Jemima Riley-Duddin is a name you will be hearing again.The St Kevin’s College year 12 pupil, who most recently blew audiences away with her performance as Artful Dodger in Musical Theatre Ōamaru’s production of Oliver!, has exciting times ahead.Since the show wrapped last Saturday (July 20), the 16-year-old has been overwhelmed by the positive feedback that has come her way.“My mum has received most of the compliments for me, actually. Like people have stopped her during half time, at all the six shows that she went to, to say, ‘oh, are you, are you Dodger's mum? Man, you must be so proud’. Which is so lovely.”Jemima’s mother Helen Riley-Duddin, who owns Inc. Design Store on Itchen St, says she still has strangers come up to her in town, and wishes she could “bottle” the compliments for when her teen daughter needs a confidence boost.“I've lost track . . . It's everywhere we go, every day,” she says. “Every day someone stops me, and often it's people that we don't know as well . . . and somehow that means even more. “She was absolutely amazing. But we are really conscious, a show like that is, it's everybody. You know, you can only shine in your role if everyone is in sync. “We are really aware of that . . . it's everything. It's the costumes and it's the lighting and it's the choreography and all of that.“But yeah, it's just been absolutely, totally overwhelming.”Jemima says the closer she came to the show opening, the easier she found it to embody her character.“It only really came to me in probably the week leading up to the actual show date, I think is when I felt the most in character . . . because I find it quite hard to get in character off stage. I mean, I can do it, but it's, it's not like natural.”The role was physically demanding and involved a lot of singing and dancing simultaneously.Jemima says while she was tired after each show, she never felt drained.“It absolutely fueled me being on that stage doing what I love.“Within the show, I got quite tired, after Consider Yourself, but it's interesting, because Dodger as a character, I find myself like grasping his energy and so his energy becomes my energy, and my energy that I had before the show still remains. “So I get a different sort of energy. I'm not sure where from.”Jemima admits she has a small case of the post-show blues.The Artful Dodger (aka Jemima Riley-Duddin). Photo: Supplied“It's not like the kind of sad that I know it's gone. Like it's still here and it's still a part of me. It's just not happening anymore.”Since Oliver! wrapped, Jemima has leapt straight into her next role, as Sour Kangaroo, in her school’s production of Seussical - a musical that combines characters and stories from several Dr. Seuss books.Rehearsals started the day after Oliver!’s closing night, and Sour Kangaroo is Jemima’s first villain role, which she says is interesting. The show is being performed in September.But as well as shining in local theatre, Jemima’s talents are bringing her national and international recognition.Last January, she spent a “downbeat summer” observing from the sidelines as a lot of her friends took part in the Netflix filming of East of Eden, in Ōamaru’s historic precinct. An opportunity she missed out on.“I watched them do their acting for hours down on set, and I was happy for them, but I was a bit bummed out myself.”So Mum got busy trawling the internet, to see what other opportunities were out there for Jemima.One that caught her eye was a Musical Theatre International and Travel Gang collaboration called International All Stars.Thirty-two teenagers from the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand would be selected to travel to New York to work under the instruction of Broadway industry professionals, to create a performance for the Junior Theatre Festival to be held in Atlanta, a week later.Jemima sent in an audition tape, not really thinking she had much of a chance, and then carried on with life.One night in June, after picking Jemima up from a late-night Oliver! rehearsal, Helen showed her the promotional video for the programme.“I watched that and I was like, ‘wait, isn't this thing I auditioned for like two months ago?’ And she said 'yes . . . you got in', and I was... I did not speak for the rest of the ride home, I was so shocked.“I'm still a bit in disbelief . . . and if I tell people about it, I see their reaction. Honestly, I feel the same . . . it seems like a dream.”Jemima admits she doesn’t pay much attention to politics, so has no particular feelings about travelling to a Trump-led US, other than feeling “really lucky” to be going overseas, and to have been recognised for something she loves doing.The trip is for two weeks in January, and now Jemima and Helen (who will chaperone) need to raise money for flights to and from the US, and the almost $15,000 ( USD $9000) required to cover the cost of the two-week programme.It is a daunting amount, but the two agree the opportunity is too good to pass up, and Jemima is one of only three who have been selected from New Zealand.Jemima says she hopes to run a “stage club” involving singing, dancing and acting for children ages six to twelve during school holidays.Other people have also reached out with ideas and offers of fundraising help, which Helen says they are grateful for.But before then, Jemima is also competing in the National Young Performer of the Year competition.She qualified at the North Otago Performing Arts competitions in March, and was one of only two who went through the process of preparing two separate seven-minute pieces which were a monologue leading into a song.One of Jemima’s performances was as the Artful Dodger singing Consider Yourself, and the other as Maria Von Trapp from The Sound of Music singing I Have Confidence.“It was this really strict, long list of rules that had to follow. “It was really confusing, and I didn't really know what I was doing . . . and the song I Have Confidence wasn't actually in the original musical, and so it almost got disqualified . . . but the judge said it was too close to the competition time for me to change it, so I just did it anyway and I got nominated through, which is amazing.”The national competition is being held in Palmerston North in October and Jemima is now working on coming up with a second piece, but will stick with her beloved Artful Dodger, she says.“So thankfully I don't have to say goodbye to Dodger just yet."While Jemima has a natural talent, she also works hard doing what she loves.Consider Yourself entertained - Jemima and the cast of Oliver!. Photo: Supplied/FacebookThere are lessons in ballet, jazz dancing and singing, and she has been involved in theatre shows since she was about eight.“I think the other thing that helps me, is just the motivation to keep doing better, and to keep like, being my best self.“Yes, it’s fun, but there’s also a goal at the end.”Jemima’s ultimate ambition is to feel proud of herself and happy that she has done her best. “And out of that, I hope will come some sort of career pathway, some opportunities, and experiences that allow me to grow."She also wants to make her Musical Theatre Ōamaru family proud, and prove the things she has learnt being involved in Ōamaru theatre are as good as she could have learnt anywhere else.“But the ultimate goal is just to feel happy," she says. "And to keep feeling happy.”

It seems only logical that a North Otago business which helps the nation care for its small pets and birds is also among the best at caring for its people.Earlier this month, Topflite was named on the shortlist for the 2025 Best Places to Work Awards.Topflite is one of 60 companies across New Zealand to make the list, and the team is now waiting to hear if it makes the finals, which will be announced next month.The awards have been running for 20 years, and the shortlist represents “the gold standard in workplace excellence”, organisers say.Topflite managing director Greg Webster says he believes the prioritisation of family, and making work/life balance “a cornerstone of our operations” is likely one of the key reasons the company has been recognised.The business was founded in 1974, by Peter Mitchell and Greg’s father Jock Webster, and both families remain heavily involved.To enter the awards, employees were surveyed on “nine pillars” of their experiences: Trust in leadership, connection to purpose, working environment, innovation, wellbeing, connection with team, performance and growth, tools and tech, and sustainability.Topflite holds an annual Green Friday native planting day (in contrast with the commercial Black Friday sales), it funds national conservation work through its Soar Initiative, and staff are involved in, and ask for feedback on, product development.An example is the process used to refine the company’s top-selling Nectar Feeder, which has been designed to feed native birds safely and hygienically, Greg says.“We worked on improving the design for nectarivorous birds like tūī and bellbirds over the years, and the input from staff was invaluable. “Everyone got a feeder before we released them and now we all compare notes on which birds have been visiting.”The team is also trialling (with the help of their dogs) new flavours of freeze-dried meat dog food, for Topflite’s “little brother company” Hound.An early finish on a Friday probably helps keep staff happy, too.Topflite staff taking part in one of the company's social occasions. Photo: Supplied“Two years ago, we made the decision as a team to start the workday slightly earlier, from Monday to Thursday, allowing us all to down tools and finish at 2pm on a Friday,” Greg says.“That means every weekend is a long-ish one, creating space for family, friends and adventures in our amazing Otago environment.”Best Places to Work chief executive Julie Gill says the shortlisted organisations have demonstrated a deep commitment to listening to their people and creating environments where wellbeing, inclusion, and innovation are embedded in the culture. “It’s inspiring to see businesses of all sizes raising the bar for what workplace excellence looks like in 2025,” she says.Greg says Topflite set the goal a few years back to be the workplace of choice in Ōamaru.“So we are very proud to have been acknowledged in the shortlist.”Julie says attracting and retaining talented staff has never been more critical. “The businesses on our shortlist understand that when you invest in your people, through listening, learning and action, you create a culture that sparks innovation, lifts performance, and builds resilience for the future. “We hope their successes will inspire others to put employee experience at the heart of their business strategies.”Next, Topflite will complete an awards submission, which includes answering a comprehensive set of questions around community engagement, and customer and employee experience.Finalists will be announced next month, with the major awards presented at a ceremony in October.As an aside: During Topflite’s latest community tree planting day, one of its staff discovered a moa bone.Experts are suggesting the bone is from a Pleistocene-era moa, potentially dating back between 2.6million and 12,000 years. It is now awaiting further investigation by palaeontologists from Otago University.The moa bone discovered during a Topflite tree planting day. Photo: Supplied

Dr Benjamin Baird is an expert on ways to induce and control lucid dreaming and how it can benefit our health and well-being once we wake up.Dreams and the subconscious have become a serious research topic for neuroscientists.Dr Benjamin Baird, a research professor of cognitive neuroscience at the University of Texas, is an expert on ways to induce and control lucid dreaming and how lucid dreaming can benefit our health and well-being once we wake up.He joined RNZ's Nine to Noon to answer questions about lucid dreams why we have them, why some of us don't have them and what use they might be to us therapeutically.A lucid dream is one where you know it's a dream while it's happening. Photo: RNZRelated stories:Why frequent nightmares may shorten your life by yearsSleep Maxxing: does it work? And what really helps you get a better night’s sleepWorking long hours? It could be altering the structure of your brain, new study saysHow is lucid dreaming different to regular dreaming?“It's simply that you're dreaming while it's happening. So, in the middle of the dream, you realise you're dreaming. It's as simple as that.”How common is it to remember dreams?“Many people claim they don't remember their dreams at all. And when we bring them into the sleep lab and wake them up in specific parts of sleep, they're often shocked to wake up and realise they remember all these different dreams.“The stage of sleep that's most correlated with the vivid narrative type of dreams is known as REM sleep for rapid eye movement sleep.“We go through this stage about every 90 minutes or so as we go through an overnight sleep epoch. And we think though that dreams of various sorts can happen in other stages as well. It's just that these very vivid, long kind of structured dreams are most common in REM sleep.”Sometimes you want to remember your dream and within a flash it's gone. What's happening?“There's likely a very strong evolutionary reason for why we tend not to remember our dreams.“We humans are special, but for other animals it would actually be very bad to be confused about a memory, whether that memory came from a dream or from reality. Where did I hide that nut? You know, if you're a squirrel, you don't want to misremember where you hid it in the dream.“We humans have language, so it's a bit different.”What is the purpose of dreams if not for remembering?“One theory is that dreaming is tied to memory consolidation, and we do know that memory consolidation is happening during sleep and in REM sleep as well, but the link between specific mnemonic consolidation processes and the conscious experience of dreams is still rather weak.“There are also theories within the psychological literature that dreams may have to do with simulating threats, and therefore we have an opportunity to practice our response to certain kinds of threatening simulated situations, and you can imagine that would give kind of an evolutionary imperative to dreams.”Listen on Nine to Noon: Can you control your dreams?Can lucid dreaming be used therapeutically?“By working with a qualified clinician one can actually engage in certain practices within the dream, confronting the psychological content of the dream in a way that's impossible unless you're aware and lucid, and actually working with that in real time, turning around, for example, and confronting that person who's been chasing you for the last six months in your dreams and saying, who are you?“We've heard many, many anecdotes from people, we need more empirical work on this, but anecdotally, the evidence is overwhelming from all kinds of reports we've gotten from people engaging in those kinds of practices, again, best in the context of working with a qualified clinician, where they can actually have that kind of transformative experience, and they end up never having the nightmare again.”Is lucid dreaming different from being aware you are dreaming?“We do think that they are the same. You'll find some debates still in the academy about whether control is necessary for lucidity.“There are a few scholars that would make that claim. But I think on the whole, the consensus is lucid dreams simply mean you're aware that you're dreaming while it's happening, full stop.”What work are you doing on understanding lucid dreaming and its potential to be beneficial?“In academia, we often tend to focus on clinical conditions, on bringing people who have some deficit back up to normal.“But we don't think a lot about how can we take normal people and take them to new heights to really excel and reach their full potential and explore their minds and so forth.“And I think that's really where the potential and promise of lucid dreaming is at large, is it gives people a new opportunity to explore their mind. If you like to get into a kind of different state space of their own mind brain, and for all of us to find out what might we use this for, what might be possible in this other state.”What are dream diaries? And what are the benefits?“If you wake up in the morning and just try to remember anything from the dream, describing any kind of thread, even a small detail. If you do that every morning, what most people find is that they start to remember more and more day after day, as time goes on.“And this is certainly true for myself, I started with nothing. And by the end of a couple of months, I was spending an hour in the morning writing out five very vivid dreams.“And so, it can be very interesting, I think, for people just to start to get in touch with their own mind in this way, to recognise what's going through their mind every night, because all this stuff is happening, all this content is being presented to us, it's just that normally, we're completely oblivious to it.”What is reality testing?“One of the simpler forms is simply throughout the day, periodically, you ask yourself, is this a dream or not? And you can do some sort of test, looking at your hands and counting your fingers.“So that's one kind of reality test is we'll be looking at your hands, counting your fingers, asking yourself if this is a dream or not.“Part of the idea is if you do this enough, then by habit, you'll also start to do it in your dreams. And then you will, of course, notice after doing the test that you're in fact dreaming. So it's one method to cultivate lucidity.”What is mnemonic induction of lucid dreams (MILD)?“What MILD in the context of dreaming is you set a strong intention to, when you're in the dream, to recognise it as a dream and become lucid. And there are some specific practices surrounding that.“Some visualisation practices, you imagine yourself in the dream, ideally one you just woke up from, engaging with the specific content, but this time noticing that it's a dream. And you repeat that to yourself and setting this prospective memory intention over and over as you're falling asleep.”Dr Benjamin Baird's answers have been lightly edited. - RNZ

A new swimming programme in Ōamaru for neurodiverse and disabled children has been so successful, it has the potential to be rolled out in other areas.The swimming lessons are an off-shoot of a peer support group Able Minds whanau/family support worker Marne Phillips set up in June last year. She shared an office with Healthcare NZ Explore child and family psychologist Stephanie Lewis, who identified the need for it.A common story Stephanie was hearing from parents was they felt alone, and they were juggling not only typical parenting problems, but the added life factors caring for these children brings.“They felt they were doing this alone in a bubble, when in fact, there were other parents experiencing similar struggles and showing similar strengths,” she says. Marne says after doing her homework and checking there was nothing similar already happening in the area, she was given the go-ahead to start the group.Initially, it took a bit of time to get people in the doors.“This one mum came in and she said, ‘I almost didn't come in . . . I sat out there in the car, I just sat there and thought, I can't do this’.“But she braved it and she came in and she has been to almost every single group since.” Since last June, there have been more than 30 people join group meetings, and benefit from “amazing community support” from experts in various fields, she says.Topics covered in meetings include the journey to get a diagnosis - “which is the most challenging part of being a parent with neurodivergent children”, accessing funding, getting out in the community, eating, sleeping, schooling and teacher aid support, among others.“There is minimal cost to our group, and guest speakers are happy to come along without charge,” Marne says.Baking is supplied by Good Bitches Baking.While the swimming lessons are a small part of what the group does, they are a “huge success”, she says.“The feedback has been absolutely amazing.”One parent says the lessons have provided her with one-on-one time with her son, which she doesn’t get much of since she had a new baby. He loves anything to do with water, and they wanted him to become more capable and gain water safety skills.They have gained “lots” from the lessons, she says.“Swimming skills, quality time, and a real sense of belonging. The class is chaotic and everyone is doing their own thing, learning their own ways, and it’s amazing.”Another mother also has a son who “loves water in any form”, and these lessons help increase his comfort and capabilities with swimming.“It’s surprising me how he is adapting to these lessons, and his concentration is improving with each lesson, thanks to the awesome instructor, Rebecca.”Swimming and swimming lessons were identified by parents as difficult to do with a child who had complex needs.Marne spoke about the idea of swimming lessons at a Stronger Waitaki meeting. She was told by Stronger Waitaki lead Ali McIntyre and Waitaki District Council community development coordinator Enya Fisher to “action it”.“That never happens," Marne says. "I was like, ‘so, I don't have to write a fancy letter with like 10 signatures from parents, apply for funding and all that?’. “At that point it was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this could be a happening thing’.”With Stronger Waitaki support, the idea took shape, leading to a collaboration with the Waitaki Aquatic Centre which brought it to life.Rotary quickly came on board, putting money towards the lessons, which have been running in five-week blocks since earlier this year.Rotary president Miles Koberstein says the organisation is proud to support the swimming programme, which makes a significant difference to the children’s development and wellbeing, and applauds the community groups which have made it happen.There are two sets of lessons running at the moment, with four children per group.The numbers are kept low, but the programme is tailored in a way it can be expanded, provided the funding allows.“It is amazing what can happen when the community comes together, and we work as a community, basically,” Marne says.“So just being able to actually go along to the pool and see their children start to learn safety around water, making connections with other parents and children, and just being able to have something to go to on a weekly basis.“It's a progressing thing for them . . . and getting out of their comfort zone too, to be able to do that.”Waitaki Aquatic Centre programme lead Kerry Holland said the pool was proud to offer the swimming lessons to these children and their families, to help build their confidence and reduce their anxiety around water.“Every swimmer is unique and our trained instructors adapt lessons to suit individual needs and pace. Whether it’s using visual supports, one-on-one guidance, or gentle sensory approaches, we focus on making every lesson calm, fun and empowering.”The lessons are arranged during the pool’s quieter times, to avoid too much noise and stimulation. To enquire about the swimming lessons, people can contact the pool directly, or phone Marne at Able Minds 021 353 325.Able Minds is also available to support children and families going through any type of challenging situation, including grief, or a family member affected by mental health challenges or addiction.  

Ever since her first foray into the World of Wearable Arts, Tracey Vickers has been planning her next one.The Herbert artist has just found out her second entry has made it to the 2025 finals, which will take to the Wellington stage in September.This year’s entry, which is top secret until opening night, is more complex than last year, but Tracey says in some ways the whole process was easier because she learned from experience.“I knew what was to be expected, but there's still a lot to get through . . . and then there was like this added expectation, because people were like, ‘oh no, you'll get in’, and I'm like, ‘it's not as easy as that!’.”Tracey has been working on the construction of her piece since the start of last year, “chipping away” at it in her evenings and spare time, between balancing family life with two children, and her furniture restoration and upholstery business.Her 2023 Maiden of the Ferns entry took her more than 500 hours to complete, and is made of recycled upholstery scraps, plastic packaging, EVA window seals, Worbla and sequins.This entry took longer to make, and Tracey uses recycled soft plastics and milk bottles, which she has “transformed beyond their everyday appearance”.It also involved a lot more experimenting, she says.“I learned so much from last time, like all the construction, cause when my Maiden of the Ferns came back, there were little bits that I had to fix up, just the wear and tear of it, so that taught me like, ‘oh, won't do that this time around’.”It was also more “tedious”, she says.“More handcraft, like, a lot more. A lot more to sew by hand.”The entire entry process was less daunting though, because Tracey knew what to expect, but she was still anxious waiting to hear if she had made the finals.Tracey's Maiden of the Ferns on stage at the World of Wearable Arts Show in 2023. Photo: SuppliedThe first step was sending away photos of her entry, and when she heard she’d made it through to the next round, there was a week of going, ‘how am I going to send this?’ and then more than a week spent making the boxes to pack it up and send it in.“You've got to make sure they're still. They're so fragile and you’ve got to kind of think of how to pack it so it's not gonna break, move and shift around on its journey.”That was mid-May, and Tracey found out earlier this month she had made the cut. “So yeah, I had a good seven weeks of waiting, and longer than that, because you know, when you’re packing it . . . it's on your mind.She would have been “gutted” if she didn’t get through to the finals, after the amount of time spent on her piece.“Like everyone would be, you know.“But, you've got to also think, well, if it's not meant to be, then it's not meant to be, and I think I would've maybe tried to rework it and use it for something else.“You go into this knowing it's not guaranteed, but yeah, I would've had a sad week!” This year’s WOW theme is “Rise - Ignite what lies within”.The categories are Aotearoa (entries inspired by Aotearoa New Zealand), Avant Garde (experimental and unorthodox), Open (no boundaries), Air (something that can fly, float or levitate), and Neon (a celebration of colour, illumination and things that glow in the dark).When Tracey was working on Maiden of the Ferns, she had several other ideas up her sleeve for another go, but the break between her 2023 entry and this year’s was a necessary one.It allowed her time to work through her ideas before she began construction early in 2024.This creation involved more experimentation and also some failures, but she relished the learning.“It's just so different, and so there's a lot to work through, you know, things to make things work.”She made the theme work with her idea, rather than creating something around the theme.“I'm so excited this time. I know what to expect this time round. Last time it was a bit of the unknown. I did push myself more this time.” And, next time? “If there’s a next time . . . but I’ve got more ideas I didn’t follow through with with this one . . . so I’ll definitely try and incorporate some of them into the next piece.” 

The groups behind the Crucible Artist Residency are excited to announce the next two participants.Zac Whiteside (Ōtepoti/Dunedin) and Paula Collier (Ōtautahi/Christchurch) will commence their residencies in September.The Crucible Art Studios and Gallery were officially opened in September last year at Gillies Metaltech in Tyne Street, and this will be the third residency programme. Gillies Metaltech is owned by the Hynds Foundation.Zac works across sculpture, performance, and installation. Through his work he explores humour, labour, and the rituals of modern life through material contradiction, visual metaphor, and wordplay. He graduated with First Class Honours from the Dunedin School of Art in 2023 and is the co-director and curator of Pond Gallery, an artist-run space that supports early-career artists. He has recently exhibited in Through the Fray at Blue Oyster Art Project Space (Opened June 13) and Piss at Pond Gallery (Opened June 27), a group show he also curated. Paula is a visual artist, now based in Te-Whanganui a Tara/Wellington region. Her practice spans installation, sculpture and photography.Zac Whiteside pictured with Behold OZ for The Four Plinths Project 2023. Photo: Supplied/@lepaomaShe studied sculpture at Elam School of Fine Art in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland and in 2024 completed a Masters of Fine Arts at Massey University Te Whanganui-a-Tara.Her recent exhibitions are To Be Sure, We Are Speaking (The Engine Room, 2024), A Series of Actions and Observations (The Wellington Working Men’s Club, 2024) and Diurnal Aspect (play_station Gallery).She is interested in the dynamic relationship between materials, architectural scale, and unique light qualities of sites, and her installations engage with the ongoing life cycles and active invisibility of spaces and materials. Experience working as a textile artist in the film industry has provided opportunities for incorporating repurposed or waste materials into her artwork, exploring their qualities beyond their intended practical use.The residency provides the artists with the opportunity to develop their creative practices, independently or in collaborations between artists, and the skilled Gillies Metaltech foundrymen, connect with the vibrant Waitaki arts community through the experience, and develop new work with opportunity for an Open Studio at the culmination of the residency. The artists are supported with a stipend of $650 per week, and accommodation for the duration of the 12-week residency, as well as 20 hours of technician support, and a subsidy for foundry materials used.

The band has been rising rapidly up the Spotify charts with nearly 2 million monthly listeners. Where does this controversy leave other artists?‘Dust on the Wind’ has been listened to more than 1.2 million times. But the band that plays it, Velvet Sundown, doesn’t exist.Spotify has now changed the band's bio to confirm the music has been created using artificial intelligence while, “guided by human creative direction”.It's not a trick, the bio states, it's a “mirror”.Photo: Fernando Gutierrez-Juarez / dpa-Zentralbild / dpa Picture-Alliance via AFP/RNZRelated stories:The dos and don'ts of applying for a job using AICan you turn off generative AI from social media and your phone?How to tell if an image or video has been created by AI - and if we still canBut what original work was ‘Dust on the Wind’ trained on? It remains legally contended, Dr Joshua Uvaraj explained to RNZ’s Nine to Noon.Uvaraj is a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Law at the University of Auckland and co-director of the New Zealand Centre for Intellectual Property.The song was likely made with an AI generator called Suno, Uvaraj says.“That works, as I understand it, in similar ways to other chatbots like ChatGPT or other programs in that you would put in an instruction and generate some sort of song or musical pattern, and the AI generator would generate that.“Now, the question then becomes, to what extent was there some sort of complexity in the instruction? And to what extent did whoever's involved edit the output? Did they add more manual instruments? Did they slow it down or speed it? Did they record the vocals themselves? So, it's very opaque, what has happened here, but at least at some level and some important level, AI has been involved to generate the music involved.”Listen on Nine to Noon: The new band that wasn't: AI created Velvet SundownThere are legal challenges going on throughout the world to AI generated music, he says.“There is a big dispute around the world at the moment as to whether or not an AI company can legitimately train its models on vast quantities of information, the vast majority of which they probably have not appropriately licensed, although they are starting to license content now from, say, the New York Times and other publishers.”Artists have been suing AI companies in the US, and recently in the UK, arguing that training AI on their work is copyright infringement, but very few legal determinations have so far been been made, he says.In the US AI companies are using ‘fair use’ conventions to access copyrighted material, he says.“If you want to reproduce a work for your class or something like that, or a whole bunch of other things where common sense would say that's really not copyright infringement. The AI companies have been arguing that what they're doing is fair use.“Two lower district courts in California, I believe, have indicated some tentative agreement with that, but we have a while to go before we have a firm legal position on that.”The UK, Australia and New Zealand don't have a broad fair use exception, he says.“We have a very narrow exception for things like reporting the news or doing criticism or review.“We were on the verge of getting that guidance from the UK, but then the company that was suing an AI, Getty Images, they dropped their copyright claim during the trial.”Artists in New Zealand are waiting on the Government to indicate whether or not they will amend existing the intellectual property framework to address AI training, he says“Also questions like, if an AI produces a copyright infringing work, well then who's liable for that? Who can you sue? Who can you seek compensation from?“So those are some of the questions that copyright law really needs to address, and we're waiting for the government to see what they will do.” - RNZ

For those beer lovers in the know, Craftwork Brewery’s inaugural Belgian beer festival, or Bruxelles Oamaru 2025, was a quiet success.The festival, which took place on Harbour Street at the weekend (July 4-6), was a coming together of Belgian beer makers from across New Zealand, and 200 of their thirsty customers. Only about 20 of those customers were local.Punters described it as “outstanding”, “unmissable”, “amazing” and even “majestic”.“You should be so proud to have brought a festival of such a calibre to the beer fiends of Aotearoa,” one commented.“Everyone involved in making this happen did an incredible job. By far the best beer event I have been to,” said another.Craftwork brewer and co-owner Lee-Ann Scotti says the idea of the festival, featuring beer “on the sour and funky end of the curve”, had been brewing for a while.“I've always wanted to do a small beer festival that brought in people who like this sort of beer, because it's very niche, but make it more of a weekend event, because I knew not many locals would be interested, but it would be very interesting for other people.”She put a single post up on social media in January about it, and the 200 tickets “pretty much sold out”, she says.“I kept a few tickets for locals who I knew would be interested . . . and there was a sign put up at Portsider in Port Chalmers, so a few people from Port Chalmers came up.”Eight breweries took part including Craftwork; they were Garage Project (Wellington), Karamu Barrelworks (Waikato), Nine Barnyard Owls (Wairarapa), 8 Wired Brewing (Matakana), North End Brewery (Waikanae), Wilderness (Christchurch), Cell Division (Dunedin). There was a Friday night brewers’ dinner for 30, catered for by the Portsider’s Pip Honeychurch and Hanz Dekker, which allowed all the brewers to gather before Saturday’s main event, and was “a lovely way to kick off”, Lee-Ann says.The main event was on the Saturday.“We had tastings that were curated by a chap called David Moynagh from Auckland, who frequently does beer tastings. And he provided three tastings that people booked for before the festival.”Lee Ann also did a special tasting during the festival of a beer called Orval.“People were able to drink a one-year-old and a five-year-old . . . A drop of Brettanomyces is put in during bottling and that changes the flavour. So the one-year-old's very fruity, and the five-year-old's very dry.“So I was able to do 10 of those (tastings), I did little roving tastings, which was fun.”It took her four hours to make it around everyone, and she convinced people to share, which brought people who didn’t know each other together, she says.“I really enjoyed that.”Pip Honeychurch and Hanz Dekker from the Portsider preparing Friday night's brewers' dinner. Photo: Supplied/Facebook On Sunday, a bottle-share buffet breakfast was held, and people were encouraged to bring a bottle of their own to share, either from their collection or something they had brewed themselves. Breakfast was provided by Harbour Street Collective Cafe.“So this festival was absolutely run in conjunction with Kat from Harbour Street Cafe,” Lee-Ann says.The back doors of both businesses were open so people could wander between the two, and each festival ticket included a burger and fries from the cafe for dinner, and a charcuterie cup as people first walked in the door. “So we were then able to ensure people were eating. We just really wanted it to be a well-managed festival.”Because the type of beer Lee-Ann and partner Michael O’Brien make isn’t widely brewed, those who do make it get to know each other well, and enjoy collaborating.“So we actually made a beer with Wilderness and Cell Division in February,” Lee-Ann says.“When we get together, we loosely call ourselves the Southern Farmhouse Collective, because farmhouses are just a descriptor for beers that aren't necessarily sour but are a bit funky.”The three brewhouses have exhibited at the Dunedin Beer Festival together and also taken part in beer dinners. Lee Ann says the biggest positive of working together is the relationships that result.“Friendship. Fellowship. Idea sharing. Oxygen.” She and Michael hope to run Bruxelle Oamaru annually - people are already asking them to do it again, she says. But they don’t want it to ger any bigger.“Some people said they felt like they were at a wedding where they knew a lot of the guests, because some people might be living in Christchurch, Auckland, Wellington, but they see each other at festivals and events a lot. “So, I knew most of the people at this festival . . . 11 years we've been commercially brewing, and met a lot of people and most, a lot of them, were at the festival.”Some beers were brewed specifically for the weekend as one-offs, while others were new releases, which made it extra special, Lee-Ann says.

Waitaki App reporter Zara Murphy was treated to the final dress rehearsal of the Musical Theatre Ōamaru production of Oliver! and offers her thoughts for those on the fence about buying a ticket.“Please sir, can I have some more?”I was thrilled to attend the final dress rehearsal for Oliver! - Lionel Bart’s much-loved musical, based on Charles Dickens’ classic novel Oliver Twist.Musical Theatre Oamaru president and show production manager Melissa (Liss) Yockney, playing usher to the intimate audience, was simmering with a quiet excitement.I asked Liss, “Why Oliver?” She replied, “Why not?”But the appeal was in the ability to accommodate a diverse cast.One hundred and twenty people auditioned for around 80 parts, with approximately 50 cast members under the age of 18 - ranging in age from 7 through to 67.The group has been in rehearsals since March, and you can imagine the laughter and fun that went on behind the scenes, not to mention the dedication and effort from all involved.The scene is set with a rousing intro from the finely-tuned orchestra. Sound bellows out, stirring a curious excitement for what's to come, and the goosebumps start.The 16-piece orchestra is made up of Ōamaru and Waimate locals.The first three rows of seating are removed to accommodate the musicians. The last time the orchestra pit was used was in 2018 for Mamma Mia!.Krissy McGeown as the "tart with a heart", Nancy. Photo: Supplied/FacebookThe cast wastes no time in capturing the audience; the show is high energy and action-packed.Food, Glorious Food performed by the Workhouse Boys, is the opener and introduces some key characters.Oliver, played by Quinn Conlan, makes her musical debut in the titular role and is instantly endearing as the sweet, innocent orphan boy, her angelic voice captivating the audience.Where is love? is a moving standout, reminding the audience of the child’s sad upbringing.Jemima Riley-Duddin wows as the magnetic and charming Artful Dodger - a vivacious character, perfectly cast and clad in an eye-catching outfit to match.Described as an “elderly rogue” and the patriarch of a rag-tag street family, David Blair, played a wickedly ‘good’ Fagin.Performing since 1981, his solo rendition of Reviewing the Situation, made it clear he felt at home in the spotlight.Consider Yourself unprepared for the powerhouse that is Krissy McGeown playing Nancy. A luscious lady in red, she lights up the stage with her presence and voice. Expect thrills, chills and spills.The cast of Oliver!. Photo: Supplied/FacebookLighting was skillfully used to create the mood in each scene and magnify key moments, while the set design was magnificent and masterfully executed - the main piece on stage cleverly utilised in every way throughout the show.It’s no easy feat to choreograph a varied cast of more than 80 members, but Anna Stuart, with her 35-plus years of experience, and Shannon Bond as her assistant, accomplished something wonderful.Anna says it's the music, the lyrics and storyline that inform the movement.Waimate-based director Helen Horsnell was looking for something fresh, not seen before in Ōamaru, to showcase our local talent, and I was on the edge of my seat for every splendid minute!Expect to laugh, cry and experience a shock or two.Who will buy….their tickets to the show with a Twist?Oliver! is running at the Ōamaru Opera House from 10-19 July.

Venue operators and promoters say attracting the biggest artists to NZ is difficult. Now there are calls now for the government to step in to help lure these artists back with financial incentives.By RNZ reporter Adam BurnsVenue operators and event promoters are appealing to the government to look at financial incentives in a bid to secure major concerts.It follows claims that New Zealand has been increasingly overlooked by the music industry's top flight stadium acts, despite their respective tours touching down in Australia.Listen to Checkpoint here: Is NZ getting short changed when it comes to big concerts?However, the government appears uninterested in such a move, expressing doubt as to how lucrative big concerts are to the economy.US singer Taylor Swift performs on stage during a concert as part of her Eras World Tour in Sydney on February 23, 2024. Photo: AFP / DAVID GRAY via RNZRelated stories:'Turn it into a retirement village': Inside the war of words over Eden ParkColdplay's Chris Martin says Auckland is one of his favourite ever shows‘Swiftonomics’ - the unparalleled influence of Taylor Swift'Taylor Swift's record-breaking Eras tour, which remains the highest grossing of all time, included several Australian dates in February 2024, and none for New Zealand.An Australian-based finance lecturer said a handful of Swift shows could have generated more than $70 million for New Zealand's economy.Several international acts, such as Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Green Day, Mariah Carey and the high-profile Oasis reunion, have confirmed Australian shows over the past year, but have omitted New Zealand from their respective itinerariesMusic journalist and commentator Chris Schulz has been outspoken on the matter, chronicling the perceived trend extensively in his Substack newsletter Boiler Room."If you're anything like me, you're sick and tired of this horrible trend," he wrote last month."Major artists are skipping us, and the only way to see them is to spend thousands of dollars on flights and accommodation multiple times a year. It's new, it sucks, and you're not the only one feeling bad about it."Christchurch's Kirsten Rendell travelled to Australia with a friend for Billie Eilish's string of shows in February. The trip cost about $3000.Kirsten Rendell. Photo: Supplied via RNZ"She announced her tour in May last year and New Zealand wasn't on there," she said."So me and my friend spontaneously bought tickets for Sydney. We were only there for five days."We waited 12 hours to get near the front the first night."The 23-year-old also felt there had been a downturn in New Zealand staging shows of the top-tier artists."I think we used to, but I think the biggest we've had is like Coldplay in November.Coldplay perform at Auckland's Eden Park on November 14, 2024. Photo: Tom Grut via RNZ"But for the big artists like Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Sabrina Carpenter, we don't get any of that anymore."The New Zealand office of events giant Live Nation declined to comment.NZ not losing out, but cost a factor - promotersEvent promoters have rebuffed suggestions the country was being overlooked by major concerts more frequently.However, they admit getting big names to New Zealand comes at a cost.TEG Live's New Zealand head of touring David Benge said acts bypassing the country when touring was nothing new."I don't buy into that narrative," he said.David Benge. Photo: Zac Arnold via RNZ"You look at Spark Arena, there's an insane amount of shows there. Lenny Kravitz has just been announced, Central Cee played there the other week. It's a very busy arena."Benge also pointed out Charli XCX had headlined "the biggest ever" Laneway festival in February, whilst Metallica were set to play Auckland's Eden Park later this year.Charli XCX at the Laneway Festival in Auckland. Photo: Serena Solomon via RNZEccles Entertainment founder Brent Eccles said it was not a case of New Zealand being neglected, but promoters "trying to make sense of the market"."More and more of the top-end artists have productions that are eye-watering," he said."It's not just New Zealanders missing out, but parts of Australia. It's due to the size of the shows."Brent Eccles. Photo: supplied via RNZ"I think everyone needs to [reign] their belts in and the venues shouldn't be charging so much, along with production companies."We have to be mindful of it."New Zealand's guidelines around withholding tax for international artists are another factor, Benge said."[Australia] has a different taxation system. That's a distinction between the two markets."We're told by artists regularly that artists can make more money doing a weekend of shows in America, than they can coming out to Australia for a two-week run."Operators of Christchurch's new central city stadium One New Zealand Stadium (also known as Te Kaha) were banking on sports events and at least four major concerts annually after it opens in April 2026.The capacity of the 30,000 seat venue would extend to up to 36,000 for major concerts.One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch. Photo: Supplied via RNZVenues Ōtautahi chief executive Caroline Harvie-Teare said although the city was primed for big events, there were obstacles facing operators."It is the most expensive place in the world to get to, and one of the most expensive places to travel around" she said.Call for government supportEccles has proposed the government pick up some of the tab for major concerts, considering the benefits it brought to the country, both culturally and economically.Like the country's Australian counterparts, a move to seed fund should be considered, he said."I think that's really important to recognise what it does for New Zealanders when they come," he said.Benge agreed concerts should be eligible for central government funding and said there should be changes to withholding tax rules."There's been tax incentives for the film industry to come film here. We should be looking at the same (for concerts). Due to the undisputed GDP benefit that a large musical event brings to a city," he said.Earlier this year, Eden Park's chief executive Nick Saunter appealed for seed funding for big events amid a "competitive concert market" and a $15m drop in revenue.The imminent opening of Christchurch's Te Kaha in nine months’ time will introduce another local player into the domestic market.Harvie-Teare said central government funding for the larger-scale stadium acts would be a welcome move, as long as it was not "Auckland-centric"."If we want to position New Zealand as an attractive place to come, and we want to bring those major artists here, central government funding would of course be advantageous. But it needs to be a national strategy," she said.Further south, operators of Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium said the venue remained attractive to promoters, despite fierce competition, particularly across the Tasman.Dunedin Venues chief executive Paul Doorn said its most recent concert was Pink in early 2024.P!nk performs during her Summer Carnival tour at Chase Field on October 09, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. Photo: AFP/Getty Images via RNZ"Support from central government to make New Zealand more attractive for major events - and in particular large-scale concerts - would be welcome. The economic footprint of these events extends far beyond the gates, bringing visitor economy uplift, increased jobs, cultural benefits, city and regional promotions."In Wellington, the last significant concert at Sky Stadium was the Foo Fighters in January 2024, with nothing pencilled in for the future.Concert profits 'go offshore' - GovernmentLast month, the government launched its tourism growth roadmap, including a $5 million fund for major events.Concerts were however not eligible.In a statement to RNZ, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston said she was open to reviewing its criteria."We'd be happy to look into it but need to be realistic about whether concerts generate economic value for New Zealand."Some may generate an economic boost for the region where they're held, however overall, the profit tends to go offshore." - RNZ

Now it is easier to do your bit to help protect Otago’s biodiversity, with an online pest reporting platform.Sightings of a rook, the Mediterranean fanworm or other identified pests, can now be reported immediately online, directly alerting the Otago Regional Council Biosecurity team.  The new online Report Pests form is a quick way to alert the ORC biosecurity team to priority pests or any potential biosecurity threats in the Otago region, team leader Robert Win says. “This form has been designed to capture information about priority pests in Otago,” he says. “Priority pests are a significant environmental concern that have either not yet established, or not widely established and have the potential to cause substantial harm, such as moth plant or the freshwater gold clam.” The form, which can be found on the ORC website as well as on the priority pest pages, works on laptop and mobile devices, and collects pest sighting details, precise location data, and other information for the biosecurity team to investigate.   People can still use ORC’s 0800 number (0800 474 082) to report pests, but emphasis will be on promoting citizen science and for the public to use the form. The pesky moth plant has fist-sized fruit which each produce about 400 seeds. Photo: ORC websiteThe benefits of using the form directly, rather than going through the ORC customer service team means Information can be passed on in a timelier manner, more accurate pest descriptions and location data can be provided with the forms, and less double handling of information by council staff. “Citizen science is a valuable way the public can help protect Otago’s environment,” Robert says. “Otago is home to many threatened and taonga species. We can help to protect these and the region’s wider indigenous biodiversity if we all work together, especially if biosecurity staff have timely information on pest sightings and exact locations.” The form lets people upload photos and pin the exact location of the sighting. You can leave your contact details or choose to remain anonymous.

By RNZ Morning ReportA new project backed by film-maker Sir Peter Jackson aims to bring the extinct South Island giant moa back to life in less than eight years.Listen on Morning Report: US bioscience company working to bring Moa back to lifeThe South Island giant moa stood up to 3.6 metres tall, weighed around 230kg and typically lived in forests and shrubbery.Using advanced genetic engineering, iwi Ngāi Tahu, Canterbury Museum, and US biotech firm Colossal Biosciences plan to extract DNA from preserved moa remains to recreate the towering flightless bird.Listen on Morning Report: Project aims to bring Moa back from extinctionSenior curator of natural history at Canterbury Museum which holds the largest collection of moa remains in the world, Paul Scofield, says he's optimistic about the collaboration.He says they hope to eventually have an ecological reserve on Ngāi Tahu land for moa.However, the New Scientist magazine which questioned the Colossal Biosciences claims over resurrecting the extinct dire wolf earlier this year said it had been vindicted because the company's chief scientist had conceded the animals were merely modified grey wolves.The dire wolf was "the world's first successfully de-extincted animal", Colossal Biosciences claimed on 7 April.Weeks later Beth Shapiro said it wasn't "possible to bring something back that is identical to a species that used to be alive. Our animals are grey wolves with 20 edits that are cloned".Picture via RNZ100% confidence in projectColossal Biosciences chief executive and co-founder Ben Lamm said humans drove the moa to extinction so if technology could help bring it back and contribute to saving other existing species as well as inspire children it would be "the holy grail".Ngāi Tahu Research Centre would effectively be like a board of directors for the project, he told Morning Report.While the business worked with conservationists and indigenous groups all over the world, "we've never had this level of cultural immersion before ... the excitement here at Colossal is just palpable."Ngāi Tahu Research Centre would be the owners of the moa and would have a full input into everything being done.The habitat still existed that the moa would live in, however, "we don't expect them to be running through Christchurch."The project had only just started, however, he was confident that within a decade a moa hatchling would be a reality "and back on this planet"."I hope it's closer to five or six [years] ... worst case ten, but it's still miraculous in terms of that technology curve."He was 100 percent confident moa would become a reality because the tools and technology existed."We're just advancing them further."Sir Peter Jackson who is funding the project said he had assumed years ago that many scientific wonders would become a reality in his lifetime.However, it hasn't happened and he was impressed with the work of Colossal Biosciences which "has rekindled my hope for the future", he said on the company's website.'Astonishing leaps'Scofield, told Morning Report the project was "an astonishing opportunity".The US firm was world-leading in its field and was also trying to bring back the woolly mammoth, the dodo, the Tasmanian tiger and other extinct animals.It was making "astonishing leaps on an almost daily basis".The museum's main role was to ensure the project was Māori-led. It was working with the Ngāi Tahu Research Centre at the University of Canterbury and also ensuring all the concerns of Māori were addressed."The research will actually benefit Māori economically in creating a vast ecological reserve on Māori land where moa are actually are able to be seen."The necessary DNA would come partly from the remains at the museum but also from freshly excavated material.The latter would be better quality because some of the former had been stored for 160 years."We're hoping the combination of freshly excavated material and the collections themselves will enable us to have the genetic resources we require for this project."The process was called de-extinction because thousands of genes would need to be identified covering the moa's size, brain capacity, feathers, colour, eyesight and other characteristics.Then a related living species would be used as a genetic surrogate."Doing things that have effectively never been done before outside the human genome to actually recreate animals that are actually to all intents and purposes are exactly analagous to the extinct species." - RNZ

Trish Hurley is a proud promoter of plastic-free living.In Trish’s house, they produce half a bag of rubbish every six months. She attributes this to only buying things she knows can be recycled.Trish manages the Waitaki Resource Recovery Trust. Having worked in waste recovery for nearly 20 years, she has “a lot of experience at seeing different things happen in different regions”.“People don't realise that when you create rubbish, you've always got to pay something, but when you have recycling, there's a smaller charge, and it's actually better for the environment. So the more we can do to create less waste, the better we will be.“I know what we can do. We are happy to try and help people find other ways than creating waste and to do more recycling,” Trish says.One such way is the upcoming Plastic Free July Expo & Repair Café, being held at the Waitaki Recreation Centre this Saturday (July 12), between 10am and 2pm.Several successful repair cafés have been held in the Waitaki in the past two years, and this will be the second Plastic Free July Expo.Trish hopes the day will show people it's easier to grab something which can be reused time and time again rather than having something plastic you can only use once or twice.Attendees can bring items for repair across a range of categories, including welding jobs, bicycles, sewing, jewellery, carpentry and lawnmowers.The expo aims to showcase various sustainable initiatives.Highlights include presentations from Just One Thing Waitaki, slow fashion, and reusable products for your home.Two workshops are generating significant interest: a cheese-making workshop and the Recycle a Device workshop. Both require registration before Saturday.Recycle a Device offers an opportunity for 20 participants to "learn how to diagnose issues within their device, get their device up and running, and they get to keep that laptop at the end of it", Trish says.“We've only got a few spots left for that.”To get involved in the workshops, or for any inquiries email [email protected], or phone 03 434 0999.Community feedback on past repair cafes and events has been overwhelmingly positive, with "great community support".While a select few are already committed to a zero-waste path, there's a "slowly building momentum with other people coming along”, Trish says.Trish is often found out and about, teaching people "how to live plastic free or as plastic free as possible".She also offers waste audits to prove how small the footprint can be and how much less waste they can have.For those wishing to embark on their plastic-free journey, the advice is simple."Just get in touch."Pamphlets are available detailing what can be recycled, and the local recycling facility is always seeking new markets, “to try and find other things that we can recycle”.“We actually recycle more here in Ōamaru than a lot of other towns," Trish says.People have the option to bring a wider range of items directly to the facility, including polystyrene and soft plastics, which are not typically accepted.“There's about 20 different things that we can actually recycle that aren't in your normal standardised, curbside collection."Trish is also keen to expand the pool of skilled locals for the repair cafè.“If you are interested in coming along, if you've got something that you're passionate about that could help with repairs for anything, we are always looking for other repairers."We are happy to have as many people as possible be involved in these activities that we run."

~ Opinion ~In a sea of 50 to 150 applicants, you've got 15 seconds to make it into the 'interview-pile' - or get ignored. It's a competitive market and it can be disheartening especially if you're sending out application after application, only to be met with silence or a polite “thanks, but no thanks.”So how do you stand out from the others and get noticed?1. Pick Up the Phone — Before You Hit SendThis simple step can have a big impact: call the organisation before you apply.Find out who’s responsible for hiring, and if possible, speak with them directly.Ask what they’re really looking for in a candidate: skills, attributes and a bit more about the workplace culture.This gives you valuable insight to tailor your CV and cover letter more specifically for the role and organisation.Even better, you now know who you're addressing your covering letter to (and yes, a covering letter is essential)!You’ve also made a personal connection so, you're no longer just another name in the pile.You're someone who showed initiative, asked smart questions and expressed genuine interest and that makes a lasting impression.2. Take Control of Your Personal BrandWe all have a personal brand whether we’re aware of it or not.It’s the impression you leave with people, including potential employers and networking contacts.Your brand is a mix of your experience, values, skills, enthusiasm, presentation and importantly... your online presence.You know your potential employer could be (likely, will be) Googling you so Googling yourself first.What do you find?What do your social media profiles say about you - LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok - is it time for a clean-up?You want your profiles to reflect the same professional story your CV is telling.Across platforms, as in real life, authenticity is key.3. Tap into the Hidden Job MarketMany roles are never advertised and that’s why networking is more than just a buzzword, it's a strategic job search tool.Start by mapping out your current networks; friends, family, former colleagues, mentors and community connections.Then, expand from that base to consider professional associations, referrals, recruitment agencies, LinkedIn connections and even cold calling.You can set up some informational interviews (more on that in the next article) but in short, they are conversations - not pitches - to find out more about industries and roles, while building relationships.Write down who you could reach out to and make a plan to grow your network intentionally.The hidden job market is real and well-nurtured relationships can unlock opportunities you never saw coming.Final Thought: Be Kind to YourselfThe job search takes time, persistence and emotional energy.Celebrate the small wins.Every interview is progress.And don’t go it alone. A trusted friend, mentor or career coach can help guide you, give you valuable feedback and boost your resilience when rejection stings.Remember, the right job is out there and with the right strategies, you can stand out and land it.Jenny Bean is a professional member of the Career Development Association of NZ (CDANZ). If you are looking for career development support (personal or organisational), contact her at CareerBeanz.

The days left to vote for Waianakarua’s famous “Chook Tree” as New Zealand’s Tree of the Year 2025 are dwindling.The tree is one of six to have made it into the final round of the national competition, after being anonymously nominated by a fan. Voting closes on Monday (June 30).Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher is urging the district to get behind the sculpted conifer.“Waitaki’s got something truly eggstra special in this year’s national Tree of the Year competition – a tree shaped like a chicken, right here in Waianakarua,” he says.“It’s quirky, it’s iconic, and it’s got the whole district clucking with pride.” New Zealand Tree of the Year is in its fourth year.Trustee of the New Zealand Notable Trees Trust, Brad Cadwallader, says when they select trees, judges consider the stories associated with them and how people connect with them."We try to ensure regional representation across the country and a mix of exotic and native trees where possible. Importantly, Tree of the Year is about an individual tree, not a species like oak or pōhutukawa." The competition shares stories of trees that hold cultural, historical, and personal significance, drawing inspiration from the long-running European Tree of the Year, he says. "The heart of the competition lies in community engagement. “These trees are part of our shared story - they hold our memories, mark our histories, and shape our landscapes. Tree of the Year is about celebrating that connection and recognising the communities who care for them.”The winner will be announced next Saturday (July 5).The Chook Tree stands out from the other competitors for obvious reasons.Positioned along State Highway 1 near Wainakarua, it’s almost impossible to miss. Also, it weirdly resembles a giant hen, and thirdly, (also weirdly) there is a strategically placed Moeraki boulder “egg” under its tail feathers.You might be surprised (or not) to learn the tree wasn’t born that way.The Hespercyparis macrocarpa suffered some broken branches in stormy weather back in 1978, which left it looking uncannily chicken-like.  Local poultry farmers Norman and Evelyn Clarke saw its potential for their business, and carefully pruned it into the bird it is today.The unusual roadside attraction has been capturing the imagination of passersby for close to 50 years. The Chook Tree (NZ Tree Register number OR/0578) is a reminder of creativity, resilience, and the charm of the unexpected, according to the Tree of the Year website.The Fairy Tree, a Morton Bay Fig in Auckland Domain, is cool, but not as cool as the Chook Tree. Photo: Supplied/Tree of the Year websiteOther trees in the running for taking out top spot are the Fairy Tree in Auckland Domain, the Phantom Rātā at Makiti Dome, Bay of Plenty, the Greytown Gum, at St Luke’s Church, Greytown, the Rangiora Borough School Redwood, at Rangiora Borough School, Canterbury and Te Herenga Ora, at Burnside High School, Christchurch.Although all naturally spectacular in their own ways, none of them is as unnaturally spectacular as the Chook Tree.The finalists were chosen by an expert panel, who looked at hundreds of nominations, before whittling them down to six trees to represent regions across the country. "​Tree of the Year is not about the biggest or most beautiful tree, but about the stories and heritage that connects us to our trees. It’s about celebrating the trees that play an important part in our lives, our history and our future,” the website says.Gary urges Waitaki to get the Chook Tree over the line.“Let’s not let this feathered favourite go unnoticed – get your vote in now!”Visit the Tree of the Year website to vote.

Believe it or not, it’s school holiday time, yet again!For those not lucky enough to be travelling to a tropical island somewhere, or hitting the slopes, there is still plenty happening in the Waitaki to keep the kids occupied. We have selected a few options …Kick your holidays off, by exhausting the children with a good boogie at the Kids Disco Night, a fundraiser for the Network Waitaki Event Centre this Friday night (June 27).This is the second time the fundraiser disco has been run, and it will be at the Loan and Merc, at two separate times for different ages, to keep everyone safe and happy.Years 1 to 4 can dance themselves to a standstill from 5pm to 6.30pm, and Years 5-8 from 7pm to 8.30pm.The younger ones need to be accompanied by an adult, while the older kids will be supervised, with no pass-outs, so you know they’re safe.  Entry is $5 and includes the necessary disco glowstick accessory, with drinks and snacks also available for $2 a pop.Scenes from the last disco fundraiser held for the Waitaki Event Centre. Photo: Supplied/FacebookOnce the kids have recovered from dancing the night away, you might want to take them to soak up some culture.The George Burns Memorial Art Exhibition is running until July 13, at the Forrester Gallery.Every year schools and pre-schools from around the district contribute a number of artworks to the exhibition as a celebration of children’s art. See if your child can spot their own artwork - or a friend’s.The Waitaki Recreation Centre is once again running its Active Kids Holiday Programme in the first week of the holidays.For $10 a day or $36 for all four days, your primary-age children will be kept off the devices, and get to experience a range of different sports and activities, thanks to a bunch of great volunteers. Be quick to register though, places fill up fast.Also at the Recreation Centre, in the second week, the latest craze - Cross Over Basketball - is running on Monday (July 7) and Tuesday (July 8), in the mornings for years 3 to 6.Again, don’t forget to register, or you could miss out.Not against picking a pocket or two, are Fagin's young gang of followers, who can be seen on stage in Oliver! at the Ōamaru Opera House. Photo: FacebookPerfectly timed with school holidays, Musical Theatre Ōamaru's production of Oliver! has two 4pm performances in the last weekend of the holidays.This means the younger children who want to see this classic family musical aren't kept out past their bedtimes.And now that Riviera Cinema Oamaru has opened a third screen, the movie options are aplenty, for some kid (and parent) quiet time.Don’t forget Aqualand is at the Waitaki Aquatic Centre with its amazing-looking indoor inflatable water park on July 5 and 6, for kids over six. The pool is open every other day as well.Waitaki Libraries also have things in the pipeline, with the promise of Superhero Fun - details yet to be released.Pottery Patch - where you can paint your own ceramic piece - is open seven days from 10.30am to 5pm these holidays, at 1 Ribble St. And just for the holidays they are offering a free hot chocolate with every paint. For those parents who are still working, and need a hand with the childcare, Youthtown and Oscar@Fenwick have once again got your back, and WINZ support is available to help cover costs.

By RNZ Digital Explainer Editor Nik DirgaExplainer - Love it or hate it, artificial intelligence is everywhere these days.But for every new technology, there are always people who will exploit it.AI-generated images are unavoidable online, with many intentionally being used to mislead, scam or monetise outrage.If you are not a computer or AI expert, how do you even know what's what anymore?The good news: You can often still tell the real from the AI. The bad news: It's getting harder all the time.False images and videos are frequently being churned out in response to real-life events - many regarding the Israel-Iran conflict were just the latest example of propaganda hitting social media.RNZ spoke to AI and fact-checking experts about how the average internet scroller can figure out if that amazing viral image of Abraham Lincoln with his iPhone might just possibly be fake.Did Godzilla attack downtown Auckland? Sorry, it's just AI. Photo: Made with Google AI via RNZHow can I even tell if an image is fake now?"It's really hard," Victoria University senior lecturer in AI Andrew Lensen admitted."Generative AI models, where users provide a description (caption) of what they want and the model tries to create it, have come a long way over the past few years."Andrea Leask, deputy CEO of the online safety non-profit organisation Netsafe, said the easy availability of apps and technology using AI had played a big part."Anyone can generate AI content," she said. "A child can create digitally altered images."Ben James is the editor of AAP FactCheck, a division of the Australian Associated Press. (Full disclosure: This reporter also writes for AAP FactCheck.) James said the flaws and mistakes in AI imagery were becoming much more subtle."AI fakes are far more sophisticated than they were six months ago, and they will continue to evolve. Gone are the days of six-fingered people."A bizarre AI generated video of Will Smith eating spaghetti went viral online in 2023. Photo: Screenshot / Reddit via RNZLensen agreed, noting the early rubbery clunkiness of older AI images was rapidly fading away."We all laughed at Will Smith eating spaghetti or people having seven fingers in 2023, but now the AI models are sufficiently advanced that it basically no longer happens."I think for the general public, reliably recognising AI images is no longer possible, and for AI/media experts, there's not much time left."James said that AAP FactCheck asked three questions at the beginning of every check it does: Who is making the claim, what is the evidence, and what do trusted sources say."Whether we are talking to journalists, schoolchildren, or seniors, we always return to that three-question process."It doesn't have to be overly burdensome, but it is a way of prompting those key critical thinking skills and will, nine times out of ten, keep you out of trouble."Google's Gemini AI was asked to generate a view of Wellington's Cuba Street, and this is what it came up with. While on first glance it may be all right, look closer at the signs in the background. Photo: Made with Google AISo what can the average person do to detect an AI image?Looking closely at images can reveal clues they are not what they appear to be."AI still struggles with textures and shadows," James said."It also struggles with small details, particularly writing. Look for name badges, logos, road signs, and similar elements; often, the words will be garbled."Be wary of perfection. Often, AI images are just a little too perfect: airbrushed skin, background details all perfectly framed."With video, there could also be tell-tale signs."Look for distortions, particularly around the face, hair and hands," Netsafe's Leask said."For example, flickering around the face and hair, inconsistencies in skin texture, unnatural eye movements or finger placements."Another simple solution is to use what's called a reverse image detector - a search engine that looks for other instances of a photo to determine where it first came from.It can be useful for tracking down the original version of an altered photo or a photo of a past event being presented as a current one.Popular reverse image searchers included TinEye and Google Images' own search."Various AI-detection tools, while not perfect, can offer further indications as to whether an image or video is genuine," James said.However, Lensen was sceptical about their long-term usefulness."There is a real 'arms race' of AI generation vs AI detection, and I don't see a way for the detectors to win," Lensen said."After all, we train these AI models to generate the most realistic content possible, which means as the generator gets better, the detector has an increasingly harder task."In fact, many of these models will be trained by having an AI detector that the generator has to 'fool' during the training process!"Lensen said in his university work, he does not support using AI detectors to check over student work as the consequences of "false positives" - being accused of using AI when you aren't - can be quite harmful.Look for trusted sources - who might not be your cousin sharing posts on FacebookWhen it comes to detecting AI, your own brainpower and detective skills may be the most important tool.That means cultivating a wider base of sources - and yes, responsible media plays a big part."You need to have your trusted sources," James said."Despite all the talk of deception, reputable media organisations do a pretty good job of separating fact from fiction. Therefore, you need reliable sources you can count on.""My advice in 2025 is to look at the provenance of the image," Lensen said."On social media, is it a profile with a history of legitimate posts (around a common theme) or is it a strange profile who seems to post very regularly on different topics?"This is, really, all those 'critical thinking'/source checking that we used to do pre-internet days."It is, unfortunately, more work for/onus on the person consuming the content, but I think being a sceptic is a really important skill in the age of mis/disinformation."A fake video claiming Christopher Luxon was promoting online trading did the rounds last year. Photo: Supplied / AAP Factcheck via RNZVideo scams aren't just of celebrities anymoreFalse videos could be trickier to debunk, but one of the key things to look out for was whether it was an unlikely subject for the person in the video to be talking about - celebrities were often "duplicated" for crypto and investment scams.For instance, last year, a fake video featuring Prime Minister Christopher Luxon backing an online trading company did the rounds.Sometimes, victims were not even celebrities. Sir Jim Mann, a leading New Zealand endocrinologist, was shocked recently to discover his face and voice were being used to scam patients with type 2 diabetes."The AI was so effective, it looked like I was actually saying those words," he told RNZ.With video, a key thing to look at is whether the person's face movements match what they were saying, or whether the audio sounded a bit distorted or robotic.It used to be more difficult to make convincing "deepfakes", Leask said."Now, a single image or a handful of words are all you need to create a very convincing deepfake. And ordinary people are being targeted."Can anything be done about malicious use of AI deepfakes?ACT Party MP Laura McClure recently put forward a bill in the House to restrict the generation and sharing of sexually explicit deepfakes.In Parliament when discussing the bill in May, she held up a faked nude photo of herself that she created, saying "this image is a naked image of me but it's not real."McClure argued the sharing of explicit deepfakes could ruin a person's life."For the victims, it is degrading and it is devastating," she said.The bill was lodged in Parliament's members' ballot, where it could get pulled at random, but it was still a long way from becoming law.ACT MP Laura McClure holds up a faked nude photo of herself that she created when discussing the Deepfake Digital Harm and Exploitation Bill. Photo: Facebook / Laura McClure via RNZNetsafe said they received a significant increase in reports of harm relating to digitally altered images in the past year, Leask said."We have found that where the producer of the content is a young person, typically, the digitally altered content will have been created for fun, to ridicule or bully someone."In contrast, where the producer of the content is an adult, they are more likely to be motivated by sexual gratification, abuse or harassment."But it may be difficult to ban such images outright."Outlawing it is good in principle, but how will it ever be enforced?" Lensen asked."There is a pretty high burden of proof to show that someone produced a deepfake, and that gets even more complex when it could be done cross-border."He said the government needed to provide more detail of implementation and enforcement to make it a substantive effort to actually solve the problem.As for legally requiring all AI-generated content to be labelled, it might be a good idea in theory, but Lensen said it was not very workable."I think that ship sailed a long time ago. Even if we brought in such legislation now in NZ, there is no way it would be adopted worldwide, and so the 'bad actors' could just be located in another jurisdiction."And that's not to mention enforcement: even if we could detect AI content (we can't), who is going to police that and take the content down?"What if you've been targeted by false images or video?"If the content is digitally altered and abusive, threatening, harassing, or includes intimate material (such as nudity, sexual activity, undressing, or toileting), and it has been shared or threatened to be shared without consent, the Harmful Digital Communications Act may apply," Leask said."This includes deepfake intimate images or videos.""We can often help you get the online content removed and explain the options available under the law."You could report online harm at Netsafe's website, text "Netsafe" to 4282, email [email protected] or call 0508 638 723.Media literacy is key, say expertsThen there was the broader problem of media literacy.A survey last week showed that for the first time the majority of Americans are getting their news from social media and similar results were seen in Australia too.In New Zealand, the Trust In News Aotearoa New Zealand report released earlier this year found only 32 percent of respondents trust the news."Media literacy needs to start from an early age," James said."There really needs to be a co-ordinated effort if we are to have functioning democracies making big decisions based on fact."Lensen criticised the increasing use of AI in some newsrooms in New Zealand."We need the media to be a trusted source now more than ever, and using AI really makes that social license harder to maintain."RNZ has laid out a series of Artificial Intelligence principles which state it "will generally not publish, broadcast or otherwise knowingly disseminate work created by generative AI" and that any use of AI, generative or otherwise, should be done in consultation with senior managers.Is social media being ruined by the flood of AI slop?"Maybe?" Lensen said."I think it undermines the value of social media for many," he said."The big appeal of social media originally was being able to connect with friends/family (e.g. OG Facebook) and like-minded humans (e.g. Reddit, FB groups) to share human experiences and have social connections that don't rely on physicality."Injecting AI into that inherently removes that human-ness."A frequent issue seen by fact-checkers is almost nonsensical AI 'slop' being posted simply to harvest engagement."A lot of social media accounts have gained followers by posting AI media (without disclosure) because it allows them to draw clicks/reactions," Lensen said.News organisations are also still being caught out by AI falsehoods despite their best efforts.A story earlier this month that was picked up by media worldwide featured a manipulated video of a Chinese paraglider covered in ice after supposedly being sucked into the upper atmosphere.RNZ partner the Australian Broadcasting Corporation was one of those and posted a note explaining why they removed the story."It is difficult" to catch some things now, James said."We live in a time of instant news."Journalists are no longer just competing with other journalists but also with influencers, agitators, and commentators on social media. They can afford to be wrong, but journalists have to be more careful. Our reputation is everything." - RNZ

A free new online tool to help local people and groups access funding has been launched by the Waitaki District Council.The Waitaki Grant Finder provides access to $3.4 billion in available grants nationwide, in an effort to make it easier for businesses, community groups, not-for-profits and individuals to find funding opportunities.Leanne Kingan, who has been appointed to the newly created role of Grants and Funding officer, is also available to support people with advice and application development.“We’re here to make it easier to access funding and maximise the benefit to our district,” she says.“The feedback from early test users has been great - it’s easy to navigate, saves time, and helps people get grant-ready.”Locals interested in exploring funding opportunities are encouraged to visit the council website and take a look at the Waitaki Grant Finder.People can search for funding by keyword or topic – whether for a startup, project, business expansion or community initiative, Community and Economic Development manager Melanie Jones says.“This is about helping our district thrive.“We know the funding landscape is tougher than ever. This tool saves time, simplifies the process, and ensures no opportunity is missed.”The Grant Finder is part of the council’s wider transformation journey to make services more accessible, proactive and community-focused, council chief executive Alex Parmley says.“Instead of community groups approaching council for funding, we can support them to find funding elsewhere. This transformational change also opens up funding opportunities for businesses, growing our local economy,” he says.For more information, or for help accessing with using the Grant Finder, people can contact Leanne Kingan on email: [email protected]

When Ōamaru woman Karen* was considering joining the Buddy Programme, she remembered the adults who took her “under their wing” as she was growing up.“Which inspired me to do the same,” she says.The Family Works Buddy Programme is a mentoring programme where an adult “buddy” and a child between the ages of five and twelve are matched together and meet for two to three hours a week.Karen has been Rachel’s* buddy for two years now, and the relationship has developed over that time.“When she first came, she would be all ‘look at me’ . . . now she comes and feels safe and part of the home, interested in the things around her, in the garden, and interested in my family.”She enjoys the “genuine relationship and trust” that has developed between her and Rachel. Karen supports Rachel to follow her dreams and explore different things beyond what her normal life offers.“We have our dreams and ambitions in our scrapbook. She has quite a few dreams.“Not all children have the same opportunities, for many different reasons. Being part of a child’s life is very rewarding - watching them grow and achieve their goals.”Rachel brings joy to the home, Karen says.“The relationship builds over time . . . there are small difficulties, but it’s a journey.”Ongoing communication, “being there, being real and being loyal” are all important, she says.“Walking over that bridge together.”The programme has been running in North Otago for almost 30 years, says Buddy Programme coordinator Christine Moffat.Children are referred to the programme for various reasons.“It may be because possibly they come from a large family, or they may have a sibling with a disability . . . it would just be a child who just needs that extra one-on-one time with a trusted adult,” Christine says.Christine is on the hunt for some more adult buddies. She has a waiting list of children, and says it is a small commitment from an adult that can make a huge difference to a child’s life.The buddies spend two to three hours a week, or even a fortnight, together, doing low or no-cost activities.“First of all [the adults] come and see me, we do a police check and then we get references and they do a day's training. It's not difficult, it's quite interactive, and I suppose you would say just commonsense stuff really,” she says.A lot of effort goes into matching a child to the right buddy, Christine says.“So when I'm matching a child with an adult, I'm thinking about the personality of the adult buddy and the child and the interests that they both have and whether I think they're going to gel together.”The adult buddy has some say about the age and gender of the child, although men are only matched with boys.Over the years the local programme has been running, there have been numerous success stories, Christine says. “Just the difference that two to three hours a week, or a fortnight, can make.“We've seen lots of positive things come out of just having that one-on-one time, regularly, that person comes consistently, and that's another person that they can trust outside of the family.”Christine recommends being a buddy best suits someone who does not have young children who need a lot of time, or their children have grown up.“Lots of people come into the programme as adult buddies, so quite a cross-section - from 25-year-olds, through to some well into their retirement - and they all do it differently, and for different reasons.”Being a buddy can be as rewarding for the adult as it is for the child. Photo: Siggy Nowak from PixabayKaren was encouraged by a friend to take part in the programme, and admits the idea was out of her comfort zone, but the education and support she has received through the programme put her at ease, she says.“There is always support if you have any concerns.” One mother who has children in the programme joined up because her own mother had passed away when she was young.“The love I got from my grandmother, I wanted my children to feel that kind of love, which all three have from their buddies.“The buddy system has been such a blessing for my children,” she says.The North Otago Buddy Programme has 14 matched up buddies currently, and a number of children sitting on the waiting list, Christine says.“So we're always on the lookout for more adult buddies to match up with children, and it really is, it's a really cool thing to do.“Buddies have said to me . . . they didn't realise how much they're going to get out of it, so once they've been in it for a while, they'll come back and say. . . ‘I came into it because I thought that I wanted to give back, but I didn't realise how much I'd get out of it’.”Teething issues can come up as the relationship develops, but the adult buddy is well supported by the team at Family Works, Christine says.“And we can also support the family as well if they're needing support.”After 10 years in the job, Christine says the biggest thing she notices in the children in the buddy programme is an increase in confidence, and willingness to try new things.“They might be introduced to things that they may not otherwise get to do. and that has led on to some young buddies, when they become adults, say, for example becoming a chef or something like that after they've done cooking together with their adult buddies.” Children can be self-referred into the programme by a parent, or any agency in the community can refer them. To find out more about the programme contact Christine on 021 191 6327.*Karen and Rachel are not their real names.