THE INTERNAL - NEWSLETTER 6/04

TIME TO SAY GOODBYE + GET TOGETHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Torsten send the following message from the South Island:

Life is like a box of chocolate, you never know what you’re gone get. That’s what I thought when I landed at the end of the world five month ago. And? I’ve got some delicious ones. *g* It was an awesome time with you. But everything has an end (only the sausage has two) and I would like to thank you with some good bye drinks.

When? Monday 29th of March at sevenish (7pm Kiwi time)

Where? WOXA House – 32B Dean Street (Grey Lynn)

We will have enough Lion Red in the fridge, enough tonic for the gin and some stuff for the drvers and anti-alcoholics. Of course there will be a huge box of chocolate.

It’s time to open a new one...

Cheers Torsten

WELCOME IN MIDDLE-EARTH

Henrik arrived in Auckland last Wednesday. He is 28 years old and studies Architectural Design in Luebeck. Since he has already been abroad, he knows that it is pretty important to socialize with everybody else –-> first evening in town + St Patricks Day = party! I think we’ve had a great time and Henrik forgot about his jetlag. He works at Geometria and will spend some time at one of the company’s sites in Taranaki.

WHATS ON IN AND AROUND AUCKLAND

AOTEA SQUARE MARKETS

Every Friday and Saturday from 10am – 6pm

This is when Aotea Square is taken over by the colourful and bustling Aotea Square Markets The Markets offer a range of stalls from Pasifika arts and crafts to pot plants, flowers, underground designer clothes, jewellery, vinyl and CDs. In addition there is a range of fine food stalls Every Saturday from midday to 2.00pm the Aotea Square Markets are "keeping real" with an ever-changing line-up of bands and DJs adding to the atmosphere

MONTANA INTERNATIONAL JAZZ AND BLUES FEST 04       

Easter 8 – 12 April

Over 30 international and 60 NZ musicians are going to perform on five days of Jazz and blues, at 15 venues Waiheke Island wide. Relax and soak up the atmosphere at vineyards, cafes and scenic outdoor places. Just 40 minutes by ferry from downtown Auckland City. Concerts in the evening also take place in Auckland, e.g. Auckland Town Hall.

Check out www.waihekejazz.co.nz for more details and early bird specials!

PONSONBY FRINGE FESTIVAL 2004

Until 3 April 2004, noon – 6pm, Western Park Ponsonby

Celebrate the launch of a week of fashion with a relaxing day of music in the park with: guest DJ’s, artists in action and a sneak preview fashion show

ST HELIERS BAY VILLAGE COMMUNITY FESTIVAL

27 March 2004. 9am – 3pm, St Heliers Bay

Everything you can think of: jump castles, school stalls, market craft stalls, clowns – sounds like a family festival & fun!

Roads are closed between Polygon St and Tamaki Drive

NUTRA-LIFE KING OF THE HARBOUR INTERNATIONAL SURFSKI MARATHON

28 March 2004, 11am, Viasduct Harbour, City

35km surfski race from the Viaduct featuring top athletes from NZ, Australia, South Africa, Hawai & Tahiti. Check out www.surfski.co.nz for more information!

NZ INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL 2004 – THE BEST OF BRITISH

Until 22 May 2004

Featuring Ross Noble, Lee Mack, Russel Howard, Andy Parsons ....

The Classid, 321 Queen Street, Auckland

Check out www.comedy.co.nz

FESTIVAL OF INDIA

3 April 2004, 10am – 4pm, Aotea Square, Queen St

Cultural celebration, check out www.the-edge.co.nz

LATIN MUSIC AND DANCE FESTIVAL

Every week on Sunday from 4 April – 20 April, noon – 5pm, Princess Wharf, Quai St

Free dance lessons from noon, 3 latin bands performing each weekend

DEEP, HARD N FUNKY –

8 April 2004, 8pm, St James complex, Queen St

NZ’s favourite party night featuring Junior Jack & Kid Supreme (Belgium), Muguai (Germany), Declan Lee (Australia) and others – a diverse dance-floor selection of local and international talent ($46.90)

PROPECIA RALLY OF NEW ZEALAND

15 – 08 April 2004

Venue: Auckland City and Manukau City, Kaipara and Raglan

Rally New Zealand will open with a Super Special Stage in Manukau City on Thursday 15 April, with the first full day on Friday including five stages in the Kaipara region north of Auckland, with a total of 142km. It concludes with a second night of Super Special Stages at Manukau City. Saturday’s stages are again in Kaipara with eight special stages over 144.5km. The final day on Sunday sees a return to the Raglan region in Waikato with six special stages over 115km, finishing the event with the spectacular Whaanga Coast stage. The drivers return for a ceremonial finish at the Viaduct Harbour in downtown Auckland on Sunday 18 April at 5pm.

Website: www.rallynz.co.nz

MESSAGE FROM JONATHON

Hey guys! Was great to see some of you on St Patrick’s Day in Ponsonby!  And wow, how about that new guy huh? Arrives in the country and goes straight to the bars, even though he has to work the next day? What a legend! (Maybe I shouldn’t be encouraging that sort of behaviour hehehe).

Anyway, since my interest and studies have been in Political Science, I thought I would share just a little bit about NZ Politics with you.  Boring, I know, but it might explain a bit about what you see on the news or read in the papers about NZ.

There have historically been two main parties in NZ politics which have alternated power.  The National Party has traditionally been conservative and supported by farmers.  The Labour Party has been more liberal and supported by the blue collar workers.  Since the early 1990s, however, there have been heaps of new parties on the scene, with about 7 different ones currently represented in Parliament.  The reason for the explosion of smaller parties is that in 1992, NZ voted to overhaul it’s electoral system.  Previously, it was very similar to the UK, where two parties dominate and it is hard for small parties to get enough support in electorates to win seats.  NZ adopted a model (based largely on Germany) of MMP, which gives people both a party vote and a vote in their local electorate.

Boring political terms aside, the practical effect has been to make NZ parliament more representative, as smaller parties now have a chance to win seats.  This has (arguably) led to a more consensual and compromising style of government.  Under the old system, a party could (and did, in the 1970s!) get 36% of the vote and 65% of the seats in parliament.  Now 36% of the vote will get you 36% of the seats in parliament.

So there.  Now you know.  NZ copied Germany.

Jonathon

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THAT’S ALL FOLKS!