, was originally performed by the children in a Nazi concentration camp and tells the tale of a brother and sister who join forces with a sparrow, cat and dog to outwit an evil organ grinder. Mr Bisley says it exposes children to history and is a good way for them to take part in a wider community. “Arts and core literacy go well together academically. It’s about getting the kids together and creating things,” he says. Year eight student Anya Brookes has been involved in singing since year five, starting in the school choir as a Piccolo singer and progressing to Lyrica. “Learning the music helps me understand the story,  and music lets us express ourselves as kids,” Anya says. Victoria University, senior music education lecturer, Robert Legg, has been with the New Zealand School of Music for a year. It was Dr Legg who approached the school regarding the opportunity for a school choir in the Brundibar Opera. He also agrees that getting kids involved in a production like this is important for their learning. “We forget the history of these things so we have to remind ourselves of it,” he says. More information can be found here: http://www.nzsm.ac.nz/events/conferences-and-seminars/rfv/individual-sessions/session-1

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