TA May 2009 by Academy Group

WIN!

W W W . T E A R A W A Y . N E T . N Z

Puma boots, Urban Tool Bags, & masses of cool Kiwi music!

M AY 0 9

Design a Tearaway cover

Katherine Mansfield Award writing tips Announcing: Spirit of Tearaway Youth Awards! Polyfest • St john • AFS • Careers • Movies • Books • CDs • DVDs • Games

CONTENTS

NZ Music Month: 10 Youth Week: 6 Hello people,

My name’s Rain and I’m hanging out in the ol’ editor’s chair, aiming to continue Tearaway’s tradition as YOUR voice. What’s going on out there – what’s blowing your hair back, and what’s not? Let me know: rain@tearaway.co.nz I’m pretty excited to be jumping

Dance to stop AIDS: 22

Polyfest: 8 on the Tearaway bandwagon in time for Youth Week and NZ Music Month. Be proud of our diverse culture and its many musical manifestations! (Check page 10 for heaps of free Kiwi music, WA-HEY!) Being the new bird in the cage, I want to try and make a good impression, and what better way to win friends than to give away MONEY?! Get into our cover art competition (below). Come to mention it, it’s a

Unleash your artistic hounds!

proper competition fest around here these days. There’s creative writing (page 24), poems/lyrics (page 12) and the brand new Spirit of Tearaway Youth Awards. Actually, as they’re all about you, you can help us make sure they best represent all the great things about NZ’s legends in the making (that’s you guys). Check page 7 for what it’s all about. Party on! RAIN FRANCIS, Editor (and new Tearaway torch carrier)

A career in the bush: 36

SPECIAL FEATURES 6

Youth Week: aroha time

Spirit of Tearaway Youth Awards: coming soon!

Polyfest 09

BreakOut: find money for your dreams

17 St John and the Incredibles family! 18 Billy TK jams on the road 20 POSTER: Youth Week 22 Global Focus: dance to stop AIDS

MUSIC

We hear you!

10 NZ Music Month: band profiles, events, giveaways, more!

Here’s what a reader had

12 Interview with Jason Kerrison, Opshop

to say about our March

16 Kiwi music news with Kiwi FM

Are you the next Banksy? Dali? McCahon? Are you an artistic genius waiting to be revealed? Ready to release your hounds of creativity upon the world? We want an original piece of art to grace the cover of September Tearaway, and we want to pay you $250 for it! We’ll also give you two framed A3 prints of the cover – one for you and one for your school. A selection of our favourite entries will be posted on Tearaway online. Then you get to vote for the runners-up, and we’ll dish out some prizes to them too. Watch this space… The theme is ‘Tough Times’. It’s a focus on young people who have lived through rough situations and experienced positive changes in their lives. How would YOU express this idea? Think outside the box. Check past Tearaway covers. What grabs you by the eyeballs and demands to be opened? Our designer will work with the chosen artist to fine tune the winning piece for the mag. If you need jumpstarting, drop me a line: rain@tearaway.co.nz.

graffiti focus:

COMPETITIONS

‘[Graffiti] is an art form...BUT

12 NZ Post Poetry Awards

when it is displayed on private

24 Katherine Mansfield Awards

Conditions of entry Entrants must be no older than 20. Any medium of visual arts will be considered, as long as entries are sent to us in digital format.

You could WIN $250 with the Tearaway cover art competition.

property it becomes vandalism, unless the owner has given permission for it to be displayed.... display your work either in galleries or on walls where the owners have given permission and that is how you will earn credibility and respect’ – BIG T

REVIEWS, PREVIEWS AND GIVEAWAYS 26 Movies 27 DVDs 28 Books 29 Games 30 CDs

Want to have your say? Sign

CHOICES AND CAREERS

in at www.tearaway.net.nz/

31 Hotel management

forums/ to get whatever is

32 Nursing

on your chest OFF!

34 Performing arts

Email your entry to Rain Francis: rain@tearaway.co.nz. Competition closes July 31.

TEARAWAY magazine is an independent publication of TEARAWAY Press Ltd. HEAD OFFICE: PO Box 7351 Wanganui Phone: (06) 349 0049 Fax: (06) 345 0071 TEARAWAY MAGAZINE IS PRODUCED BY AND FOR NEW ZEALAND YOUTH The opinions expressed within these pages are those of the individual writer, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Tearaway magazine. Publisher and Executive Editor: John Francis CEO: Josh Kosmala (josh@tearaway.co.nz) Editor: Rain Francis editor@tearaway.co.nz Sub-editor: Jonquil Brooks Operations Manager: Anita Smart (anita@tearaway.co.nz) Digital and Online Manager: Josh Kosmala (josh@tearaway.co.nz) Designer: Leo Francis CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE: Matt Alpe, Jason Antill, Jack Callister, Joy Foster Christie, Rain Francis, Alexander Donohue, Eva Grove, Valerie Guo, the Hallberg family, Aroha Hughes, Teuila Hughes, Jack Huston, Fleur Jack, Jess Johnson, Rhian Lawrence, Nicole Mathewson, Emma Nichols, Feilidh O’Dwyer, Tara Olsthoorn, Kristie Pakipaki, Martin Paris, Jono Perkins, Lauren Ripper, James Sullivan, Mere Teinaki, Chris Traill, Kelly Williams, Eva Emma Wilson.

36 Wood industry 39 AFS student exchange to France

REGULARS 4

News quiz

15 Next month: gangs 38 Grabbag

ADVERTISING: Joy Clark (06) 344 6792 (joy@tearaway.co.nz) Anita Smart (06) 349 0049 (anita@tearaway.co.nz) Distribution: Anita Smart Printed by: Webstar, Masterton Subscription Enquiries: anita@tearaway.co.nz

Canned music is like audible wallpaper – Alistair Cooke

May 09 cover: ILLUSTRATION: Jess Johnson

www.tearaway.co.nz

NEWS QUIZ

News to you?

JONO PERKINS tests your news nous

WOW! What a month! So much has happened in the world. Let’s see how much of it you have been remembering so we can tell if you’re a news shark or a media minnow. It’s time again for your monthly NEWS QUIZ!

1. Jamie Oliver has been a household name for a number of years now. First with his cooking shows and then for killing live chickens in front of live TV audiences (to try and stop battery chicken farming). What has he been in the gossip magazines for this week? a) Some footage has been leaked to the internet of him ACTUALLY cooking ‘naked’ b) Him and his wife have just gained a new family member in the form of a baby c) He was in a punch-up with Gordon Ramsay after a debate over who was the better chef 2. Good ol’ Helen Clark faced defeat in the elections at the end of last year, also stepping down from her position as Labour party leader. What is her next career choice? a) Telemarketer, calling your house wanting to ask you 15 minutes of questions just as you sit down for dinner b) She has an apprenticeship with Steve’s Panel Beaters c) She is the new head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which arguably makes her the third most powerful person in the UN… Maybe this will get NZ on most world maps now? 3. Who were the two unlikely heroes who came to the rescue recently, freeing two trapped teenagers from a crashed car near Dunedin? a) Batman and Spiderman b) Mayor Tim Shadbolt and comedian Gary McCormick c) Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant 4. Which TVNZ presenter has recently caused an uproar after his comments on live TV about a woman’s moustache? a) Paul Henry b) Henry Paul c) Paul Holmes 5. Tonga recently had a tsunami scare after a _______ came up out of the water! a) Taniwha b) Volcano c) Russian nuclear submarine

6. In Auckland last month, 1,500 people gathered in a park to raise awareness for the one billion people around the world who do not have access to clean drinking water. They were also trying to break a world record while they were at it. What was this world record? a) The world’s largest water fight b) The world’s largest awareness meeting in Auckland this year for worldwide water shortages c) The world’s largest assembly of Aucklanders in Lakeside Park 7. Which recent US music festival saw Kiwi musicians such as Cut Off Your Hands, Midnight Youth, Ladyhawke, David Dallas, Bang! Bang! Eche! and more, performing and making all of us back home feel very proud? a) SXSW in Austin, Texas b) CMJ in New York City c) Woodstock ‘69 8. A Samoan woman has been charged with assault and abandonment of her baby after giving birth in a toilet then leaving the baby in the rubbish bin. The baby was found healthy hours later. Where was this toilet? a) On a plane flying from Samoa to Auckland b) Her own home c) Burger King 9. Despite public opinion, which New Zealand city has been named the safest place in the country? a) Tauranga b) Christchurch c) Dunedin 10. Although it didn’t quite make it onto the safest city list, which New Zealand city has been named the city with the best quality of life? Hint: it has also been named the best little capital in the world by some. I’m too easy on you guys! a) Bulls b) Ashburton c) Wellington

Answers at bottom of page 29

News shark or media minnow?So, how did you score? Are you the ‘great white’ of the news scene, or just a teeny wriggling sprat? 0-2: omg – are you actually alive in there? 3-4: pfft – clearly the only newspaper you see is the one you share with a load of greasy chips 5-6: your impersonation of Jaws is impressive but doomed to fail as you are actually only a deluded bottom-feeding bristleworm 7-8: fierce – you’re killer whale material. We will call you Willy... 9-10: awesome – you could totally eat the media for lunch Tearaway May 2009

Gossip is news running ahead of itself in a red satin dress – Liz Smith

Creative careers start with creative degrees The National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries at The University of Auckland offers a range of creative degree programmes in:

Artists: Saeyoon Kim & Wonmok Choi

Architecture and Planning Dance Studies Fine Arts Music

www.creative.auckland.ac.nz l info@creative.auckland.ac.nz l 0800 61 62 63

All across the land, from May 23 to 31, people young and notso-young will be celebrating Youth Week via everything from art exhibitions and sports competitions, to dance-offs and bake-offs.

Wearab Korowai

May 28, 6.30 to 9pm

WHERE? The Centre, Raetihi

WHAT?

By providing positive messages through making korowai – traditional, finely woven cloaks – this event aims to highlight and reduce the problems caused by alcohol and drug misuse, and also to build relationships with families, teachers and the community. There will also be kapa haka, music and dance.

You do the talking

High olen ALriftes:

WHEN?

Relationships

Aroha Make time for youth

Youth Week aims to create a society that values us and affirms our diversity. It highlights the amazing things we young people do all year. This year the theme is relationships – particularly between young people and our parents or caregivers. It’s about getting adults to show their aroha by making time for us, and about us making time for others. Want to get involved? Head along to an event in your area, or organise an event of your own (with the help of Youth Week’s event planning guide) and post it on www.youthweek.co.nz. There you’ll find what’s happening where. Here are a couple of choice cuts…

KELLY WILLIAMS and JACK HUSTON hit the streets to ask you these questions:

Who did you live with while growing up? Do you still live with them? How do you rate your relationship? Has it changed? What would you like to change?

Doni, 16, New Plymouth 1. Mum, Dad and Grandma 2. Yes 3. Good, they aren’t control freaks, they just want to know if I’m safe

NZ um

SLuum m City

WHEN?

CCiitty

5pm, May 22 to 9am, May 24

WHERE? Frank Kitts Park, Wellington

WHO? Organised by a group of 17-year-old Wellingtonians

WHAT? NZ Slum City is a weekend event providing the opportunity for youth to spend a few hours the way 1 billion slum-dwellers spend a lifetime. We provide a safe yet public area for youth groups and schools to build and live in slum houses for the 40 Tearaway May 2009

Hour Famine weekend. Participants will eat simple food, face restrictions in terms of clothing and personal items, and compete in challenges that simulate aspects of slum life. They’ll also be required to get sponsorship to raise money for World Vision’s work in poor communities around the world. Participants will also have the opportunity to spend time in prayer or reflection, and think how they can respond to the issues of poverty and injustice in the world. For more info on Slum City, email nzslumcity@gmail.com

4. Yeah, they gave me more freedom as I hit 13 5. I’d like to spend more time together

Briar Louise, 16, Cambridge 1. Mum and Dad

2. With Mum, not Dad 3. I don’t talk to my dad 4. With Dad, yeah 5. I’d like me and my dad to stop pretending we like spending time with each other

Mike, 19, Auckland 1. Mum and Dad

2. I come and go. I flat with mates in Wanaka, but stay with Mum and Dad when I go back to Auckland to visit 3. We’re pretty close, I text Mum all the time 4. There are no rules I have to follow anymore. I think they expect me to have better judgement now 5. Absolutely nothing

Cacey, 17, Christchurch

1. Both parents, but they split when I was 8 or 9. So one week I lived with my mum, the next week with my dad 2. No, I’m flatting in Christchurch 3. Perfect. I see them both once a month 4. I guess I’ve just got to know them better 5. It would be easier to keep in contact if Dad made more of an effort to keep up with technology. But that’s all

Keep true to the dreams of your youth – Johann Friedrich von Schiller

, NATIONAL Young Leaders DayS Over 1,000 secondary school students met in Wellington in March for the final of the

Saskia, 14, Christchurch 1. Mum and Dad 2. I’m now just living with Mum 3. I’m closer to Mum, but Dad and I still have a good relationship

Students heard from high profile Kiwis who are leaders in their fields, including musician Nathan King, marathon runner Kathrine Switzer, the first Mäori woman to gain a PhD in physics Dr Ocean Mercier, youth affairs journalist Jehan Casinader and Fletcher Building Education Trust Professor of Leadership Dr Brad Jackson. The events are all about developing student leadership in schools, and building a better future for young people. “These students are our next generation of leaders. It’s so important for us to equip them with the tools and knowledge they will need to lead in the future”, says organiser Annette Fale. “The events strike a balance between talks from New Zealand leaders, practical exercises and fun activities which ultimately have students feeling inspired.” For information about the events visit www.halogenfoundation.org

4. I guess I’m just not as innocent anymore. This sometimes brings Mum and me closer together, and sometimes makes us further apart

Dylan, 19, Auckland

5. I would like Mum to put herself in my shoes more often, and Dad to not expect so much from me

2. No, I left home when I was 16

Ryan, 16, North Shore

Photo: Halogen Foundation

2009 National Young Leaders’ DayS events.

Nathan King

1. My mum and stepdad

3. Pretty good. We speak every now and then

1. Mum

4. We’re much more open with each other since I left home

2. Yeah

5. I’m happy with the way it is. I love my mum

3. We have a good relationship 4. Less fighting these days compared to when I was younger; I guess we understand each other a bit more now 5. Just to talk to each other more

James, 15, England 1. Mum and Dad 2. Yep

Ellen, 14, Wanaka

3. I’m closer to Mum than I am to Dad because he works a lot

1. Mum

4. It’s always been the same

2. Yes

5. I would like to spend more time with my dad

3. Good. We get along pretty well 4. We’ve become more like friends 5. I wish we didn’t argue as much

Cory, 15, England 1. Mum and Dad 2. Yes

Ben, 16, North Shore

3. The majority of the time it’s really good

1. Mum and Dad 2. Yep

4. It’s pretty much stayed the same. I guess there are just more rules now

3. Strenuous at times. As it usually is

5. Nothing. I’m pretty happy with the way it is

4. They give me less consideration; are less protective

Larissa, 16, Hawea

5. To talk with each other more, and be more open

James T, 16, North Shore

1. Mum and Dad 2. Yes

1. Mum and Dad

3. Really good

2. Sure do!

4. We don’t talk as often now, but when we do it’s more in-depth

3. Somewhere between friends and parents, a little strict but cool 4. It’s been like this since I can remember 5. Nothing

5. Because I know my parents trust me, I feel like I have to tell them things my friends wouldn’t tell their parents. It would be nice not to feel obliged to tell them certain things www.tearaway.co.nz

At Tearaway, ‘Youth Week’ happens every month.

COMING SOON

The Spirit of

GASP!

Youth Awards The time has come for a bit of recognition. As young New Zealanders we ALL have the potential to do amazing things. In heaps of cases, we already are! So watch this space for... the Spirit of Tearaway Youth Awards. These new awards are all about celebrating: our diversity, our relationships, our aspirations. Let’s show that this generation cares at least as much as any previous generation! The Spirit of Tearaway Youth Awards are about all the things that are good and positive about being young in Aotearoa. It’s time to dispel the negative images that are often painted of us in the media!

It’s all about... Do you know someone who has turned a negative situation into a positive one? Or someone who is extra good to Mother Earth? Do you have a mate who inspires you to aim higher, or to be a better person?

We’ll be seeking your nominations! This is not just about being a ‘high-achiever’. Some of our best qualities aren’t always so obvious. The awards are about: • • • •

respect, compassion, generosity and wellbeing integrity, perseverance and vision innovation and great ideas the true meaning of mateship, and community

Stay tuned for all the details, including full nomination instructions, and the rewards we’ll be offering. Each month, recipients of awards will have their story printed in Tearaway, and there’ll also be special awards at the end of the year. Note that entries will have to be verified – in the spirit of fairness!

ollvveedd!! GGeett ininvvo We’ll be officially launching the Spirit of Tearaway Awards soon, and we want your help with setting them up.

Ideas: Send us your ideas on how we can really make these awards an inspiration for all New Zealanders.

Early nominations: We’ll give you full nomination instructions in June Tearaway, but if you wish you can contact us now about someone you’d like to nominate. You can nominate someone you know, or even yourself! Tell us what qualities your nominee has that makes him or her awesome! Contact your Tearaway editor, rain@tearaway.co.nz

Tune into TV2 on May 30 to meet our finest young, green film-makers – the winners of the Outlook for Someday sustainability film challenge.

Olly Coddington (of Mai Time fame) will be presenting excerpts from the winning films and setting new sustainability challenges for the film-makers. Being good to the planet isn’t all about depriving yourself of electricity you know! The aim of the programme is to provoke thought and to have fun – on the way to saving the Earth. Olly and the winning film-makers are joined by League legend Tawera Nikau, ONE News reporter Jack Tame, Green politican Jeanette Fitzsimons, actor Taungaroa Emile, and Fran Kora (of Kora!). The featured winning films include: a comedy about bike pooling; an animation about the impact of cities on our mental health; documentaries about growing your own food, the effects of plastic bags and the power of street protest; and a mockumentary about the environmental effects of farming in Ashburton. Don’t miss it!

I AM TV presents The Outlook for Someday TV2, 10am May 30

Olly Coddington

Tearaway May 2009

Matariki

The destiny of any nation at any given time depends on the opinion of its young people – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

MONEY

Break out

the bling

Do you have plans for world domination? Do you feel your life would be so much easier if someone would just GIVE you some money to help you achieve your dreams? Guess what? There’s a really good chance that someone actually will! You just have to know how to investigate...

BreakOut is an online, searchable database full of information about scholarships and grants for individuals. Money is available for education, sport, art and personal and professional development. When you enter the BreakOut database online, it will ask you a number of questions. Based on your answers, BreakOut will generate a list of scholarships and grants you can apply for. All the information on applying for the scholarship is provided – eligibility criteria, how much money is available, closing dates, how to get an application form, who to contact if you want more information and other relevant material. From there it is up to you to get the application form, complete it and get it in by the due date!

Get your hands on it BreakOut is available at many high schools, usually in the library or careers office. Your careers advisor will know. Otherwise, you should be able to find it at your public library or community centre. You can also subscribe as an individual –

information on the fees for that can be found on www.breakout.org.nz. Sally Bishop of Gisborne Boys’ High School says BreakOut is “a fantastic database. Everything is on there, and the students can narrow their search down to specific universities if they want. “It takes time but the rewards are terrific. A lot of scholarships are not taken up, so we advise the students to just apply anyway, even if they don’t feel they fit the criteria perfectly. “I have heard of students who have obtained up to $40,000 – pretty good hourly rate!”

Who, me? Anyone can use BreakOut, whether you’re in high school, you’ve already left, or you’re doing tertiary study. Scholarships are available for a broad range of things, such as travelling overseas to sports competitions, or studying in NZ or abroad. You can even get money to help pay your living costs while you work on that artistic masterpiece! The process of applying for grants and scholarships normally involves some form filling, and the gathering of various documents. It varies for each scholarship, but you’ll usually need things like references or referees, a good CV, maybe a copy of your birth certificate and any relevant qualifications. The next step to world domination awaits you! Go forth and investigate! www.breakout.org.nz

Whoever said money can’t buy happiness didn’t know where to shop – Gittel Hudnick

Get smart Make sure you fit all the eligibility criteria Make a note of the closing date and don’t procrastinate! Take your time filling out the application forms and be neat Get a good, detailed CV together and make adjustments so it’s relevant to the scholarship Triple check you have attached all the required documents Have someone double check your application for you Write a standard cover letter that you can use for most applications (but remember to keep changing the ‘Dear Blah’ bit!)

www.tearaway.co.nz

Many cultures,

ASB Polyfest 2009

one world

Nga tikanga-a-iwi o te ao whanui Western Springs College supporter

PHOTOS By Chris Traill - ori and ASB Polyfest is the largest Ma Pacific Island culture festival in the world, featuring traditional music, dance, costume and competitions.

Hosted by Auckland’s Wesley College in March, this year’s festival included 60 schools and nearly 200 cultural groups. It’s all about having pride in your heritage and passion for the unique arts of the South Pacific!

Haka, Westlake Boys

Junior Siaosi, Waitakere College

Perfo rmer on

diver sity s tage

Performers on Tongan stage

Aorere College

Tearaway May 2009

Pukana, Papatoetoe High

Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent – Victor Hugo

www.tearaway.co.nz

ASB Polyfest 2009

Tearaway May 2009

PAGE NZ MUSIC TAG MONTH

It’s time to celebrate our sheer musical brilliance! NZ Music Month is all about promoting, nurturing and playing Kiwi tunes. Throughout May, there’ll be more of your favourite homegrown heroes on telly screens and airwaves. This is NZ Music Month’s ninth year of rocking out, and it’s helped uncover some previously unsung heroes – so expect more this year! You can get involved by buying, playing, sharing, recommending and requesting NZ music, by going to as many gigs as possible, and even by making your own music. www.nzmusicmonth.co.nz has all the latest details on gigs and goings-on.

The Rabble Sounds like: “Punk rock: soulful, honest and powerful rebel tunes.”

punk, grunge and pop rock, and lots of vocal harmonies for big, singalong choruses.”

Discography All Roads Lead From Here (2008). The News Re-recording their song 21st Story, and planning a video for it. They recently featured on Juice TV’s JD Set and on Prime TV’s The Red Shift. Eqwanox have played with Seether, The Bleeders and Billy Corgan from Smashing Pumpkins, and are regular guests at Smokefreerockquest. Fave Kiwi artists Shihad, The Datsuns, The Bleeders, Steriogram, At A Loose End, Midnight Youth.

Discography No Clue, No Future (2006), This is Our Lives (2006), The Battle’s Almost Over... (2009). The News After arriving home from a massive five month tour of the UK and Europe, The Rabble are prepping for an Aussie tour in June, then a second European tour, then a Kiwiland tour – yay! Fave Kiwi artists “We love our punk rock! The bands who are ripping it up at the moment are: 5th Threat, Badtown, The 4 Mexicanos, Shut the Hell Up!, White Collar Crime and Kaos and Riot.” Secret weapon “A fistful of integrity and a heart of gold.” www.myspace.com/therabble

Photo by Pat Shepherd

Eqwanox

Sounds like: “Rock, with tinges of

Secret weapon “The combination of our different musical influences. We make music we enjoy playing rather than following a musical trend.” www.myspace.com/eqwanox

Hannah Howes Sounds like: “Emphasis on words, a touch of street, a lot of chic and a whole lot of mellow.”

Discography Patchwork Quilt (2005), Live at Bodega (2006), Candy (2009).

Darklight Corporation Sounds like: Cyber-metal (what happens when you weld industrial, classic metal, drum’n’bass and metalcore).

Discography Darklight Corporation (2008). The News If you didn’t catch them on tour, lock in Metalfest 2 at the Transmission Room in Auckland on June 6. They’re now shooting videos and working on getting shoes in the doors of USA and South America – go, lads!

Fave Kiwi artists Hellserpoppin, Civilian Down, In Dread Response, Subtract, Tainted, Blacktooth, New Way Home. Secret weapon “All our songs are secretly encoded with subliminal messages promoting scientology and Tom Cruise.” www.darklightcorporation.com

I’ve always felt rock and roll was very, very wholesome music – Aretha Franklin

The News “I’m touring with ROY G and the BIVinators, and my own fantastic, everchanging band. We’ve had fantastic crowds at every gig! I plan to do more underage shows in the future. Mark my words.” Fave Kiwi artists “The musicians I work with are my favourites. Also Olmecha Supreme, Sunshine Soundsystem, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Little Bushman, Ladi 6 and Jess Chambers.” Secret weapon “My band is pretty powerful and the audience are my army. Without them I’d be struggling to achieve world domination.” www.myspace.com/hannahhowes www.tearaway.co.nz

NZ MUSIC MONTH

Clap Clap Riot Hollie Smith Sounds like: “Soul music, influenced strongly with jazz, blues and gospel.”

Discography EP and Long Player. Hollie promises us there’s more coming soon – yes! The News She’s gigging and working on her new album, but confesses she has “adopted the incredible gift of procrastination”. We sympathise with that, mate! Hollie does lots of all-ages gigs which she prefers as she rates us (quite rightly) “way better dancers”. Fave Kiwi artists Anika Moa, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Shapeshifter, Pacific Heights, Little Bushman, Electric Wire Hustle.

Sounds like: Rock ‘n’ roll.

Discography TV Knows Better (EP). Full-length album coming soon – watch this space! The News The boys have just performed on MTV’s The Lair in Sydney. They’ve apparently got something special up their collective sleeve for NZ Music Month. Catch them at CHARTFEST in Christchurch on May 29, and stay tuned for their August tour, which will include some all-ages shows! Fave Kiwi artists Liam Finn, Cut Off Your Hands, OMC. Secret weapon “Expect the unexpected. You’ll have to come and see us to find out.” www.myspace.com/clapclapriot

Secret weapon “Invisibility cape and my rocket boots.” www.holliesmith.co.nz

Agent

Sounds like: “A mix of rock and metal, alternative and progressive undertones and a light sprinkling

Autozamm Sounds like: “It’s just rock ‘n’ roll…”

Discography As For Now (2005), Drama Queen (2008). The News After a crazy-busy summer, the lads are working on their third album. Fave Kiwi artists “Bang Bang Eche, Ladyhawke, Sommerset. Kora will melt your face off live. Degrees K should get back together.” Secret weapon “My moustache, good manners, melody and dynamics,” says Ollie. www.autozamm.co.nz

in ssttuuffff!! W Win

Eight names to watch (and heaps of tasty musical treats to WIN!) Click here to win records and goodies from ALL these choice Kiwi acts!

Tearaway May 2009

of funk.”

Discography The Pheng Nom Shakedown EP (2003), Hiatus EP (2005), Expand/Contract (2006). The News Agent are in London, gigging, working on their new album, planning a European tour and drinking Earl Grey with the Queen (OK, we made that last bit up). Fave Kiwi artists Jon Toogood, Shapeshifter. Secret weapon “It’s a secret! I can’t tell you what it is! But it does involve streaky bacon, a lampshade, sky rockets, and Earl Grey tea! Join the dots!” Hmmm, curious... www.myspace.com/agentband

Gagging for more NZ music and more free stuff? You really are an insatiable creature. Click here and gorge yourself on The Gaze, The Phoenix Foundation, King Kapisi vs The Mint Chicks, and more!

The notes I handle no better than many pianists. But the pauses between the notes – ah, that is where the art resides – Artur Schnabel

NZ MUSIC MONTH

Sonar sonnets The Phoenix Foundation is just about to wrap up a New Zealand tour. If you hurry, you might still be able to catch them in Auckland or Leigh. They’re also working on a new album – yay! We had a quick word with vocalist and guitarist Sam Scott. He intrigued us with this:

There is a track on the new album about a sea mammal who is both whale and buffalo. The whuffalo trawls the sea floor singing sonar sonnets to the planet’s core. Mmmm… curious. While we scratched our heads and stroked our imaginary beards trying to decipher this statement, we sent JAMES SULLIVAN to get some straight answers out of guitarist/vocalist/ keyboardist, Luke Buda.

The album is drawing on a folk fantasy world and bringing into question certain reality traps that I, and I think the band as a whole, are deeply afraid of. What are your thoughts on Industry festivals such as South by South West (Texas) and CMJ (New York)? The thing about CMJ is that New York is so big you don’t really get a festival vibe. At South by South West, it’s basically all on the one street. They are both only really important for the industry. Personally, they aren’t the shows that we really enjoy. It’s true what they say: the industry doesn’t clap.

The Phoenix Foundation hopes to usher in a new era of falsehood and deviation. It’s time for the world to stop waking up to reality and start dozing in dreamland. They talk over your set, they answer phones – it’s not a great vibe, but it’s something you have to do. If you could put on your ideal festival where would it be? You could also have anyone (currently living or not) to headline. It would probably be in a forest on the side of a mountain, with a nice clearing. Of course, The Beatles would headline. I much prefer well structured, well written songs over obscure experimental music.

It,s time for the world to stop waking up to reality and start dozing in dreamland’

Wellington is a fantastic city, with an amazing number of venues for its size, though some might find it restricting. Have you found this at all? I’d say that’s more true of NZ really. You always have to watch out for playing too many shows in one city, but I don’t find Wellington restricting at all really. It’s small which makes it easy to get around, there are tons of wonderful people. It’s a brilliant city to call home. Eagle vs Shark is a great film, are you stoked to be the soundtrack to it? Totally. Soundtracks are something we have wanted to get into for a while now. We’re actually working on doing more. Has this helped you gain international attention? Definitely from a ‘MySpacey’ point of view. In the States we get requests from Joe Blogs in Kentucky asking us to come over. We get obscure write-ups, like by Brooklyn Vegan. It all helps really.

WIN! We have three copies of Phoenix Foundation’s Happy Ending to give away! Click here! www.tearaway.co.nz

NZ MUSIC MONTH

The worldwide music scene is certainly changing – what are your thoughts on NZ music? Actually, I wouldn’t call myself an expert anymore – I don’t go out very much these days! But there are still bands that I love, like Lawrence Arabia, Cassette, Conan and Liam Finn. It’s funny really, in the early 70s this would all have been called pop music but now we have labels for this and that: experimental indie pop etc. Wellington is a fantastic city, with an amazing number of venues for its size, though some might find it restricting. Have you found this at all? I’d say that’s more true of NZ really. You always have to watch out for playing too many shows in one city, but I don’t find Wellington restricting at all really. It’s small which makes it easy to get around, there are tons of wonderful people. It’s a brilliant city to call home. Eagle vs Shark is a great film, are you stoked to be the soundtrack to it? Totally. Soundtracks are something we have wanted to get into for a while now. We’re actually working on doing more. Has this helped you gain international attention? Definitely from a ‘MySpacey’ point of view. In the States we get requests from Joe Blogs in Kentucky asking us to come over. We get obscure write-ups, like by Brooklyn Vegan. It all helps really. What are your thoughts on Industry festivals such as South by South West (Texas) and CMJ (New York)? The thing about CMJ is that New York is so

The album is drawing on a folk fantasy world and bringing into question certain reality traps that I, and I think the band as a whole, are deeply afraid of. big you don’t really get a festival vibe. At South by South West, it’s basically all on the one street. They are both only really important for the industry. Personally, they aren’t the shows that we really enjoy. It’s true what they say: the industry doesn’t clap. They talk over your set, they answer phones – it’s not a great vibe, but it’s something you have to do.

The Phoenix Foundation hopes to usher in a new era of falsehood and deviation. It’s time for the world to stop waking up to reality and start dozing in dreamland. If you could put on your ideal festival where would it be? You could also have anyone (currently living or not) to headline. It would probably be in a forest on the side of a mountain, with a nice clearing. Of course, The Beatles would headline. I much prefer well structured, well written songs over obscure experimental music.

It,s time for the world to stop waking up to reality and start dozing in dreamland’

WIN! We have three copies of Phoenix Foundation’s Happy Ending to give away! Click here! www.tearaway.co.nz

NZ MUSIC MONTH

King Kapisi

For the 2009 Red Bull Soundclash, the Powerstation in Auckland was transformed into an unusual sports arena of sorts. Two separate stages were set up facing one another

vs The Mint Chicks

to represent the rings in which King Kapisi and the Mint Chicks would be ‘fighting’. These were then flanked by energetic, scantily clad dancers, a DJ, and an MC fit to be a boxing referee.

Gig review by Ashleigh Hope, with photos by Lauren Ripper.

With four rounds to determine the winner who would be chosen by an audience fuelled ‘applause-o-metre’, these NZ superstars were ready to put on an unforgettable performance.

King Kapisi blew the crowd away with his impressive freestyle rhymes and the melodic harmonies that he and his talented new band churned out song after song. The Mint Chicks delivered some crazy performances; climbing up on speakers, jumping into the crowd and clambering up to the upstairs floor of the venue via speaker stacks.

CRAZY PLANTATION Highlights of the night included the bands’ covers of each other’s songs. King Kapisi’s rendition of Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No was infused with fresh hip hop lyrics and rhythm. The Mint Chicks version of Screems from tha Old Plantation was turned into an indie masterpiece. The Mint Chicks went on to perform short songs to the music of M.I.A’s Paper Planes, Lil Wayne’s A Milli (a vocoder-drenched treat!) and The Beatles’ Helter Skelter. King Kapisi produced memorable versions of The Knack’s My Sharona, and ACDC’s Thunderstruck (a vocal performance which would give Brian Johnson a run for his money). Perhaps the most interesting rendition of the night was a western-inspired version of Stevie Wonder’s Higher Ground.

WILDCARD COMES UP TRUMPS The final round, dubbed the ‘Wildcard’, gave the audience an unexpected surprise. Che Fu performed Chains with King Kapisi and The Mint Chicks were graced by the always crazy Chris Knox, who ended their performance of the Tall Dwarf’s Nothings Going to Happen by trying to eat the microphone. It was an amazing night filled with remarkable performances from both sides, which resulting in a draw. And as King Kapisi aptly put it, it was indeed a ‘win for New Zealand music’. Tearaway May 2009

www.tearaway.co.nz

NZ POST Poetry Awards Have you started writing your poem yet? Your future award-winning poem, that is – the poem that shall be transformed into song lyrics in a magical collaboration between you and Opshop frontman, Jason Kerrison?

Quick! Get thee to a sunset, a windswept beach, the corner of some dingy cafe – it’s time to channel your muse! But just in case your muse NEVER answers his or her cellphone, NICOLE MATHEWSON preps you with a few insights from Jason, who is also one of the judges of this year’s NZ Post Poetry Awards.

Jason Kerrison is singing down the phoneline: “Hello darkness, my old friend; I’ve come to talk with you again. Because a vision softly creeping…”

The Opshop front man is quoting Simon and Garfunkel’s The Sound of Silence as one of his favourite pieces of songwriting. “It’s just beautiful, you don’t even have to have music to go ‘wow’,” he says.

It’s all about the words Lyrics are especially important for Kerrison, not just as a songwriter himself, but for his part in the upcoming New Zealand Post Poetry Awards. The awards are open to all students in years 11, 12 and 13 and the winning poet gets to work with Kerrison to turn their poem into a song. Previous years have seen winners joining forces with top Kiwi musicians Barnaby Weir (The Black Seeds) and Samuel Flynn Scott (The Phoenix Foundation). “I’m looking forward to it,” Kerrison says. “It’s gonna be cool, I’ve long been a fan of verse and tone and style.”

Can you sing it? The poetry submissions can be on any topic, from love to teenage angst or global warming. Kerrison and judge Jenny Bornholdt (former Poet Laureate) won’t be looking for any particular ideas or themes, but rather “something that can be turned into a song”. The poems that jump out for Kerrison are those that are abstract in nature, touch emotions and don’t necessarily make sense straight away. And what can the winner expect to happen with their poem after meeting Opshop’s singer and songwriter? “It’ll become the biggest song New Zealand’s ever seen and we’ll all become rich and famous,” he laughs. “No, my main concern is honouring the poem to maintain its essence. Hopefully when people hear the song they get it.”

so performing the songs on tour. “You become a parody of yourself,” he says, in regard to playing the same songs over and over. “You don’t get inspired when you’re playing the same songs. We need to get a shot of inspiration!” Kerrison says anything and everything is his inspiration for writing songs. “I sit with a piece of blank paper and wait for the muse to drift in… I’m writing my life, whether I dress it up with analogies or metaphors.” The process is likened to a ‘mindmap’, with every word having a personal meaning. Apart from personal experiences, Kerrison finds inspiration from other musicians. Lyricists like Simon and Garfunkel, Peter Gabriel, Sting, Neil Finn and Dave Dobbyn are some of his favourites.

For his own songwriting, Kerrison identifies the ‘album cycle’, consisting of furious writing for three to six months, followed by a few months recording and learning the songs, then a year or

a ‘real’ job, Kerrison says they are extremely supportive of his chosen career now. (And who wouldn’t be with Second Hand Planet winning Highest Selling Album award at last year’s New Zealand Music Awards!) Opshop are at the end of the cycle for second record Second Hand Planet. Now, it’s back to the start again to begin writing album number three. “We’re taking a bit of a sabbatical. I want to write a real up-tempo dance rock record.” He reveals the new album could be out before Christmas, but “you never know”.

Words of wisdom For aspiring musicians, Kerrison recommends doing it because you love it, and if you’re serious

‘My dad was in a band in Invercargill, so I,d see him coming home at four in the morning with a hamburger and a wad of cash for doing something he loved’ Hamburger and cash

about making it your profession, it’s important to

Growing up, Kerrison’s biggest influence in taking

learn the business half of music quickly.

the path of music was his parents. “My dad was in a band in Invercargill, so I’d

Inspiration

Tearaway May 2009

A vision... not so softly creeping

see him coming home at four in the morning with a hamburger and a wad of cash for doing something he loved. I thought – that’s for me.” Despite his parents wishing he would find

For those wanting to enter the New Zealand Post Poetry Awards, Kerrison’s advice is the same whatever angle you’re coming from. “Whether you’re writing for the audience, the competition or yourself, you need to understand yourself.”

A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if they are to be ultimately at peace with themselves – Abraham H Maslow

NZ MUSIC MONTH

The quest is on! This year’s smokefreerockquest kicks off with the North Shore heats in Auckland on May 9. Twenty two towns, 700+ bands and four months later, and the winners shall be crowned at the national finals!

Over the years, Smokefreerockquest has helped launch some of our favourite names in Kiwi music, including Evermore, The Datsuns, Brooke Fraser, Bret McKenzie, Anika Moa, The Electric Confectionaires, Steriogram, The Phoenix Foundation, The Feelers, The Black Seeds, Nesian Mystik, Bic Runga, Fur Patrol, King Kapisi and Elemeno P. The experience of competing in Smokefreerockquest can teach you heaps about what it takes to survive in the world of music. Bands get awesome performing experience and exposure, plus there are some ridiculously good prizes, such as $10,000 worth of gear from NZ Rockshop – eek! The winning band also gets to record their music and video at York Street Studios, and get guaranteed airplay. There are individual prizes for

PNC

best lyrics, women’s musicianship and best song. The prize for musicianship is a scholarship to the Tai Poutini contemporary music course. Selected bands will also get the chance to be

mentored by past successes. To support your local bands and find out when Smokefreerockquest will be gracing a moshpit near you, click www.smokefreerockquest.co.nz.

Hardcore persistence Last year’s grand champion was Christchurch outfit Beneath the Silence.

Since the big win, this hardcore five-piece have been supporting bands like Parkway Drive (Australia), Misery Signals (USA) and The Chase (Auckland). They’ll also be playing at CHARTFEST in Christchurch on May 29. Right now, Beneath the Silence are writing new material, and hope to do some shows in the North Island later this year. The band’s bass player Nic Rollinson said the most valuable thing he learnt by competing in the ‘quest was “persistence. We entered twice, and the first time we didn’t get very far. We did lots of practice and hard work in between our first attempt and our win.” And his advice for this year’s entrants? “Have fun. Do it for the experience rather than just to win.”

Admit it. At some point most of us, behind a closed bedroom door, have pretended a hairbrush/shoe/deodorant can is a microphone. It’s normal – honestly (we hope…). Sometimes, it even leads to great things. RAIN FRANCIS meets Sam Hansen, aka PNC.

es oes okikieeggo Roo Ro ka oka oo zo baz ba He began his days as a self-confessed

‘bedroom rapper’ in Palmerston North.

“I was never one of those dudes who hung out in the music room at school. I just listened to lots of music, and started making homemade demos of beats on a little budget microphone. “I put them on the internet and sent out demos, and that’s how I got known.”

Smash hit Not long after that, when Hansen had left high school, he got an email from P-Money (as ya

Tearaway May 2009

do!). “He said he liked the demos. I ended up moving to Auckland later that year, to work on his Music City album, and landed a record contract about a year after that.” PNC’s debut album, Rookie Card was released in 2006 and became a smash success. It won Best Hip-Hop Album at the prestigious Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards, and was named Top 10 New Zealand Album of the Year by Yahoo! Xtra Music. We can hardly wait for his second album Bazooka Kid. It’s currently being fine-tuned, and is due out early June.

Dobbyn, and the Finn brothers. “I think the NZ music scene is awesome. It’s always evolving and getting better – the sound is getting more sophisticated. “There are thousands of people I still want to work with. A song with me, Eminem and Dr Dre – that’d be awesome! “I’m more of a studio dude. That’s what I like most about music – the process of making a song. The best moment for me is when you hear the final product.”

Advice for rookie rappers?

Studio dude Hansen describes his style as the “average man’s hip-hop”. Having grown up in NZ, he raps about everyday stuff we can all relate to. “It’s not a certain genre of hip-hop, but it’s influenced by the stuff I liked growing up – dudes like Jay-Z, OutKast and Biggie Smalls.” As far as Kiwi artists go, Hansen names Scribe and P-Money as major influences. Growing up though, he was also into songwriters such as Dave

So, how can we go from bedroom rapper/ pop diva/rock star to working with the biggest names in the biz? Hansen recommends lots of practice and thick skin. “A lot of people will tell you that they don’t like your stuff. You have to be able to take constructive criticism, so just let things slide and keep working hard.”

Rock music should be gross: that’s the fun of it. It gets up and drops its trousers – Bruce Dickinson

Next month:

GANG CULTURE

The Internet? Is that thing still around? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Homer Simpson

What do you have to say about gangs in NZ? Any experiences youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to share? How should communities respond to gangs?

Email your editor rain@tearaway.co.nz with your ideas and opinions.

www.tearaway.co.nz 21

NZ music haps with Kiwi FM’s FLEUR JACK

MUSIC

KIWI MUSIC NEWS Music therapy aid of The Raukatauri Music Therapy

From cave to Germany

Centre as they celebrate their fifth

An Emerald City just released their first

Catch a gourmet hangi and gig in

birthday!

Every day for the month of May (aka NZ Music Month), Kiwi FM will have a band play live music in the studio. We call it 31 Bands in a Box because our studio is tiny and cubed and there are 31 days in May.

It’s always funny trying to fit more than three people in the studio and then trying to add a drum kit, a keyboard and a bunch of guitar amps! Last year we hit a max-people-in-studio climax with The Hot Grits who have 11 members. We will be filming the performances and putting them on our website so if you can’t tune in and listen you can watch online at www.kiwifm.co.nz

album Circa Scaria which they recorded

The centre is the only one of its kind in the country and provides music therapy for children of school age and younger. They’ve just turned five years old and what better way to celebrate than to put on some live music and yummy kai! Some of NZ’s best talent will be performing: Dave Dobbyn, Hollie Smith, Whirimako Black, Nesian Mystic. All proceeds from tickets sold go towards helping to continue funding. It’s on Sunday May 10 at Turangawaewae Marae, Ngaruawahia. Tickets from www.rmtc.org.nz

in a cave out at Whatipu, on the wild west coast of Auckland.

Last month they toured NZ supporting The Datsuns and also had their own album release party. And that’s it for gigs in NZ for the next wee while because the band have decided to further their dreams in Germany. However, if you feel you have missed out on the band before you even got to know them, you can get the album on CD in most places. And if you are a fan, perhaps try to score yourself one of the limited run of 200 double vinyls they’ve put out. www.myspace.com/ anemeraldcity

Gig ‘n’ kai

Wanna catch a live gig, but don’t want to leave the house?! Check out Guess Who’s Singing For Dinner every Tuesday night @ 8pm. Burger Fuel puts on some food, a band comes in to play three live songs and have a chat about life on Indie Alt New with Fleur Jack. “I wanted to have a band on my show every week and I thought what better way than to lure them in with the promise of a darn tasty kai” – Fleur Jack Thanx Burger Fuel!! MONDAYS Mellow Mondays w/ The Good News Diary TUESDAYS Guess Who’s Singing For Dinner? WEDNESDAYS The Rock Factory Musicians Helpline THURSDAYS Indie Album of the Week Interview FRIDAYS Party Rock Night

Tearaway May 2009

102.2FM AKL 102.1FM WLG 102.5FM CHC

with FLEUR JACK Monday – Friday 7pm – 9pm The Best of I.A.N. Saturdays 12pm – 3pm & Sundays 1am – 4am Audio on Demand 24hrs, 7 day @ www.kiwifm.co.nz

Without Elvis, none of us could have made it – Buddy Holly

ST JOHN

Q. What do The Incredibles, Evermore and The Brady Bunch have in common? A. Yeah, that was way too easy! They all operate as a family unit, of course!

And who better to tell us about the power of the family unit than some real life Incredibles, THE HALLBERGS of Hamilton. We managed to track them down – a difficult task, what with their tearing about the country, learning to save lives and conquering competitions. The Hallbergs are Andrew (13), Karina (17), Frances (Mum) and Kelvin (Dad). Dad’s been involved with St John since he was a kid, and now the younger Hallbergs are continuing the legacy.

Andrew

Karina

Kelvin

Other interests: sport, journalism Ambition: full time ambulance officer or a sports journalist Most valuable thing learnt through St John: how to save a life, and that I can do anything!

Other interests: playing guitar, singing Ambition: paramedic or a primary school teacher Most valuable thing learnt through St John: self discovery. Realising what you are capable of if you put your mind to it!

Other interests: boats and classic cars Best St John experience: seeing the looks on cadets’ faces when handing out badges! How does St John enrich your life? By giving me the opportunity to give back my life skills to help others

Strong bonds Andrew joined when he was six and is now a cadet, working towards his Grand Prior Award. Karina started while working on her Young New Zealanders Challenge (Duke of Edinburgh) award. She was required to complete a service, so St John was the natural choice. She earned her Grand Prior Award last year and is now a non-commissioned officer (NCO) in her division. That means that as well as doing badge work alongside other senior cadets, she’s the leader of a junior group. “It’s definitely a benefit to have your family in St John as they push and encourage you to go as far as you can,” says Karina. “But whether your relations are involved or not, everyone is like one big family. We’re all so close.” Andrew agrees. “It’s great, because we all have a common interest that bonds us together – outside the normal day-to-day family stuff.”

Facing your fears When we spoke to them, the Hallbergs were just about to don their matching red and black lycra unitards (or maybe their St John uniforms!) and shoot off to the national St John competitions in Napier. At the comps they’re tested on things like drill marching, First Aid and communication. The rest of the time is all about team bonding, meeting

Karina in action at a simulated plane crash

new people and facing your fears. Of last year’s competition, Karina says, “I can’t put into words just how much fun I had! I’d encourage everyone to go at least once in their life.” The Hallbergs all agree that forging friendships is one of the best parts of being involved with St John. Some of Kelvin’s friendships go back 35 years, which must make them pretty tight mates!

One big family St John is about much more than learning to dress a wound. You will not only learn how to save a life, which is hugely important, but you’ll also

I can,t put into words just how much fun I had! ,I d encourage everyone to go at least,once in their life ’

Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward – Diana, Princess of Wales

learn leadership skills and practical skills that you can take with you to any area of your life. The competitive aspect is a great chance to push yourself to your limits, and to find out what you are capable of under pressure. It’s also an opportunity to meet and work alongside a huge variety of people, and to make lifelong friends. “St John is often described as a family for its sense of belonging and the pride our members feel for this amazing organisation; no matter where life takes you St John has a community presence and members need never feel alone in a new town, city or country,” says Regional Youth Manager Jen Richardson. For many members St John plays a big part in their family. Many parents of cadets are youth leaders, ambulance officers, managers, administration support. Karina suggests going along to your local division to see what St John is all about. “Go for it! It’s a great opportunity and you’ve got nothing to lose.”

www.tearaway.co.nz

Holden driving towards a future

Traffic jamming Rock and blues king Billy TK Jnr is on a national schools tour ... with his music, with mates and with a message ...

“I grew up in South Auckland and started playing guitar when I was about 12. “I knew pretty much that music and guitar meant something to me and by the time I was about 14 I was playing OK. I really loved the blues and blues based rockers, which influenced me greatly. “When I was about 17 I left my day job and went on tour. For two years I worked as a roadie while I learnt how to play professionally.” Since then, Billy has steadily gained momentum and popularity as a talented guitarist and songwriter. His second album Presenting Billy TK Jnr has just sold out its first run.

Reason to believe Alongside his own success as a musician, Billy TK Jnr tours NZ schools with a campaign of road safety awareness, called Holden Driving Towards a Future. “We want to make young people aware of issues they face, either as a passenger, pedestrian or driver.” Billy and his team will be visiting over 65 secondary schools, trying to create as much awareness as possible. And he has good reason. “A few years back, one of my band member’s daughters was involved – as a drink driver – in crashing her car with seven of her mates in it. She almost killed herself. “I was with her dad when he first saw her in intensive care. She was on life support for three days and it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever seen.”

High impact The schools tour is now in its third year and getting stronger all the time. Billy says the responses have been awesome. “Ninety eight percent of all the evaluations we’ve ever had have been extremely positive from both students and teachers.” So, Billy TK Jnr and his band go into schools and do an event presentation, highlighting the dangers of the road and what you can do to be safe. There are guest speakers, including young people who used to drink and drive. “It’s pretty high impact, I can tell you!” Then the band plays a few songs, and sometimes the school does as well. “We are always on the lookout for talent as well. We often give away prizes, and act as mentors to promising students. That’s really Tearaway May 2009

'I was with her dad when he first saw her in intensive care. She was on life support for three days and it was one, of the hardest things I ve ever seen' important, and we really enjoy it. “We like to encourage people not only to take up music, but to take it up professionally and to do things right – stuff that I would’ve liked to have heard when I was starting out.”

Auahi kore Far from his days as a roadie, Billy now tours around the world. “I have just been touring NZ with Jimmy Barnes, as well as being sponsored by some great brands and being a Smokefree Auahi Kore artist,” he says. “I reckon that there’s nothing worse than seeing a pretty girl stick a smoke in her mouth and puff away. Even standing next to a smoker makes me feel sick. I wonder – it can kill you, so why do people do it?”

motor racing icon, Greg Murphy. Holden have even offered a sponsorship deal to the schools. “Any staff member or any student who buys a new Holden vehicle will receive a cheque for $500 for the school. It’s awesome, the schools are really loving it. “As part of the campaign, AA is also offering students super cheap membership for their breakdown service. Only $38 for a whole year – bargain! “The essence of our message is very simple: there’s an awesome life out there for young people – make sure you live long enough to enjoy it.”

Voice of our culture Billy TK Jnr’s sound is rock-based, with bits of reggae, funk and blues. He writes his own material, usually in partnership with other musicians. “I write as a guitar player who likes to play guitar, but I’m learning all the time to write songs that are more balanced as songs. Songwriting is becoming increasingly important to me.” It being NZ Music Month and all, we asked Billy his opinion on local talent. “NZ music is the voice of our culture as Kiwis. It’s a demonstration of how New Zealanders feel about life, and what’s coming out of the musicians is a reflection of what’s happening in our society.”

Stay alive As part of the Holden Driving Towards a Future campaign, Billy TK Jnr has joined forces with One thing the blues ain’t, is funny – Stephen Stills

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE AA

tHe roCking Road saFETy caMpaIGn

WIn

Coming to YOUR SCHOOL!

It took me years of PRACTICE to become a champion racing car driver. I love racing, I love speed… …but this is something I keep for the racetrack, not the streets. Never take risks by racing on the street.

Greg Murphy Motor Racing Icon

•Auahi Kore Bags, Bottles & CD cases •Billy TK Jnr CDs

Always a SmokeFree event!

Supported by your District Council and regional Road Safety Coordinator.

I travel lots of kms on the road to get to my next show. I never take risks and always reckon it’s better to get there alive and sometimes a little late, than dead on time. Just like playing guitar, it takes PRACTICE to get good at driving.

Billy TK Jnr Guitar Icon www.billytkjnr.com www.myspace.com/billytkjnr

SPECIAL HOLDEN & AA OFFER TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!

Buy any new Holden using this coupon and you get $500 discount* AND your school receives a $500 donation! PLUS: How about this -

$38.50 for a Youth Membership offering 12 months AA Roadservice, free maps and guides, free technical and legal advice and much more AND $69 for AA Personal Membership for any parent joining AA, offering 12 months AA Roadservice, free maps and guides, free technical and legal advice, insurance and WOF discounts and much more. May 09 *Vehicle discount offer valid for 12 months from the date of this voucher. Terms & conditions apply. See: holden.co.nz/drivingtowardsafuture

THIS CAMPAIGN IS PROUDLY ENDORSED BY:

GLOBAL FOCUS JOY FOSTER CHRISTIE (15) of Just Write looks at a worldwide movement of young people who are taking a stand against the HIV and AIDS pandemic that kills millions each year

Start dancing Stop AIDS Dance4Life Dance4Life is an initiative set up to get young people to stand up against

From the United Kingdom to Zimbabwe, young people are putting on their dancing shoes to raise awareness and funding for those affected by HIV and AIDS. They are linking hands, speaking with their bodies and asking the world to join them to fight in the biggest war humankind has ever faced – the fight against AIDS.

HIV and AIDS HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) first appeared in the USA in the early 1980s and was officially recognised by scientists several years later. As HIV reproduces, it damages the body’s immune system and the human body slowly becomes more and more susceptible to infection and illness. AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is the advanced state of HIV infection. The infections associated with AIDS are severe, and usually lead to premature death. There is no cure. HIV is spread through infected blood and can be caught by having unprotected sex with an HIV positive person. The sharing of needles and syringes can also transmit the disease, as can childbirth and breastfeeding. In 2007, there were over 33 million people living with HIV. More than 59% of those infected were living in Sub-Saharan Africa, the most heavily affected region in the world.

HIV and young people Every time a person dies of HIV and AIDS related illnesses, a family and community are affected. The impact of HIV and AIDS on young people is the most severe, particularly due to rising numbers being orphaned because of the disease. Young people are left in a vulnerable position, Tearaway May 2009

with no adults to care for them. They are also affected by discrimination because of stigma attached to having HIV or AIDS, or losing their parents to AIDS. Many are denied schooling because they may be sick themselves, their teachers are sick, or they may have to stay home to care for their siblings or sick parents. These issues, as well as financial strains such as the cost of medical care and funerals, put many children and young people at risk and further deepen poverty.

The power of dance Dance has long been a way of identifying and expressing culture. It plays an important role in society, not only preserving culture, but also recording new ideas and acting as a way to communicate. Dance in indigenous cultures is performed to keep culture alive, to pass on stories to young people and teach them about their culture, values and beliefs. It is used as a form of social interaction, and can express ideas and emotions or tell a story. In a way, dance equalises people and social differences, and reduces barriers. Around the world, dance is being used as a way to raise awareness and understanding of HIV and AIDS.

Beginning as nothing but a dream of two men, Dance4Life developed into such a compelling idea that hundreds of thousands of people around the world have now turned the dream into a reality. Dance4Life uses dance to get young people involved and inspired to help fight AIDS. Educators, dancers and musicians teach young people how to speak to an audience, tell a story and raise awareness with their dancing. Dance4life gives young people the chance to learn life skills and offers them the opportunity to become an Agent of Change and transform the world they live in today. An Agent of Change is a young person who gets actively involved and participates in the Schools4Life activities, which use dance, media and music to promote a message of personal and community responsibility. By 2014 Dance4Life aims to have one million agents worldwide, a goal that seems possible with over 55,000 youth becoming agents since 2003. Dance4Life targets young people due to the majority of new HIV infections every day being in people under 25 years of age. “Young people are the future and they have the power to halt the spread of HIV and AIDS. By uniting all over the world and demanding change, they can make a difference.” (Dance4life)

Photo: Christian Ellmaier

Photo: Dance4Life

the HIV and AIDS pandemic.

We should consider every day lost in which we have not danced at least once – Friedrich Nietzsche

Take Action! Each and every one of us has the ability to make changes in our lives and contribute to the global fight against HIV and AIDS.

Win a T-shirt! Complete the crossword and send a copy of your completed puzzle, with your contact details, to Fiona, Global Education Centre, PO Box 12440, Wellington 6144.

By learning more about the disease you will become more aware of the risks and be better prepared to take care of yourself and help others. Here are some ways you can raise awareness and educate your friends and family.

Photo: Kait Curran Palmer

Ugandan children Photo: David Dallaqua

Orphans dance for hope The Uganda Orphans Dance Troupe is

made up of orphaned Ugandan children, many of whom have lost their parents to AIDS related illnesses and acts of violence from rebels.

Within the Troupe there are 22 children aged between eight and 18. The children tour to financially support themselves and children from two orphanages in Uganda. The Uganda Orphans Dance Troupe was founded by an American, Alexis Hefley, in 1996. After living in Uganda, Alexis returned home to the USA and founded the Uganda Children’s Charity Foundation and the Dance Troupe began touring. The Troupe shares the histories, legends and beliefs of East Africa, whilst also raising awareness of the ever spreading HIV and AIDS epidemic in Africa. They are described as, “resonant with melodic tones of standing drums, dramatic choreography, bright layered rhythms and gorgeous vocals”. (disembedded.wordpress.com) The Troupe has brought hope and strength to many around the world who stand alongside the children and young people in an effort to control the spread of AIDS.

1 2

• Discuss HIV and AIDS with family and friends. Talk to your class about the issue, and encourage people to look beyond the stereotypes and stigma attached to HIV and AIDs. • Raise money for an AIDS charity, or just raise awareness, by organising a dance-a-thon at school. You will raise awareness about the disease itself and show others how helping fight AIDS can be as simple as getting your dance shoes on. Get in touch with your school committee or other groups that can help you plan the event.

3 4

• Write an article for your local newspaper, either raising awareness about HIV and AIDS or the ways in which dance can be used as a way of doing so. • Join a global campaign and contribute to the worldwide effort to start really making the difference you want to see.

Where can I learn more? To learn more about HIV and AIDS, about the history of dance, or how you can raise awareness take a look at these sites: HIV and AIDS www.dance4life.com www.aids.org – info, education and action site www.nzaf.org.nz – NZ AIDS Foundation www.worldaidsday.org

EclipseCrossword.com

Across

2. 59% of people infected live in Sub-Saharan _ _ _ _ _ _ 4. DANCE4_ _ _ _ 5. The _ _ _ _ _ _ Orphans Dance Troupe 6. HIV is spread through infected _ _ _ _ _ Down 1. Young people are affected by _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ because of the stigma attached to HIV and AIDS 2. _ _ _ _ _ _ of Change 3. Alexis _ _ _ _ _ _ founded the Uganda Orphans Dance Troupe

www.amfar.org – The Foundation for AIDS Research www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGcnc2tgjZI – World AIDS Day

Photo: Paolo Ferla

Dance www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance www.abc.net.au/messageclub/duknow/ stories/s1183165.htm – Australian indigenous dance

This Global Focus feature is a Tearaway and Global Education Centre project. This article was funded by NZAID – a government organisation helping out with aid and development around the world. The purpose of Global Focus is to provide young people with a forum and information about global issues. For more information, visit www.globaled.org.nz.

www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/ PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ab82 – history of dance

If I could tell you what it meant, there would be no point in dancing it – Isadora Duncan

www.tearaway.co.nz

BNZ KATHERINE MANSFIELD

AWARDS

Unleash your inner story The BNZ Katherine Mansfield Awards are back. That half-baked idea that’s been knocking about in your semi-conscious for the past year finally has its big chance! Retrieve it, breathe life into it, shape it into something magnificent! Then transpose it into 750-2000 words and set it free....

This is the fiftieth year the awards have been running. They’ve helped launch some of our favourite names in NZ literature, and your name could be next! The Young Writer category winner receives $1,500 and will be flown to the awards ceremony on October 1. The winning student’s school also receives $1,500. This year’s judge is KATE DE GOLDI, a shining star in the world of NZ writing. Besides writing loads of books, she’s a regular book reviewer on both TV and radio and tours schools across the country, running creative writing workshops. Kate has also won several awards for her work, and in 2001 was made a NZ Arts Foundation Arts Laureate. Impressive. We had a quiet word with Kate, to see if we could get the inside scoop on how to succeed. What makes a good story? A good story is one that compels you to keep reading – and wondering. It may be a character that is claiming your attention; it may be an incident, a sense of place, or a relationship...it may be small details perfectly wrought. Often it is a narrative voice that compels you – a mixture of all those things, a kind of tone and address to the reader. How can you get started? Start where you can – don’t worry about whether it’s the ‘proper’ beginning. Sometimes you have to just begin and work your way to the things you want to say. Where you choose to start is often just a rocket scaffolding that falls away later as your

Tearaway May 2009

story is launched.

And the hardest part?

What do you do if you’re stuck?

Sitting down and working on it.

Write a different part of the story. Approach the subject, character or incident from a different angle. Take time out from the story and ‘play’ – write around the subject matter or write a poem about something small in the story. Describe a room or a mood or an only half-understood exchange – have a couple of your characters in conversation. It doesn’t matter whether any of this is or isn’t finally part of the story, sometimes it just breaks a logjam and you can come back to the main trajectory of your story. Sometimes you discover why you were stuck and resolve to keep with the new approach. Be prepared to take your time and explore. (This is why you can’t write the story the night before the deadline.)

Advice for budding writers? Read, read, read. Write, write, write. Just do it. Who are your favourite NZ authors? Elizabeth Knox, Murray Edmond, Margaret Mahy, Jack Lasenby, Bill Manhire, Penelope Todd, Greg O’Brien...and quite a few more. Why is it important to develop skills as a writer? Imaginative writing is like reading – it’s an essential part of connecting with other human beings, with the world we live in, and finding out what it is to be human. Creative writing isn’t a career path, it’s a deep felt need you can’t resist.

What is the importance of the BNZ Katherine Mansfield Awards? As much as anything it’s a great opportunity for nascent writers to have to complete a piece of writing and send it off. It’s important for writers to have these openings – challenges. Winning or being placed is only a small part of the deal (though it’s certainly a nice one). It’s the chance to commit an idea to the page, to work on it, wrestle with it, shape it into something approximating the idea it has been in your head. It’s an opportunity to find out whether you have the focus and commitment to writing. What got you started in writing? An idea I’d had hovering for years. A short story competition deadline offered itself and I began writing! True story. I’d wanted to write for years, but it was a short story competition that finally called me to task... What’s the best thing about writing? Marinating an idea then sitting down and working on it.

Kate De Goldi

Kate’s top five books? My top five books change from month to month. Currently they are: Anagrams by Lorrie Moore Lives of Girls and Women by Alice Munro Stop the Train by Geraldine McCaughrean The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald The Rings of Saturn by WG Sebald

Writing is easy. All you do is stare at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead – Gene Fowler

WRITING

TIPS

Previous winners To get your creative muse in the mood, here are two extracts from previous winners of the BNZ Katherine Mansfield Awards Young Writer’s Prize.

Read! There’s a reason other stories are so successful – explore for yourself to find out what these reasons are. Many tricks can be borrowed and adapted. Start working on your story weeks before your deadline. Writing isn’t something that can be done in a hurry. Expect to rewrite. Often. Like an obsessed beast. Don’t be satisfied with the first draft, or even the second and third. ‘The majestic great river wound like a mighty green snake into the misty distance beyond me’ equals ARRRGH! Chill on the describing! Too many adjectives and adverbs will melt your readers’ brains – and slow down the plot. Don’t talk about your ideas to others – sit down and work on them. Don’t try to write as a 500-year-old Neptunian blacksmith (unless you are, of course). Try to write in your own voice, in your own words, about what you know. Try to imagine you’re telling the story to a friend. Use dialogue. Get your characters to talk. Dialogue shows moods; it reveals characters; it moves the plot. Read other writers’ stories and see how they use dialogue.

Man’s Best Friend

The Hole in the Fence

It was around 7.30 in the morning. The night had passed. Daybreak filled the sky with grey clouds. It was windy. The wind ran through the gorse and thistle bushes and across the dense green paddocks. The morning was still wet. Sammy put on his gumboots and walked to the dog kennels. The dogs were sleeping and whimpering. Sammy moved alongside the kennels, staring into each cage. The ground was damp from the dripping water coming off the shed roof. Sammy felt rested in the presence of the dogs... (2007: Mark Davidson, Wellington)

The kids have been let loose with their new Christmas toys. Up and down the street, doors are being flung open, piercing shrieks of delight or jealousy left ringing in the air. The girls are out too, flaunting their bright new hairclips and shoes, puckering chocolate-stained lips as they saunter down the footpath. Everyone knows where the girls are off to... (2008: Clare Tanton, Hawkes Bay)

For more writing tips, go to www.bnz.co.nz/kmawards

What will KATE be looking for? ‘A reason to keep reading. A subtly drawn character. A sense of place. Good sentence making. Authentic dialogue. ‘Something I don’t quite understand, but want to keep chewing at. An understanding of what can be left out of the story. ‘I don’t care when/where the story is set, what it’s about, as long as I feel persuaded by the voice telling the story. The voice can be from any perspective –first, second, third person, third person plural – but there must be a sense of unity between the voice and the point of view.’

My personal hobbies are reading, listening to music, and silence – Dame Edith Sitwell

How to Enter Open to secondary school students under 19 years of age. Stories must be 750-2000 words, and must be sent in from May 1 to June 30. Enter online or via entry forms from any BNZ branch. Full details at www.bnz.co.nz/kmawards

www.tearaway.co.nz

MOVIE PREVIEWS MATT ALPE morphs movie genres

Bourners and paranillers

Knowing

Angels and Demons

In the same vein as 23 and Contact, Knowing is a paranoid action-thriller (I like to call these movies paranillers) about a series of world disasters leading up to, supposedly, the end of the world. Nicholas Cage (The Rock, Adaptation) stars as John Koestler, a college professor who comes into possession of a piece of paper consisting of random numbers. But these numbers, which were written and buried underground in 1959, predict global catastrophes. With the help of the author’s daughter Diana (Rose Byrne), Koestler works to solve the mystery and find out who or what is behind these apocalyptic scenarios. With some amazing dramatic action sequences much like Children of Men, Knowing will keep you in suspense and give you a few surprises. Knowing is directed by Alex Proyas from I, Robot and cult classic Dark City.

This is the much anticipated sequel to The Da Vinci Code, the worldwide hit that raked in over US$750m at the box office. Ron Howard is back to direct, Tom Hanks returns as cryptologist Dr Robert Langdon and Ewan MacGregor joins the team. As ridiculous as the plots of these two films are, there is something about them that makes compelling and entertaining viewing. Langdon (Hanks) is on the trail of the Illuminati, a secret organisation thought to be dead, and which could be responsible for murdering four cardinals of the Catholic church. He teams up with Vittoria Vetra, the daughter of murdered physicist Leonardo Vetra. Together, the deeper they go, the more their lives are at risk!

The International In what seems like the latest spin-off of the Bourne Trilogy success comes The International, starring Clive Owen (Sin City, Gosford Park) and Naomi Watts (21 Grams, King Kong). This is a globalised action-packed Bourner (my new term for the kind of movies where bad guys can’t shoot straight, and the hero speaks 17 languages, beats up anybody in the room and nobody with authority likes him). Interpol agent Louis Salinger (Owen) and assistant DA Eleanor Whitman (Watts) attempt to bring down a corrupt world bank, which opens up a world of trouble as their investigation takes them from New York to Milan to Istanbul to Berlin. Much like Taken (another Bourner) the leads find themselves in dangerous, uncharted territory and closer to death with each step they take. Directed by Tom Tywker (Perfume, Run Lola Run). Tearaway May 2009

See Jonas Bros IN 3d! Pop-rock boyband, Jonas Brothers – Kevin, Joe and Nick – found fame through the Disney Channel. Their fourth studio album is due for release in June. And now, they star in their very own movie… Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience is packed with footage from their Burnin’ Up tour, guest performances, exclusive behind-thescenes footage and a brand new song. In cinemas from May 14. We have a bunch of double passes and posters to give away, so click here to enter now!

Find a word Jonas Brothers Kevin Joe Nick Disney Grammy Camp Rock Miley Cyrus California guitar

purity drums percussion footage tour concert songs piano Franklin vocals

We want a story that starts out with an earthquake and works its way up to a climax – Samuel Goldwyn

MOVIE REVIEWS Oh, snapped! Guys do like chick flicks. MATT ALPE reveals all...

Movies that girls like...

...and guys secretly LOVE!

50 First Dates Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore look like they have so much fun in this romcom, it’s like they just decided ‘hey, let’s spend two months in Hawaii – sweet!’ I think that’s where this film gets me, and that’s why guys like this film, because they want a fun girl. Henry (Sandler) comes across Lucy (Barrymore) in a diner and they hit it off. Little does he know, but Lucy has no long-term memory, and when she wakes up each morning she forgets the day before. Therefore, Henry has to chase Lucy every day, hence 50 first dates – which is another reason guys like this, because it’s about the chase. One more reason why this film rules: Sean Astin (Samwise from Lord of the Rings). His character is hilarious!

The Notebook Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling star in this uber-drama about lifelong love with a heartbreaking ending. I have only cried during two events in my adult life: getting my verruca burnt off and when my dog died. Watching The Notebook almost extended this list. Almost. It is well known that girls LOVE this film, but let me put it out there – there are many guys who love this film too! You just might not catch many dudes admitting this. The whole concept of having just ‘one’ in your life and holding on to that idea is something that is intriguing and romantic. However, these characters become tortured and they grow apart, which becomes the foundation for the viewer’s emotions. Guys can be suckers for this kind of material.

The Holiday This is the romcom with the best soundtrack I have ever seen and heard, highlighted by songs from Imogen Heap! This film switches from winter to summer and back again, due to the locations of LA and England. Directed by Nancy Meyer and starring Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Jack Black and Cameron Diaz, these characters find love in new and exciting environments and circumstances. One must let go of an old flame, another is a solo dad who has two daughters to look after, with more down-on-love situations to follow. The sets are fantastic, especially the countryside cottage in England that Iris Simpkins (Winslet) owns and in which Amanda Woods (Diaz) stays. It just makes you want to make some mulled wine and eat cheese and crackers in front of the fire. Just me? Sweet as! www.tearaway.co.nz

BOOK REVIEWS

Bite me... again

EVERNIGHT BY CLAUDIA GRAY

‘Silhouetted against the flames, a dark, forbidding line of figures stood... They had come for me. They had come to punish Lucas for breaking their rules. They had come to kill. Outside the Vampires waited.’  Yes, it seems like another ‘Bella and Edward’ love story, and the first few chapters strengthen this feeling. However, the end of chapter seven left me stumped; my entire view of the book and my theory of the storyline were turned upside down. Naturally I HAD to read on and it certainly was worth it.  Claudia Gray has effectively used the well known Twilight saga by not only hooking any reader (particularly Stephenie Meyer fans), but also playing that storyline and twisting it completely.  I certainly recommend Evernight, especially to those who enjoy vampire stories and the idea of the supernatural and ancient societies – AROHA HUGHES

SOMEBODY’S CRYING BY MAUREEN MCCARTHY Tom Mullaney has just returned home to Warrnambool from uni to do a stint as a photographer for the local paper. He escaped this town three years earlier when his best friend Jonty Van der Weihl (Jonno) was accused, without evidence, of murdering his aunt Lillian. Alice Wishart has also just returned home from uni and is living with her 92-year-old grouchy grandmother. She is seeking closure after her mother’s death three years ago. Jonno has been home for a little while now, keeping to himself. His mother’s gone crazy after leaving her abusive husband and coping with the death of her sister. These three are drawn together by the mystery of the murder no one was ever completely blamed for. With all the secrets locked in each of their brains, Somebody’s Crying reveals their unravelling as they come to terms with who they really are and what their lives are all about. This story is one of deep emotion and interest. At first, I was reluctant to read it, but once I started, I didn’t want to put it down. Its eloquent charm calls to you when you’re busy trying to do something else – RHIAN LAWRENCE Tearaway May 2009

GIVEAWAYS! We have copies of all these books to give away! Grab the entry codes and CLICK HERE TO enter the draw.

HOUSE OF NIGHT SERIES by pc and kristin cast

BK5HON

Wondering what to read after finishing the Twilight series? Look no further. The House of Night series is Twilight meets Gossip Girl. When 16-yearold Zoey Redbird gets marked as a fledgling vampire she must join the House of Night school where she will train to become an adult vampire. That is, if she makes it through the Change. And what is the only thing worse than being undead? Going to high school. We have five copies of this series to give away!

GONE by Michael Grant

BK5GON

Michael Grant, author of the best-selling Animorphs, has created this chilling portrayal of a world with no rules, the first in a series of six books. ‘One minute, the teacher was there, the next, he was gone. There. Gone.’ In the blink of an eye all the adults in a small town in southern California disappear and no one knows why. First a car crash; a house up in flames; then a complete communications meltdown. . . Suddenly cut off from the outside world, those left are trapped, and there’s no help on the way. They must do all they can to survive. Chaos rules the streets. Gangs begin to form. Sides are chosen – strong or weak, cruel or humane.

A new world order is rising, and, even scarier, some survivors have power – power that no one has ever seen before . . .

THE FOREST OF HANDS & TEETH by Carrie Ryan

BK5FOH

In Mary’s world there are simple truths: • the Sisterhood always knows best • the Guardians will protect and serve • the Unconsecrated will never relent And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village, protecting it from the Forest of Hand and Teeth… But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future, between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

TWILIGHT DIRECTOR’S NOTEBOOK by Catherine Hardwicke

BK5DIR

You’ve read the book and seen the movie – now get the inside story! This full-colour ‘notebook’, designed to replicate the one director Catherine Hardwicke kept on and off the set, takes you through the creative process that went into making Stephenie Meyer’s breathtaking novel come alive on screen – from casting to costumes, stunts to storyboards. This book includes everything from her visual inspirations, to step-by-step breakdowns of action sequences, to a behind-the-scenes look at some of the most pivotal moments in the creation of the film, and much more.

The biggest critics of my books are people who never read them – Jackie Collins

ABOUT GRIFFEN’S HEART BY TINA SHAW

GIVE ME TRUTH BY BILL CONDON

RETURN FOR THE GOLD BY MARGARET HALL

“One day you’re playing soccer with your mates. Next you’re pretty much an invalid.” This is James Griffen’s life. James is 17 and needs open-heart surgery. Life is dully and slowly ticking away for James the ‘Dork’, until he meets Roxy – the hottest girl in school. Quickly, James falls for Roxy, but he soon starts asking himself “who is Roxy?” Is she really interested in him at all, or in Ryan – his younger, cooler brother? To top it all off, James finds himself in a bit of a situation, one in which he could possibly die. This novel is interesting. It isn’t a sickly love story with a fairytale ending, and the storyline isn’t blatantly obvious – well, it seems to be, but it really isn’t (a nice change). All in all it’s not a bad book (not terrific either). If you’re of intermediate age or early high school, you may enjoy it (but it leaves the developed reader feeling somewhat unsatisfied) – AROHA HUGHES

Caitlin’s and David’s families are both falling apart. David and his mum and sister have just left their home and Caitlin’s mum is starting to hate her dad. After an unlikely meeting at a local café, David and his friend Lenny, and Caitlin and her friends Glenna and Megan, are soon all in a play together. Both of their situations start to worsen and they soon find that it all has to end somewhere. Will their father lose the plot or will a family member be lost? Through all this can they find love too? Is it possible they’re linked more than they ever thought possible? At first the writing style of the book is hard to get into but as it continues it relaxes back into an easy read. This book takes you on a journey you would most likely never be in nor could imagine.  If you have family problems or are trying to understand someone else who has them or is in a difficult situation, try Give Me Truth – AROHA HUGHES

Mary Kendrick is a 17-year-old girl living on the West Coast of New Zealand. She lives with her family in a small shack, in a place called Swag and Tucker. Mary is engaged to Nikolas and cannot contain her excitement about marrying him. In the back of her mind, though, she has a strong fear of a convict, returning to retrieve the gold from his hiding place. He robbed her small settlement in Margaret Hall’s previous book Swag and Tucker. She fears he will harm her and her fellow townies. The tagline for this book is ‘A ruthless robber…a girl’s dread…a final showdown.’ This sounds all very enticing but it does make the book seem more exciting than it is in reality. The story has potential, especially the romance of Mary and Nikolas, but never reaches further than what needs to be said. It is written in a way that is hard to follow and the language is at times written for an older audience. Don’t let that put you off though. It is a book that you can’t help but think about once you’ve closed the pages – ANNIE HAWKER www.tearaway.co.nz

PAGE TEARAWAY TAG GAMES

ALEXANDER DONOHUE checks out the latest games plus a digital distribution system that could revolutionise the gaming world...

The end of consoles? OnLive

Prototype

OK, technically OnLive is a digital distribution system rather than a game, but it sounds so interesting I had to give it a mention here. Recently announced in the US, OnLive is a service that will apparently allow you to play graphically-intensive games, like Crysis: Warhead and F.E.A.R. 2, on virtually any computer, regardless of how powerful it is. All the heavy computing is done by a remote server, which sends the results to you as a low-latency video stream. If everything works out OnLive sounds like it could be a minor technological miracle, although given the dire state of New Zealand’s broadband network I wouldn’t expect the service to be introduced here for some time.

DEVELOPED BY: Radical Entertainment

Wolfenstein

Tales of Vesperia

DEVELOPED BY: Raven Software, id Software

DEVELOPED BY: Namco

AVAILABLE ON: PC, PS3, Xbox 360

AVAILABLE ON: Xbox 360, PS3 (upcoming port)

US soldier BJ Blazkowicz has been killing digital Nazis since 1992’s Wolfenstein 3D. Over the years he’s escaped from impregnable prisons, matched wits with psychic SS officers and personally defeated Hitler in an epic duel. You’d think, then, that he’d be comfortably retired by now. Not so; in fact, Raven Software and id are gearing him up for a new mission. This time he’ll be crossing between the real world and ‘the veil’, a freaky alternate dimension, to prevent the Nazis from releasing the power locked inside an artefact known as the Black Sun (ooohh, sounds ominous). Doubtless old Blazkowicz will get the job done quickly, so he can get back to sitting around in dressing gowns and playing golf.

A few years ago I was mentally scarred by the awful Game Boy Advance port of Tales of Phantasia, and since then I have lacked the courage to touch another game in Namco’s hugely popular Tales series. I might be willing to give Tales of Vesperia a try, however. It’s been generating a lot of buzz for its storyline and its effective implementation of the series’ trademark real-time battles. Oh, and the game was so popular in Japan that it led to a temporary Xbox 360 shortage. If that many people were willing to buy a new console just to play Tales of Vesperia, then surely there has to be something special about it...

Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising

DEVELOPED BY: TNX

DEVELOPED BY: Codemasters

Another of those quirky minigame collections that proliferate on the DS, Rhythm Heaven is a collection of touchscreen-based rhythm games based on concepts like table tennis, tropical holidays and singing moai heads. Early reviews have been positive, although apparently the game can be brutally hard in places. R&B fans might be interested to know that, as part of its quest to convince people that gaming is not just for pathetic losers, Nintendo paid Beyoncé Knowles handsomely to appear in a TV ad for the game. Of course, you can pretty much tell that she has no idea what she’s doing and is thoroughly confused by the whole thing, but good on Nintendo for trying...

AVAILABLE ON: PC, PS3, Xbox 360

The original Operation Flashpoint was renowned for its realistic depiction of modern warfare; the game engine was even developed into a piece of simulation software that is used by actual militaries and government agencies worldwide. That said, you shouldn’t expect the upcoming sequel to actually teach you how to fire an assault rifle or drive a tank. If previews are to be believed, however, it looks like Dragon Rising will offer an interesting mix of open-world gameplay and tactical shooter, with combat handled far more plausibly than in most shooters. This means, for example, that a single bullet can kill you. Just like in, y’know, real life.

AVAILABLE ON: PC, PS3, Xbox 360

You play a mysterious figure who has no memories of his past life. You have powers that give you superhuman strength and agility. There is a shady pharmaceutical company involved. At some point a viral infection breaks out and the military turns up to contain it. OK, so the story of Prototype is hardly devoid of the stale scent of cliché. It does, however, look like it might be a lot of fun to play. Developer Radical Entertainment seems to be aiming to make its openworld action game as spectacularly over-the-top as possible – you can, amongst other things, destroy tanks and helicopters with your bare hands, run up the sides of skyscrapers and absorb memories from people by eating them.

Rhythm Heaven AVAILABLE ON: Nintendo DS/DSi

More reviews Answers to news quiz, p 4: 1-b, 2-c, 3-b, 4-a, 5-b, 6-a, 7-a, 8-a, 9-b, 10-a Tearaway May 2009

It’s a secret to everybody – The Legend of Zelda

REVIEWS

F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin

Tony Hawk’s Motion

DEVELOPED BY: Monolith Productions

DEVELOPED BY: Creat Studios

PUBLISHED BY: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

PUBLISHED BY: Activision

AVAILABLE ON: PC, Xbox 360, PS3 (PS3 version reviewed)

AVAILABLE ON: Nintendo DS

RATING: R18

RATED: G

REVIEWED BY: Alexander Donohue

REVIEWED BY: David ‘APEK’ Hutcheson

This game’s title is something of a misnomer, for two reasons.

From PlayStation’s EyeToy camera and motion sensitive

Firstly, the F.E.A.R. (First Encounter Assault Recon) team that featured in this game’s prequel hardly figure here at all. Instead, you play as Delta Force member Michael Becket, who is tasked with arresting Genevieve Aristide, the head of Armacham Technology. Armacham, for those who didn’t play the first F.E.A.R., is responsible for performing unethical and seriously nasty experiments on a powerful young psychic, Alma. As a result she has gone crazy, unleashing her powers and turning an entire city into a hellish disaster zone. Despite the promising premise, nothing much happens in the plot of F.E.A.R. 2. You’ll spend much of your time trudging from one arbitrary location to another, accompanied by dull characters so genre blind you want to slap them (no, you shouldn’t chase after the spooky little girl, or try to find out where that crying is coming from), ultimately experiencing an unsatisfying and needlessly cryptic ending. But at least you get some good scares, right? Wrong! For (here comes misnomer reason number two) F.E.A.R 2 is not actually scary. In particular, the game’s attempts at atmospheric horror fall flat. The various environments you travel through, including a burning hospital and a deserted elementary school, are rich with horror potential, but instead they come across as bland and uninteresting. Occasionally I did find myself jumping when an apparition suddenly manifested in front of me, but cheap, obvious scares like this do little to build a mood of genuine horror. The saving grace of F.E.A.R. 2 is its gameplay, which goes a long way to making up for the game’s lack of story and atmosphere. A few moments, like a dull sniping sequence, feel half-baked, but the extended gunfights against waves of enemies that constitute the majority of the game’s action are consistently thrilling and occasionally glorious. The Slow-Mo feature from the first F.E.A.R. returns, injecting action sequences with a potent mix of tension and balletic grace. The visual effects for slow-motion gunshots and explosions are fantastic. Unfortunately not all of the game’s visual elements are as deserving of praise. Indeed, the graphics of F.E.A.R. 2 are frequently bland and technically underwhelming, a far cry from the advanced graphics of the game’s prequel. F.E.A.R. 2 is certainly an enjoyable game if all you’re looking for is action. But there’s so much wasted potential here. It could have been a compelling blend of horror, plot and action, but as it stands it is simply an enjoyable but unimaginative first person shooter, dragged down by a good deal of thematic baggage.

controls, to Nintendo Wii’s motion entirety, it’s obvious that we’ve moved far from the cartridge based 8-bit games of old, and closer to the virtual reality games envisioned in the future.

It would seem that along with outstanding graphics, improved game depth and wireless-ness, next generation gaming is ushering in the entertainment phenomenon that is ‘motion’. Apparently, gamers no longer desire the comfort of their couch from which they can enjoy a fantasy adventure with the movements of their fingers. No, these days we prefer to jump, twist, shake, wave our arms in absolute idiocy and contort into awkward positions to achieve what could have previously been done by our thumbs. It would make sense then to combine this awesome feat of gaming with one of video games’ all time heavyweights, the Tony Hawk skating franchise. Genius right? Well, not quite. The latest instalment of Activision’s sadly declining Tony Hawk series is Tony Hawk’s Motion, which introduces a new feature to the Nintendo DS, the motion pack. The first notable aspect of TH Motion is its difference to the traditional Tony Hawk style. Instead of a variety of game modes, with customisable characters and decks, with an urban, skater layout, we are given shoddy graphics, extremely limited menus and customisation options, and even the option to snowboard, all with a very amateur and rushed feel about it. The actual gameplay of TH Motion leaves much to be desired, feeling more like a demo to show the capabilities of the motion pack than an actual game. Controls to do ollies, flips, grabs and grinds are still done on buttons and the only motion aspect is steering your skater, which proves to be extremely difficult. Although the motion pack is very responsive, you have little control over where your character is going as you turn your DS everywhere trying to regain a sense of direction and in doing so you have to watch the screen sideways or tilted or lose sight of it altogether. Perhaps I am being a bit too hard on TH Motion, considering it has added the motion pack to the large selection of features on the Nintendo DS. However, a warning to any fans of the Tony Hawk franchise - if any game will make you lose faith in your favourite skating game, this is it. www.tearaway.co.nz

ARMAGEDDON EXPO

Armageddon Expo GAMES, ANIME, CROWDS, SWORDS, BLADES, LASERS, BLAZERS AND COSTUMES! IT WAS ALL HAPPENING AT TSB ARENA WELLINGTON FOR ARMAGEDDON THIS YEAR. WITH A HUGE LINE UP OF GUESTS, GAMES, EVENTS AND STALLS THERE WAS A GOOD VIBE IN THE AIR FOR THE 14,000 PLUS, ELBOW DODGING CROWD. JACK CALLISTER GOT AMONGST IT.

Costumes, of course, are the staple attire for the modern comic expo. Everything was there from Sailor

Moon, Pokémon, Star-Wars (Troopers included of course) and my definite favourite – a Modern Warfare Gillie suit. The quality of costumes was extremely high, especially those who entered the costume competition.

Plenty of celebrity guests were a highlight of the weekend, including the highly popular Doctor Who panel with Peter Davison and Mark Strickson. And I’ll never forget the show from ‘that sound FX guy from Police Academy’ (simply put: Michael Winslow). His heavy soaking of hilarious sound effects made him a crowd pleaser. It’s definitely worth watching at http://www.armageddonexpo.com/. Other guests included a huge range of comic and manga artists, generally showing off their incredible technical skills to the wandering crowd. After hours and hours of gameplay, which is rather more difficult without the aid of a couch, exhaustion began to dawn, however a solution was available. Vision Racer! With a nice racing seat I was rather comfortably completing laps, but with a constant demand. Time on the machine was limited, but rested and recovered, I moved on to greener gaming fields. Killzone 2 was looking good, and of course Street Fighter 4. Highlights of the weekend included hilarious eating contests, a rather engaging pillow fight and even pro wrestling. However, it was Laser Tag that got my attention, heaps of fun, but the wait was rather long as demand was heavy! Oh and I can’t forget the Kamehameha competition. It was some great Super Saiyan acting that was really entertaining! It was great weekend that I would recommend to anyone interested in this side of culture. With plenty on offer there was always something interesting to do! Tearaway May 2009

DVD PREVIEWS THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS 2 In The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, based on Ann Brashares’ best-selling series of novels, four young women continue the journey towards adulthood that began with The Sisterhood DV5SIS of the Traveling Pants. Now three years later, these lifelong friends embark on separate paths for their first year of college and the summer beyond, but remain in touch by sharing their experiences with each other as they always have – with honesty and humour, and an old pair of jeans… Discovering their individual strengths, fears, talents and capacity for love, they come to value more than ever the bond they share and the immeasurable power of their friendship.

THE CLIQUE

DV5CLQ

Massie Block, with her glossy chestnut hair, laser-whitened smile and ah-mazing wardrobe, rules the social scene of exclusive private girls’ school Octavian Country Day. Massie’s clique, aka The Pretty Committee, includes expert shopper and logoladen Alicia Rivera, diet-fad obsessed redhead beauty Dylan Marvil, and supersmart star athlete Kristen Gregory. Enter Claire Lyons, the new girl from Florida, in a fashion disaster and two-year-old sneakers – clearly not Pretty Committee material. Unfortunately for her, Claire’s family is staying in the guest house on Massie’s huge family estate. With no way to avoid the clique and eager to fit in, Claire’s future looks grim. But with a little confidence and a lot of scheming, Claire might just stand a chance.

MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA New York Zoo animals, Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe and Gloria the Hippo, are stranded on Madagascar but are plotting their escape. When they finally fly DV5MAD free in a hastily repaired plane their exit is cut short when they run out of fuel and crash-land ‘somewhere’ in the wilds of Africa. Enter Alex’s long-lost lion family plus other assorted hippos, giraffes and zebras. But life in Africa with their new buddies isn’t quite as good as

they thought… Also includes a steamer trunk full of additional bonus features: a behind-the-scenes peek at the creation of this animated epic, music videos and more mad-tastic fun activities and games.

WATCHMEN: TALES OF THE BLACK FREIGHTER Experience the exclusive and dramatic origin stories essential to the Watchmen experience as the comic-within-thecomic is brought to life. DV5WAT Within the graphic novel, Tales of the Black Freighter appears as a comic book read by a young man in New York City while the city is being destroyed. This daring saga chronicles a sailor’s journey home after being attacked by the notorious pirates of the Black Freighter and marooned on an island. During his journey, the young seaman is “forced by the urgency of his mission to shed one inhibition after another” and experience horrible events which start to destroy his mind. Also includes Hollis Mason’s tell-all Under the Hood about his life as the Nite Owl.

WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN Featuring the entire season one of this TV series, this limited edition is the ultimate collection for any X-Men fan. Wolverine And The X-Men begins as an DV5WOL explosive event shatters the lives of the X-Men and takes away their mentor, Professor X. The beaten heroes – including Beast, Storm, Cyclops and Nightcrawler – walk away from it all but are then given a rare glimpse into the future, where they see a world in utter ruin, ruled by giant destructive robots. They discover the world has spiralled out of control because the X-Men have given up. So now the most legendary of all X-Men, Wolverine, must take the lead on the ultimate mission – to prevent the world’s destruction, rescue us from ourselves and save the future.

JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH Brendan Fraser stars in this action-packed adventure based on the Jules Verne classic. On a mission to find his missing brother, Trevor Anderson (Fraser), his nephew and their

My movies were the kind they show in prisons and airplanes, because nobody can leave – Burt Reynolds

tour guide discover a dangerous new world at the centre of the earth. On a scramble to find their way back, the group travels through a never-before-seen world, encountering creatures and objects never imagined. Special features include A World Within Our World: Various Historical ‘Hollow Earth Theories’ About What Lies Beneath Our Planet’s Crust; How to Make Dinosaur Drool; and Adventure at the Centre of the Earth Challenge.

BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA A pampered Beverly Hills chihuahua named Chloe (voice of Drew Barrymore) finds herself accidentally lost in the mean streets of Mexico without a Rodeo Drive boutique or a day spa DV5BEV anywhere in sight. Now alone for the first time in her spoiled life, Chloe must rely on some unexpected new friends – including a streethardened German Shepherd named Delgado (voice of Andy Garcia) and an amorous pup named Papi (voice of George Lopez) – to lend her a paw and help her find her inner strength on their incredible journey back home.

THE CHEETAH GIRLS: ONE WORLD They’ve rocked the US, taken Spain by storm, and now they’re off to India for new musical adventures. When the stylin’ Cheetah Girls get cast in a Bollywood musical, they’re ready to show the DV5CHE world their totally cool dance moves and movie-star potential. This could be their big break! But when Chanel, Aqua and Dorinda find out they have to compete against each other for the starring role, their friendship – and the group – may be in serious trouble. Can they make their own dreams come true and still be The Cheetah Girls? Find out as they follow their dreams to Bollywood.

Giveaways! Yup, we’re giving away copies of all these DVDs. So grab the entry codes, click here and get lucky.

DV5JOU www.tearaway.co.nz

MUSIC REVIEWS

Something to say? THE KILLERS DAY & AGE Day & Age is a nice little album, continuing along in the musical journey of The Killers, a band who keep moving in new directions with their sound. The album itself is kind of a mixed bag because of this, with influences ranging from synth-pop through to art and stadium rock. It works though, mainly because The Killers are genuinely good musicians no matter what style of music they play, and the tracks themselves are well crafted. The synth-laden first single Human is a return to the 80s style pop The Killers first became famous for. My favourite, however, is the gloriously upbeat I Can’t Stay, a little gem of a tropical number which sounds like what you might get if you were on holiday in the Caribbean and had Brandon Flowers suddenly decide to join in with the house band. Awesome. I think it will be interesting to see in which direction The Killers take their sound next, but in the meantime fans will most likely enjoy this album, with all of its variety – EVA GROVE

TAKE THAT THE CIRCUS They are a four man show hailing from the mother land we call England. Their radio hit Greatest Day has taken the route into pop culture, thrusting this band into the international spotlight. Although forming back in 1990, The Circus is the band’s first album to attract such global attention, acting almost like their debut-but-notdebut album to the world. The 12 featured tracks share a general aura of dreaminess and idealism, easing you into a trancelike state of optimism as you listen. The only downside is that the album starts feeling monotonous after a while, like eating the same meal day after day. Listen to this when you need something inspirational yet easy-listening to tune out to – VALERIE GUO Tearaway May 2009

THURSDAY COMMON EXISTENCE Common Existence is the fifth full length studio album from this New Jersey post-hardcore band. Lyricist and vocalist Geoff Rickly based many of the songs on the words of his favourite authors while the title of the album refers to humanity’s shared experience. The album begins with Resuscitation of a Dead Man, a great opening track which gets the listener’s attention with the powerful line, “ambulance, let me in”. The band expresses their divided loyalty between friends and views on war with Friends in the Armed Forces. Although it might seem like old news it is a well written song. Time’s Arrow is refreshingly calm, placed perfectly in the middle of the album for those not accustomed to intense guitars and vocals. Common Existence starts off strong, most of the songs seem well written and it might be exactly what a fan of Thursday or post-hardcore wants. But for those who don’t want to sit through the pounding guitars and screams the album loses focus from Time’s Arrow onward – disappointing after such a promising start – EMMA WILSON

TWO TONGUES TWO TONGUES Two Tongues is a side project comprised of two members from both Saves the Day and Say Anything. This is the first work for all members outside of their respective bands, which makes it an exciting combination for fans of both groups. Their self-titled debut album combines the inner strength of Chris Conley and the restlessness of Max Bemis. As both sides learnt to communicate and trust each other the inspiration flowed and produced a very unified album. It is relaxed and moves easily between the short songs, which add up to 35 minutes of quality listening. It is natural to be sceptical when two bands work together but this debut from Two Tongues is an excellent album regardless of who the members of the band are, and also confirmation the project can work.

The members enjoyed making the album so hopefully its success will inspire them to explore the possibilities of Two Tongues again – EMMA WILSON

LILY ALLEN IT’S NOT ME, IT’S YOU Wow! What an awesome album from such a uniquely talented artist. The album title captures the attitude of the album entirely. Confident and straight-up, Lily demonstrates that not only can she sing and write, but her lyrics are of substantial depth too. Suffice to say, this is one of the most topical CDs I’ve come across. She challenges everything from drug abuse to religion, and despite the frequent profanity it is immediately clear that this girl has something to say – and she’s going to say it with style. As well as including the hit single The Fear, standout tracks are I Could Say, 22 and Back to the Start, all of which are insanely catchy and have radio potential. An interesting one to listen to (and also one of the best tracks) is the second single Not Fair. Saturated with sexual connotations this track is sure to generate audience attention. But hey, what did you expect? It is Lily Allen – JASON ANTILL

3OH!3 WANT It’s hard to tell if these guys are serious about themselves or not. The catchy first single Don’t Trust Me is fantastic; clever, slick and fun, the video seems to be a take-off of rappers, but the album’s theme seems to be ‘yo ladies, we’re cool rappers’. Want is white rap and techno. Most of the backbeats are great, but the lyrics aren’t that slick, aren’t particularly clever and lack originality. They have a couple of slower moments like in Still Around, but these parts are worse, because they don’t have the beat to bop to. Punkbitch is a possible saviour for its danceability. Want is an uninspiring album, but YouTube portrays them as a great live band to mosh to. Don’t Trust Me, buy the single… trust me – MERE TEINAKI

This land is your land and this land is my land, sure, but the world is run by those that never listen to music anyway – Bob Dylan

CHOICES

Six months ago, FEILIDH O’DWYER had never heard of the Pacific International Hotel Management School (PIHMS). But in April, through Tearaway, he had the opportunity to stay with the students at the complex for four days and get a taste of what living and studying at PIHMS was like.

The hotel diaries PIHMS is unique within New Zealand. it’s the only hospitality facility in which

Feilidh O’Dwyer

students live on campus and ostensibly run the hotel themselves.

Day one After a slightly turbulent flight I arriv e in New Plymouth. I step off the plane onto the tarmac amid dark clouds and rain. I walk into the airport, and Alex Lawn – a very friendly student/duty manager at PIHM S – greets me. Alex drives me to the PIHMS facili ty, which is about five minutes from the airport. The PIHMS lot is a series of stately, brick buildings. I notice the student car park is speckled with flash vehicles – a few Altezzas, a new Mini and even a couple of Beemas. The PIHMS student at the front desk – adorned in immaculate blue uniform – chec ks me in and asks whether I need someone to carry my bag to my room.

PIHMS started in 1995 and is located in Bell Block, an area 10 minutes outside New Plymouth. There is a range of qualifications available at PIHMS. The most common for NZ students is the International Diploma in Hotel Management. The course lasts for two and a half years, one year of which is industry placement. After completing the diploma, students have the option of studying for a further six months to receive a Bachelor of Applied Hospitality and Tourism Management. I have only a loose idea about PIHMS. I’ve checked out their website and I understand the idea of the course but I don’t know what it looks like or how it runs, and I haven’t met any of the students. This is my first trip to Taranaki so I’m quite excited to see what the region has to offer. This is a journey into the unknown.

Before I can answer... To keep reading Feilidh’s diary, click www.tearaway.net.nz/digital

PLANNING YOUR CAREER IN HOTEL/BUSINESS MANAGEMENT Our three year degree and diploma course earns you -

Bachelor of Applied Hospitality & Tourism Management (NZQA Level 7) Swiss Diploma in Hotel Management (IHTTI) Advanced Diploma in Hotel Management (AQF Level 6) Diploma in Hotel Management (NZQA Level 6)

And includes one year of paid industry placement

For more information contact PIHMS—0800 100 331—www.pihms.ac.nz—text 5849 I stayed in a really old hotel last night. They sent me a wake-up letter – Steven Wright

www.tearaway.co.nz

CHOICES

Day one

CONTINUED

up my case and ... Before I can answer, Alex scoops l amenities as usua the all has leads me to the room. It did I land How spa! a and iron an r, well as a compute gig? t swee such a es, books I scatter my bohemian collection of cloth ctly student distin a ing creat , and notes around the room this. like to going flavour. I think I’m eeing food I meet Gary, who’s responsible for overs important most the and beverage training. He tells me ing, planning, plann Ps: five the is thing about good service ing. plann and planning, planning lamb with Dinner is delicious: pumpkin soup, then ing. creamy potatoes, and trifle for pudd events of the day After dinner, while mulling over the a spa. run I , come to day the and contemplating

Day TWO

Oh man, it’s too early. throw my I roll out of bed, onto the floor and ow. wind the out hone cellp with a balance PIHMS students have packed days, . skills tical of academic and prac sm lecture about After brekkie I join a third year touri sustainable ecotourism. ents are on Next I go to the kitchens. Twenty stud rse meals for -cou three are prep ing kitchen service, help

Oops, I,ve missed breakfast. I,m pretty hungry and the only source of sustenance in the room seems to be the complimentary soaps, so I munch them down’ Tearaway May 2009

are preparing the 180 students. Another 20 students tables and waiting. ian girl gives me Cleo, a 17-year-old Chinese-Malays ce. It’s quite servi a rundown on the intricacies of silver eye for detail the for ion an art. I’m getting an appreciat ht. taug that the students are as baristas Two first-year students are assigned a ared delicious throughout the day and I am prep vanilla and hazelnut drink. students used The course seems to be trying to get . ation oper l hote of to all levels . Risotto is fairly I’m put on risotto duty for an hour the yelling in the of none basic to make and fortunately me. kitchen is directed at c and chaos It’s impressive that there can be pani aitress er/w in the kitchen but then when the wait is nice. thing every , takes the dish through the door they are and dish nted prese well The customer sees a it. ing mak into t wen t wha of e seldom awar

Day THREE

8.30 am – oops, I’ve missed breakfast. e of I’m pretty hungry and the only sourc the be to s seem room the in e sustenanc complimentary soaps, so I munch them down. They’ll suffice for now. . I acquired some new threads last night el, Dani ! man S PIHM a me beco y I’ve finall rm, the student president gave me his unifo

which he no longer needs. Yuss! I will look the part. The front desk puts students in roles such as taking calls, checking in customers, cashing up. All students receive PIHMS money, not unlike monopoly cash. The money is given out weekly at the front desk and is used to pay for meals and drinks. The idea of PIHMS money is that stude nts can price the menus and drinks to make a profit and the front desk cashes up, making sure the incomings and outgoings match up. People who go into the hospitality industry have to be able to deal with stress. You’ll prob ably get some rude customers and sometimes you’d like to just ...but you don’t. You put on your smile and prete nd the customer is always right. PIHMS teaches people about how to run hotels but many of the students go into other areas as well. Students learn all about service and the practical side of running a hotel. They also learn about tourism, human relations, event management and so on. One of the students tells me that the training is like a “hands-on business management degr ee.”

Day FOUR

At breakfast, I sit with a table of India n students and discuss the costs of the course and the prospects of getting jobs in hospitality at the mom ent.

Many of these guys have massive loan s of up to $80,000 and with the NZ governme nt tightening immigration laws they are worried they will not be able to get work permits when they grad uate. Without a work permit, they will have to go back to India/China where workers in hosp itality get about 300 NZD a month. Try servicing an enor mous loan with that meagre coin. Later in the night I go into the stude nt lounge to see what’s going on. A group of Indian students are dancing round in a Bollywood-style dance circle . As I walk past, one of the group who I had befriended pulls me into the circle and we all danced for a while. I walk on my hands and they all clap, it’s pretty funny. In the evening a group of the PIHM S guys are heading out to a party on a farm in rural Taranaki. I become designated driver and we drive the 20 odd minutes to a converted sheep shed where about 60 people are partying hard. I would never have imagined journ alism would lead me here!

Day FIVE I’ve been really impressed by the vibe of PIHMS and I love how open and friendly every one has been. If hospitality is your career of choic e, PIHMS is an excellent place to check out.

CHOICES Initially inspired by an Australian motocross coach whose assistant had a sports science degree, ANTONY SPROULL knew that to achieve his career goal of motocross coaching he would need a tertiary education

The science of sport coaching

Motocross

“I was set up in Christchurch so I decided to give the University of Canterbury’s Bachelor of Sport Coaching a go. The course content looked diverse, and it was the only coaching degree in the country at the time so it was a unique opportunity.”

Antony credits his experience at the University of Canterbury with helping to establish him as a quality coach and landing him prestigious coaching positions such as the assistant coach to the New Zealand World Junior Motocross Team, and a five-week coaching opportunity with Yamaha Australia working with elite athletes on the Gold Coast. “The sport coaching lecturers at the University of Canterbury are extremely knowledgeable in their field – world class in fact – and that makes the degree the success it is. “The degree gave me a taste of everything from the ground up. It gave me a solid understanding in areas of business, teaching and, of course, the scientific side of sport. “If you want to coach effectively, it’s an opportunity too good to miss.”

Own business Now the owner and operator of his own motocross coaching business based in Christchurch, Performance MX Coaching, Antony provides a mix of private and school group coaching to off-road motorcycle and dirt-bike riders in the Canterbury region. “I’m doing what I love for a career! I get to work outdoors with a huge variety of athletes of all ages and abilities. My profession has taken me across the country, and I frequently coach in the North Island, so the travel is a definite highlight.”

Training the best Antony has plans to continually ‘upskill’ his coaching abilities through further tertiary study and continued overseas coaching experiences in order to put himself in a position to personally train the best. He also hopes to develop his coaching business into a franchise throughout the South Island and with his University of Canterbury experience in mind, would not hesitate to employ other University of Canterbury Sport Coaching graduates. “Put it this way, when the time comes to look for employees, the first place I will be searching is for recent graduates of the University of Canterbury’s Bachelor of Sport Coaching degree.” www.tearaway.co.nz

CHOICES

From surf lifesaver to registered nurse in intensive care, TARA OLSTHOORN makes a career out of saving people’s lives

LIFE SAVER

Becoming a nurse is one of the best decisions I have made in my life.

doctors, patients and relatives. All in all it can be a pretty scary place.

I grew up in Levin and my mum was a nurse at the local hospital there. I dreamed of being a vet or a policewoman but never a nurse. I was immersed in my sport and was a competitive swimmer and also very involved in surf lifesaving. By the time I left school, I had become interested in nursing but didn’t want to follow in my mother’s footsteps, so I went off and did a three year Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science. I loved this degree but something about it didn’t quite gel with me.

Student delegate

New start

After graduating

One of my close friends was in hospital in Waikato and I went to visit her. During my visit a nurse approached her and I thought to myself, “I could be a nurse!” Off I went, searching online to find a nursing degree programme that would start mid-year. I chose Universal College of Learning (UCOL) Palmerston North and was accepted straight away due to my previous success with my degree at Waikato. Becoming a tertiary student was a challenge – learning how to live away from home, and budget for food, rent, utilities and other social expenses. Living in a student village is an experience in itself – late nights and trying to balance the social life with the amount of study required. Meeting new friends and having new experiences is part of the exciting student life.

There are many opportunities out there for graduate nurses, in hospitals, clinics, Mäori health providers and plenty more. After I graduated from UCOL I was accepted onto a Nursing Entry to Practice Programme (NETP) at MidCentral Health DHB, Palmerston North Hospital. This programme is one that is run nationwide in many DHBs and provides new graduate nurses with continued education and support during their first year as a registered nurse. I worked in a surgical ward, specialising in urology, gynaecology, and ear, nose and throat surgery. I learnt a lot and was supported by a great educator and other nurses on the ward who were happy to share their experience with me.

Daunting Being a first year nursing student can be slightly overwhelming. Everyone has their own perceptions about how things are going to be, and also what to expect on their first hospital placement. During this first placement you try to take in everything you see and every little bit of teaching and advice given to you, plus you have to deal with all the paperwork and assignments. The tip is to persevere and you will get it all completed. Going into a big hospital can be daunting, especially if it is one you are not familiar with. It often has a smell about it that you will never forget. There are people everywhere, nurses, Tearaway May 2009

During my time at UCOL I became a student delegate for the NZ Nurses Organisation. This gave me an opportunity to understand the importance of the professional and industrial support that is required for nurses. I also met some great people studying nursing from all over the country. We discussed many issues surrounding nursing students and these issues appeared to be a nationwide trend. I have developed some great friendships from being a delegate.

Intense I now work in Intensive Care (ICU) and it’s an amazing place. Each day is different and exciting and I am faced with new challenges, keeping my patients alive. Most ICU patients are on ventilators and need constant monitoring of their vital signs. It’s an amazing job and the team in ICU is behind you every step of the way. During my nursing career so far, I have seen babies born, young and old die, amazing wounds, and heard some fantastic stories from patients about their lives in general. I feel privileged to have been a part of their lives.

Could this be you? Nursing is an awesome profession, and UCOL is a great place to set yourself up with the skills

During my visit a nurse approached ... and I thought to myself, ‘ I could be a nurse!’ and experience you need to do your best. I am looking at heading overseas for a year soon as the opportunities worldwide are outstanding – Australia, Great Britain, Saudi Arabia, Canada and beyond. People say it takes a special person to be a nurse – it definitely takes patience and empathy, compassion and stamina. When you are looking at what you want to do when you finish school, you need to think about things such as: could you do this job for the next 10 years; does the job have variety in itself; do you have the qualifications to be able to study your chosen career; and, most importantly, do you think you will be happy with your career?! Good luck!

Nurses – one of the few blessings of being ill – Sara Moss-Wolfe

Get your nursing career off to the best start with UCOL’s Bachelor of Nursing. It’s our Personal Tutors

It’s all about you

UCOL’s personal approach helps you succeed

that make all the difference. And that’s why UCOL nursing graduates enjoy an excellent professional reputation both here and overseas. When you enrol in UCOL’s School of Nursing we’ll assign you your own Personal Tutor to look after you right through your nursing journey to help you successfully gain your degree. They’ll support you through our brand new curriculum for 2009, which includes 240 hours of clinical placements in your ﬁrst year. In addition UCOL offers two Nursing Skills Laboratories, one uniquely sited at one of our key stakeholders.

ENROL NOW AS UCOL’S BACHELOR OF NURSING STARTS 2ND SEMESTER 20 JULY 2009

TEAR5553BN

0800 GO UCOL 4 6

8 2 6 5

enquiry@ucol.ac.nz www.ucol.ac.nz

CHOICES

He grew up in a musical environment but bucked the tradition – until something inside him just ‘clicked’. Now MARTIN PARIS is relishing the creative challenge of a Bachelor of Music

Infinitely personal I come from a musical family, but as a kid I was into comics and computer games. I went to Avondale College in Auckland, and they had a good music set-up there, but I just wanted to draw comics.

My mum used to sing in a band called the Yandall Sisters, who were big in the 70s, and my brother’s a jazz musician in Wellington. I was the black sheep for not doing music.

Click For some reason, I was well aware of not being musically inclined like my family, and I enjoyed pushing against the tradition. Then, all of a sudden, something clicked. I thought “hey, I enjoy doing this, I think I have a talent and it’s something I can share with people”. So I decided to work on it. Now I’m nearly halfway through a Bachelor of Music at The University of Auckland, majoring in popular music. Although I learnt the clarinet as a kid, it wasn’t really a cool thing to whip out at parties. Now I play guitar and sing. There are two core papers: songwriting and performance, which gear you towards creating your own songs; and theory and musical background training – jazz guitar or piano.

Playing to your peers My favourite part of the course is all the direct feedback. We have to write two songs every couple of weeks. So, you come up with fresh ideas and think “cool, that’s pretty good”. Then you get to play it to a room full of people (who are all writing songs themselves) and they tell you what they think. It’s way better than just playing it to your mum and her saying, “yeah that’s great son, keep it up”. There’s a quote I hold dear whenever I try to write a song – to be ‘infinitely personal yet universal’. You can write about your own issues, but what works is to put it in a way that others can’t help but relate to. The course also really teaches you to get over your inhibitions and get used to performing. You learn basic but essential things like playing into a PA and having a bunch of people stare at you. Tearaway May 2009

Charisma In the first year of the degree you can test the water and see if it’s for you. But if you’re going to be on stage there needs to be a certain charisma about you. You need confidence, even if it’s of the shy and awkward variety! To succeed in pop you need to be a full package – you’ve got to be able to sing, play, dance and entertain. The most useful lesson I’ve learnt at The

University of Auckland is that the more I learn, the more I’ve yet to learn. The best part of this course is meeting so many likeminded people, who are all fascinated with music. It sounds like a cliché, but you kind of grow together through the years of studying. Then we’ll graduate and be released into the world and the floodgates will be opened with a new generation of musicians. It’s like a fellowship!

Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don’t live it, it won’t come out of your horn – Charlie Parker

CHOICES

Speaking and writing are not the only ways we communicate. For TEUILA HUGHES, dance is the language of self expression

AMAZING GRACE I grew up in Fiji, and as a kid I always loved dancing. I started at a young age, doing lots of Pacific Island dance – Samoan and Cook Islands. I was always very active and loved swimming too.

I grew up knowing that I wanted to dance. When I dance, I feel like I’m myself – I can express myself much better than I can any other way.

Performer’s gene I don’t come from a family of dancers, but my grandfather was an actor, so I guess I got the performer’s gene from him. Besides the Pacific Island dance, we did Chinese and Indian dance at school. I also took some contemporary dance classes at the university in Fiji, but I was never professionally trained. In 2007 I came to New Zealand, and spent a year at St Cuthbert’s boarding school, which I really enjoyed. Now I’m at The University of Auckland, doing a Bachelor of Performing Arts, majoring in dance.

Broad range We do a balance between theory and practical, and cover all different styles of dance. There’s ballet and contemporary, and this semester we’re doing a Brazilian paper which I think is quite interesting. We also cover things like dance history, both in New Zealand and internationally. My favourite part of studying at The University of Auckland is learning so many new things. Getting professional training and learning what dance demands from you is always challenging. One really great part of the course is the dance in the community segment. We recently spent four weeks at the Pegasus Unit at Pakuranga College, working with the disabled kids there, which I thought was really nice. So it’s a really broad course, it covers all aspects of the dance world.

Choreography I’m not sure what I want to do with my degree qualification when I graduate. I know I want to do something in dance, but I haven’t decided which field I want to get into. The good thing is, you are given so much Dance is the hidden language of the soul – Martha Graham

insight into the different areas that you can find the best angle for you. I think I might do something in choreography. One of my favourite choreographers is Merce Cunningham – he uses a lot of chance so you never know where his dance is or what it will turn into. In NZ, I like Black Grace, because of what I did in Fiji. Black Grace mix contemporary dance with a lot of Polynesian, so I can really relate to it.

Have fun To succeed in this degree, you really just need to be open to a lot of challenges, as you’re going to learn so much! I never thought I’d learn this much – I came into the course and there were so many things I didn’t know. So you just have to be really open, and have fun with it! www.tearaway.co.nz

CHOICES

, IT S

SCIENTIFIC

WHO SAID SCIENCE, STILT WALKING AND BUSINESS DON’T

BUSINESS

MIX? NOT CHRISTCHURCH-BORN LOGAN ELLIOT…

At high school, I always did as many sciences as I could. In 6th and 7th form (Year 12 and 13) I did biology, chemistry and physics, as well as economics and geography. Looking back, economics was really important, and so was geography to an extent. I’ve also always thought that English is important for everything. A lot of what we do now is report writing, doing presentations and speeches, so it’s important to brush up on all those skills while you’re in school.

FREEDOM, FLEXIBILITY, DIVERSITY I’m currently doing my 4th year of a Bachelor of Applied Science at Otago University. I’m doing Molecular Biotechnology and I’m working on an Honours project in the lab, as well as taking business papers. The project involves looking for novel enzymes in marine bacteria.

I’m looking for enzymes with interesting industrial properties, enzymes that could be used in commercial applications, from detergents to antibiotics. This is the final year of my degree, and then I have to decide what to do next. There are lots of options. I could go into scientific research, or a Masters in management or business, or get into startup companies. At the moment, I’m just trying to keep my options open.

FIREY AMBITION As a kid I was into the outdoors, and I’ve always loved the sciences. I wanted to be an architect, a scientist, and to have my own business some day. I’ve always had lots of crazy ambition! I’ve also done a bit of performance stuff, and I’m highly involved with that here in Dunedin. I run a performance group called Highly Flammable. We do a range of activities including stilt walking and fire performance. Tearaway May 2009

I chose the Otago Applied Science degree for the freedom and the flexibility. There’s so much diversity in what we study. It includes a mix of business, biochemistry, genetics and microbiology. I really enjoy the fact that we get to do all different kinds of stuff. What really interests me is studying both science and business. Business is a key part of the degree – you get to know how business applies to the world of science, which is really important. One of the best parts of the course is the

seminars to a science ball. I really enjoy Otago, it’s fantastic. Dunedin is a great town –it’s really geared towards students and there’s lots of opportunity here.

CHINESE EXCHANGE When I graduate I’m travelling to China for the summer as part of a cultural exchange. Currently I’m getting the trip set up with sponsorship and grants. It’s more an exchange of fire performance art between China and NZ, but I’ll be exploiting some of my science connections over there at the same time! Then in 2010, I’ve got options. I’m looking at a Masters in entrepreneurship, or a more sciencebased research masters. I’ve always had ideas of developing my own business and I’m working on something at the moment, so you never know!

GET INTO IT! If you are interested in Applied Science, it helps to be open-minded and flexible. There are lots of different areas of study, so you should be able to adapt.

What really interests me is studying both science and business. Business is a key part of the degree - you get to know how business applies to the world of science, which is really important. My advice is: do it! The degree is relevant for

networking, and interacting with heaps of people. I also love having the flexibility to create projects and develop my own ideas etc.

any scientist. The business aspect is applicable in

OTAGO: O FOR OPPORTUNITY

if you are going to do research, you have to be

My other involvement here at Otago University is being a member of the Applied Science Students’ Association. It’s a group I started with a few others 18 months ago. We run events for the 250 Applied Science students. We do everything from

all areas of science – business is everywhere! Even able to consider what the outside world is doing. This is a world that’s changing quite quickly. The Bachelor of Applied Science is a fantastic degree. It’s reasonably new and it reflects the way things are happening in the world at the moment.

Applied Science

Gives you the tools you need for the life you want

Applied Geology Amanda Black Otago Regional Council, Environmental Compliance Officer

Aquaculture and Fisheries Mark Preece Aquaculture Manager for King Salmon

Computational Modelling Elke Braun-Elwert Hopes to design specialised sports coaching software

Design for Technology Jodi Reddell Assistant Brand Manager for V, at Frucor

Electronics Paul Williams Programmer, ADInstruments

Energy Management Jake Roos Co-ordinator, Sustainable Homes Network, Uttlesford District Council

Environmental Management Nicola Henshaw GIS Consultant for Business Intelligence team, Critchlow Ltd

Food Innovation Lindy Fraser Account Manager, Forum Products Ltd, UK

Geographic Information Systems Justin Poole GIS Consultant, GHD Australia

Molecular Biotechnology Su Yong Hu Both the science and the business knowledge are vital in my position

Software Engineering Duncan Meyer Project Manager, Hewlett Packard NZ

Sport and Exercise Nutrition Glenn Kearney Nutrition Consultant, Elite Performance Nutrition Ltd

Telecommunications Dan Kerse TelstraClearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s IP Operations

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0800 80 80 98

www.otago.ac.nz

txt 866

www.otago.ac.nz/appliedscience

university@otago.ac.nz

Logan Elliot demonstrates what he does when he's not studying science at Otago University, with his performance group Highly Flammable. Story, Page 48

Tearaway May 2009

PAGE CHOICES TAG If you’re after a career with a lot of variety and a good dose of fresh air, consider the wood industry. KRISTIE PAKIPAKI loves her job as a harvest planner for Nelson Forests Ltd

Going bush As a kid I was always the outdoors type. I was into sports and socialising, and would get out and give anything a go.

I grew up in Nelson. My father used to own a harvesting company and was contracted to some of the big forestry companies. I was used to being out in the bush, tagging along with my dad. I didn’t know specifically what I wanted to be ‘when I grew up’ but, as I got older, I realised I needed to be in a job where I woke up each day and actually wanted to go to work. I wanted to do something I enjoyed, something that was different every day. As a harvest planner, I now have that job!

In the bush I earned my Bachelor of Forestry Science at the University of Canterbury. Being a practical person, I loved the camping and field trips we went on, out into the bush. These weren’t necessarily production or forestry type visits – often we went out to native forests. It was a great opportunity to see a lot of the country, as we travelled to places such as Hokitika, Rotorua and Napier. Studying at the University of Canterbury really set me up with the skills I needed for my current career. One of the most valuable things I learnt was the process of documentation. This includes mapping and carrying out a plan, from idea to result. It means a lot of checking, reviewing and starting again, working in a circle of ownership. This process can apply to any job.

Work experience As part of the Bachelor of Forestry Science, we were required to do at least 100 days work experience. So, during every school holiday I worked for Nelson Forests Ltd. By the time I graduated in 2004, I had actually worked for a full year – well over the minimum requirement. Nelson Forests Ltd was kind enough to create a role for me when I graduated. Back at high school, it was useful for me to study biology, PE and computer skills. Maths and statistics were also really valuable for my degree, although I don’t use them so much in my job at the moment.

, As I got older, I realised I needed to be in a job where I woke up each day and actually wanted , to go to work

Harvesting trees As harvest planners, we are responsible for certain blocks within our forest estate. When they get to a certain age and are ready to be harvested, our job involves working out how to access the block, applying for consent, and eventually extracting the trees. We often need to work through the NZ Historic Places Trust, as many of our forests have historic places within them. The extraction process involves working out the safest and most productive method of cutting the trees down, getting them onto the truck and delivering them to the port or to their final destination.

We’re not out in the bush all the time though. We also do a lot of office work – mapping, reporting and costing analyses. The best part of what I do is working with the guys out in the forests. I love being out in the fresh air and really enjoy the culture and atmosphere of the bush.

Could this be you? You would enjoy this industry if you’re outgoing, organised and are able to just get stuck in there rather than dithering around. Sometimes you have to make decisions that are worth a lot of money, so you just have to do it! If you want a job that’s not monotonous, and has heaps of potential, then the wood industry is definitely a good option for you. There are so many different types of roles, and plenty of opportunities to further your education within the industry. For more information about the wood industry head to www.woodcareers.org.nz

If you tell a joke in the forest, but nobody laughs, was it a joke? – Stephen Wright

www.tearaway.co.nz

CHOICES

Baguettes, skiing in the Alps, threecourse school lunches... EMMA NICHOLS gets a taste of the French way of life

My year in France

of art per week. Given my creative talents extended to about stick-figure level, the last thing I wanted to hear on my first day at school after travelling for four days, and having 12 hours of jet lag and severe sleep deprivation, was “Right, class – draw your hand, a tree, three squares and a line linking two sides of the page”!

Doing it properly My family were a dream and consisted of Monique (my stylish and cute host mother), Freddy (my sporty and joking host dad) and Laura (my flurotop-wearing and kind-hearted 14-year-old host It was six o’clock on Wednesday morning, and I was waving goodbye one last time before stepping onto the plane. It hit me once the plane was several kilometres in the air, speeding me away to my new life and new adventures – I was really going!

At that moment I was 17 years old, a seventh former (year 13) at Samuel Marsden Collegiate, and I was leaving home to go to France for one year on an AFS exchange.

Luckily for a city girl like me, I went to school in a slightly larger town (about the size of Palmerston North) called Montélimar. The first thing that struck me was just how French everything was. There were baguettes and cheese everywhere, fresh fruit markets, old men drinking pastis in the sun. Montélimar is beautiful, with its fountains everywhere, the Château des Adhémar on the top of the hill, medieval cobbled streets and centuriesold churches.

sister). There was of course the extended family of an auntie and uncle, three cousins and four grandparents who I got to know at birthdays and Christmas. The first night I arrived, my host father took great delight in instructing me on the proper way to swear in the local southern French way, and my host sister instructed me in proper make-up application in order to look my best at school. Monique cooks like a goddess – her four-

MontElimar is beautiful, with its fountains everywhere, the ChAteau des AdhEmar on the top of the hill, medieval cobbled streets and centuries-old churches

cheese pizza and apple tarts are engrained in my taste-buds forever! My family was warm, welcoming and very kind to me, taking me skiing in the Alps and

French had always fascinated me as a language and, by the time I was reaching the end of high school, I felt the only way to become fluent was to be immersed in it by living in France.

And a multitude of cultural influences I never realised before – Algerian, Moroccan, Tunisian and Rwandan classmates introduced me to Rai ‘n’B music, an Arabic version of R&B.

campervanning around southwest France and into

So French

Embracing school

throughout the year. It really is the year where you

My new home was a small village in the RhôneAlpes region of southeast France, called La Coucourde, population 700.

My school was very different from home. For starters, it was co-ed, and I had come from an all-girls school. Not to mention you spent 20 minutes every morning kissing around 40 people! Schools in France have very long hours, eight am until five pm, six days a week, with half-days on Wednesdays and Saturdays. We had large three-course canteen lunches provided for us, cheese included of course. On the whole, school was pretty enjoyable, and the teachers were very tolerant with my terrible spelling and grammar. The main challenge for me was that I had been placed in an art class, which involved eight hours

experience the most emotions of your life.

Emma (right) and host sister Laura, skiing at Tignes in the French Alps

Italy.

Hard to say goodbye There were, of course, many challenges to face

By the end of my exchange, I had grown so much in myself, made the most amazing friendships, actually lost weight (thanks to my host mother’s healthy cooking and quite against the common trend!), and was struggling to say goodbye to my host family. When my host dad helped me onto the train with my suitcase, he began to tear up, and then it hit me – I was not going to see these people every day anymore. But that is how it goes. If you work at it, the friendships can last, and the memories and things you learned and experienced will never die.

Student Exchange Text AFS to 5900 to find out more Freephone 0800 600 300 or visit www.afs.org.nz

All texts will be subject to the standard network fee of your mobile carrier

Travel teaches tolerance – Benjamin Disraeli

Homesickness I can’t say I got very homesick except during winter, when activities and opportunities to travel to neighbouring towns dried up. Sometimes the French students were quite happy to spend all their weekends at home, and the fact that my school was a boarding school and many of my friends went home to their families on the weekend didn’t help. This was where my exchange student friends came in. One of the great things about AFS was that I had a really good network of other exchange students I could draw on to go and visit in other towns in the Rhône-Alpes region. The other AFSers were one of the best parts of my year overseas. They are some of the best friends I have had and possibly will ever have in my life, and our friendships have lasted across years and continents. The summer of 2007 was the best proof of this, as my best friends from my exchange from the US and Germany, came and spent the summer working in New Zealand, and my host family spent that Christmas here with my family. That year we were hosting two boys from Paraguay and Brazil, so in true AFS spirit it was a very multicultural Christmas!

Emma (left) bungy jumping with ASF friends

Challenges The language is a challenge in that it can be extremely frustrating not being able to express yourself as you’d like to. Even though I had learnt French for seven years at school, it took me at least three months to be able to joke and really bring my own personality out in French. Settling in to a new family also has its challenges. Although my family was very kind, the mere fact that I grew up doing things differently creates misunderstandings that can grow into problems. There were things I got away with in my family in New Zealand that I quickly learnt I could not do in my host family. However, while difficulties almost always arise in a host family/hosted student situation, they can usually be solved by talking things through honestly and compromising.

Emma (left) and extended AFS family reunite in NZ

Self-discovery I think the most important part of an AFS year is the learning and growth you experience in yourself. It is a voyage of discovery into your own mind, heart and soul, as well as the hearts and minds of others. You learn so much about who you are, the different facets of your personality, how you deal with homesickness, heartbreak, friendship, as well as practical things like getting around on public transport across countries and big cities. You gain so much confidence because of all the little challenges you overcome on the way. They creep up on you gradually, the friendships you make and the things you learn. By the end of the year, to your and your family-back-home’s surprise, you have become a more mature, grounded person that has gained a deep appreciation of the richness in the diversity of different people and cultures.

Life since the exchange I studied arts and commerce at Victoria University of Wellington, graduated in 2008 with four majors: international relations and development studies, and international business and public policy. Rather than doing a degree in French, I gained a qualification (Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française) from the Alliance Française that certified my fluency in the language. I have made many French friends in NZ and have managed to keep up the language. I also taught French for two years with Fun Languages Ltd (a private language teaching company) to primary school children and beginner adults. I now work at the New Zealand Treasury as a graduate analyst. I stayed in a really old hotel last night. They sent me a wake-up letter – Steven Wright

www.tearaway.co.nz

COOKING

Delissimo

winter ice cream LAURA VINCENT bucks the trend and whips up cool treats for those chilly months OK, so ice cream is nice and all but (a) you can buy it really easily, and (b) it’s maybe more of a middle-of-summer than a beginning-of-winter sort of thing.

Think, then, of a scoop of ice cream melting on a hot chocolate pudding or slice of apple pie – that’s right, it is the food for all seasons. And with home made ice cream flavours you’re limited only by your imagination (although I don’t know that roast beef flavour is a good idea). Proper home-made ice cream involves making custard out of egg yolks and cream and then freezing that with more cream, and while it tastes sublime and better than anything shop-bought, it can also be a little intimidating. Here I have two very simple recipes for ice cream you can make yourself that come in two categories: easy and easier.

Easy ice cream base

Instant berry

soft-serve ice cream This one is barely a recipe, and it’s more or less instant, so it’s a fun party trick to keep up your sleeve.

Ingredients 2 cups frozen berries 1 cup cream 1 cup thick, plain yoghurt ½ cup icing sugar

Method I used frozen boysenberries as they were cheaper than the other sorts, but have a great colour and flavour. This is what you do: throw everything into the food processor and blend the heck out of it (you may need to stop and stir it occasionally). The frozen berries mix with the liquids to make an instant ice cream. It’s softer than the normal stuff you buy but the flavour and texture – and as you can see, the colour – is out of this world delicious. (Serves 4) Tearaway May 2009

This next ice cream needs more planning but can be a memorable base for any flavouring you desire (even roast beef).

Ingredients 600ml carton prepared vanilla custard 600mls cream ½ cup icing sugar

Method Whip the cream with the sugar till it is lightly thickened but not on its way to being butter. Fold in the custard gently and freeze, stirring occasionally – about every hour or two. I’ll be honest, you’ll have to take it out of the freezer a bit before you want to serve it because it sets pretty rock hard. This is only because it doesn’t have any nasty preservatives though.

Pimp my ice As you can imagine from the ingredients, it tastes good, but a little plain. Why not dress it up with some of the following?

Chocolate sauce 175g chocolate 250mls (1 cup) cream Melt the chocolate carefully in the microwave, stir in the cream and pour this amazing stuff over your ice cream.

More deliciousness Other options to make it infinitely more exciting: before freezing, fold in melted chocolate, or the juice and zest of an orange, or a couple of handfuls of frozen berries, or a teaspoon of peppermint essence, or some crumbled up chocolate chip cookies, or a solid drizzle of maple syrup and a handful of walnuts, or crushed up Crunchie bars …the sky is the limit!

grabbag 1.

Enter online at www.tearaway.net.nz ENTRY CODE:

BOOT CAMP Carve it up this season with the latest boot from PUMA, the v-Konstrukt III, as worn by league legend Manu Vatuvei! The v-Konstrukt III is a lightweight performance boot with the perfect combination of comfort and aggressive protection in a fresh new design – the ultimate must-have this season. Available at all good sports retailers nationwide for RRP$299.99. For stockists call 0800 PUMA NZ. Your chance to win one of three pairs!

SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS He lives in a pineapple under the sea…To celebrate the 10th anniversary of SpongeBob SquarePants we have five awesome giveaway packs including: a SpongeBob SquarePants USB drive, SpongeBob SquarePants notebook, Patrick soft toy, stickers and a Nickelodeon pen. Check out www.nicknz.co.nz/ spongebob to keep tuned and soak up the Sponge in ’09. URBAN TOOL – SLOTBAR The SlotBar is a new trendy bag to carry your everyday gadgets like mobile phone, iPod, camera or PDA – and city guides, documents and organiser – safe and clear in specific pockets. Colours: black/mud/mangrove. RRP: 72.00 AUD. Order online at www.urbantool.com.au and type ‘Tearaway’ in the coupon field at checkout to receive a 15% discount! We have six SlotBars to give away.

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MARY GRAY CHOCOLATES Mary Gray has a 60-year history in box chocolates and fudges. The new premier range of box chocolates includes the Delectable Assortment, Kiwifruit Nougat and Mary Gray After Dinner Mints. Also available, the Fudge Cube range: Russian, Chocolate, Swiss and Irish Cream Fudge. The ideal gift for any occasion be it Mother’s Day, birthdays or a treat. We have 10 prize packs to give away.

G-SHOCK & BABY-G WATCHES Win one of these two great watches. Either the stylish new square-faced design of a Baby-G watch in a cyan and black theme or The Original G-Shock with all the classic features and designs such as 200m water resistance, stopwatch, daily alarm etc. Check out the whole range at www.casionz.co.nz

I’ve never wanted just part of the package, part of the prize. I want it all! – Bill McCartney

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NIVEA body Summer Beauty NIVEA Summer Beauty is a gradual tanner that firms, bronzes, moisturises and smells delicious so you can look and feel beautiful all year round! Win one of five sets including both shades of NIVEA Summer Beauty – fair to medium and medium to dark – so you can have beautiful, bronzed and nourished skin 365 days of the year. NIVEA Summer Beauty is available in supermarkets and department stores nationwide for $7.85 RRP.

BERLITZ EARWORMS Berlitz Earworms Musical Brain Trainer, the easiest way on earth to learn a foreign language, arrives in NZ. Ever listened to a tune that you just couldn’t get out of your head? Berlitz has adopted this approach to language learning to develop new Earworms. Available in 10 different languages, for just $24.99 RRP, from bookshops and participating Real Groovy stores. Go to www.realgroovy.co.nz to find out more. Ten lucky winners will get to choose which language they would like to learn.

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How to Enter 1. WEBSITE: register at www.tearaway.net.nz and use the entry codes to go in the draw. 2. SNAIL MAIL: on the back of an envelope, write all of the products you’d like to win, along with your name, age, address, email and phone number. Send to Tearaway May Grabbag, PO Box 7351, Wanganui. ENTRIES CLOSE May 29 www.tearaway.co.nz