THE INTERNAL - NEWSLETTER 24/04

WELCOME TO MIDDLE EARTH

We are getting two new interns this week!

Wulf will be here on Friday. He’s internship is with Smart Print.

And this is Sophie, arriving on Sunday. She is doing her internship at silverscreen production. Sounds exciting.

Well, we’ll learn more about them when they get here. See you soon!

RUGBY

Ok, that game was crap! All I can say is the all blacks (NZ Rugby team) deserved to lose.

We were out on Saturday to watch the game, all blacks v the wallabies (Australia). For those of you coming soon, it’s not about football here, it’s all about Rugby. So here a little introduction to it, so you know what it’s all about.

Short guide to Rugby

Rugby is a continuous game whereby two teams carry, pass, kick and ground the ball in order to score as many points as possible, with the team scoring the greater number of points being the winner.

The first law of rugby is that they are called laws, not rules. Rules are for the other codes of football. There are just 22 laws of rugby, but they contain enough sections and sub – sections to fill 162 pages. It is not all about laws – to understand the heart, soul and tradition of rugby is something different.

In Senior rugby (and under 19s), 15 people play at a time per side, each of which have specific duties as a player. Players are usually talked about in respect to two categories. Members of the first group are called the forwards, or the pack, and consist of the first eight players. Members of the second group are called the backs, and consist of the remaining players, numbered 9 to fifteen.

If a player is tackled to the ground they must release the ball, which usually results in a ruck. If a player is held while standing, a maul will usually be formed. The purpose of the ruck or maul is so that the game can continue without any stoppage in play.

The line-out and scrum are two key distinguishing factors that make Rugby unique and restart the game. A scrum occurs when there is an accidental infringement It is a cult and a mystery, understood only by forwards, who regard pushover tries from a scrum as better than sex. Rugby scrums bind, pack and push, the ball is fed into the middle and contested by the opposing hookers. If a hooker secures the ball after the rival scrum-half has fed it in, yell “Great tighthead!” When in doubt about an infringement, yell: “Get ‘em onside ref!” When the whistle blows, follow up with: “He’s been doing it all day!”...

The line-out occurs when the ball goes out of bounds. Then the hooker stands on the sideline and throws the ball down the middle of two lines of forwards. Using a complicated secret code (but not too complicated because they are forwards) they throw to one man, who jumps meters in the air, lifted by his team mates. All going well, the ball tapped down to the scrum-half who feeds it out to the back line, and a try is scored.

A try is scored when a player places the ball in the opposition's in-goal area. It is counted as 5 points and can be converted to an additional 2 points with a successful place kick or drop kick. Points may also be awarded from a drop kick in general play and a penalty kick. Both are worth 3 points.

Rugby players are, without exception, ruggedly handsome (some are more rugged than handsome), and unlike other codes, rugby men come in all shapes and sizes.

Frontrowers: If they’re built like kegs with eyes, they’re props or hookers. Their workbench is the scrum, too many of which can trigger an unsightly affliction known as scrum pox.

Second rowers are extremely tall timber who get nicknames like “SkyLab”. Number 8’s are the hard, mobile men of the forward pack, the ones at the back of the scrum.

Flankers are the pack’s fighter pilots, always on a seek-and-destroy mission for the ball. The centres are the Brad Pitts of the team – athletic and good-looking. Scrum-halves are small, perfectly formed and tough as teak. Cheeky and aggressive, they love starting fights as long as they’re not in them. Wingers are the Pierce Brosnans, often derided as blouses who hang around with footballers. They are distinguished by their perfect hair and spotless jerseys. Rugby is trying to change this image by putting former league stars on the wings. Fullbacks and fly-halves are fleet-footed, and blessed with great ball skills. They prefer not to tackle anyone unless they really, really have to.

The Haka

For most non-Maori New Zealanders today their knowledge of Haka is perhaps limited to that most performed of Haka called "Ka mate, Ka mate". Many sports teams and individuals travelling from New Zealand overseas tend to have the haka "Ka mate" as part of their programme.

The sports team that has given the haka the greatest exposure overseas has been the All Blacks, who perform it before their matches. It has become a distinctive feature of the New Zealand All Blacks.

Origin of the Haka

According to Maori ethos, Tama-nui-to-ra, the Sun God, had two wives, Hine-raumati, the Summer maid, and Hine takurua, the Winter maid. The child born to him and Hine-raumati was Tane-rore, who is credited with the origin of the dance. Tane-rore is the trembling of the air as seen on the hot days of summer, and represented by the quivering of the hands in the dance.

Haka is the generic name for all Maori dance. Today, haka is defined as that part of the Maori dance repertoire where the men are to the fore with the women lending vocal support in the rear. Most haka seen today are haka taparahi, haka without weapons.

More than any aspect of Maori culture, this complex dance is an expression of the passion, vigour and identity of the race. Haka is not merely a past time of the Maori but was also a custom of high social importance in the welcoming and entertainment of visitors. Tribal reputation rose and fell on their ability to perform the haka (Hamana Mahuika).

Haka reflected the concerns and issues of the time, of defiance and protest, of factual occurrences and events at any given time

Haka History

The centrality of the haka within All Black rugby tradition is not a recent development. Since the original "All Black" team of "New Zealand Natives" led by Joseph Warbrick the haka has been closely associated with New Zealand rugby. Its mystique has evolved along with the fierce determination, commitment and high level skill which has been the hallmark of New Zealand's National game.

The haka adds a unique component, derived from the indigenous Maori of New Zealand, and which aligns with the wider Polynesian cultures of the Pacific.

The All Blacks perform the haka with precision and intensity which underpin the All Black approach.

Haka Translated

Ka mate, Ka mate!
It is death, It is death
Ka ora, Ka ora!
It is life, It is life

Ka mate, Ka mate!
It is death, It is death
Ka ora, Ka ora!
It is life, It is life

Tenei te tangata puhuruhuru
This is the man above me
Nana i tiki mai whakawhiti te ra!
Who enabled me to live

A hupane, kaupane
As I climb up step by step
A hupane, kaupane whiti te ra!
Towards sunlight
Hi!

WEEKEND TRIP SUGGESTION

Marvel at Mother Nature’s light display as you glide silently through the starry wonderland of the Glowworm Grotto...
Visitors to the Waitomo Glowworm Caves never fail to be amazed by the splendour and beauty of the limestone formations and the magnificent glowworm. The glowworm is a small glowing insect no bigger han an average mosquito. It has always fascinated and intrigued both adults and children alike.

Your guided tour will take you through over 250 metres of stunning underground scenery commencing with the impressive Cathedral. The acoustics in this particular cavern are world-renowned. Acclaimed New Zealand Diva, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, has sung here and was delighted with the purity of the sound. Your tour begins at the upper entrance of the cave and proceeds along a low narrow passage to the Tomo, a deep limestone shaft. Other magnificentcave formations include the Banquet Chamber, the Pipe Organ and the Catacombs.
The highlight of your tour is an unrivalled boat trip through the spectacular Glowworm Grotto. As your eyes adjust to the dark, the walls and roof sparkle with the lights of glowworm larvae. Glide silently through the starry wonderland of the glowworm grotto, your way lit by a myriad of tiny glowworm lights glittering, and reflecting off the water.

Your experienced tour guide will deliver a highly informative commentary about the formations and the history of the area. The cave is easily accessible to those with reasonable mobility, with good handrails and paths.

The Aranui Cave, located 3kms West from the Glowworm Cave is another must see when visiting Waitomo. Set in the forest of the Ruakuri scenic reserve, the beautifully delicate formations in Aranui Cave create a place for quiet contemplation and a time to reflect on the wonders of nature.

A guide will take you along safe boardwalks into narrow chambers to see the finestcave formations of all the caves in Waitomo. The high chambers, magnificent limestone formations and pale brown, pink and white shades of the huge stalactites in the Aranui Cave are truly spectacular. As you enter the cave, the first cavern in the Aranui Cave, the Butcher Shop is so named following the discovery by the local Maori pig-hunter Ruruku Aranui. Other key points of interest include the Cathedral Majestic, The Temple of Peace and the Eastern Scene in Aladdins Cave. Aranui Cave is home to one of the largeststalactites
which is estimated to be 2.5 tonnes and 6 metres long.

Admission Prices:
Waitomo Glowworm Caves or Aranui Cave – NZ$25 per Adult
Two Cave Combo – Glowworm and Aranui Cave – NZ$45 per Adult

Driving time to Waitomo from Auckland, about 2.5 hours.

WEEKEND SUGGESTIONS

Theatre

Since there has been such an interest shown in going sometime to the theatre, I picked out a few shows I thought might be interesting. Just tell me which (or if you have heard of another one), and we can go maybe on the weekend?

A bard’s tale

Discover the great comedies, tragedies and histories that Shakespeare should have written but didn’t! Covert Theatre presents a new season of this popular improvised show in which actors create hilarious and unpredictable stories of magic, murder and mistaken identity in front of the audience – and all in the language of the times.

5 – 28 August, Covert Theatre, 84 K’road. Phone: 366 6637

Costs 14 $ when pre booked.

Thursday nights, Whose Show Is it Anyway?

An ever-changing cast of theatresports players presents the live version of the TV show, without the bleeps, edits and ad breaks.

Venue: Float, Princess Wharf.

Costs 38 NZ$ for tickets and a meal, and 15 NZ$ for tickets only.

The Peculiar Case of Clara Parsons

The Clinic presents a multimedia story using performers, video projectors and animations in an electronic sound environment.

Venue: Galatos, 17 Galatos Street, Newton. From 5th to the 21st of August.

Tickets cost 25$ per adult. Students and groups from 8 people, 20$ each.

Chilling and dancing at the weekend?

Roots bar, Cafe and Cabaret

The only African-style nightclub in Auckland, Roots has been pumping out African, Reggae, and Rhythm and Blues sounds since 1998. The club features resident DJs and also offers live cabaret entertainment. It is a fully licensed venue with a well-stocked bar (beers from NZD5) and free bar snacks on Friday and Saturday. The music beats out a pulsing African rhythm all night long during weekends for a mainly local crowd looking to relax and have a great time.

11pm-5am Wed; 11pm-6am Thu; 10pm-8am Fri; 10pm-9am Sat

Iguacu restaurant and bar

269 Parnell Road, Parnell. Sunday’s all-day jazz with free entry, Caitlin Smith performs 12.30-3.30pm, and the Nairobi Trio perform 7.30-10.30pm

Bar 3 & New City Bar

Skycity , cnr Federal and Victoria Streets.

Watch the rugby live on the big screen. Join us for our Black Out parties happening after every All Blacks game during August.

Rugby

15 August, NPC Rugby

Auckland v Bay of Plenty

Venue: Eden Park, Mount Eden

MESSAGE FROM JONATHAN

Hey guys! Was nice to see some of you at the pub on Saturday night! So why did the All Blacks lose?

One thing that you may have noticed about Auckland is that it is very flat.  There are few apartment buildings and the city is spread out over a large area.  Most of the accommodation in the central city has only been built in the last 8 years.  When I first arrived in NZ, NOBODY lived in central Auckland, and everything was always shut after 5! What a big change in such a short period.

So it will be interesting for you if you ever decide to come back to NZ after your internships finish.  When you return you will notice all the differences and think back to how it was when you were here!

NZ has always been a strange mixture of being advanced and behind at the same time.  For example, because of the small size of its population, it has been the ‘sample’ market for various products and services and technology before the rest of the world.  Kiwis have been using their ATM cards to pay for things for years before the rest of the world!  At the same time, NZ is definitely a follower rather than a leader in lifestyle and fashion issues. 

But that’s what you get here – the good and the bad.  With technology how it is we forget just how far from everything NZ actually is! No wonder it has its own unique development!

THAT’S IT FOR TODAY!