A MARQUEE KNIGHTHOOD AT HOME FOR SIR PAUL HOLMES, EXCELLENCE IN BROADCASTING
“The honour today means an incredible amount on so many levels.”
–said Sir Paul Holmes as he accepted his Knighthood (a Kiwi thing) from Sir Jerry Mateparae. The Haumoana-born, Karamu High School raised broadcaster sort of threw an event at his place for the friends and whanau and a few invited guests. Fun. Read it all at Hawkes Bay Today. Photo HBT. (more…)
TEAM SPORTS ARE THE No.1 CELEBRITIES ON FACEBOOK IN NZ & GOOD MUSIC BANDS ARE CELEBRITY STAPLES TOO 2013
Facebook trends New Zealand: 2,288,460 people in NZ are on Facebook. NZ’s rugby team, The All Blacks has 1,921,874 fans. The New Zealand tourism page has 666,574 fans. The 18-24 demographic is at 537,460 users. 53.82 per cent are on FB. That is 63.12 per cent of the online population. NRL – National Rugby League has 485,573. Top celebrity page outside of sport - The Naked and Famous band, 410,279 likes. Stats. NZ.
[Trends worldwide: Teens & Young Adults visit Tumblr more than Facebook. They use both].
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 15.1.13~
GREAT KAURI TREE, E TU ANA
Great kauri tree. E tu ana inaianei. He pai rawe, mo ake tonu, hoki.
[Photo: My own].
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 2.1.13~
RACHEL HUNTER’S 2012 WAS A FREAKING INCREDIBLE YEAR FOR NEW ZEALAND REALITY TV CULTURE
“She sounded all a bit LA and a bit weird,” now she’s not. A NZ commentator explains why 40 is the new 20 as long as E.L James keeps selling her books at the rate she has been. :)
The truth is, in Kiwiland we love our blonde celebrities as well as our brunettes. Summer is blonde beach babes time to shine.
No one does that better than Rachel Hunter and young Jaime Ridge (think Shiloh Jolie-Pitt grown up). A second generation star, in the same way that Renee Stewart, also rates well on this website regularly. They just have star heat. Hot naturally, like tobasco. Sorta. :)
Nice to see NZ celebrity growing up in the limelight well. In addition you can’t go past Senna Kowhai either, a Maori kid whose also of Brit royalty persuasion too.
Rachel Hunter had a huge year. (more…)
RARE CULTURAL VIEWS – MAORI TELEVISION STATION 2013 – NEW ZEALAND TV
Maori TV provides a special and rare view of a side to authentic New Zealand life.
Take a voyage to get an insight into New Zealand’s wealth of cultural life at the pic.
Featured image: The Kermadecs
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 22.12.12~
GOOGLE’S POLITICAL SPIN MACHINE TIES HOLD UP, CORPORATE ENTITIES LATCHING ON & WHAT INDIA & CHINA SEE OF HORIWOOD WEBSITE VIA BAIDU.COM
Fame happens when Google works with politicians & the world’s bankers: Here’s a news story about rewards of that system for one online company. I like them as if it wasn’t for Google, I’d have to learn Chinese (eg: Cantonese + Mandarin] and Hindi to use Baidu.Com instead, like a lot of the world who search online do daily.
Back to Google: Here’s an I.T story: ‘It’s called capitalism’: Google on tax: Google avoids having to pay billions in tax and the internet giant’s chairman is “proud” of it.
Back to What India & China see of Horiwood website:
According to Baidu, my online ‘creative persona’ via Horiwood website across the 21.000+ blog posts created in this site’s web content, the website is closely linked to these corporate entitities and names: (more…)
WINNING COMBOS OF HAPPINESS: USA’s GRAIN PANCAKES & NEW ZEALAND’S GOLDEN BUTTER
Winning Combos: Right now I’m thinking of… best American pancakes + New Zealand butter (the best in the world!).
You can always work on making the USA know happiness more. That was one such thought. For free. :)
Photo: The Farm of Beverly Hills does the best buttermilk grain pancakes, just opposite the Apple store and beside the fun movie theater at The Grove. It’s a place I would go to that always kept me sane in Hollywood. :)
We also need a good rib house road house in NZ. My fav in LA was always: Wood Ranch BBQ and Grill. Yeah! The Grove is where all of LA celebrity families go and shop. It’s a community village for sure.
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 29.11.12~
PEATA MELBOURNE ATTENDS A WELLINGTON HOBBIT EVENT – WORLD PREMIERE, THE UNEXPECTED JOURNEY FILM
Peata Melbourne descends from a homegrown ancestral Maori tribal dynasty, where the Maori language is still the first spoken language of Tuhoe New Zealand citizens. The tribe has many wonderful mythological stories drawn from their tribal heritage. When you spend time with them, they are a beautiful people living life in the ancient poetic language of NZ. They’re pretty special. Peata Mebourne’s people (like all Maori New Zealand citizens) discovered New Zealand with Moriori Polynesian people. They discovered water and abundant resources that now make the world’s best dairy products drawn from the benefits of NZ’s water supplies, arable lands and lotsa sunshine fused with good farming accumen.
The Tuhoe journalist princess stepped out onto the red carpet in the nation’s capital city (Wellington) to catch up with all the Kiwi folks and international friends dressed up in costumes and reinacting an old author’s book words for the silver screen. NZ was very excited that Sir Richard Taylor and Sir Peter Jackson‘s The Unexpected Journey movie is complete and also premiere ready. (more…)
RUGBY FOOTBALL’S RICHIE McCAW, 46th MOST VOTED STAR 2012
In a year where the top 100 trends were theme and issues ranked more so than sole individuals, rugby’s Richie McCaw checks in as the 46th most voted star of 2012.
His new book reveals one side of a gruelling career in rugby football, captaining the World Champions, The New Zealand All Blacks team.
A master strategist at what he does and the media sound bite, whether he is on or off the rugby pitch, I always see Richie as a very very talented artist. His peers say he is the best captain the All Blacks side has ever had.
Read the book. I plan to read it for summer 2013.
In a tough year of maxing chances, congratulations for making the list.
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 20.11.12~
JAIME RIDGE – TEEN REALITY TV STAR CELEBRITY – 49th MOST VOTED STAR 2012 -
The 49th Most Voted Star of 2012 is: Jaime Ridge.
Daughter of Matthew Ridge, a tennis teen sports star and rugby league star entertainer of New Zealand Jaime was born into celebrity.
Her mother Sally Ridge is a talented artist and celebrity TV personality too.
Yet Ridge still had to prove her own star trail. Tabloid dating this year’s no.1 sports star (that has Kiwi connections) Sonny Bill Williams, successfully taking up charity boxing and defying critics. Jaime did it again staving off her critics with New Zealand’s TV3 network to secure and land her own reality TV series has caused the New Zealand teen to rise above her peers and be noticed this year.
She lands good TV ratings in NZ.
In hot demand the Armenian-Kiwi girl who shares Armenian heritage with California reality stars like the Kardashian family of the USA, Ridge is not only lovely to look at, she’s got a funny sense of humor too.
Doesn’t take herself at all seriously. A good way to be in NZ.
Congatulation sweetheart. Rock a show 2013! :)
For more…. jibe it at Jaime’s own website. Photo: Peter Meecham, Fairfax Media.
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 18.11.12~
LIVING RUGBY LEGEND JONAH LOMU’S OVERWHELMING FIJI CEREMONY EXPERIENCE
“That sort of welcome still humbles me and I guess what makes it even more special is that we are in Fiji and when you are talking sevens, you can’t go past Fiji,” Lomu said.
“There are no doubts at all that Fiji is the home of sevens. When you look at who has won the World Cup sevens and also win-loss ratios, there are not many teams that come near Fiji. They lose so many players each year because they go off-shore to make a living, but they just seem to replace them without any problem.
–the living legend Jonah Lomu responds to overwhelming adulation from Fiji’s people in being welcomed to Sigatoki, Fiji as the tournament ambassador of the Coral Coast Sevens Tournament.
Rugby Sevens History a la Jonah Lomu:
“It is like a factory here turning out sevens players.”
Lomu’s plaque is the third to be laid on the Sevens Walk of Fame in Sigatoka, beside Waisale Serevi and David Campese, who was the tournament ambassador last year.
“For me, it is quite humbling to be put up with those two greats. In my first year playing sevens in Hong Kong in 1994, I went to meet Serevi in his room and couldn’t believe it.
“The previous year I was sitting in my school dormitory lounge watching him play sevens, so to get to rub shoulders with him now and call him my friend is a dream come true in a lot of ways.
“With me and Campo, we had a battle over who owns the No11, so it is a great honour and privilege to be recognised and honoured in this way.”
–To read more of Peter White‘s report in how the Rugby Sevens is close to Lomu’s heart in presenting opportunity to the world’s rugby talent pool, read on.
Photo: Jonah Lomu unveils the special commemorative plaque in his honour in Sigatoka, Fiji, with help from sons Dyreille, left, and Braydley. Photo – Peter White. Top Photo: Jonah, a Tim Hale photograph. Home of 7s–Fiji’s News.
“the isles shall look to me, and on mine arm shall they trust.”
–mauri ora.
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 16.11.12~
VIDEO: PRINCE CHARLES SPEAKING MAORI IN NGAI TAHU LAND – CHRISTCHURCH CITY
I am watching Prince Charles speak Maori on TV.
The future King and Camilla are in Ngai Tahu country, Otautahi (Christchurch). He doesn’t do too badly at the Maori language.
Mark Solomon says it was 2002 when the Ngai Tahu tribe hosted Regina and Prince Philip. Prince William the tribe hosted not too long ago. “An honor to have the family in NZ.” A lovely story. Sir Tipene O’Reagan looks healthy in footage that isn’t filmed (all avante-garde impromptu), in shaky-cam for once. Excellent. He does a good job in koroua mode too.
Scotty Morrison and the Te Karere Team have the kanikani me te korero.
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 16.11.12~
PIANO LIGHT – BROOKE FRASER POETRY
Poignant song lyrics of New Zealand as penned by poetic-prophet: Brooke Fraser in the song Arithmetic.
I've been staring at the sky tonight Marvelling and passing time Wondering what to do with daylight Until I can make you mine You are the one I want, you are the one I want (more…)
MOTHER KIWI BIRD – RACHEL HUNTER STEALS EGGS TO SAVE THE KIWI FROM EXTINCTION
In Supermodels of Aotearoaland in black gumboots starring as Mother Bird:
It did happen overnight.
Ditching the high heels for gumboots, Rachel Hunter spent a night creeping through the bush to bring a kiwi egg to Kiwi Encounter.
The New Zealand’s Got Talent judge spent half of Monday night foraging around in Maungataniwha Forest waiting for the opportunity to take a kiwi egg from its nest to Rotorua for incubation.
Hunter, who is the patron of Forest Lifeforce Restoration Trust, said although it feels “mean” sometimes to take the eggs from their parents’ nest, there was a 95 per cent chance it wouldn’t survive in the wild.
They were “really fortunate” the father got off the egg early at night, around 10.30pm, she said. (more…)
RISING MODELS NEW ZEALAND
She’s adorable. Renee Stewart is a rising model with good Kiwi connections.
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 5.11.12~
ON THE NOSE – PEOPLE MAGAZINE MAORI CONTENT & ROYAL FAMILY NEWS
Hollywood’s industry tabloid, People Magazine reports: “Prince Charles learns the hongi, the traditional greeting (expressed through the rubbing or touching of noses) from the Maori community of New Zealand, on Wednesday during a reception at London’s St. James Palace.”
Photo credit: Bauer-Griffin
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 26.10.12~
MAORI WRITERS OF ENCOURAGING SPIRIT – PAGES FROM SIR PETER BUCK’S EPIC LIFE’S JOURNALS
Born roughly 135 years ago in 1877, Te Rangi Hiroa (Sir Peter Buck) was a Maori writer. He would spend a life liviing in New Zealand, Hawaii and time spent in New York City too. The remarkable essence of Te Rangi Hiroa was encouragement. His letters to key leaders wrote encouraging words from across the other side of the world. He mentored his peers with his spirit of encouragement.
He also wrote thirty books. Not bad for a Maori-Kiwi lad. It is normal for Maori to be published, excel, to amazing things, to lead in New Zealand and the world. I love his story. A Kiwi icon. He wrestled racist oppression off his people with achievement. He achieved through being a mediator. An incredibly patient man to have had the fortitude and ability to be a bridge. Like I said: he started that role a hundred years or more ago. His legacy did not go away. It didn’t vanish. It’s perhaps a national shame on our own conscience as a peple in New Zealand of own ignorance in not acknowledging a benchmark he set for New Zealand to understand what he gifted us. His legacy is one of seeing Maori more in intelligent ways of equal recognition in leadership. He gave me courage to travel as a New Zealander.
A man far more noble than myself, who is well worthy of being honored and having his legacy recognized again and again and again as an outstanding founding father of both New Zealand and the South Pacific too. (more…)
PETRA BAGUST QUITS BREAKFAST
There is only one Petra Bagust. She’s like a Pakeha-Kiwi angel.
She is the light of morning TV. Her positive outlook, reflected in a radiant smile is lit up by her angelic personality of empathy. Petra is a bright spark who gets New Zealand going each morning on TV. Now, she’s about to take some time out.
Petra told TV audiences of the Breakfast Show that she has decided to have breakfast with her own kids each morning instead and spend more time with her husband Hamish. (On ya). (more…)
THE HORIWOOD TOP TEN – 10th OCTOBER 2012
It’s a neck-and-neck fight for the top spot on the website today. Coming in with two votes more than his nearest peers and ’rivals’ (all tied in second place) is NZ’s All Blacks rugby football captain, with a brand new book written with a gifted Kiwi playwright.–Photo: Book press, TVNZ’s Close Up Team‘s Mark Sainsbury.
The Horiwood Top Ten today are:
2. Tie A: Rod Stewart‘s new book talks up the virtues of Rachel Hunter
2. Tie B: Mark Wahlburg & Dwayne Johnson
2. Tie C: Kimberly Stewart, Rachel Hunter and family
5. Kate Middleton bikini beach scandal & celebrities
6. Amy Rhodes
7. Renee Stewart rock royalty model star
8. Rihanna – LA’s owl tattoos - Love Doesn’t Hurt
9. Maori Men – Artistic Strength Ta Moko Courage
No.11: Esquire Magazine Mila Kunis top honors 2012
Rachel Hunter‘s website reveals her last three tweets. The model mother of Spokaine Chief’s hockey star, Liam Stewart had this to share. They are: “I have just had my eyes checked. Driving glasses. Oh dear.” And: RT @rachelhunterx chickens, cattle and pigs live in such hard conditions. Especially those whose demise is predetermined.” Finally Hunter is also promoting breast cancer awareness too.
The vibe is Scottish Kiwi today.
Richie McCaw was on the Good Morning TV show this morning with Petra Bagust, Peter Williams and Rawdon Christie promoting the book. Demonstrating the art of Southern mainland humility combined with lethal rugby smarts prose, his interview follows.
On the late rugby icon Jock Hobbs father of rugby’s young Michael Hobbs, McCaw said: “He was hugely special man to me. I am so pleased he got to see the fruits and see the all blacks win. The man and the fight he had, he’s amazing. I was a bit choked up.”
That’s gotta be one of the saddest things that happened at the time. A reminder to always look after your health and to love life, while competing in the school of hard knocks.
On rugby in general at the World Cup winning stage 2011: “You have to ask yourself, can i go out and do my job? Can i go out and do what i need to do? I am lucky to have a go. Learn own lessons rather than what you can’t control. It’s the men who are beside you, that you gotta trust [when pained and] your body is on the line.”
Masterful, honest nice writing.
Also reporting live from One Tree Hill this morning in live cross segments, from an iconic landmark of Auckland City was New Zealand’s Got Talent MC Tamati Coffey with life lessons on respecting one’s parents more and remembering your mom’s birthdays too. Photo: Education MOE & Ian Rushton.
[Thanks for the epic Kiwi stories of teamwork families in action. Rachel and Richie in new books - wow!].
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 10.10.12~
EL TUATARA SEES
el
se'
se
yes.
[Te Hauturu-o-Toi the most intact native ecosystem in New Zealand. A view from Laly County, Ngati Whatua. Photo: Mark].
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 9.10.12~
KING TUHEITIA PAKI, THE MAORI KING COMMEMORATES HIS GRANDFATHER, KING KOROKI’S CORONATION, WITH A RIVER WAAKA JOURNEY
King Tuheitia the Maori King, commemorated the anniversary of his grandfather’s coronation and put the spotlight back on Maori water rights with a journey down Waikato River this morning.
King Tuheitia travelled in a waka taua from Ngaruawahia to Waahi marae at Huntly. The fifth Maori king, King Koroki, was crowned on October 8, 1933.
[Photo: a 1953 shing ding at Turangawaewae Marae with King Koroki and guests - Te Ara photo archives].
The annual Waahi marae poukai is traditionally held on this date and King Tuheitia opened the event with the river journey – an act that also aimed to show the tribe’s cultural and spiritual connection to the Waikato River in the wake of controversy surrounding the rights and interests of Maori to freshwater and the Government’s proposal to sell state-owned assets.
Tribal leaders from throughout Tainui, as well as Maori leaders playing a key role in progressing freshwater rights at the national level accompanied King Tuheitia.
Today’s discussion at Waahi marae is expected to include the freshwater rights issue, following the recent national hui held at Turangawaewae marae.
News source: Fairfax News. Photos – Peter Drury and Te Ara.
Mauri ‘Ola.
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 8.10.12~
ROD STEWART’S NEW BOOK TALKS UP THE VIRTUES OF RACHEL HUNTER’S STELLAR KIWI STAR
Photo caption: Whirlwind romance - Rod Stewart and Rachel Hunter on their wedding day in December 1990 – just three months after they met.
Bitter sweet romance reflections of a rock star: In a frank new book, rock crooner, Rod Stewart describes how Rachel Hunter’s decision to leave him threw him into four months of crippling despair.
Rod Stewart has spoken with painful honesty about his marriage to model Rachel Hunter confessing that their eight-year relationship was the first in which he had been faithful to one woman.
In his sensational new book Rod: The Autobiography the star describes how Rachel’s decision to leave him threw him into four months of crippling despair, during which he had to seek therapy and lost 5.44kg.
Stewart was a 45-year-old millionaire when they met in 1990, famous for a string of glamorous girlfriends and Seventies pop anthems Maggie May and Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?
But marriage to blonde 21-year-old Hunter transformed the hard-living rocker into a devoted family man. Hunter was too down-to-earth to feel comfortable in the lavish lifestyle of an established global star. (more…)
3D CHAORI ACTION MOVIE CINEMA – GETTING A $1 BILLION A YEAR EARNING, MAORI & CHINESE ACTION FUSION INDUSTRY MOVING
He was a Maori Prince, a Viking of The Sun. She, a Chinese Princess from the Ming Dynasty.
In a new horizon, in a mythical land on a new frontier, they were cast in an epic war to fight for their love.What the world needs to see is 3D mythological cinema of this nature in New Zealand.
3D Chaori Cinema (Asian-friendly Maori action movie cinema) is a $1 billion a year generating industry waiting to happen in NZ. In my mind’s eye I see it growing in New Zealand. It supports the already well established 3D cinema of NZ. It just makes movies a lot quicker for the growing Asian movie market of the world.
It needs a development fund to get started. Russell Crowe the first person in the world of Maori descent to win an Oscar and Hollywood’s Lucy Liu are giving a similar concept a go in the film, Man with Iron Fists. We need to move more into 3D with Chaori cinema texts in and from New Zealand. Cliff Curtis, a Maori actor has also been a success starring in Asian nations in an Asian action star mythological film.
We have enough trial models on display in aspects of this genre to really go for it and develop it further. Chaori cinema is another strand of cinema to be developed in New Zealand to sit alongside what Sir Peter Jackson, John Barnett and newcomers like James Cameron have already achieved from New Zealand.
It is a brand new cinema strand though, that can only make the overall package more attractive when perceiving New Zealand as a stand out filmmaking nation location. It makes sense to develop Chaori cinema and Maori cinema that is Asian-markets friendly, more.
It’s an authentic visual expression of New Zealand for the wider world’s markets.
[Photos: Spin Off and Business Insider online].
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific 8.10.12~
SC.RE.AM & SHOUT – WILL.I.AM & BRITNEY SPEARS
–song lyrics. mr will.i.am + brit.
November 29, 2012 | Categories: Britney Spears, California, Cross-Cultural Narratives, Dance, Liam Stewart, Millionaires, New Zealand, Pop Cultural Commentary, Renee Stewart, Scotland, Song Lyrics, Star System - The Art of American Celebrity, Star System - The Art of Aotearoa New Zealand Celebrity, USA, Will I Am | 1 Comment »