Russell Brown is one of New Zealand's most prolific independent journalists.
He has been writing about technology and media for The Listener since 1993 and has picked up a variety of awards there and at Unlimited magazine and Computerworld, where he was the country's first online news editor.
Last year, he received the inaugural Qantas Media Award for blogging, for his long-running blog Hard News.
Russell was the founding host of Radio New Zealand's Mediawatch programme in 2001, and edited the successful anthology about New Zealand identity, Great New Zealand Argument: Ideas About Ourselves.
As a gay, disabled, vegetarian former social worker, Philip Patston might sound like the punchline to a joke about Grey Lynn.
Indeed, it's a joke he might tell about himself in his sometime role as a stand-up comic and entertainer. But he's also the founder of DiversityWorks, a consulting business that creates innovative ways to work with diversity, creativity and change.
Patston is an alumnus of both the New Zealand Social Entrepreneur Fellowship (2007-09) and the Arts Regional Trust ArtVenture programme for creative entrepreneurs (2007).
David Cohen
David is a journalist and the author of two books about growing up different -- Little Criminals, his own story of life on the wrong side of the tracks in a boys' home, and A Perfect World, a moving account of being father to his profoundly autistic son.
Ella Henry
Ella Henry is known to New Zealanders as an academic, a former Human Rights Commissioner, a businesswoman – and as the dispenser of sound advice on Maori Television's 'Ask Your Auntie'. But she has another story – that of the 16 year-old girl found on K Road by James K Baxter and given the shelter of the poet's community, along with others who society didn't care to know. She has, in a real way, looked at life from both sides now.
Jacinda Ardern
Jacinda Ardern entered Parliament in 2009 as New Zealand's young MP, aged 28. She is now the Labour Party's candidate for Auckland Central and the party's Youth Affairs spokesperson.
This year, she described record youth unemployment as having reached "crisis point" for New Zealand. And Business New Zealand agreed with her.
Buckwheat is New Zealand’s Prima Drag Diva. She has performed at every major gay club and dance party across the country since the early 1990s, and is the sequinned Samoan matriarch of our most famous house of drag – performing alongside her beloved sisters, Bertha, Tess Tickle, Venus Mantrapp, and the late Bust-Op and Bambi Slut.
Today, Buckwheat is in constant demand throughout New Zealand and around the world – from London to New York and Kuala Lumpur to Berlin – Buckwheat is our only truly international drag diva!
A vastly experienced show director and producer, Buckwheat provides the star power for Air New Zealand’s perennially sold out Pink Flight to Sydney Mardi Gras, and recently wowed the crowds as part of the Rugby World Cup Opening Ceremony.
Tess Tickle
Tess Tickle cut loose from her Auckland sisters in the mid 1990s, making the move to Australia, where she went on to become the darling of Sydney’s competitive drag scene. Tess was a full-time, DIVA Award-winning showgirl at The Imperial Hotel, The Midnight Shift, Stonewall Hotel and Arq.
Returning to Auckland in 2008, Tess focused on creating high quality drag productions for Auckland venues, festivals and special events. Her alter-ego, Anthony Hotere, is the Entertainment Manager at DNA Nightclub, programming and producing the best drag shows in town!
Tess Tickle has been a featured performer in such large scale events as the Sydney Olympics Closing Ceremony, Rugby World Cup Opening, Mardi Gras Parades and Parties, and the iconic WOW Awards. The much loved Māori diva pops back to Sydney each year to perform for sell-out audiences at the annual Drag at the Opera House event.
Christoph El Truento
Christoph El Truento is a beat maker and DJ-producer from Auckland. In EP01, his debut instrumental release he focused his attention on funk music with the resulting sound described as “crunchy drums, synth bass and computer funk with gentle undertones of fender rhodes and organic sounds”. El Truento’s sound which morphs in each of his works has attracted high praise from audiences and industry – “Christoph heightens soul and ambiance to a head-binding medium of glory”. This LATE he’ll be performing alongside B.Haru, Isaac Aesili and lyricist Lui T in a live improvised jam session, the five-piece will be using laptops, drum machines, turntables, synthesizers as well as live horns and percussion to take the LATE audience on a journey through experimental hip hop music, tones and textures. Christoph is also the producer of the remarkable @Peace album featuring Lui T and Tom Scott, he also plays every Wednesday at Ponsonby Social Club and hosts a weekly show on Base FM. Christoph El' Truento: http://christopheltruento.com Christoph El’ Truento on Soundcloud: http://bit.ly/pGskrn
Isaac Aesili
Isaac Aesili is a producer, trumpet player and DJ from Aotearoa, New Zealand with Guyanese, European, and Maori heritage. Over the last decade Isaac has been an integral member of many New Zealand bands including: Solaa, Opensouls, The Tornadoes, Eru Dangerspiel and Recloose Live and he has toured as a guest musician with Trinity Roots and Shapeshifter. As a producer Isaac’s music is focused around fusing Soul, Funk, R&B, Jazz and Electronic music. His debut solo album Eye See is out on Soulab Records (France). His latest project with Rachel Fraser is called Funkommunity, their debut Future Soul album “Chequered Thoughts” will be released in October 2011.
