Our Interview with Little Doomsdays Creators, Nic Low and Phil Dadson

Little Doomsdays
Little Doomsdays by Nic Low and Phil Dadson on the library catalogue
Little Doomsdays by Nic Low and Phil Dadson

Little Doomsdays is a lavishly illustrated collaborative art book between musician/painter Phil Dadson and writer Nic Low. It’s the fifth in the ‘kōrero series’ of books, conceived and edited by Lloyd Jones.

In Little Doomsdays, legendary musician and painter Phil Dadson responds to a wildly innovative text by Ngāi Tahu writer Nic Low that’s steeped in te ao Māori. Together they play with the notion of ark and arc in a manner that is at once beguiling and challenging.

Nic Low, head and shoulders shot, against a brick wall backdrop
Nic Low

Nic Low (Ngāi Tahu) is the partnerships editor at NZ Geographic magazine and the former programme director of WORD Christchurch. A prize-winning author of short fiction, essays and criticism, his writing on wilderness, technology and race has been widely published and anthologised on both sides of the Tasman.

 

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School Holidays: Art Through the Ages | Toi Puta Noa i Ngā Tau​

Art Through the Ages | Toi Puta Noa i Ngā Tau, 23 September - 8 October

Art Through the Ages | Toi Puta Noa i Ngā Tau, 23 September - 8 OctoberIt’s almost School Holidays! From the 23rd of September to the 8th of October, we’re inviting children and young people in Pōneke to explore the world through the power of art in Art Through the Ages / Toi Puta Noa i Ngā Tau — click through to find out more!

Find out more about School Holidays

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Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2023: Whakanuia te mahi tā Morvin Simon: kia kaha te reo Māori

Morvin Simon MNZM
Morvin Simon MNZM, 1944-2014. CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons and the Governor-General/Government House website

Morvin Simon, 1944-2014
Te Āti-Haunui-a-Pāpārangi, Ngāti Apa, Ngāti Tuwharetoa
b. Kaiwhaiki Marae, Whanganui River
Composer, kapa haka leader, choirmaster and historian

In this Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, let’s remember the special team of Morvin and Kura Simon, who gave a life’s partnership to sustaining Te Reo Māori and enhancing Māori performing arts:

Morvin composed many waiata including our workplace favourite: (Te Aroha 1983) – so simple and yet so beautiful but he composed many other waiata such as:

His wife Kura was his pou for the last seven years of Morvin’s chronic ill-health. Kapa haka is a wonderful way of promoting te reo and they brought aroha and whanaungatanga to the lives of rōpū such as Te Matapihi, and Te Taikura o te Awa Tupua.

Together, in 2013, they were awarded Queen’s Birthday honours – Morvin as Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, and Kura as Queen’s Service Medal , for their services to Māori.

In the previous year, 2012, Morvin received an honorary Bachelor of Arts (Māori Performing Arts) from Te Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.

Our library has copies of Morvin’s history of pā of Whanganui – Taku Whare e! but his tuhituhinga included:

Te Kohanga reo, he ahurewa mana = A language nursery, seedbed of dignity (1990)

1946-1996 Hui Aranga : “Te Aranga Ake” = “The Resurrection” (1996)

A century of Maori song : a collection of words and music for 56 traditional and contemporary Maori songs of the 20the century. Volume one (2002)

He whakaaro hei korero (1991)

and a section of Te Wharekura. 46: Te Taonga nei o te tikanga.

Morvin exhorted his learners to be always prepared for any occasion:

You never know when you just might have to step up to the plate and get your reo on:
Moea to taiaha ; Moea to patu ; Moea to poi

Sleep wth your taiaha, sleep with your patu, sleep with your poi / Be prepared for the unexpected.

Learn more:

Celebrate Chinese Language Week – 17-23 September

Chinese Language Week 2023

Chinese Language Week 2023Nihao/Neihou, Chinese Language Week is 17-23 September this year, celebrating Mandarin, Cantonese and other Chinese dialects! There are many ways to be involved in this exciting week – attend an event, read a book or an eBook, and learn a Chinese phrase! (网页中文简体版)(网页中文繁体版)

Resource: Chinese Corner books for learning Chinese

Read books from the Chinese Corner to help you learn Chinese. You are welcome to reserve and borrow both simplified and traditional text Chinese books.

Resource: Chinese books

You can find Chinese books in simplified and traditional scripts from any Wellington City Libraries branches or reserve a book for free to pick up from your nearest branches. Waitohi Johnsonville, Te Awe and Arapaki libraries also have Chinese books on display with beautiful Chinese themed decorations.

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SilverScreenBlack Madman DVD & Blu-Ray Giveaway!

In association with SilverScreenBlack, Asia-Pacific’s most liked film review channel on Twitter, and Madman Entertainment we present a free DVD and Blu-Ray giveaway!

We have two bundles to give away – a DVD bundle and a Blu-Ray bundle.

DVDs:

 

 

 

 

Enter our Facebook competition to win the DVD bundle above by answering the question: ‘Who is the lead actor in Jacob’s Ladder?’.

Blu-Rays:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enter our Facebook competition to win the Blu-Ray bundle above by answering the question: ‘Who is the lead actor in ‘The Whale?’

Winners will be selected at random on Wednesday 5 July. Good luck!

He Kete Pupuri Mahara: Memory bags

What’s a Memory Bag?

Example of a memory bag and tagMemory bags | He Kete Pupuri Mahara are a collection of vintage items and images to encourage conversation and reminiscence for people with dementia or memory loss. They also contain specialised items and conversation cards to inspire discussion.

How does it work?

You can borrow a bag for three weeks and renew for another three weeks.

Memory Bags are free to borrow and free to reserve.

Memory Bags can be found on the catalogue.

For a mostly or completely damaged or lost memory bag, there is a $50 charge.

Where are they located?

The memory bags are located at these libraries with the following themes:

  • Kilbirnie (General, Work)
  • Te Awe (General, Craft)
  • Karori (General, Food)
  • Tawa (General, Garden)
  • Island Bay (General, Craft, Music)

Terms and conditions

These terms and conditions are in addition to standard library membership conditions, e.g. due date and lost and damage.

  • All borrowers of He Kete Pupuri Mahara | Memory bags are Wellington City Libraries members with current library cards.
  • The borrower is responsible for the kete, which is issued on their library card. This person is responsible for borrowing and returning the entire kete, and is fully responsible for its return, as well as any replacement costs for lost or damaged kete items or set.
  • Kete will be issued by a library staff member. The kete need to be issued as a whole; the contained items cannot be issued separately.
  • The kete must be returned to a library staff member, who will check them for missing and damaging items before returning it.
  • There are no overdue fees but if the kete has not been returned 30 days after the due date, it becomes “lost” and the borrower’s card will be blocked, as with other library items.
  • The fees for lost/damaged books will be:
    • $0 charge for partially damage or loss of kete
    • $50 charge for a fully lost or damaged kete

Interested in making a memory bag for yourself? 

How to communicate with people who have dementia

How to make your own Memory Bag

Read more about caring for people with dementia.