new zealand 51

The Wellington club rugby sevens series and the Hurricanes schools tournament are both on tomorrow, in Wellington and in Feilding. Wellington club sevens The first leg of two Wellington club rugby sevens tournaments is being played tomorrow at the twin venues of Rugby League Park and Te Whaea Artificial. The men’s tournament is on Rugby...

Three climate activists from the group Just Stop Oil have been banned by a judge from protesting in London after throwing soup at a painting by Vincent van Gogh last month. The judgment follows a series of peaceful protest actions by Just Stop Oil across the UK over the past week, including at the British Museum, and after museum directors issued an open letter demanding an end to demonstrations involving notable artworks. Mary Somerville, 77, Stephen Simpson, 71, and Phil Green, 24, had thrown tomato soup at two paintings of sunflowers by Vincent van Gogh at the National Gallery in London on September 27, prompting charges for allegedly damaging the frames of the artworks. The protest took place one day after Just Stop Oil activists Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland were sentenced to prison . On October 28, Somerville, Simpson and Green pleaded not guilty in a London court to two counts of criminal damage. The three Just Stop Oil protestors were released on bail and their case will ...

Dealer and curator Eric Ian Hornak-Spoutz has filed suit against painter Scott Kahn, who is accused of breaching his contractual obligations to Hornak-Spoutz by abruptly terminating an exhibition at the Phillips in Hong Kong in order to join David Zwirner’s roster . At the center of the suit, which was filed on Monday in New York State Supreme Court in Westchester County, is the exhibition, which Hornak-Spoutz says was born out of an hours-long Zoom call in November 2022. Also on that call were Jonathan Crockett, chairman of Phillips Asia, and Kahn himself, according to the suit. The exhibition, which was meant to take place between October 26, 2023, and November 5, 2023, was to contain around 50 to 60 paintings.  While Hornak-Spoutz and Kahn never signed an official contract, the two had been working together, the lawsuit says, since Kahn consigned 20 works to Hornak-Spoutz. Hornak-Spoutz then sold them at Gallery 928, his space in Marina Village in Florida. The gallery closed ...

A 200-year-old musical score believed to be composed by Frédéric Chopin has been discovered in the vault of New York’s Morgan Library and Museum. While cataloguing new collections at the Morgn, curator Robinson McClellan came across a card with the Polish composer’s name and holding a waltz dating between 1830 and 1835, the  New York Times reported. It was initially uncertain, however, if the piece was in fact written by Chopin, so the curator worked alongside leading Chopin expert Jeffrey Kallberg from the University of Pennsylvania to authenticate the score. The manuscript’s paper and ink were tested under infrared and ultraviolet light, and the handwriting and musical style analyzed in consultation with outside experts. It was determined that the piece was written on machine-made wove paper using iron gall ink dating back to the 19th century.  Despite some peculiarities, the penmanship matched what is known of Chopin’s writing, including a distinctive bass clef and writ...

Rachida Dati, France’s culture minister, has suggested charging an entry fee for visitors to Notre-Dame de Paris when the cathedral reopens in December following its five-year restoration. Dati told Le Figaro that forcing people to pay a five-euro entry fee could raise 75 million euros a year. Those funds could then be used to “save all the churches in Paris and France.” The 75 million euros would apparently be generated by an estimated 15 million visitors to Notre-Dame in 2025. The medieval cathedral’s roof was gutted by a fire in 2019. Before the blaze, up to 14 million people visited Notre-Dame each year. However, opponents of Dati’s proposal have pointed to the fact that imposing an entry fee might be unlawful under a sacrosanct French law signed in 1905, which saw churches transfer ownership of their buildings to the state, while agreeing to stay open to the public with “no charges or dues.” The French culture minister’s stance softened, though, when the Paris diocese got ...

 – By Steven White  Results at: For results visit: https://ift.tt/8dS5V3B More photos and video content to come. It’s HIBS. Hutt International Boys’ School are the 2024 Open Boys Condor Sevens champions. HIBS won the Christian Cullen Cup for the first time wit a resounding 19-17 win over last year’s winners Scots College in the final...

Tagata Pasifika | Television Series Join Marama T-Pole and John Pulu as they take you through all the latest stories from our Pacific community! This week Niue celebrates 50 years of self-governance in free association with New Zealand. Our reporter John Pulu catches up with internet sensation Uce Gang. And we meet Line Mechanic, Laisa Pickering.

Anauli Karima Fai'ai | Reporter/Director Fijian Laisa Pickering has been flying the flag for Pasifika in the electricity supply industry for over a decade, and she’s keen to see more follow in her footsteps. Pickering works as an electrical trainer for MITA Consulting in Auckland, helping new line mechanics through their apprenticeships. It’s a role that sees her travel up and down the country to teach line mechanics about staying safe on the job. “Safety is really important,” she says. “It starts at the grassroots. Teaching the ‘lineys’ [or] teaching the trainees how to work safely [and] what they need to be thinking about.” Her journey began in 2013 when she left her job in civil construction to become a line mechanic trainee for family reasons. “For me, it was just keeping my daughter in school and hopefully giving her a better opportunity than I had and putting food on the table. “[My family] thought I was crazy, especially my mum and that back home. They we...

White Glacier , a leading name in Arctic safety solutions, recently presented its cutting-edge cold-water immersion technology at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa. Attended by safety experts, industry professionals, and potential partners, the event highlighted White Glacier’s latest immersion suits, designed for extreme resilience in the unforgiving Arctic environment. Attendees witnessed a live product demonstration, allowing them to appreciate firsthand the advanced features and reliability of White Glacier’s protective gear. “We were honored to host this event and provide a platform for showcasing the cutting-edge technology developed by White Glacier,” said Pamela Ward, Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa. “The live demonstration and insights from industry experts were invaluable in highlighting how these solutions are transforming safety standards in cold water immersion.” “The Arctic’s growing significance—geostrategically, economically, and envi...

At Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Gagetown in Oromocto, New Brunswick, over 400 members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), joined by troops from nine allied nations, are gathering for Exercise ARDENT DEFENDER 2024, a high-stakes, Canadian Army-led operation focused on counter-explosive training. This annual exercise, which features participants from Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States, is designed to hone the abilities of military teams to detect, defuse, and manage explosive threats. The training goes beyond just practical skills—it’s an arena for sharing knowledge and strengthening international partnerships that are essential in tackling modern global security challenges. “Interoperability is crucial to the Canadian Army’s ability to fulfill Government of Canada objectives, ensure readiness, respond to emerging threats, and meet defence priorities. Exercise ARDENT DEFENDER highlights our commitment to c...

On October 16, 2024, the crew of His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Ottawa gathered for a heartfelt farewell at His Majesty’s Canadian Dockyard in Esquimalt, British Columbia, as they embarked on a significant mission across the Pacific Ocean. “The departure of His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Ottawa, the second ship from the West Coast to deploy on Operation HORIZON this year, represents the culmination of thousands of hours of collective effort and dedication from the ship’s company and supporting staff ashore. This deployment to the Indo-Pacific region will see the ship and its crew sail with our allies and partners in the region and take on critical tasks and missions. I know that they are up to the challenge. Fair winds and following seas to HMCS Ottawa, I wish you all a safe and successful mission,” expressed Rear-Admiral Christopher Robinson, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific. HMCS Ottawa’s deployment is part of two major operations— Operations HORIZON and NEON . Operation ...

By Adam Julian Jackson Garden-Bachop turns 100 today, the first Wellington player since Tana Umaga in 2007 to reach that milestone. Garden-Bachop attended the 37-7 win against Manawatū on September 11 in front of 14,081 at Sky Stadium, marking Tana’s centenary. He is proud to join a family friend, and 21 others, in triple figures....

John Pulu | Presenter/ Reporter/Director Simeon Fiapule aka Uce Gang has been creating content online since he was 12 years old. Now it’s his full-time job and it’s also helping to change his life. Uce Gang has gone viral online thanks to his hilarious skits like ‘ When the music video doesn’t match the song ’,  or ‘ When Sāmoans… ’ and recently in his own ‘Travel Vlog’  already viewed by millions on TikTok and Instagram. “It’s my passion basically to make people laugh. It’s what I love to do and yeah, just to do content and create it,” he says. The South Auckland-based Sāmoan has been creating comedic content from his point of view since 2013 and as his followers grew so did the opportunities that came with it. “Life is good right now. I’d say I’m doing something which I never thought I’ll be doing like travelling. That’s the biggest, probably travelling,” he says.  “As a kid, the most I’ll go to is probably back home in Sā (Samoa) but now I get to t...

In an era marked by rapid advancements in technology, artists are increasingly becoming trailblazers at the intersection of creativity and innovation. While the future has always held uncertainty for the arts, today’s challenges — from the rise of artificial intelligence to global instability — demand that artists reimagine their work in new and dynamic ways. Related Articles Artists and AI: Shaping a Collaborative Future Bridging Art and Technology: Enhancing Human Experience and Building Community “Sometimes it’s concern or fright of technology and where it can lead us,” said Knight Foundation’s Director of Arts Jennifer Farah during a roundtable discussion at Catalyst: Digital Transformation in the Arts, a forum held in December 2023. “But it seems that the technology has shaped you guys, and you shaped the technology as well.” For transdisciplinary artist and Guggenheim Award recipient Stephanie Dinkins, it was a chance encounter with AI that spurred her expl...

UrbanGlass, an arts space and glass-making studio in Brooklyn, has issued a public apology for excluding the work of a Palestinian-American employee from a staff exhibition in March. Sixteen members of the space’s staff subsequently took their pieces out of the exhibition in solidarity with Phil Garip, the artist whose work was taken away. UrbanGlass ultimately canceled the exhibition in which Garip’s work was to appear. Those staff members restaged the canceled show at People’s Forum, a community center for advocacy organizing in Manhattan’s Garment District a week later, in early March. Members of Urban Glass’s executive board committee notified Garip of the decision to exclude the work in late February. According to a statement published on UrbanGlass’s Instagram this week, the piece was removed from the exhibition because it contained the phrase “from the river to the sea,” a pro-Palestine slogan that some Jewish groups called antisemitic hate speech. UrbanGlass’s executive comm...

With Frieze London and Art Basel Paris finally in the rear-view mirror, you’d be forgiven for being tired of the relentless London vs. Paris debate that has dominated art world conversations. In the end, both fairs did well, which somewhat stifled the increasingly boring narrative. In fact, it’s become so tedious that Christie’s CEO, Guillaume Cerutti, felt obliged to try and put the argument to bed by penning an op-ed in The Art Newspaper calling it a “non-troversy.” “I understand the appeal of this binary debate, allowing everyone to share their views,” Cerutti writes. “However, an analysis of the data leads us to a different conclusion: the rivalry between London and Paris is largely a false debate—a ‘nontroversy’—for three main reasons.” His trio of reasons, laid out in subheads, are: “Paris is progressing, but London still leads”; “A negative-sum game for Europe”; and “More complementary than competitive.” For the first, Cerutti references economist Clare McAndrew’s annual...

Highbrook Ōtara-A new development in Ōtara is currently in progress. Photo: Auckland Council Local Democracy Reporting | Free Public Interest News Service By Mary Afemata of Local Democracy Reporting A new housing development risks creating an “elite enclave” within South Auckland, a local leader warns. Highbrook Living Limited plans to build a housing development at the landmark power station site on Sparky Rd, near Ōtara. Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board (OPLB) chair Apulu Reece Autagavaia said the development could have significant environmental impacts, cause traffic congestion, and is far from schools and shops. “The proposed development site is cut off from the rest of Ōtara, bordered by the Tamaki River, State Highway 1, and the busy main arterial Highbrook route,” he says. “The board is concerned an elite enclave will be built, disconnected from the rest of Ōtara,” he said. “[There is] no physical connection to existing people of Ōtara to be neighbours with. This i...

The Wellington Lions beat Waikato 29-24 in Saturday’s NPC semi-final and will host Bay of Plenty in the final. Some facts and figures and statistics from the semi-final below, by Peter Marriott. Semi-final v Waikato: Won 29-24 The Wellington Lions and Waikato have now met on 48 occasions in the NPC. Wellington has won 28...

Carrie Mae Weems, Alex Katz, and Mark Bradford have been awarded the National Medal of Arts, a designation for US artists and philanthropists given out by the government. The merit is decided by the Presidentially appointed National Council on the Arts, an advisory committee overseeing public culture funding. The artists will being recognized today during a formal White House ceremony in Washington D.C. that honors recipients from 2022 and 2023. It is the last ceremony centered around the national arts award to be led by President Biden ahead of the November presidential elections. Weems is known for her photographic work exploring race in America and is currently the subject of a survey at CCS Bard’s museum. Katz, the subject of a 2022 Guggenheim Museum retrospective, is known for his spare portraits of people in his circle. The two artists were part of the 2022 and 2023 classes of awards recipients, respectively. Bradford, the youngest of the three contemporary art figures to rece...

The Best Defence Conference, happening on October 22-23 in London, Ontario, has quickly become a premier event in Canada’s defence sector. Vanguard is proud to serve as this year’s official media partner.  The conference covers key capability areas, including air, land, naval, C4ISR, IT/IM, and public safety, offering a comprehensive platform for industry leaders, military officials, and government procurement decision-makers to discuss important issues. With a strong focus on networking, the event also provides attendees with new business prospects, especially for aerospace and defence companies, advanced manufacturers, and technology firms specializing in AI, quantum computing, and cybersecurity.  We are excited to showcase below some of the companies that will be featured at the conference. For more information about the Best Defence Conference or to register, visit www.bestdefenceconference.com .  Rob Arntfield, MD, Founder & CEO London, ON   ...

 Ol d Papatoetoe’s town centre is undergoing a transformation as part of a comprehensive revitalisation guided by the Old Papatoetoe Masterplan. Chambers Laneway before photo. Photo: Auckland Council Local Democracy Reporting | Free Public Interest News Service By mary Afemata of Local Democracy Reporting A transformation is underway for Old Papatoetoe with hopes it will revive the Auckland town centre. The plan aims to breathe new life into the area and provide new housing options, while maintaining its unique identity. Manukau Ward Councillor Alf Filipaina, who has also been a councillor for the old Manukau City since 2003, said he is pleased to see the progress in Old Papatoetoe. “With robust infrastructure, essential services, and excellent access to public transportation, I’m looking forward to the transformation over the next few years,” says Filipaina. Photo: Eke Panuku Councillor Lotu Fuli, also from the Manukau Ward, says it’s encouraging to see the prog...

Welcome to finals week…NPC finals week. The Wellington Lions have a shot at shooting for their sixth NPC Division 1/Premiership title when they host the Bay of Plenty Steamers in the final at Wellington Stadium this coming Saturday. It is a daytime match, kicking off at 3.05pm. The Lions were previously NPC champions in 1978,...

The art world is still flush from Paris fever, with international galleries vying for a foothold in the City of Light, particularly since Brexit in 2016 and the arrival of Art Basel Paris three years ago. Now added to this week’s fete are several new satellite fairs and expanded, hybrid selling exhibitions. From Thursday to Sunday, the US-based New Art Dealer’s Alliance is partnering with local artist-run organization The Community for “Salon by NADA and The Community.” The hybrid, must-see selling exhibition OFFSCREEN has expanded, welcoming Marian Goodman gallery for the first time with a special Chantal Ackermann project, and the Place des Vosges in the Maris is hosting an informal grouping of eight pop-up galleries, including Chris Sharp Gallery, and Corbet vs. Dempsey, to name a few. Not to be forgotten, the mainstay Paris Internationale fair is celebrating a decade since its founding. With so many events over such a densely-packed week, comes the inevitable question of whether...