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DAVID HARTNELL: ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW
LOCAL NEWS DAVID HARTNELL: ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW WITH RICHARD WEBSTER
Richard Webster has had a career as a magician, mentalist, hypnotherapist, speaker and author.
His books have been translated into thirty-one languages and have sold more than eleven million copies around the world. He is a recipient of a VAC Scroll of Honour and in 2013 was presented with the Grand Master of Magic medallion and is an active member of the Brotherhood of Auckland Magicians.
What are your special memories of Ponsonby growing up? Until I was nine-years-old, we lived in Meadowbank, and every Sunday morning my father took my three siblings and I to visit his parents in Jervois Road. My grandfather was a carpenter and my grandmother sewed dresses and wedding gowns.
My happiest memories of Ponsonby were when our grandmother took my brother and I to see movies at the Britannia Theatre in Ponsonby Road. Afterwards, we always had a large ice cream from a milk bar that was next door to the theatre. I can’t remember what films we saw, but am pretty sure one of them was ‘The Court Jester’ starring Danny Kaye.
Tell us about your Grand Master of Magic award how did that come about? This was probably the biggest surprise of my life. I’ve been involved in magic for most of my life and have been fortunate enough to work as a magician in several countries. I’ve also written dozens of books for magicians over the years and appeared on television on the Great Kiwi Magic Show in 1996.
Despite this, I had little contact with local magicians, except for Alan Watson and Ken Ring, both good friends. When visiting professional magicians from overseas visited New Zealand I frequently booked them to do a private show for my mainly non-magic friends. I must have done about thirty of these over a period of fifteen years.
At one of them, when I was introducing the guest performer, a group of local magicians burst into the room and, in front of sixty friends, presented me with the Grand Master of Magic Award. I’d never considered the possibility of receiving this award, as I intentionally didn’t tell magicians what I was doing.
Consequently, I didn’t think the local magicians knew anything about what I’d done over the years. Much to my surprise, they did, and I felt incredibly honoured to receive the award. It was made even better because it was presented to me in front of my friends.
Photography: Catherine Hickland
What was your childhood like? I had a happy childhood with plenty of freedom. There was a large park across the road where all the neighbourhood children gathered and we played there almost every day. My mother blew a whistle when it was time to return home for dinner.
You will die happy if ... I die laughing.
What is your favourite TV series? ‘Would I Lie To You?’ I watch very little TV, but love this show, and ‘QI’, as they let me see well-known UK entertainers performing apparently impromptu.
What is the most Kiwi thing about you? I love rugby. Racing and beer – not so much.
Tell me, what is the difference between a clairvoyant and a mentalist? The word clairvoyant means someone who ‘sees clearly’. Clairvoyance is the ability to pick up information using extrasensory perception. It covers everything from hunches to mind reading.
A mentalist is an entertainer who demonstrates mental or intuitive abilities, such as hypnotism, feats of memory, and clairvoyance, using natural means, such as body language, psychology, and magic. Tell me something you really disapprove of. People who are ‘born again’ anything.
What motivates you? Opportunities to do anything that are different or new. At the grand old age of 74, I’m returning to corporate speaking with a new talk on a subject that’s always fascinated me.
What do you think happens when we die? Last time I believed in reincarnation, but this time around I’m not so sure.
What is your favourite movie? ‘Gloomy Sunday’. I enjoyed it because of the story and atmosphere, but especially for the theme song, which the whole film was about.
How do you relax and chill out? Walking, reading, watching stand-up comedians, playing with a deck of cards or Rubik’s Cube, drinking red wine, coffees and lunches with friends.
Did you come from a show business background? No. My parents were encouraging, even though some relatives thought my interest in entertaining brought shame on the family. What superpower would you like to have? Teleportation. I could then travel anywhere without any airport hassles. (DAVID HARTNELL MNZM) PN
STUFF: The 1981 tour protests at Eden Park
50 YEARS ON, POLYNESIAN PANTHERS SHARE THEIR STORY IN THEIR OWN WORDS
Stuff last month released ‘Once A Panther’, a podcast series about the group of young New Zealand-born Pacific Islanders who stood up to institutionalised racism and helped change the course of Aotearoa’s history.
The six-part series marks the 50th anniversary of the Polynesian Panthers, a movement that sprung up in response to the systemic racism experienced by Pasifika in the 70s.
Writers and producers Brad Flahive and Alex Liu spent the past six months creating rich, emotionally-charged audio documentaries that give deep insight into how this group of young activists started a homegrown revolution.
“The intimacy of a podcast allows the Panthers’ stories to contextualise issues that affected Aotearoa’s Pasifika community since the 1950s - and continue to have ramifications today,” says Flahive. “No journalist’s voice is included in the series. It is their story, in their own words.”
The podcast features Polynesian Panthers members, Will ‘Ilolahia, Melani Anae, Alec Toleafoa, Wayne Toleafoa and Tigilau Ness, alongside other influential people of that time like John Minto, Trevor Richards, Roger Fowler and Joris De Bres.
“Examining themes of identity, activism, racial division and sacrifice, provide a powerful commentary on events such as the Dawn Raids, Bastion Point, the 1981 Springbok Tour and indeed, race relations in New Zealand today,” says Liu.
“Our history is relatively recent, but many New Zealanders still don’t know the stories about the people that now contribute to the rich tapestry of Aotearoa.”
The six episodes are out already. ‘Once a Panther’ was produced with funding from NZ On Air and is available at stuff.co.nz/onceapanther.
www.aaf.co.nz, The Dawn Raids, Educate to Liberate, Photographer John Miller 1972
Earlier this year (21 February) Smiths Locksmiths, a 141-year-old Ponsonby business established back in 1880 went into receivership.
As Russell Smith explains, “After much negotiating the business rose from its ashes thanks to the deep dedication by my elderly father, Patrick Henry Smith (as the 5th generation locksmith in the family). Finally we brought Smiths Locksmiths back to 100% family ownership.
“The next step was for me to purchase the business with a 100% shareholding. My Name is Russell Patrick Smith and I am the 6th generation locksmith in the family... completing a dream I have had since I was five years old.
“I worked for Smiths Locksmiths from 1988 until 2001 and worked for another company for four years until starting my own business, Genesis Locksmiths in 2005.
“18 months ago I had a serious bicycle crash and was rendered quadriplegic with a broken neck and spinal cord injury. Thanks to the greatest ambos from St John’s Ambulance, I was rushed to hospital contemplating a life of being completely paralysed.
“A year and a half later I have come off ACC’s books (and am so grateful for their care) and have much gratitude for my full ‘miraculous’ recovery.
“Smiths Locksmiths is entrenched in the Ponsonby community and the support I have received since opening the doors again in May has been overwhelming. I live, love and work in Ponsonby and this is a wonderful ‘next step’ in my life. “Having worked with Dad since I was five years old, I have seen many changes in the industry but so much still remains the same. Known as ‘Rusty the Locksmith’ I have a wonderful client base that are keen to see me and my dreams come true...
“But may I add, without the faith and support of my wife Denise and two teenagers Graham and Zared, my dream would be so much different.
“If you need our services please call in to see us, or give us a call.”
SMITHS LOCKSMITHS, 117 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 360 0350 or T: 021 278 7897
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