Latest news with #NZIdol
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Michael Murphy Joins Make-A-Wish Aotearoa In Waiting Room
Press Release – Make A Wish NZ The just released song has already had more than 16,000 plays on Spotify and MAW has gained nearly 10,000 new followers on the platform too. With all streaming proceeds directly supporting wishes, this gift will continue to generously generate … • Michael Murphy creates song for critically ill Kiwi kids after being touched by campaign • The Waiting Room highlights tremendous demand facing Make-A-Wish charity • Murphy's song includes voices of children impacted by Make-A-Wish – including his son Make-A-Wish NZ's latest fundraising campaign – The Waiting Room – has produced more than just much needed funds for critically ill Kiwi kids ' wishes. It's also spawned a wonderful new song from much-loved Kiwi popstar of NZ Idol fame, Michael Murphy. The Waiting Room premise is that 'although dozens of critically ill Kiwi kids spend way more time in hospital waiting rooms than they should have to, we have the chance to make sure their wishes don't have to wait.' When Murphy was asked if he would appear in the campaign collateral as a popstar (see above), representing a popular children's wish of 'singing on a stage', he said I can do better than that: 'How about I create a song to go with it?' Murphy enlisted the help of friend, writing partner and Written By Wolves bandmate Davie Wong to write the song. Then a week later, and coincidentally right on cue for NZ Music Month, Murphy's 'The Waiting Room' song (click to listen) was available to stream – kindly gifted to Make-A-Wish, and released under their name. But Murphy also had a greater personal motivation and connection for doing what he did. The child solo in the song is sung by Michael's nine-year-old son, Archie. Cont'd…/ Archie's best friend Freddie (who is also in the child's choir in the song) is a recent Make-A-Wish (MAW) recipient and currently in remission after being diagnosed with leukaemia. Murphy explains the connection even more poignantly: 'Quite often it's not only the sick child and their whānau who begin a roller-coaster journey after a diagnosis. The young friends of the sick child also have to be chaperoned on a journey of explanation and awareness by their own families about what's happening to their mates. In this case it was my family's journey through our son's friendship with Freddie.' Fortunately, Freddie is continuing to live his best life. The wish that Freddie was granted has been immortalised in the lyrics of Murphy's new song: ' I wanna ride with my best friend in a monster truck.' And less than a year later, Freddie and his best mate who tagged along for that ride, Archie, are singing about their magic Make-A-Wish experience in a song created and performed by Archie's dad. Cool huh. The just released song has already had more than 16,000 plays on Spotify – and MAW has gained nearly 10,000 new followers on the platform too. With all streaming proceeds directly supporting wishes, this gift will continue to generously generate funds of its own for MAW for years to come. Make-A-Wish New Zealand CEO Anne Fitisemanu says the song is full of imagination and is a creative bonus for the campaign. 'Make-A-Wish New Zealand has never done anything like this before. Thank you so much to Michael and Davie for your mahi, and for making our charity a music artist!'
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Michael Murphy Joins Make-A-Wish Aotearoa In Waiting Room
• Michael Murphy creates song for critically ill Kiwi kids after being touched by campaign • The Waiting Room highlights tremendous demand facing Make-A-Wish charity • Murphy's song includes voices of children impacted by Make-A-Wish – including his son Make-A-Wish NZ's latest fundraising campaign – The Waiting Room – has produced more than just much needed funds for critically ill Kiwi kids ' wishes. It's also spawned a wonderful new song from much-loved Kiwi popstar of NZ Idol fame, Michael Murphy. The Waiting Room premise is that 'although dozens of critically ill Kiwi kids spend way more time in hospital waiting rooms than they should have to, we have the chance to make sure their wishes don't have to wait.' When Murphy was asked if he would appear in the campaign collateral as a popstar (see above), representing a popular children's wish of 'singing on a stage', he said I can do better than that: 'How about I create a song to go with it?' Murphy enlisted the help of friend, writing partner and Written By Wolves bandmate Davie Wong to write the song. Then a week later, and coincidentally right on cue for NZ Music Month, Murphy's 'The Waiting Room' song (click to listen) was available to stream – kindly gifted to Make-A-Wish, and released under their name. But Murphy also had a greater personal motivation and connection for doing what he did. The child solo in the song is sung by Michael's nine-year-old son, Archie. Cont'd…/ Archie's best friend Freddie (who is also in the child's choir in the song) is a recent Make-A-Wish (MAW) recipient and currently in remission after being diagnosed with leukaemia. Murphy explains the connection even more poignantly: 'Quite often it's not only the sick child and their whānau who begin a roller-coaster journey after a diagnosis. The young friends of the sick child also have to be chaperoned on a journey of explanation and awareness by their own families about what's happening to their mates. In this case it was my family's journey through our son's friendship with Freddie.' Fortunately, Freddie is continuing to live his best life. The wish that Freddie was granted has been immortalised in the lyrics of Murphy's new song: ' I wanna ride with my best friend in a monster truck.' And less than a year later, Freddie and his best mate who tagged along for that ride, Archie, are singing about their magic Make-A-Wish experience in a song created and performed by Archie's dad. Cool huh. The just released song has already had more than 16,000 plays on Spotify – and MAW has gained nearly 10,000 new followers on the platform too. With all streaming proceeds directly supporting wishes, this gift will continue to generously generate funds of its own for MAW for years to come. Make-A-Wish New Zealand CEO Anne Fitisemanu says the song is full of imagination and is a creative bonus for the campaign. 'Make-A-Wish New Zealand has never done anything like this before. Thank you so much to Michael and Davie for your mahi, and for making our charity a music artist!'
Otago Daily Times
13-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Former NZ Idol judge caught drink driving again
By Tracy Neal, Open Justice multimedia journalist Paul Ellis, a former prominent figure in the Kiwi music industry, is back in court on more driving charges - this time after being caught nearly seven times the legal alcohol limit. Ellis pleaded guilty in the Nelson District Court today to driving with excess breath alcohol on a third or subsequent time after blowing 1688 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal limit is 250mcg. He was also convicted of driving while disqualified. According to a summary of facts, police tracked Ellis down on the morning of February 21 after investigating a report that someone had collided with a parked vehicle in the Nelson suburb of Tāhunanui. Police followed a clear trail of vehicle fluid from the crash-damaged vehicle that led directly to the front passenger wheel of Ellis' vehicle, which was parked on a nearby street. Ellis, exhibiting signs that he had been drinking, admitted he was a disqualified driver. An evidential breath test followed and showed a reading which was 6.7 times the limit. Ellis told the police that he had been living in his car at Nelson's Isel Park. He had been drinking wine but the crash was an "oversight" he had not been aware of. It is not the 62-year-old's first time before the courts. In November 2023 he was convicted in the Blenheim District Court for driving while disqualified, fined $400 and given a six-month disqualification. He was also granted leave to apply for an alcohol interlock licence at the time. But, police said he failed to do this, which meant that when he was caught in February this year, he was still driving as a disqualified driver. Ellis was also convicted in the same court in June 2018 on two separate charges, 10 days apart of driving with excess blood alcohol. He was convicted again in May 2022 on a charge of driving with excess breath alcohol for a third or subsequent time. Ellis was born in Timaru but grew up in Picton, and moved back to the region in 2020 when he helped organise the Linkwater Summer Sounds Music Festivals. He had a successful career in the music industry as a producer and manager and had worked with international music stars, including several from New Zealand. Ellis was a Sony Music executive living in New York at the time of 9/11 and was a judge on the first two NZ Idol seasons, before appearing as a judge on New Zealand's Got Talent in 2008. Ellis was remanded on bail for sentencing in August. His earlier request for name suppression lapsed today.
Otago Daily Times
12-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Former NZ Idol judge living in his car, found guilty of drink driving
Paul Ellis at a New Zealand music function. Photo: Norrie Montgomery via Open Justice By Tracy Neal, Open Justice multimedia journalist Paul Ellis, a former prominent figure in the Kiwi music industry, is back in court on more driving charges - this time after being caught nearly seven times the legal alcohol limit. Ellis pleaded guilty in the Nelson District Court today to driving with excess breath alcohol on a third or subsequent time after blowing 1688 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal limit is 250mcg. He was also convicted of driving while disqualified. According to a summary of facts, police tracked Ellis down on the morning of February 21 after investigating a report that someone had collided with a parked vehicle in the Nelson suburb of Tāhunanui. Police followed a clear trail of vehicle fluid from the crash-damaged vehicle that led directly to the front passenger wheel of Ellis' vehicle, which was parked on a nearby street. Ellis, exhibiting signs that he had been drinking, admitted he was a disqualified driver. An evidential breath test followed and showed a reading which was 6.7 times the limit. Ellis told the police that he had been living in his car at Nelson's Isel Park. He had been drinking wine but the crash was an 'oversight' he had not been aware of. It is not the 62-year-old's first time before the courts. In November 2023 he was convicted in the Blenheim District Court for driving while disqualified, fined $400 and given a six-month disqualification. He was also granted leave to apply for an alcohol interlock licence at the time. But, police said he failed to do this, which meant that when he was caught in February this year, he was still driving as a disqualified driver. Ellis was also convicted in the same court in June 2018 on two separate charges, 10 days apart of driving with excess blood alcohol. He was convicted again in May 2022 on a charge of driving with excess breath alcohol for a third or subsequent time. Ellis was born in Timaru but grew up in Picton, and moved back to the region in 2020 when he helped organise the Linkwater Summer Sounds Music Festivals. He had a successful career in the music industry as a producer and manager and had worked with international music stars, including several from New Zealand. Ellis was a Sony Music executive living in New York at the time of 9/11 and was a judge on the first two NZ Idol seasons, before appearing as a judge on New Zealand's Got Talent in 2008. Ellis was remanded on bail for sentencing in August. His earlier request for name suppression lapsed today.
NZ Herald
12-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Former NZ Idol judge Paul Ellis living in his car, guilty of drink driving at almost 7 times the limit
According to a summary of facts, police tracked Ellis down on the morning of February 21 after investigating a report that someone had collided with a parked vehicle in the Nelson suburb of Tāhunanui. Police followed a clear trail of vehicle fluid from the crash-damaged vehicle that led directly to the front passenger wheel of Ellis' vehicle, which was parked on a nearby street. Ellis, exhibiting signs that he had been drinking, admitted he was a disqualified driver. An evidential breath test followed and showed a reading which was 6.7 times the limit. Ellis told the police that he had been living in his car at Nelson's Isel Park. He had been drinking wine but the crash was an 'oversight' he had not been aware of. It is not the 62-year-old's first time before the courts. In November 2023 he was convicted in the Blenheim District Court for driving while disqualified, fined $400 and given a six-month disqualification. He was also granted leave to apply for an alcohol interlock licence at the time. But, police said he failed to do this, which meant that when he was caught in February this year, he was still driving as a disqualified driver. Ellis was also convicted in the same court in June 2018 on two separate charges, 10 days apart of driving with excess blood alcohol. He was convicted again in May 2022 on a charge of driving with excess breath alcohol for a third or subsequent time. Ellis was born in Timaru but grew up in Picton, and moved back to the region in 2020 when he helped organise the Linkwater Summer Sounds Music Festivals. He had a successful career in the music industry as a producer and manager and had worked with international music stars, including several from New Zealand. Ellis was a Sony Music executive living in New York at the time of 9/11 and was a judge on the first two NZ Idol seasons, before appearing as a judge on New Zealand's Got Talent in 2008. Ellis was remanded on bail for sentencing in August. His earlier request for name suppression lapsed today.
