Since this paper comes out two days before Christmas I'd like to start by thanking you for taking time out from seasonal chaos to read this. And, lest I forget... Read More

Last week the programme for the 2010 National Jazz was unveiled, and mighty impressive it is too. I'm going to be coming back to this at regular intervals over... Read More

What happened to November? For that matter, what happened to October? One minute it was the middle of the year, now suddenly it's damn near Christmas. I know,... Read More

Despite the slow drizzle coming down as I write I'm absolutely positive that summer is here. Which means outdoor events. This week I'm going to have a look at a... Read More

I am constantly amazed by the creative people in Tauranga. Particularly in the musical world it is easy to imagine that there are just a small number of dedicated... Read More

Dave Dobbyn is nothing short of being a national treasure, and he's coming to town twice over the next few months in two very different contexts. The first time... Read More

Times have been unsettling at the Watusi Spiritual Retreat. That ill-fated egging incident on Halloween had unforeseen ramifications and even now a horde of lawyers... Read More

One of the reasons I write this column is to let people know what's going on. That statement may, to some, seem a bit bleedin' obvious. But it's true. Here at... Read More

Perhaps the recent burst of summery weather has made Tauranga seem a better place in the past week, but I think it's the Arts Festival. Like most people, I didn't... Read More

I have been aware for a long time that George Washington had false teeth - but I always thought they were made of wood. It's funny the little misconceptions you... Read More

New Zealand is a small country - only two degrees of separation don't you know - but sometimes it takes a tragedy to really appreciate that. The tsunami that... Read More

I've mused a few times in this column about what happens when rock music gets older. We're just now seeing what rock's pioneers will do when they hit 60, or even... Read More