Latest news with #BlackGrace
NZ Herald
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Midlife nightlife crisis: Finding late-evening fun for over-40s in our cities
The Auckland Arts Festival is in full swing and we're in the Town Hall waiting for dance company Black Grace to come on stage for its 30th anniversary show. A DJ is warming the crowd with old-school club favourites, mostly stuff from the 80s and 90s. The guy behind the decks cuts a familiar figure, a silhouette in a bucket hat. His name is Manuel Matisi but everyone knows him as Manuel Bundy. If you're in your 40s or
Scoop
24-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Business Is Buzzing In Porirua
Press Release – Porirua City Council Poriruas commitment to business has meant a busy schedule of activities and events this year. While the sold-out BizFest 2025: Kp i te pae – Light up the Horizon will be a great opportunity to learn, network and connect, there are a number of … Porirua's commitment to business has meant a busy schedule of activities and events this year. While the sold-out BizFest 2025: Kōpū i te pae – Light up the Horizon will be a great opportunity to learn, network and connect, there are a number of other events in Porirua to help boost businesses. BizFest is at Te Rauparaha Arena on 1 July, with double Olympic gold winner, Dame Valerie Adams, and Black Grace founder and director Neil Ieremia among the speakers. With an awesome lineup of sessions and kōrero, Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says it will be a fantastic day for the city's business sector. 'Porirua is a great place to do business and with the events we have on the calendar now, it means our city is humming. We're always looking to keep moving forward,' she says. A new pop-up initiative – BizHub – will kick off at Kai Tahi from 1 August. BizHub aims to keep the momentum from BizFest going and bring the business community together every second Friday, as a hub for advice, connections and support. 'BizFest and BizHub are both collaborations between Porirua City Council and Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira and it's a partnership approach that's focusing on uplifting and connecting Porirua businesses,' Mayor Baker says. Earlier this month the Love Local Expo showcased the best of our local products, services, crafts and community services – with more than 130 stalls and thousands of people coming through the Arena on 7 June. Other events coming up on the calendar are Visa Wellington on a Plate and the ever-popular ChoctoberFest. Visa WOAP will be held from 1-31 August in Porirua and there'll be outstanding burger creations to tempt your tastebuds from businesses across Porirua. It's not to be missed. ChoctoberFest is always a sweet spot with Porirua locals, visitors and businesses. In 2024, the third year of the festival, 20 cafes, eateries and bars took part. More than 13,000 baked treats and drinks were consumed in October, pumping $131,000 into the Porirua economy. 'What I love about the events that we host now for businesses is that they're not just for residents, but they attract visitors to our city,' Mayor Baker says. Also coming up is a three-day Bizezi Spark Programme on 30 and 31 July and 1 August. It's a hands-on business incubator programme, for those thinking about starting a business or wanting to build stronger foundations. You'll work with experts over three days to shape your business plan and set yourself up for success. Later in the month, on 20 August, there's a subsidised half-day workshop Business Growth and Resilience through the Circular Economy, where you can learn how the circular economy can unlock new revenue streams, reduce costs, and future-proof your business.
Scoop
23-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Business Is Buzzing In Porirua
Porirua's commitment to business has meant a busy schedule of activities and events this year. While the sold-out BizFest 2025: Kōpū i te pae - Light up the Horizon will be a great opportunity to learn, network and connect, there are a number of other events in Porirua to help boost businesses. BizFest is at Te Rauparaha Arena on 1 July, with double Olympic gold winner, Dame Valerie Adams, and Black Grace founder and director Neil Ieremia among the speakers. With an awesome lineup of sessions and kōrero, Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says it will be a fantastic day for the city's business sector. "Porirua is a great place to do business and with the events we have on the calendar now, it means our city is humming. We're always looking to keep moving forward," she says. A new pop-up initiative - BizHub - will kick off at Kai Tahi from 1 August. BizHub aims to keep the momentum from BizFest going and bring the business community together every second Friday, as a hub for advice, connections and support. "BizFest and BizHub are both collaborations between Porirua City Council and Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira and it's a partnership approach that's focusing on uplifting and connecting Porirua businesses," Mayor Baker says. Earlier this month the Love Local Expo showcased the best of our local products, services, crafts and community services - with more than 130 stalls and thousands of people coming through the Arena on 7 June. Other events coming up on the calendar are Visa Wellington on a Plate and the ever-popular ChoctoberFest. Visa WOAP will be held from 1-31 August in Porirua and there'll be outstanding burger creations to tempt your tastebuds from businesses across Porirua. It's not to be missed. ChoctoberFest is always a sweet spot with Porirua locals, visitors and businesses. In 2024, the third year of the festival, 20 cafes, eateries and bars took part. More than 13,000 baked treats and drinks were consumed in October, pumping $131,000 into the Porirua economy. "What I love about the events that we host now for businesses is that they're not just for residents, but they attract visitors to our city," Mayor Baker says. Also coming up is a three-day Bizezi Spark Programme on 30 and 31 July and 1 August. It's a hands-on business incubator programme, for those thinking about starting a business or wanting to build stronger foundations. You'll work with experts over three days to shape your business plan and set yourself up for success. Later in the month, on 20 August, there's a subsidised half-day workshop Business Growth and Resilience through the Circular Economy, where you can learn how the circular economy can unlock new revenue streams, reduce costs, and future-proof your business.
Scoop
04-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Porirua's BizFest Announces Two Outstanding Speakers
Press Release – Porirua City Council Topics of discussion on the day will include whats on the economic horizon, how business leaders are navigating uncertain times in the business world, and what are the key ingredients for innovation and success now and into the future. One of New Zealand's most iconic athletes will be speaking at Porirua's BizFest on 1 July, joining the founder of an international dance company who grew up in Cannons Creek. BizFest 2025: Kōpū i te pae – Light up the Horizon will take place on 1 July, a day that aims to inspire and connect business people in our city. Topics of discussion on the day will include what's on the economic horizon, how business leaders are navigating uncertain times in the business world, and what are the key ingredients for innovation and success now and into the future. Dame Valerie Adams is recognised worldwide for her feats in shot put and is a leader and role model in the Pacific community for her work outside athletics. From 2006 to 2016, Dame Valerie was unbeaten in major championships and won Olympic gold at Beijing 2008 and London 2012. A seven-time Halberg sportswoman of the year, her story is one that inspires – post her shot put career, she works in the community to support a number of causes and with commercial partners, while also being chair of the World Athletics Athletes' Commission, a World Athletics Council member and on the board of High Performance Sport New Zealand. Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says having Dame Valerie speak in Porirua is a coup, bringing value to the event by being able to share her experiences as an athlete at the very highest level, her commitment to her community and health and wellbeing, and her advocacy for athletes, especially among women in sport. 'Someone like Dame Valerie will add immense value to BizFest – she is someone who has demonstrated perseverance, discipline and an amazing work ethic, prioritising health and wellbeing, and commitment to helping others. I can't wait to hear what she has to say about pushing through challenges and building resilience,' Mayor Baker says. Black Grace's Neil Ieremia, meanwhile, will add a homegrown flavour to BizFest, with his journey one of inspiration and perspiration. Born in Cannons Creek and of Samoan heritage, Ieremia left home and his banking job at 19 and enrolled in a fulltime dance programme. Founding dance company Black Grace in 1995, he has enjoyed sell-out performances in the US, Mexico and Canada and won numerous accolades at home and abroad for what Black Grace has achieved across the world. Appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2016, Ieremia received the inaugural Moana Creative Enterprise Award at the 2022 Pacific Business Trust Awards and is an honorary member of Dance ICONS, the international organisation of choreographers, along with numerous other honours. Mayor Baker says Ieremia's talk at BizFest should not be missed. 'Neil was rightly inducted into our Hall of Fame at Te Rauparaha Arena in 2022 – he is a local who has gone on to impressive heights around the world and will have a beautiful and authentic story to tell about seizing opportunities and taking our stories from Porirua to the global stage.'
Scoop
04-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Porirua's BizFest Announces Two Outstanding Speakers
Press Release – Porirua City Council Topics of discussion on the day will include whats on the economic horizon, how business leaders are navigating uncertain times in the business world, and what are the key ingredients for innovation and success now and into the future. One of New Zealand's most iconic athletes will be speaking at Porirua's BizFest on 1 July, joining the founder of an international dance company who grew up in Cannons Creek. BizFest 2025: Kōpū i te pae – Light up the Horizon will take place on 1 July, a day that aims to inspire and connect business people in our city. Topics of discussion on the day will include what's on the economic horizon, how business leaders are navigating uncertain times in the business world, and what are the key ingredients for innovation and success now and into the future. Dame Valerie Adams is recognised worldwide for her feats in shot put and is a leader and role model in the Pacific community for her work outside athletics. From 2006 to 2016, Dame Valerie was unbeaten in major championships and won Olympic gold at Beijing 2008 and London 2012. A seven-time Halberg sportswoman of the year, her story is one that inspires – post her shot put career, she works in the community to support a number of causes and with commercial partners, while also being chair of the World Athletics Athletes' Commission, a World Athletics Council member and on the board of High Performance Sport New Zealand. Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says having Dame Valerie speak in Porirua is a coup, bringing value to the event by being able to share her experiences as an athlete at the very highest level, her commitment to her community and health and wellbeing, and her advocacy for athletes, especially among women in sport. 'Someone like Dame Valerie will add immense value to BizFest – she is someone who has demonstrated perseverance, discipline and an amazing work ethic, prioritising health and wellbeing, and commitment to helping others. I can't wait to hear what she has to say about pushing through challenges and building resilience,' Mayor Baker says. Black Grace's Neil Ieremia, meanwhile, will add a homegrown flavour to BizFest, with his journey one of inspiration and perspiration. Born in Cannons Creek and of Samoan heritage, Ieremia left home and his banking job at 19 and enrolled in a fulltime dance programme. Founding dance company Black Grace in 1995, he has enjoyed sell-out performances in the US, Mexico and Canada and won numerous accolades at home and abroad for what Black Grace has achieved across the world. Appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2016, Ieremia received the inaugural Moana Creative Enterprise Award at the 2022 Pacific Business Trust Awards and is an honorary member of Dance ICONS, the international organisation of choreographers, along with numerous other honours. Mayor Baker says Ieremia's talk at BizFest should not be missed. 'Neil was rightly inducted into our Hall of Fame at Te Rauparaha Arena in 2022 – he is a local who has gone on to impressive heights around the world and will have a beautiful and authentic story to tell about seizing opportunities and taking our stories from Porirua to the global stage.'
