The “fasten seatbelts” sign flashed on, signaling our final descent. The clouds that had obscured Europe for the majority of the trip, slid past the aircraft windows and opened up the view to a featureless landscape covered with snow and long shadows thrown off by a sinking sun. I began to feel that familiar sense of anxiety when the wheels…
It is December, people talk excitedly about the upcoming holidays – what they want to do, where they want to go. Travel agents advertise frenetically, trying to out do the cut throat competition for trips to exotic and warm destinations: Egypt, India, Thailand, and for the first time this year I even have heard advertisements for Indonesia. Times change rapidly…
Canterbury local Helen Heddell is not a usual hero, but her volunteer role which she took up in the aftermath of the Christchurch February 22 earthquake was vital. Hedell coordinated the catering for the Farmy Army which assisted the clean up of Christchurch after the February 22 earthquake. “We had anything from 200 to 1200 volunteers a day which we…
I used to think that it was the big things, catastrophes, disasters and hair-brained adventures which were the stuff of excitement. They happen rarely though and I’m starting to appreciate this may be a good thing, even if it leads to dull news. So I suppose I should take the time to enjoy the small events and sights that I…
The Cardinal of Manila, Gaudencio Borbon Rosales, has spent the last two weeks visiting the Cook Islands. He took time out this week to chat about his visit, his life and renewable energy. Sitting on the veranda of the Bishop’s House in Avarua, Cardinal Rosales looks as though he enjoys life. “I am astounded by how people live here,” he…
The Cooks comprise 15 islands which are broken into two groups, the Southern and the Northern Cooks. The Northern Cooks are about 10 degrees of latitude north of the southern cooks. This is a huge distance, the Society Islands are closer to Rarotonga than some of the Cooks. The population of the entire country is estimated by various sources as being from 13,000 to…
Christchurch fencer Luke Robertson will be a leading contender in the National Championships in Wellington on November 19-21. Peter Campbell talks to the man others call El Toro. Charging feet thunder, metal clashes. It’s Monday evening and New Zealand’s reigning sabre champion is polishing his lunges and ripostes. “When I step onto the piste and put my mask on, I…
The winds that chill New Zealand’s winter rush across 2500km of sea from Antarctica. In winter, Antarctica is the coldest place on Earth, a place of darkness. Scientists work there throughout the year. Air support enables them to turn an inhospitable land into a laboratory where they research climate change, biology, oceanography, and an innumerable number of other subjects. Peter…
New Brighton band Smoking Jacket reformed for a one off concert on Saturday at Thompson Park, 16 years after its last album. The band was a key attraction at the We Love New Brighton Fun Day. “I wanted to support local bands and Smoking Jacket is legendary. I was stoked when they agreed to play for us,” said Marcus Puentener,…
An absorbing and skilful story, exploring the attitudes of a younger brother who has grown up overawed by the image of his elder brother, whose life is changed when he goes to Bosnia and Serbia to explore the land that took his brother’s life.
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