Latest news with #AlyCook
Scoop
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Sisters In Country & Marian Burns Unveil NZ Concerts & Exclusive "Harmony Road" Australian Tour
Get ready for an afternoon of unparalleled country music as the acclaimed duo Sisters in Country, featuring New Zealand music legends Jodi Vaughan and Aly Cook, take the stage. They will be joined by special guest and fiddle player extraordinaire, Marian Burns, for two not-to-be-missed events this winter, celebrating their vibrant live show and the success of their recently recorded album, Downunder Girls. Whangamata Performance: Tauranga Performance: Sisters in Country brings together two formidable talents: Jodi Vaughan, a household name who graced TV screens across New Zealand in the 80s on 'That's Country,' and Aly Cook, an award-winning songwriter and artist. Individually and collectively, their music has consistently topped Australian airplay charts and the Official Aotearoa Music Charts in New Zealand, earning them a devoted fanbase and solidifying their status as chart-topping artists. This dynamic collaboration promises an enchanting afternoon filled with your favourite country tunes, alongside their own incredible original songs. The performance will be further elevated by the addition of Marian Burns, whose exceptional fiddle playing is sure to captivate the audience. Expect an unforgettable blend of rich female harmonies and some truly hot fiddle playing that will get your toes tapping. "We are incredibly excited to bring our show to Whangamata in July and Tauranga in August and share the stage with our dear friend Marian Burns," says Jodi Vaughan. Aly Cook adds, 'It's going to be a fantastic afternoon of music, stories, and genuine country spirit. We can't wait to connect with everyone.' The Sisters in Country duo, comprised of Cook, 61, and Vaughan, 75, are proud to be mature women performing live and continue their pursuit of mastery of their craft. In an industry often perceived as youth-driven, they not only defy expectations but wholeheartedly celebrate their seasoned artistry and enduring passion. Their success is a testament to the fact that talent and authenticity only deepen with age, and they are truly masters of their craft. They even have a playful rule for selecting guest female performers to join them: "The rule," jokes Vaughan, "is you must be over 50 to be invited as a guest." Cook adds, "And we don't mean kilos!" This is exactly the kind of wit you get during the show. They will also be having the wonder and respected vocalist Rosemarie Hack as Sisters in Country guest at 2 Managahu/orHowhenua locations in July Levin Performance with Guest Rosemarie Hack: When: Saturday, August 16th, at 7:30 PM Where: Levin RSA Tickets: Sisters in Country at The Levin RSA - Levin - Eventfinda Palmerston North Performance with Guest Rosemarie Hack : When: Sunday, August 17th, at 2:30 PM Where: Tauranga Citizens Club Tickets: Sisters in Country - Palmerston North - Eventfinda Their recently recorded album, Downunder Girls, which they proudly wrote and produced themselves, gained them a #1 on the NZ Official Album Charts, proving their continued relevance and immense appeal. In exciting news for fans, Sisters in Country are also working with Kay Gregan of The Travel Brokers Hello World. They are currently calling for Expressions of Interest (EOI) for their bespoke "Harmony Road" tour, offering a unique opportunity for fans to travel with Jodi, Aly, and Marian to Australia in January 2026. This special holiday tour will coincide with the Tamworth Country Music Festival and include other fantastic destinations such as a Sydney Harbour Cruise, a Hunter Valley Wine Experience, Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay, and the Gold Coast.
Scoop
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Outdoors & Freedom Party Highlights Media Silence On Royal Commission Submissions
Press Release – NZ Outdoors and Freedom Party The Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons Learned Te Tira Ārai Urutā, has had a remarkable level of public engagement in its Phase Two, with 31,000 submissions received by the Sunday, April 27th deadline. Despite the massive public interest and the importance of learning from the Covid response the inquiry has been largely overlooked by major TV networks and most of the New Zealand media. Phase One of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons Learned | Te Tira Ārai Urutā received over 13,000 submissions despite excluding important questions such as vaccine safety and efficacy. This almost tripling of submissions for Phase 2 highlights the public interest in areas the government would prefer to have ignored. The one media report that has covered this was RNZ Morning report, where reporter Corin Dann questioned the Royal Commission Chair when questioned over issues like Vaccine Safety said. 'Just Like any court hearing we have to look at both sides of the story.' The 2025 'Trust in News in Aotearoa New Zealand' report from the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) Centre for Journalism, Media and Democracy (JMAD) shows a marginal decrease in overall trust in news, from 33% in 2024 to 32% in 2025. While still low, this suggests a slowing down of the sharp decline observed in previous years. 'It's not surprising that the public has lost trust in news media news' says Aly Cook, Publicist board member and media spokesperson for NZ Outdoors and Freedom Party 'if mainstream media fail to cover such important news as this public inquiry with unprecedented level of public engagement, the public will look elsewhere for news.' 'The 31,000 submissions to Phase Two of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons Learned | Te Tira Ārai Urutā, is potentially the largest ever for such an inquiry in New Zealand. It's inexplicable that it has not been headline news.' Said Sue Grey Leader, of the NZ Outdoors Party and a specialist in complex emerging issues who has law science and public health qualifications . Aly Cook, mother of a formally diagnosed & ACC accepted vaccine-injured son , previously saw her petition to Parliament, which called for a Royal Commission into COVID-19 vaccine safety and efficacy (a topic excluded from the first inquiry), garner significant public support with 23,098 signatures that petition also experienced apparent media silence. Adding to the concern over the lack of media coverage of significant public engagement with the Royal Commission, there's also been a similar lack of reporting on the level of vaccine injury and deaths recognised by ACC. ACC's latest proactive release, as of January 2025, shows 5 ACC recognised deaths in New Zealand linked to the COVID-19 vaccine, alongside $12.6 million in ACC payouts to those who have experienced vaccine-related injuries. This significant data on acknowledged adverse events has also seemingly been underreported by major news outlets. The New Zealand Outdoors and Freedom Party believes that in 2025, four years after the pandemic's onset, it's crucial for the media to present balanced perspectives, as Grant Illingworth said in his interview 'Just Like any court hearing we have to look at both sides of the story.' This balanced approach is essential for the media to regain public trust and support, especially considering the perceived lack of coverage surrounding significant public engagement with the Royal Commission of Inquiry and ACC data on vaccine injuries and deaths.
Scoop
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Outdoors & Freedom Party Highlights Media Silence On Royal Commission Submissions
Press Release – NZ Outdoors and Freedom Party Phase One of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons Learned | Te Tira rai Urut received over 13,000 submissions despite excluding important questions such as vaccine safety and efficacy. The Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons Learned Te Tira Ārai Urutā, has had a remarkable level of public engagement in its Phase Two, with 31,000 submissions received by the Sunday, April 27th deadline. Despite the massive public interest and the importance of learning from the Covid response the inquiry has been largely overlooked by major TV networks and most of the New Zealand media. Phase One of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons Learned | Te Tira Ārai Urutā received over 13,000 submissions despite excluding important questions such as vaccine safety and efficacy. This almost tripling of submissions for Phase 2 highlights the public interest in areas the government would prefer to have ignored. The one media report that has covered this was RNZ Morning report, where reporter Corin Dann questioned the Royal Commission Chair when questioned over issues like Vaccine Safety said. 'Just Like any court hearing we have to look at both sides of the story.' The 2025 'Trust in News in Aotearoa New Zealand' report from the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) Centre for Journalism, Media and Democracy (JMAD) shows a marginal decrease in overall trust in news, from 33% in 2024 to 32% in 2025. While still low, this suggests a slowing down of the sharp decline observed in previous years. 'It's not surprising that the public has lost trust in news media news' says Aly Cook, Publicist board member and media spokesperson for NZ Outdoors and Freedom Party 'if mainstream media fail to cover such important news as this public inquiry with unprecedented level of public engagement, the public will look elsewhere for news.' 'The 31,000 submissions to Phase Two of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons Learned | Te Tira Ārai Urutā, is potentially the largest ever for such an inquiry in New Zealand. It's inexplicable that it has not been headline news.' Said Sue Grey Leader, of the NZ Outdoors Party and a specialist in complex emerging issues who has law science and public health qualifications . Aly Cook, mother of a formally diagnosed & ACC accepted vaccine-injured son , previously saw her petition to Parliament, which called for a Royal Commission into COVID-19 vaccine safety and efficacy (a topic excluded from the first inquiry), garner significant public support with 23,098 signatures that petition also experienced apparent media silence. Adding to the concern over the lack of media coverage of significant public engagement with the Royal Commission, there's also been a similar lack of reporting on the level of vaccine injury and deaths recognised by ACC. ACC's latest proactive release, as of January 2025, shows 5 ACC recognised deaths in New Zealand linked to the COVID-19 vaccine, alongside $12.6 million in ACC payouts to those who have experienced vaccine-related injuries. This significant data on acknowledged adverse events has also seemingly been underreported by major news outlets. The New Zealand Outdoors and Freedom Party believes that in 2025, four years after the pandemic's onset, it's crucial for the media to present balanced perspectives, as Grant Illingworth said in his interview 'Just Like any court hearing we have to look at both sides of the story.' This balanced approach is essential for the media to regain public trust and support, especially considering the perceived lack of coverage surrounding significant public engagement with the Royal Commission of Inquiry and ACC data on vaccine injuries and deaths.
Scoop
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Outdoors & Freedom Party Highlights Media Silence On Royal Commission Submissions
The Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons Learned Te Tira Ārai Urutā, has had a remarkable level of public engagement in its Phase Two, with 31,000 submissions received by the Sunday, April 27th deadline. Despite the massive public interest and the importance of learning from the Covid response the inquiry has been largely overlooked by major TV networks and most of the New Zealand media. Phase One of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons Learned | Te Tira Ārai Urutā received over 13,000 submissions despite excluding important questions such as vaccine safety and efficacy. This almost tripling of submissions for Phase 2 highlights the public interest in areas the government would prefer to have ignored. The one media report that has covered this was RNZ Morning report, where reporter Corin Dann questioned the Royal Commission Chair when questioned over issues like Vaccine Safety said. "Just Like any court hearing we have to look at both sides of the story." The 2025 "Trust in News in Aotearoa New Zealand" report from the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) Centre for Journalism, Media and Democracy (JMAD) shows a marginal decrease in overall trust in news, from 33% in 2024 to 32% in 2025. While still low, this suggests a slowing down of the sharp decline observed in previous years. "It's not surprising that the public has lost trust in news media news" says Aly Cook, Publicist board member and media spokesperson for NZ Outdoors and Freedom Party"if mainstream media fail to cover such important news as this public inquiry with unprecedented level of public engagement, the public will look elsewhere for news.' 'The 31,000 submissions to Phase Two of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons Learned | Te Tira Ārai Urutā, is potentially the largest ever for such an inquiry in New Zealand. It's inexplicable that it has not been headline news." Said Sue Grey Leader, of the NZ Outdoors Party and a specialist in complex emerging issues who has law science and public health qualifications . Aly Cook, mother of a formally diagnosed & ACC accepted vaccine-injured son , previously saw her petition to Parliament, which called for a Royal Commission into COVID-19 vaccine safety and efficacy (a topic excluded from the first inquiry), garner significant public support with 23,098 signatures that petition also experienced apparent media silence. Adding to the concern over the lack of media coverage of significant public engagement with the Royal Commission, there's also been a similar lack of reporting on the level of vaccine injury and deaths recognised by ACC. ACC's latest proactive release, as of January 2025, shows 5 ACC recognised deaths in New Zealand linked to the COVID-19 vaccine, alongside $12.6 million in ACC payouts to those who have experienced vaccine-related injuries. This significant data on acknowledged adverse events has also seemingly been underreported by major news outlets. The New Zealand Outdoors and Freedom Party believes that in 2025, four years after the pandemic's onset, it's crucial for the media to present balanced perspectives, as Grant Illingworth said in his interview 'Just Like any court hearing we have to look at both sides of the story." This balanced approach is essential for the media to regain public trust and support, especially considering the perceived lack of coverage surrounding significant public engagement with the Royal Commission of Inquiry and ACC data on vaccine injuries and deaths.
