TPPA protests in New Zealand

On the 8th November 2014,  Kiwis kick-started the global day of action against the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA). Many New Zealanders believe it poses an enormous threat to NZ’s ability to regulate for itself, and gives foreign investors and multinationals new rights to control NZ laws.

The family-friendly march from the Bucket Fountain in Cuba Street to the Civic Square ended with speeches and music. Speakers focused on local government and community issues as well as the broader national concerns.

Ariana addresses the crowd in Civic Square, Wellington New Zealand

Speakers included Sandra Grey (MC), Todd Rippon (Actors Equity), Greg Rzenosweicki (Renewables), Sue Kedgley (GWR Councillor), Gay Keating (OraTaiao: NZ Climate & Health Council)

Many people have already signed a petition to the New Zealand Prime Minister, John Key, to protect the country’s sovereignty. They said ‘it’s not for sale; No one can sign it away on our behalf’, and reminding him that ‘New Zealand is a sovereign nation’.

Speakers today believe if the TPPA goes ahead, New Zealand risks:

• Medicines costing more
• GM labelling being scrapped
• Internet access being criminalised
• Copyright law being expanded
• Parallel importing being banned
• Te Tiriti o Waitangi (1840) being overridden
• New Zealand would be giving international investors the power to sue our government for making laws which they oppose.

Cows - downunder in New Zealand

too too cute. A baby turtle we called Lucky!

we called this little fella "lucky'" - hope he is the one in a many hundreds who actually are lucky

Writing today about this little fella and it's 199 siblings and cousins. Check out my travel blog (www.kiwitravelwriter.wordprss.com) later to see more photos

See the video of its solo trip to the sea. (the others had left in the middle of the night!)

Annie - the cute red-headed orphan

Who wouldn’t love the cute red-headed orphan Annie?

Attending as guests at the opening night of the UK production of Annie – one of the best-loved, family musicals I believe the two of us were the only people there without knowing a child in the cast – or one who had auditioned!

Opening at the St James Theatre, Wellington, to rave reviews, some of which said:

• ‘What a show - slick, boisterous, classy, with excellent performances from the whole cast’ said the RNZ National reviewer.
• ‘It is a performance that oozes enjoyment, fun and general positivity,’ said Theatre View. ‘This is a cast who clearly love the heck outta their work. It's the best method of escapism since the invention of magazines and island holidays. I feel ten years old again and possess the same amount of optimism.’
• ‘It’s pure magic.’  Daily Express UK

The show features a host of familiar faces from British TV and my co-guest often said “oh she’s on XYZ or he’s from ABC’. Leading the cast is the hilarious star of stage and screen, Hi-de-Hi comedian Su Pollard, who I did recognise, who is the alcohol-soaked Miss Hannigan, headmistress of the hard-knock New York City Municipal Orphanage.  Playing the kindly billionaire businessman Oliver ‘Daddy’ Warbucks is David McAlister while the role of former US President Franklin D Roosevelt is Frazer Hines.

The set and singing (a little loud which distorted the words for those of us, like me, who didn't know them) were almost outshone by Sandi: everyone’s eyes were on the dog – a real scene stealer! My fellow guest said on leaving ‘that song is going to keep repeating on my head’. It didn’t become an earworm for me, but I’m sure lots of young girls with dreams of the stage will be singing it into hairbrush microphones over the next few days and weeks.

See more about Annie here 

Annie plays in Wellington until 8th June then in Auckland for a month.

Cleopatra eyes

Check out the Cleopatra eyes on this Black-browed Albatross. #Kaikoura #NZ #Birds #seabirds

photo by Heather - the kiwitravelwriter

New Zealand week in Malaysia!

Malaysia was recently full of Kiwis participating in New Zealand Week 2014 – seven days of activities and events exploring and celebrating the links between the two nations.

The festival was entitled Lima Mata Ikan (meaning “five fish eyes”), and much was made of the fact that the Maori translation of this phrase is very similar: Rima Mata Ika.

There were collaborations between indigenous artists from both countries (using the title as a creative motif), showcases of New Zealand culture, products and businesses and tourism. Activities included a New Zealand Food Fair, cultural performances by an excellent kapa haka group, an eco-tourism seminar and a gala dinner featuring a video competition between joint New Zealand-Malaysia student teams.

An exhibition by the Te Puia Institute included the unveiling of a ceremonial Maori carving called “Pataka Taonga” (“storehouse of treasures”) in the Sarawak Art Museum.

Sarawak’s capital, Kuching, and Kuala Lumpur in Peninsular Malaysia were at the centre of the action and New Zealand’s Minister of Maori Affairs Dr Pita Sharples, who headed the delegation, was the keynote speaker at the indigenous eco-tourism event.

Delegates were hosted by New Zealand alumni living in Malaysia, of which there are a surprising number - more than 400 in Kuching alone! In Kuching, the event coincided with the Borneo Post International Education Fair (BPIEF) and 14 New Zealand universities and institutions of higher learning were participants.

Dr Sharples was optimistic about further inter-cultural exchange and educational opportunities. In Kuching he said: “From this New Zealand Week event, (until then) I didn’t realise that hundreds of Sarawakians have come through our universities. There’s even one university in New Zealand where there are 2300 students from Sarawak.”

“It’s great that these cultural exchanges are taking place between our two countries,” says Zalina Ahmad, director of Tourism Malaysia in New Zealand. “We have so much in common – you only have to look at the similarities between the Maori and Bahasa Melayu Malaysian language to realise this – and we can only strengthen our business and cultural links by celebrating these similarities in an enjoyable way.”

Travel writing means living the dream!

Yes, travel writing allows me to live the dream, and I also get to re-live those travels - in reality during the experience, then again as I write, and yet again as I search through my photos.

This cute Mum and baby were at the Sepilok  Orangutan Sanctuary, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo and currently I'm writing about this state .. see more words and photos on my KIWI TRAVEL WRITER blog.

Tender loving care - too cute

Orang-utan baby - too cute!

Hanging on tight .. Sabah, Malaysian Borneo

See more from this region on my travel blog or Facebook page

The KiwiTravelWiter tries to reduce her carbon footprint in Malaysian Borneo

TV cameras watch as my tree is planted. Kuching, Sarawak - at the annual Rainforest World Music Festival

See more about the region on my Wordpress travel blog KiwiTravelWriter  or my Facebook Travelling Writer page 

Old reflections in new ... quake updates

Victoria Clock Tower is reflected in a new building arising from an old buildings site

Victoria Street, Christchurch, New Zealand 

Happy new year. Kong xi fa cai.

Happy new year: Kong xi fa cai for the the year of the horse!

My cat keeps a close eye on the neighborhood

Mista is the neighborhood watch sheriff from 4 floors up