THAT “HOME” SONG – SHOULD COUNTRY ARTISTS LIKE PHILLIP PHILLIPS TOUR NEW ZEALAND’S RURAL REGIONAL TOWNS?
Hold on, to me as we go As we roll down this unfamiliar road this wave is stringing us along...
For young adults in country communities of New Zealand… should NZ invite artists like Phillip Phillips to tour New Zealand towns and rural regions?
Phillip currently sits at no.9 on USA’s billboard charts this festive holidays season. An unknown, whose talent was realized in a talent quest.
It’s actually a Kiwi community way too of finding new talent in talent quests. (more…)
IWI PROGRESS – MAORI NEWS – 23rd DECEMBER 2012
“Nothing really has happened for a long time, but I am very keen to move on and both the iwi and the Crown have been working very hard on these settlements for about 18 months,” said Chris Finlayson working right to year’s end while acting for The Crown when addressing three Iwi (Maori tribes) historical redress moment. The settlement process dates back to rightful recognition as equal treaty partners to The Crown of 171 years ago. Earlier in the year, the Iwi were involved in a peaceful march through the nation’s capital, where the tribes met again yesterday.
The next step is a deed of settlement, which will include an official apology. (more…)
NEW ZEALAND’s STEPHEN JENNINGS PULLS OUT OF RUSSIAN INVESTMENT BANK, EMERGING MARKETS IS NOW HIS FOCUS
NBR (NZ) reports via Caleb Allison: Kiwi oligarch Stephen Jennings has sold his stake in Russian Bank. Read Caleb’s story direct here.
Caleb reports: NBR Rich Lister Stephen Jennings is selling his 50% stake in Renaissance Capital, a bank he founded in 1995. Jennings is said to have assets of $900 million and his business partner Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov will buy his shares. Mr Jennings is also stepping down as ceo.
Mr Prokhorov already acquired half the business for $US500 million in 2008 via Onexim. Jennings will still be involved in Renaissance Group, the company that mixes up an investment portfolio with a blend of asset management, African land development, consumer finance and real estate businesses.
Mr Prokhorov stood against Russian president Vladimir Putin in Russia’s reccent election, winning an 8% sare of the voted. He also owns the New York Jets basketball team, so is tres Wall Street friendly. One can only imagine.
Jennings started as a free-market economist at Treasury. In the early 90′s he was sent out to Moscow, where it all began for him. The fall of communism, saw Jennings privatize the Bolshevik Biscuit Company. He then set up Renaissance Group in 1995 with CS First Boston colleague Boris Jordan.
In 1998, the Russian currency crashed. Jennings seized opportunity in dire times, slashed staff numbers by 30% and chomped his business partners’ shares in the company. Clearly, Stephen is a Taranaki born Pakeha shark swimming with Russian oligarch sharks. (more…)
FRENCH RUGBY FANS GET THE CHANCE TO RETURN TO EDEN PARK JUNE 8th 2013 – ALL BLACKS DOMESTIC SCHEDULE 2013 ANNOUNCED
French rugby fans will return to Eden Park June 8th, Home of The Rugby World Cup football action. A new line up of games has been announced for rugby against NZ’s AB’s. The dates are:
2013 All Blacks domestic test match schedule:
June 8, France at Eden Park, Auckland June 15 – France at AMI Stadium, Christchurch June 22 - France at Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth August 24 - Australia at Westpac Stadium, – Wellington September 7 – Argentina at Waikato Stadium - Hamilton September 14 -South Africa at Eden Park, Auckland October 19 - Australia at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin.
Photo: French rugby fans Agnes and Phillipe may return to Eden Park, Auckland. This pic, from the AB’s-France 37-17 win, Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand 2011, September 24th. As you can see rugby travel is all about rugby’s fans. A good sport.
~ Fan of Fans Photo – My own. Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 2.11.12~
COACH STEVE HANSEN SELECTS BEAUDEN BARRETT TO TOUR ARGENTINA & SOUTH AFRICA
In a cool story of rugby picks, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has opted to ensure his team his triple kicking power when the world champion rugby side tours Argentina.
Richard Knowler writes, “Barrett, who can also play fullback, will form the backbone of Hansen’s insurance policy even though [Daniel] Carter, who has not played since the Bledisloe Cup win over Australia at Eden Park on August 25,” will tour too.
That’s the latest in ensuring the standard of New Zealand’s golden boot kickers in NZ. Touring’s gotta help there. A good selection.
All Blacks squad to tour Argentina and South Africa:
All Blacks’ squad to travel to Argentina and South Africa:
Forwards: Hookers: Andrew Hore and Keven Mealamu. Props: Charlie Faumuina, Ben Franks, Owen Franks and Tony Woodcock. Locks: Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano and Samuel Whitelock. Loose forwards: Sam Cane, Richie McCaw (captain), Liam Messam, Kieran Read, Adam Thomson and Victor Vito. (more…)
REACHING THE 5 MILLION SUMMIT TOGETHER AS A TEAM – 14th SEPTEMBER 2012
We’ve reached the 5 million summit together as a global audience today on Horiwoodblog. Wow!
Athletes and sports stars have added their star weight over 2012 along with Hollywood’s leading lights. This year, after a winning Paralympics & Olympic Games plus the start of major international rugby football too, gotta give it up for the sports stars of the world of 2012. So, in the words of a reader’s comment today: “Oscar Pretorius thanks his cast[s].”
Let’s stay with that! :)
This year, journalists, crew and photographers – who have been feeding into the website in creative ways with content they’ve strummed up have significantly helped to get the website to this level. Special thanks to the USA, New Zealand and Australia for being the most consistently groovy and rocking peeps tuning in the most of the 75 different nations who read each day. 
May we keep doing good in making the world smile more… in hard out, full throttle and smart ways. Mauri Ora. Let’s keep it going! (more…)
~R~
R
Oh bright fame one,
candle of hope,
pride of
Marsden.
–Kia Kaha. Stay strong at home.
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 11.9.12~
FELIPE MELO – 17 OF BRAZIL – RIP
New Zealand lost a valued visitor to New Plymouth when Felipe Melo, 17, an exchange-student from Brazil died on a rock climbing exhibition.
We like to think that New Zealand is a safe country for guests and citizens alike, in a nation where we value life very highly.
For Felipe’s family, this is not our report from New Zealand of their son. His body was found and identified 12 days after being washed off rocks into the sea. Felipe’s fellow Spotswood College student Stephen Kahukaka-Gedye, 17, also was lost at sea, August 8. The boys rock climbing instructor, Bryce Jourdain, bravely dived in to try to save them. That latter two have yet to be found.
From New Zealand we regret this report of Felipe’s loss along with two Kiwi citizens. We endeavor to look after visiting guests on education and tourism endeavors within New Zealand, better than this, in the future. Melo is no relation to soccer player Felipe Melo.
[Photo: Facebook].
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa new Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 20.8.12~
WHEN LOVE COMES TO TOWN – BB KING & U2 ON BLUES ROCK GUITAR
Stop trying to fit in, when you were born to stand out.
–Robyn Jordain‘s and familiy’s words today for a nation of our youth and people who live to make youth in New Zealand brighter citizens of the South Pacific, through outdoor education pursuits of adventurous spirit.
I’m also listening to jazz-blues guitar legend, BB King‘s old time grammys winning, guitar tunes. Here’s a list 4 ya.
Music marketing blurb about Mr King: “Greatest Hits album Digitally remastered by Erick Labson (MCA Media Studios, North Hollywood, California). Greatest Hits CD music Mississippi born Riley B. King began playing music on the streets of his native Indianola in the ’40s, eventually moving to Memphis to pursue a career as a bluesman. He found a home as a DJ on legendary Memphis radio Station WDIA in the
early ’50s, a position he used to further his budding reputation as a guitarist/singer to be reckoned with. His on-air moniker, “the Beale Street
Blues Boy.” There you have it. From humble beginnings a gifted entertainer arose.
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 10.8.12~
SPIRIT FIMMAKING – LEN LYE
A film is not a film unless it is made in the spirit of the experimental filmmaker.
–pioneering experimental filmmaker, Len Lye.
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 30.6.12~
INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL TV – ROGER HORROCKS & ANTHONY TIMPSON SHOWCASE 2012
Director, producer, a patriarch of young filmmakers in New Zealand and film festival collaborator, Roger Horrocks appears with Anthony Timpson in a TV interview, highlighting the International Film Festival 2012. View it above. Also check out the line up this year of a film festival 100,000 people are supporters of.
Venues of the festival are as follows: Auckland Jul 19 – Aug 05, Christchurch Aug 09 – Aug 26, Dunedin Jul 27 – Aug 19, Hamilton Aug 23 – Sep 09, Hawke’s Bay Sep 13 – Sep 30, Masterton Oct 17 – Oct 31, Nelson Aug 29 – Sep 16, New Plymouth – Dates TBC, Palmerston North Aug 16 – Sep 02, Tauranga Sep 06 – Sep 23, Wellington Jul 27 – Aug 12.
To link via social media to the International Film Festival: Like IFF on Facebook, Follow IFF on Twitter, Watch IFF on Youtube.
The Cultural Icon Interview with Roger Horrocks from The Big Idea – can also be viewed here too.
To this man in NZ, we say “thank you” for all he has done to further film and filmmakers work, their skills, ideas - with his trademark passion of sincerity and his brand of encouragement. There are many teachers, few fathers. In the film world, Roger Horrocks is known as both. Mauri Ora. Rock on!
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 30.6.12~
13,000 HECTARES OF TARANAKI FARMLAND SOLD BY OIO TO CANADA’S TAG OIL & USA’S APACHE CORP – WTF!
Today I read in The Sunday Star Times that 13,000 hectares of Taranaki farmland have sold to Canada’s TAG Oil and the USA’s Apache Corp. Their unsustanaiable business plan for Taranaki claims: “there’s potential for thousands of wells. We could extract up to 14 billion barrels of oil.
I typed in the words “Anger as OIO lets fracking firm buy Taranaki Farmland ” on google, what comes up is this from Massive Magazine:
“The water that flows down from Mount Taranaki and through the pristine dairy country that surrounds the tiny settlement of Kapuni is not fit for human consumption. But it’s nothing to do with what’s on the land. It’s what’s happening below it, and it has locals afraid for their health.
Locals say the Kapuni Stream is contaminated and they are blaming the toxic poisons being used by oil companies in an extraction method that has drawn criticism around the world – hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, a process in which liquids laced with chemicals are pumped into the ground at high pressure to force oil to the surface (see diagram ).”
And – “One guy from the oil company told me that they were having difficulty in getting rid of their drilling fluids,” says Sarah Roberts. “Their … waste fluids are even sprayed on to farmland.”
What are we doing in New Zealand?! Does everyone at the OIO deserve to get fired?! Who exactly makes these decisions at the OIO? Can we have a list of names please?! Clearly we are being vampired?! Crimes being committed against the environment too.
What responsibility do oil companies have when these results are being found to occur on the land that remains?! How can politicians smile and say “there isn’t a problem” when results aren’t showing this with oil drilling in NZ? TAG provides 3,500 jobs. Yet what are jobs in this moment vs. land that is rendered unusable to future generations? Or cancer rates increasing as a result of any energy companies totally irresponsible actions?
~Posted by Horiwood Blog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 6.5.12~
LUCY LAWLESS, ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST GETS BAIL IN TARANAKI
Lucy Lawless , the newsreader turned actor turned environmental activist and seven other Greenpeace activists were remanded on bail for two weeks in the New Plymouth District Court today. Judge Josephine Bouchier was presiding on the case.
Lawless and her eco-warriror buddies were “charged with entering an enclosed area at Port Taranaki without authority and with the intent to commit a crime after boarding the drill ship Noble Discoverer at Taranaki’s port. A plea was not entered.
[Photo - -News source - APNZ]
More at web address below:
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/205901/lawless-bailed-over-ship-protest
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 17.4.12~
STAFF BENDA BILILI PERFORM AT WOMAD 2012 FESTIVAL, NEW PLYMOUTH
Truly inspiring in the music world of touring artists are the “polio crippled members of band Staff Benda Bilili. [Polio scars haven't] stopped them dancing.
The eight-piece band from the Democratic Republic of Congo whirled across the stage, wheelchairs swaying in time with the music, in a joyous set that brought the Womad Festival to a close for 2012.
Staff Benda Bilili were one of the headline acts for this year’s festival, held for the eighth time at Pukekura Park in New Plymouth. More here.
The band are known throughout Europe as the stars of the film “BENDA BILILI”, by Renaud Barret & Florent de la Tullaye, that had theatrical distribution in France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and Greece.
[Photo - Michael Flyn]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 19.3.12~
