Latest news with #Aoraki
Otago Daily Times
11-08-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Slowing down in Tekapo
In a slump, Dunedin writer Lisa Scott dips her toes into the wellness trend in Tekapo. Aaaaah, you've arrived. Almost everyone exhales coming over the hill, taking that first view of Takapō/Tekapo. It's a physical and psychological surrender to the great lake and mountains. Breathe out, slow down, stop. There's a large painting of the Church of the Good Shepherd in winter hanging at my house, Round Hill skifield in the background. I found it at Hayward's auctions a decade ago — painted in the '70s. Little has changed from the scene captured then, bar the number of tourists surrounding the church. Visiting Tekapo is stepping into a painting. The tranquillity and quietness of this village in the Mackenzie region inspire self-reflection; even the streetlights bow their heads in respect of the night skies, dimmed to help your circadian rhythm. Look up and wish upon a star or a trundling satellite. Feel the presence of the great mothers: nature and the maunga Aoraki. I'm here for Breathe Tekapo, a health and wellness (I accidentally said "wealth and hellness", conjuring the image of a despotic billionaire) festival in its second year. In the past, I would have laughed my head off at this stuff, but 100 rainbows later and now a recovering pessimist, I've come a long way in a year. I've been in a slump recently. I don't feel like myself, feel discontent with everything. I could do with a bucket of wellness. Precious time in support of self, the three-day jam-packed Breathe Tekapo programme features stress control techniques, yoga, fermenting, foraging, journaling, guided walks, Buddhist meditation and an alpine plunge. I was particularly drawn to the talk about "kindling hope for the future" by Dr Denise Quinlan — if there has ever been a time in human history where hope needed to be found, it's now. After the welcome and karakia at the Dark Sky Project, a crowd packed the community hall for tales of human endurance from Bob McLachlan, an adventure racing world champion who's just about to take part in the world's longest kayak race, paddling 1000 miles (the length of New Zealand), from Canada to Alaska on the Yukon, where the bears are. Adventure racing relies on being open about your abilities and Bob is the most laid-back, self-effacing world champ you'd ever meet, with a career begun as a kid when his older brother had a bike and he didn't, so he had to run everywhere. Adversity meets stubborn determination meets triumph. Sunrise yoga with Kate Watkinson was like no yoga class I've ever experienced. Moving to music, giving your body a pat, awakening mind and body — it felt like a form of worship and self-love. I would have sore thighs for a week afterwards, a nice reminder that I do, actually, have some muscles, just unused. There's something about the healing powers of being in a group of mostly women, some of whom had travelled from as far north as near Cape Reinga, and were there for reasons that spoke to why it's so important to step out of your life from time to time: looking for a reset towards retirement, seeking motivation and inspiration, taking a year out of their job, a sisters' trip, curiosity, a girl's weekend, to get off the farm, to make room for reflection. The weekend was remedy for a state we all commonly find ourselves in these days: saying yes to too many things and now finding yourself past your limit and not wanting to do any more things. Throwing yourself in a frigid 6°C lake certainly builds community: a community of mentalists. We were advised to be conscious of our breathing, to aid immersion, but I started hyperventilating the second my feet met the chill. Local cold-water dippers (a bunch of good-looking lunatics) stayed in for a ridiculous amount of time, but I was a two-second wonder. Holy Wim Hof it was cold. Like all type 2 fun, it felt amazing when it wasn't happening any more, and you could congratulate yourself for your audacity. One of the highlights (for me) was the introduction to foraging with Jackie Philips. Foraging is nature's cognitive behavioural therapy, with the added bonus of knowing where your food comes from and experiencing a deeper sense of the environment — plus, constantly learning staves off Alzheimer's. Foraging might seem tame, a budget-friendly way to eat organic, but it's also thrillingly dangerous. For every birch bolete headed for the fry pan there's a copycat plant, a bad twin — hemlock mistaken for fennel, a death cap in your beef wellington. There's not "mushroom" for error. Best story of mistaken identity was Jackie yelling "Stop the car!" on an expedition with partner Peter Langlands, "it's a porcini!" — only to find it was an enormous Boston bun. You need wisdom to forage. Never forage a downward sloping road bank (road runoff), know where the historical dump sites are, where there has been spraying. On a simple walk around the block, we found quinces, autumn berries and crab apples, edible ferns, boletes and fly agaric, a poisonous psychoactive mushroom. Vikings used to feed it to reindeers to filter the poison through their kidneys and then drink the reindeer pee to get high. We didn't have time in the schedule for that. Clinical psychologist Julie Zarifeh has turned significant personal loss and grief into a quest to squeeze the most out of life. I had a sad realisation doing one of her exercises: that the bulk of my time is spent at work, with none for community and little for family — a bit of a wonky balance. How many social networks are you involved in? Zero. And I should definitely spend more time with my mum. Julie's message: remember the simple things that give you joy. Clear away the things that sap your energy. Choose what you focus on and savour those you most enjoy, stretching out the moment, paying attention to detail. We finished with soak in the stars stargazing at Tekapo Springs, something I've always wanted to do. The stars were having some time to themselves. The heavens opened, and it poured down. Instead of a disappointment, it made for a completely unique experience as we soaked in the pools like Japanese macaques while a lovely astrologer in a parka sat on the side and told us stories about the earth mother and sky father, Papatūānuka and Ranginui. I went to bed feeling a deep sense of restfulness and wellbeing. Feeling slumpy happens. You're crushing it, be nice to yourself. — Breathe Tekapo will be back next year.
RNZ News
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
New movie to be filmed at Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
Aoraki Mount Cook. Photo: Supplied/Les Molloy Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park will provide the backdrop for a movie about Sherpa Tenzing Norgay's world-first summit of Mount Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary. The Department of Conservation (DOC) approved filming on Malte Brun Pass near the Tasman Glacier and near the Hochstetter Icefall on the eastern side of the mountain, which would double as Everest base camp and the famous Hillary Step on the world's highest peak. DOC ranger Ray Bellringer said while the sites had previously been used for Everest-related documentaries and films, the movie's producers had to adhere to strict rules. "All filming activities are subject to strict environmental conditions to ensure the protection of the natural landscape. DOC staff will be onsite daily to monitor compliance," he said. "This is an incredibly special place and it's our role to protect it." Bellringer said New Zealand and Nepal had a long relationship through the Himalayan Trust, particularly since 70 Nepalese students including many Sherpa had come to study nature-based tourism and community conservation at Lincoln University since 1953. "Sir Edmund Hillary dedicated much of his life after 1953 to supporting Nepalese communities. It is fitting that this project recognises the life and contributions of Tenzing Norgay and we are proud to provide a setting that supports this storytelling," he said. Tenzing Norgay with Sir Edmund Hillary. Photo: AFP Apple won the rights to the film Tenzing during an auction at Cannes Film Festival in May 2024. The company will co-produce the film with production company See-Saw Films for worldwide release on streaming platform Apple TV+ at an unknown date. BAFTA-nominated director Jennifer Peedom has a pre-existing connection to the Norgay family, who contributed to her documentaries Miracle on Everest and Sherpa . The script has been written by Luke Davies, known for the 2016 film Lion, which landed him an Academy Award nomination for best screenplay. Genden Phuntsok is to star as Norgay in Tenzing , while Hollywood star Tom Hiddleston will play Sir Edmund. Academy Award nominee Willem Defoe has been cast as English expedition leader John Hunt. The production is expected to bring a significant economic boost to the region, with a large production crew and cast staying at the village. Filming has concluded in Nepal and will begin in New Zealand next month. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Otago University's Matehaere takes top prize at Otago awards
Hannah Matehaere. Photo: Sharron Bennett Photography Hannah Matehaere has added another accolade to an already impressive year. The Otago University rower was named rower of the year at the Otago rowing awards on Tuesday. Matehaere has been in some form this season, where she won a coveted red coat in the premier quad at the New Zealand championships and also picked up silver in the premier eight and bronze in the premier pair. She won gold in the coxless four at the North Island championships and won gold in the single, double, coxed quadruple scull, coxed four and the eight at the New Zealand university championships. Matehaere capped off the year with her first international nod, selected in the women's eight to compete at the Windermere Cup and the double for the world university regatta. After another big season, Dunstan scooped several awards. Henry Clatworthy and Mathew O'Meara were named crew of the year after a successful season on the water together, picking up several medals. They were selected for the world university rowing championships in Duisburg, Germany, in July. Olivia Ollerenshaw was named club rower of the year. Ollerenshaw, who is heading overseas on a rowing scholarship, is part of the New Zealand women's under-22 quad. Bella Breen was named female school rower of the year and at just 15, she won gold in the under-17 doubles, and coxed quad sculls, and in the under-15 double sculls at Maadi Cup. Quentin Annan has dedicated his life to rowing in Dunstan and was named masters rower of the year, after a strong year where he collected medals at Aoraki, Otago, Canterbury, South Island club and South Island masters championships. Simon Smith picked up the coach of the year award for guiding his crews, including having 14 athletes selected for national trials. Otago Boys' rowers Ollie Scott and Hunter Ruxton were also rewarded for their fine seasons. Scott was named male school rower of the year, having won gold and silver medals at every regatta this season, including the under-16 quad at Maadi Cup. Scott was selected for the South Island under-18 team, despite racing at an under-16 age. Ruxton was named coxswain of the year for his efforts in guiding the under-16 quad to gold at Maadi Cup, and was described as the heart and soul of the crew. Young Ethan Shirley and Asthon Macnee were recognised for their potential with novice crew of the year. The North End crew won gold in the novice double at the New Zealand championships after only picking up the oars three months previously. Max Gold was recognised as official of the year and Stephen Craig-Pearson was named administrator of the year. Gold has been reliable in his nearly 10 years as an umpire, attending most Dunedin and Lake Ruataniwha regattas, and stepped up as chief umpire at several Dunedin regattas this season. Craig-Pearson has been on the Otago Rowing executive committee for the past three years, serving as treasurer and passing his knowledge on to others in the sport. He has become more active with the club in Oamaru, where he now lives, and is on the pathway to becoming an umpire.
RNZ News
06-05-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Police officer maps all lost people
Senior Constable Paul (Carlos) Spencer has developed a national resource to assist in the identification of human remains and property. Photo: Supplied / NZ Police A police officer has launched a map of missing people he hopes will help reunite families with their loved ones' remains. There are more than 500 people missing and presumed dead around the country, and Senior Constable Carlos Spencer considered that as land changes in places like Aoraki/Mt Cook, bodies of long-missing people may start to turn up and a map would help with identification. On that mountain alone, there are 58 people recorded missing. A member of Canterbury's Search and Rescue team for more than 15 years, Senior Constable Spencer is often the one liaising with families looking for missing loved ones. He says these families led to him to create the interactive map.
Scoop
05-05-2025
- Science
- Scoop
How To Watch The Eta Aquariids Meteor Shower In New Zealand This Week
Article – RNZ What is the Eta Aquariids and how can you get a glimpse? RNZ Online Got a great photo of the meteor shower? Email us at iwitness@ One of the best meteor showers in the Southern Hemisphere, the Eta Aquariids, will be visible in New Zealand this week. Here's how you can catch a glimpse of it and what you need to know. Firstly, what is the Eta Aquariids? The Eta Aquariids is a meteor shower caused by the Earth passing through a trail of debris orbiting the Sun that's left behind by Halley's Comet. 'Small bits of ice, dust, and rock fall into our atmosphere and high speeds, burning up and creating the meteors, commonly known as shooting stars,' says Stardome Observatory and Planetarium's Josh Aoraki. The annual meteor shower takes place in early May each year. Aoraki says it's one of the best and most reliable meteor showers for us in the Southern Hemisphere 'so it's a great time to see a celestial light show'. How can I watch it? While you should be able to catch a glimpse of the celestial light show throughout the week, Thursday will likely be the best day – but prepare for an early morning, peak viewing time is after the Moon has set, between 3am and 6am. 'All you need is a clear sky and an unobstructed view of the north-eastern sky looking toward the constellation Aquarius,' Aoraki says. You won't need a telescope, just look for Venus shining brightly. MetService is forecasting chilly nights and mornings this week so you'll want to wrap up warm if you're heading outside. Where's the best place to see it? While it'll be visible to anyone in New Zealand, anyone living in a city should head out to somewhere with clear, dark skies for the best viewing experience. Under dark skies you could see between 10 and 50 meteors per hour but patience will be key. Will I be able to get a photo on my phone? Unfortunately this is probably not one of those experiences you'll be able to capture on your phone, unless you're able to take a decent long exposure photo, Aoraki says. 'You will need a professional camera or DSLR camera to capture this. Smartphones are not good in low light and most do not have great long-exposure settings. 'Any camera that has a long exposure setting of around 30 seconds should be able to capture a few meteors streaking across the sky if you set up a timelapse.'
