Latest news with #Kerikeri
NZ Herald
4 days ago
- NZ Herald
Letters: What a marvellous achievement for the New Zealand Youth Choir
Bernard Walker, Mt Maunganui. Bootcamps It is interesting to learn that Oranga Tamariki is not going to release information regarding future offending after attending bootcamps. But most people aren't stupid and the obvious conclusion to draw is that the reoffending rate must be high to the point of embarrassment. But what to do? Well, if you reoffend, then it's back to a stricter camp, such that offenders eventually just won't want to have to go back. But it also begs the question as to just how much education as to the rights and wrongs of life are these people getting, and it's also fair to say they probably have, in most cases, been let down by dysfunctional families. So, at least try and fix that part of what is a complex equation, but in the end, make sure that there are consequences. Paul Beck, West Harbour Concert radio In the past, the concert programme offered a rich and varied journey through the wonderful world of music. These days, it feels more repetitive and lacks the spark it once had. Music has the power to slow the pace of life and soothe the troubled mind – a gift worth sharing in all its depth. Perhaps a gentle spoken introduction could guide listeners through themes like Percy Grainger, European folk and gypsy traditions, South American and Japanese music, early American tunes, solo instruments like the cello or clarinet, and the voices of great tenors – just a few of the many possibilities that could inspire and uplift. Brian Cross, Kerikeri. Literacy and numeracy I wonder how much of the shocking decline in literacy and numeracy exam results can be attributed to the changes in the way teachers are trained? A century ago, when my mother entered the Auckland Teacher Training College, actual entry was preceded by a year in the classroom as a 'pupil teacher'. This had two major benefits. Firstly, the teacher involved had an assistant who, as they were there for a year, could become very helpful. Secondly, the trainees had the opportunity to find out if they were actually suited to teaching. This eliminated many unsuitable ones before money and time were wasted on them. Today, however, teacher training has become far more academic. The Auckland College of Education was actually absorbed into Auckland University early this century. Our literacy standards used to be among the best in the world, but you cannot handle young children as though they are 'adult students' and expect them to absorb the basics at the essential - almost subconscious - level. Jeanette Grant, Mt Eden. War in Gaza The militant group Hamas is running the Gaza Strip where the war is still going on. In your letters to the editor, (Anne Priestley, June 17) writes that leaders should say 'stop' and take action. Israel is blamed for all the damage that is done to the people and their country. We never hear what Hamas' part in the war is. They are hiding in schools and hospitals for their own safety and so offer up their own people in this war and Israel is blamed for that but if Hamas would love their own, they would never hide in those places. I certainly do not agree with all that Israel is doing but we have a saying: where two fight, two are guilty. Never in the media do we hear what Hamas is doing to their own, only Israel's actions. A 'stop' should be asked equally of Israel and Hamas. D Hoekstra, Henderson. Coalition Government Is there no end to the dreadful decisions this coalition Government is making? Brooke van Velden, stating that to cast out more than 500,000 books from the National Library will be 'beneficial' to the taxpayer, trimming about $1m in storage costs. The Bible, Quran, Shakespeare, Virginia Woolf, and Charles Dickens are still relevant today, as Romeo and Juliet being performed in Auckland this week attests. This Government has no compunction to change any and everything as they see fit, usually ignoring specialists in their field, such as doctors, nurses, teachers, scientists. The mind boggles. As Oscar Wilde said, 'A cynic is a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.' Sharon Marks, Te Aroha. Ratepayer money It seems a bit rich for the Government to castigate local councils for wasting our rates money, when it's clear that most of their meagre income is spent on basic public facilities. Meanwhile, we have so much funding of questionable initiatives by central government, squandering public money. 'Rejecting official advice' and relying on anecdotal evidence to make policy is unacceptable and yet seems to be how this Government operates. There are so many examples: Huge spending on failed experiments in punishment, such as bootcamps and Three Strikes, and building mega prisons - this money would be better spent on prevention and rehabilitation. Instead of fixing public health, millions are funnelled into expensive private health companies, exacerbating the desperate shortages in the public hospitals. In education, pouring money into publicly funded private Charter schools, where the numbers who have taken up the scheme are tiny, resulting in massively more funding per student compared with the public system. To top it all, we have the expensive Doge-inspired Ministry of (de)Regulation, where government is employing large numbers of bureaucrats to look for other bureaucrats who might be wasting public money doing unnecessary work. We seem to be living in cloud cuckoo land! Vivien Fergusson, Mt Eden. A quick word The proposed container park at Te Puna, in the Western Bay of Plenty is crazy. The stretch of road between there and the port is some of the most congested in the country. Other industrial areas nearer the port would be more appropriate; increasing truck traffic on this part of SH2 would only exacerbate a huge traffic problem. Neville Cameron, Coromandel. I read in the Herald (July 17) that the National Library will remove religious books and books by William Shakespeare, Virginia Woolf and Charles Dickens to save $1 million. According to the article, the books will all be shredded and recycled. Has the National Library thought to offer these books, at no charge, to appropriate organisations for their use? Surely this would be a better solution than shredding. Janet Boyle, Orewa. Dress it up how they will, this looks to me like cultural vandalism. Perhaps we should call it vanVeldenism. They used to do this sort of thing in China, during the Proletarian Cultural Revolution. It makes New Zealand look like the last refuge of dimwits, with a government that cannot understand anything except how to give more tax cuts to the rich. This is the government that wants the next generation to learn how to read, but is apparently sending the works of Virginia Woolf to the shredder rather than to school libraries. Arch Thomson, Mt Wellington. Commerce Commission chair John Small has jumped the gun. The existence of ride-sharing companies is still up in the air due to the non-payment of taxes with this business model. Exploiting both the drivers and the taxman. I will expect him to resign as his credibility is lost. Ian Gaskin, Tuai. I'm not surprised open-plan classrooms have not worked. Learning needs to be focused, and teachers need to be able to monitor their students and ensure all are catered to. Open plan was way too new age, some might consider a bit woke even. As long as students get tailored education that maximised their potential, everyone wins. John Ford, Taradale. Our petrol is shipped 8500km from Singapore and costs $2.20 per litre and our milk only travels 200km and costs $3.40 per litre. Something is wrong here. Richard Murray, Henderson.
RNZ News
04-07-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Mia Anderson set for her Black Ferns debut on home patch
Mia Anderson has been named at blindside for the Black Ferns as they face a Black Ferns XV in a trial match. Photo: Photosport In the region where she would emulate her rugby heroes as a child, Mia Anderson returns home to Northland on Saturday to realise her Black Ferns dream. Born in Kerikeri, Anderson knew as young as four years old what she wanted to be. Her journey to that goal was put on pause for the birth of her child, but has resumed with a rapid ascension to the national side. "I've played rugby since I was a little kid. Obviously, this has always been the dream. Then I had my son and I kind of put it on hold and then once I returned to rugby after my baby, this has definitely been the dream. So, it's pretty special to be here." Returning from maternity leave in 2024 with Chiefs Manawa, Anderson has been named at blindside for the Black Ferns as they get set to take on the Black Ferns XV in a trial match. Though not officially a test debut, the moment is just as special. "I'm so grateful to be in here with all these amazing women. Yeah, honestly, there's just no words. I'm just really grateful to be in such a cool environment with such amazing coaches and amazing players." New Black Fern Mia Anderson. Photo: Photosport While she was elated with the news, the call didn't exactly come out of the blue. "I was at home, I had been waiting by the phone all day, hoping." The debut also doubles as a homecoming for Anderson, who was selected to play FPC as a 17-year-old. "I played for Northland first while I was at school and just a really proud Northland girl, so I'm so lucky to be going back there." She is expecting to see plenty of familiar faces in the crowd cheering for her. "There's so many. I've been begging everyone for tickets, there'll be a big group of family there, a loud fan club." The 23-year-old said she was still in awe of some of her new team-mates. "I've been around them for a couple years now, which still seems surreal that they're just your team-mate. I used to watch highlight videos of some of them when I was a kid, which is a little while ago. It's unreal." With the World Cup on the horizon, Anderson is determined to stake a claim in the Black Ferns stacked loose forward stocks. "I'm really excited to show what I can do. I really want to be there. Obviously, I think everyone does, so yeah, I just keep putting my best foot forward and fingers crossed." Black Ferns vs Black Ferns XV trial Kick off 1.05pm at Semenoff Stadium in Whangārei. Saturday 5 July Black Ferns squad 1. Awhina Tangen-Wainohu 2. Atlanta Lolohea 3. Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu 4. Alana Bremner (Co-captain) 5. Ma'ama Mo'onia Vaipulu 6. Mia Anderson 7. Layla Sae 8. Liana Mikaele-Tu'u 9. Maia Joseph 10. Kelly Brazier 11. Katelyn Vahaakolo 12. Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu Atai'i Sylvia Brunt 13. Stacey Waaka 14. Portia Woodman-Wickliffe 15. Braxton Sorensen-McGee Bench: 16. Kate Henwood 17. Vici-Rose Green 18. Tanya Kalounivale 19. Chelsea Bremner 20. Maiakawanakaulani Roos 21. Jorja Miller 22. Risaleaana Pouri-Lane 23. Ruahei Demant (Co-Captain) 24. Ayesha Leti-I'iga 25. Theresa Setefano 26. Amy du Plessis 27. Renee Holmes 28. Chryss Viliko 29. Georgia Ponsonby 30. Amy Rule Black Ferns director of performance: Allan Bunting Black Ferns XV 1. Krystal Murray 2. Luka Connor 3. Ashley Palu 4. Laura Bayfield 5. Sam Taylor 6. Holly Greenway (Captain) 7. Elinor-Plum King 8. Taufa Bason 9. Iritana Hohaia 10. Hannah King 11. Jaymie Kolose 12. Hollyrae Mete-Renata 13. Kelsey Teneti 14. Ruby Tui 15. Kaea Nepia Bench: 16. Grace Leaso Gago 17. Jordy Tihore 18. Marcelle Parkes 19. Maddi Robinson 20. Harono Te Iringa 21. Cheyenne Tuli-Fale 22. Lucy Jenkins 23. Fiaali'i Solomona 24. Reese Anderson 25. Keira Su'a-Smith 26. Justine McGregor 27. Winnie Palamo 28. Tara Turner Black Ferns XV head coach Willie Walker Mia Anderson scoring for Waikato in the FPC. Photo: DJ Mills /
RNZ News
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Food: From a Corrections gig to Taco Bandit
After 12 years delivering arts and well-being programmes in the prison system, Beth Hill made quite the pivot... starting up a Mexican food truck. She'd found herself without work last year after Government funding cuts. It led her to inject her creative passion into starting Taco Bandit, which serves up bold fusion-style tacos in Northland. Taco Bandit will be at Brew of Islands on June 28th in Kerikeri. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Northland Champion Gerry Paul - Brew of Islands Festival
Turner Centre general manager Gerry Paul, left, and Pioneer Tavern publican Tyler Bamber are organising Northland's first craft beer festival. Photo: Supplied If you're looking for something to do to pass the winter blues by, look no further than the Brew of Islands Festival taking place next weekend in Kerikeri. The festival is a celebration of the best of what the region has to offer, from food, music, and of course local breweries. Unofficial northland champion, Gerry Paul is one of the event organisers. Gerry was previously Wellington's CubaDupa festival director for many years and he currently runs Northlands premier arts venue, The Turner Centre. He speaks with Paddy Gower.
RNZ News
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Kapa haka group practises for first-ever public performance in Kerikeri
Sophia Thomas and Rawi Pere lead the group in a practice session. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf A kapa group with a difference is practising furiously for its first-ever public performance in Kerikeri this Matariki weekend. Ngāti Rēhia Community Kapa Haka is unusual in that most of its 40-odd members have never done kapa haka before - or if they did, it was decades ago in primary school. The group's a mix of Māori and Pākehā of all ages, with a sprinkling of other nationalities such as Sir Lankan, Irish and German. All they had in common when they started eight weeks ago was a love of kapa haka and a desire to learn more about te ao Māori [the Māori world]. It's an initiative by Bay of Islands hapū Ngāti Rēhia to give all nationalities a chance to experience Māori performing arts and expand their te reo. Every member has a different reason for joining the group. For Tara Forsyth, it was the chance to reconnect with her culture. "But doing it away from my whānau so I can mess up without them all laughing at me," she said. "I've also got three young kids who've really embraced te reo at school, so I figured that I need to up my game. The kids laughed at me when I said I was doing this. So I'm out to prove them wrong as well, that mama can do it." As for Jacqui Cox, her mother was barred from speaking te reo at school, and she was part of the generation that grew up without the language. Now the newly retired Whangārei Hospital nurse was finally making up for lost time. "I decided to make a retirement bucket list. And at the top of that list was kapa haka. It's something I've wanted to do for a long, long time, so here I am, and I'm loving it," she said. Learning the poi is one of the biggest challenges in the Ngāti Rēhia Community Kapa Haka programme. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf Anna Dadson said she worked alone in her landscaping business, so she was looking for connection. "I've been craving team and community, and kapa haka appealed because it was out of my comfort zone so it's a challenge for myself to practise practising … and just coming together as a collective to sing and create joy and harmony just feeds my heart." Blake Nock, who last did kapa haka as a schoolboy, said he wanted to rejuvenate the mauri [life force] within himself. "But also to get another haka under my belt. I love it. I love the energy and the mauri that it gives me." Amanda Bates joined up because she wasn't sure she'd get another chance like it, given "the way things are shifting in Aotearoa". She also wanted to set an example for her children. "I wanted to show my kids that it's never too late to step up, give something a go, and be proud of who we are. Being part of kapa haka helps me support them when they come home from kura with their own waiata, so we're learning and growing together in te Ao Māori." Ngāti Rēhia Community Kapa Haka founder Rawi Pere is the heart of the eight-week programme. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf Tash Wharerau was raised in a religion where kapa haka was effectively forbidden, so she was also making up for lost time. "But mostly I just love to sing. I love waiata and I wanted the chance to learn kapa haka. Ngāti Rehia are very gentle and welcoming and all-encompassing of everybody." Eighty-year-old Neil Hawkins, the oldest member of the group, was also motivated by a love of singing. He joined with his wife, Maureen, and refused to miss a session even as he was recovering from surgery. "We never had music in our family growing up, we never sang. So we're having a late run at getting into music in our golden years," he said. Guitar maestro Danny Kaiawe - who once played in a heavy metal band - says he tries to bring his own unique style to kapa haka. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf Meanwhile, for Penelope Kavanagh, kapa haka was not just a way to reconnect with te ao Māori, but also with her childhood and with New Zealand. She grew up a Pākehā child opposite a marae in Pungarehu, Taranaki, where she was welcomed with open arms. The family later moved to Australia, but after 40 years she felt the call to come home. "I used to pop over to the marae every day on my horse and take part in the culture. It was so much fun and I learnt so much. One of the things I wanted to do when I got home was reconnect with Māori culture because it was such a wonderful memory of my childhood. It really enriched me," she said. The kapa haka novices had just eight weeks to learn a programme of challenging choral pieces, action songs, poi and a specially composed haka. Tara Forsyth said it was tough juggling practice sessions with running a busy café in Kerikeri and raising a family. "It's been amazing but daunting. I've had a few moments where I kind of doubted that I should be here. I didn't realise the commitment would be as big as it is, but in saying that, it's very worthwhile." Tutor and motivator-in-chief Sophia Thomas describes herself as the glue holding the programme together. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf Tutor Sophia Thomas said she enjoyed watching the tauira [learners] as confusion was replaced by the "lightbulb moment" when they suddenly mastered the songs and actions. "A lot of our whānau have spoken about their tamariki being the driving force of them joining this roopu [group], to learn more reo Māori, to immerse themselves in a kaupapa that the kids love to do at school … But the joy that we see and the enlightenment that our whānau get, there's just no words to explain." Practising the poi. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf The group was founded by Ngāti Rehia's Rawi Pere, who said she wanted to give all nationalities a chance to experience kapa haka and embrace te reo Māori. It was the second year the programme had been run, with participants paying what they could afford, to a maximum of $200, and the Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board also providing funding. She expected the performers would feel nervous once they saw the size of the audience at the Turner Centre on Sunday evening. "But then adrenaline will come in and they'll be fine, because we'll be doing it as a kapa haka whānau," she said. Amanda Bates confirmed the pre-show nerves, but also said the past eight weeks had been life-changing. "It's been miharo [amazing]. It's filled my wairua in a way that I didn't really even know was missing, the support and the laughs and the shared purpose. I'm grateful to be part of something that's big for my reo, my culture, but also my sense of belonging." * Ngāti Rēhia Community Kapa Haka will perform a one-off Matariki show at the Turner Centre in Kerikeri from 6pm on 22 June, together with Pacific dance-theatre Shapes in the Clouds and the Vanuatu String Band. Only a handful of the pay-what-you-choose tickets were left as of Wednesday night. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
