Latest news with #NZ-made
NZ Herald
23-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Finance Minister Nicola Willis criticised for wearing UK dress on Budget day
'We have wonderful designers here, Jacinda [Ardern] got it right by wearing NZ-made as much as possible. Our leaders should also be doing that. Be proud of your nation and what we make here.' Online, Willis' dress retails for $1100. Marr said that while Willis and other New Zealanders can afford to spend that amount on a garment, the money 'would be better in our pockets or country than overseas'. Asked why she chose not to wear a New Zealand designer on Budget day, Willis told the Herald: 'Like most Kiwis, I buy my clothes from a range of places, and I enjoy wearing a lot of New Zealand-made and designed clothing. 'However, I don't think the focus should be on what I wear, but rather the substance of our Government's policies.' While symbolic, Marr said, any public display of support for New Zealand designers is of value. 'Being dressed in a NZ designer would help our industry hugely, as it is struggling. We need to be front and centre to our nation and the world.' Clothing and textile advocacy collective Mindful Fashion NZ released a report in 2024 that found the NZ fashion clothing and textile industry contributed $7.8b to the local economy in 2023, accounted for 1.9% of GDP, and employed 76,000 workers. But chief executive Jacinta Fitzgerald said the industry is facing significant challenges right now. 'Supporting local is one way that everyone can contribute to creating a more prosperous New Zealand for all of us. 'Every dollar you spend is a vote of support for that business.' Fitzgerald said when you buy from a local brand, 'you are not only supporting a local business that pays tax here, and employs staff here and therefore keeping the value in the NZ economy, but you are also supporting the many often small businesses that they work locally with to bring that product to life so it has a huge flow-on impact'. 'There is great pride and leadership in standing strong in NZ fashion as a creative and cultural representation of who we are as a nation.'
Scoop
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
23 Years Strong: NZ Mountain Film Festival Breaks Records And Celebrates Adventure
Lake Wānaka, New Zealand (20 May 2025) – The NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival has launched its 2025 programme and tickets go on sale today. The annual international film competition saw a record-breaking 294 entries—50 more than any previous year since the festival started in 2002. The final lineup features 64 award-winning and finalist films, including 18 by New Zealand filmmakers. Most will be making their New Zealand premiere while 15 are world premieres. The festival is on in Wānaka from 20 – 24 June and Queenstown from 26 – 27 June and the festival films will also be available to watch online in New Zealand and Australia from 1 - 31 July. Check out the full programmes here: Festival founder and head judge Mark Sedon sees the record-breaking number of film competition entries as confirmation that, after 23 years, the festival's reputation continues to grow in New Zealand and around the globe. As New Zealand's only adventure film competition, the NZMFF is also proud to provide a platform for Kiwi creatives to showcase their talents. Whitney Oliver, who has taken over as Festival Director this year, says, "It's fantastic to see returning filmmakers who consistently raise the bar year after year. We're also stoked to welcome new (to us) talent who have wowed us with fresh narratives and creative style. 'The NZ-made films showcase a wide variety of outdoor stories, from epic backyard missions to environmental causes, and each left a distinct impression. The filmmakers crafted their stories in such a way as to make me want to be a part of the adventure (Spirit of the West), feel like I was enduring the adventure (All in or Nothing), or be inspired to create my own adventure (Waiatoto). We can't wait to share these with audiences soon." Many of the New Zealand filmmakers will be at the festival to introduce their films during the Pure NZ sessions on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 June in Wānaka and Friday 28 June in Queenstown. Josh Morgan and Jasper Gibson are the winners of the prestigious Hiddleston/ MacQueen Award and $2500 prizemoney for the Best NZ-made Film for their entry, Waiatoto. The film tells the story of a traverse across the Southern Alps through packraft, skis and tramping. Starting at the Matukituki, the route went via Tititea, the Volta Glacier, and the Waiatoto, to the Tasman Sea. Nick Pascoe, one of the three adventurers involved in the journey with Gibson and Charlie Murray, will also be a keynote speaker at this year's festival. "We're honoured if not a bit surprised to win this award,' says Pascoe. 'We didn't set out to make a film, the focus was on a creative adventure through an incredible corner of the country simply for the sake of it. During the expedition it was one step at a time problem solving, with no setups for filming. It's testament to the creative photo, film, and editing skills of Jasper and Josh that this film has come to life and been received so well." Charlie Murray adds, 'I love watching this film back, a view into a trip where we found inspiration from each other and Aotearoa's magical Southern Alps. 'Stemming from an idea that Pascoe had been scheming and once shared with me became my burden too. Just enough 'what ifs' to make it scary and challenging. With enough 'wow we're lucky' to make it special. Throwing in a GoPro for good measure and Jasper with his camera, the three of us managed to accidentally document what is a proud accomplishment for us.' The film competition Grand Prize was awarded to US director Leo Hoorn for his film, Trango. After a two-year attempt, a team of ski mountaineers, including previous NZMFF guest speaker Christina Lustenberger (USA), ski the first descent of the Great Trango Glacier in Pakistan. They navigate risk, grapple with grief, and face physical danger as they push the limits of human experience. Unspoken trust and support within their expedition team allows them to face the unimaginable together. The Trango film team say they are 'incredibly honoured to be selected for NZ Mountain Film Festival's Grand Prize Award this year. This film, much like the festival itself, embodies the spirit of pushing boundaries and overcoming the seemingly impossible. We are profoundly grateful to be among such an esteemed list of remarkable films in accepting this award." The full list of award winners is as follows: Grand Prize Trango, Director: Leo Hoorn, USA Best Short Film Award Body of a Line, Director: Henna Taylor, USA. A cleverly animated short film that morphs into real life as Madaleine undertakes an intimate and creative journey to climb a difficult rock route. Featuring original music and poetry. Best Mountain Culture Award Everest Dark, Director: Jereme Watt, USA. As the death toll on the world's highest peak rises, one of Nepal's most legendary climbers leads an elite team of Sherpas on a life-threatening mission to retrieve fallen climbers from Everest's Death Zone. Award for the Best Film on the Environment Footprints on Katmai, Director: Max Romey, USA. Following his grandmother's footsteps to one of the most remote and bear-strewn beaches in Alaska, painter Max Romey discovers that an ocean of problems is closer to home than he could have imagined. Best Climbing Film Nose Job, Director: Alastair Lee, UK. Two young, retired comp climbers with little trad or multi-pitch experience attempt a bold feat: becoming the first Britons to free climb The Nose on El Cap. First done by Lynn Hill in 1993, it's had only eight free ascents since. The odds? As massive as the wall itself. Best Snow Sports Film Painting The Mountains, Director: Pierre Cadot, France. Follow a photographer's love affair with El Chaltén, a remote Patagonian village beneath Fitz Roy. There, a tight-knit ski community embraces the mountains' raw beauty and danger. When three French skiers arrive to pioneer new lines, he documents their daring descents—where climbing ropes give way to ski tracks. Blending photography, journalism, and extreme skiing, the film captures a rare culture shaped by weather, granite, and passion. Best Film on Adventurous Sports & Lifestyles Alone Across Gola, Director: Jude Kriwald, UK. Stranded in Liberia's Gola rainforest, filmmaker Jude Kriwald faces hunger, isolation, robbery and disappearing trails. A raw tale of one man's solo, self-filmed journey chasing a childhood dream. With only a bike and a tent, Jude pushes the limits of survival and self-discovery. Solo Award Far Enough, Director: Julien Carot, France. A 22-year-old Frenchman gets on his bike in Chamonix to ride to Nepal's Khumbu Valley to climb Ama Dablam. That's 11,500 kilometres on a bike and 80,000m of elevation gain. The real adventure isn't just about reaching the summit— but everything it takes to get there. Special Jury Awards Girl Climber, Director: Jon Glassberg, USA. Emily Harrington, pro climber and Everest summiteer, takes on her boldest goal yet: a 24-hour free climbing ascent of El Cap. In a male-dominated sport, she battles ambition, risk, and time. Girl Climber is a gripping survival story and powerful portrait of breaking barriers—and proving she's one of the best. The Headless Horseman, Director: Andy Collet, France. In the shadow of Gyachung Kang, far from the fame of 8,000-metre peaks, two climbers confront hardship, separation, and doubt. Through illness and storms, they rediscover the true spirit of alpinism—friendship, resilience, and beauty in the unexpected. A poetic ascent into the heart of what truly matters. NZ Award Winners: Hiddleston/MacQueen Award for Best NZ-Made Film Waiatoto, Directors: Josh Morgan & Jasper Gibson. This film tells the story of a traverse across the Southern Alps through packraft, skis and tramping. Starting at the Matukituki, the route went via Tititea, the Volta Glacier, and the Waiatoto, to the Tasman Sea. Community Spirit Award Spirit of the West, Director: Pedro Pimentel. Set against New Zealand's wild West Coast, this film captures the spirit of the Old Ghost Ultra—where community, resilience, and grit collide in a transformative celebration of people and place. Grassroots Award The Long Way Round, Director: Mitchell Radford. A massive 16-day solo adventure through Fiordland from Glenorchy to Milford Sound, the long way. This film showcases exploration and endurance in some of New Zealand's most incredible and diverse landscapes. Best Documentary Award All in or Nothing, Director: Gordon Duff. Up against 120 riders with full support crews, young athlete Matthew Fairbrother only has himself to rely on. Follow his gruelling six days as he attempts to win the overall title at the NZ MTB Rally. Festival Spirit Award Riverbound - The Storybook Has Just Begun, Directors: Dylan Gerschwitz & Deane Parker. Yak, a former pro kayaker now paraplegic, takes on Class 3 rapids in the Upper Buller Gorge. Can packrafting restore his freedom—and redefine who gets to run wild rivers? Find the full list of this year's films here: Programmes will also be available at Paper Plus in Wanaka or The North Face Store at 38 Shotover Street in Queenstown. The NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival will run in Wānaka from 20 – 24 June and in Queenstown from 26 – 27 June. The festival films will also be available to watch online in New Zealand and Australia from 1 - 31 July.
NZ Herald
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
New Zealand TV drama After the Party loses to Shogun at Bafta TV Awards
After the Party, which stars Kiwi actress Robyn Malcolm in the lead role, is a six-part drama series about a woman whose world implodes when she accuses her ex-husband of a sex crime. It was produced by Lingo Pictures and Luminous Beast and written by Dianne Taylor, along with Emily Perkins, Martha Hardy-Ward and Sam Shore. Malcolm previously told RNZ it 'blows her mind' how far the NZ-made show has travelled around the world, saying people in Liverpool had come up to her in the supermarket to praise it just as they do in Auckland. Taylor told RNZ that she and Malcolm created the show partly out of frustration about the lack of decent roles for middle-aged women. Taylor, whose previous credits include the 2017 film Beyond the Known World, said it was gratifying After the Party had won over not only women but also men and young people. While the show didn't take home the Bafta, it had .
Otago Daily Times
09-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Pair going to great lengths on NZ-made
The co-founders of a Christchurch furniture-making business are about to bring in scientists to make a finishing oil in their challenge to use only locally-made products. Innate Furniture owners Guido Loeffler and Nick Lee insist on working with sustainably harvested native timbers and domestic steel sheets for their modern and minimalist furniture designs. They want to take this a step further. After experimenting with their own recipes from natural oils and waxes, they are going to experts to help them produce a commercial-grade coating. The finishing oils must be made from plant-based materials locally grown sustainably without detriment to the environment. Mr Loeffler said they were working towards a commitment to produce 100% New Zealand-made furniture. Eventually, every part of a table or other furniture - down to felt caps for their feet - would be locally sourced, he said. ''As far as the oils are concerned we are talking with AgResearch and local universities around the development of natural oil finish product that uses 100% New Zealand raw ingredients including hemp seed oil, bee wax as well as lanolin finishes for our steel and then natural pigments.'' The plan was to sell the finished product to other users. By using local products, they knew they were ethically-sourced, supported local communities, and were transported with low carbon emissions, he said. ''Put it like this, we grow a lot of trees here, cut them down and put them on a boat overseas where someone builds a table and it comes back to New Zealand and we buy it,'' Mr Lee said. ''The New Zealand economy doesn't get the kicker in this and that seems like a silly process when we can do it here.'' Innate Furniture was born from lockdowns after Covid-19 swept the world. Mr Lee was making furniture from recycled timber in the backyard of his flat as an amateur woodworker in between a 16-year music career as a solo artist, then playing 1980s covers with bands before moving into country music. African-born Mr Loeffler had just arrived back from a charity project raising money for a school in Tanzania and had previously worked for a company manufacturing and supplying sustainable building materials. When the pandemic arrived the two flatmates began ''connecting the dots''. Mr Lee said they started selling furniture firstly on the NZ-made Facebook Market page. ''After Covid hit the import stuff started drying up and there was a bit of this talk we needed our own economy and the world's about to go into this sort-of zombie-apocalyptic world. People got quite excited by this New Zealand-made dynamic and liked our designs from beautiful pieces of timber and we got heaps of orders.'' Step one was to get a workshop and within weeks they had outgrown their small leased premises. To keep up with backed-up orders for tables and other furniture they had to work 18-hour days. Today, they have a fully fitted-out workshop and contract out work for their own modern designs combining different native species with often steel milled at Glenbrook by New Zealand Steel. ''They take the iron sand from the beach, extract the iron, put the sand back on the beach, plant flaxes and natives and then they melt it down to make it into sheets,'' Mr Lee said. ''We get the sheets cut down to strips and get our table legs from that. It's got a really cool land and sea story.'' He said they were working to connect with New Zealand screw manufacturers for a custom run of steel fixings. With only a few exceptions such as Italian porcelain for outdoor tables, the main focus is on using locally sourced materials. After persevering, they now have a secure supply of sustainable native timbers from recyclers, saw millers, trusts and forestry associations around the country. Rimu is salvaged from buildings damaged by the Christchurch quakes, while other native species come from continuous covered forestry. Mr Loeffler said they liked to work with native timbers harvested under a sustainable forest managed permit with each tree tagged and receiving a GPS co-ordinate. Only a small percentage of mature trees over a large area was removed from native blocks, he said. ''It's calculated in such a way that the forest canopy is never compromised. Often, it's even helicoptered out so it doesn't get dragged through forest and damage it. It's done in small clusters of three or four trees to create a small opening so sunlight can hit the forest floor for seedlings to return strongly.'' Among their favourite permit-harvested species are regenerated totara growing thickly on marginal farmland in Northland because of its beautiful grain, paler colours for the Scandinavian look and history as the main timber for Maori carving. West Coast-sourced red and silver beech are another of their preferred species. This was found abundantly in large stands, unlike rimu which was why they focused on recycled supplies, Mr Loeffler said. Their furniture range is sold to homeowners through their online store and designers, while they also make hospitality furniture. Nothing goes to waste as off-cuts are made into chopping blocks.
