In Unison - Health Issue - 2009 by USU Students' Association at Unitec

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The Health Issue Issue 04

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IN UNISON GOES TO REHAB / PARTY PHOTOS UNITEC STUDENT BEHIND BARS DISABLED FOR A DAY AT MT ALBERT CAMPUS

www.usu.co.nz/inunison

AT ’A SSOCIATION

30/04/2009 7:50:59 p.m.

EW EN GI L M O UR J E R EMY E L W O O D JUSTINE SMITH TWO MONSTROUS EVENING SHOWCASES

THURS 21ST & FRI 22ND MAY 7PM CARRINGTON’S, BUILDING 33, UNITEC MT ALBERT $10 USU MEMBERS (UNITEC STUDENTS)

$20 NON-MEMBERS (GENERAL ADMISSION)

$20 DOOR SALES (IF AVALIABLE)

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TICKETS FROM USU RECEPTION • R18 ID REQUIRED AT ’A SSOCIATION

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WWW.USU.CO.NZ 30/04/2009 7:51:00 p.m.

The Health Issue, 1st May 2009

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regulars

Contents

features

Society Thinks You Are Fat and Useless

Disabled for a Day A Day at Unitec in a Wheelchair

In Unison goes to Rehab

Editorial

Poll/Comic

Tirade

Fashion on Campus

News

Photos

17 25

Gig Guide

25 27

Whakarongo Mai

Newsbot

Artist/Grad profile

31 23

Recipes

Dear Barbie Reviews

Dear Dr House

USU STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION AT UNITEC

EDITORIAL INQUIRIES: ph. (09) 815 4321 ext 7927 inunison@unitec.ac.nz PO Box 44016, Pt Chevalier CREDITS EDITOR: Stacey Knott DESIGNER: Erin Gaffney COVER DESIGN: Erin Gaffney

In Unison, Health Issue.indd 3

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: ph. (09) 815 4321 ext. 7384 usuadvertising@unitec.ac.nz

DISCLAIMER Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Submission and contributors are welcome, but the publisher reserves the right to select and edit the material submitted. Materials submitted will remain property of the publisher, unless alternative arrangements are made.

CONTRIBUTORS Joseph Harper / Megha Kehar / Susannah Aitken / Jared Edwards Savannah MacIntosh / Mikel Krummins / Christain Jensen / Greg Powell Stephanie McColl / Newsbot / Barbie / House

30/04/2009 7:52:10 p.m.

editorial

YOUR BODY When I first moved to Auckland I was invited to drinks by some girls I did not know. They were all smokers, I was not. I was vegetarian, they were not. They tried to justify their smoking to each other, pulling out “the facts,” that “only half of all smokers get diseases from it”. It also helped them keep trim, they said. They then went on to tell me how unhealthy vegetarianism is, and could not understand why I would want to be one. The girls spent the whole evening talking about their diets; one refused to eat fruit because it has sugar in it, she explained while knocking back wines, and chewing steaks and hash browns. Another of the girls, who was drastically thin with pumped-up lips, slowly ate the salad on offer, avoiding the breads. When they weren’t talking about their own bodies, they critiqued others, pointing out the flaws of celebrities and friends.

”

Health

While you would think weight and health go hand-in-hand, it’s not always the case..

”

It may go without saying that I have not seen these girls again. They- and many like them- are obsessed with their weight, and achieving what they believe looks good, with little regard for their health. While you would think weight and health go hand-in-hand, it’s not always the case. Most of these girls were of average weight, but clearly not healthy, likewise, mum has always tried to tell me “you can be overweight and healthy.” But with pressures from peers, society and the media, this last assertion is hard to believe. Scanning the magazine racks, gym or weight-loss ads on TV and overhearing conversations between friends, or even children, it appears you are better off if you can keep fat away from your bones, while those who can not, or do not want to, are relegated to being second class citizens. They are deemed unhealthy, lazy, and a liability to society. Size discrimination is paramount. A news story out of the US last week that went global, detailed the plight of a movement called The National Association for the Advancement of Fat Acceptance, a group who promote overweight people’s civil rights. The story said the movement is gaining momentum, and has even helped instigate change for

larger people such as gaining larger seat belts in cars and a decision by the Supreme Court in Canada that obese people travelling on planes can’t be forced to buy a second seat. However, studies have shown that in the US obese people get paid less, and are less likely to get employment or promotions than someone who is not obese. In Unison talks to an Aucklander who has been obese and suffered all sorts of discrimination because of it over on page 12. While for some people, automatic thoughts of “fat, lazy, slob,” would pop up when spotting an obese person, this persons account is poignant, and may change some views, it certainly made me think about my prejudices. But then, when stories like “Stay Slim, Save the Planet” come up on stuff.co.nz the other side of the story cannot be ignored, this side is an emotion-free account of the affects of being overweight. This story about a study which compares over weight and thin people’s affects on the environment gives another reason for people to hate on the overweight. The study estimates that each overweight person is responsible for about one tonne of carbon dioxide emissions a year more on average than each thin person, adding up to an extra one billion tonnes of CO2 a year in a population of one billion overweight people. Likewise,statistics shows about 26 percent of all adults are obese in New Zealand, while one in 12 children are obese, and 20 percent are overweight. Statistics also show that these numbers relate to the number of people who suffer from diabetes, cancers and that weight is a cause of early death. Other consumption killers include smoking (you only need to see the cigarette pack to know the dangers), killing about 5000 New Zealanders a year, while alcohol is responsible for about 4 percent of deaths each year, and a whole sleuth of social and health problems (go to page 20 to see what happens when your drinking goes too far). We all know everyone has the right to live how they want to, but sometimes it’s hard to rationalize people’s choices. Ignore it or not, the truth is, your body is the only one you get, so it makes sense to look after it. Keep healthy. Stacey Knott In Unison Editor, 2009

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30/04/2009 7:52:13 p.m.

etc.

WOULD YOU RATHER GO OUT WITH SOMEONE WHO IS TOO THIN OR TOO FAT? HOW WOULD YOU RATE YOUR HEALTH? WHAT IS YOUR ADDICTION? Ben Callaghan, sport student

“ Too fat About average Sport”

Sarah Kersten graphic design and animation student

Too thin No Diet coke”

5% OPEN MIKE NIGHTS 8% A POOL TABLE

22% MORE PARTIES

Beth Eising graphic design and animation student.

“Too fat Don’t know, average. Facebook”

Joey Hildreth-Kenyon foundation studies student.

“Too thin, so I could fatten him up Pretty healthy Caffeine”

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WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE OF AT CARRINGTON’S? 11% QUIZ NIGHTS

I Like

VOX POP

4% BANANAS

26% CHEAPER DRINKS 5% COMEDY NIGHTS 19% NUDE NIGHTS SOURCE: www.usu.co.nz

30/04/2009 7:52:23 p.m.

the president’s tirade

Tirade

BONJOUR… With all the news of mutated flu viruses from Mexico and with the weather turning to what is winter it is well time to be considering the chance that you too may fall ill. And on the note of the Swine flu hitting the headlines I take pleasure informing you that Unitec senior executive are ahead of the ball and take students safety seriously and have proactively been monitoring the situation and have a planned in advance for this type of scenario. On other notes, have you considered how you will cope and how your family will cope if you become ill even with just a common cold, and maybe unable to do your course work or care for you family. Unitec has services available to you that can help you in times of illness and to help you be proactive against illness with things like the flu shot. There is a clinic on the Mt Albert campus with free nurse’s and cheap doctors that can answer any health questions and assist with illness that is already set in. For you all in Waitakere there is Wai Health next to the Courts that can assist you with any of your health challenges at subsidised rates.

\ DUDE OF THE DAY… ANZAC day is a very special occasion to me personally, why, because I have a flatmate that is in the Air force and has served in Afghanistan doing peace keeping. He volunteered to serve and his role being an armourer was to find mines and munitions in the communities that felt they needed weapons to protect themselves and show them that they no longer needed them and that they would be protected by the NZ armed forces. He would then take the weapons they gave him and he would destroy them. To my flatmate Jimbo, you truly a humanitarian dude. Thank you! WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THEM!... Until next time… Greg Powell USU Student President 2009

In essence there is help for you as students, if you need further assistance with locating these services your friendly students association the USU is here to help.

WANKER OF THE WEEK…

This week I am not choosing any one particular person, no I am pointing at many. Drink drivers, yes anyone who goes and drinks and decides to drive under the influence. This is not cool and in Waitakere city a drink drive campaign was done and the numbers of people caught drink driving was the highest it has ever been. For all you westies that have not learned that if you drink and drive you suck.

TELL US SOMETHING THAT NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT YOU? I dislike reading for assignments and having to buy expensive text books.

DETAILS ON WWW.USU.CO.NZ

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IF YOU WERE A FOOD, WHAT WOULD IT BE? I would be a steak n egg burger with chips, salad, hot n spicy chicken, apple pie, ice cream and large diet coke! So solid, healthy, hot n spicy, and sweet.

VENUE: The Hub, Building 180 DATE: Wednesday, 20th May TIME: 12pm til 1pm TS

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WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR STUDENTS? I can do my best to ensure students get their money’s worth from Unitec.

SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING ITE

WHY ARE YOU ON THE EXEC? I’m on the exec to work on behalf of all students addressing any issue that affect students.

USU STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION AT UNITEC

EXEC PROFILE: TOGIA LANEFALE

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30/04/2009 7:52:27 p.m.

Interior Design students. We like the cool cardie and jacket.

fashion on campus

JACKIE CHOUK AND JACKIE SIN

KYLIE WILLET

is studying Interior design. Her colourful dress is from Melbourne.

KIMBERLY PETTERSON Studies a certificate in community skills. Likes getting good bargains at the op-shops.

DOMINIC EMESSCHAJMER Is a Photography student. He says his style goes “with the flow”.

CHRIS DAVIS

studies Landscape Design. Wearing a top from Jay Jay’s cos he likes the design.

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30/04/2009 7:52:43 p.m.

news Unitec Student Bio O’Brien Photo: NZPA/Wayne Drought

UNITEC STUDENT BEHIND BARS

Read me...

By Stacey Knott A UNITEC STUDENT IS CURRENTLY BEHIND BARS FOR ALLEGEDLY ASSAULTING A 78-YEAR-OLD GRANDFATHER JUST OUTSIDE THE UNITEC GROUNDS. Civil engineering student Bio O’Brien is accused of assaulting Jashmatbai Patel of Te Atatu on Carrington Road on April 8. The assault, which appeared to be a road rage attack, left Mr Patel in intensive care, and he died the following day in Auckland Hospital. O’Brien was driving a black BMW and Mr Patel a blue van southwards along Carrington Road on Tuesday April 8 at 7.50am, and the incident happened opposite Gate Four of Unitec. In Unison was at the site after the incident and noted the two cars, which were cordoned off, did not appear damaged. Police at the scene said it appeared to be a “minor crash”. O’Brien is accused of jumping from his car and pulling Mr Patel from his vehicle, which reportedly happened in front of dozens of schoolchildren waiting at a bus stop outside Gladstone Primary School.The principal for the school, Dave Shadbolt told The Herald his staff quickly took up positions on the road to divert children so they did not see the scene. ”The man who had been hit was lying on a grass verge, his eyes closed and there was a considerable amount of blood on his face and chest.” O’Brien, a 27-year-old from the Pacific Island nation of Tuvalu, who is married with a 2-year-old child, has had two appearances in the Auckland District Court with his next scheduled for May 25. At both appearances he was remanded in custody and his lawyer David Niven did not seek bail.

In an appearance last Monday April 27, O’Brien hung his head while his lawyer and Judge Allison Sinclair spoke. O’Brien was clean-shaven, with tidy hair, wearing a white shirt, a stark difference to his first appearance where he looked dishevelled. Civil Engineering classmate Sebastian Rodriguez was surprised to learn who the accused was when shown a photo by In Unison. “He’s good in class, never had any problems, he’s a quiet type.” Mr Rodriguez says. A friend of O’Brien’s was approached by In Unison, but was not willing to comment, and appeared to be upset when the accused was mentioned. Likewise, lecturers in the Engineering department were approached but refused to comment on the student. In Unison has been posting updates on the website (www.usu.co.nz/inunison), which have sparked heated comments on O’Brien, many calling for him to be expelled from Unitec. On April 14 Nick says O’Brien’s upbringing probably had something to do with the attack. “It’s occasions like this when I remember that this young guy’s family have probably served him poorly. Sure, he is to blame, but his parents have obviously failed him. More and more [I] think it’s all about parenting and wonder if we should issue breeding licences or something,” he posts. The following day, Stacey Waitakere says O’Brien should be removed from Unitec under the Student Conduct Statute. “We have policy and procedures that state we as students have an obligation to behave and act appropriately, consistency would be good here.” On April 16 Samantha posts “if it was up to me, Bio O’Brien would be locked up for many years without the modern luxuries inmates have today. Rodney Hide has nailed

it, three strikes and you’re out.” On April 20, Sweeper says the attack could have been an accident. “If Mr O’Brien intended to harm the late victim by repeatedly bashing him, why will he do so on a busy road? If he had intended to put the poor man in a coma or kill him right there on a busy intersection then he has got to be the most stupidest fool on the planet.” The same commenter later calls for proper education on the risks of road rage. When USU President Greg Powell was asked for comment on this incident, he was subdued, saying “he does not condone violence in any form.” However, later he wrote on the website, in response to many of the comments;“To Bio, I do no know what was going through your head that day and I am sure you regret taking such drastic measures to show your frustration. Did you not see the man in the van was old? Did you not realise you were beating a loved Husband, Father and Grandfather? And last of all what was it that you saw?” Unitec has not spoken out to media about Bio O’Brien. Chief executive Rick Ede says the death is “absolutely awful”, but is “a matter of an individual before the courts to face the consequences of alleged actions, it is not up to us to make comment on that.” He says Unitec cannot give staff and students concerned with O’Brien coming back to Unitec an answer yet. “We will deal with that situation as it arises, I’m not blind to the concerns the staff and students may have over safety,” he says. “We will act appropriately and accordingly but I’m not going to speculate over something that we don’t even know if it’s going to happen or not.” It is expected more charges will be laid against O’Brien on May 25.

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30/04/2009 7:52:44 p.m.

news

Me too...

OH UNITEC,WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? UNITEC PERFORMS WELL By Stacey Knott AT UNI GAMES. IT HAS NOT BEEN A GOOD YEAR In March, In Unison discovered the dismal FOR UNITEC PUBLICITY. IN THE conditions of the UATI Building, which MOSTLY LAST 12 MONTHS, UNITEC HAS some lecturers have since said, “should be BEEN LINKED TO, OR ACCUSED OF, RACISM, DISCRIMINATION, PROVIDING UNSAFE WORKING CONDITIONS, FRAUD AND A ROAD RAGE ASSAULT. Last Wednesday The Herald reported nursing student Linda Tang dropped out of her course because she felt teachers failed her because of her accent. The Chinese nursing student is taking her tutors and Unitec to the Human Rights Commission. She says the tutors claimed people could not understand her because of her accent, and so she would not be able to provide proper care. The Herald reports Ms Tang holds a Bachelor of English degree and is a former English lecturer at a university in China. Also last month was the Bio O’Brien incident which has reflected poorly on the institution, with commenters on the In Unison website asking if the student will be back among them, with Unitec not giving a straight answer.

torn down.”

By Joseph Harper

Also in March, The Herald reported a disabled student at Unitec was “forced to urinate into a bowl in the corner of a classroom because his wheelchair did not fit in the toilet.”

JOCK’SBADBEHAVIOURMARREDGOOD RESULTS AT THIS YEAR’S UNI GAMES.

In September last year, The Herald reported on former Unitec employee Martin Hall, who held a senior position at Unitec and reassigned three patents for inventions owned by the institution, (while he was employed by it) worth $300,000, to a business partner, and then to a company controlled by the partner and himself. He was found guilty on 23 counts of fraud in an Auckland court. In response to this list of bad publicity, Unitec chief executive Rick Ede says he wishes each incident had not happened, but “these things happen in a large organisation,” and that is it “part of the business”.

FIRST IT WAS A BIRD, NOW IT’S A PIG…. By Stacey Knott LAST WEEK IT WAS REVEALED STUDENTS FROM RANGITOTO COLLEGE HAD ARRIVED BACK FROM A TRIP TO MEXICO, WHERE SWINE FLU HAS INFECTED ABOUT 2000 PEOPLE SO FAR. Health officials are looking into 43 cases of possible swine flu in New Zealand, and the students suspected of being infected were put into quarantine last week. Unitec has two plans to deal with pandemics, they are being revised using information Unitec has so far on a possible swine flu epidemic or pandemic. The plan is designed to deal with various severities of pandemic, ranging from mild to very severe scenarios. It addresses education,

finance, buildings and infrastructure, pay roll and what to do with the student village. Unitec will be reliant on the advice of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and the Auckland Regional Public Health Service and will respond cooperatively to that advice. Unitec and USU advise students and staff to “take everyday steps to prevent the spread of germs (cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, throw tissues away after use, wash your hands, and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth),” and to be alert to any flu-like symptoms, and advise seeking medical advice as soon as possible. At the time of print there have been three confirmed cases of swine flu in New Zealand.

Despite being the newest team to be involved in the competition, the Unitec team gave a strong showing at the annual Uni Games, held in Taranaki from April 14 to 17, competing for the second consecutive year.This year’s games were attended by over 2200 students from around the country which saw them competing in 29 different sports.

The Unitec men’s soccer team got into some strife and received a $300 fine for some bad behaviour at the games. While members of the team and USU sports co-ordinator Narissa Fale declined the opportunity to make a comment to In Unison over the issue, a source says a member of the team was caught drinking alcohol during the match, in what appeared to be a soccerrelated drinking game.

In less embarrassing news, first year Unitec student Jasmine Holland became Unitec’s first female gold medallist after placing first in the open kumite division of the karate competition. Holland was extremely pleased with her result and of the Uni Games in general. “It was mean; I had a really great time,” she says. Other stand-out Unitec performances included a silver medal for Jeannick Qualao in the woman’s golf and a bronze medal for the rugby league team. Though the performances at the games were good, the event itself was marred by some organisation issues and mix-ups as well as the opening and closing ceremonies being seen by many as lacklustre. Overall, USU sports co-ordinator, Narissa Fale was impressed with Unitec’s performance, noting that “almost every team this year improved on last years placing which was awesome.” She was also pleased with the Unitec team members. “We had quite a good mix of new students and students who went to the games last year. They were an awesome bunch to take away and I’d do it again in a heart beat.”

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30/04/2009 7:52:45 p.m.

news

Read me...

EXCITING NEWS FOR PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO VOTE By Joseph Harper

SHUTTLE SERVICE SUCKS, UNITEC DENIES PROBLEM By Megha Kehar THE FREE SHUTTLE BUS SERVICE BETWEENUNITEC’SMTALBERTAND WAITAKERE CAMPUS IS LEAVING MANY STUDENTS DISGRUNTLED AND LEFT BEHIND. USU president Greg Powell says it is not as if there are not enough shuttles. “A part of the problem is there is a whole bunch of students and staff who use the shuttle to commute between the two campuses,” he says. “It is not what the shuttle was designed to do.” The shuttle service was supposed to help students from Waitakere campus access facilities – such as Studylink, Student Job Search and the doctor – at the Mt Albert campus, he says. “Those who are not using the service for its intended purpose need to get up off their backs and use proper services such as the bus and the train,” Mr Powell says. USU Waitakere representative Diane Monteith says the increased number of students at Unitec this year has not been accounted for. A number of meetings with the management have got USU “absolutely nowhere”, she says. Unitec’s chief financial officer, Paul Conder, says he has not heard any complaints about the service. “The last meeting… I don’t recall the issue being brought up,” he says. Mr Powell says he is finding it “very hard to stomach” that Mr Conder had not heard about the challenges. “It is very interesting. We (USU) had a special meeting with him. My advocate and

David Coltman, who is a senior executive (at Unitec) were at the meeting,” he says. Ms Monteith says it is a typical case of left hand not knowing what the right hand’s doing. “They’re clearly (management) not talking to each other.” Mr Conder says a part of his role is to ensure the shuttle service runs smoothly and the management has regular reviews in place. “The number of students changes every year.The class timings change and according to that we need to be looking at it,” he says. The next review is scheduled to take place in the second half of the year and a complete review next year, he adds. Ms Monteith says the management seems very “disorganised and muddled” and “don’t seem to know the problems”. “It’s worse than dealing with a government department.” Mr Powell says one way to resolve the problem is to put a charge on it or cancel the service. “It’s unfair for the students who genuinely need to use the service but I think it’s time they said, ‘Oi, you! Catch the bus’.”

WITH HELEN CLARK UP AND LEAVINGTHE COUNTRYTO FULFIL HER NEW ROLE WITH THE U.N, MT ALBERT HAS SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN LEFT WITHOUT A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT. The government has announced a byelection to take place on june 13 to elect a new representative; the by-election will be a chance for the many unitec students living in the mt albert area to have their say. The seat has previously been a safe one for Labour, with ex-prime minister Miss Clark holding it with a majority of over 10,000; but with her departure, Labour is already covering the area with billboards, even though the party is yet to formally put forward a candidate. Billboards can be seen along Carrington, New North, and St Lukes Road. The Green Party is the only one so far to have put forward a candidate, namely co-leader Russell Norman to run for the seat. This could damage labour’s chances by splitting those who lean towards the centre-left, thus allowing National to make a bigger splash, with either candidates list MP Melissa Lee or Ravi Kumar Musuku running. The by-election result is touted to be a tight one, and key local issues which may affect the vote will include the proposed building of a state highway through Waterview.

He says buying more buses may not necessarily be the best solution. “It costs thousands of dollars to run the shuttle service for free.That money comes from the fees the students pay. Shouldn’t that money be spent on providing quality education?” he says. Unitec’s free shuttle bus departs from Mt Albert between 7.30 am and 4.00 pm and Unitec Waitekere between 7.50 am and 4.30 pm.

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30/04/2009 7:52:46 p.m.

news

By Megha Kehar THE PRESSURE ON NEW ZEALAND’STERTIARY EDUCATION FUNDING BODY IS NOT LIKELY TO AFFECT UNITEC, UNITEC’S CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER PAUL CONDER SAYS. The pressure on New Zealand’s tertiary education funding body is not likely to affect Unitec, Unitec’s chief financial officer Paul Conder says. The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), which mainly negotiates annual funding with universities, polytechnics, Maori and other education providers, recently cut 70 full time jobs following new Government plans to make savings in the public sector. “There has been restructuring within the TEC and there have been some changes in roles as a part of that restructuring,” Mr Conder says. Communities, iwi, industry and students will now need to identify and communicate their needs directly to tertiary education providers. The government department says on its website: “TEC will no longer carry out direct stakeholder engagement activities.” The TEC also announced the roles of its managers who supported the funding process will now be scrapped but expects educational institutes will continue using the services. Mr Conder says any indication of affects on funding will be a part of the Government’s budget in May. As the National Party continues its belttightening spree, the spending in many more government departments is being reviewed.

DO YOU HAVE A NEWS STORY? We want to hear about it. Email In Unison on inunison@unitec.ac.nz, or call 815 4321 ext. 7927 see www.usu.co.nz for more news.

EXECUTION, 02 APRIL: By Joseph Harper

Me too...

GOVERNMENT GOES SNIP SNIP BUT UNITEC IS A-OK…FOR NOW

USU PRESIDENT GREG POWELL LOOKED PARTICULARLY FETCHING IN AN ORANGE TRIMMED WAISTCOAT AS THE EXEC SLOWLY ARRIVED FOR ANOTHER THURSDAY NIGHT MEETING.THE DINNER OF THE NIGHT WAS A DELICIOUS PLATTER OF ASSORTED SUBWAY SANDWICHES.

It was a reasonably low turn-out this week, with several members missing including general executive Gareth Smith for the second meeting in a row. In spite of the absences the meeting ploughed on; first on the agenda was a new contract offered to the USU by Unitec. Powell urged the exec to vote in favour of approval of the contract, which was for approximately $900,000 over three years. Waitakere representative Diane Monteith noted that she “had a whiz” at the contract and that it “looks pretty tight,” and most of the exec was in agreement with her and Powell. Post-graduate representative Manuel Potoru thought the exec should push for more money, but when it came to the vote, the exec voted unanimously in favour of approving the contract. Next was the President’s Report. Powell reported triumphantly to the executive about the success of recent USU events and then explained the progress that had been made on the issues brought up at the last meeting to do with the Waitakere campus, issues that Powell described as “prominent and urgent”. He assured the exec that steps are being taken and like the crusader of injustice he is, he vowed to persevere. In the general business section of the meeting, Potoru brought up the possibility of the executive contributing money to pay the registration fees of his Unitec basketball team. Powell was visibly frustrated by Potoru’s request and charged him to gather figures and statistics related to who would be affected and added it to the next meeting’s agenda for possible discussion. The following exec meeting on April 23 took place in the new USU Executive boardroom, complete with a feature wall and pieces of decorative plant life which gelled magnificently with the USU insignia.To go with the posh new setting, posh new pizza was provided by Hell, complete with chicken tenders, decadence, I thought as I sat in a cushy chair.

USU President Greg Powell first explained a recent and continuing bout of sickness. I couldn’t tell, as his eyes still glimmered with that passion for student politics that they always glimmer with. General executive Gareth Smith was absent for the third meeting in a row. I began to wonder who this mystique of a young man was and if he actually existed. Powell put forward that because Smith had missed three meetings in a row, he was now subject to a vote of non-confidence. However, the exec felt it right to put off the vote until the next meeting in the hopes that Smith would show up and be granted fair trial. Next, each exec member gave their personal reports on what they had done so far this year, a necessity if they wished to receive their honoraria. Each person’s report was very similar and basically made up of a list of meetings and committees. General executive Pete Hodkinson’s report stood out for the inclusion of, “helping out with bbqs.” Genuine drama then followed, post-graduate representative Manuel Potoru requested the executive subsidise the registration fees of the Unitec basketball team of which he is coach, yet only three players turned up to the team’s last game. It was obvious to all that being coach of the team brings up a clear bias and conflict of interest, and going further; Potoru was exploiting his position on the executive in the hopes of personal gain. “This is absurd,” said Waitakere representative Diane Monteith and Powell was “disgusted” and “quite taken aback”. The issue was shut down as Potoru had failed to bring along the numbers and statistics that the executive requested of him.

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30/04/2009 7:52:47 p.m.

feature

FAT USELESS.

SOCIETY THINKS

YO U A R E AND

The Amazing

LAP-BAND The GREAT REMEDY for

O B E S I T Y.

THE WAY WE VIEW AND TREAT OUR BODIES BECOMES A BIGGER PROBLEM EVERYDAY. STATISTICS SHOW THAT 8 PERCENT OF WOMEN IN NEW ZEALAND HAVE AN EATING DISORDER, WHILE A STAGGERING 25 PERCENT OF ADULTS IN THE COUNTRY ARE OBESE. IT SEEMS MANY OF US HAVE AN OBSESSION WITH WEIGHT OR AT LEAST JUDGE OTHERS BY IT. WE SIT BACK AND WATCH NEW ZEALAND’S NEXT TOP MODEL AND MAKE JIBES AT HOW SKINNY THE CONTESTANTS ARE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME ARE ALL TOO QUICK TO MAKE FAT JOKES BEHIND PEER’S BACKS. STACEY KNOTT TALKS TO TWO PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE WEIGHT SCALE AND FINDS SOME OF THEIR EXPERIENCES SIMILAR, DESPITE THEIR OPPOSING PHYSICAL APPEARANCES. An averagely active 18-year-old female should eat is 2000 calories a day, Anna rarely ate over 200. Her daily diet consisted of half an apple or orange, half a cup of packet onion soup, a few bottles of diet coke, lemon water, and black, unsweetened coffee. She was also extremely active, spending two hours a day at the gym. Her bones jutted out at all angles, her tailbone dug into the floor when she did crunches, she was constantly exhausted, obsessed with calories and was frequently depressed; classic signs of anorexia.

D R . S M I T H ’ S L A PA R O S C O P I C B A N D BAND

ESOPHAGUS

STOMACH

This device could decrease a fat person from two to five pounds per week. Don’t suffer this unsightly desiese any longer. Society thimks you are fat and useless. Change the way that you look today. The laparoscopic band is inserted at the top of the stomach which creates a physical barrier so not as much food can be eaten. Think of the benifits to your health and send to the following address for treatment. This device could decrease a fat person from two to five pounds per week.

ME DI CINE CO. Proprietors, Auckland, NZ

“Weight was all I thought about, how many different ways to lose it, the awful things that would make me gain it, it was a tragedy when I had a binge; I would spend an hour in the bathroom throwing up, then not let myself eat until the horrifying thought of food had passed. “It was very draining; I always had little or no energy. I often had periods of extreme light-headedness, and felt like I was walking around in a daze. I was frequently depressed, counteracted by periods of intense happiness (this usually happened when the numbers on the scale went down). “I could never get to sleep at night…I loved the feeling of being empty though, like hunger was some sort of accomplishment. I was usually very cold, but I liked that too – being cold helps burn calories.” At the opposite end of the weight scale sits the 25 percent of obese New Zealand adults, which included Kerryn. She was obese at size 26, 159 kilograms; three times the size of Anna, but like Anna, her weight affected the quality of her life in every way.

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In Unison, Health Issue.indd 12

30/04/2009 7:52:47 p.m.

“I could only get down to about 110 kilos no matter what diet I tried, no matter how hard I tried and how I stuck to it. It was disheartening.” She went on diets such as Jenny Craig, but could never get good results. “I was made to feel like a failure so many times.” She was extremely self conscience about her size, and it attracted unwanted attention whenever she went out. “People were so nasty. I remember walking through the supermarket, I was making a cake for a friend’s birthday and people were sniggering at me because I had icing sugar and butter, people were saying, ‘oh what’s she got those for?’”

Anna’s experience of anorexia was pretty typical using Burns’ description of anorexia as an ideology; the extreme restriction, discipline and self denial make up this way of living. Burns says the set of ideas takes over the person’s life. “It starts to take over their sense of self, relationships, view of the world, they tend to lose sight of their own life goals, preferences, dreams, everything becomes focussed on this extreme self-denial, extreme dieting practises.” This is something Anna agrees with, her disorder was a blurry progression; it started up with a desire to eat healthier and tone up, but then within a month she was “obsessing over the calories in half an apple and spending two hours a day at the gym. “I often spent an entire week where my goal would be to consume less than 500 calories in five days; numbers mattered a lot to me. I spent about two hours a day doing cardio at the gym, obsessively counting how many calories I was losing until the number was well over how many calories I had consumed.”

“I’VE HAD PATIENTS TELL ME PEOPLE WILL DRIVE PAST AND YELL, ‘GET OFF THE ROAD YOU FAT BITCH.’ JUST RANDOM STRANGERS AND THAT’S WHAT THEY GET EVERY DAY.”

“It got to a point where I became a recluse, I didn’t want to go out, I didn’t even want to go down to the local pub to play a game of pool.” While Anna and Kerryn were at opposite ends of the spectrum, they both faced inner-turmoil over their body image. Further, Eating Difficulties Education Network (EDEN) clinic coordinator Maree Burns says both the anorexic and the obese bodies are a result of today’s obsession with regulating the body and diet. “A lot of information out there says diet and control your weight; if you don’t there is something wrong with you. It gets people out of synch with their own bodies, not listening to them when they are hungry and stopping when they are full. That can be a difficulty for people who are very under or overweight.”

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In her early 20s, she was on the brink of not being able to fit the plus size clothes from Kmart and The Warehouse. She was depressed, suffered health issues, discrimination and spiteful comments from strangers. Kerryn says she has always been a “big girl,” and her weight was a problem since she was six years old. At 12 she weighed 100 kilograms, and it was uphill from there.

Kerryn was also consumed with thoughts of her size, and at 24, was giving up all hope of changing it until she came across surgery. She went to the Northridge Clinic and saw McIntyre, who says the clinic is usually a last resort for people like Kerryn.

It was at the clinic it was discovered Kerryn had a chemical imbalance that stopped her from losing weight. Kerryn had a laparoscopic band inserted at the top of the stomach which creates a physical barrier so not as much food can be eaten. The band cost Kerryn $17, 000 which she is still paying off today, but she has no regrets. “It was a huge lifestyle change, the confidence I’ve got now compared to what I did have. The only time I burst into tears now is when I want to go somewhere and nothing fits me because it’s all too big, whereas before it was all too small.” She was 159 kilograms before the surgery, and is now 96 kilograms, going from a size 26 to an 18. She is losing about 4-5 kilograms a month.

NEW METHOD

This obsession with regulation results in the kind of treatment Kerryn was subject to, where fatism is last form of socially accepted discrimination, Burns says.

“It’s not OK any more to be racist or sexist, but you often hear people being sizest, making fat jokes or teasing someone about their size.”

“I sat in a changing room at Kmart crying the day that I could fit into a size 18 pants, I bawled my eyes out.”

ANTI-FAT Doctor Heather McIntyre of the obesity surgery clinic Northridge says the discrimination the obese people she sees is all too common, and plays a huge part in their mental health. “I’ve had patients tell me people will drive past and yell, ‘get off the road you fat bitch.’ Just random strangers and that’s what they get every day.”

While obesity in New Zealand is now recognised as a deadly epidemic, Burns says eating disorders, like Anna’s, are the biggest problem facing young women of this century.

Unlike Kerryn’s expensive cure, Anna overcame her disorder on her own.

“I finally got tired of being depressed all the time. I was entirely self-cured...it was horribly hard at first, especially when people started telling me I looked healthy (to me, this meant fat), or that I had gained weight. Physically I overcame it by slightly lessening my exercise regime, and slowly reintroducing fruit and vegetables back into my diet, followed by other foods.” However, it was not that easy as the desire for control kept coming back.

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In Unison, Health Issue.indd 13

30/04/2009 7:52:47 p.m.

feature

FAT USELESS.

SOCIETY THINKS

“Some people will have issues around eating particularly if they have had obesity for a long time or there might be an underlying cause, things like sexual abuse, family dynamics or emotional eating,” McIntyre says.

“I‘ve probably had about seven or eight relapses, even for short periods of time. For about four years afterwards, I definitely thought about it every day. I think it’s reoccurring because for me, anorexia is a form of control over my life, and it’s what I default to whenever I feel like the control over my life is slipping.”

YO U A R E

Burns, McIntyre and Kerryn believe that the way a person is treated because of their size is only going to make matters worse.

While the media are often blamed for promoting anorexia by spreading thin models over glossy pages, Burns says it goes deeper than this.

AND

“The more we try and make people who exist outside the norm feel terrible about themselves, the worse the problem is going to get. All that does is make fat people feel bad about themselves and make everyone else feel bad about being fat,” Burns says.

“It is not like someone will open a magazine and get an eating disorder, though there is little diversity in what we are shown over what is beautiful.”

Kerryn, who is on her way to a size 14, says that even if someone is living an unhealthy lifestyle they should be left to themselves, without constant judgement and criticism, because like in her case, it only makes matters worse.

She says online media provides another forum for people to share diet tips, promote thinness and obsess over body image. Further, Burns says shows like New Zealand’s Next Top Model and The Biggest Loser reflect society’s fascination with the way people look; they are all based on the belief that the way someone looks is more important than anything else.

Likewise, for people who are in the situation Anna was in, Burns says people should not judge solely on appearances, they should not assume someone has a problem because their bones protrude, but if they feel a friend or family member is in trouble as hard as it maybe, a gentle approach can help.

Like anorexia can not really happen from opening a glossy magazine, obesity does not happen overnight either, and also can stem from psychological issues.

O B E SE LESS ABILITY TO CONCENTRATE AND WORK BLOOD PRESSURE PROBLEMS

ANO REX I C

SLEEP APNOEA AND SNORING

DIZZINESS, FAINTING, AND HEADACHES

DECREASED LUNG CAPACITY

INSOMNIA FEELING COLD

ANEMIA

HEART DISEASE

LOW BLOOD PRESSURE

SWEATING CONSTIPATION AND ABDOMINAL PAIN FERTILITY PROBLEMS

ACID REFLUX DIGESTION LACK OF ENERGY AND WEAKNESS

TYPE 2 DIABETES

LOSS OF MENSTRUAL PERIODS

DRY, YELLOWISH SKIN THAT BRUISES EASILY

JOINT PAIN

GROWTH OF FINE HAIR ALL OVER THE BODY AND FACE

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In Unison, Health Issue.indd 14

30/04/2009 7:52:48 p.m.

STEVE WRIGLEY Joseph Harper’s two minute version of an interview with Steve Wrigley, performing at this year’s International Comedy Festival. See the full version at www.usu.co.nz/inunison Joseph: Do you have more “mates” now that you’re the Billy T champion of New Zealand comedy? Steve: Nope. I don’t need any. Lezmond, D Mizzle and Flea down in Wellington are my crew and anyone else is a bonus. I have more gigs though. Joseph: Why do you wear a bandanna? Steve: Ha ha, I get asked that a lot. I sweat heaps and it was a choice between a sweat band or a mandanna. I used to wipe sweat out of my eyes a lot when I was onstage and it was very distracting. I opted for the Mandanna as an omage to my childhood hero Hulk Hogan, and it’s kind of worked out in ways I never thought. People now say ”Hey that bandanna guy” when they come to the classic. I need to buy some new ones actually. Joseph: You have show on in the Comedy festival called “Of Mates and Mischief”. What’s it about?

Steve: It’s about mates. And mischief. Actually I’ve performed it once already in Dunedin a few weeks ago and it’s the most fun I’ve had doing stand up. Last year my show was about falling in love and was quite a deep and meaningful with an audience sort of a buzz, so I wanted a subject that was just fun. Getting into trouble with my mates is my fourth favourite thing so that was that. Joseph: I am looking forward to coming to your show. Just one last thing. You may or may not know, but Unitec has a campus in Waitakere (aka West Auckland), I know it’s totally hackneyed; but could you tell me your best west auckland/er joke please. Steve: Ha ha. I love West Auckland. I get on great with Ewan Gilmoure and love that whole lifestyle. But never smoke their weed unless you are prepared for the consequences. I mean seriously where do they grow that stuff? I smoked some westie wizzle a few months ago and forgot I had feet for two days.The westies I chugged with just laughed at me... how are they so hardcore? Dates: Saturday 2 & Tuesday 5 – Saturday 9 May, 8.30pm Venue: The Basement, Lower Greys Ave Tickets: Adults $23 Concession $18 Groups 10+ $18 Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK, www.ticketek.co.nz Radness: 100%

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In Unison, Health Issue.indd 15

30/04/2009 7:52:49 p.m.

photos

I WISH I WAS A ???

WINNER OF THE BEST DRESSED PRIZE

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In Unison, Health Issue.indd 16

PHOTOS BY: Sanji & Raymie MORE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS OF THESE EVENTS AT WWW.USU.CO.NZ AND ON USU TV 30/04/2009 7:53:12 p.m.

gig guide

USU VILLAGE CLUB FOOTBALL MATCH 27 MARCH

FEATURED EVENT / 21 & 22 MAY USU PRESENTS

VISIT WWW.USU.CO.NZ FOR MORE DETAILS

THE MONSTER C O M E DY B A S H 7PM, C ARRINGTON’S, UNITEC MT ALBERT C AMPUS STUDENT TICKETS $10 FROM USU RECEPTION

M AY FROM

Auckland International Comedy Festival A mix of local and international talent set on getting your endorphins flowing go to www. comedyfestival.co.nz for details.

08 FRI

01TO 24

THUR

USU Free Film Night @ Mt Albert Campus Come along to the Gold Lecture Theatre in The Hub (Bldg 180) at 6pm, to watch Twilight. Entry is free and everyone is welcome – we even have 20 free Burgerfuel ice creams for the first 20 people in the door!

Masquerade ft. Strange Beast, Arm’s Reach, Sherpa at Zeal in Henderson Don’t forget your mask! The Phoenix Foundation at The Transmission Room One of New Zealand’s greatest indie bands.

14 THUR

WAITAKERE GETAWAY EXPERIENCE 21ST - 22ND APRIL

09 SAT Outdoors Club Piha Trek Come with us to explore the amazing Piha Beach. Everyone is welcome so get in quick! Email usuclubs@ unitec.ac.nz to register. $10 (cost covers lunch and transport)

Gaming Day @ Mt Albert Campus Free gaming is back in The Hub from 12-4pm! Come play PS3, Xbox360 and Nintendo Wii. Prizes to be won for the best gamers!

FROM

13TO 17

Auckland Writers and Readers Festival Get inspired by international and local literature heroes, see www. writersfestival.co.nz for details.

15 FRI De La Soul (NYC) w/ Misfits of Science, DJ Sir-Vere at The Powerstation New York hip-hop at it’s finest.



DO YOU HAVE AN EVENT COMING UP? Send details and images to inunison@unitec.ac.nz

WE SEE N EW ZEALAND

TOU R S

In Unison, Health Issue.indd 17

UP-COMING EVENTS

USU INTERNATIONAL EVENTS PROGRAMME AND USU OUTDOORS CLUB

• • •

International Food Day Monster Comedy Bash The White Party

1/05/2009 9:06:01 a.m.

feature

DISABLED For a

DAY

by Joseph Harper

JOSEPH HARPER WOKE UP ON THE MORNING OF APRIL 17 FEELING AS SORE AND UNCOMFORTABLE AS HE CAN EVER REMEMBER. HIS SHOULDERS AND BACK ACHED IN WAYS HE HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED AND HIS HANDS WERE SORE AND BURNT, ALL FROM SPENDING THE DAY BEFORE SITTING DOWN.

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See video footage of Joseph’s day online at www.usu.co.nz/inunison

In Unison, Health Issue.indd 18

1/05/2009 9:06:02 a.m.

I was being an idiot. I picked up my wheelchair from the USU office on my way to class on the morning of the 16th and I was knee-deep in regret by the time I was out of The Hub. I thought that I was in pretty good shape, but I was genuinely ready to quit halfway to Building One. Exhausted as I wheeled past the gym; I had a laugh at the situation I was in. Boys with towels around their necks walked into the big boat-shaped building, pumped and ready to get sweaty on treadmills and peck-decks, while I rolled past at a crawl; wheezing and exhausted from a fairly mild slope.

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I signed up to spend a day in a wheelchair, and a hellish day it was. I thought, before I hopped into my wheels for the day, that the day would go just the same as any other. I imagined my friends would laugh and ask what I was doing, and I would make up humorous little lies about rugby accidents, broken legs, and maybe even early onset polio. For some reason; I had the foolish notion in my head that this day would be a particularly comfortable one. “This will be great,” I thought. “The whole day relaxing in a chair with a cushion in it and not having to walk anywhere. Bliss!”

I walked home, gradually getting back into the habit of entirely neglecting my legs. Later, I spoke with Gaylene Gaffney, an accredited access advisor for the Barrier Free New Zealand Trust; an organisation committed to helping create fully accessible environments which are completely usable for people with disabilities. Gaffney told me it is important to provide accessibility for people with disabilities to public places and buildings, and is the law to do so, under the Building Act and NZ Standards 4121:2001, and The New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. 2004’s Building Act states that all public buildings must have a route accessible for people with disabilities, which must be usable for someone unaided in a wheelchair.

STYLE As if my physical inadequacies in the chair weren’t enough, they were soon to be coupled with searing embarrassment. The kind of embarrassment that comes from desperately trying to wheel up a hill while trying to make it look easy to the group of girls you’re slowly wheeling past and at the same time hiding the patch of sweat which is colonising the back of your shirt, only to push too hard on the wheels, tipping the chair backwards and sending you toppling onto the concrete.

AND

Gaffney says some of the things she looks for and some common problems that arise when assessing a building include mobility car parks being too narrow, steps at the threshold of doors, counter tops being too high, no ramps and insufficient hand railings, doors being too stiff, and inadequate toilet facilities. The last item being a particular problem, “there should be one accessible WC facility for each block of sanitary facilities in a building providing a person with a disability with the same convenience as any other person.”

COMFORT

Embarrassment aside, I was pleased that the girls quickly rushed over to see if I was alright and offer me assistance getting back into my chair. They didn’t even laugh until I let slip the reason I was in the chair. At which point I was a laughing stock. I was greeted by the occasional look (and the occasional purposeful avoidance of eye contact) as I arrived finally at Building One. There were ramps, not as many as at the other end of the campus, but there were enough. Doors proved troublesome wherever I went. I was pleasantly surprised however at the number of students who held doors open for me when they saw I was struggling with them. Good on you, Unitec. After class, I plotted the least hilly route to The Hub, and set forth. I burned my palms on my wheels trying to slow myself as I rolled perilously down a rather steep slope, and because of this I got angry. I was made angrier when I had to wheel myself up a different, admittedly tamer hill. I was not however angry at the hill. I was halfway up, and I’ll admit I was struggling, when some complete stranger comes up behind me, and without asking me how I feel about it, proceeds to push me the rest of the way. It was absolutely degrading and I felt completely pathetic thanks to this guy. Then he had the nerve to cheerfully call me “chief” as if he had done me some great favour. I felt immensely disrespected and immensely unimpressed. The rest of my day came and went without much excitement. I was impressed by the amount of ramps and lifts in and around The Hub. The whole area was entirely and easily accessible bar a couple of unnecessarily heavy doors. I was thrilled to be out of my chair when I dropped it back at the USU office. I told myself to properly think through assignments before accepting them as

A few days later I sat down with James Russell who, as well as being a second year performing and screen arts major at Unitec, was born with spina bifida and has been in a wheelchair his whole life. I spoke with him to get the views of someone who experiences life at Unitec from a wheelchair and to get his take on my experiences. In stark contrast to my whining, he was upbeat in his championing of Unitec. “It’s pretty well known for it’s attitudes towards people with disabilities and it’s willingness to help them,” he told me, “it’s one of the best (institutes) in the country.” He told me the facilities on campus have been completely satisfactory; the only flaw he mentioned finding was related to the toilets. “Building One’s a bit of a pain in terms of bathrooms, it’s just finding one where you can get your chair in, without having to hop out and crawl along the floor,” he says. “I haven’t found one (in Building One) yet, but most of the facilities here are really good.” I told him about my struggles with doors and my difficulties with rolling up the rolling hills and he laughed at me, my physical weakness and lack of practice in the chair was to blame apparently. “You get used to it,” he says. I asked him about the students of Unitec and whether he ever felt, like I did, that he had been stared at. “Maybe, again, you get used to it. I don’t notice it; I don’t feel alienated at all. And I definitely feel more comfortable here than I did at high school or anywhere else.” The best part though, he tells me, is that there isn’t any special treatment; “you just want to get on with it. You don’t want a fuss made over you.” Unitec has allowed Russell to be completely assimilated into its student population, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. “Just because I sit down 75% of the time, it doesn’t mean I’m any different.”

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In Unison, Health Issue.indd 19

30/04/2009 7:53:21 p.m.

feature

THEY TRIED TO MAKE

REHAB ... Me go to



AND I S AID

YES

REHAB AND CELEBRITIES GO HAND-IN-HAND. THEY TRIED TO MAKE AMY WINEHOUSE GO, THE GOSSIP MAGS LOVE SPLASHING PHOTOS OF SUNGLASSES-CLAD BRITNEY SPEARS ENTERING THEM, AND NOW WE HAVE A REALITY TV SHOW ON IT, WHERE D LIST CELEBRITIES LIKE DANIEL BALDWIN TRY TO CLEAN UP IN FRONT OF MILLIONS OF VIEWERS. IT ALL MAKES IT SEEM LIKE A GLAMOROUS PLACE TO VISIT ON THE WEEKEND WHEN PARTYING GOES A LITTLE TOO FAR. BUT WHAT DOES A REAL NEW ZEALAND REHAB LOOK LIKE, AND IS IT AS EASY AS THE FAME-WHORES MAKE IT OUT TO BE? STACEY KNOTT FINDS OUT. Going to a rehab clinic, no matter where, is to break an addiction. This can range from food, to gambling, to exercising. Most common however, is breaking an addiction to drugs or alcohol. The rehab process starts out with the body going through a detoxification, where the addict must stop taking the substance and will probably go through withdrawals from this. When the body is clean and sober, the psychological issues have to be addressed - why the person used the substance so excessively in the first place. Then the person must be retrained to live without their dependency. This treatment can be done privately or publicly, In Unison checks out both.

through its doors, the stigma Hollywood has attached to rehab is bad for business, Serenity general manager Brian Jewell says. “The fact they (celebrities) go in more than once paints a bad picture of the whole industry, especially when they are paying about $40, 000 a month over there. It’s not good for the industry in general and it’s certainly not a true reflection of a real rehab.” Serenity psychologist Anton Ashcroft says they work on a strength based model, instead of the traditional 12 step programme. “We work on the assumption people are adults first before addicts. We help them realise their own strengths and resources, and build on them to help them,” he says.

For those who can afford about $2500 a week, there’s a mansion When it comes to the detox process, Ashcroft says it depends in Piha where you can sleep on a plush bed, next to a walk-in on the person’s addiction. wardrobe, have highly nutritional meals cooked for you by a private chef, go horseback riding, For alcohol, initially the person get massages, acupuncture, go will have delirium tremens and surfing, and do pilates and tai chi, become psychotic, whereas all surrounded by the stunning “THE STIGMA HOLLYWOOD HAS ATTACHED someone coming off P can be bush of Piha, overlooking the violent, agitated and upset. TO REHAB IS BAD FOR BUSINESS.” iconic Piha beach. The privately owned Serenity Clinic has been The detox does not need to operating since July last year and be a terrible ordeal, but people it looks and feels like a resort. do need to go through a bit of the pain to stop them from Serenity integrates western medical practices with eastern. They wanting to go back to their addiction, Ashcroft says. use yoga, acupuncture, tai chi, and art therapy with one-on-one counselling and group sessions to help get their clients ready When In Unison arrived at the Piha house, the patients were for a life without addiction. enjoying lunch in the sun, chatting and smoking on the balcony Though it does seem like the kind of place the Britney Spears’ overlooking the beach. of the world would go to, and has had international celebrities 20

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In Unison, Health Issue.indd 20

30/04/2009 7:53:21 p.m.

Six Wings houses are scattered throughout Mount Eden and Sandringham, and they look like any other on the street.

Inside looks like your average flat; they are modest and homely, but with positive affirmations pinned up on the walls, as well as house rules and cooking and cleaning rosters. In the kitchen of one of the women’s houses where Kristin lives, the pantry is well stocked with all the basics and the fridge is adorned with funny pop-culture magnets. There are different houses for different stages in the programme, each hosted by a senior client who has chosen to stay on in that position. In the house we visit, Kristin is the senior host.

F R E E T R I A L T R E AT M E N T

Back in the city, on an unassuming street, we meet Kristin who is a recovering alcoholic based at Wings Trust. Wings is public, and gives residential support to those recovering from addiction. Clients can go to Wings after they have detoxed, and are waiting to get into intensive programmes that will rehabilitate them back into society.

feature

COCAINE

Jewell says it is hard to gauge how successful Serenity is because success with addiction is hard to define. In terms of total abstinence after leaving the clinic, in the ten months it has been open, Serenity has a 60 percent success rate.

REHAB

“One problem with users is they need to be constantly stimulated, they need to learn how to tolerate their own company and create things to do rather than be entertained,” Ashcroft adds.

MORPHINE, OPIUM, LAUDANUM PA I N L E S S LY AND LIQUOR HABITS CURED BY

Their days are structured to the hour with the different therapy techniques; however, the daily routines also offer significant unstructured downtime.

Rehab will relieve all desire and positively cure the habit. A number of men of means have had their habits cured with this treatment. No pain, no nervousness.

Earlier that day, they had their group yoga session, and after lunch would have their sessions with Ashcroft, do art therapy and later tai chi.

To get into Wings, clients must be on the sickness benefit, the majority of which goes to Wings to cover rent, power and food.

Wing’s clinic manager Wilson Bell says nowhere else offers the treatment Wings does in the country, yet they are under-funded, “working on shoestrings” to provide the treatment. They can house 36 people at a time, and usually have a waiting list of about 20, who they try to accommodate within 6-8 weeks. Wings Trust general manager Jill Palmer says their under-funding has created an “idiot-type situation. “People go into detox come out, use again, then go into detox again, then have to go into detox several times until there is a bed available to take them, which is costly and unnecessary.”

whose only other option is jail. The day before we visited someone had fallen off the wagon, and so was stood down from the programme; people fall for various reasons, Palmer says. “For people with addiction it’s hard to imagine what life is like without it because your drug of choice is your constant companion, it’s the most significant relationship anyone has.

“Sometimes that’s a death sentence to someone because they have nowhere safe to be, they will be desperate,” Kristin says.

“Trying to imagine what your world will look and feel like without that drug goes into the too hard basket,” she says.

Like at Serenity, structure at Wings is important, clients have group and one-on-one therapy sessions all day and they also have a lot of free time as part of the treatment.

Kristin has been at Wings for five years, she moved in after her detox and initial treatment for an alcohol addiction, because she wanted as much support and safety as she could get. She feels people who have not been in addiction do not understand how hard it is. She says her drinking was the greatest love affair that she had to give up.

If a client has a court appearance, Wings will support them through the court process. They also take clients on home detention, or who have been to court, and they have people

usu

In Unison, Health Issue.indd 21

30/04/2009 7:53:21 p.m.

N I A C L A I

R U T E PI

O S IT E B H A ive,

f it os en o h p nd m wit . e a r of red ess e u sn mb its c rvou b ha o ne ,n ain

E R T

T N E

B A H E R

M AN T A D

M U LY

SS Y E L D B N I E PA U R C

“Unless you are an addict you don’t know what loneliness is. It is soul destroying, the sense of feeling different.”

As the house host, other than the Wings cardinal rules of no using, no violence and no romantic relationships, Kristin also makes sure curfews are obeyed, everyone is home for dinner, and all contribute to the running of the house. She says the house always has people from different backgrounds, from professionals to those who have never worked. She also has a couple there on home detention.The range shows addiction does not discriminate.



She has mothers in the house wanting to cleanup, but she says as soon as an addicted mother asks for help, she is punished.The fear of having children taken away from them stops women from getting help, she adds.

One of the Serenity rehab houses in Piha

“A lot of women stay out there dying because there is nowhere to go and no one that’s going to say ‘we will help you address this and keep you safe’.” When you have used nothing is normal, it’s a relearning thing. I’ve had people in this house who have never made a bed.They come here and learn how to live life.” While In Unison couldn’t quite afford to head to California to check out the rehabs the celebrities are making famous, it’s clear from looking at the local ones, rehab is more than a weekend getaway. And as easy as Lindsay Lohan may make it seem, both the clients and workers at Wings and Serenity agree, rehab is hard work.

OR ! F AM PLE E CR PEO E IC T 20 E S E FR FIR E TH

The interior of a Wings Trust rehab house

6PM THURS 7TH MAY GOLD LECTURE THEATRE

THE HUB FREE ENTRY

In Unison, Health Issue.indd 22

’A SS

ITE

usu OCIATION

STU N

ALL WELCOME

30/04/2009 7:53:27 p.m.

dear dr. house

Dear House, I dropped an Easter egg in the drain, my friend told me about the 20 second rule, so I ate it after it was there for awhile. Now I feel like I’m going to die, it was a crème egg and all this black stuff got stuck on it. Is this bad? -Green Face Dear Green Face. You’re a gullible moron aren’t you? Firstly, your friend is either as stupid as you are or just evil. There is no 20 second rule! It’s a 3 second rule, sometimes extended to 5 seconds. This is because it takes bacteria and viruses 6 seconds to move from one surface to another. It is also likely that, once the chocolate surface of the egg is broken, the creamy content would allow the bacterial colonies grow and fester into an aggressive mass by the time it would reach your stomach. Secondly, to answer your question; Yes this is bad! You’ve most likely caught what is called Streptococcus Pyogenes, or the ‘killer flesh-eating bacteria causing internal Necrotizing fasciitis.’ By now you should have some abdominal swelling, less frequent urination and influenza-like symptoms. The next stage will involve boil like blisters containing foul smelling pus. By day four these will haemorrhage and cause gangrene as it spreads all over your body. If you have been patiently waiting for my reply, I would recommend killing yourself and/or your friend before you suffer an excruciatingly painful death. No one wants to save you from yourself so it would be better for us all if you just ended it now. Truly Yours, House Dear House, Is Lady Gaga a man, coz she looks like it…. -Confused Dear Confused. Of course the Lady is a man and anyone who tries to tell you anything different is an idiot. It should be blatantly obvious by the lady-man-lady outfits and wigs that she/he wears. It is also insinuated in several of her songs like “Poker Face” and “Just Dance”. These are clearly metaphors about being a man. That she is “bluffin with my muffin” blatantly spells it out! I must say, they have done quite a good job on Lady Gaga. Her plastic surgeon privately features her as one of his masterpieces. Once, when getting his cocktail of uppers and downers, he

In Unison, Health Issue.indd 23

M.D.

Dear DR. HOUSE

confided that she was one of the most realistic feeling sexchange operations he has done to date. Granted, the Pussycat Dolls have more realistic looking face jobs, but they have nothing compared to Lady Gaga’s muffin. The only reason that Lady Gaga, who’s been a writer in the pop industry for some time, has waited until now to put herself in the spotlight, was that she was waiting for the last operation. Now, post-op, she is free to parade the screen and flash her bits as a shining example of the new advances in plastic surgery. Truly Yours, House

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30/04/2009 7:53:28 p.m.

column

Whakarongo Mai WITH JOSEPH HARPER

MY DIAGNOSIS

Hello my mechanically-inferior chums. I have to admit some of past few weeks’ events have cracked me up to the point of making my little Robo parts go whirr, tic, tic. A couple of days after the Government announced plans for the Auckland ‘super city’ Council, City Mayor John Banks accidentally sent a text to North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams, calling him a lunatic. Very mature choice of words, Mr Banks.Your competent phonehandling skills have filled me with confidence our city is in safe hands.

The skin on my face is not exactly perfect. I have the odd splotch. But nothing like the surface of Mars which some lads sport. I have a moderately sized penis and can jog for over fifteen minutes without stopping.

Sports broadcaster Tony Veitch confessed to reckless disregard causing injury to ex-partner, and then vowed to take legal action against media for alleged reckless coverage of the case. I believe it would be reckless on my part to not laugh at Veitch’s fitting comeback.

My health is not something that I’m hugely worried about. When walking down a road, I often walk past people; and though they don’t actually say anything, I can see in their eyes that they are thinking exactly what I am almost constantly thinking.

Something that made me clench my shiny metal arse out of fear was Police Minister Judith Collins aggressive plans to crush boy racers’ cars. Apparently she has sussed out fines don’t mean jack to boy racers so it makes sense to compress their cars into tiny capsules of trifle. Good on her, I suppose, as long as she doesn’t plan on attacking little robots anytime soon.

Diabetes

My Grandma and my Nana had diabetes. My mother does too. So it’s a foregone conclusion that I will one day have to get one of the machines with the little needle that will check my blood sugar. I don’t mind. By that time, I imagine they’ll have ones with built in mp3 players, so it’ll be convenient as.

“Wowee. This boy is in his prime.” I’m not muscular. There is a kind of timeless boyishness about me. The Oliver Twist aesthetic will never go out of fashion. In fact, the only part of my body that I’m genuinely not happy with is my chest. Three years of working at KFC and regularly eating the hormone-enhanced chicken breast caused my own breast to become a bit juicier, which is ok, but it also left my nipples flaccid and bigger than a boy’s nipples should be. The price I pay for all the two-piece quarter packs I stole I guess. Other than the nipple thing, I’m healthy as, and I know why; bicycles have sculpted me into the young man I am. I grew up in Christchurch, which is obviously why I ride a bike; it’s very flat down there, very cyclable. I wouldn’t say that Auckland is worse for riding bikes, but I wouldn’t say its better either. It’s different. Each city has its pros and cons, Auckland, for example, has a lot more hills, which is a con. Christchurch however, has a lot more boys who will call you “faggot” and/or “homo” and/ or throw empty Bullet Bourbon bottles at you from their little (phallic extension) v8 cars when you cycle past them at night, which is a con. Possibly for this reason Auckland wins. Then again, when you’re biking home at night down K road in Auckland and you get stopped at a red light, there are a lot more Samoan boys who are disguised as girls and will try to put a finger up your bumhole, which is a con, I think. Maybe not. Different strokes for different folks. Either way, there’s not many of those in Christchurch. As I said very flat down there.

NEWS ROUND UP WITH THE NEWS-BOT

In what could prove to be a great example of cause and effect, officials are wondering if giving women free emergency contraceptive pills is what’s actually behind fewer number of abortions performed by the Auckland District Health Board. Even though circumstantial evidence does suggest some sort of a link there, perhaps it is nothing but a premature conclusion. Did anyone hear about the clever dog who sniffed out P in a pair of sandals at Auckland’s Paremoremo Prison? The sandals were found in incoming mail and carried about 4.2 grams of P – apparently enough for a significant number of “hits” for one prisoner. This reminds me, some top Kiwi lawyers offered to help SPCA with animal cruelty cases for free. So now animal offenders will have more than just the fear of catching rabies to make them all uneasy in the pants. Sick people who go to work may earn a few brownie points with the boss, but in reality they cost a lot more than those who aren’t afraid to call in sick. A study found that the crawling miserable, pitiable, ill and unproductive workforce costs NZ employers a whopping $2 billion a year. So the next time you don’t feel 100 per cent, do your employer a favour and throw a sickie. Speaking of sickies, now we have swine flu taking over the front pages! Some kids came back from a trip to Mexico and kabam, New Zealand is going paranoid crazy over the latest epidemic scare. Lucky for me, robots are immune to swines!

usu

In Unison, Health Issue.indd 24

30/04/2009 7:53:33 p.m.

dear barbie

Dear Barbie, Times are tough. My dog looks fat and succulent. What would you do? -Hungry Dear Hungry. Yes, I hear there are some sort of money troubles going on, what do they call it Rerezzion or something? From what I have heard it sounds pretty drab for you lower classes. But on the plus, it’s good for your superiors like me, I got a new mink coat on sale the other day for only $1000, it was a steal, really. Also, I’m thinking about snapping up some of the properties my fellow rich-listers can no longer afford in Mission Bay (because people like you are no longer shopping at their companies, so now they have to slip in class. It’s all your fault). I’ll get a new convertible while I’m at it, I saw one for $500, 000 the other day that will suffice, oh and I hear plastic surgeons are also dropping their prices…maybe I’ll book in for new knee caps today, my left one has developed a little dent where some bitch of a kid dropped me. As you can probably tell, I don’t actually care about your problem of whether or not you will eat your dog, that’s a completely vile thought. Why don’t you don a pair of fingerless gloves, dirty yourself up and go begging, there’s about as much dignity in that as eating your dog. xx

CHECK OUT IN UNISON ONLINE FOR NEW DEAR BARBIE COLUMNS WWW.USU.CO.NZ/INUNISON Or send your own questions to inunison@unitec.ac.nz

xox

Dear BARBIE

Dear Barbie, I’ve been seeing this guy Dave for a couple of months and I really like him. He’s really fun, hot and smart. But after I took him to meet my family, my mum called me up to tell me that there’s a high chance Dave is related to me (long, convoluted story that I won’t go into here). The tie is pretty distant, maybe less than cousin, but he may still be a blood relative. First of all, do I tell him what I know? This is the only way I can find out for sure if we are related. But if I tell him, he might dump me and I really, really like him. Secondly, what do you think about going out with a relative? I feel a bit creepy about it, to be honest, but it’s not like he’s my brother or anything. Thirdly, my mum will pretty much disown me if continue going out with him. I don’t know what to do!! Help. Cheers, -Rach Dear Rach, OK, I just called up my good friend Jerry Springer, and he wants you to break it to your beau onstage, hopefully he will throw a chair. Ha. No, but seriously, WTF? I hope since writing this you have ceased all sexual relations, because that is yuck. Sexing your relative? We are not in the 17th century/Gore, so refrain. So, Rach, yes, you have to tell him! That’s the only way you will know (unless you can afford a detective, I guess not, rich people don’t potentially screw their relatives). If you are blood related, then seriously, there are plenty more penises in the sea, so let go of the cousin and catch a new one. What if he found out and confronted you? And only then you fessed up? Bad scenario because he will probably tell his friends/ family/Woman’s Day, which would make you look even worse and more disgusting. Fun, hot and smart are not good enough to ruin your reputation, and eww, imagine how deformed your incest children would look. Please get the real truth on this terrible scenario or end this now. You’re making Barbie cringe.

usu

In Unison, Health Issue.indd 25

30/04/2009 7:53:33 p.m.

column

Rugby

The Goose’s

GNOME #2 – Get rid of the lineout. Lineouts aren’t proper lineouts now with lifting etc; lineouts were a great way to begin a bit of biff when the game got boring as opposition locks would go “at it” toe to toe after one got in the others way while trying to jump for the ball.

GANDER AT SPORT

“Crouch, touch, pause, engage”, every rugby referee on this planet seems to revel in saying those four words when about 1800 kilos of man collides for scrum supremacy and “the edge” over their opponents. Rugby’s law changes, the Experimental Law Variations aka the ELVs, are yet to be made permanent and until such time as the International Rugby Board - IRB - has the balls to make a call on them, rugby will continue to lose support to league which is gradually gaining a stranglehold in many previously unthought of areas, like our televisions and radios for one thing. So in a bid to help out the dickless IRB, I thought it was time to stop complaining and come up with my own set of experimental laws. I have decided to call my set of laws the GNOMES; the Gregarious Name Of My Experimental Sojourns; this means absolutely nothing, pretty much what the ELVs mean to the IRB when you look at it. GNOME #1 – De-power the scrum. It is only a meaningless way to re-start the game and replace the front row fatties with big strapping loose forward attributes to make the game quicker. Oh, and now there’s no power in the scrum, get rid of the two flankers, no need for eight forwards, six will be enough.

GNOME #3 – Get rid of rucks and mauls. They only slow the game down and would eliminate the current problems refs have at the tackle. Simple way to fix this, just play the ball when someone’s tackled and away we go. Only 6 “play-the-balls” though, don’t want one team having more possession than the other. GNOME #4 – The team that scores re-starts the game. It just makes it a bit fairer to give the ball straight to the team that has conceded so they can have a turn. GNOME #5 – Get rid of 1st 5/8ths and 2nd 5/8ths. Stupid names for a position in the backline, let’s call the 1st 5/8ths a stand off and the 2nd 5/8ths can be called a centre. Five great law changes to speed the game up and draw the crowds back to Rugby Union, which now has a new name; Rugby League. I did mention earlier in the article that league was taking over didn’t I? Cheers, I’m the Goose and You’re Not

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30/04/2009 7:53:33 p.m.

uni games

UNI GAMES RECAP By Narissa Fale

MEDAL TOTAL Gold - Jasmine Holland Silver - League Silver - Womens Golf BASKETBALL Most Valuable Player - Morgan Lundon Most Improved - Simon Blackwell The Man - Brent Hopkins Best Moment - when Corey decided to take a run across the courtyard with no clothes on. - introducing the USU team to Buffalo Worst Moment- when someone fell over on Morgan’s foot taking him out of the competition! TOUCH Most Valuable Player - Roydon Campbell Most Improved - Shaun Vaughn The Man - Roydon Campbell Best Moment- The team ”displaying their affection” to the other Uni’s on the way back in the vans - Worst Moment- Being disqualified for helping AU field a team. LEAGUE Most Valuable Player - David Williams Most Improved - Rewiti Kaire The Man - Sefesi Fainu Best Moment - Sef losing his voice on the second day - Having 2 people make the tournament team Worst Moment - The late night visits from the local girls - Finding Rewiti on the walk home on the last night

NETBALL Most Valuable Player - Jen Larnder Most Improved - Kahurangi Jackson The Man - Rawinia Henry Best Moment - Beating Massey Uni - Liz singing Karaoke and having issues standing up Worst Moment - Rah dislocating and having an open compound fracture and having to have surgery FOOTBALL Most Valuable Player - Allan Boere The Man - Craig Larnder Best Moment - The Vic captain’s speech during the last game inspiring but not original - The team bonding sessions Worst Moment - The ”drinking fiasco” and fine bringing shame to the team THE MAN AWARD - Greg Powell Greg was awesome he helped out with the trouble that we were having with the moteliers and even got them to put on a BBQ for us! He drove the Golfers to all their matches and picked them up and supported every team while we were away. He was awesome! THE WOMEN AWARD - Jasmine Holland Jasmine got our first ever female gold medal. Even though there was no mention on the USNZ website and media, Jaz was taking part in the full contact section of the Karate and won without a point being scored against her, so even though you missed your flight home Jaz you are - The Woman!

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In Unison, Health Issue.indd 27

30/04/2009 7:53:41 p.m.

MACBETH Unitec Theatre

theatre

NO.2

theatre

Pumphouse Theatre

As those of you who take an interest in the arts and theatre may have been aware, the third year actors of our fine institution, in collaboration with multi award-winning director Cathy Downes, recently put on a brand spanking new adaptation of Shakespeare’s timeless classic, the ‘cursed’ play, Macbeth.

No. 2 proves there can be miracles. The recent season of the New Zealand play about “the miracle of family” is minimalism at its best. Written by Toa Fraser, No.2 is back onstage again, brought to life through the work of a single player, a chair, beautifully crafted light and a touch of sound.

To say it was a new adaptation is an understatement. With a strikingly simple set and the actors playing the characters constantly changing (they went through five Macbeths), every scene was a new adaptation of the scene before. So it was like five adaptations in one.

Madeline Sami’s virtuoso performance is the first miracle of this piece. She brings an entire cast to life onstage, moving seamlessly through the Maria family. Her performance is magic; she manipulates body and voice with unbelievable ease, portraying a cast of characters, ranging from an adorable schoolboy to a frail, fading matriarch. With every role Sami is transformed, the audience sees a new person onstage, instantaneously.

Views

Running at about two hours, you certainly got your money’s worth. In fact, I thought I had got my money’s worth at one hour but the thing just kept going. Being a fan of Shakespeare I know I have a larger attention span than some when it comes to the thees and thous and forasmuches, and even I occasionally found my mind begin to wander. However, this must not be blamed upon the performance or direction of the play itself, but rather Shakespeare’s intermittent tendency to waffle. The piece itself was well directed on the whole, with some specific performances shining above the rest, which is to be expected. Occasionally I found that the level of some actors did not match the level of others, which interfered with my viewing pleasure. Most strikingly, the piece held itself together through transition after transition with beautifully the constructed atmosphere, created both through intelligent lighting and sound design, and through the direction of the actors themselves. All in all, the play was a success in my eyes. The direction was original and artful, while the sound and lighting neatly complemented the performance of the actors themselves. So, if you are like me and enjoy a new spin on an old favourite, this definitely would have been your cup of tea. If not, be glad you missed the opportunity to watch it. Reviewed by Sophie Fletcher

Aside from the physical and verbal characterisations, each character has incredible depth. Sol, a cheeky fifteen year old ‘gangsta’ provides some of the shows finest wit, while dealing with an internal struggle, trying to find his place in the family. I found more emotional depth in each of the eight or so characters portrayed by Sami, than some actors amass focusing on a single role. The sheer energy, concentration and skill needed to perform every character in this play is remarkable, Sami is one of this country’s finest talents. Toa Fraser’s script is the next of the show’s miracles. He weaves the performer and audience through a web of wonderfully rich and diverse characters, in an exploration of culture, ageing and above all, family. It is time for Nana Maria to name her successor; she wants all her grandchildren present. As preparations for the big feast unfold we are introduced to the workings and failings of this extended Fijian family. John Verryt and Jeremy Fern’s design work make up miracle three. A solitary chair acts as Nana Maria’s throne, with the rest of the environment created exquisitely through light. Nana’s bedroom is constructed with heavy shafted sidelight, almost an expressionist touch, enforcing the bedroom as a place of reflection. Every setting is clearly defined and enriched with light, allowing the audience to maintain a clear picture of the settings and characters momentarily abandoned by the actress occupying another character. No.2 is a refreshing theatrical experience; pure class. With only a chair, some well crafted light a perfect script and one truly gifted performer, No.2 is nothing short of a miracle. Reviewed by Jared Edwards

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30/04/2009 7:53:46 p.m.

reviews

GET IT TOGETHER music

Spanning many musical bridges is what core member of Sola Rosa Andrew Spraggon has been doing since his last offering three and a half years ago. And it would be fair to say that in transforming from a oneman-and-a-laptop band to a powerful live act, he has come a long way. The bunch of accolades he has won during this journey only cements this rather extraordinary accomplishment. His latest album Get It Together is reassuring proof of Spraggon’s musical genius, as he beautifully combines dub and soul with other genres to weave a foggy web of 11 tracks. Get It Together is in true essence the crystallisation of his understanding of music from around the world, combined with a desire to experiment with new musical styles. The album sees staple band members, Will Scott on the drums, Ben White on the guitar and Matt Short on bass, blending their talents with musical aptitudes of Scratch 22, Spikey Tee, Serocee and Iva Lamkum, who lends voice to the second track and pretty much the highlight of the album, Turn Around. The opening track Ace of Space is exactly what its title suggests – a soundscape for various musical instruments to come out and play tricks on the listeners, as the resulting melody takes them though a mysterious aural journey. My favourite though is the curiously-titled Bond is Back. As I push play I wonder if it will bring lush images of Daniel Craig to my mind and it does indeed. My imagination goes for a cinematic holiday as I start getting martini withdrawals. Del Ray hangs on to the quintessential Sola Rosa sound. Though I dread going out and walking back home along the rain-washed streets, the tropical, sun-soaked melody seems to seep in, making me feel all warm and nice. And even as I step out of my comfort zone and review dub for the first time, I am finding the spoilt indie-kid in me asking for more. Reviewed by Megha Kehar

Views

Sola Rosa

THE WINTER’S theatre TALE Aotea Centre

Presented as part of the Bridge Project, a transatlantic theatrical collaboration between the finest theatre companies in both America and Great Britain, The Winter’s Tale was directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes (American Beauty) and featured an all-star cast including Hollywood hunk Ethan Hawke (Gattaca). Exactly the kind of acclaimed international theatre which comes in very short supply here in New Zealand. Thus, it was with a great sense of expectation that I went along to the Aotea Centre to see the show.

For those who are unfamiliar with this, one of the Bard’s (very) slightly lesser known plays, it’s a kind of psychological comedy/drama/romance concerning the kings of Sicily and Bohemia and their offspring. The first half was very intense; psychological paranoia aplenty. Mendes captured the feeling well, with candles used to great effect, casting a cold, weak light on the stage and its inhabitants, though at times I felt the use of shadows as metaphors was a bit contrived. Simon Russell Beale (a man once dubbed “the greatest stage actor of his generation”) was nothing short of magnificent as Leontes, the jealous Sicilian king. Beale’s performance was perfectly judged and full of subtlety and truth. Most remarkable however, was the way Beale blended Leontes’ slow-brewing rage and madness with moments a side-splitting hilarity. He was affable, terrifying and pathetic all at once and it was a joy to behold. The second half took place primarily in Bohemia, which Mendes successfully transported to the mid-western American prairie. Backed by lovely soft blue lights, the play managed a complete paradigm shift. Compared to the dark, cold first half; the second half felt every bit the party that took place in it. The second half was completely stolen by Ethan Hawke who, as the roguish Autolycus, managed to make Shakespeare’s word poetic, hilarious and most importantly, entirely intelligible; which is no easy feat. Another highlight was the brilliant staging of what is without a doubt Shakespeare’s most bizarre stage directions; “exit pursued by a bear.” Overall the play was an excellent piece of work, the kind of quality you’d expect from an international production which bothers to bring itself to Auckland. Excellent theatre all-round. Reviewed by Joseph Harper

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30/04/2009 7:53:46 p.m.

band profile

GRADUATE PROFILE: MICHAEL MAU’U By Megha Kehar

BAND PROFILE: DRIVETOWN (FORMERLY AFRATONE)

Profile

By Megha Kehar

THESE ARE BUSY DAYS FOR UNITEC’S MICHAEL MAU’U. THE UNASSUMING 40-YEAR-OLD BACHELOR OF SPORTS STUDENT WAS NAMED THE HEAD COACH OF NEW ZEALAND’S UNDER-19 GRIDIRON TEAM – THE IRON BLACKS – LATE LAST YEAR.

DRIVETOWN ARE AN AUCKLAND-BASED ALT-ROCK BAND WHO’VE GIG-BLITZED THE LOCAL UNI SCENE SINCE THEY GOT TOGETHER IN 2007. AT THE CORE OF THIS THROBBING, HIGH-OCTANE QUARTET IS SAM COMERY ON BASS, KONRAD KURTA ON GUITAR AND VOCALS, AND JAMES PORTEOUS ON DRUMS. JAMES FAULDING, THE BAND’S NEWEST ACQUISITION, PLAYS THE GUITAR AND KEYS. THEY’VE OPENED FOR THE LIKES OF THE MINT CHICKS, SHIHAD, THE ELECTRIC CONFECTIONAIRES AND DEJA VOODOO.

Under Mau’u’s guidance, the team recently beat the Australian side on home ground to qualify for the first-ever International Federation of American Football Junior World Championship to be held in the US in June. He will be in Canton, Ohio with a 44-strong squad for the world cup between June 28 and July 6.

Why did you change your name from afratone to drivetown? Mainly because we have grown musically. When we started this band two years ago we were just three guys who wrote one funk-rock song after another, without putting too much time into each song. Now things have got a bit more serious. With John in the band now, our songs are a lot more mature and nurtured.

Apart from representing the country internationally, the players stand a chance to win scholarships. Mau’u says the general expectation is 30 percent of the team will be picked up by US high schools.

Describe your indie-ness. Right now we are 100 percent independent. We are releasing our debut single and video very soon. It’s all self-funded but we do have a couple of major record labels keeping an eye on us. Depending on how well the single does will tell how independent we will stay. We want to have maximum control over everything we do – from the music right down to the album art.

And even as he rushes from one lecture hall to another, he is thinking about the team and his commitment to putting Kiwi talent on the world map. “All my kids are amazing. They all come from different backgrounds,” he says.

Mau’u took up gridiron as a “social sport” at the age of 18. He then went on to play professionally for Australia between 1987 and 2003. He played twice against New Zealand in 2003. “It was my biggest challenge. My family was in the stands… and then the Kiwi national anthem came on.” In March 2004, he decided to move back to New Zealand with his Aussie wife and five children. “I never thought I’d come back. I had adopted Australia as my country.”

Name a band you’re absolutely itching to collaborate with? MGMT. I think we could work well with them because we are their complete opposite. So it could be interesting. Plus I hear those guys do a lot of acid, so it would be very psychedelic.

A retail manager for two decades, Mau’u says taking up a full-time course was a hard decision, as it meant going from two incomes to one. “When you are 40, you look back at what you’ve done. I thought, am I going to spend the next 20 years of my life in retail?”

Do you guys have any weird habits? We occasionally go to the driving range at the airport at around 4 am and hit a few balls after being out on the town.

Now he is glad he took that leap of faith. “When I started the course, I thought I’d be out in the field 90 per cent of the time, but I am doing stuff I didn’t expect to be doing… like anatomy, psychology and management.”

What’s your ultimate direction for the band, if there’s one? Get as far as Australia and consider it made in life? The entire world! We won’t stop until we do. As for me, I would love to just tour again and again. It’s not about money, it’s to be able to just play for a living but I guess that’s what everyone says. The video for their new single “Glass Pipe” can now be seen on Juice TV and ALT. For more details check out: www.myspace.com/Afratone

The self-confessed old-style coach says just eight months into the programme, his technique has changed so much. “Earlier, my coaching was based entirely on my football career.” But because the course has exposed him to so many areas of sport, he can be more than just a coach, he says. “It has opened many more doors.” Mau’u believes that beyond the thrill and excitement, the skills players learn on the field can also be used in real life. “My coaching skills made me a better manager and my managerial skills made me a better coach.” Mau’u likens gridiron to contact chess. “Gridiron is very tactical but also very physical.”

In Unison, Health Issue.indd 30

30/04/2009 7:53:48 p.m.

LEARNED THROUGH BAKING With anything in life you can learn lessons – so why not when baking and eating wonderful treats?! You can think of baking as intensive therapy and personal growth, plus all of your friends and flatmates will love you for it! LIFE LESSON # 3 – SLOW DOWN AND BAKE THE PUMPKIN PIE! Although it may take time, pumpkin pie is an easy, budget-friendly and tasty sweet treat option! You can do this on the quicker and on the cheap, if you want, use a store-bought pie shell, and substitute the spices for 1 ½ – 2 tsps of mixed spice. So set aside some time to slow down and enjoy the wonders of making this delectable pie!

PUMPKIN PIE

1 store-bought pie shell (about $2.50) Or make to make your own pastry • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour • 1/2 tsp salt • 1 tbsp granulated sugar • 1/2 cup butter, chilled, and cut into 1 inch pieces • 1/8 to 1/4 cup ice water Pumpkin Filling: • 3 free range eggs • 2 cups pumpkin puree (about 1 large pumpkin or 2 small pumpkins) • 1/2 cup cream • 1/2 cup brown sugar • 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ground ginger, 1/8 tsp ground cloves • 1/2 tsp salt

Home Comforts WITH SUSANNAH AITKEN

Hi. I’m Susannah. I like to cook with unpopular vegetables.

Yum Yum

Life Lessons

recipe

STEPHANIE MCCOLL’S

I know you probably hate cauliflower, and for good reason, but I can’t recommend highly enough this method of cooking it. Roasted slowly in the oven, drizzled with olive oil, it becomes a completely different vegetable from the one we all know. It is soft and melting inside, and sweetly caramelised and crunchy around the edges. The dressing is fresh, tangy and garlicky, providing a good contrast to the rich silkiness of the roasted cauliflower.

SLOW-ROASTED CAULIFLOWER • • • • • • • • •

1 large cauliflower Olive oil Salt and pepper 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 Tbs red wine vinegar Juice of 2 lemons 2 Tbs olive oil Small handful of parsley, finely chopped Salt and pepper to taste

Cut cauliflower into thick slices, approximately 1 1/2cm thick, discarding any green leaves and stems. Combine slices with a generous glug of olive oil, salt and pepper, and place in a single layer in the base of a large roasting dish. Cook at 160C for approximately 1 hour, turning every 20 minutes or so to prevent burning. For dressing, combine lemon juice and garlic and allow to sit for at least 10 minutes before adding other ingredients. Refrigerate until needed, and then toss straight through the hot cauliflower when it comes out of the oven.

Pumpkin Puree: Skin pumpkin and roughly chop. Roast pumpkin in oven with some butter until soft, about an hour. Mash by hand, or puree in blender. Pastry: In a blender, place flour, salt, and sugar and process until combined.Add the butter and process until the mixture resembles crumbs. Pour 1/8 cup water in a slow stream until the dough just holds together when pinched. If necessary, add more water. Do not process more than 30 seconds. No blender? Use a fork and muscles! Turn the dough onto the bench and gather into a ball. Flatten into a disk, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 mins – 1 hr before using. After the dough has chilled, place on a lightly floured surface, and roll into a 33 cm circle. Fold the dough in half and transfer to a 23 cm pie pan. Tuck the extra pastry under itself. Use a fork to make a decorative border. Refrigerate the pastry, covered with plastic

wrap, for about 30 minutes before pouring in the filling. Set the oven to 190° C. Pumpkin Filling: In a bowl lightly whisk the eggs. Add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Strain through a sieve to remove lumps and pulp from the filling. Pour the mixture into the pie shell. Bake the pie for about 45-55 minutes or until the filling is set (the centre will still look wet). Serve at room temperature with whipped cream (optional). usu

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