Debate Issue 13

Issue 13 | JULY 2013 www.ausm.org.nz

Issue 13 | JULY 2013 Directory

reception City Campus Level 2, WC Building 921 9805 Mon-Thurs: 9am-5pm Fri: 9am-4pm North Shore Campus Level 2, AS Building 921 9949 Mon-Fri: 11am-1pm

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Cover

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Photograph by Ramina Rai

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EDITOR

Matthew Cattin matthew.cattin@aut.ac.nz

Manukau Campus MB107 921 9999 ext 6672 Mon-Thurs: 9am-3.30pm

sub editor Nigel Moffiet

designer/PHOTOGRAPHER

governance & leadership Kizito Essuman AuSM Student President 921 9999 ext 8571 kizito.essuman@aut.ac.nz management Sue Higgins General Manager 921 9999 ext 5111 sue.higgins@aut.ac.nz advocacy Nick Buckby Liaison Manager 921 9999 ext 8379 nick.buckby@aut.ac.nz marketing Kate Lin Sales and Marketing Co-ordinator 921 9999 ext 8909 kate.lin@aut.ac.nz events Carl Ewen Student Life Manager 921 9999 ext 8931 carl.ewen@aut.ac.nz media Matthew Cattin Publications Co-ordinator 921 9999 ext 8774 matthew.cattin@aut.ac.nz vesbar Zane Chase Vesbar Manager 921 9999 ext 8378 zane.chase@aut.ac.nz volunteers & clubs Nathan Bromberg Volunteers Coordinator 921 9999 ext 8911 nathan.bromberg@aut.ac.nz

www.ausm.org.nz

Ramina Rai

contributors

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Erica Donald | Jorgia Sparks | Matt Neary | Mike Ross | Nigel Moffiet | Rachel Peters| Rose Te Hau | Sarah Harris | Scott Yeoman

Illustration & Photography Matthew Cattin | Nicole Koch | Ramina Rai

advertising contact Kate Lin kate.lin@aut.ac.nz

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PMP Print Ltd. 5 Editorial

20 Puzzle Page

8 Artist of the week

22 MUSIC: The Phoenix Foundation

10 July Calendar 12 NIFTY NEWS 14 AuSM Updates Prez Sez 15 Memorandum

Auckland's Got It Going On 16 ATHLETE PROFILE: Bevan Brooking 17 My Picks of the Film Fest Flicks 18 Re-Orientation Timetable

23 Taranaki 24 ARTICLE: Shark Finning in NZ 26 Superhero Origin 28 COLUMNS 29 I Won't Be Back In A Hare 32 Onesie Love 33 REVIEWS 34 NZDF: Camo Is The New Black

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by Matthew Cattin Hello all, Welcome back to another semester of caffeine sweats, public transport woes and two-digit bank accounts. Of course if this is your first time at AUT, read above to find out what you have to look forward to.

My name is Matthew, debate’s humble editor, and what you have in your hands is a weekly mixing pot of news, reviews, articles and artwork – brought to you kindly by AuSM, your student association. Also working on debate is the lovely designer Ramina who turns Word documents into gold, and sub editor Nigel, feature writing extraordinaire and general good sort.

The rest of the magazine is pretty much all up to you – the student body - so please, feel free to contribute at any time during the year. If you consider yourself a film buff, a sports nut, a culture guru, a columnist, ANYTHING, I would love to hear from you. Email me @ mcattin@aut.ac.nz.

For some of you this will be the last semester of university – from here on in you’ll be, you know, working for the rest of your life… Having being employed full time for six months, I feel I’m grizzled and wizened enough to dispense the

classic old folk advice, “you don’t know how lucky you are”. In my second year, I got in early and fit my timetable into three days; Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday – can you believe that? UoA students couldn’t… I was constantly flagellated for my cruisy time table and of course AUT University’s overstating anagram, AUTU. Nevertheless I was able to spot raging jealousy when it presented itself so I kept my head high.

In hindsight however, it was ridiculous.

University already gives you six solid months of break; imagine adding to that four days from every week. It’s actually quite embarrassing how little I went…

My own fabulous luck aside however, you will most likely never again have six months of holiday a year until you take work leave, retire or die so enjoy it.

Despite the almost insulting amount of holidays I was treated to throughout uni however, work life definitely does bring with it a few perks. I most enjoy the novel concept of guiltless free time – it’s quite new to me. The minute I leave work is the moment my free time starts; there are no assignments, no study to be done, heck, I can get away with not even thinking about work. Another aspect I thoroughly enjoy is the fact that I am being paid for my time, rather than forking out tens of thousands to be

constantly stressed, busy and grumpy…

It seems awful on paper but essentially, that’s what you are doing – paying for a challenging, emotional journey full of pressures and expectations. And this leads me to my next point; university, whether it comes from your pocket, your parent’s or through scholarships, is a shit load of money and you would be wise to at least act interested. You know who you are – showing up for tutorials 10 minutes late with a coffee in hand, trawling/ trolling Facebook in lectures, turning hand-outs into paper planes. When you break it down and calculate the worth of each hour lecture, it becomes pretty clear that you’re a complete oxygen thief if you decide not to go.

In hindsight, I’m not sure uni was the ‘best years of my life’ but I have to admit it was pretty bloody good. Make the most of your time here, get involved, read debate and enjoy your semester.

We’ve passed the winter solstice so hypothetically we should be on the up and up and before you know it, summer.

Mmmmmm.

Matthew

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Nifty NEWS

World’s Best Photographs Coming to Auckland

image source: www.public-domain-image.com

by Matthew Cattin The year’s most beautifully framed moments in time will be displayed in Auckland next month as part of the World Press Photo Exhibition.

A fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Auckland, the exhibition is running at Smith & Caughey’s Queen Street from July 6 to July 28.

Now in its 56th year, the prestigious exhibition has gathered the best images of more than 100,000 entries from around the globe – now it’s up to you to get yourself there.

Craig Dealey, president of Auckland Rotary says he is pleased to bring the exhibition back for the fourth year running.

“The World Press Photo Exhibition gives New Zealanders the chance to see the calibre of photography from the world stage and

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serves as a vivid reminder of how precious the relative peace and prosperity we get to enjoy in New Zealand really is,” he says.

Exhibition visitors can also now download a mobile app which provides more information about the images and photographers.

Student admission price is a mere $5 but if that’s still over your budget, the good people at Rotary Auckland have given debate a bunch of passes to give away. Email mcattin@aut.ac.nz to be in to win.

Date: July 6th till July 28th.

Smith & Caughey’s, Queen Street, Level 6 Auckland City Entry fee: $10 adults/$5 students

The End Of Boring Theatre is Nigh.

by Matthew Cattin Sci-fi buffs and theatre fans alike will have reason to delight with upcoming apocalyptic theatre treat Hell’s Teeth making its debut on stage later this month. Not usually a big fan of theatre, I must say this play has caught my attention in a big way. Futuristic and grim, the dark story sounds more like an H.G. Wells creation than traditional theatre – just the way it should be. Tell Tale Theatre Company is the guilty party responsible for bringing it to life - in fact the company was put together solely for the purpose of getting the story out there.

I gotta say, it’s cool to see passionate young folks believing in their art so strongly and I reckon you owe it to yourselves and the company to head along to see it. I had a chat with actor Jack Wheeler to get the ins and outs of the play.

Could you give me a brief synopsis?

“Hell's Teeth is set 90 years in the future when New Zealand is hit with a devastating epidemic that wipes out most of the population.

The country is completely cut off from the rest of the world for fear of the sickness spreading. The play follows a group of desperate survivors traversing up the country in search of rescue.”

What inspired the story?

“The original inspiration came from the knowledge that new products are often trialled in New Zealand before being introduced internationally. For example Eftpos was trialled here first and Facebook tests its new updates here too. It just seems to be a good model for product dummy runs. Hell’s Teeth looks into what happens when the trial of a new piece of technology goes tragically wrong.”

Why do you believe it will be a success?

“I believe this show will be a success because I think everyone day dreams about what they would do in an apocalyptic situation.

This play allows the audience to observe how ordinary Kiwis would cope and I think that's fascinating.”

How did you get involved in the production?

“I have done a few plays with writer/director Rosalind Gardner in the past, she is such a talent! When I found out she was doing Hell's Teeth I was immediately interested.”

There’s quite a multimedia aspect to the show – what’s the idea behind that?

“This is quite an ambitious angle to the show. There will be constant video footage projected across areas of the stage. We will also incorporate background music and sound effects. I guess we are trying to merge the lines of theatre and film.”

Is the use of multimedia in theatre quite a new trend?

“I think so. Theatre is becoming a dying art form and I think it is a good idea to incorporate aspects of film to attract certain audiences. Hell's Teeth should be quite a unique performance and it's well worth coming along to check it out.”

So, what are the details?

“Hell's Teeth will be performed at the Crystal Palace, 537 Mt Eden Road. It will run from the 18th to the 27th of July. Tickets are $25 ($20 for students) and are available from the iticket website.”

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PREZ SEZ

A MESSAGE FROM THE AuSM PRESIDENT Kia Ora! Welcome to AUT University. It is my great honour as your student president to officially welcome all new and returning students on behalf of AuSM to the second semester of the 2013 academic year at AUT. To the new students, I say congratulations to you all for working tirelessly to gain admission to this university for the changing world.

AuSM is your student association which serves as the rightful mouthpiece at all levels of the university.

Our mission is simple – to provide a support network for students, be their voice at all levels and provide services to improve the quality of student life at the university. We pride ourselves on being the hub for student involvement at AUT. The student association works in partnership with the university and other organisations to create a learning-centred culture that encourages student development and growth. We are just one of the many reasons why AUT University is the university of choice for its students.

There are so many ways that you as a student can become engaged in student activities. The services AuSM provides are aimed at supporting, representing and entertaining all students while you study at AUT. Orientation, weekly free feeds, entertainment at Vesbar (your student bar), mates rates, debate (your free weekly student magazine), SJS for free employment service, advocacy service and many more

Updates

are some of the services provided by AuSM. You will be exposed to the world of many opportunities, but in your endeavours I urge you not to lose sight of the core reason why you are in this institution – for academic success. Not only should you aim to achieve academic excellence, but also, I recommend that you get involved in extracurricular activities. These provide you the opportunity to make contacts and have time out from studies. With the help of AuSM, you can also start or join any of the cultural, religious, recreational, social and facultybased clubs.

We are here to serve you. Our website will directly link you to more information and variety of student services. Feel free to explore, but don’t hesitate to contact us directly if you can’t find something or need further information. Also, become a fan of AuSM on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay one step ahead about all the latest news, events, promotions and competitions.

Good luck with all your endeavours this academic year and I look forward to getting to know you all.

Congratulations once again and go for gold!

KIZITO ESSUMAN, AuSM President

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If not, head to www.facebook.com/ausm1 and like us. This is where all the photos from ReOrientation craziness are posted; you can also ask questions and keep up with what’s going down on campus. LIKE! AuSM Connect Search “AuSM Connect” at App Store or Google Play and download it free. An online diary for you to easily keep up to date with news and events and put all your classes and assignments in to keep you on track!

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Name: Email: Campus: Drop your entry into your nearest AuSM office, or the box on the side of the red debate stands, or email debate before 12pm Thursday. What’s up for grabs?

Two “squawk burgers” vouchers for Velvet Burger on Fort St, Auckland CBD. Issue 12 Congratulations to...

Peejay Mijares City Campus who scored two Squawk Burger vouchers!

Do you lift, bro?

By Scott Yeoman

@scott_yeoman

A memorandum

Memorandum [mem-uh-ran-duh m] -noun, pl. –dums, -da 1. A short note designating something to be remembered, especially something to be done or acted upon in the future; reminder.

Should we – ‘the educated youth of NZ’ – be out protesting or something? Or have we forgotten how to?

I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who found a few hours over the holidays to watch some day-time television.

There’s a bloody good reason those shows are on during the day and apart from maybe Jeremy Kyle, it doesn’t take long to get bored and start feeling bad about not achieving anything by 3:00 in the afternoon.

To make myself feel better, and a little smarter, I would often switch over to BBC or CNN - but unfortunately the situation on there just makes you feel worse.

It seems like all over the world there are students, just like us, who are taking to the streets to fight for something. Whether it be education reforms in Chile, the destruction of an inner city park in Turkey, a lack of public services and soccer world cup costs in Brazil, or government dissatisfaction in Egypt – students are in the thick of it and are displaying what can only be described as proud yet stubborn hope, brought about by youthful aspiration.

I think the stubbornness is born out of the fact that as university students we are now old enough to recognise what's going on around us and educated enough to understand whether it's right or wrong; yet still young enough to have not given up on ideals.

Maybe this is why, historically, universities are common breeding grounds for protest movements. And judging by what we have seen recently in Turkey, Brazil and Egypt, even if a revolution

is not started by students, it sure won’t be long before they get involved.

But why isn’t there this youth activist culture in New Zealand?

In last month’s North and South, journalist Chris Barton asked “Why aren’t the young revolting?” In his article he refers to the many youth protest movements in New Zealand since the 1960s, and ultimately asks why youngsters in the 21st century seem to be less politically motivated or ‘radicalised’ than those that came before them. Especially when, in his words, they are “locked out of housing, crippled by student debt, and facing an uncertain job market.” An interesting question to ponder.

Is it because we don’t have the numbers to make a difference, and so we’re unmotivated? These protest movements overseas have hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people. Are we lazy? Are we protesting online instead of on the street? Or are we disillusioned by the fruitless efforts of protests gone by?

I don’t know. But what I do know is that it’s got nothing to do with staying home to watch day-time TV - that shit just makes you want to get out and protest.

Unless it’s between 1:00pm – 3:00pm, because that’s when Jeremy Kyle is on.

AUCKLAND'S GOT IT GOING ON

By Mike Ross Straight back into it eh? The old second semester. Classic. But just because uni's back in session doesn't mean the good times can't keep rolling. So join with me and venture into the mysterious inky depths of Auckland's night life - there's been change underfoot and I've a few new haunts to fill you in on.

New Venue - The Roxy, Fort Lane Formerly a fine dining restaurant, The Roxy opened to great fanfare in June. A nightclub in every sense of the word, it's a dark and alluring space, yet somehow manages to be elegant and luxurious at the same time. An elevated DJ booth overlooks the fairy-light lit dance floor, and a rooftop bar provides ample space for taking in a breath of fresh air while enjoying a break from boogying. The Roxy aims to bring back classy clubbing, and so far is succeeding in doing so, with an impressive cocktail list and roster of DJs. Well worth checking out; keep your eyes on this venue as it could be the next big thing.

stairs to a small yet unexpectedly sumptuous cocktail bar.

Upon descending, friendly bartenders greet guests and are happy to educate rookies about the elaborate and surprisingly reasonably priced concoctions that are on offer. Cartel Bar is a former winner of Auckland's best bartender and best cocktails, and it's easy to see why - this place is a haven of mixology and one of Auckland's true secrets.

Vogue at Goldfinch, Viaduct Harbour- Saturday Goldfinch has been chugging along nicely since its opening in December last year, and every two months puts on an event that it likes to call 'Vogue'. Vogue is a celebration of all things sophisticated - champagne flows, bodies groove, and an all-star cast of DJs keep the party going till the wee hours.

Expect a night of raucous fun in a modish environment, but be sure to arrive early - Vogue gets busy.

Hidden Hidey Hole Venue Cartel Bar, Eden Terrace Cartel Bar is one of those awesome places that you'd never really know about unless an in-the-know friend took you. A tiny, almost invisible entrance leads down an intriguing flight of www.ausm.org.nz

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ATHELETE PROFILE

BEVAN BROOKING

by Rose Te Hau

Bevan Brooking is a four time Judo National Champion, a former Boxing Golden Glove Champion, and a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu National Champion. In addition he has competed on the International stage at the Judo World Cup. Bevan is just 21-years-old, and is studying a Bachelor or Sport and Recreation at AUT.

What does it take to be a high performance athlete?

To be an athlete that’s performing at high levels in most martial arts, especially judo, MMA and boxing it really takes everything.

There are people in Korea and Japan who go to university to do judo, tae kwon do and boxing in the same way that people here go to do things like physiotherapy or sport and recreation. So these people (from a very young age), are training three times a day six days a week just doing their sport and for someone who doesn’t come from one of these countries, who has to go to school or work as well as train, it takes a lot of commitment and time to keep up with the rest of the world.

What are the challenges?

The biggest challenges would be trying to maintain a healthy diet, and also balancing judo, BJJ, boxing, MMA and studying.

Who are your sporting heroes?

Jose Aldo, Mike Tyson, Bas Rutten, Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza, Rubens Charles, Wanderlei

L OST T IME

Silva, Fedor Emelianenko, Ben Henderson, Randy Couture, Enson Inoue and David Haye.

What motivates you to compete?

I find motivation in seeing other people who aren’t naturally athletic achieve big things in sport simply through their dedication and hard work.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your sport?

After winning a big competition - or even after just having a really good fight (win or lose) - the indescribable feeling of happiness and relief that comes with it is by far the most rewarding thing about my sport.

What is the best advice you’ve been given by a coach?

“They’re all just as nervous as you are.” I can’t remember who exactly said it to me, but this really helped me to realise that nerves are just a regular part of competing and it affects everyone. The people at competitions who don’t look nervous are just very good at covering it up.

What are your sporting goals?

I want to remain the BJJ, submission wrestling and judo champion of New Zealand. I also want to make sure that I’m constantly improving and learning something new at each and every training.

What is the best tournament you’ve been to so far? Why?

JIKJI Junior World Cup - this was the first competition that I went to out of the country, I went all the way to Korea and everything was paid for by the Korean judo commission.

It was the highest level competition that I have ever been to and I was able to see firsthand how world champions compete.

How do you fit sport around uni life?

I try to set my time table out so that I am able to go to the gym in the morning and training at night.

Was there anyone who helped you to get where you are?

There were A LOT of people who helped me to get to where I am. I’ve trained at many different clubs all around the country and I’ve learnt something from almost every coach that I’ve trained with. I have had some coaches (Brad Kora and Michal Hourigan) who I trained with only a few times but the small things that they taught me, have helped me to win many fights. I’ve also had coaches that I’ve trained with for years (Jason King, Warren Lambert, Sacha Jackson, Snow Holmes, and Steve Corkin) who have helped me. My dad (Terry Brooking) has been there with me all the way supporting me, coaching me, training me and helping in every way that he could.

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My Picks of the

Film Fest flicks

by Matthew Cattin Just when winter’s icy fist gets the better of me and all hope is lost, along comes the New Zealand International Film Festival to warm the cockles of my heart, the Gandalf to my Frodo, the Atticus Finch to my Tom Robinson, the Westley to my Buttercup.

In years gone by I’ve had no trouble fitting films into my schedule – if I discovered a clash with a lecture or tutorial well… let’s be honest the film obviously took priority. With work however, things are a little different so my choices are considerably harder.

Without further ado, here is my list of flicks you should get yourself along to.

Behind the Candelabra

One of this festival’s heavy hitters, Steven Soderbergh’s Behind the Candelabra chronicles the last 10 years of legendary pianist Liberace’s life. Starring Michael Douglas as Liberace and Matt Damon as his young arm candy, the film promises flamboyancy, emotion and music - you can catch it on opening night.

The Bling Ring

Cinema royalty Sofia Coppola has a go at portraying the fameobsessed teens who robbed celeb’s Hollywood mansions a few years back. Initial buzz hasn’t been spectacular but meh, Emma Watson is an utter babe and any hour and half spent with her is an hour and a half that I’m going to enjoy. Expect celebrity cameos, a contemporary soundtrack and lives lived to excess.

Blackfish

A look into the inhumane cruelty of captive orca whales, Blackfish looks to be one hell of a documentary. Focussing on Tilikum, an orca responsible for three deaths, I get the feeling this film is going to destroy any desires you may have to visit Seaworld – and so it bloody should. An animal of that size and intelligence should never be confined to a glorified bathtub – let’s just hope the world takes notice.

Mistaken for Strangers

I’m an absolute sucker for music documentaries… Last year it was the excellent, uplifting Marley and in 2011 it was Pearl Jam’s Twenty. This time around, fans of Ohio band The National will be getting a treat with their doco Mistaken for Strangers. Directed by lead singer Matt Berninger’s somewhat estranged, under-achieving brother Tom, it looks to be more honest and less glorified than most band documentaries and I am too excited.

You’re Next

Horror is such an overwhelmingly disappointing genre – which is sad considering how much I love it. Thankfully, the film festival is rather good at bringing the year’s best, and often low budget, horror flicks to the party, putting a smile on my face and probably removing one from my girlfriend… Nevertheless, You’re Next looks to be a goody and any horror that impresses the critics is a personal triumph for me - I’ll be there.

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11am

Photobooth

12noon

- Bangers & Mash nd Performance

R - 1:30 - 4pm

ull DJ Sessions

6PM WEEK PUB QUIZ

AuSM Clubs Day

12 noon

Free Feed - BBQ

12:15pm

Taiko Drummers

12:30

Eating Competition

VESBAR - 1:30 - 4pm

VESBAR - 1:30 - 4pm Red Bull DJ Sessions

7:30PM- AuSM FOAM PARTY

w/ DJ CXL & ANDY JUICE Heated & Undercover

Red Bull DJ Sessions

8PM- CONCORD DAWN with Guests

11am

Inflatable Activities

12noon

Free Feed - Bangers & Mash

Pub Quiz at Vesbar, City Campus

12:30pm

Eating Competition

AuSM Foam Party

11am

chanical Bull Popcorn

12 noon

American Hotdogs

11am

Concord Dawn

g Competiton

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WORD J UMBLER

ST HA E How many words of three letters or more can you find without cheating? Probably not that many‌ 6-12 Go back to school 13-20 Average Joe 21+ You did good kid.

1.

BASE

2.

ROOD

3.

Little Little

LATE LATE

4.

5.

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MO E K

BRAIN TEASERS Can you figure out the logic I used to decide the order of the following words:

gun, shoe, spree, door, hive, kicks, heaven, gate, line, den What are the next two letters in the following series and why?

WATNTLITFS__

IN CINEMAS JULY 18

www.theconjuringmovie.co.nz

NZ

THE CONJURING is coming to cinemas July 18, and Warner Bros. Pictures and Debate are giving you the chance to WIN a 1 of 30 double passes to this suspense thriller.

Email mcattin@aut.ac.nz with your name and student ID to be in to win!

Check the Classification

In Cinemas July 18 Rated: R16 - CONTAINS HORROR AND CONTENT THAT MAY OFFEND www.theconjuringmovie.co.nz

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Phoenix Foundation

by Lars Quickfall Having already seen The Phoenix Foundation twice before I can safely say that over the summer I experienced the one and only way to fully appreciate their masterful song writing ability. After listening to opening bands Five Mile Town and Laurence Arabia, Music at Matua was ready for the main attraction. The Phoenix Foundation took to the stage and lit up the crowd even more so than the severe-clear February day. Their set encompassed a mix of their familiar classics with some soon to be hits off their new album Fandango. Seven songs in and the boys enchanted the now dancing audience to a fresh rendition of Damn The River but I think the highlight of their set was the final two numbers, 40 Years and Buffalo. By the time these two songs came on the crowd was having an absolute blast. Everyone was up in front of the stage dancing bare-foot in the dirt and enjoying the warm, still air and the brilliant sun overhead. Faces lit up and looks of ecstatic happiness were shared between complete strangers. Comments like “this is just like Woodstock” were heard throughout, and when the first notes of 40 Years rang out feet began to jump and sway, the happiest sway anybody could imagine. People of every age, ethnicity and culture were brought together in that moment while the band played on.

This might have been the highlight but the most exciting part of the show was getting my first taste of the new album. Playing a total of six songs off Fandango, giving a brief look into the albums soundscape, it was an early indication of the album’s psychedelic excellence.

Finishing their new single The Captain founding member Luke Buda pronounced, to the delight of the crowd, that he “fluffed most of the lyrics” but this didn’t matter “because none of you would know the words anyway”. That is unless you had downloaded the song from their website (free and LEGALLY the boys kept stressing). I caught up with front man Sam Flynn-Scott before the show to pick his brain on the new album and the band in general. Talking about Fandango he said “it’s quite psychedelic but with good strong melodies… Buffalo feels quite light compared to the new [album]”. Although he did stress that people need to hear the new album to gauge for themselves how it stacks up against their old material.

I decided after talking about the new album I would ask the Holy Grail of music questions; “How do you actually write a song?” The answer, as I imagine, was the same as any musician would give, “write heaps of bad songs, and after 78 bad ones the 79th will probably be alright.” But that’s not to say you should get discouraged, after all 79 songs is not a bad effort if it means becoming the next Phoenix Foundation. And better yet if you have mates, write with them. As Sam Flynn-Scott said

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in relation to the new album “Looking back over the year and a half that we were working on everything, everyone’s had their say at some point, and that’s what makes The Phoenix Foundation sound like what we sound like; everyone’s involvement, not just one or two people’s”.

What’s the best thing about being a kiwi band?

I don’t know. Being a band in New Zealand is really difficult because we’re so isolated from much of the world. It’s hard to think what the best thing is… Cheap rent? New Zealand seems to have more affordable rehearsal spaces perhaps than traditional rock towns.

How’s your global market panning out?

Most of what we’re thinking about at the moment is to do with the UK and Europe because the last album did quite well in the UK. We did a number of tours there so we’re trying to work out a way to keep doing that that’s not just fun but affordable and sustainable. We love playing shows but of course New Zealand is a small country so we can only do maybe four shows here [on a tour leg].

Are your mums proud – do they like your music?

Yeah definitely. My mum loves our music – she’s obsessed with it. I kind of wish she wasn’t so obsessed… There’s always a bit of worry from your parents whether you’re going to be able to pay your bills. We’re all in our 30’s now and four of the six band members have children so you start to question whether we are going down the right career path for sustaining our families and home life and everything.

If the world did end in 2012, what would we have missed out on with the new album?

It would have been a terrible shame… The world was supposed to end on the day we were meant to finish the album and as it happened the world didn’t end and we finished the album so it was fortuitous. If we hadn’t of been able to finish it and the world had ended I would have been fucking bummed out… I really want people to hear this record, I feel really proud of it so I’m glad the world hasn’t ended. I don’t know how Jason Kerrison feels about it but I think he’s probably feeling pretty good about it too at this point – despite the ark and everything – but you know, we can all luxuriate a little bit in another new medium of human existence. I think it’s our best record but musicians always say that…

You can catch Phoenix Foundation touring their new album Fandango from mid-July.

Taranaki - Jewel of the West

by Matthew Cattin When Jack Johnson announced a few Kiwi dates on his To The Sea tour, it sent ripples of adventure right down to my toes. I sent tentative feelers out to a few mates – road trip anyone? Christchurch was too far on unemployed budgets, Vector was both too close and too wrong for Jack Johnson - but New Plymouth? Well that was just right. And so it was that in December 2010, I began a burning and passionate love affair with Taranaki - an affair which no other place can quite satisfy the needs of.

Taranaki, for the uninitiated, is the jewel of the North Island, the isolated pinnacle of adventure in the west. But cruising down country roads on the first day of summer, its secrets were then unknown to me – I was a west coast noob. One of the best things about Taranaki is it draws you in. Nearly two hours from New Plymouth, you first set eyes on the gleaming, perfectly triangular mountain looming ahead. It captures your thoughts, its hypnosis sinking deeper with every passing kilometre. As the road finally bursts onto the coast, it’s nothing but lonely beaches and rolling surf all the way to New Plymouth. A must see on the way however is the three sisters and elephant rock near Mokau where you can swim, surf or just admire one of the best beaches in the country.

From New Plymouth in the north to Hawera down south runs the coastal road famously known as Surf Highway 45. With dozens of gorgeous beaches littering the coast and a huge degree of wave direction, it’s without a doubt New Zealand’s best surf region – probably the reason Uncle Jack trips down for gigs there. Riding the clear waves with a view of the icy mountain, or Paritutu and its industrial chimney is pretty damn spectacular.

Like Surf Highway 45 but on a small scale, the New Plymouth Coastal walkway is the motorway of the town. Stretching 10km of coastline, the walkway is the perfect way to get from wherever you are, to wherever you’re trying to go. Longboarding the walkway alongside the rolling sea with a raging sunset out west is about as close as I get to feeling like a pious man in church – just lovely. Free sights to see include the classic Wind Wand (not really sure why it exists but love it anyway), Te Rewa Rewa Bridge and Puke Ariki Museum. Another special shoutout has to go to Pukekura Park – there are ponds, ducks, native flora, water features and if you go at night, gorgeous lights. Can anybody spell first date?

And then of course there is the mountain itself. No matter where you go in the Taranaki region, you’re never too far from a gorgeous view of the spectacular cone of lush green and ice. We tried climbing it the first time we visited, following the chair lift poles up as high as we dared.

We made it to an epic patch of ice, clinging to the scree slope like a leech. Let me tell you, we frolicked like ducklings in a puddle, marvelling at how amazing it was to swim and snow in the same day. There aren’t many places on earth in which you can do both comfortably in a one day but Taranaki flippin nails it. No word of a lie.

Now that I think on it, every attraction I’ve mentioned above is completely free – how great is that?! Not only is it the most delicious area in the North Island, it’s also easy on the pocket. Just imagine what you could do travelling on an employed budget?! What a place! Get your road trip on before the rest of the world finds out what it’s missing.

OUR BLOODY SHAME SHARK FINNING IN NEW ZEALAND

by Matthew Cattin

I like to think of sharks as the Don Corleones of the oceans. They’re intelligent, dangerous and classy creatures – both sitting pretty at the top of their respective food chains. They’re seen as monsters by some but respected by many. They look out for number one and will do about anything to survive but unfortunately, there are a lot of people out there who can’t wait to see them get whacked.

Because of their fearsome yet largely unfounded reputation, sharks are often the subject of bad press. Like the royal family they spend the vast majority of their lives being very well behaved only for one slip up to see them straight back to public enemy number one. What’s heartening to see in recent months however is a shift in the media’s focus – a cry to look after our finned friends. Why? Because for every human killed by a shark annually, 25 million sharks are killed by us - and it’s making a worrying impact on our oceans.

Shark finning is the cruel and wasteful practice of landing a shark, slicing off its fins and dumping the body overboard – dead or alive. It’s not like trimming fingernails or clipping wings and nor are their fins

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like lizard tails - the mortally wounded sharks will die a painful death, no bones about it. The fins are used mostly for Asian cuisine (shark fin soup etc) and for alternative medicine purposes.

Nearly one hundred countries have banned the practice including Australia, Canada, USA, Brazil and European nations. New Zealand has not. In fact we are one of the 20 biggest exporters of shark fins in the world. Yet again, so much for our 100 per cent clean, green image – nice work Mr Key. Luckily, many Kiwi voters have more sense than those voted in and are pushing for change before it’s too late. The New Zealand Shark Alliance is an umbrella group of organizations bonding together to drive home the message – shark finning in New Zealand waters needs to end. Greenpeace, WWF, Forest and Bird and Sea Shepherd are just a few of the organizations aiming for new legislation to prohibit the practice. I caught up with Tracy Brown – Auckland coordinator of Sea Shepherd New Zealand – to learn more about the ocean butchery on our doorstep.

Sharks are in real danger according to Tracy. “Since the 1970’s, some shark populations are down to 10 per cent of what they were,” she says. “From 2011-2012, there was over one million kilograms of shark taken out for their fins – and that’s just in New Zealand waters.” The statistics are shocking, and our country is not leading the way, not even close. “There has been a recklessness about how to protect the oceans. There’s enough for everybody, to do whatever they want - but not exploitatively. It does involved strident management, but this is securing the future. If the oceans die, if they suffer, we do. It’s the biggest oxygenator of the planet.”

“You can’t go into the Waitakere ranges pig hunting and say ‘oh, I only want the left leg,’ take the left leg and leave the pig there bleeding to death. You’d be jailed in a week, you’d be hounded by the media and rightly so – it’s cruel, it’s inhumane, it’s just not right. It’s the same as for shark finning but we don’t see it, we don’t see the carcasses, we don’t see the pain,” says Tracy.

Shark fins average about a thousand dollars per kilogram Tracy tells me, and since the meat is of little value, it is consumed more for its status than flavour. Because of the hefty price tag placed on fins, it’s a case of simple economics for fishermen; they can fit more fins than they can whole fish on board so the fins get the chop, and the bodies go overboard. Although there supposedly aren’t any vessels specifically targeting sharks for their fins in New Zealand waters, Tracy explains that finning sharks is an efficient way of making up for a poor catch of targeted specimens, for example tuna. In fact, she tells me, in the tuna longline industry, more sharks are caught than tuna – why not make the most of the profitable by-catch?

The Fins Naturally Attached Policy has been proposed by the United Nations as the best fishing practice for shark management. It is this policy that the New Zealand Shark Alliance is working with the government to hopefully achieve. Tracy explains it to me. “It’s a mitigation where instead of just taking the fins and chucking the carcass over the side (which is shark finning), when they catch a shark, whether by by-catch or targeted they have to take it onshore – they have to land it. So you’re taking waste from sea to land.

This increases documentation and also decreases the amount of sharks being taken out. It forces the fishermen to be cautious about live release if possible and the policy proposes a full utilization of the shark, rather than just using the fins.”

I think many would assume that without hungry sharks, fish would flourish but this is not so. The effects of a shark-less population are more devastating than I could have imagined. Tracy explains what happened to an overfished environment in the USA. “In North Carolina, by 2004 the shark population had diminished so much that the next trophic layer down, which was the cownose rays, grew exponentially. And what they eat, is bivalves so they wiped out a hundred year old scallop industry off that coast. The purpose of bivalves is that they are filter feeders and water purifiers so the water got really murky [when they disappeared]. So the sunlight couldn’t come down and photosynthesise with the plants and the ocean got deoxygenated and created a death zone – just because the shark populations diminished that much.”

“If you do nothing, and apathy reigns, then you condone whatever is going on. If you have a moral conscience, you need to act. Write letters, make a submission, sign the petition.”

If you’re as pissed off about shark finning as I am, get yourself to www.nzsharkalliance.org.nz, have a read, sign the petition, and make a submission when you get the chance.

Between 2 and 4 % of the shark is used – the rest is wasted.

200,000

Killed per day approx Every day over 200,000 sharks are killed because of their fins. That’s over 130 a minute.

At the current rate of exploitation, sharks will be wiped out in 10-20 years.

More than one third of the world has banned shark finning.

SHARK FINS FETCH AROUND

$1000

USD

It definitely seems all doom and gloom but Tracy anticipates a step forward for sharks when the legislations comes up for renewal later this year. “We can change things. Conservationists are optimistic and hopeful – you’ve got to always think of what you can achieve and try and get there,” she says. “It [legislation] was due in October last year but they are still working on it so they are thinking the end of July.

The public consultation phase will be in operation so that’s the time when people can sign the petitions, make submissions and get public awareness up to the point where legislation can be changed. We think we can be quite successful.

FIN FACTS

PER KILOGRAM www.ausm.org.nz

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SUPERHERO ORIGINS

by Matthew Cattin Illustrated by Nicole Koch

In the last 15 years, major advancements in special effects have resulted in a superhero boom the world hasn’t seen since the 40s. Take a look at last year alone: Avengers, Batman, Spiderman, Ghost Rider and Dredd all making waves at the box office and with this year looking to follow suit with Superman, Wolverine, Ironman and Thor. And why not? It’ a one way ticket to financial success. With all of these re-hashes however, I feel like superheroes are slowly losing the essence of their contextual origins. Hollywood keeps pumping out heroes created a lifetime ago in a completely different context and era. How can they possibly have the same effect on audiences now? If you look way back to where these heroes came from and the societal and world issues surrounding their conception, I think they appear in a totally different light, a light that should be replicated in remakes today. Either that or invent some new heroes before Superman’s 80th rolls around.

Despite his many accolades, I’ve never bought into the Superman story at all. For one thing, he’s just too good.

Bulletproof, laser eyes, flight, immeasurable strength and speed… Yawn. And when he puts on his glasses, nobody recognises him – how ridiculous is that? Despite these heinous and boring plot blunders however, Superman is an absolute legend and the world’s first significant comic-book superhero, appearing for the first time in 1938. It’s often said that without him, Batman and Spiderman would not exist at all – a depressing notion altogether. Interestingly, before Superman had his spit curl of perfection, he was first conceived as a bald villain with telepathic powers and a taste for world domination – a contagious idea if I ever heard one. Luckily, he was further developed into the red and blue man of steel – the classic look that has endured 75 years of adaptions. His patriotism apparently stems from the context in which he was born. As an immigrant himself, Superman represented the patriotic hope of America’s post-Depression era, grasping fully the concept of the American dream. In fact the early storyline’s depicted him as quite the social activist, taking on unjust businessmen and politicians - a far cry from super villains indeed. Love him or loathe him, his conception no doubt changed the face of comic heroes forever and for that Clark, I salute you.

Batman – the dark knight – probably the world’s current favourite hero thanks to Christopher Nolan’s cinematic genius. The world’s first non-super superhero, Batman was created the year after Superman by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. For me, Batman appeals for all the reasons Superman does not. Sure he has no legitimate powers but that only serves to make him more impressive in my eyes, a complete brute of a badass. And what’s more, he acts like a total douche in public, shrouding his true persona in cocktail parties and womanising – what a champion. Where Superman represents unflinching loyalty and patriotism for America, Batman demonstrates perhaps a truer and more cynical outlook on the world. It has been suggested that his inclination to violent forms of justice were deemed necessary by his creators to combat high crime rates post-Depression.

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Wonder Woman is probably the only female superhero that springs to mind for the majority of people – a sad but true result of what has always been a sexist medium of damsels in distress, sexual objectification and frankly, lack of effort. Wonder Woman first debuted in her very own self-titled series in 1942 – a pretty big deal in an industry dominated by veiny biceps and penises.

She was specifically created by psychologist Dr. William Moulton Marston to defy the industry and make comics appealing for young girls and has remained the most successful female hero ever since. Dressed in her star-spangled red, white and blue, she is without a doubt a figure of American patriotism and, whether purposefully or not, a mirror of Superman’s look – only lacking pants. Unfortunately, despite initial good intentions, Wonder Woman did not escape the sexism she was developed to oppose, appearing for a while as the secretary for the Justice Society of America series and often the subject of sexist slander in comic dialogue.

Before Tobey Maguire ruined him with his watery-eyed emo-fest, Spiderman was a fun-loving, cheeky and lovable rogue. Created by the legendary Stan Lee in 1962, Peter Parker was designed to be marketable for superheroes’ most fruitful audience, teenagers. What I think is really neat about Spiderman is that in spite of his powers, underneath his suit he is just a teenage boy trying to fit in. He’s got girl trouble, school bullies, financial worries, family responsibilities, crime fighting, and he still has to get his homework in on time. You’d think that becoming a superhero would possibly wipe his problem slate clean but in reality, it further complicates things. Another thing I love about the ol’ web slinger is the fact his wits are just as capable as his athletic abilities. A science-lover at heart, Peter Parker developed a web shooting device to compliment his superhuman abilities proving to geeks everywhere that brain is always a match for brawn and his unprecedented teeny-bob, emotional side changed the way comic books were developed forever. Way to go Pete!

Introduced mid-way through World War II, Joe Simon and Jack Kirby’s Captain America became a symbol of American values during the war. Dressed in the classic red white and blue, complete with stars, stripes and a shield, there was no doubt what he stood for. Throughout the war, the Captain and his sidekick Bucky were put up against Nazi and Japanese troops amongst other wartime enemies of the great US. In fact, the very first issue, which sold around one million copies, depicted Captain America punching Adolf Hitler in the jaw on the front cover. He was a symbol of hope, unity and justice for the country during one of its darkest hours propaganda at its finest.

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THE SOUNDS OF EARTH

by Matthew Cattin

“This is a present from a small, distant world, a token of our sounds, our science, our images, our music, our thoughts and our feelings. We are attempting to survive our time so we may live into yours,” – US President Jimmy Carter Somewhere in the depths of space floats Voyager 1, a space probe launched in 1977 to study the outer reaches of the Solar System. It’s a one way trip for Voyager 1 – already the farthest man-made object from earth (except maybe God), there is no recall switch. With no destination in mind, Voyager 1 is the epitome of road trips, cruising through space taking photos at various points of interest, Jupiter’s Great Red Spot and volcanic eruptions on its moons. If it were possible to have a human on board, they would no doubt have seen more wonders than any earth-bound eyes have ever dreamed of. Never returning home would almost be worth it.

Since no road trip is complete without music (and since music just sounds better on vinyl), Voyager 1 carries a golden vinyl disc (that isn’t really vinyl at all) called The Sounds of Earth – a cumulative mix tape of our beloved planet. The disc contains a compilation of earth greetings from around the globe, sounds from nature such as waves, whales and thunder, and a small taster of the music that’s accompanied the development of culture - it’s essentially planet earth’s message in a bottle. Accompanying the record is a plaque that depicts a male and female human, a few important diagrams and a small map (or invitation?) illustrating where earth lies in relation to the planets and our sun.

It’s a beautiful notion indeed to think our race is advanced enough to capture the wonders of our own world and cast them out into space. It makes me feel a little better about the state of things – no matter how bad shit gets on earth, there’s a golden record floating blissfully on with the sweet sounds of Louis Armstrong, Chuck Berry and Mozart. In a few centuries when we’ve starved ourselves of resources and polluted our world to dust, the golden sounds of Louis’ trumpet will live on for tens of thousands of years, until they are sucked in and gobbled up by a distant and hungry sun.

Sadly, if an intelligent alien life force ever chances upon the record in its vessel, it would very likely not be interpreted as we would wish. We must assume that the ET has a means of perceiving sound, and furthermore I think the record’s contents, as well as the gold it is ingrained on is only worth the value we place on it. Music is only beautiful because we associate it with our existence, because we understand instruments and voice and the emotions they convey. Foreign beings may have no concept of rhythm, emotion or tone and I think it’s foolish and arrogant to assume they would have a human-like comprehension of our ways. In my opinion if alien life ever hears the vinyl, they’ll probably hate on it – just like humans probably wouldn’t rush out and buy an album of dog barks and howls. Not ideal.

I only hope nothing out there sees Voyager 1 as an invitation.

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You Never Know What Will Come In Handy

By Sarah Harris Not everyone has the luxury of an easy transition from university to work. Some people find it hard to get a job in the right field, or have a degree in something so obscure it doesn’t seem to fit into any other world than academia.

Does that mean these degrees are useless? Not always.

Knowledge is not fixed in place as Amita Kala and Gareth Jensen have found out.

Amita Kala is doing a conjoint bachelors degree of arts and commerce at Auckland University, planning to major in management, marketing and psychology. Yet she has plucked theory and tips from her commerce degree and applied it to the unlikely world of fashion.

Gareth Jenson found theoretical physics came in handy when picking up a career in the arts.

Miss Kala thinks of the fashion industry as a market environment.

She realises she needs to woo her fashion sources so they let her borrow their clothes.

“Fashion PR agencies are the usual suspects you source from,” she says. “I use what I learnt in commerce to market and pitch my ideas to them. It all gets very political, when sometimes all it is is just another top that fits the brief. “ Doing management papers has given Miss Kala a clear idea of organisation and direction that she puts into practice when doing behind the scenes preparation.

“My management comes into play when I’m organising people backstage at events. Lists are extremely important to me. A wellorganised stylist equals a well put together show.”

With the help of what she learned at university she has now got herself into the fashion scene, and is currently personal assistant to Dan Ahwa, the fashion editor of Canvas and Fashion Quarterly.

She has styled many test shoots, back stage for shows such as New Zealand Fashion Week and Miss Africa, four music videos including David Dallas and a remix submission Gareth Jenson started an engineering degree with a focus on theoretical physics at the University of Auckland. After realizing his “heart wasn’t into it” he quit to pursue his artistic career, which has blossomed as result.

Mr Jenson is currently a self-employed animator and illustrator.

Previously he has worked for Weta, terabyte and Warner Bros, he’s helped designed space station interiors for NASA and worked on nine feature films. All have only been accomplished with the help of an engineering degree.

“I could have possibly done it without but it’s nice to know what’s going on underneath the hood of my designs. The best thing it gave me is an intuitive understanding of volume and space and the relationship between them.”

Learning subjects like colour theory, inverse kinematics and lots of math helped Mr Jenson comprehend aspects of design he would later encounter.

“I took to it [photoshop] like a duck to water and learned it in about two and a half months. Later when I went to learn 3D animation I took to it easily as well. I put it down to having the science of the right brain and creativity of the left brain at the same time.”

I Won't Be Back In A Hare

by Rachel Peters I have been into yoga and meditation for a few years now. I am not religious, and I feel uncomfortable describing myself as spiritual.

I can be as insecure, domineering, egotistical, and emotionally unstable as the next person, but I guess my interest in fixing these things does lead me to the occasional new age book, (dare I say *whispered tones- self help), and also into some pretty interesting places.

I have an old friend living in Hamilton and a few weeks ago I emailed her asking me if she would like to come to ‘the Loft’ with me when she next comes up to Auckland. I had been looking at the website in the interest of finding a new yoga studio and saw they put on something called soul feast - a night of discussion regarding philosophy and spirituality followed by ‘music and dance’ and a vegetarian dinner. I love a good dance and thought it sounded so exciting.

When we turned up I noticed that many men there had shaved heads, with just a little bit left at the back, akin to a backwards goatee. My friend asked me if I thought the leader had broken his nose. I had to inform her that it was a white stripe painted on the bridge. It was within a few minutes that we discovered we had landed ourselves right into Hare Krishna chant night. I guess they weren’t lying about the music and dance, but I have to say it was not quite what I envisioned.

The drums started to beat and the old members lead the band singing the Hare Krishna chant over and over again. Slowly we started to join in with the odd clap and eventually we picked up on the- can I say lyrics? We chanted the Hare Krishna chant for over 40 minutes all up. Initially I was a little scared but I’ve got to say I got pretty darn into it by the end. They started doing it faster and faster and we could barely keep our bodies moving in time with the fast beat of the drums. So there to anyone who ever said that learning to shuffle will never come in handy. Case and point number one. I have to say there was a sense of unashamed joy infecting all those in the room.

We sat down for a Q & A led by an older member. I didn’t have much of knowledge of Hare Krishna. I assumed it was similar to Buddhism and I was quite shocked to find out that all these people believed in God. Raised by the two most non-practising Christians you will ever find, a conversation with a real God believer always leaves me with a sense of awe.

I learned that Hare Krishna’s are big on vegetarianism, and they gave us a huge plate of vegan dinner and dessert for five dollars. It was well amazing they could cook such delicious food for so little. This is because of their belief that all animals are sentient beings and should be treated with compassion.

We also learned that their chanting in the street is a very old tradition, primarily to bring joy to those watching. I have to say; sometimes after a long day at university I am glad to see people out there really having a good old go at being happy. The spokesman pointed out that drunk people sing on the streets all the time, it’s just we are so used to being self-conscious during sober daylight hours that it seems eccentric.

Unfortunately just as time was running out, someone asked, but how do they know God is real, in which the spokesman laughed and said, of course, a world without God? How ridiculous. A reply that left me wanting more explanation.

We ate dinner with some regulars at The Loft, and I found them a little too persistent in asking when we were going to be back again. I was a little relieved when my friend said she needed to go.

“That’s how they lure you in you see, cheap food and ‘music’ and all of the sudden you’re a devotee yourself,” she explained. “If only they were atheists I would really want to come along again.”

I saw her point, although thought I could be swayed. I was still full of the energy when I came home I could not stop dancing and singing the chant I had just learned and there was a true happiness in the people that did not come from consumerism, ego flattery, or the obtaining of fleeting goals. My Mum was looking at me as if I had come back on mushrooms. Perhaps if I had a deeper understanding of divinity I could have really gotten into it as a lifestyle. Although the whole no sex before marriage thing was a bit of a deal breaker.

But I would like to praise the Hare Krishna’s for all that they do do, and say that their food is absolutely superb and its really great that there are people out there who are so dedicated to living meaningful and virtuous lives, it was a cool experience and I am glad I went along even though it’s not for me. www.ausm.org.nz

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ONESIE LOVE

By Erica Donald

The other day I made an investment.

Mighty River Power shares seemed like a pretty good long-term investment. Instead of having money sitting in the bank, why not just give the government my money and wait for the dividends to come pouring in.

Then I realised I was being far too grown up so I left my money where it is and I bought a onesie instead. Honestly, I think it was a far better investment.

My onesie is pink fleece, with little yellow duckies all over it. It doesn’t have feet, but it does have a bum flap, pockets and a hood. It is the most beautiful thing on earth.

Since buying it a few days ago, I have spent an unnaturally large proportion of my time in my onesie. I study in my onesie, I sleep in my onesie and I get the mail in my onesie. When it’s the middle of winter and I drag myself out of bed for my morning run, I won’t bother changing out of my onesie. I will run along Orewa Beach proudly showing off my duckies. If you live out that way feel free to come for morning onesierunsies with me.

For the sake of this column, I wanted to make a list of when it is acceptable to wear a onesie. That list turned out to be pretty short. The simple answer is that onesies can be worn ANYTIME. Although obviously winter is probably the most ideal time. In winter, all thoughts and cares about appearance go down the gurgler. Girls don’t bother with shaving their legs in the mornings because it’s too much effort; jeans and tights cover that up anyway. Guys keep their stubble growing to trap warm air around their face (do they actually? I made that up but it seems plausible?)

Everyone has an extra layer of fat from comfort eating their way through university, because having a bikini body is hardly a top priority. At night it’s too cold to worry about wearing your sexy pyjamas to bed. There’s also no point worrying about whether you will get lucky or not because you won’t… not when you haven’t shaved your legs or beard- yuck.

It’s time for that shining beacon of light, the onesie, to surface. It’s the ultimate winter comfort. It covers up those unshaved legs and that layer of fat around your belly. It’s such an effort to get it off that your significant other will just give up on trying to see your nonesie and you will be free to enjoy the warm comfort in peace.

Onesies are a bundle of joy, enveloping you in a constant hug. Who doesn’t love that? Unless you aren’t a hugging type of person- in which case there is a little part of your soul that is dead.

I am in love with my onesie. It’s going to be a long, fulfilling love affair which will probably come to a tragic end once summer rears its warm muggy head. In the meantime I encourage everyone to invest in a onesie.

Let your life be changed for the better.

I won’t let you on the onesie-runsies without one.

Sigur Ros Kveikur

Rating: Reviewed by Matthew Cattin

Sigur Ros have for a long time been my go-to favourite for studying and writing. Without English lyrics their music reverberates in the cavity of my brain reserved for the sounds of the ocean and rain on a tent roof – beautiful sounds that seem to bring out the creativity and focus in me. I first discovered their sweet, Icelandic sounds in college, falling in love with their albums Agaetis Byrjun, Takk and ( ). I enjoyed Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust on its 2008 release but when it came to Valtari in 2012, sad to say but it rather bored me. Sigur Ros and boring are two words that often find each other in others’ sentences but I never thought I’d be one to utter them – but there you go. With new album Kveikur I was a mixed bag of feelings. I didn’t want a disappointment because I’d love to see them live but on the same token there’s enough magic in their discography for me to forgive a few duds.

Opening track Brennisteinn, translated to Brimstone, is exactly that – a dark, grinding beast that presents the band in a far darker light that I’m definitely not used to (but can’t say I dislike).

Keep in mind though this is dark by Sigur Ros’ standards, not Slipknot’s – don’t expect double kick thunder and shredding. The dirty bass sounds a bit like a generator firing up and it’s not until the halfway point that it eases up for the almighty build so typical of the band. It’s aggressive, grating and a new direction for the band – it’s just a pity it doesn’t last.

Kveikur is the band’s seventh album and the second released since the departure of keyboardist Kjartan Sveinsson – an absence you can definitely notice. The melodies seem less accessible than earlier Sigur Ros, not as beautifully arranged or simple. Yfirborð manages to bring back echoes of ( ) or Agaetis Byrjun; it’s a bit calmer and without so many layers of drama.

Underneath the whale-like chords of noise however is a dancestyle and tempo beat which brings it to life but comes across more like Jonsi’s solo record and less like a band effort. Ísjaki makes good use of Orri Páll Dýrason’s freaking sweet drumming style – a prime candidate for a future remix. It’s got quite an oriental feel with Jonsi sounding legitimately like a howling wolf at some points. Good to see them enjoying themselves I suppose but I miss the old sound…

Closing instrumental Var is as short a Sigur Ros track as you are likely to find at 3:43 minutes. Initially it sounds like a Trent Reznor creation with its creepy piano chords and a rising wave of strings and bow distortion – it’s probably my favourite track. It reminds me of the Sigur Ros I fell in love with. Sadly however, the more post-Takk Sigur Ros I hear, the more I feel like the band’s best songs have already been written. On the bright side, I found Valtari quite tedious – at least this album has shown some life.

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The Place Beyond The Pines

Directed by: Derek Cianfrance Starring: Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes Rating: Reviewed by Matt Neary

How one’s actions influence the lives of generations down the line is a fascinating and well debated social topic. As the central theme in The Place Beyond the Pines, it is presented as brutal reality, yet reads like poetry. Director Derek Cianfrance has weaved a quietly epic drama of action and consequence, one that hangs over multiple protagonists and pulls you into its tragic grip.

Ryan Gosling is our first introduction to a star cast which includes Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes, Ben Mendelsohn, Rose Byrne and Ray Liotta. He plays Luke, an emotionally distant motorcycle stunt rider floating from town to town with a travelling fair whose life is given unexpected meaning when he discovers he has fathered a child on his travels with Mendes’ Romina. Wellintentioned beginnings lead to dark outcomes; bank robbery becoming his main income to provide for his son and Romina. In turn he crosses paths with Cooper’s Avery Cross, a police officer struggling to find moral footing in his local police department.

Covering a fifteen year period, the haunting collision of these two characters hangs over the lives of two teenage boys.

Following in the footsteps of his Blue Valentine, Cianfrace has laid out a style for himself that is hard-to-watch realistic. It works masterfully here because while the characters make mistakes and are plotted against each other, you are quietly rooting for them all.

Consequences of the past all affect their present and this makes it impossible to wish ill on any of them. Instead you are transfixed to the complexities of the conflict and it’s magic. The structure is brilliant, breaking down what is literally three distinct acts, each a mini film in themselves, and pinning them together onto a grander scale where the pressure and anticipation of how it will resolve itself never lets off. It evolves as it goes on from the type of film you think it’s going to be, to something completely different; and better.

The acting is superb; the big names don’t all get as much screen time as you would expect - some aren’t even introduced until well into the film. But it works on this grander, bigger than life scale; they have been cast so perfectly each adds so much to the story with each minute of screen time. Ray Liotta is typically creepy as a crooked cop and Rose Byrne portrays unease with incredible detail against her on-screen husband Cooper. Add in unsettling turns by rising stars Emory Cohen and Dane DeHaan as troubled teenagers, and a spot on portrayal of Luke’s only friend by Ben Mendelson, and The Place Beyond the Pines has one of the most well rounded casts in a film I’ve seen in a long time. Emotional and unforgettable, this crime drama takes you for an epic yet disturbing ride before gently resting you back down to ponder what you’ve seen.

The Great Gatsby

This Is The End

When initial critic buzz for the film rendition came back pretty ho-hum, I decided to knock back the book before heading to the cinema – an effort to make my first outing with Mr Gatsby the best it could be. I started it on a cold Thursday morning on the bus, leaned up against the dripping window in my antisocial bubble. I quickly discovered it was the type of book that makes you pray for a lonely ride to the city.

The Doobie Brothers are back! And playing themselves, with cameo appearances such as Rihanna, Kevin Hart, Emma Watson, Channing Tatum and the usually adorable Michael Cera. With more drugs, more W.T.F moments, and more hilarity this movie will stay in your mind for days. Now, if you like Pineapple Express, Constantine and no small amount of weed, you will love this movie. I wasn't expecting much, thinking it was just an attempt to regain the glory of Pineapple Express, and to be honest, as I sat down in the dimly lit, popcorn scented theatre I was regretting my choice of movie. As it turns out however, I was greatly surprised.

Written by: F. Scott Fitzgerald Rating: Reviewed by Matthew Cattin

Set in the roaring ‘20s, the novel follows young protagonist Nick Carraway, an honest Yale graduate who settles in prosperous Long Island in search of work. Next door, in an extravagant mansion lives a man of great wealth and mystery, Jay Gatsby.

Little is known about him but much is speculated and as the novel develops, all is unravelled.

Nick’s cousin Daisy (who lives across the water from Gatsby) just so happens to be the long-desired object of Gatsby’s affections.

The pair shared a romantic relationship in years gone by but Daisy has since remarried an unfaithful, violent man, Tom Buchanan. Nick becomes the catalyst that brings Gatsby together again with his lost love - the first time in years, - and from here on in, the story takes a dark turn. “The loneliest moment in someone’s life is when they are watching their whole world fall apart, and all they can do is stare blankly,” – Nick Carraway.

It’s a beautiful novel that perfectly captures the excess and social mechanics of the era, tied up with characters driven by obsession, conceit and power. I think the biggest impression it left on me was the relative powerlessness and isolation that can permeate the bourgeois – how loneliness carves the biggest hole when it’s felt in a crowded room. It’s a story of a man who has everything yet has nothing until he has the something his heart pines for.

When I think of literary classics, my mind generally conjures thousand page epics that take multiple attempts to begin and several months to finish. The Great Gatsby is no such book – I finished it in a work day with room to spare. Its brevity is something of a rare find in the ranks of classics but I feel the novel is well suited to its short length. It is descriptive without being tedious and every conversation seems relevant to characters and the plot line, rather than deviating from the point as a means to extend scenes.

Directed by: Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg.

Starring: Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, James Franco Rating: Reviewed by Jorgia Sparks

This is the End is set in real time Los Angeles where Jay Baruchel, a Canadian comedian, has returned to L.A to hang out with old Canadian friend turned Hollywood sell out Seth Rogen, who so desperately wants Jay to join the L.A craze and fit in with his new, well known friends Jonah, Franco, and Craig, which it turns out Jay hates. They attend James Franco's party (to Jay's disappointment) to show off his new place, where all the celeb's are that night, doing all sorts of unspeakable things (ahem…

Michael Cera). But nothing ruins a party like a giant sink hole that swallows your friends and queues the beginning of an Armageddon. With many of the guests gone, the five friends are left to fend for themselves - that is until the party crasher Danny McBride shows up, cooks up all the food, washes with the water and wreaks havoc for the boys, especially Franco. Whilst they wait for rescue, they try to figure out what is happening. Is it global warming? An alien attack? Zombie invasion? Or some kind of Divine retribution. Who will survive the apocalypse?

There isn't actually a lot to this movie - no hugely deep meaning or bone chilling final scene that will leave you pondering over the movie for days, but I still find myself quite entertained sitting in that movie theatre. The jokes were good, the actors were good, the movie was fun and it is that simple. I'm still not sure why I enjoyed it so much but I did - I had a genuine chuckle. If you are looking for a good laugh and a way to spend a few hours then I would highly recommend this movie. If however you want to be confused, left wondering what, why and how, or if you are looking for a movie that you know will be an all-time best of the decade then may I suggest something else. I would also suggest not watching this movie with your mother - that’s one car ride home you want to avoid.

All up, I reckon with a novel like The Great Gatsby, you can’t really go wrong. It’s a couple of hours of your life for a story that vividly transports you to a golden era, entices your curiosity and leaves you quite dazzled and melancholy.

www.ausm.org.nz

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I meet Lieutenant Colonel Kate Lee for a coffee. But it’s not on an army base, but rather at her lovely art deco home in Te Aro. I’m immediately struck by how ‘un-military’ she is.

There’s no formal salutes or anything, just a friendly, “Hi, I’m Kate.”

So why would someone become an Officer in the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), particularly if they’re a female? That’s what I was here to find out.

“To tell you the truth, I really wanted to act,” confides Kate. But then reason (and her parents) intervened, so in High School she narrowed her choices down to a career in law, or the military. But tertiary studies aren’t exactly cheap, and that’s where the NZDF shines. It’s one of the few organisations that supports you with your studies. In fact, some people can earn full pay while they’re studying and that’s a massive financial weight off most family’s shoulders.

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So when Kate’s dad suggested she pursue an Officer career, it wasn’t a difficult decision.

Almost straight away, Kate set off on the first of many adventures – to the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra. Now we like to give our mates across the ditch a hard time, but Kate has remained friends with many of her fellow Aussie Officers to this day. And that’s one of the great things about an Officer career. The people you meet are with you for the long haul.

After completing her degree, Kate was posted to Auckland as a Troop Commander. Responsibility comes at a young age in the Defence Force, so Kate was immediately placed in command of 30 people. If you have a desire to become a leader, there is no better way to hone your skills.

After that Kate spent 4 months in Colerne, UK where she worked as a Troop Commander and then returned to Linton where she joined the 16th Field Regiment. It was at this time she met the love of her life, Mick. But it wasn’t long before Kate was off again, this time to East Timor. While she was working as the Battalion Signals Officer, Mick was busy himself - buying a house for them in Wellington. “At least he checked in with my best friend to make sure I would like it”, says Kate.

After returning to Wellington, Kate and Mick got married and landed up in Syria, this time to support the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation. “It was a rewarding experience, and I learned a lot,” explained Kate.

Then they returned to Wellington where they had their son Harry. Never one to take the predictable course, Kate used her maternity leave to backpack around South East Asia with Mick. What was it like traveling with a baby?

“Absolutely wonderful. The Vietnamese in particular, really love families, so we were treated pretty differently from the average tourist, ” says Kate.

an Officer career gives you is the ability to excel in the public world. The skills you gain hold you in good stead for the rest of your life. “In 2009 I took time out to work for the Ministry of Social Development in order to get some experience outside the NZDF. It was a short term contract which the Army was supportive of, and I loved my time there,” says Kate. But she really missed everything about the Army, so it wasn’t long before they welcomed her back with open arms, this time, putting her in charge of over 100 people.

“I came back to the Army and shortly afterwards had my daughter Josie, who is now 3. I took one year’s maternity leave because it was important for me to have that time with them,” says Kate.

And what does the future hold for Lieutenant Colonel Kate Lee? Well, for that we’ll just have to wait and see…

I also ask Kate what it’s like to be a female in the NZDF. “To be honest, I came from a girl’s school, where you just believe that any opportunity is available to you. So in that way, there weren’t any barriers because I never thought about it.”

And that’s an interesting point to touch on. A lot of the training is demanding. As Kate explains, “If you want to be in the NZDF, fitness is important, but it is totally achievable. I played sport at school, but I wasn’t a star athlete. I love keeping fit and being active - it is important for the job.” And Kate is definitely fit, as evidenced by the fact she recently completed a half marathon.

But Kate’s not just a military gal either. The one thing www.ausm.org.nz

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