NEWSROOM: 16 September - 22 September 2007

Valerie leaves best to last at athletics world championships
22 September 2007 - Source: Halberg Trust Press Release
 
Like most top athletes, Valerie Vili pays little attention to other track or field events going on inside the stadium as she goes about her business. Any interruption can result in a loss of focus and concentration.

So the 22-year-old Commonwealth Games champion was understandably aggrieved when during the women’s shot put final at this year’s World Athletic Championship in Osaka last month, officials decided to hold up the sixth and final round to complete the heats of the women’s 100m. It left the young Kiwi, in second place at the time, “in a not very positive space.”

However Valerie, guest speaker at the Westpac Halberg Celebrity Sporting Function in Nelson next month, now believes the unexpected interruption could have been a blessing in disguise. It gave her time to slip across and get final instructions from her coach Kirsten Hellier who encouraged Valerie to “go out and do this one for dad,” who passed away in May this year.

With the sprints out of the way, the large crowd was able to zero in on the final round of the shot put and Valerie says she felt their energy. “We became the focus of attention and that really lifted me. I was feeling a lot of emotion, but also very charged up and suddenly felt I had nothing to lose.”

The rest, as they say, is history. Valerie popped out her final throw to 20.54m, further than in any other competition, winning the title and setting a New Zealand and Oceania record in the process. It was, she says, a moment she will always treasure.

It also lifted Valerie, already a world class athlete, to another level. She joined Beatrice Faumuina, who won the women’s discuss in Athens 10 years ago, as only the second New Zealand athlete to win a world athletics title.

Having won the world youth shot put title in 2001 and the World Junior crown in 2002, the win in Osaka took her into very elite company, joining hurdler Jana Rawlinson (Australia) and pole vaulter Yelene Isinbaeva (Russia) as only the third athlete ever to win a world title at youth, junior and senior level.

Just a week ago Valerie followed up that World Championship performance by again beating Nadzeva Ostapchuk (Belarus) into second place at a meeting in Italy. Her last competition in Europe before returning home will be in the IAAF World Athletic Final, in Stuttgart this Sunday (September 23).

One of her first engagements back in New Zealand will be the Westpac Halberg Celebrity Sporting luncheon at the Trafalgar Park Pavilion in Nelson on October 12. She says her visit to Nelson will be another first and something she is really looking forward to. “It’s a place I’ve heard a lot of goods things about.”

She is looking forward to a break after a big year and before she sits down with coach Hellier to plan the summer programme and then the business of her Beijing Olympic bid.
After finishing eighth at her Olympic debut in 2004 at Athens the 2006 Westpac Halberg ‘Spotrtswoman of the Year’, now with World Championship crown behind her, can look forward to 2008 with confidence.

The Halberg Trust has planned a total of 11 Westpac Halberg Celebrity Sporting Functions around the country, which started in Auckland on August 10 with the 1987 All Blacks tribute luncheon at Eden Park and will finish in Wellington on November 2. Other keynote speakers confirmed include Sydney Olympic rowing gold medallist Rob Waddell, 2007 World Single Scull Rowing Champion Mahe Drysdale and 2004 Athens gold medallists Georgina and Caroline Evers-Swindell.

Tickets for the Nelson Westpac Halberg Celebrity Sporting Function are available from Tony
Thomas, Sport Tasman on (03) 546-7910, or contact the office at: halberg.co.nz
 

Sir Howard Morrison honoured by Creative New Zealand
21 September 2007 - Source: Creative New Zealand Press Release
 
Sir Howard Morrison has received many accolades in his career as an entertainer and on Sunday 23 September at Te Papaiouru Marae in Rotorua, Creative New Zealand will add one more.

The Māori Board of Creative New Zealand, Te Waka Toi, will present Sir Howard with Te Tohu Tiketike a Te Waka Toi, the premiere Te Waka Toi Award for Māori artists who have demonstrated a lifetime commitment to their art and who are leaders in their field.

“It is with great pleasure that Te Waka Toi is able to honour Sir Howard Morrison with Te Tohu Tiketike a Te Waka Toi”, explains the chair of Te Waka Toi, Dr Ngahuia Te Awekotukua.

“Throughout his career he has exemplified the very best of Māori entertainment. In 1981, he released Whakaaria Mai as a single which spent five weeks at number one on the national charts and remained in the charts for over six months. Over the last four decades, he has offered a unique Māori voice to the world, not just in music and entertainment, but also in charities and community initiatives. He has captured the hearts of New Zealanders and earned his place as a national icon. By honouring him, Te Waka Toi also recognizes the sublime vocal artistry of his mother Kahu, and the rich creative haka contribution of his late sister, Atareta.”

Since the beginning of his professional career in 1960 with the Howard Morrison Quartet, Sir Howard Morrison has enjoyed a varied career as entertainer, cultural ambassador and social advocate. In recognition of his work he became a distinguished member of the Order of the British Empire 1976 and in 1990 was knighted in recognition of both his talent and his services to his country, his people and the entertainment industry.

Sir Howard Morrison will be presented with his Te Tohu Tiketike a Te Waka Toi award in Rotorua on September 23 2007.
 

Promotional Tour of Tokelauan Music and Dance
20 September 2007 - Source: T Productionz Press Release
 
Vitale Tionisio of Tokelauan and Samoan heritage announces his much anticipated promotional tour of his debut album: ‘Rhythmic Reggae’ proudly supported by Creative New Zealand.

Vitale’s song performances will be accompanied by some fantastic, lively and creative Tokelauan Dancers and his show will also feature local talent.

The first show is scheduled for September 29th at the Naenae Community Hall at 7.30pm with supporting acts Koko O Tokelau/ Tokelau Bay lead by Maleko Ineleo a past Creative New Zealand Pacific Arts Funding recipient and Omata! Dance Group.

Vitale’s music style would be best described as Pacific reggae/ Pacific Contemporary. His music blends both contemporary beats with traditional Tokelauan songs that are sure to create an appreciation for its culture and way of life.
Vitale says his music is about ‘taking the Tokelauan language to the next generation’ with hit songs such as ‘Te Kainaki’ and ‘Ko te Loto’.
‘Rhythmic Reggae’ and ‘For Right’ are great original songs written and composed by Vitale at his recording studio ‘T Sounz’ in Wellington.

Dates for Vitale’s North Island promotional tour:

Saturday September 29th – Lower Hutt
Saturday October 6th – Porirua
Friday October 12th – Palmerston North
Saturday October 13th – Taupo
Saturday October 27th - Auckland

Vitale’s tour is brought to you by T Productionz.
Email T_Productionz@hotmail.com

For more information on his Vitale’s Promotional Tour and debut CD and please contact Helen Tionisio on 027 676 8506 Matalena Tionisio on 021 150 3854
 

All Blacks look to Scotland for physical test
19 September 2007 - Source: NewsTalkZB
 
First five Dan Carter believes the All Blacks are well on track to peak at the right end of the Rugby World Cup.

Carter missed the win over Portugal at the weekend but is expected to be back in the number 10 jersey for Monday morning's match against Scotland at Murrayfield.

Carter admits he is itching to front in the remaining two pool games against Scotland and Romania. He says they see next week's match as a key hit out before the quarterfinals and even though Scottish coach Frank Hadden plans to rest key players ahead of the match with Italy, he believes a second string Scottish side will still provide the All Blacks with the physical test needed.

A weaker Scottish team will not change how the All Blacks prepare for the game and Carter says the All Blacks will be looking to really gel in a couple of weeks so it is up to them to perfect the game plan to ensure it is implemented come the quarter finals and beyond.

While the Springboks, Wallabies and French pool have seen some tough physical games, the All Blacks have so far been untested by Italy and Portugal.

As expected, the All Blacks will not be in black when they face Scotland at the Rugby World Cup on Monday morning. As the home team, Scotland has chosen to wear their traditional dark blue jersey for the Test at Murrayfield, meaning New Zealand will don their silver - grey second strip to avoid a colour clash. The last time the All Blacks wore a non-black jersey at the tournament was against Scotland in the 1995 quarterfinals. It did not hurt them that day as they romped to a 48-30 victory.

The All Blacks have had the day off training yesterday, with most opting for some golf, tennis or cycling around the picturesque streets of Aix En Provence.
 

Project wins Nielsen BookData Research Award
18 September 2007 - Source: Pasifika Information Management Network Press Release
 
The Pasifika library & information recruitment project spearheaded by Spencer Lilley, was presented the 2007 Nielsen BookData Research Award at the Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa (LIANZA) Annual Conference on Monday 11th September.

The Award is made to support a proposed research project related to information management, which encompasses the fields of publishing, library and information management, electronic libraries, and bibliographic and full-text databases.

Spencer Lilley (Research Project Leader) received the Award on behalf of the research team and the Pasifika Information Management Network (PIMN) for their forthcoming research project on how to recruit and retain more Pacific Peoples into the Library and Information professions.

In receiving the award, Spencer, highlighted the fact there was currently a “very small number of Pacific people employed in the library and information professions and that this needed to change as the Pacific population is growing at an accelerated rate. It is expected that this growth will result in an increased demand for specialist services targeted at Pacific peoples, and libraries and information agencies need to be ready for this.

The project also focuses on how libraries and other information agencies encourage Pacific peoples to use their services and resources and will use case studies of successful partnerships between Pacific communities and the library and information professions to highlight best practices.

In presenting the Award, Ms Martine Poiree of National Manager of Nielsen BookData Ltd, praised the project as being very timely due to the growing importance of the contribution made by Pacific people to New Zealand’s social, economic and cultural future.

A report on the findings and recommendations from the research will be presented in 2008.
 

Maori weaving gathers momentum for national hui
17 September 2007 - Source: Toi Maori Aotearoa Press Release
 
The Maori Weavers National Hui has received an unprecedented response from weavers for their upcoming gathering at Maraenui Marae in the eastern Bay of Plenty, to be held next month during Labour Weekend.

Edna Pahewa, Chairperson of Te Roopu Raranga Whatu o Aotearoa (national weavers collective) said “This is a significant event for our members to gather together, but I am sorry there may be some who will miss out this year.”

She added “We’ve been working really hard to promote our great weaving tradition. The rise of interest in Maori weaving in fashion has been a big part of the response.”

This biennial gathering of the country’s foremost practitioners in weaving has grown in recent years. This interest follows an increasing number of tertiary institutions offering programmes in Maori arts.

The hugely successful international exhibition Toi Maori – The Eternal Thread, curated and toured by Pataka Museum in Porirua, has also elevated the public profile of Maori weaving along with the 2005 book publication The Eternal Thread - The Art of Maori Weaving.

Following a three-year tour to the United States, the exhibition returned in 2007 for a final showing at The Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu, attracting an audience of 81,000 visito.
 

World Cup - NZ rack up century points against spirited Portugal
16 September 2007 - Source: Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs Press Release
 
New Zealand overcame ragged starts in both halves in handing Portugal the expected whipping by 108-13 in the Rugby World Cup on Saturday.

The All Blacks scored 16 tries, 14 of them converted by flyhalf Nick Evans in racking the fourth-highest score in tournament history.

But Portugal, the team of doctors, lawyers, teachers and students drawn mainly from an unheralded domestic league, put New Zealand off its stride during the first and third quarters before being overwhelmed in its first-ever match with the Cup favourites.

The biggest cheers from the sun-splashed 40,729 crowd at Stade de Gerland came for Portugal flyhalf Goncalo Malheiro's drop goal in the 25th minute, and team mate Rui Cordeiro's hard-earned try in the 48th.

But both scores woke the slumbering All Blacks out of error-strewn starts, and following Malheiro's drop, they poured on six tries in 16 minutes to finish the first half, and seven tries in the last 21 minutes.

"We started a little slower than we did last week (against Italy), and I put that down to Portugal. Then we got into a rhythm and we're pretty pleased with how they played," New Zealand coach Graham Henry said.

Portugal's Lobos (Wolves) were determined not to concede 100 points and when replacement prop-cum-lock Carl Hayman dove between the posts in injury time to make it 99-13 with Evans' inevitable conversion to come, their disappointment was obvious.

"It is an excellent day for Portugal rugby and rugby around the world," Portugal coach Tomaz Morais said. "We have to play against teams like this for rugby to evolve.

"Our goals were very clear. We knew we were playing against the greatest team in rugby in the last few years. They have beaten great teams by 70-80 points. We went out to score a try and did this. Another objective was to prevent them breaking the world points record. All the players came back survivors."

For New Zealand, which made 10 changes to the side which crushed Italy 76-14 in its Pool C opener, there were two tries each for Joe Rokocoko, Aaron Mauger and Conrad Smith, while Evans contributed 33 points. There were also tries for Isaia Toeava, Ali Williams, captain Jerry Collins, Chris Masoe, Andrew Hore, Brendon Leonard, Andy Ellis, Leon MacDonald, Evans and Hayman.

"There were 11 guys who hadn't played the previous week, and all the mistakes were not for a lack of trying. The guys were just eager to get into the game," Collins said. "A lot of it was trying to stem that enthusiasm and finding a rhythm and once we got that it was good."

Making 100 was not a goal, he added: "Unfortunately we can't bet on our own games so we can't make any money. But the guys are relatively happy, everyone got on the field and feels part of the World Cup."

Rokocoko's two tries were their only highlights in a patchy first quarter. He was over after five minutes from No. 8 Sione Lauaki's lineout catch, and in the 13th from a quick lineout pass to fullback MacDonald, who gave back the ball and saw Rokocoko speed 50 meters to the line for his 40th try in 46 tests.

But New Zealand hiccuped errors and took the whole quarter to settle.

Passes were forward or intercepted or dropped or knocked on, and players ran into each other. When Leonard sliced his clearance kick, Malheiro used the ball for a 39-meter drop kick, after which he seemed to leap in the air as high and pump his fist.

That was the last straw for the All Blacks.

Smith crashed through the defense and fellow midfielder Mauger put in Toeava between the posts in the 27th minute, and the romp was on.

Toeava came off his wing to see lock Williams stroll in untouched, then Collins fended off one defender and busted through two to put Mauger beside the right post. Collins scored three minutes later, followed by Masoe and Hore, who beat four tacklers.

The All Blacks were waiting in formation as Portugal returned to the field for the second half, but the Lobos were the accurate ones. Rokocoko left the ball behind him near the line and Portugal used the chance to hammer the All Blacks' line off six successive rucks before Cordeiro was given the try by the TV official.

The Portuguese couldn't stem the black tide, however. New Zealand ruled the lineouts, especially Lauaki at the back in his first game since the 2005 Grand Slam tour. Evans' prodigious punts from 22 to 22 kept the Portuguese in their half, and the Lobos' tackles gradually fell away under a constant barrage of bashing runs from Collins, Masoe, Lauaki, Mauger and Smith.

Collins' last act before being replaced in the 66th was to set up a try for Ellis, and he left to loud applause after leading New Zealand for a second distinguished time in his career.

New Zealand rumbles on to Edinburgh next to play Scotland on Sept. 23, while Portugal meets Italy on Wednesday in Paris.
 

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