Showing posts sorted by relevance for query zealand. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query zealand. Sort by date Show all posts

if you're canadian, sing it, sing it,

I sang or listened to our national anthem everyday while growing up. I learned it in both official languages. I still remember it and can sing it the way we used to, like half English half French. My parents grew up singing God Defend New Zealand. They did not grow up in Canada like I did. I have dual citizenship' but I live here and feel Canadian. New Zealand has two national anthems of equal standing - 'God Defend New Zealand' and 'God Save The Queen'.
The reason:

'National songs, ballads and hymns have a tendency to elevate the character of a people and keep alive the fire of patriotism in their breasts'. The Saturday Advertiser and New Zealand Literary Miscellany, 1 July 1876
Honestly, I think if you go to Canadian school and work in the Canadian economy and and choose to be Canadian, learn the fucking anthem as a kid in school. Some people in New Brunswick don't think so. In summary of you havent seen the news "principal's decision, eliminate tradition, singing O Canada, sparked outrage, parents, the country...heated debate...blah blah blah".

the most beautiful girl in the room

June 26 2006»BBC Radio Show to air in New Zealand.

Flight of the Conchords’ 6 part BBC 2 radio series “The Flight of The Conchords” will air on National Radio starting Sunday the 2nd of July. The band officially apologise to fellow New Zealanders for certain inaccuracies in the show with regards to New Zealand. In defence they claim that at the time of recording the were under the impression that the show would only play in Britain. During the recording period they were quoted as saying “no one in New Zealand will ever know ahahahahahaha!!”. The Conchords would like to apologise for the following:

Flight of the Conchords are not from Taranaki, they are from Wellington.
Neil Finn is not from Wellington, he is from Taranaki.
It is stated that Taranaki’s main tourist attraction is the ‘Tunnel of Wasps’. In truth it is only third after ‘The Simulated Cow’ and ‘The Amazing Rock’.
Some New Zealand accents attempted by British actors (episode 6) are inaccurate bordering on racist.

The Series stars Rhys Darby, Rob Brydon, Neil Finn, Andy Parsons, Mike Sengelow, Dan Antopolski, Emma Kennedy, Daniel Kitson, Jimmy Carr, Nina Conti, Greg Proops, Jarred Christmas and Justin Edwards.

Fun Trivia
Dan Antopolski who plays Tim/Bernard in episode two can be seen in recent film ‘The Da Vinci Code’ in a small but significant role. He plays ‘Jesus Christ’.

The Flight of The Conchords BBC 2 Series National Radio Sundays at 2.30 PM.

the batch in new zealand. you don't say?

I'm watching the Bachelor, well listening to it while I do things around the house. Anyhow, one of the destinations for the show that is on next episode is New Zealand. Looks to me like they are in the beautiful and warm North Island where they take a helicopter flight over the massive hill ranges followed by a bungy jump, Possibly in Taupo? I watched Dad bungy jump there when I was 12. I wanted to do it so bad. You had to be 13. I'm still upset about it. Most of my family lives in New Zealand and they are cool. I have Canadian & New Zealand citizenship which is very lucky, thanks to Mum & Dad!! If you are looking for the best trip of your life and a way to show yourself how awake and alive you are, get moving and plan a trip to the Land of Plenty!!

Vice Magazine - Show your love for NZ!!




Being a Kiwi, as great as it is, I enjoyed that VICE featured NZ in their global trend report. However, with all the focus on cities around the world, they managed to put NZ, the COUNTRY, not a city such as Auckland or Wellington, or hell, Palmy either!!

Here's what they said:
"It’s slightly disappointing that no one in this majestic land actually looks like Frodo or Xena. Yes, that is all most of us know about New Zealand. Oh, and Flight of the Conchords, which isn’t the funniest thing ever, but it’s a little bit funny once in awhile. Eagle Vs. Shark was pretty good too—like Napoleon Dynamite but with cute accents and kind of sadder. What other good movies were made in New Zealand? Oh yeah, Heavenly Creatures. That’s an old fave. So anyway, instead of mythical creatures and lesbian schoolgirls, what we have here is a bunch of young cool kids being cool in their cool clothes that, we are slowly coming to realize, are the same cool clothes as everywhere else in the world. Globalization blah blah blah. Nevertheless, New Zealanders look like a pretty good time. It’s like new rave never stretched its poisonous tentacles all the way over there or something. NZ girls are good at mix ’n’ match. High-end designer pieces (Yohji Yamamoto Y’s, Zambesi) are carefully thrown together with more “street” items and bits of vintage. (MY FAV!) A simple black-and-white outfit accented with a Chanel purse plus arm tattoos plus pink hair with long bangs plus Docs equals “Let’s do this.” And wait, is that a tattoo of the Little Mermaid on her arm? OK, fine, let’s fucking do this. Everything is black-and-white, and color only occurs in the context of a perfect plaid shirt, which is harder to find than you think. Again, the preppy look for boys is a big winner, with a nice, muted-color Comme des Garçons cardigan and other tried-and-true classics, while the more metrosexual types keep up the snazz with either a slick cyberpunk vibe or a hobo kind of look. (Actually, hey, the guy in the floppy felt hat here is almost approaching hobbit territory!) Finally, all boys have uniformly decided, “Fuck it, let’s carry tote bags, what the hey.”


Check out THIS Kiwi Style:

FOURFONTAINE - THE LABEL

Fourfontaine is a New Zealand clothing label specializing in mainstream streetwear, underwear and kidswear. Fourfontaine began in 2003 as a part time business and hobby by then 18 year old Mark Hurley whilst completing his university degree. He wanted to create a brand that had the styling and quality of the high end boutique streetwear labels rarely seen in NZ, while offering them at an affordable price to the 16 - 28 year old target market.

Since the brand was created in the small summer town of Kerikeri, Bay of Islands (LOVE IT THERE!!!) four years ago, Fourfontaine has forged a very strong base of stockists with over 60 throughout the country. Fourfontaine also offers a comprehensive online store, shipping internationally, as well as a brand new flagship store located in the sort after location of Nuffield St, Newmarket.

For more info or to view the complete range checkout www.fourfontaine.com

My New Zealand - The Haka

This video is of the New Zealand All Blacks doing the Haka, a traditional Maori War dance. My Dad used to do the Haka at rugby games when I was a little girl. He played some pretty hard core rugby in new Zealand before coming to Canada.

The haka as composed by Te Rauparaha begins with a chant:

Kikiki kakaka kauana!
Kei waniwania taku tara
Kei tarawahia, kei te rua i te kerokero!
He pounga rahui te uira ka rarapa;
Ketekete kau ana to peru kairiri
Mau au e koro e – Hi! Ha!
Ka wehi au ka matakana,
Ko wai te tangata kia rere ure?
Tirohanga ngā rua rerarera
Ngā rua kuri kakanui i raro! Aha ha!

Then follows the main body of the haka:



Ka mate, ka mate! ka ora! ka ora!

Ka mate! ka mate! ka ora! ka ora!

Tēnei te tangata pūhuruhuru

Nāna nei i tiki mai whakawhiti te rā

Ā, upane! ka upane!

Ā, upane, ka upane, whiti te ra!

’Tis death! ‘tis death! (or: I may die) ’Tis life! ‘tis life! (or: I may live)

’Tis death! ‘tis death! ’Tis life! ‘tis life!

This the hairy man that stands here...

…who brought the sun and caused it to shine

A step upward, another step upward!

A step upward, another... the Sun shines!




Click here for more info on the Haka!

sharing the randomness - 25 casie facts

This has been floating around Facebook since January. I figured since I've been tagged by a ton of friends it is about time I shared 25 random facts about me.

The rules go as follows: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. Blah, blah, blah...

Here we go:
  1. I was born in Canada to New Zealand parents and have dual citizenship (Canadian/New Zealand).
  2. I danced ballet, tap and jazz as a kid and completed in competitions across Ontario as well as Showstopper in NY & Myrtle Beach, SC. I was 5 with fake lashes and red lipstick!
  3. I wrote a book and became a published Canadian Author at 14. It was titled Jeans: An Anthology of Poetry and Prose. The Toronto Star wrote and article about me titled "Push Over Keats, Teen Muse Steps Ahead".
  4. I went to Uni in Australia and lived at Bondi Beach. It was the best year because I learned the most about myself and WHO I really am.
  5. I hate scary movies. I get queezy and I don't like to put bad images in my head. I'm crazy enough already!
  6. I still have all my Barbies and their vintage outfits. I hope to get them made in my size one day.
  7. I have a Green Belt in Tae Know Do and once knocked out a boy (Note: James Roszell) in grade 8 at school. Mum thought I'd get in trouble but I said "Mum, do you think he's gonna tell anyone?"
  8. I hate the number three. I don't do anything in threes.
  9. I grew up around vintage cars and vintage clothes. My Dad builds hot rods and mum was a photog for Canadian Street Rod Magazine.
  10. I named my sister Jenie because EVERY doll I had before she was born had that name. I love her.
  11. When I was 16 and had braces, I did a commercial for an electric toothbrush that aired in the US.
  12. My Mum is my hero. She is so inspiring to me and has instilled good values and confidence.
  13. I'm a very loving, positive girl. I tell my friends I love them all the time just so they know ♥
  14. I ride an red vintage bike with all summer and it makes me feel free! I love it!
  15. I am very artsy. I like to draw, paint, write, make jewelry, sew clothes, pastels, chalk, you name it I do it. Borderline Artistic.
  16. I went swimming with wild dolphins on the coast of the Bay of Islands in New Zealand.
  17. My middle name is Diana after Princess Diana. My mum loved her.
  18. I have more clothes than any friend I've ever had. It's an issue but I wouldn't change it!
  19. I have conversations with myself. I think I'm funny. We're best friends.
  20. I've won a beauty pageant and a bikini contest. Once I was a Sunshine Girl. My hair was long and red and I had huge boobs.
  21. My favorite gift I ever received was a hardcover Thesaurus from my parents in 1996.
  22. I'm addicted to Twitter. I love it. I learn so much and get smarter and smarter each day. Follow me @casiestewart
  23. My Dad was a professional gymnastics/trampoline coach when I was a kid. I'm flexible and can still do the splits.
  24. I have a bad memory. I started my blog to keep more memories and no one read it but ME for at least the first year. Now I write about things that can help make the world a better place, review products people send me and share my thoughts on life. It has really helped my memory and writing is my passion.
  25. I have lots of different talents and believe I can achieve anything. My career goal is to be the Awesomest I can be.

Perez loves New Zeland Blonde Girls

HE SAID:
If you're blonde and from New Zealand, then we are LOVING you this week!

A few days ago, we introduced you to to the brazilliance of Ladyhawke.

Today, we'd like you to meet Gin.

This blonde from new Zealand remind us of a few of our favorite artists - like Skybox, Joel Plaskett Emergency and Macy Gray.

Her voice is quirky and intoxicating voice - her tunes fun and charming.

Listen to the delightful Under My Skin below!

And then CLICK HERE to check out more songs from Gin.

What is Anzac Day anyways?


Anzac Day is commemorated by Australia and New Zealand on 25 April every year to honour members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZACs) who fought at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I. Anzac Day is also celebrated in the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tonga.

This is the verse of the ode that is said during the minutes of silence on Anzac Day:

They shall grow not old,
As we that are left grow old,
Age shall not weary them,

Nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun,
And in the morning
We will remember them. Lest we Forget

The Sweet Stuff: ANZAC Biscuits are a snack food most commonly made from the primary ingredients of rolled oats, coconut, and maple syrup/golden syrup.


420 Volcanic Artesian Water from New Zealand

G'day Mates & Shelia's! Being from New Zealand I was pleased to come across this fancy volcanic water from NZ this weekend at Fresh & Wild.

420 is a super premium water in a bottle that's easy on the eye, feels good in the hand and perfectly fits the clientele of elite hotel, bars, restaurants and cafes. Every drop of water has taken generations to filter through the surrounding landscape. That means the water you hold in your hand today actually fell onto the top of a mountain when my great, great grandmother was the same age as I am now. Which is a fabulous story to tell someone you're trying to pick up in a bar. The 420 spring is situated at the base of NZ's South Islands Banks Peninsula an extinct Volcano. The water fell on the Southern Alps hundreds of years ago and has spent its time meandering across the Canterbury plains to arrive clean and pure to consumers today.

In September 2006, 420 water struck gold on the world stage
, winning two top awards at the prestigious bottled water world design awards in Italy. 420 water came up trumps against a record 135 entries from 30 countries, taking home the award for Best PET Bottle and Best Press Marketing Campaign. The gala awards ceremony took place at the San Pellegrino Casino in Italy as part of the Zenith International Global Bottled Water Congress in Bergamo, north east of Milan. ARTICLE

It tasted GREAT!! Represent NZ bitches!!! Yahooooooooooooooooo!

canadian family you say, ma?

I just had a long chat with Mum who just returned from New Zealand. I miss it. I want to go back there so bad. She told me a story about the very tip of the North Island called Cape Reinga. It is so very beautiful. She said that New Zelander's (The Kiwi's!) are very creative and they place much of attention & value on the arts and artsy things. That makes me feel awesome.

tageriffic from down under

Last night I was talking with one of my mates in Palmerston North, New Zealand. A bunch of my wonderful family members live in that small but awesome city commonly referred to as 'Palmy'. This is James Wynne with a tag he did. So swift!

stick it to the aussies like that, eh

Air New Zealand has great food
and also has a sense of humor...

I saw a deal selling a trip to NZ for $1,278 with a stop in Sydney for free. First of all, this is a great price and secondly, an amazing idea. I think of the Aussie/Kiwi relationship in the same way I do the Canadian/American relationship. They are funny and nice (and good looking) and the Americans, well, you get my point. I mean, no offense to anyone from Australia or the US, just a good laugh.

The
Kiwi's have the piss taken out of them more than necessary the Aussies and my friends make fun of me. Here's a laugh I found...

A pregnant Aussie and a pregnant kiwi are sitting on a park bench knitting jumpers for there unborn babies, the Aussie says to the Kiwi lass

"I hope mines a boy, cause I'm using blue wool" the Kiwi has a think about it and a few minutes later says,

"Hope mines retarded, I just fucked up the arms."

the promiscuous economist reader

This week the Economist published an interesting article entitled "Sex and the Citizen'. It showed a detailed breakdown of what countries are the most promiscuous. I found it interesting. They surveyed 14,000 people in 48 countries. Questions ranged from "how many one-night stands have you had?" to" is sex without love acceptable, or sex with casual partners?". Researchers gathered the answers and determined the results. I found the comments on the article to be quite interesting!
It's a bit funny actually. Finland and New Zealand rank highest and Bangladesh and Taiwan are the lowest. I'm pretty surprised that France, Italy and Australia were not closer to the top of the list! Boooya!

Fiji Baby ! Me ♥'s the New Zealand tunes

save them. save yourself. you wild thing.

One of my favorite books as a kid was Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. I loved this story. I just found out that mum complained at the library one time about how the book was horrible. Max was punished and sent to bed without dinner for bring mischievous. She had never heard such a story in New Zealand! This thought is quite funny, mum took another read of the story and saw it in a different light from then on. The book is regarded as an American classic in children's lit and is only ten lines long. How inspiring!!
My sister got me this great shirt for Chrissy this year.

fond, found, fortune, fashion, focus

I'm wearing a mum outfit today. Her old belt that still smells like New Zealand and a shortened Dashiki that matches my orange vintage boots. Tomorrow is going to warm but today its so windy and cold. I think I'm going to write on my way in more often. I lost my computer and ipod so now I use what I got, my device and thoughts and spend less time on the actual computer. I'm inspired in the morning, except for sporadic days when I am not. I usually wake up with a smile. Damn its cold. This morning I woke up to a message from a friend that said he's in London England and the style there reminds him of me. I think that's the nicest thing ever. I've never been to London but I know about style there. I can't type as fast as thoughts fly, I can barely talk that fast and when I do its funny and I sound like a nut. I missed a call from a magazine editor last night. I wonder what he wants? H has the closing party for his art show tonight and I'm also planning to chat with Poster Boy. I'm going to make some. Cut and paste was one of my most favorite things to do at the kitchen table when I was younger. It still is along with writing. I wrote a poetry book in 1996 called Jeans. It's not on Amazon because its out of print, its time for a new book. We started our publishing company without Internet and did it old the fashion way. We learned a lot. Its seems so easy now. I forgot my sunnies, the vintage ones from France. They would have matched perfect. As I take off my jacket I forget I wore this. I smile thinking of Mum and also what my friend is going to say. He makes fun of my clothes all time but its because I'm unique and he knows I can take it. It's fun. I hope you have a great day.

the brightest light in my life

On the weekend I spent a lovely day with Mum. She has just returned from New Zealand and brought back some treats. I feel quite lucky because she managed to find and bring back some of her old clothes for us. I got a great dress she made (yes, made) when she was about 15 as well as a gorgeous leather belt. She brought my sister back a pair of her old boots that are totally rad. Mum found some old photos of herself, she is so cool and has always been a stylish young lady!One of the things I really miss about NZ are the treats. There are so many wonderful things to enjoy! Mum packed up a goodie bag for us each! Yum yum!We stopped into Lahore Tikka House for lunch. The food was fantastic as usual. However, they are using Styrofoam plates and cups which I find to be wasteful and horrible for the environment. Maybe they will change this behavior? I did see the following things that I found to be amusing:Note the handwritten sign stating that you can have a "piece of history" by purchasing an Obama t-shirt. Nice.
This needs no explanation except for "ha ha". Have a great day!

#awesomistic #tfc #birthdayweek


Yesterday at the TFC was amazing. I've never wanted to be a fan of a game as much as I did being in th. I had a blast. I'm very grateful that my friend took me. I yelled my guts out. Clapped, whistled, jumped up and down and made friends. It was a tie and the fans are the most intense I've ever seen in pro sports. The weather was a roller coaster of fun. Rain, sun, rain, sun, rain, sun. Luckily Av had these killer TFC rain parkas that he got during the first season.I sat in the rain and drank my beer and I was warm and dry. I love the skyline. This is a great city.
I was also super satisfied with the food. I had a chip butty. Last time I had a chip butty I was 12 and at Shelly Beach in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. I was with my family and Mum caught a flounder with a stick. I also went swimming with with dolphins about an hour out in the ocean. It was absolutely amazing.
This photo is amazing; BMO/Carlsberg, don't be shy now, you know you love it. I made friends with some cool peeps after the game. I was drinking on the Carlsberg tab at Brazen and checked out that bestmate.ca contest you told me about. Entered it. Not sure where I can see my profile? I also met a lovely babe from MAC at Rasputin Vodka Bar. Cool place. Looking forward to being better friends with MAC and Carlsberg.

FYI: Conchords Develop Powers in Palmy

Last week while visiting New Zealand metropolis Palmerston North city, Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement of Flight of The Conchords were exposed to radiation from an explosion at a power generating wind farm leaving them with super powers. McKenzie found that after exposure to the radiation he was able to send text messages with his mind and Clement reported that he was a bit stronger than usual and could lift about three or four more shopping bags than he usually could. But really full ones though. Effects wore off after ten minutes but during that time McKenzie managed to text his mate Dave "HPPY BRTHDY DAV. I M SNDNG THIS USNG MND".

the worlds largest untapped resource

Yesterday was International Women's Day. "It is a major day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women." I had a soak in the hot tub and thought about women who have inspired me to be strong & confident. Women that have helped me define myself by what I have learned from them and their experiences. I am truly blessed to have had some wonderful women around me since a very young age. I am thankful. The most inspiring, strong, unique women of them all is my Mum. She is visiting my awesome family in New Zealand. Lots of love to the family ♥