I’ve just heard (via Stephen at Prodigal Kiwi) that Mike Riddell’s 1997 book, The Insatiable Moon, is being developed as a feature film. In fact the film proposal is being taken to Cannes Film Festival this week.
The book (and now screen play) focuses on Arthur, a Maori man who is known to the residents of Ponsonby, Auckland, New Zealand, as the self-proclaimed second son of God. Arthur has a mission, which includes finding the Queen of Heaven (who turns out to be Margaret of Pakuranga). He interacts with the local vicar, a few homeless people and people living in the boarding houses of Ponsonby, to challenge the status quo of respectable society.
Mike, when he wrote the novel, was lecturer at the Baptist College of New Zealand in Auckland, a role he’d taken on after years pastoring at Ponsonby Baptist. Mike resigned and moved to Dunedin, knowing that many Baptists would have trouble with the gloriously graphic sex scene in the novel, let alone the ‘blasphemous’ exploration of a psychiatric patient’s claims to be the second son of God.
Arthur will be played by Rawiri Paratene , known around the world for his role as Koro in Whale Rider. I remember Rawiri’s poetry performances (with jazz pianist Mike Nock) from his time in Dunedin when he was Robert Burns Fellow at Otago University. Rawiri is likely to be joined by Timothy Spall, James Nesbitt and John Rhys-Davies.
Chicago/Christchurch creative agency TimeZoneOne has launched a viral campaign promoting Spruce Beer, focused on Waitangi Day, New Zealand identity and beer.
A creative experiment focuses on developing a new brand capturing the essence of New Zealand identity. Rejects include All Black Jock Strap Ale (too yeasty), Crowded House Bitter (too bloody Australian), and Ernest Rutherford Lager (unpleasant fall out). Second on the list of accepted beers is Kiwi Bush-Bee Beer (part bumble part killer). First place goes to Captain Cook’s Spruce Beer, first brewed by Captain Cook in 1773, designed to prevent scurvy.
The spot suggests that 8 out of 10 doctors now agree beer solves most health issues.
Spruce Beer, is a New Zealand beer based on Captain Cook’s original recipe and was first made in Dusky Sound, New Zealand, 1773. It is flavored with ’spruce’ (rimu) and tea tree. Spruce Beer is brewed for Heritage Foods (NZ) Ltd. by Wigram Brewing Co. in Christchurch.
Rugby Racing and Beer
A New Zealand folk song recorded by Rod Derrett in 1965
When I was just a little kid,
Knee high to a keg,
My Daddy took me on his knee.
He drained his glass and closed his eyes
And gave me very sound advice
On how to be a good Kiwi.
“Get to know your football sides
And learn to spell from Moore’s race guides
And don’t forget down under over here
Because of your great parentage
You have a national heritage
Of Rugby, Racing and Beer.”
Rugby, Racing and Beer,
Rugby, Racing and Beer,
Down under we’re mad over our
Rugby, Racing and Beer.
Old Uncle Charlie went to see
The Doctor yesterday
He cried, “You’ve got to help me Doc and quick,
I’m seeing spots before my eyes,
My head feels twice its normal size,
And every Sunday morning I feel sick.”
The Doctor took one look at him
And said, “Well Charlie things look grim,
I hate to have to tell ya but I fear,
You’d better write your will tonight,
‘Coz you’ve got kiwi-itis,
That’s Rugby, Racing and Beer.”
Rugby, Racing and Beer,
Rugby, Racing and Beer,
Down under we’re mad over our
Rugby, Racing and
Rugby, Racing and
Rugby, Racing and Beer.
Today the New Zealand Parliament voted in amendments to the terrorism suppression laws, allowing the government to designate terrorist organisations and creating a new offence of commiting an act of terrorism (penalty of life sentence). The Prime Minister will have the responsibility of designating groups and individuals as terrorists. Police will have the power to lock people up without charge, under the instructions of politicians.
It’s a move that is said to arise from international response to the existence of groups such as Al Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiah. Only problem is that violent activism has been part of New Zealand’s short history since European invasion. And the raids of Tuhoe land in the Ureweras over the last month would have cut to the bone of the memories that were associated with resistance to land confiscation.
With the restriction of certain rights the Government has a responsibility to ensure that extra efforts are made to protect vulnerable bicultural relationships. Nothing can be taken for granted.
