December 8, 2006
Welcome to Idealog Weekly, the free email newsletter for New Zealand commercial creatives, entrepreneurs and anyone rich with ideas In this week’s issue: meet the new you, Bondi budgie smuggling, beating the traffic, holo heads, Nun better and the quote of the week. New Zealand, meet the new youJust what is it that’s special in Godzone? Is it scenery? Is it lakes, mountains, rivers? Unsullied plants, animals and atmosphere? Is that it—the full Kiwi experience?
Hell no—which is why ‘100% pure’ just doesn’t cut it as the slogan of Brand Enzed. The four million talented individuals who live here deserve some recognition, too. Jake Pearce looks at research on the European view of New Zealand and finds we have a certain something that the rest of the world wants. In the latest issue of Idealog, he explains why it’s important that we can explain the essence of New Zealand, and reckons he has the magic words. Read Jake’s story on our website, share your opinion in comments and let’s see if we can introduce a new message for the new New Zealand.
Bondi budgie smugglingIt’s the Aussie version of the Tip Top togs vs. undies ad: a celebration of the quintessential male swimwear across the ditch. MTV salutes the speedo lifestyle.
Beating the traffic
Meanwhile, Peugeot weighs in with some tips on dealing with life’s small annoyances. Holo heads Struggling to find the perfect gift for someone? Send them your head. Auckland businesswoman Anna Yallop will take a 3D image of your noggin (or someone else’s) and laser-engrave it into a block of solid crystal. The 3D portraits look amazing and don’t fade. Each one is unique; check it out at www.blokportrait.co.nz. Nun better On Saturday Kiwi FM will celebrate the launch of the Limited Edition Flying Nun CD Box Set in appropriate style, handing over the airwaves to Chris Knox for two hours from 11am. Kiwi says Knox “promises all the stories, the dirt and the tunes” from heydays of the groundbreaking local label. The box set marks Flying Nun’s 25th anniversary and packs over 80 awesome tracks—from The Clean to The Mint Chicks—into four CDs. It will be released in stores on Monday. While you wait, entertain yourself with this old Radio With Pictures clip on the music scene in Christchurch and Dunedin in 1984, with Shayne Carter, Graeme Downes and Dick Driver back when they took haircuts seriously. Best line: “There has been some conflict of interest between the breakdancers, the punks and the new romantics.” Uh-oh. And it’s fronted by … Brent Hansen, who went on to become president, CEO and “icon individual” of MTV Europe, and was profiled by Russell Brown in Idealog #3 (The hit man). Part two and part three are available from YouTube. Quote of the week “People would laugh at any Australian claim to sophistication. That would be pure Dame Edna. Even the intellectuals are perceived as brash, boorish ball-scratchers: Clive James, Robert Hughes, Germaine Greer. They’ve been Pom-bashing and willy-waving for too long”
—Malcolm Evans hasn’t been brainwashed by Neighbours yet More at Idealog online Read more on our website: Web exclusives, opinion, Idealog IP and the Idealog blogs. Matt Cooney
Editor
|
