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Otago Daily Times
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Politicians need to appreciate fine New Zealand literature
Jacinda has written a book, and most bookshops have it in their non-fiction shelves, unlike all political parties' election manifestos which are, quite rightly, to be found in the fiction section. But do our politicians know of other New Zealand fiction? You may recall the politician who is his party's spokesman on the arts being unable to name any New Zealand novelists. Act New Zealand's Todd Stephenson, a mere list MP of course, has been reported as "taking 20 minutes to think of a single New Zealand author and the only artistic experience he could think of was that he went to see the musical Hamilton in New York". It is a painful duty to be obliged to poke the borax at a Southlander, but Mr Stephenson's ignorance is appalling. Mr Stephenson was educated in Invercargill the hometown of Dan Davin, one of our best writers, but seems unaware of Davin's work. He studied law at the University of Otago but Dunedin's status as a Unesco-designated City of Literature has not ignited a love of books in Act's spokesman. Many law students leaven the drudgery of their subject by slipping in a paper from the English syllabus, but that option may have also passed him by. While Mr Stephenson is merely the Act spokesman on the arts and can thus never have any real input into government policy, his literary lapse is of wider concern. Can it be that MPs are Philistines who read only order papers, the race results and recipe books? Some would say that it is asking too much of a busy politician to spend time reading novels but some of our earlier politicians actually wrote some very passable fiction. Sir Julius Vogel's Anno Domini 2000 is regarded as among the better utopian novels and Vincent Pyke churned out a couple of good books including Wild Bill Enderby, which is not a bad read. Even two-term Otago MP William Baldwin (of steepest street fame) produced a novel of some merit called Tom Hungerford. In later times, John A. Lee added greatly to our literature, some of his best-known works being actually produced during his time as an MP. Some would say that the procession of biographical works by Robert Muldoon smacked of fiction but then how many political autobiographies tell the whole truth? Mention must be made of another lover of good literature, Prime Minister Keith Holyoake, who once told an interviewer that one of his favourite books was On the Origin of the Species by Charles Dickens. It would be unfair not to include ex-MP Michael Laws, who now graces the table at Otago Regional Council meetings and is no literary slouch. He wrote a novel, Dancing With Beelzebub, which is described by one reviewer as "a sleazy crime novel set in Whanganui", of which city Mr Laws was once the mayor. And what about Mr Laws' biography of a hooker — Gladiator: the Norm Hewitt Story? Mr Stephenson's literary ignorance may well be matched by a similar lack of knowledge among MPs generally and this needs to be rectified. You will be aware that the government has decreed that from now on students from years 0–8 are to be given an average of one hour a day of reading, writing and maths. I've already suggested to the Minister of Education Erica Stanford that a new clause be added to that edict which requires, "every member of Parliament to attend four one-hour sessions each week to improve their knowledge of New Zealand literature and the arts and to learn to use a more acceptable form of the English language". The minister is enthusiastic about the proposal — although she doubts if her colleagues will ever handle the language requirement — and she has suggested the programme be handled by a "Kiwi Kulture Kommittee", which she has offered to chair. Ms Stanford reminded me that she has a first-class honours degree in political studies with a minor in Maori studies and has been involved in export sales roles for local manufacturers. I was loathe to point out that such an impressive resume may well have left some gaps in her knowledge of New Zealand writers, artists and film-makers but it seemed churlish to quiz her on the subject and there is always the chance I'd be left with egg on my face if she canvassed my opinion on the works of, say, New Zealand author Eleanor Catton who is world famous but whom I've never read. I'll send Mr Stephenson a couple of books to start him on the road of remedial reading. Lynley Dodd's Hairy Maclary From Donaldson's Dairy and Barry Crump's A Good Keen Man are both excellent examples of their genres and ideal for an unlettered politician trying to come to grips with our country's literary heritage. — Jim Sullivan is a Patearoa writer.
The Star
10-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Indonesia revokes nickel ore mining permits in Raja Ampat after protest
Protests against mining in Raja Ampat, a picturesque Unesco-designated Global Geopark known for its marine biodiversity, dominated Indonesian social media last week, with users sharing a graphic of the area's blue waters with the hashtag #SaveRajaAmpat. - AFP JAKARTA: Top nickel ore producer Indonesia revoked permits for four mining firms in Raja Ampat in its easternmost region of Papua, the country's energy minister said on Tuesday (June 10), after concerns about their environmental impact sparked a public outcry. Protests against mining in Raja Ampat, a picturesque Unesco-designated Global Geopark known for its marine biodiversity, dominated Indonesian social media last week, with users sharing a graphic of the area's blue waters with the hashtag #SaveRajaAmpat. Bahlil Lahadalia, Indonesia's energy minister, said President Prabowo Subianto decided to revoke the permits of the four nickel companies in the area starting on Tuesday in order to protect the surrounding environment from further damage. "We need to protect these areas by paying attention to marine life and conservation," he said. The nickel companies are PT Nurham, PT Kawei Sejahtera Mining, PT Anugerah Surya Pratama, PT Mulia Raymond Perkasa, which operate on islands in and around Raja Ampat. The government did not grant quotas to the four companies as they failed to meet administrative requirements, Bahlil said, meaning they are currently not in production. However the permit of another nickel miner, PT Gag Nikel, a subsidiary of state miner Aneka Tambang (Antam), was not revoked as the company operates outside the designated geopark, Bahlil said. Gag Nikel, the only company in the area in production, has a quota to mine 3 million metric tonnes a year. Last week, Indonesia's energy ministry temporarily halted the firm's mining activities following the protests. The energy ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday on whether that suspension had been lifted. Bahlil said the government would monitor its activities "exhaustively", including its regulatory practices. Antam said last week Gag Nikel had replanted forests and conserved coral reefs. PT Wanxiang Nickel Indonesia, the parent company of Anugerah Surya Pratama, Gag Nikel, and Kawei Sejahtera Mining did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday. Reuters could not immediately reach Nurham and Mulia Raymond Perkasa for comment. The controversy flared up last week when Greenpeace activists staged a small demonstration at a mineral conference in Jakarta, citing mining activity around Raja Ampat. Mining caused the destruction of more than 500 hectares of forest and native vegetation, as well as damaging coral reefs and marine ecosystems on some islands, Greenpeace said later in a statement. - Reuters
The Guardian
18-04-2025
- The Guardian
From butterflies to wind turbines, project preserves world's sonic heritage
The sounds of wind turbines, rare whales and the Amazonian dawn chorus are among the noises being preserved as part of an exhibition of soundscapes found in world heritage sites. The Sonic Heritage project is a collection of 270 sounds from 68 countries, including from famous Unesco-designated sites such as Machu Picchu and the Taj Mahal, as well as natural landscapes such as the monarch butterfly sanctuary in El Rosario, Mexico and the Colombian Amazon. 'When you think of world heritage sites, you always think of visuals, but there's almost no attention paid to the way these heritage sites sound,' said Stuart Fowkes, an Oxford-based sound artist and creator of Cities and Memory, one of the world's largest archives of field recordings. Sorry your browser does not support audio - but you can download here and listen $ 'The incredible thing about sound is that it's so immersive and it can drop you into the experience of being in a place in a way that visuals and photography, and to some extent videos, can't,' said Fowkes. 'Sound is incredibly transportive. It helps you to get a more solid sense of what it would actually feel like to be there.' Fowkes said at least a fifth of the 270 recordings in the virtual exhibition were of natural soundscapes, and that the project was 'as much about the preservation of natural life' as it was about preserving precious monuments. Listeners can immerse themselves in the sounds of leaves falling in the ancient city of Tikal in Guatemala, the squeaks made by bats in India's Ellora caves, waves crashing against Morocco's walled city Essaouira, or the Old Faithful geyser bursting out of the ground in Yellowstone national park in the US. 'A lot of those Unesco spaces are about things like the preservation of species, particular migratory routes and important habitats for rare species,' Fowkes said. 'Sounds like the whale sanctuary of El Vizcaíno [off Mexico] is about preserving the breeding grounds of that specific grey whale.' As well as capturing and documenting natural soundscapes, the exhibition also highlights how human-made sounds intrude on natural spaces, such as the sound of a wind turbine on the Ningaloo coast in Australia. Sorry your browser does not support audio - but you can download here and listen $ 'A wind turbine is great from the point of view of renewable energy, but it makes a lot of noise and that can intrude on the natural environment and have an impact on species that are living there as well,' Fowkes said. 'It's a complicated balance.' Fowkes spent six months collecting field recordings retrieved from his personal archive and gathered submissions from an open callout. Sorry your browser does not support audio - but you can download here and listen $ He said one focus of the Sonic Heritage project was the effects tourism has on the diversity of sound at a location. 'There's a lot of work that's put into preserving how a place looks, but there is nothing like, for example, a blue plaque scheme for sound,' Fowkes said. 'We should be paying attention to sound and how it is preserved, because one of the risks with overtourism is losing soundscapes. You lose that sonic aspect when you have lots of people crammed into the same space.'
Trade Arabia
29-03-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
Vatel partners with Hawar resort to provide training for Bahraini youth
In a strategic collaboration aimed at nurturing the next generation of hospitality leaders, Vatel Hotel & Tourism Business School has forged a partnership with Hawar Resort by Mantis, a pioneering eco-luxury establishment located on the Unesco World Heritage site of Hawar Island. This collaboration underscores the Vatel Bahrain's commitment to fostering industry-academia synergies and equipping its students with unparalleled practical training experiences. "Facilitating our students' training at this esteemed resort, a trailblazer in sustainable luxury tourism within the Gulf and the broader Middle Eastern region, represents an astute investment in the development of their capabilities and proficiencies," said Sheikh Khaled bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, General Director of Vatel Bahrain. "This invaluable opportunity empowers our aspiring hospitality professionals to refine their skills in state-of-the-art facilities that parallel the industry's highest benchmarks," stated Sheikh Khaled. "This effort aligns with Vatel Bahrain's dedication to offering its students internship opportunities across various hotels under the Accor Group umbrella, one of the largest hotel groups in the Middle East and globally," he added. In a statement on the sidelines of signing the MoU with Hawar Resort by Mantis, Sheikh Khaled emphasized the distinctive nature of the resort, being among the first luxury eco-resorts in the Gulf and the broader Middle Eastern region. This prestigious establishment will provide Vatel Bahrain students with high-level training in the sector of luxury tourism, as well as various facets of hospitality, tourism, and hotel operations, thereby enhancing their potential to attain remarkable success and distinction in the dynamic labour market. The strategic location of Hawar Resort by Mantis on the pristine Hawar Island, a Unesco-designated World Heritage Site, presents an unmatched learning environment for Vatel students. This immersive experience will enable them to acquire comprehensive insights into the intricate operations and best practices of luxury facilities that cater to discerning international and domestic travellers, he stated. Furthermore, it will equip them with the essential competencies requisite for securing coveted positions within the hospitality sector upon the conclusion of their academic journey, he added. Sheikh Khaled said one of Vatel Bahrain's recent graduates, Abdullah Traif, was part of the pre-opening team at Hawar Resort by Mantis and now holds the position of Housekeeping Supervisor at the resort. "Abdullah's success is a living example of the quality education and training provided by Vatel Bahrain, which empowers our graduates to become key contributors in the hospitality sector," he stated. Mohammad Ali Kunhi, Hotel Manager of Hawar Resort by Mantis, said: "We are delighted to forge this partnership with Vatel Bahrain, which will establish our resort as a premier training partner for the esteemed institution." "This alliance will provide invaluable opportunities for Bahraini talents to engage in hands-on training within the dynamic work environment of Hawar Resort by Mantis, a sought-after destination renowned for delivering an integrated experience of relaxation amidst the captivating natural splendor of Hawar Island. We are confident that this collaboration will offer rich and diverse experiences to the college's students, furthering their professional development," he added.- TradeArabia News Service
BBC News
19-02-2025
- BBC News
Canada's remote (but accessible) dark-sky sanctuary
Spanning 11,000 sq km of protected, pristine wilderness, Jasper National Park offers a one-of-a-kind destination for stargazers. It's a balmy October evening and an overture from the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra Strings hushes a buzzing crowd. Dusk has fallen in Jasper National Park, and I'm snug under a blanket, gazing up at a sea of stars amidst the Milky Way's glow. Just below, snow-dusted peaks rise towards the heavens and the clear, glacial-blue waters of Lac Beauvert blend into the inky darkness. Symphony Under the Stars is one of many events at the annual Dark Sky Festival (17 October to 2 November 2025) held in Jasper National Park, one of the world's largest and most accessible dark sky preserves. Designated as a Dark Sky Preserve in 2011 by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) and spanning 11,000 sq km of protected land where minimal to no light pollution is allowed, Jasper isn't just one of the best places to stargaze; it's also an ideal spot to see the Northern Lights. And as experts predict that 2025 "will mesmerise" with one of the greatest aurora displays in 20 years, there's never been a better time to explore this quiet corner of the Canadian Rockies. Unlike other Dark Sky Preserves in Canada and the US like Wood Buffalo National Park and Grasslands National Park that have little to no infrastructure or lodging, the eponymous 4,700-person town of Jasper – located within the preserve – allows travellers easy stargazing access. According to Tyler Burgardt, an astrophysicist and general manager of the Jasper Planetarium, what makes Jasper so unique is visitors can drive right in. Located roughly 3.5 hours from Edmonton and Calgary, the town's hotels and locally led stargazing tours means star-lovers don't need to rough it. "You get to see something you don't get in other [accessible] places, which is the ability to see thousands of stars, even from the middle of town," Burgardt said. His favourite tour is one offered in summer, where guests visit the planetarium and then take a twilight stroll down to a peninsula located on Lac Beauvert. Ringed by rugged peaks and hauntingly silent, the only sound you may hear is the soft ripple of wind on the water. Burgardt estimates the Northern Lights are visible here roughly every 10 days to two weeks. "It's just absolutely beautiful," he said. "It's a really cool way to truly experience the nighttime side of the Canadian Rockies." The quaint, alpine community is committed to ensuring that minimal artificial lighting is visible by installing streetlights that point downwards and have a softer glow than regular lights. As Burgardt notes, Jasper's location within the national park, and surrounded by the Unesco-designated Canadian Rocky Mountains, also provides a natural barrier from the artificial light created by nearby cities. According to the RASC, the goal of a dark sky designation in a community is to promote "low-impact lighting practices, to improve the nocturnal environment for plants and wildlife, to protect and expand dark observing sites for astronomy and to provide accessible locations for naturalists and the general public to experience the naturally dark night sky". Phillipa Gunn, public relations and communications officer for Parks Canada, said Jasper National Park initially met some of the requirements from the RASC needed to become a Dark Sky Preserve prior to its official designation, including accessible observation sites where visitors can view the sky. "Jasper National Park is an ideal location for a Dark Sky Preserve as 97% of the park is a designated wilderness area, free of light pollution," Gunn said. Parks Canada has also continued to expand its dark sky interpretation programmes, while working with the town and private partners to ensure all the street fixtures in the townsite are dark-sky compliant. As a result, when driving to Jasper at night, it's nearly impossible to tell a town is even located in the vast blackness that envelopes the area. In July 2024, a series of devastating fires ripped through Jasper, causing the "jewel of the Rockies" to close for several months. The park reopened last autumn in time for the Jasper Dark Sky Festival – albeit just on a smaller scale. But with 2025 marking the festival's 15th anniversary, Naji Khouri, director of destination development for Tourism Jasper, says this year's festival will be bigger than ever before. Plans include a drone show where 200 synchronised drones put on a light display, notable guest speakers (Bill Nye has previously attended), planetarium stargazing sessions and a portable telescope and tent at the base of the Jasper Sky Tram. "We invite space or science enthusiasts, aurora chasers and anyone that is fascinated by the dark sky and wants to learn more about it. We have unique experiences that are really of interest to a wide range of people, including families," said Khouri. And locals want people to know that Jasper isn't only open for the Dark Sky Festival, but for business as usual, with more than 80% of local businesses back open since the blaze. After hiking the Sulphur Skyline trail to experience sweeping views of the Fiddle River Valley and Utopia Mountain, paddling on the "pearl necklace" that is Maligne Lake or exploring the Pyramid Lake Overlook by day, visitors should also seek out stories of the stars from an Indigenous and cultural lens. The Indigenous people of Canada have long utilised the night sky in all aspects of daily life: the stars and constellations served as guiding lights for their ancestors and the sky was used as both a clock and calendar, indicating when to plant, hunt and work the land. The stars are also intrinsically linked to First Nations' spiritual identities and are connected to the legends of the past. Matricia Bauer of Warrior Women, an Indigenous- and women-owned business run by Bauer and her daughter, offers a fireside stargazing tour in Jasper that is based around Indigenous creation stories. Being of Cree descent, Bauer recognised the importance of decolonising her own education and that included learning about the Cree Star Chart and the Indigenous constellations that came to rest in the kisik (sky), in Cree. "[The Cree Star Chart] made sense of the world around me, it made sense of the Northern Lights," she said. "I understood who Star Woman was. I understood why we come from the stars and why we return to the stars." In Cree culture, there are different Star Beings, and Star Woman is one of them. According to Bauer, Star Woman saw the Earth – where humans lived – and she gave up her Star Being to come to "Turtle Island" (North America) . When she became pregnant with twins, this was the start of the First People. At the end of her life, she was granted three wishes and one of the wishes was that she could return to the sky. More like this:• The Indigenous tribes reclaiming travel• The only land disputed between the US and Canada• The last places on Earth to see truly dark starry nights "And so, when we see the Northern Lights, we call that the Cipayuk," said Bauer. "It means ancestors dancing, or ghosts dancing. It's reminding us that there is another realm that exists, that we get to stay in for the rest of our lives. It's when we go back to the Star World where we came from." As Bauer recants stories with songs, she also tells me about Spider Woman, the one who is weaving our fates in the dark sky that soars above us. She then recounts the story of the coyote, tricking the wolves and bears into the sky so that he could create his own constellation. A story that takes place in winter, to be told in winter, when the days are short, the nights are long and the fire becomes a place to gather. To Bauer and many First Nations residents in and around Jasper, the stars, also known as achakosak, are considered relatives: "Every constellation, every star has a beautiful song, has a beautiful story, has a beautiful place in our culture." There are many more stories that Bauer wants to tell for visitors, and many more conversations to still be had under the black cloak of Jasper's night sky. The snap, crackle and pop of the fire is an accompanying beat to the drum that she plays, and her voice dances towards the place where she knows she will one day return. -- For more Travel stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.
