Archive for January, 2008

In the late 90s, musician Charlotte Yates, came up with a concept for a CD and then a show about James K Baxter. The concept was simple and inspired. She invited some of New Zealand’s best musicians to put James K Baxter’s poetry to music. The show Baxter incorporated performances with images and words of Baxter’s life. It was a huge success. Then in 2005, Charlotte wrote and directed a similar show that celebrated the poetry and life of Hōne Tūwhare: Tūwhare. The last time Tūwhare was performed, Hōne completely surprised the cast and audience by turning up at the last moment. It was a rare appearance and a precious gift for all who were lucky enough to be present that night! Charlotte shares her memories with Lively…

“There’s a photo on my desk of some of the performers in Tūwhare taken at the Auckland Festival Club after the performance for AKO7 at the Civic Theatre. I’m in the centre of the snap with a grin from ear to ear, Michael Keating, the manager of Goldenhorse, is also smiling beatifically, pointing at the camera, and beside him is Graham Brazier, arms at full stretch. On my other side is Blanche Rawiri, from WAI with another set of pearly whites and beside her is Rawiri Paratene in dark glasses, looking very urbane.

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‘Two cultures combine in a huge outdoor carving project in the lead-up to Waitangi Day celebrations. It’s a billboard-sized, 6m x 3m, carved artwork in front of the Māori Television studios in Newmarket, Auckland.’

Read the newest NZLive.com featured article.

‘It’s a fantastic event, but it’s not coming to a main centre near you. In fact, if you live in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch or Dunedin, you can’t see it unless you travel. It’s called Words on Wheels and it’s meant for the regions…’

Read the newest NZLive.com featured article.

From Signposts

New Zealand has suffered another great loss with the death of poet and playwright Hōne Tūwhare.

Tūwhare’s debut collection, No ordinary sun (1964), was the first book of poetry by a Māori writer in English. The 1966 Encyclopedia of New Zealand described him as ‘the only modern Māori poet’. Whether or not that was strictly true at the time, thankfully it is not so now, and Tūwhare and his writing has inspired many New Zealand poets, both Māori and Pākehā.

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‘He took Everest by foot; the world by storm; the South Pole by Massey Ferguson’, proclaimed banners advertising a 2002–03 museum exhibition on the life of Sir Edmund Hillary (1919-2008). The legendary mountaineer, adventurer and philanthropist – whose familiar, craggy face beams out from the $5 note – is the best-known New Zealander ever to have lived. His 1953 ascent of Mt Everest, the planet’s highest peak, brought him worldwide fame – literally overnight. Dozens of daring adventures followed, including the Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1957–58 and a 1977 jet-boat journey up the Ganges River. International lecture tours, books and TV documentaries cemented Hillary’s status as a global celebrity.

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