Nielson heads into the unknown

Back in 2007 guitarist Ruban Nielson decamped from Auckland to Portland, Oregon, with his brother Kody Nielson and Paul Roper, all members of popular Kiwi indie punk band The Mint Chicks. The move came after the band, founded in 2001, cleaned up at the New Zealand Music Awards that year, winning five categories including album of the year for Crazy Yes! Dumb No!

Share

Prize for bringing moa back to life

Quinn Berentson has won $2500 for resurrecting the moa – in his award-winning book, Moa: The life and death of New Zealand’s legendary bird. It is among three winners of the New Zealand Society of Authors’ Best First Book Awards, and was described by chief judge John Campbell as “a really great historical biography, in which almost everyone (including the bird itself) is varying degrees of mad”.

Share

Police seek Rebel without a cause

After a string of hit movies and rave reviews for hosting this year’s MTV Movie Awards, actress Rebel Wilson knew she was in demand, but she didn’t know she was wanted. Based in Los Angeles, Wilson was surprised recently to receive a text message from Packed to the Rafters star Hugh Sheridan saying the police were looking for her

Share

Adele, Mr Bean honoured by Queen

– Adele honoured in Queen Elizabeth’s birthday list – Queen’s birthday honours awarded to 1,180 people – Awards recognise achievement in all walks of life Grammy Award-winning singer Adele and Mr Bean actor Rowan Atkinson were among more than 1,000 people recognised by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth in her Birthday Honours List on Friday.

Share