“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~
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…)
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…)
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~
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…)
A sports star we’re reading of is: young Liam Stewart‘s hockey bling in the NHL. Liam is the Spokane Chief’s centre and happens to also be rocker Rod Stewart‘s son.
Stewart is part of a new breed of show biz dad’s children in the skating line for NHL careers playing centre. (more…)
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…)
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.
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 MCTamati 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~
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~
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…)
And hasten to the secret shore
where the land’s curve lies.
There let the waves lave
pleasuring the body’s senses,
and the sun’s feet
shall twinkle and flex
to the sea-egg’s needling
and the paua’s stout kiss
shall drain a rock’s heart
to the sandbar’s booming.
Three search requests today were: “Rahui Ngati Kahu,” “Syliva Earle & Mark Solomon” ocean managers.
Here’s a story of how Maori, Polynesia peoples, Kiwis and Aussies role in fish and ocean protection is essential: 16 Pacific Islands manage 10% of the world’s fish. Are Polynesian people celebrities of the world in the future more than they already are now, or what?!
That’s an incredible fact.
Last year, global fish consumption hit a record high of 17 kg (37 pounds) per person per year, even though global fish stocks have continued to decline. On average, people eat four times as much fish now than they did in 1950. (more…)
The New Zealand All Blacks world champion captain, Richie McCaw may exercise a sabbatical clause in his rugby contract to prolong his rugby football star branding to the sports code. A good idea for Otago’s star footballer. More @TVNZ.
Photo: Richie McCaw (c) of the All Blacks and Coach Steve Hansen (R) chat during a New Zealand All Blacks captain’s run at Forsyth Barr Stadium on September 14, 2012 in Dunedin, New Zealand. Getty Images.
Stay smart.
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 23.9.12~
At the time of writing Cristiano Ronaldo is the most requested sports star via search engines linking to Horiwoodblog. One vote shy, in no.2 position is Rob Scuderi of The LA Kings Hermosa hockey beach team. He’s a study into the hard knocks in the world of top level sport.
Ten Things About Rob Scuderi & LA Kings Hockey Beach Culture (by the headlines – June July 2012 Rewind sports press):
Rob Scuderi’s role in winning two Stanley cups was viewed as huge–ProHockeyTalkNBCSports
Surviving controversial hits is a part of the dangerous show Scuderi and his buds endure–NBCSports
Real injuries take time to heal in brutal hockey clashes. Like a year–NBC
Chocolate milk and Spiderman pyjamas parenting, post hangovers never cease to amaze either-ArticlesBoston
Tweet Pic: LA Spokane, Rachel Hunter. Rachel’s latest hockey tweets are: “Landed in Spokane … Excited for tomorrow’s game ! #. Finally the time has come! Spokane Chiefs v Tri City Americans, season opener tomorrow night in Tri City at 7pm! #BeThere #Stoked #RivalGame”. Hunter adds: “@danwallis11 I am not a republican .. I have a green card and can’t vote. So I don’t know where u got ur information.” Nice one! :) Pic: NZW.
Gotta admit, I kinda shed a few tears of pride when Val Adams got her London gold medal at The Cloud in Auckland City New Zealand.
I shed a few more when Kevin “Blackie” Black said that Val was now ‘right up there with Sir Peter Snell‘ in the legacy of NZ’s athletes on the Close Up TV show too.
Most of all, Val’s grattitude to her coach, sponsors, management and her humility, awareness of community support, and huge strength – all blended with down home charm, is just so winning when Val Adams rocks a sports show.
Click on her pic to watch Tangata Pasifika‘s coverage.
Also in this week’s episode of T.P is the most amazing new poet too. “Totally enamored,” is how I felt listening to new poetic verse being written and breathed fresh within New Zealand shores. Wow! We have a dream that is living, active, breathing as life. So kool. NZ has a local young Maya Angelou poet in the hood. I think that poet should write Val’s Champion poem. :)
News story: Susana Talagi Guttenbeil – a journalist of Samoan, Nuiian and European lineage is in Catherine Graham‘s star Tangata Pasifika TV current events show talent line up. Winner, still. :)
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 21.9.12~
It’s a long standing Kiwi tradition to deliver the mail.
The simple pleasure of checking the farm letter box is the most exciting event in rural communities. I remember it being that way growing up in my teens on a farm.
To this day, TV that I love watching is Rural Delivery. It’s a TV series featuring stories about New Zealand people who are the unsung heroes of our City populous mindsets. In Rural Delivery I tune in to the faces of people just like us, whose earth romance daily, shows a connectedness to landscape and place that I appreciate, admire and respect. Well mannered people living sun up to sun down as a rule.
On this week’s show: Find out how pine trees in Nelson are being used to create high-tech, architecturally designed buildings that can better withstand earthquakes.
What I learned from last week’s show:The Young Farmers Club have grown their club numbers by 20% during the 2005-12 farming calendar. That’s awesome. Mentoring programs have been established, with new field trips in key areas of agricultural growth teaching skills younger to equip youth showing interest in farming earlier.
What I was thinking: How can the Young Farmers Club help young Maori learn about farming? How can the YFC integrate with Iwi programs to impart knowledge, grow the club in a culturally aware way of New Zealand, showing a good lead for NZ’s bright future in this manner? How can Iwi Development work with the YFC’s Club for win-win partnerships in the upcoming years through cool cross-pollination of ideas, resources co-management and dreaming big as one?
When my mind walks down that country road of thinking, I could spend an entire day, exploring the new frontier of the Aotearoa prairies on that one. However, I don’t want to get too excited about the bright possibilities too much. Iwi and Farmers must do this as one themselves. In future years, delivering the rural mail is just going to get more exciting. More scientific, yet allowing nature to be king too, the story of Aotearoa New Zealand’s stunning cast as observers of all that the land produces for us all. There’s a pretty high standard of rural post delivery traditions to uphold in NZ.
A story that reminds me of my late grandad:Schimanski Dairy Award Winners: Otorohanga farmers Don and Wilma Schimanski are the winners of the Dairy Business of the Year Supreme Award for 2012. The national competition looks at all aspects of a dairy farm owner’s business, in particular farm profitability. Entrants in the Dairy Business of the Year Supreme Award for 2012 were scored out of 70 for their financial performance, 15 for environmental care and 15 for human resources. The competition is organised by Intelact director Chris Pyke. The judges were independent – Professor Keith Woodford of Lincoln University and Emeritus Professor Colin Holmes of Massey University.
Don and Wilma Schimanski have been dairying together for 23 years, and built up their business by putting three farms together. They now milk 748 cows on 184ha. Previously Don was a bulldozing contractor. Their philosophy is to fully feed the cows, keeping them healthy and well. They pay particular attention to grazing at the three leaf stage. Good management means keeping a finger on the pulse all the time, Don says. “You can’t really stop criticizing yourself. My philosophy is to look after my managers and workers. I have been lucky there. The focus of our team is on pasture harvest, and utilizing as much pasture as possible.” The figures show the Schimanskis have higher than average pasture harvested at 13.7tDM/ha compared to the Waikato average of 12.2tDM/ha.”–More@TheGumbootDiaries.
“From muppets to sporting a mullet,” Oscar’s Bret McKenzie and Australia’s Hamish Blake unite with Joanna Hunkin in Invercargill, New Zealand for a red carpet movie premiere of Two Little Boys, a Robert Sarkies and Duncan Sarkie‘s film.
Wendy Petrie has the live studio feed, to a Kiwi bromance comedy interview for Hollywood’s buddy genre’s many fans. It’s an unpretentious movie that Hunkin describes as “gruesome” and “funny.”
Updated: The Southland Times begins its review with “it has plenty of swearing, it has nudity, and it has a fairly graphic scene involving a dead backpacker and an axe.” Adding: It is a black comedy of errors set against a stunning backdrop – the Southern Scenic Route of Southland New Zealand and its familiar attractions, Jack’s Blowhole, Curio Bay, Cathedral Cave. It’s a story of what happens when you outgrow your friends.” Actor Maaka Pohatu stars as Gav in the film too.
September 20th is when the movie hits theaters in New Zealand.
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 12.9.12~
Senna Kowhai‘s Maori side of the young British Royals whanau (family) tree, is branching out.
Senna’s father is Gary Lewis of Gisborne, East Coast New Zealand. His wife, the lovely Lady Davina have named their young son who was born on May 25th 2012, Tane Mahuta. It is a solid Maori name drawn from ancient Maori mythological culture and legend of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Baby Tane Mahuta is also brother to Ari Lewis, Gary’s son from a previous marriage and as mentioned Senna, now 2. Gary is from a Kiwi shearer family and he has a building company management background. Lady Davina… her family… is pretty famous. :)
The youngest Lewis is twenty-sixth in line to the British throne.
About the young Royal’s name in Maori mythology: As legend told, “Tāne is the son of Ranginui the sky father and Papatuanuku, the earth mother.
Tāne separates his parents from their marital embrace until his father the sky is high above mother earth. Tāne then sets about clothing his mother with vegetation. The birds and the trees of the forest are regarded as Tāne’s children.”
It’s a story that reminds us of how the living elements of the environment are one family connected between earth and sky in relationship.
Photo caption: Lady Davina, husband Gary Lewis and daughter Senna Kowhai with Autumn, Peter and Savannah Phillips. A Rex features photograph. (more…)
She is the face that launched millions of Kiwi dreams.
And she’s still doing it today. We love her. If she was a Maori woman on crowd control, or if she was older, I swear she’d have been made a Dame by now. The girl really is the real deal Kiwi global star.
Rachel Hunter‘s latest press as a talent show judge, show’s how generous of spirit Hunter is as a performer and artist. Hunter is going to laugh, cry on the spot to cam and be wowed too, in a bid to inspire the new waves of Kiwi talent being affirmed, noticed, coached and appreciated.
What a woman! Rachel Hunter’s new reality TV show New Zealand’s Got Talent kicks off this evening on NZ TV.
Only One Rachel Hunter. We still love her grace, humilty, Kiwi charm, natural beauty, her inner beauty far greater than her external visage… and of course, her winning smile from a heart of hard earned, wise empathy! :)
Every time I see Rachel’s smile, I go straight to the store still and go get me ice cream asap. Why is that exactly? Lol! ;)
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 9.9.12~
PIANO LIGHT – BROOKE FRASER POETRY
Poignant song lyrics of New Zealand as penned by poetic-prophet: Brooke Fraser in the song Arithmetic.
November 9, 2012 | Categories: A Different View, A List, Aotearoa New Zealand, Aotearoa Television Service - Hollywood, Asia Pacific, Asia-Pacific, Brooke Fraser, Cross-Cultural Narratives, Entertainment Celebrity News, Entertainment Distribution, Entertainment News, Fiji, Kiwi Sex Symbols, Kiwi Sexy Symbols - The Girls, Kool Kiwis, Krazy Kiwis, Life, Light, Like A Prayer, Maori, Maori Television Service - Hollywood, New Zealand, New Zealand Citizens, News, Piano, Poetry, Poets, Polynesian, Pop Cultural Commentary, Prophetess, Song Lyrics, Song Writers, South Pacific, South Pacific Television Hollywood, Star System - The Art of Aotearoa New Zealand Celebrity, Star System - The Art of Global Celebrity, Star System - The Art of South Pacific Celebrity, USA, Weird TV, Wellington, Writers | 3 Comments »