Latest news with #Auckland-based
Otago Daily Times
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Epic films' special guest
A promotional image for Vincent Ward's Rain of the Children. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Whakatipu residents get a unique opportunity next week to see two iconic films by internationally-acclaimed Kiwi film-maker Vincent Ward — and then engage with him in Q&A sessions. Auckland-based Ward's Rain of the Children screens next Tuesday at Queenstown's Te Atamira at 6.30pm, then Vigil screens at Arrowtown's Dorothy Browns on Wednesday at 5.45pm. He's being brought to Queenstown by Milford Galleries, which next Saturday hosts the launch of his unique photography exhibition, 'Palimpsest', featuring photos of human bodies he's painted. Ward calls Rain of the Children, released in 2008, "sort of my favourite, because it's got such a personal connection to the people in it". It came 30 years after a documentary, In Spring One Plants Alone, about his experience living in the remote Urewera Ranges with an elderly Maori woman, Puhi, who was caring for her adult schizophrenic son, Niki. Rain of the Children sees Ward return to the area to explore who Puhi — played by Rena Owen — was. She'd been chosen, aged 12, by Tuhoe prophet Rua Kenana — played by Temuera Morrison — to marry his son. At 14, with their baby, she escaped from the 1916 police raid on Rua's community, in which he was arrested. She subsequently had another 13 children — when Ward stayed with her, Niki was her last remaining. Radio New Zealand called the movie "one of the most moving films to come out of NZ cinema". Meanwhile, Vigil, released in 1984, was the first film by a New Zealand director to be officially selected 'in competition' at the Cannes Film Festival, where it received a standing ovation. It follows 11-year-old Toss, who navigates grief, isolation and change in a remote, primeval valley — it's said to be partly autobiographical as Ward grew up on a farm in the Wairarapa. He says it's "about an imaginative way of seeing the world — these kids that are a little bit isolated live in their own heads and come up with almost an alternative reality to try and understand what's going on". To celebrate Vigil's 40th anniversary last year, former child actor Fiona Kay, who played the central role — "and was compared by the Los Angeles Times to one of the great silent film stars" — was brought over for a screening at Wellington's Embassy Theatre, and the producer appeared for another. "And then Queenstown gets me," Ward quips.
Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Super Rugby final: the Chiefs take on the Crusaders' unbeaten home playoff record
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The Chiefs are aiming to send head coach Clayton McMillan out on a winning note when they face the Crusaders on Saturday in the Super Rugby Pacific final. McMillan will leave New Zealand after the final to coach Munster in Ireland. He has guided the Hamilton- based Chiefs to the final in each of the last three seasons but doesn't yet have a title to show for it. The Chiefs have made the pace throughout the season, finishing in first place at the end of the regular season. They stumbled in the first round of playoffs, losing to the Auckland-based Blues, but returned in the semifinals as the highest-ranked loser. The Chiefs beat the Canberra-based Brumbies 37-17 in last weekend's semis and now take on the Crusaders, a franchise with a daunting 31-0 record in home playoffs since Super Rugby began in 1996. They have named an unchanged starting 15 for the final, which includes 10 All Blacks. There are two changes on the bench, where All Blacks prop Aiden Ross and winger Etene Nanai-Seturo return to add more experience. 'We've built real continuity across the season and that will serve us well in Christchurch,' McMillan said. 'The Crusaders have proven time and again that they know how to lift in finals footy. 'They're clinical, composed and proud of their home record. We're ready for a good final fight.' The Chiefs beat the Crusaders twice during the regular season, once last year and twice in 2023. 'We don't have any fear about going down to Christchurch and playing the Crusaders,' McMillan said. 'We're one team that's had our fair share of success down there. 'We know it's not going to be easy. They've got a formidable record and are a quality team.' The Chiefs players are determined after reaching the championship match in each of the last two seasons to take the next step and to win the title for the first time since 2013. 'Do it for (McMillan),' All Blacks flyhalf Damian McKenzie said. 'Do it for the region. Do it for our fans and our families. 'The support we've had throughout the year has been amazing. We've been disappointed in the last few years where we haven't quite been able to win a final. So it's not only just doing it for guys who are leaving, it's also for guys who have been here in the past.' The Crusaders will try to win the Super Rugby title for the 13th time. They won the title in seven straight seasons under Scott Robertson but slumped last year, winning only four matches under new head coach Rob Penney. Crusaders management ignored pressure to replace Penney at the end of last season and that decision has been vindicated with another final appearance. The Crusaders scrum is a major strength and will be bolstered on Saturday by the return of All Blacks loosehead prop Tamaiti Williams, who missed the 21-14 semifinal win over the Blues. Winger Chay Fihaki is sidelined with a concussion and will be replaced by Macca Springer, who will play on the left wing, Sevu Reece on the right. Penney said the club's past record will have no part in the final. 'History is history … we're not even thinking about that,' he said. 'We're just thinking about the contest ahead of us. We're at home in front of our people and it's going to be such a magic occasion.' ___ AP rugby:
Fox Sports
a day ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Super Rugby final: the Chiefs take on the Crusaders' unbeaten home playoff record
Associated Press WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The Chiefs are aiming to send head coach Clayton McMillan out on a winning note when they face the Crusaders on Saturday in the Super Rugby Pacific final. McMillan will leave New Zealand after the final to coach Munster in Ireland. He has guided the Hamilton- based Chiefs to the final in each of the last three seasons but doesn't yet have a title to show for it. The Chiefs have made the pace throughout the season, finishing in first place at the end of the regular season. They stumbled in the first round of playoffs, losing to the Auckland-based Blues, but returned in the semifinals as the highest-ranked loser. The Chiefs beat the Canberra-based Brumbies 37-17 in last weekend's semis and now take on the Crusaders, a franchise with a daunting 31-0 record in home playoffs since Super Rugby began in 1996. They have named an unchanged starting 15 for the final, which includes 10 All Blacks. There are two changes on the bench, where All Blacks prop Aiden Ross and winger Etene Nanai-Seturo return to add more experience. 'We've built real continuity across the season and that will serve us well in Christchurch,' McMillan said. 'The Crusaders have proven time and again that they know how to lift in finals footy. "They're clinical, composed and proud of their home record. We're ready for a good final fight.' The Chiefs beat the Crusaders twice during the regular season, once last year and twice in 2023. 'We don't have any fear about going down to Christchurch and playing the Crusaders,' McMillan said. 'We're one team that's had our fair share of success down there. 'We know it's not going to be easy. They've got a formidable record and are a quality team.' The Chiefs players are determined after reaching the championship match in each of the last two seasons to take the next step and to win the title for the first time since 2013. 'Do it for (McMillan),' All Blacks flyhalf Damian McKenzie said. 'Do it for the region. Do it for our fans and our families. 'The support we've had throughout the year has been amazing. We've been disappointed in the last few years where we haven't quite been able to win a final. So it's not only just doing it for guys who are leaving, it's also for guys who have been here in the past.' The Crusaders will try to win the Super Rugby title for the 13th time. They won the title in seven straight seasons under Scott Robertson but slumped last year, winning only four matches under new head coach Rob Penney. Crusaders management ignored pressure to replace Penney at the end of last season and that decision has been vindicated with another final appearance. The Crusaders scrum is a major strength and will be bolstered on Saturday by the return of All Blacks loosehead prop Tamaiti Williams, who missed the 21-14 semifinal win over the Blues. Winger Chay Fihaki is sidelined with a concussion and will be replaced by Macca Springer, who will play on the left wing, Sevu Reece on the right. Penney said the club's past record will have no part in the final. 'History is history ... we're not even thinking about that,' he said. 'We're just thinking about the contest ahead of us. We're at home in front of our people and it's going to be such a magic occasion.' ___ AP rugby: recommended in this topic
NZ Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- NZ Herald
Little Island directors sought creditor support before going into liquidation
Little Island, the plant-based dairy food manufacturer now in liquidation, had sought creditor support on two occasions but was knocked back. The Herald understands creditors rejected two Creditor Compromise Proposals agreeing to pay back 60% of money owing before the company was tipped into liquidation. The Auckland-based company, which started
Scoop
4 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Why tā moko should never be dismissed as 'scribbles'
Tā moko should never be referred to as 'scribbles', a Māori academic says following comments made in Parliament by NZ First leader Winston Peters. Paora Sharples, haka expert and Māori Studies professional teaching fellow at the University of Auckland, said moko, and particularly moko kanohi, carries deep cultural and spiritual weight in te ao Māori. "Tā moko plays a huge part within te ao Māori. It represents our history, our whakapapa, our knowledge. It's a key to our very identity and our existence." "When you make decisions around getting a kauae moko, it's not something you do lightly. It often involves years of learning, years of wānanga, and searching for identity to find out who you are." Sharples said the decision to mau moko often involved in-depth discussions with whānau members and practitioners of the art of tāmoko. "Those are kaupapa that could go over years," he said. "Tā moko is a physical representation of who you are, how you see yourself, and the very journey you've undertaken to get to this point." "So when you realise how meaningful it is to people that wear it, and then you have comments like that, oh, it's really disheartening." During the debate on the suspension of Te Pāti Māori MPs, the NZ First leader referred to co-leader Rawiri Waititi as "the one in the cowboy hat" with "scribbles on his face." Peters later withdrew the comment and was made to apologise by the Speaker of the House. Sharples said his initial reaction to the comment was one of disappointment. "My reaction to it was pretty sad…that a leader in Parliament would have derogatory comments like that," he said. "I know in the chambers of Parliament you're there to debate, and often you say things you might regret afterwards, but that was said by him, and once you say it, it's out there." He said referring to Waititi's mataora as "scribbles" revealed more about the minister's disconnection from his own culture than it did about those who wear it. "I think mainly, perhaps, it's not about us really. I think that says more about Winston. It's a reflection of where he is, how distant he is from his own culture and his own people," he said. "He's spent over 50 years in Parliament and he knows that world well. But it's a pity he doesn't know his culture and his people as well as he knows Parliament." Backlash from te ao Māori 'swift and powerful' In response to Peters comments, te ao Māori took to social media to post proud images of their moko, using phrases like 'my moko is not scribbles.' That message also appeared centre stage at the recent Tāmaki Hakangāhau event in Tāmaki Makaurau. "We had haka about those comments," Sharples said, who is also a senior haka leader with Te Rōpū Manutaki. "Some of the leaders who spoke between items talked about it as well. Kapa haka is a vibrant way we discuss the things that affect us." Sharples said the backlash from te ao Māori was both "swift and powerful." A message from te ao haka Auckland-based rōpū Te Poho o Hinekahukura dedicated an entire item to Peters, with their leader Jeff Ruha delivering a message directly to him: "Kei kōnei ngā te ao moko e ora tonu ana ki runga i a tātou." The world of moko is here, it is still alive upon us. "Winston Peters, the moko runs down my face, into my veins, moumou tō toto Māori." "Ehara tēnei he 'scribbles', e mana kei roto i taku moko." This is not scribbles - there is mana within my moko. "So a challenge to everyone here - moko te ao. Grab your moko, hei hoa matenga mōu." Let your moko be your companion until death. Reclaiming taonga Over the years, colonial influences and misconceptions have clouded the understanding of moko, leading to hesitations among those seeking to reclaim their taonga. Sharples said the resurgence of Māori identity and pride had taken decades of effort. "Since colonisation, we were given a new identity, a different worldview. Especially in the last 50 years, we've been crawling our way back - getting our culture, our language, our arts, our heritage back in whatever way possible." "These moments show how far we've come. But they also show that the fight isn't over." While he acknowledged the comment was made in "the heat of battle," Sharples said leaders must take responsibility for their words. "He's a Māori leader who has a responsibility of speaking on behalf of people," he said. "You have to be careful of what you an example of what can happen. And we've seen the backlash from Māori." Sharples said this could be a turning point in how Aotearoa sees moko and Māori expression more broadly. "At the end of the day, these discussions are who we are. They're our history. And once we've had them, we can move forward." In a statement to RNZ, NZ First leader Winston Peters did not directly address his use of the word 'scribbles', but instead criticised Te Pāti Māori. "Every Māori who understands tradition, respect, and heritage understands that it is not a right for anyone to decide for themselves one day to have a traditional tamoko tattoo," he said. "We now have a bunch of radical cultural elitists in the Māori Party who are claiming to represent all of Maoridom and think by wearing tamoko they have a monopoly of thought over all of our representation." "Pointing out the shallowness of their thinking is not racist, nor is it a reflection on any Māori in New Zealand - it is in fact the opposite." Peters said he was proud of his Ngāti Wai heritage and his Tainui connection. "And all of my ancestors who have worn traditional tamoko that have been rightly bestowed upon them - and I always have been. That is why I have fought for, and so often succeeded for, justifiable Māori causes, and have done more for Māori than all of those critics all put together." He said he was also proud of his European ancestry and all of their culture that they had given him.
