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Otago Daily Times
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Bonkers' incredible, inevitable stardom
The always late Joseph "Bonkers" Bennett visits Christchurch in 2011 for one of his many comeback tours. File photo: Stephen Jaquiery With the death of heavy metal frontman and reality TV star Joseph "Bonkers" Bennett, entertainment has lost one of its brightest lights. "What a sad week," said Jim Treadwell, bass guitarist with Bennett's band The Crippled Monkeys. "First Ozzy Osbourne, and now dear old Bonkers. A joy has gone out of the world." Born into the suburban middle classes, Bennett did not thrive at school, partly because of his innate laziness but also because of his precocious use of alcohol. On his report at the end of the fifth form, Bennett's housemaster wrote, "we have yet to discover what Joseph could do if he applied himself. One has to wonder whether further attempts at education are merited." They weren't. Bennett's father invited him to join the family wholesale fruit and vegetable business, to which Bennett is said to have replied, "You've got to be bloody joking." Bennett and Treadwell, another early school leaver, formed The Crippled Monkeys on the basis of Treadwell being able to play three chords on the guitar. Bennett, who hadn't a musical bone in his body, was lead singer. Their first gig at the Bag of Nails bar drew noise abatement officers from miles around. The drummer had to leave the stage at one point because his ears were bleeding. It was this that gave Bennett his idea for the band's signature hit, Very Loud Song, the title of which was also the song's lyrics, in their entirety. On the Monkeys' first venue tour, every one of their concerts was forcibly closed down by police, which brought the band both notoriety and a following. This might have led to greater success had it not been for Bennett's first of many admissions to the rehab clinic. Bennett's appeal throughout his career never altered. He was the kid without talent doing whatever he liked and prospering from it. By doing so he held the mirror up to wastrel kids who dreamed of doing the same. It was both an act and not an act. Bennett's was the art of anti-art. In rehab Bennett met Snotty Salter, a fellow addict and idler, and they went on to form Devils Toejam, a parody satanist band, because, as Snotty put it, "it pisses the bishops off". (When asked by a reporter whether there ought to be an apostrophe in the band's name, Bennett replied, "what's one of them when it's at home?") It was at a Toejam gig in the '80s that a fan threw a live lizard on to the stage. Bennett, fuelled by amphetamines and a bottle and a-half of cognac, ripped its legs off, then swallowed the body. Bennett claimed, plausibly, to have no memory of the event, but this one act brought him global prominence. The irony is that everyone who knew him said Bennett was a gentle soul. Idle and ignorant though he indisputably was, he was also sentimental about animals and generous to a fault. "He'd rescue a puppy and wrap it in the shirt off his back," was how Treadwell put it, "if, that is, he actually had a shirt on his back." After Toejam, Bennett's career stalled. In and out of rehab and hospital, he made numerous attempts at a comeback, most forgettably with a band called Bonkers and the Lizard Eaters whose only ever gig was described by one of the two reviewers that attended as "indescribable," and by the other as "noise." There Bennett's career in the limelight might have finished, as for many a washed-up drug-addled rock star, had it not been for the advent of so-called reality television. The series In Bed with Bonkers was a global hit, showing Bennett as a stupid but affable oaf suffering the physical and mental decline attendant on years of self-abuse. The fact that, apart from Bonkers' genuine ill-health, the show was clearly scripted mattered to nobody. Bennett embodied everyman's dream of undeserved fame and wealth, and did with it just what everyman would have done. He indulged his inner slob. He was the kid who heard the voice of temptation and answered with a perpetual "yes please." The kid without gifts who stumbled on success and was delighted to be ruined by it. Hence his popularity. So long, Bonkers. We'll surely see his likes again. • Joe Bennett is a Lyttelton writer.
Otago Daily Times
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Letters to the Editor: voting, pubs and mining
Today's Letters to the Editor from readers cover topics including non-resident ratepayer voting, backing the local pub, and trashing our heritage for overseas mining interests. Candidate claim runs counter to principle Green Party mayoral candidate Mickey Treadwell is mistaken in his opinion that non-resident ratepayer voting violates New Zealand's democratic principles ( ODT 11.7.25). "No taxation without representation" is a fundamental principle of democracy. This principle has been established as far back as the Boston Tea Party of 1773, which triggered the American Revolution and the establishment of the first truly democratic modern state. For Mr Treadwell to claim that long-term holiday home owners and non-resident owners of say, commercial property in Dunedin city, have less of an interest in the future of the city and "less investment in public good" is just plainly untrue. Compared to a bunch of students living in a rented flat for a couple of years, each of whom has a residential vote and who will all likely depart the city forever on graduation, who does Mr Treadwell think has a greater stake in the city? I suspect the real reason for Mr Treadwell's concern is that he (rightly) believes that non-resident ratepayer electors are less likely to vote for a Green Party candidate. And just for the record, it doesn't matter how many properties a non-resident ratepayer elector owns within a local body territory: they only get one vote in that territory, even if the property or properties within that territory are jointly owned. Power and votes Green Party mayoral candidate Mickey Treadwell complained that non-resident ratepayers had disproportionate power because they can vote in the council elections. He is quoted as saying: "it's a pretty direct violation of our one-person, one vote democratic principle". I am sure that Mr Treadwell, as a Green Party member, is a supporter of unelected Māori having voting rights on council committees. How he and many liberal lefties reconcile this with his above quote I don't know. I am afraid that we have far too many ideologues as councillors and would-be councillors, who as the above quote reveals are quite happy to foster democracy, but are quite prepared to ignore their principles, when their ideology demands it. We did great There has been a surfeit of grizzling and faux outrage from the right wing and the ignorant regarding Jacinda Ardern, Ashley Bloomfield, and the excellent public health team who led our Covid response. Aotearoa saved 20,000 lives due to the border closure, mask mandates and our vaccination programme, according to statistician Michael Planck and epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker. Official statistical sites reveal that the US suffered 3493 deaths per million people (as at July 2025), the UK 3404, France 2613, Canada 1424 and New Zealand 834. Our economy came out of Covid strongly with low unemployment and with Triple A or Double A plus ratings from Moody's and Standard and Poor's. Yet there is a barrage of often hysterical criticism of the Ardern government's brilliant response to a major pandemic. Perhaps next time a pandemic arrives, the coalition apologists and the egotistical show ponies should go and live in the US and watch as hospitals split at the seams and morgues overflow into the streets while mass graves are dug, as in 2020. Local customer backs his local establishment In the ODT (8.7.25) article regarding the on-licence and off-licence renewal application for Mackies Hotel, Port Chalmers, the Dunedin City Council licensing staff were insinuating Mackies was poorly run and opposed the renewal of the liquor licence. On the contrary, this hotel is a well-run and well-maintained spotless pub. I question the decision made by DCC licensing inspector Tanya Morrison and medical officer Aaron Whipp suggesting Mr Sefton was not a suitable applicant to hold a licence. He admits he got slack with ever-changing compliance, but no need to make a mountain out of mole hill. A word in his ear would have sufficed. Publican Wayne Sefton and his family have been a big support to the Port Chalmers community and sports clubs over the last 40 years. Mr Sefton, like most community publicans, also takes an interest in the wellbeing of his patrons. DCC licensing staff should be supporting and help promote our community pubs: most of them are managed well with no trouble. I would love to see more young people use these establishments. Whilst having a beer or two they would meet a lot of interesting people of all ages and demographics and walks of life. Mining and its legacy I was shocked to hear about the proposed Santana mine at Tarras. Do we really want a Central Otago where the noise of explosions, trucks and stamping machines echoes across the quiet Lake Dunstan, where 24/7 flood-lighting blots out the stars, where carcinogenic arsenic is released from the smashed schist and hangs around in the air and coats the soil, where toxins from a massive tailings dam leaches into the Clutha, where three huge open-cast mines are highly visible? Eventually the Santana mine will expand through the Dunstan mountains and the Maniototo. Everyone who lives, works and plays in Otago and will feel the irreversible effects of the Santana mine. The proposal is being fast-tracked, with diminished local or environmental input. We don't have much time. Parliamentarian Shane Jones has ranted in respect of digging up our landscape and trashing our cultural heritage in favour of carte blanche access for Australian mining interests. In Chillagoe, a one-time mining centre in far north Queensland, there is an abandoned smelter. This small centre is the acknowledged "start-of-the-outback", with something of a character of its own. The place has been suspended in time, in the condition which probably existed on the day the last worker quit the site, no doubt to seek alternative employment at another mine. My argument is: if that is the condition in which Australian mining conglomerates leave their own landscape, what assurances of remediation of our own landscape in the wake of gold, or whatever, finally giving out in New Zealand may be relied upon? We as a country with much less territorial area able to be trashed than Australia, exist in their eyes with only one justification for our existence: our potential to be exploited, for their rapacious gain. [Abridged — length. Editor.] Address Letters to the Editor to: Otago Daily Times, PO Box 517, 52-56 Lower Stuart St, Dunedin. Email: editor@
New York Post
10-07-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Science-backed ‘food is medicine' movement may reverse American health decline
As the health of Americans continues to decline, researchers at the University of Florida are urging a national rethink about fruits and vegetables. Their message is that it's time to treat produce not just as food but as medicine. Advertisement In a recent article published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers endorse the 'food is medicine' movement, arguing fruits and vegetables play a crucial role in preventing chronic diseases and improving public health. Yet only one in 10 adults in the U.S. consumes the recommended daily servings – a shortfall researchers claim is fueling the crisis. The article warns that current U.S. agricultural output is insufficient to support a healthy population. 4 Researchers at the University of Florida endorse the 'food is medicine' movement, arguing fruits and vegetables can prevent chronic diseases and improve public health. Pixel-Shot – Advertisement To address this gap, the authors advocate for a substantial increase in fruit and vegetable production, with a focus on nutrient-dense produce such as berries, leafy greens and carrots. Danielle Treadwell, an associate professor of horticultural sciences at the University of Florida, spoke to Fox News Digital about her involvement in the study. 'In the U.S., we have a healthcare crisis, due in large part to dietary choices,' she said. Treadwell defined horticulture as 'the art and science of fruit production and vegetable production' — integral to expanding the quantity and quality of produce in the U.S. Advertisement 4 'In the U.S., we have a healthcare crisis, due in large part to dietary choices,' Danielle Treadwell, an associate professor of horticultural sciences at the University of Florida, said. MNStudio – 'Where are all those fruits and vegetables going to come from?' Treadwell said. 'Because currently, the United States is only able to produce 50% of what we anticipate we would need if every adult in the U.S. were to follow the dietary advice of eating five servings of fruits and vegetables a day.' She added, 'That is not enough.' Treadwell cited common barriers to eating more produce, including the time required to prepare them and limited access — especially in underserved areas. Advertisement 'Here in Florida, we grow fruits and vegetables nine months out of the year [and] many of us have citrus trees in our yard,' the horticulturist said. 'However, that's not true in other parts of the country.' Treadwell also observed that many Americans work 'very long hours, sometimes multiple jobs.' Start and end your day informed with our newsletters Morning Report and Evening Update: Your source for today's top stories Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters She added, 'All of these things can come together and really [have] an impact on how many servings a day [of produce that] the average adult can take in.' 'Frozen vegetables, by and large, retain 100% of their nutritional content that they had when they left the field.' Treadwell's main advice is to choose what you eat wisely and to start out small. 'Remember that a serving is half a cup … so maybe, eat a whole cup at a time,' she suggested. 'It certainly doesn't necessarily have to be fresh. Frozen vegetables, by and large, retain 100% of their nutritional content that they had when they left the field.' So if food can be medicine, which specific fruits and vegetables target certain ailments? Advertisement Dr. William W. Li, author of the book 'Eat to Beat Disease: The New Science of How Your Body Can Heal Itself,' shared some examples with Fox News Digital. He cited pears and strawberries as two fruits that can target specific medical conditions. 4 'Frozen vegetables, by and large, retain 100% of their nutritional content that they had when they left the field,' Treadwell said. Recebin – 'Pears contain polyphenols like quercetin and chlorogenic acid that can reduce blood pressure, shrink body fat, improve energy balance and reverse metabolic syndrome,' Li said. Advertisement Strawberries, on the other hand, contain 'polyphenols such as ellagic acid and anthocyanins that can decrease insulin resistance in obese persons to improve metabolism.' Pears and strawberries are two fruits that can target specific medical conditions. For those with a high amount of 'bad' LDL cholesterol and stubborn abdominal fat, the doctor suggested the monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) in avocados. Blueberries can also help 'reduce body weight, increase insulin sensitivity, shrink visceral fat and improve metabolism,' Li said. Advertisement 4 According to dietitian Yaa Boakye, the healing powers of fruits and vegetables come from consistently incorporating them into your lifestyle. Jacob Lund – Yaa Boakye, a dietitian based in Illinois, echoed the notion of the healing powers of fruits and vegetables. 'Physiological shifts happen when fruits and vegetables become a daily, consistent part of your life,' Boakye told Fox News Digital. 'Not once a week. Not a once-a-month juice cleanse, but consistency.' She also said that diet is one of many factors in a person's health and encouraged Americans to be well-balanced in their approaches to health. Advertisement 'Stress, sleep, trauma, environment, medications, access — they all matter, too,' Boakye said. 'If nutrition is your shield, then movement, sleep and emotional regulation are your armor, reinforcements and escape routes.' Boakye said Americans should make eating produce a habit. 'We are what we repeatedly do,' Boakye said. 'Eating fruits and vegetables can't be an afterthought or a luxury. They must be a non-negotiable part of our daily diet.'
Otago Daily Times
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Unbeaten Northern on target in bad weather
Northern overcame atrocious conditions to complete a 100% record in the Southern Premiership's first round. Nick Treadwell and Amasio Jutel scored to beat Queens Park 2-0 at Logan Park on Saturday, taking them eight points at the top of the table. Queens Park defensive pairing Tom Kent and Rodrigo Schmidt De Camargo were keeping Northern strike force Rory Hibbert and Treadwell quiet. For the opening period they looked the more likely side to break the deadlock. Northern came into the match midway through the first half and their first attempt on 20 minutes was a 25-yard effort from Nicholas Brett that went narrowly past the post. Northern were starting to gain ascendancy and four minutes later Kim Gorman got to the byline and saw his cross hit the crossbar. A minute later Northern took the lead through Treadwell. He was in the right spot to react to the loose ball to tap home from close range. Just before the halftime break Queens Park nearly equalised when a long-range free kick was sent into the penalty box and Zack Owen-Gear saw his header flash narrowly wide of the far post. Northern did hit the post in the opening seconds of the restart when Hibbert's shot came back off the post. Queens Park again threatened from a long free kick that saw Schmidt De Camargo's bicycle kick land on the roof of the net. However, Northern rode the storm and made the game safe in the 54th minute when the ball was played across field to Jutel in an advanced position on the left. He cut inside, beating his man and bending his shot into the top right-hand corner, giving goalkeeper Mitchell Fowler no chance. Otago University finished the round in second spot, beating Dunedin City Royals 4-1, also at Logan Park. The Royals started well but University took the lead with their first serious attack after a series of corners Warryk Hodson scored on 13 minutes. The students doubled their lead six minutes later when Josh Kotkamp combined with Sam Murray and Kotkamp bent his shot past keeper Jonathan Tucker. Tucker did extremely well early in the second half to deny Simba Muwunganirwa from point blank range clattering into the post as a result, but wasn't able to deny Ashton Hodson making it 3-0 after 54 minutes. Kantaro Nagata pulled one back for the Royals just after the hour mark, however the final scoring was Ashton Hodson's injury time penalty giving University the win. Green Island beat Old Boys in Invercargill 3-1 to pull away from the relegation zone. First-half goals to Ryan Walker and Phil Yeardley were added to by Harrison McClean's 50th minute strike, William Fleming scoring Old Boys consolation goal. In the men's South Island league, the Otago derby between Wānaka and Dunedin City Royals was washed out due to an unplayable field. The Dunedin City Royals women's South Island league team were able to get their match under way and had a comfortable routine 2-0 victory over NW United at Logan Park. Raegan Potter bagged her sixth goal of the campaign in the 20th minute and Hannah Mackay-Wright's 51st minute goal made sure the Royals 100% record remained intact after nine rounds. Yesterday, Georgia Nixon scored twice as Otago University drew 2-2 with Halswell United at Logan Park. Halswell took an early lead through Ella Hartel, before Nixon equalised in the 49th minute. Amelia Wilson edged the visitors ahead once more 10 minutes later, but Nixon drew level and secured a point for University from the spot in the 71st minute. By Neville Watson
Otago Daily Times
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Atrocious conditions for premiership's first round
Northern overcame atrocious conditions to complete a 100% record in the Southern Premiership's first round of football. Nick Treadwell and Amasio Jutel scored to beat Queens Park 2-0 at Logan Park on Saturday, taking them eight points clear at the top of the table. Queens Park defensive pairing Tom Kent and Rodrigo Schmidt De Camargo were keeping Northern strike force Rory Hibbert and Treadwell quiet. For the opening period they looked the more likely side to break the deadlock. Northern came into the match midway through the first half and their first attempt on 20 minutes was a 25-yard effort from Nicholas Brett that went narrowly past the post. Northern were starting to gain ascendancy and four minutes later Kim Gorman got to the byline and saw his cross hit the crossbar. A minute later Northern took the lead through Treadwell. Just before the halftime break Queens Park nearly equalised when a long-range free kick was sent into the penalty box and Zack Owen-Gear saw his header flash narrowly wide of the far post. Northern did hit the post in the opening seconds of the restart when Hibbert's shot came back off the post. Queens Park again threatened from a long free kick that saw Schmidt De Camargo's bicycle kick land on the roof of the net. However, Northern rode the storm and made the game safe in the 54th minute when the ball was played across field to Jutel in an advanced position on the left. He cut inside, beating his man and bending his shot into the top right-hand corner, giving goalkeeper Mitchell Fowler no chance. Otago University finished the round in second spot, beating Dunedin City Royals 4-1, also at Logan Park. The Royals started well but University took the lead with their first serious attack after a series of corners Warryk Hodson scored on 13 minutes. The students doubled their lead six minutes later when Josh Kotkamp combined with Sam Murray and Kotkamp bent his shot past keeper Jonathan Tucker. Tucker did extremely well early in the second half to deny Simba Muwunganirwa from point blank range clattering into the post as a result, but wasn't able to deny Ashton Hodson making it 3-0 after 54 minutes. Kantaro Nagata pulled one back for the Royals just after the hour mark, however the final scoring was Ashton Hodson's injury time penalty giving University the win. Green Island beat Old Boys in Invercargill 3-1 to pull away from the relegation zone. First-half goals to Ryan Walker and Phil Yeardley were added to by Harrison McClean's 50th minute strike, William Fleming scoring Old Boys consolation goal. By Neville Watson
