Latest news with #Rockit
Otago Daily Times
18-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Apple venture taking off on dairy farm paddocks
Coastal dairy farm paddocks in Canterbury are being transformed into a high-production horticultural venture. Pendarves is about to become a lot busier as 250ha of apples will be supported by infrastructure on site, including accommodation for 100 staff. Named Tōrea Orchard and referred to colloquially by workers as ''the hort resort'', the orchard will be supported by accommodation for a further 200 seasonal staff off-site, to be built in Ashburton or Rakaia. It's a development that will see millions injected into the Mid Canterbury economy. Conversion is going ahead at pace, despite recent rain and lots of mud. Up to 125 workers on site daily include permanent and overseas staff on the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme. Trellis, involving steel frames and thousands of kilometres of wire, and irrigation, is being installed prior to planting of the first trees on Monday. There will be 900,000 trees in two stages, producing 116 million premium export Rockit and Joli apples per year. Tōrea Orchard is the first large scale Joli planting in New Zealand. Owned by the NZ Super Fund and managed by FarmRight, the orchard will become a significant employer – about 85 full-time equivalent permanents, about 450 for picking over seven weeks, about 150 for pruning. The first picking season will be 2028. Among the first permanent workers is Matt Bentley of Ashburton. The orchard manager began in February. From a cropping background, Bentley said he was enjoying the role, especially staff training and hiring. ''People management is what I love. I think that's what's going to be the best for me, growing people alongside the crop.'' FarmRight managers at Tōrea Orchard are just as excited as orchard manager Matt Bentley about the project. Meeting The Ashburton Courier on site last week were chief operating officer Gavin Tayles, general manager pip fruit Red Martin and general manager NZ Super Fund rural portfolio Ed Tapp. The trio said Bentley was an example of how staff did not need to have a background in horticulture for the many roles on offer. ''It will be a new opportunity for people to get into the industry, and we will teach them what to do,'' Tapp said. Martin said Mid Canterbury's cold winters would be perfect for producing crisp and juicy apples. 'Winter chill condenses the bloom and gives a good fruit set,'' he said. Tayles said the development would inject millions into Mid Canterbury's economy. In about four years, the annual spend on employment would be up to 40 times that of a dairy farm. ''The development will create employment opportunities and flow-on benefits for community groups, churches and sports teams,'' Tayles said. Increased traffic on surrounding rural roads would be minimised with bus and van transport provided for seasonal workers from the off-site accommodation in Ashburton or Rakaia. The off-site accommodation would be for picking and pruning staff brought into the area, likely under the RSE scheme. ''We will be looking to create synergies with other local seasonal workforces to help extend periods of work for people.''
CNN
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Noah Wyle explains why he didn't dance through ‘The Jennifer Hudson Show' Spirit Tunnel
There's a reason why Jennifer Hudson gave Noah Wyle a 'hall pass' from dancing his way through her show's Spirit Tunnel. 'The Pitt' star declined enter 'The Jennifer Hudson Show' set the way many guests have, which is to dance through a 'tunnel' created by a team of show employees as they clap and sing. Wyle later explained to Hudson why he declined to show of his moves. 'It would've triggered a bigger breakdown than I had on ('The Pitt') two weeks ago if I had done it,' Wyle said. Viewers of his hit medical drama know that Wyle was referencing a particularly intense episode in which his character, Dr. Michael 'Robby' Robinavitch, was overcome with emotion after suffering the loss of a patient following a mass shooting. Wyle said a classmate's bar mitzvah in 1984 has forever deterred him from dancing in public. At the time, the actor said, he 'fancied' himself a breakdancer. A post shared by The Jennifer Hudson Show (@jenniferhudsonshow) 'I went out and I heard Herbie Hancock's 'Rockit' playing in front of all my classmates,' Wyle recalled. 'And I attempted the worm and I got into some kind of inverted position and it all collapsed on me.' So while he would have loved to have shown the same type of enthusiasm for Hudson's Spirit Tunnel, he said 'nobody needs to see that.' Wyle threw out that he might attempt to 'babystep it.' Hudson was understanding. 'We're just happy to have you here,' she said. Wyle is not the only guest to have gone their own way. Producer and musician Benny Blanco, who is engaged to Selena Gomez, handed out flowers instead of grooving down the Spirit Tunnel.
CNN
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Noah Wyle explains why he didn't dance through ‘The Jennifer Hudson Show' Spirit Tunnel
There's a reason why Jennifer Hudson gave Noah Wyle a 'hall pass' from dancing his way through her show's Spirit Tunnel. 'The Pitt' star declined enter 'The Jennifer Hudson Show' set the way many guests have, which is to dance through a 'tunnel' created by a team of show employees as they clap and sing. Wyle later explained to Hudson why he declined to show of his moves. 'It would've triggered a bigger breakdown than I had on ('The Pitt') two weeks ago if I had done it,' Wyle said. Viewers of his hit medical drama know that Wyle was referencing a particularly intense episode in which his character, Dr. Michael 'Robby' Robinavitch, was overcome with emotion after suffering the loss of a patient following a mass shooting. Wyle said a classmate's bar mitzvah in 1984 has forever deterred him from dancing in public. At the time, the actor said, he 'fancied' himself a breakdancer. A post shared by The Jennifer Hudson Show (@jenniferhudsonshow) 'I went out and I heard Herbie Hancock's 'Rockit' playing in front of all my classmates,' Wyle recalled. 'And I attempted the worm and I got into some kind of inverted position and it all collapsed on me.' So while he would have loved to have shown the same type of enthusiasm for Hudson's Spirit Tunnel, he said 'nobody needs to see that.' Wyle threw out that he might attempt to 'babystep it.' Hudson was understanding. 'We're just happy to have you here,' she said. Wyle is not the only guest to have gone their own way. Producer and musician Benny Blanco, who is engaged to Selena Gomez, handed out flowers instead of grooving down the Spirit Tunnel.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jazz legend Herbie Hancock to perform in Rockford in fall 2025
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Legendary jazz musician Herbie Hancock will perform in Rockford in Fall 2025. Hancock began his career as a pianist at age 11, playing with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. His first album, 'Takin' Off,' was released in 1961, after which Hancock worked with Miles Davis for five years. Recognized as one of the greatest pianists of all time, Hancock explored the use of electronic instruments in his music. In 1983, his single 'Rockit' became a hit on MTV. He also wrote the scores for several films, including Blow-Up (1966), Death Wish (1974), and Round Midnight (1987), for which he won an Academy Award. Hancock has won 12 Grammy Awards over the past 2 decades. Hard Rock Live announced that Hancock will perform at the Hard Rock Casino Rockford on Friday, October 24th. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 4th, on and at the Hard Rock Live box office. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
