THE INTERNAL - NEWSLETTER 16/04

Hi folks, although the weather is total crap – make the best out of it! Especially with the long weekend ahead!

With Roul, Frank and Henrik leaving us, we are getting less and less and …. Well, Antje is arriving the 5th of June and then we will welcome a whole bunch of people in July and August.

TIME TO SAY GOODBYE

Roul already ended his internship at Siemens last week, but he is still busy finishing his thesis. These papers have to be in Holland by Wednesday, so it is the final spurt now – Roul, you can do it!

Think, we will miss this funny fellow. It always had to be Heineken, even though Roul would not despise New Zealand brands – but it is still different, isn’t it? We already talked about the very special Easter Weekend last week – still, it had to be mentioned again!

Well, all the best for you! Have fun at your South Island trip with Silvana and see you again before you leave beautiful New Zealand! Globe Bar or Khuja Lounge for a last time?

A short explanation for the ones still in Germany:

Front row: Henrik, Stefanie, Roul, Anneka, Fanny, Kevin

The three guys in the back: Kristian, Frank, Lothar

For Frank and Henrik it is just some more days to go until the end of this week.

Frank stayed with us for about three month. His internship company, Bank of New Zealand, was very pleased with the project Frank prepared for them – thanks a lot! Good feedback always makes it a lot easier to place new students. Seeing Frank not that often one could think that he is quite serious, but we all got fond of his subtle humour by now. Have a save journey home & good luck with your thesis!

Henrik had a pretty interesting job. His company excavated the floor plan of an old Maori meetinghouse and he was asked to reconstruct it. This means, that he made a drawing of what the meetinghouse could have looked like. He will also head for the South Island soon – don’t get lost & see you in Dresden sometime!

Both of them were staying at Ryecroft Lodge. Seems they had a good time together, playing golf and having some funny experiences as well: a mobile lost in the cinema; stolen jackets in a club; a towed away car – wasn’t there a lot more??

WOX TRIP SUGGESTION

Guys, the long weekend is offering three days for a great trip! What about going to Cape Reinga? I can recommend the following:

Take highway no.1 up to Brynderwyn (pass through Helensville, Warkworth, Wellsford) and then change to highway no.12. On the way from Dargaville to Hokianga you should stop to visit Te Matua Ngahere – the father of the forest. There are several signs to the Kauri walks – you can not miss it! This Kauri tree is believed of being the oldest (4000 years) and having the widest girth of any Kauri tree in NZ.

Further north, just shortly after Pakia Hill (good lookout) and 2 km west of Omapere, Signal Station Rd leads to the South Head of Hokianga Harbour. From the car park it is just a five minute walk to the Signal Station Point, which overlooks the harbour entrance and the massive sand dunes of North Head.

Then, take a ferry from Rawene to Kohukohu (goes all 30 min, about $20 for one car with four passengers) and then drive on to Ahipara. There, at the beginning of 90 Mile Beach you will find a great Backpacker called the “Endless Summer Lodge” (09 4094181).

Before leaving, check for the low tide, if you want to drive on 90 Mile beach. It is accessible 2 hours before and after low tide. Depending on that time, organise this special drive for the way to Cape Reinga or back. The safe time for us was about 3.30pm, so we decided for the beach on our way back.

Oki, get to Kaitaia, check your petrol and then hit highway no.1F to Cape Reinga. Remember that the last 20 km up to Cape Reinga lighthouse is gravel road (still not too bad)!

Contrary to popular belief, Cape Reinga is not the northern tip of NZ, but standing there, looking out over where South Pacvific Ocean and Tasman Sea converge, is definitely a special feeling. Also the beaches around Cape Reinga are well worth a visit!

When driving back the gravel road you will see a sign leading to Te Paki Stream, with giant sand dunes on either side (you can ride on with boards).

You can only get access to 90 mile beach by driving through Te Paki Stream, but watch out for quick sand à keep moving!!!

The beach “road” is only for well prepared vehicles (like mine J - no rental cars!!!!), since quite often cars have hit soft sand or have been swallowed by the tides. It is about 1 hour of great fun and especially now in off-season you might be the only ones there! There are three access ways to get off, but I must admit that we were only able to find the last one, which is kind of a concrete ramp.

If you wanna enjoy a good Italian dinner, book at “Kahoe Farms Hostel” (09 405 1804). Just let Stefano know which kind of pasta, salad or pizza you wanna have and you will be surprised – for me it was the best I ever had in NZ. He is also baking bread, if you wanna have some for breakfast and doing Cappuccino, Coffee …..

Take some time to enjoy this great place with mini-pigs, donkeys …. and especially, very friendly hosts. The walks around there are beautiful, do some canoeing – ask Stefano! He can also tell you about the special Scenic Route when going back to Auckland (cannot remember it exactly anymore, sorry – leave Kahoe Farms Hostel, you will come to a bridge, go left and the next possible road right again) with great views! On your way down to Auckland take a stop at Paihia (still on highway 10) and also Pakiri Beach (great for surfing), close to Goat Island at the Eastcoast.

Doing the trip in three days still means quite a lot driving, but the scenery is awesome – ENJOY!

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

TAKAPUNA MARKETS

Every Sunday from 6am till noon

That is when Takapuna’s Central Carpark (corner Anzac Street & Lake Road) transforms into an eclectic market that offers fresh produce, flowers, crafts, furniture, foods, antiques and more.

OTARA MARKET

Saturdays from 6am till noon, Newsbury Street, Otara

For an excellent Pacific experience, definitely visit the Otara Market, which is a pretty large Polynesian market offering exotic foods and smells, wonderful tapa cloth, flax mats and baskets and bone carvings.

NEW ZEALAND MUSIC MONTH

Check www.nzmusicmonth.co.nz for all kind of concerts the whole month. There are also special prices for CDs of New Zealand artists at the moment.

WOYZECK

26 May – 05 June, Maidment Theatre, 8 Alfred Street

Franz Woyzeck is an impoverished soldier in a small town. Bullied by his Captain and subjected to bizarre medical experimentation by an army doctor, Woyzecks's  nerves are already strained when he begins to suspect that his common-law wife Marie is having an affair with a Drum- Major. Through a series of vignettes, the play charts his increasing distrust and anger, until, overcome with jealousy and despair, Woyzeck is driven to destroy the only thing he has ever loved. An emotional and moving jigsaw puzzle, Woyzeck is at once goofy and tragic, sexy and heartbreaking.

MACBETH

27 May – 26 June, Maidment Theatre, 8 Alfred Street

Macbeth, the doomed king, who, driven by murderous ambition and spurred on by his formidable young wife, knowingly wages mortal war on his own soul.

The Large Group has assembled a powerful cast that includes some very wellknown actors.

A dynamic new production of Shakespeare's most compelling masterpiece.

OUT TAKES, GAY AND LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL

27 May – 07 June, Skycity metro and Academy Cinema

Check out www.outtakes.org.nz

MISSY ELLIOT

2nd of June, doors 7pm, Supertop Ericsson Stadium

In what can only be described as possibly THE biggest Hip Hop/R’n’B Event to be staged in New Zealand this year, the undisputed Queen of Hip/Hop Missy Elliot will be touring New Zealand for the very first time with 17 dancers, DJ’s, and live band, for a memorable 90 minute performance.

SOLA ROSA

6th June @ Leigh Sawmill, 6pm till late

142 Pakiri Rd, Leigh (one hour north of Auckland)

6 piece live band & special guests The Turnaround

The music is difficult to describe, somebody tried with: “... jazzed up down beat with a twist of hip-hop and a sprinkling of calypso funk. What a delicious cocktail!...“

SONIC YOUTH – the world’s greatest punk rock jam band, and more!

26th of June, Saint James Complex, Auckland

One NY Roch writer discribed the band as “a roller-coaster ride of distortion, flange, strobe lights and rapid-fire drumming that sounded like an acid-rain storm on a hot tin roof“. Also on thebill is former Dinosaur Jr-man J Mascis and Wellington’s one man noise machine Birchville Cat Motel.

FRANZ FERDINAND

July 26, Regent St. James, Auckland

The Glasgow-bred art-rock band & finest post-punkers are coming to Auckland! Get yourself a ticket and enjoy!!!!

MESSAGE FROM JONATHON

Hey guys! Most of you know by now that New Zealanders have a bit of a rivalry with Australians.  It’s stronger even than the rivalry that the rest of NZ has with Auckland.  There is nothing that Kiwis love better than teasing Australians or beating Australia at sport!

Here’s a little something for your repertoire to impress your fellow Kiwi’s with your sense of humour!

Three Kiwis and three Aussies are travelling by train to a conference. At the station, the three Aussies each buy tickets and watch as the three Kiwis buy only a single ticket.

"How are three people going to travel on only one ticket?" asks an Aussie.

"Watch and you'll see," answers a Kiwi.

They all board the train. The Aussies take their respective seats but all three Kiwis cram into a bathroom and close the door behind them. Shortly after the train has departed, the conductor comes around collecting tickets. He knocks on the bathroom door and says,"Ticket, please." The door opens just a crack and a single arm emerges with a ticket in hand. The conductor takes it and moves on.

The Aussies see this and agree it was quite a clever idea. So after the conference, the Aussies decide to copy the Kiwis on the return trip and save some money (being clever with money,and all that). When they get to the station, they buy a single ticket for the return trip.

To their astonishment, the Kiwis don't buy a ticket at all. "How are you going to travel without a ticket?" says one perplexed Aussie.

Watch and you'll see," answers a kiwi.

When they board the train the three Aussies cram into a bathroom and the three Kiwis cram into another one nearby. The train departs. Shortly afterward, one of the Kiwis leaves his bathroom and walks over to the bathroom where the Aussies are hiding.

He knocks on the door and says, "Ticket, please."

THAT’S IT FOR TODAY!