LATE 09 - Innovate Environment

Thursday, 4 November 2010

Smart Talk Panellist Profiles

FINLAY MACDONALD

Finlay Macdonald has worked as a journalist, editor, publisher and broadcaster in New Zealand since 1986. He was editor of the New Zealand Listener magazine from 1998 to 2003, commissioning editor at Penguin New Zealand from 2003 to 2005, and a weekly columnist for the Sunday Star-Times since 2003.

He also hosts interview and music programme Talk Talk and contributes to book show The Good Word on TVNZ7.

GUY SALMON

Guy, a third-generation conservationist, co-founded the Native Forests Action Council in 1975. He led the native forest conservation movement in many campaign successes, culminating in the abolition of the Forest Service and creation of the Department of Conservation in 1987. Later, as chief executive of the Maruia Society (now the Ecologic Foundation), he has focused on the challenge of integrating economic and environmental perspectives in decision-making.

Guy has worked as an environmental policy specialist in consulting, policy advice and research roles. As a member of policy task forces for successive governments, he contributed to the reform of the government’s environmental administration system, the development of the Resource Management Act, and the development of policies on forestry, climate change, electricity markets, land transport and overseas aid. He has worked closely with business on environmental projects especially in the fishing, agri-food and waste management industries, and has worked as a consultant to the Government of Papua New Guinea. He is currently leading a four-year comparative study of sustainable development in New Zealand and the Nordic countries.

Guy has served on the boards of Landcare Research and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, and is a Trustee of the Cawthron Institute. His role on the Ecologic Board is ex officio through his role as executive director.

NANDOR TANCZOS

Nandor Tanczos is a high-profile campaigner for environmental issues, justice and constitutional reform, and was a Green Party MP from 1999 until 2008. Nandor consistently challenges mainstream political perspectives and provided a voice in Parliament for those who have too often lacked political representation.
“If we are to have any kind of future we must begin to treat the planet and its people with respect.”
Tanczos, a social ecologist and Rastafarian of Hungarian and African descent, has been a businessman and a beggar, a legislator and an outlaw, and is currently a community educator, freelance writer and an orator. Nandor was a Green Party MP from 1999 until 2008 where he was a high-profile campaigner for environmental issues, justice and constitutional reform.

Nandor currently blogs on the TV3 website at www.3news.co.nz/environmentsci/monkeywrenching.

SIMON TERRY

Simon Terry is the Executive Director Sustainability Council of New Zealand since its inception and his areas of research include:
• The low cost of significantly abating agricultural greenhouse gases
• Design of mechanisms to abate greenhouse gas emissions
• The potential economic and environmental costs of any release of GMOs in New Zealand
• Revision of inadequate environmental liability law
• Opportunities for enhanced biosecurity
• Reform of food safety assessment requirements
• Redesign of the regulations governing toxic substances

Since 1991 Simon has also managed an economics consulting partnership, STA Ltd. Through this firm, he has led an extensive series of research projects on issues including climate change response strategies, mechanisms for boosting renewable energy uptake, utility valuation and pricing, transport pricing, water supply contract structures, measures of sustainability, economic issues associated with genetic modification, and energy efficiency uptake.

Prior to founding STA, Simon worked as an investment banker and as a financial journalist. He received a string of awards for his investigative reporting in the National Business Review during the 1980s.

Great Music Artist Profiles

3 HOUSES DOWN

Three Houses Down is a 10 piece reggae influenced band from Auckland New Zealand. Currently promoting their second debut album "Breakout" with two singles "Kanikapila" and "Keep your culture" already on the charts. Their music is inspired by their culture, history political and moral interests.

Formed in 2004 by Robert Pome'e, Lisiate Langi, Sione Pome'e, Charlie Pome’e, Loiola Pome'e (the five founding members) and their friends and family after Rob left another band that was based - three houses up - the road from their parents home.

The band is built on a strong choral tradition. Rob, his father and his late grandfather have all been choirmasters. The band is based in Otara and has built up a large and loyal live following by playing gigs week in week out. They are known for tight musicianship, a good work ethic and putting on a great show.

Three Houses Down use one of New Zealand’s leading Reggae sound engineers to ensure there sound is of the best possible quality weather it be at a bar or a festival as the key to a good reggae show is good hard and fast sound.

Three Houses Down are:

Additional LATE Artists

GREATER AUCKLAND CHORUS

The Greater Auckland Chorus was initially formed in 1983.  Five times New Zealand Champions, in 2005 GAC competed again at the Sweet Adelines International convention in Detroit with current director Melody Lowe at the helm and the chorus's performance moved them closer to a top ten ranking becoming the highest scoring New Zealand chorus.

Greater Auckland then made history in 2006, by becoming New Zealand's first ever "Wild Card" chorus, going on to represent New Zealand in Calgary, Canada in 2007. Last year they raised the bar even further securing A level scores and earning themselves the right to represent New Zealand again, this time in Seattle, Washington in 2010.

The chorus is currently 105 members strong, but only about 2/3 of the group will have travelled to Seattle – for a kiwi to attend International, each has to find the airfare to start with so that’s not something everyone can do every few years.

Melody Lowe: Master Director

The Greater Auckland Chorus is led by Master Director, Melody Lowe, who has been part of Sweet Adelines for almost 20 years.

NZTRIO

Violinist Justine Cormack, cellist Ashley Brown and pianist Sarah Watkins first joined forces in 2002 and were Ensemble in Residence at The University of Auckland from 2004–2009. From the outset, their artistry, intensity, and approachability have captivated music lovers throughout New Zealand, Brazil, the US and UK, China, Korea and Indonesia.

Actively commissioning works by leading New Zealand composers, as well as more recently composers from both China and Australia, NZTrio seeks out collaborations with musicians of diverse musical genres and styles.

Highlights in 2010 include an exciting collaborative performance with Finnish bass/accordion duo Lepisto & Lehti at the WOMAD festival in New Plymouth, the premiere of a joint composition by Gareth Farr and Richard Nunns for piano trio and taonga puoro (traditional Maori instruments), a new commission by composer/filmmaker David Downes at the New Zealand International Arts Festival, and a series of performances representing New Zealand at the Shanghai World Expo in July.

JIM LANGABEER

Jim Langabeer has been contributing to NZ and international jazz programs since his teenage years in the Auckland rock scene and Christchurch. Although known as a multi-saxophonist, he was a flute and alto flute recording soloist with Russ Garcia’s Jazz Orchestra, and has played concerts, and participated in recordings, here and in USA. He has worked with Superbrew, Sammy Davis Jnr, The BeeGees, The Temptations and The Four Tops, Alan Broadbent, Mavis Rivers, NZ International Arts and Jazz Festivals, and Zirkus.

As a soloist and featured artist, Jim currently works with the Wellington based Langabeer Quartet, the Prohibition Big Band, the Brassouls, Bluespeak, Just Jazz, The Snaps, Jazz Score, and the Auckland Saxophone Quartet.

Jim has also been at the forefront of the alternative scene, contributing to improv sessions, as well as creating meditation, fusion and world music both here and in New York with many solo spots and cutting edge groups such as Lippizannas and Vitamin S.

THE B-SIDES

The B-Sides play a mix of olde-time hillbilly, country, bluegrass and rockabilly. There'll be a tappin’ of the toe, a thumpin’ of the double bass, a wailin’ of the fiddle and a clattering of all manner of pots, pans and old bones.

Three of the members are from country group The Broadsides with the addition of Jessica Hindin on fiddle and Sandy Meharry down from the hills to sing backup.

ALSO PERFORMING ON THE NIGHT: Members of The Situations and members of The Exiles.

MAT "FLICK" BRENNAN

Mat "Flick" Brenan will occupy the Land corridor, bringing the stuffed birds to life with his startling beatboxing and fx, mostly strapped to his person, turning him into a walking, beat-making, vocal effects processor complete with lights and sound!

Beatboxing through a headset mic with an array of fx with no loops or backing tracks, every part of Mat's kaleidoscopic musical assault happens live.

His beatboxing is not limited to hip-hop; it runs the gamut from machine-gun drum fills to dirty grill-rusting saliva grooves, and at the same time singing like possessed androids, and love-sick helium users who like Karaoke death metal.

Matt Brennan began performing as Flick in 2003 on Auckland's Queen St and has since toured NZ with the Mint Chicks and supported Kevin Blechdom.

Brennan has also been behind Auckland performances of John Zorn's large ensemble game-piece 'Cobra', and is the creator of Marzuk a 'cyber-conductor' program used to direct live musicians.

MAHUIA BRIDGMAN-COOPER (The Exiles)

Mahuia holds a Master of Music from Otago University and was the winner of the Otago Music Post Graduate Scholarship and subsequently pursued postgraduate study at the Australian Institute of Music.

Mahuia has performed with many different groups and ensembles over the years beginning with the Aotea Youth Symphony touring Australia and Japan, to becoming a member of the New Zealand National Youth Orchestra. He has played with the Auckland Chamber Orchestra, the Dunedin Sinfonia, the Waitakere City Orchestra, the Soweto Strings, The Gaudeamus String Quartet and singer/songwriters like Paul McLaney and Australian DJ Kid Kenobi. He has also toured Indonesia with Indonesia’s No.1 band Dewa and was the soloist at The Last Night of The Proms performing Wieniawski with the Dunedin Sinfonia Conducted byJames Sedares.

Mahuia’s interest in contemporary music has always been strong and in 1998 he won the Auckland University Electronic Music Prize and in 2002 gained second place in Wobbly Radio Song Competition. After returning from Australia Mahuia formed the band The Exiles with singer/songwriter Sean Sturm (Nixon’s, Eye TV) and began producing for Simon Holloway at Beaver Studios.

THE SITUATIONS

The Situations are based in Papakura. The four piece power pop group with infectious melodies, Beach Boys-type harmonies on a foundation of Chuck Berry-esque rhythm, have kept themselves more than busy in the last year.  They were recently the backing band for Wanda Jackson’s sold out show at the Powerstation. The 73 year old Queen of Rock-a-billy was impressed with the boys and took a shine to them, flirting with guitarist Glen on stage telling the crowd she wanted to take him back home to Oklahoma and put him on the mantle piece!

The Situations were surprise guests at this year’s Apra’s Silver Scrolls performing a Fourmyula song when The Fourmyula were inducted into the NZ Music Hall Of Fame. They are currently putting the finishing touches to their second album (as yet untitled) with producer Bob Frisbee at Frisbee studios in New Lynn. In late November – the Situations undertake a two week tour of Europe – following up on their last venture there two years ago.