Spitting fire
PHOTO: TONI MCDONALD
Tonight the fiery troupe will be entertaining in Gore, followed by Dunedin tomorrow evening.
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Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
No humble pie for award winner
Fat Bastard pie owner James Owen won a bronze medal for his mince and gravy pie at the 2025 New Zealand Bakels Supreme Pie Awards. PHOTO: NINA TAPU Being able to prove his doubters wrong is what drove one hopeful Invercargill pie maker to win an award at New Zealand's national pie competition. Fat Bastard pie owner James Owen overcame "discouraging talk" from his detractors and came away with three awards from the New Zealand Bakels Supreme Pie Awards on Tuesday night in Auckland. Kai Pai Bakery, of Wānaka, took home bronze and silver awards. Winning the bronze medal for his mince and gravy pie out of a section which had "thousands of entries" validated the Invercargill chef's efforts. Mr Owen said the talk from the sceptics over the years had fuelled him to prove them wrong. "I just think it was unfair for other bakeries to say that the South Island didn't have a chance," he said. "They said the South Island would never get a win, but now we are the first to get an award." He worked for three weeks without a night off to get his system right and his pies ready before shipping the savouries away for judging. Having a butchery on site to mince their own meat and using only Southland meat helped with the "authentic crafting" of the pie. Kai Pai manager and baker Jason Danielson proudly holds the award-winning mince and cheese pies. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Having returned from the "very competitive" contest with a handful of achievements has inspired the local to keep working towards winning more awards in the hope of one day being a supreme pie award winner. "This is the holy grail of pie awards. "Now I've had a taste of winning, I know what to expect and how to approach the next competition." Fat Bastard got fifth place for its chicken and vegetable pie and highly commended for its vegetarian pie. Kai Pai Bakery said good pastry, the right seasoning and passion led to its success. It had entered about 10 pies across different categories. The bakery came second in the commercial category and third for its mince and cheese pie, Baker Jason Danielson was particularly disappointed its chicken pie, which had been a gold winner for two years in a row, did not place this year. With more than 5000 pies being judged across all the categories, the awards were getting more and more competitive, Mr Danielson said. The awards were getting better as backers got more creative, he said.
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Gore photographer's shot recognised
Bob Smith's photo of Boston George Setefano, 17, performing kapa haka at last year's Matariki celebrations in Waimumu, has been selected as part of the Four Nations Photographic Challenge. Photo: Bob Smith A photo of a Blue Mountain College head boy doing kapa haka during last year's Matariki celebrations has been chosen as part of an international photography competition. Bob Smith's photograph of Boston George Setefano (Ngāti Porou) has been chosen, alongside 80 other images from New Zealand, for the Four Nations Photographic Challenge. The black-and-white photograph was taken in Waimumu in 2024, and Mr Smith said he was beyond surprised to have been selected. "I couldn't believe my eyes when the announcement came out," he said. The life member of the Gore Camera Club said he had entered in previous years, but never heard anything back. "Eyer in with the pretty top photographers in the country," he said. Glenda Rees, also from Gore, has a shot selected as well. Blue Mountain teacher Arrhae Gawky Eales, who runs the kapa haka group Boston is the CAI (leader) of, said it was a privilege to see this photo of him. "I think I could write a book on this young man," she said. "Boston has helped lead the way for young Māori to be proud to be Māori." The cultural group is called Te Atka Kapa Haka Abhor, and is part of Te Atka Māori Charitable Trust. Mr Smith said the photos are sent to an independent association to be judged and the winners will be announced in September. The competition includes photographers from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Canada, and the Photographic Society of New Zealand is this year's host.
NZ Herald
18-07-2025
- NZ Herald
Auckland's Silo Park light exhibition mirrors Māori string game
The work was first commissioned by Auckland Council Public Art for Matariki ki te Manawa in 2024. Now, it has been made larger and occupies a more prominent space with 360-degree views across the city and Waitematā Harbour from the Gantry. The light loops play on the traditional weaving forms of the string game. 'Whai keeps Māori traditions alive, a shared experience that bridges cultures, ensuring they remain vibrant and celebrated for generations to come,' Williams said. She wanted the work to invite people to immerse themselves in the game. 'For centuries, Māori children have played and become skilled at whai, learning complex patterns and the stories behind them. Through connection, creation, and discovery, Whai offers everyone that learning experience - bringing people together through the joy of making.' In 2022, Williams studied full immersion te reo Māori at Te Wānanga Takiura and continues to study part-time. Williams is a mother, business owner and is in her final year of an Executive Master of Business Administration at Massey University and Master of Professional Creative Practice at Toihoukura. She often works alongside her husband, Charles Williams, to create brightly coloured, large-scale murals honouring kaupapa Māori. Many of their works include vivid depictions of New Zealand's native birds in flight. They also have a strong interest in graffiti art, with the pair decorating vans, walls and even motorway underpasses around Auckland. Auckland Council said Silo Park was chosen as this year's temporary site for Whai as the precinct strongly reflected the waterfront's heritage. 'The regeneration of Wynyard Quarter acknowledges its place on the edge of the Waitematā, retaining elements of the area's industrial history.' Over the next three to five years, during the Matariki season, Auckland Council Public Art will exhibit Whai in different locations. Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
