New Zealand Listener Issue 11, 2023

I was bored at work – that’s how it started. I borrowed an unused video camera and promised my boss I wouldn’t break it. Hillary Clinton was running for US president, and I couldn’t help wondering about the state of feminism in this part of the world. Were we any better? The heart of my film Revolt She Said is about why it’s taking so long to reach gender equality in Australia and New Zealand. I don’t know about you, but I’m not willing to wait 132 years for the global gender gap to close. In fact, there’s been a widening of the gender pay gap as a result of the Covid pandemic, and many of the same issues feminists fought for in the 70s and 80s are still being fought for…

WINNING CAPTION Steve Godsiff, Timaru FINALISTS Prince William: “No, you’re the Prince of Wails.” – Mike Hamblyn, Dunedin Toddler: “Didn’t your mummy tell you it’s rude to point?” – Hans Zindel, Palmerston North Toddler: “Mum said we’d see the hair apparent.” – Paul Kelly, Palmerston North William: “You, my little friend, would be well advised not to have a younger brother.” – Bill McEwan, Blenheim William: “When Louis sticks his tongue out, we send him to the Naughty Throne.” – Mary Timings Caption Competition {listenercaption@aremedia.co.nz} TO ENTER Send your captions for the photo at right to listenercaption@aremedia.co.nz, with “Caption Competition No 502” in the subject line. Alternatively, entries can be posted to “Caption Competition No 502”, NZ Listener, PO Box 52122, Kingsland, Auckland 1352. Entries must be received by noon, Tuesday, March 14. THE PRIZE Former Moscow correspondent Owen Matthews’ authoritative…

Professor Ray Hilborn’s article titled “Net gains” (Upfront, February 18) should have been named “Net losses”. It was almost entirely based on misinformation and even disinformation. One example of disinformation was that “fisheries … leave the base of the food chain alone”. It is true that we don’t harvest microplankton yet, but other elements of the food chain are under serious pressure. Examples include the overfishing of Antarctic krill, and the sad histories of the destruction of Pacific and North Sea herring, Chilean and North American sardines and Peruvian anchovies. An item of misinformation involved the assertion that the oceans are not “being emptied of fish”. True, small forage fish are increasing in numbers, but only because we are killing the species that prey on them. We are actually undermining the food…

“I’ve documented history, and people relate to seeing these images in how it used to be.”– Ans Westra, as reported by RNZ“Fine, I’ll admit it. I still don’t know if I’m supposed to use hot air or cold air when trying to defrost the front windshield.”– on Twitter“Seriously starting to think Marvel movies are like jury duty for actors.”– on Twitter“When you go to the marae, you always remember what you get fed, you don’t remember much else.”– Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust board chair Marama Royal“I love sleep. My life has the tendency to fall apart when I’m awake, you know?”– Ernest Hemingway“You may be able to fool the voters, but not the atmosphere.”– US environmentalist Donella Meadows“I am not a vegetarian because I love animals; I am a vegetarian…

1. What is a gelasin? ❑ Cheek dimple❑ Type of primate❑ Frozen liquid❑ Old word for hen 2. Who won Song of the Year at this year’s Grammys? ❑ Beyoncé❑ Lizzo❑ Bonnie Raitt❑ Harry Styles 3. How many types of ice are there? ❑ One❑ Two❑ Ten❑ Twenty 4. Which film contains the line “Show me the money!” ❑ The Sting❑ Jerry Maguire❑ The Hustler❑ A Few Good Men 5. Who said New Zealand was an “irreducibly pluvial” country? ❑ David Lange❑ Geoffrey Palmer❑ Jim Bolger❑ Jacinda Ardern 6. In which country was middle-distance runner Zola Budd born? ❑ England❑ South Africa❑ US❑ Australia 7. In the second half of the 19th century, what was Auckland’s biggest export? ❑ Wool❑ Timber❑ Kauri gum❑ Gold 8. Which of these phrases is a palindrome? ❑ Madam, I’m Adam❑ Santa, Satan❑ Do you have any belly jeans?❑ The…

This year’s Te Matatini kapa haka competition was a huge success. The four-day event has been described as the Olympics of Māoridom, and drew a crowd of about 40,000 to Auckland’s Eden Park, as well as an online and TV viewership of around 1.4 million. For me, it stands out not just because of its large audiences, but because of one group who managed to break down the gender barrier. The biennial event attracts more than 40 kapa haka teams from around Aotearoa and Australia to compete in traditional performances, such as the haka and poi. It showcases the world’s best kapa haka groups, and the fiercely competitive environment demands a high level of physical stamina and endurance. Since Te Matatini started in 1972, many groups have used gimmicks and nontraditional components to…