New Zealand Listener Issue 15, 2022

My wife, Natalie, is half Polish, and although she grew up in Britain, as a child she’d travel with her family every summer to visit cousins and grandparents. She still waxes lyrical about those blessed times in Poland’s forests, lakes and town squares, eating fresh berries and baked cakes. My kids are, of course, quarter Eastern European. I’ve now visited the region several times. On one of those trips, my best Kiwi mate from my youth also married a Pole. I was best man at the 24-hour wedding, which took place near the border with Ukraine. No one left the hotel until all the vodka had been drunk. I think of my affinity to this part of the world and its people as we watch one of the most awful and…

WINNING CAPTION Chris Parsons, Christchurch FINALISTS Caption: An American Werewolf in LA. – Hans Zindel, Palmerston North Taika Waititi: Methinks he doth protest too much. – Paul Kelly, Palmerston North Jared Leto: “Pass the glue – I’ve managed to screw his head back on.” – Margaret Cannon, Palmerston North Leto: “Not True! The House of Gucci was a masterpiece.” – Conal Atkins, Nelson Waititi: “Nek minute…” – Kate Highfield, Hastings Caption: “Big shout-out to Waititi at awards ceremony.” – Marie Curran, Dunedin Waititi: “Just when I was thinking he was a good joker!” – Steve Godsiff, Timaru…

“An Inexact Science” (March 26) rightly notes that the challenges facing our science sector are multiple. The crown research institutes (CRIs) agree significant change is needed. The starting point should be the purpose of the nation’s research, science and innovation investment. We think that it is to advance the nation’s health, wealth and wellbeing, creating a more sustainable, inclusive and productive society. CRIs, universities, the private sector and others all play necessary – and distinctive – roles in this endeavour. CRIs are required by legislation to be “financially viable” – very different to an SOE’s profit motive. The CRI surplus is reinvested in people and assets to advance science and applications of excellence, integrity and utility. Research that is useful, usable and used is where New Zealand benefits. A prime example: ESR used its…

“Thanks, Kevin, that was very dramatic.”– Dame Jane Campion gives Academy Awards presenter Kevin Costner a hint of what it’s like to audition for her.“Thank you, Academy, it’s a lifetime honour.” – Campion again on winning her best director Oscar.“Have decided to move from acting to scamming because it seems like a quicker way to book a Netflix series.”– Seen on Twitter“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.” – Zig Ziglar“Avoid popularity; it has many snares, and no real benefit.”– William Penn“My love language is cooking elaborate meals screaming at everyone to get out of the kitchen then loudly announcing the food was NOT MY BEST and waiting for compliments.” – Seen on Twitter“Golf is a good walk spoiled.”…

1. Which film includes the line: “Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes”? ❑ The Jungle Book ❑ Raiders of the Lost Ark ❑ Snakes on a Plane ❑ King Kong 2. What kind of disease is cholera? ❑ Bacterial ❑ Fungal ❑ Parasitic ❑ Viral 3. What kind of creature is a slow loris? ❑ Tree-dwelling primate ❑ Reclusive wild goat ❑ Marine reptile ❑ Ant-eating mammal 4. True or false? The game called Chinese checkers originated in ancient China. ❑ True ❑ False 5. Which of these cities is sometimes referred to as China’s equivalent of Silicon Valley? ❑ Shanghai ❑ Beijing ❑ Chengdu ❑ Shenzhen 6. Which of these was once considered to be a serious and potentially fatal medical condition? ❑ Rapture ❑ Zeal ❑ Nostalgia ❑ Infatuation 7. Which actor’s early-career breakout role was a lead in the TV sitcom Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place? ❑ Natalie Portman ❑ Ryan Reynolds ❑…

There have been some very large peace marches in London over the years. There was, for example, a demonstration in 1983 against the deployment of US cruise missiles in the UK that brought 300,000 to Hyde Park. Twenty years later, over a million marched against the war in Iraq. The numbers that walked from Hyde Park to Trafalgar Square on a perfect spring afternoon last month were much smaller. Maybe about 20,000 gathered to “Stand with Ukraine”. None of the traditional anti-war march organisers were involved. No Stop the War or Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), both of which are opposed to the UK’s armed support of Ukraine. And none of the major trade unions saw fit to apply their crowd-boosting skills. It’s a strange fact that the loudest anti-imperialists seem to…