Introducing Levity Beet. He’s a New Zealand children’s song writer and one of his songs has made it into the finals of an international song-writing competition. His is the only Kiwi tune to make it …
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There were crowds and there was limited parking but people of all cultures gathered in their thousands to enjoy Auckland’s 11th Lantern Festival. As part of the traditional Chinese New Year celebrations an inner city park was transformed into a magical nightscape.
The Lantern Festival is a showcase for colourful, people-sized lanterns made from lightweight paper over wire and lit from inside by electric bulbs. This year two illuminated dragons weaved their way around the central water fountain, a flock of glowing sheep grazed on grassy flats and amongst hanging vines and branches a tropical sea story was enacted. A Tiger – the symbol of 2010 – crouched near one of the park entrances. 
Around the park there were rides for the kids and international dance and song performances. In the late afternoon martial artists displayed their skills to applauding crowds and when the sun set, passionate Karaoke singers took to the stage. For the hungry, or the culinary explorer, there were plenty of exotic dishes. In a cordoned-off-street food alley a thirst quenching coconut could be bought. There was deep fried eggplant pie to sample and grilled corn cobs to chew.
Over 200,000 visited this year, so many that there was a sea of people, and walking around often became a shuffle. But the vibe was so pleasant that the mass of bodies became friendly companionship.
The Lantern Festival will be held again next year when the Year of the Rabbit arrives.
Joann C. Jones wrote, “During my second year of nursing school our professor gave us a quiz. I breezed through the questions until I read the last one: “What is the first name of the …
The countdown is almost over for the Irish and the honorary Irish all over Auckland, as the much anticipated St Patrick’s Festival makes it’s way into town this weekend. There’s no better way to celebrate …
The bee hive is constantly busy – actually, that is the mother of all understatements. The queen lays up to 2000, yes, that is two thousand, eggs a day during the spring and summer, …
What do Te Puke’s kiwi fruit and Paeroa’s L&P bottle have in common with the world’s tallest building – the Burj Khalifa, London Eye and Table Mountain? They are all taking action against climate change …
I’ve always wanted to learn another language. Being Canadian, with our two official languages – English and French, I should easily be bilingual. But I’m not. However, it’s my opinion that all Canadians should be …
My name is Emily Harris. I’m 25 years old and at the end of last year I finished a legal internship. The natural next step for me was to get a job with a law …
Planetaudio 104.6FM 7.20pm Tuesday nights
http://www.planetaudio.org.nz/program.php?languageid=14
Search ” Find your joy” or go to ” English” then “health” and Find your joy comes up
On Find your Joy, Pat Armitstead offers an integrated approach to managing depression, grief …
WWF Media release 5 March 2009
They say every journey starts with the first step. But for 15 year old Aescleah Hawkins, the first steps of her journey yesterday – a 42 km walk for Hector’s …
Dr SunWolf said, “Give crayons. Adults are disturbingly impoverished of these magical dream sticks.”
What a great name for crayons, dream sticks. Give some today, or buy some yourself, grab huge pieces of paper and scrawl.
Create, …
A very successful Australian Brad Cooper told me once…”Wanna make an omelette? You gotta crack a few eggs!”
Last week I wove a story of a degree of success with my previous business, Take One …
Language for me is sustenance–such an indulgent pleasure to roll a beautiful word around in my mouth like a slowly melting chocolate, or to spit and dribble the painful and ugly whilst marvelling at their …
Award-winning restaurant and Wellington institution Logan Brown is throwing its support behind this year’s Earth Hour, by offering eight lucky diners a free meal to celebrate the global environmental campaign.
Steve Logan, the restaurateur behind Cuisine …
A surprising new locally born art genre is about to sneak into Nelson to celebrate the inner artist in everyone. WASA!™ (Wild and Sneaky Art™) is Nelson’s new creative fringe festival “wild child” scheduled …
Lately I’ve come to wonder how comfortable people feel to offer honest feedback on Happyzine. It occurs to me that I want to encourage readers to relax and enjoy expressing various view points, because a) …
Press Release – Massey University
WWF-New Zealand has teamed up with Massey University and some of the country’s leading designers, architects and artists to launch an innovative new green design competition as part of this year’s …
Mignon McLaughlin wrote, “Hope is the feeling we have that the feeling we have is not permanent.”
Have you had that thought: the one that says it’s ok because what I’m feeling, or what is happening …
Hundreds of beautiful photos were submitted, but there can be only one winner of the ‘Only in New Zealand’ photo competition.
After tallying up the votes, Jasons were amazed to find the Kiwi public had been …
Edmund Burke said, “Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little.”
My favourite law is the Law of Compounding. Usually ‘interest’ is added on the end of …
A good story from Africa.
“Africa’s top human rights body, issued a landmark ruling in favour of an indigenous group, the Endorois Community, that has been fighting for justice since the Kenyan government forced them off …
Ever since coming to live in Auckland just over a year ago, I have been thinking about how to reduce the traffic on the roads.
Rodney Hyde thinks that Auckland is “broken and needs fixing” because …
Sign up to Happyzine this month and go in the draw to WIN an amazing organic, handcrafted, Golden Bay made gift pack of assorted Clean Earth Soap (www.cleanearthsoap.co.nz)!
When I was young boy I spent time in my Grandparents house in a tiny village in County Galway on the west coast of Ireland. I would stay in the guest’s room upstairs, sharing a …
Happyzine Dream to Reality: Project Planet.
“Enough with focusing on what’s wrong, it’s time to dream about what’s possible environmentally, and make it happen,” says Charlotte Squire, founder of good-news website ‘Happyzine’. She’s offering one …
We are experiencing a new wave of connection that is going to herald the way we do business from here on ! This new and positive way is contributing to both individual and team productivity as the following demonstrates. A productive workplace is created when we can engage with others in such a way that we support people to improve enthusiasm and morale, boost their individual performance and optimise their attitude. This degree of connection or engagement contributes to improved personal work satisfaction, creates a sense of belonging, and renewed confidence around engaging with others. This is across the board and includes peers, managers and clients alike.
The degree to which we can achieve this is based on our capacity to remain good humoured in the face of the life events that shape our experience. I should insert here I believe to be good humoured is to be appropriately responsive.
Denise Arnold has returned from Cambodia certain the work of a Tauranga-based trust established 18 months ago is having a positive impact on the lives of children and their families and communities.
She recently took 10 …
Original Source: DoC
All the albatross chicks at Taiaroa Head have hatched without problems – the first time the Royal Albatross Colony has achieved a 100 percent success rate in 16 years.
But the difficult time is …
“Sisters are doing it for themselves!”…as the song goes. In Wainui Bay at the Tui EventSpark, as it is called, all sorts of beautiful events are held through the warmer seasons. Events for youth, women, …
Yesterday my daughter and I spent most of the day in our small suburban garden, planting, pruning, weeding and watering. For young children, everyday tasks such as these can be a bit tedious which is …
I’m excited to see Happyzine calling for local writers in every town to gather the good news because the changes we need to see in the world are coming from the grassroots, from local communities, …
Meditation. Why is everyone getting so excited about it? Preparing for his Heart-Soul tour in March, India based meditation expert Tarun Kumar answered a few questions about his own meditation practice and his upcoming visit …
It is great to see communities working together to strengthen their traditional knowledge and increase the ties that bind.
From the Timaru Herald .
The community at Arowhenua is hosting the second annual Kura Reo Kai Tahu …
NZ Herald
Promoters have announced the four New Zealand acts to perform at January’s Raggamuffin concert in Rotorua.
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www.Scoop.co.nz
Speaker to give Scottish Parliament kilt a swirl
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon Dr Lockwood Smith, is pictured left, being presented with a kilt in the tartan of the Scottish National Parliament …
It’s Monday the 25th of January and I’m on the Interislander Ferry feeling utterly relieved as I head back to the Shire (Nelson) after an exciting Television stint in the Capital. Oh yes, it’s been …
NZ Herald
Transport Minister Steven Joyce wants motorists to take care on the roads over the long weekend.
More people were choosing to holiday in New Zealand this year and the roads will be unusually busy, he …
Over two million students expected to break a Guinness World Record for the largest online maths competition
Children all over New Zealand are preparing to join more than two million students from around the world to …
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