THE COMPLETE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE FOR THE NEW ZEALAND MAN HAVE YOU GOT THE LIFE YOU WANT YET? THE SECRET EQUATION TO LEADERSHIP 12 METABOLISM BOOSTERS HOW TO FREE YOUR CAREER ESCAPE TO THE GREAT WALL $10.95 Apr 2011 ISSUE M2.71 9 771176 166012 JAMES FRANCO: A 10-YEAR OVERNIGHT SUCCESS TWO0 W 4 WO0 485 485\ 8 TTBWA BWA Become the centre of attention. 2degrees Pocket WiFi lets you create a WiFi hotspot whenever you need it. You and four friends can connect laptops, phones, game consoles and music players to the one Pocket WiFi device all at the same time, using the 2degrees 3G network. It’s only $199RRP and comes with a 3GB Data Pack*. Grab one from participating stores: *To find out if you’re in a mobile broadband zone go to 2degreesmobile.co.nz/broadbandzones lexus.co.nz The Lexus CT200h. The world’s Feeling feisty? One twist of the Drive Mode switch to Sport Mode and you’re instantly at the helm of a livelier, more sports-focused vehicle. Indulge yourself in the more responsive acceleration, sports handling and a cockpit display zone that transforms to a glowing red to match your mood. All of that wrapped in the eye-catching lines of the stylish L-Finesse exterior design. It’s the perfect contradiction. Two cars in one. Visit your Lexus first luxury compact sports hybrid. Feeling more relaxed? Turn the dial to Eco or Normal Mode and the vehicle alters its DNA again. The red glow changes to a calming blue as you experience a smoother, more relaxing drive. Regardless of the mood you’re in, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that the combination of the 1.8 litre petrol engine and Lexus Hybrid Drive is achieving class-leading fuel efficiency and emissions. dealer now or go to www.lexus.co.nz to see which mood suits you. w w w. n i k o n . c o. n z ! !! !!!" "! ! !! CONTENTS April 2011 ISSUE M2.71 THE COMPLETE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE FOR THE NEW ZEALAND MAN FEATURES 68 70 38 HOW TO GET WHAT YOU WANT IN LIFE THE LEADERSHIP EQUATION M2 BEST 2011 MAN MADE 62 66 110 104 108 HAVE YOU GOT THE LIFE YOU WANT YET? THE SECRET EQUATION TO LEADERSHIP ENTERTAINMENT 12 22 24 26 28 114 12 METABOLISM BOOSTERS HOW TO FREE YOUR CAREER ESCAPE TO THE GREAT WALL $10.95 Apr 2011 ISSUE M2.71 9 771176 166012 JAMES FRANCO MASERATI GRANCABRIO PAGANI HUAYRA 10 TOP ANDROID APPS GADGETS CEBIT 2011 M2 CALENDAR FILM BOOKS MUSIC DVDS STRANGE FACTS SUCCESS JAMES FRANCO: A 10-YEAR OVERNIGHT SUCCESS 74 72 DIAL IT UP – 0133 HOW TO FREE YOUR CAREER HEALTH & FITNESS 66 112 12 WAYS TO BOOST YOUR METABOLISM THE LOW-DOWN ON BACK PAIN FOOD & DRINK 44 76 78 FOOD – MARTIN BOSLEY WINE – STRENGTH IN NUMBERS BEER + MUSIC + CROWD = BEER FEST TRAVEL 58 60 62 TRAIL BLAZING – LARAPINTA ANCIENT PATHWAYS – CHINA NORFOLK ISLAND FASHION & GROOMING 34 82 STYLE FIGHT ON M2magazine.co.nz OPINION 8 14 18 MAN ON THE STREET OPINION The all-new BMW X3 www.bmw.co.nz EXTRAORDINARY EVERY DAY. We don’t use adjectives lightly. The all-new BMW X3 is extraordinary to the core. Redesigned from the inside out, the X3 features uncompromising levels of luxury, best in segment performance and consumption, and driver focused technology never before seen in this class. Sleek, powerful lines are complemented by LED Xenon headlights. Why settle for average when every drive can be extraordinary. *Manufacturer’s Recommended Retail Price for BMW X3 xDrive20d. Price does not include ORC. BMW1283 THE ALL-NEW BMW X3. FROM $89,500.* April 2011 ISSUE M2.71 On sale 21 March 2011 M2 Magazine Limited PO Box 353 Shortland Street, Auckland 1140 Telephone: (09) 361 5540 M2magazine.co.nz twitter.com/M2magazinenz facebook.com/M2magazinenz EDITOR Andre Rowell DIGITAL EDITOR Heemi Katene-Hill LAYOUT Anderson Mar STAFF WRITERS Kayla Langhorne Nick Ward CIRCULATION MARKETING Summer Hamilton SUBSCRIPTIONS Julia Fyers PRINT Geon DISTRIBUTION Netlink CONTRIBUTORS Dave Campbell, Heemi Katene-Hill, Heloise Garrity, Jane Warwick, Joyce Ramos, Kathy Cunningham, Mark Wager, Michael Toon CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS & STYLISTS Photography – Marissa Findlay Styling – Atip Wananuruks Hair & Make Up – Diana Moar Photo Assisting – Jessica Sim, Alyx Fausett NETWORK PUBLISHER Tim Lawrence EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Andre Rowell ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Greg Sinclair DISCLAIMER: Opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of M2 Magazine Limited or its staff and no liability is accepted. No responsibility is accepted for unsolicited material. All letters or materials forwarded to us will be assumed intended for publication unless otherwise stated. ISSN 1176-1660 ©2011 M2 Magazine Limited All rights reserved. The contents may not be reproduced in any form, in whole or part, without our prior written permission. COVER: COURTESY OF 20TH CENTURY FOX CHECK OUT FACEBOOK BACARDI NZ CONTENTS MEANWHILE ONLINE AT M2MAGAZINE.CO.NZ... SUCCESS FASHION MALAYSIA’S SUPER RICH The fortunes of Malaysia’s 40 richest individuals have kept rising... A KEY FOR VICTORIA’S FASHION WORLD has been named as a key fashion house in the upcoming men’s fashion exhibition... #1 CONSUMER SUPERBRAND Mercedes-Benz has been crowned the UK’s number one Consumer Superbrand for 2011.. MAKING AN ELEVATOR PITCH Harvard Business School’s secret to making a winning presentation... NEW SERVICE JUST FOR MEN A styling consultation could be just what you need... 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LOGICAL THINKING Two rednecks decided that they weren’t going anywhere in life and thought they should go back to schoolnext to... GADGETS WHO CREATED THE INTERNET? Meet Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn, the “fathers” of the internet... PLAY PHONE Introducing Xperia PLAY – the world’s first PlayStation certified smartphone... 12 TALKING DIRTY A conversation between Sarah who is three, and her dad who is a chemistry professor... GOOGLE MAPS NAVIGATION The future of mobile navigation has arrived... WHEELS THE NEW BOND CAR Aston Martin introduced the new Virage at the recent Geneva Motor Show... AERIAL ATOM V8 FROM 0100KPH IN 2.5 SECONDS What happens when you take a very light car and put a very big engine in it...? AUDI HYDRON Designer, David Cardoso has created a concept car that won’t give you that sinking feeling... 216 Ponsonby Road, Auckland / 09 360 9700 / www.fifthave.co.nz THE NEW ZEALAND MAN ON THE STREET Edward O’Leary Paul Scouller Matt Mays Dell Bain Age: 58 CEO, Abtrac Age: 43 Director Age: 28 Product Development Manager Age: 39 Country Manager NZ, Premium Beverages (Coopers Brewery) What would be the first thing on your “Bucket List”? What would be the first thing on your “Bucket List”? Travel What would be the first thing on your “Bucket List”? Hike Learn to fly a plane. with my family through Italy and central Europe to expose them to the history of the world and the different cultures. up to Machu Picchu. Share a “success” story that happened to you this month? I love it when we set up a new software site and in the first training session, people are so effusive about the possibilities Abtrac offers. It’s a real buzz. What does Anzac Day mean to you? It’s a day of national pride for New Zealand. I have dad’s medals and a photo of him whilst serving overseas proudly on display at home. Anzac Day in particular is when I miss him most. Your biggest challenge next month will be? As CEO of a small business, the challenge as always is multi-tasking from dawn till dusk. What business leader or sports coach would you most like to have lunch with? Right now, John Key – I’m not sure if he is a business leader or a coach. Steve Tindall or Bill Gates would be equally as stimulating. Everyone should own one of these... A coffee machine. Have you discovered a really cool place to eat out? I travel frequently, so either our patio at home or if I’m away, Amisfield in Central Otago or Frescos in Sydney CBD. Is it possible for the country to be smokefree in the future? I wish. As long as it is never caffeine or wine-free! What’s the last thing you bought to use at home? My M2magazine.co.nz sexy new coffee machine. 14 What’s the longest you’ve been loyal to one particular brand and why? Probably ASB. I grew up with them from school years. I’ve never had a reason to change, and they often give me reasons to stick with them. Share a “success” story that happened to you this month? Watching my kids grow in personal confidence over a Kiwi Summer. What does Anzac Day mean to you? Remembrance Share a “success” story that happened to you this month? Passing a university exam that I could have sworn I should have failed. What does Anzac Day mean to you? A chance to reflect on all those who have given their life for the ideals that we live by. What would be the first thing on your “Bucket List”? Play Augusta National Golf Club. Share a “success” story that happened to you this month? Eighty percent growth of Coopers fine ales in a very tough environment. What does Anzac Day mean to you? An extra day’s leave on the Tuesday. Your biggest challenge next month will be? Nothing Your biggest challenge next month will be? Visiting the compared to those who need to rebuild their lives in Christchurch. Hawke’s Bay without playing Cape Kidnappers. What business leader or sports coach would you most like to have lunch with? What business leader or sports coach would you most like to have lunch with? Richard Branson. What business leader or sports coach would you most like to have lunch with? Bob For a business leader, Rob Fyfe because he just seems to do everything so right. Sports coach, Ricki Herbert as who could pass up meeting somebody that took a team to the world stage when nobody expected them to get there? Parker. This is the person who is a true leader. Everyone should own one of these... An iPod, to tune out Everyone should own one of these... A bach near any New the world and concentrate on what you need to. Zealand coastline or a tent! It’s equally as good. Have you discovered a really cool place to eat out? Nothing Have you discovered a really cool place to eat out? Andre’s beats a few quiets and a BBQ at a mate’s place. French Restaurant or Tables at Nice Hotel in New Plymouth. Is it possible for the country to be smokefree in the future? Definitely but why wait and respect for what our forefathers did for our country, so that have we a lifestyle that we are accustomed to today. And for the fighting spirit they instilled in us as Kiwis to carry on in adversity. Your biggest challenge next month will be? Overcome the grief of losing a family member in the Christchurch earthquake. Is it possible for the country to be smokefree in the future? I can’t see it! Not in the near future anyway. It doesn’t worry me now that you aren’t able to smoke in bars, cafés and restaurants. What’s the last thing you bought to use at home? A juicing machine. Early morning fresh juices are the best way to start the day. What’s the longest you’ve been loyal to one particular brand and why? Diesel clothing. I find their jeans are a brilliant fit for me and the quality of the denim is superb. for the future? What’s the last thing you bought to use at home? Towels, because sometimes even the boring things need to be replaced. What’s the longest you’ve been loyal to one particular brand and why? Sanitarium Marmite – hundreds of school lunches to get you hooked and once you’re onto Marmite, there’s no looking back or an alternative that’s anywhere near as good. Everyone should own one of these... A Delonghi Nespresso coffee machine. Have you discovered a really cool place to eat out? You can’t beat The French Café. or O’Connell St Bistro. Is it possible for the country to be smokefree in the future? Hopefully one day. What’s the last thing you bought to use at home? A new, more powerful Wireless Modem Router. What’s the longest you’ve been loyal to one particular brand and why? Six years – Coopers fine ales, a superb portfolio of lagers and ales to satisfy every occasion, plus it helps pay the mortgage. OPINION Jean Philippe Buche Andrew Brown Age: 29 Lawyer & Cyclist with the Subway Pro Cycling Team Age: 36 New Zealand Post Age: 29 Customer Services Manager What would be the first thing on your “Bucket List”? A trip What would be the first thing on your “Bucket List”? to New York. The one city in the world that just has to be visited at least once in your lifetime. Sky Dive. Share a “success” story that happened to you this month? I upgraded to a car that comes free of a winter rainforest and the petrol light works. My feet are dry and I wont have to panic about being stuck on a bridge again. What would be the first thing on your “Bucket List”? Don’t let the baldness fool you, I’m way too young for that! At this stage, it would be to go on a safari to see the lions in Africa Share a “success” story that happened to you this month? We finally got resource consent to get rid of a big, ugly tree on our section that blocks out the sun. That’s pretty boring really but it’s the best I’ve got this month. What does Anzac Day mean to you? It’s important to remember not only the ANZACs but all those who died and served in military operations for New Zealand and Australia. Your biggest challenge next month will be? Surviving a good mate’s stag do and then trying to race the Auckland time trial champs the next day. What business leader or sports coach would you most like to have lunch with? Well, I’m a cyclist, so what do you reckon? Everyone should own one of these... A meatball footlong Subway and an iPhone. Have you discovered a really cool place to eat out? If you’re in Queenstown, head out to the Kawarau Bridge Bungy, then have lunch at The Winehouse & Kitchen – it’s fantastic! Is it possible for the country to be smokefree in the future? Yes, people are slowly realising that it’s a nasty habit. What’s the last thing you bought to use at home? A Mitsubishi heatpump – awesome! What’s the longest you’ve been loyal to one particular brand and why? Milky Bars because they are the best white chocolate bars around and I secretly always wanted to be the Milky Bar Kid but instead of blonde I’m balding. Finally being able to do more vigorous sports after a year with severe back pain followed by surgery. What does Anzac Day mean to you? Not much as I am French. However, I understand from my Kiwi wife that it’s a very important day for New Zealanders. Your biggest challenge next month will be? Trying to stay relatively sane and alive after looking after our two-year-old twins full time for the next two months. What business leader or sports coach would you most like to have lunch with? Warren Buffett and Eric Cantona. Everyone should own one of these... An iPhone and/or iPad. Have you discovered a really cool place to eat out? Café. on Kohi in Kohimarama for its great food and superb views of the sparkling Auckland harbour. Is it possible for the country to be smokefree in the future? No. It’s a great idea but I can’t see it happening. They will find anything to smoke even if it’s hedge clippings. What’s the last thing you bought to use at home? A new microphone and headset to Skype my family in France. What’s the longest you’ve been loyal to one particular brand and why? I have been loyal to Sony for almost my whole life. It started with my Sony Walkman when I was aged ten. I have never had any problems with any Sony products. Share a “success” story that happened to you this month? What does Anzac Day mean to you? Late shopping. Your biggest challenge next month will be? Making it past the first six weeks post Daylight Savings without missing a morning meeting (so not going to happen). What business leader or sports coach would you most like to have lunch with? Terry Serepisos, just to say, “You’re fired.” Everyone should own one of these... A chemical toilet. Have you discovered a really cool place to eat out? Rob Van de Munckhof Age: 33 Environmental Engineer What would be the first thing on your “Bucket List”? To finally get time to do the 12-day walk through the Kahurangi National Park I have planning with my mates for the past ten years. Share a “success” story that happened to you this month? Saving enough for our wedding, and knowing that we are now saving for a trip to Europe. What does Anzac Day mean to you? An opportunity to stop and think about the past, and what price has been paid by generations before us. Your biggest challenge next month will be? To stay sane, whilst balancing work and life. What business leader or sports coach would you most like to have lunch with? Richard Tonks – to see how he keeps doing it. Everyone should own one of these... A Coffee machine Elephant Hill Estate & Winery. – how can you live without one? Is it possible for the country to be smokefree in the future? I did it, absolutely. What’s the last thing you bought to use at home? Have you discovered a really cool place to eat out? 601 Big Black Saks. What’s the longest you’ve been loyal to one particular brand and why? Neutrogena. I get younger by the day. My story, I’m sticking to it! sake bar – fresh, tasty and good value. Is it possible for the country to be smokefree in the future? Yes. What’s the last thing you bought to use at home? A Paint brush – ain’t renovating fun. What’s the longest you’ve been loyal to one particular brand and why? Leonie at Vada – nine years and still the best cut in town. M2magazine.co.nz Nick Lovegrove 15 OPINION Ivan Kabalin Gary O’Neil Jason Armishaw Rob Treacher Age: 27 Communications Manager Age: 42 Commercial Head, SonyEricsson Age: 24 IT Business Development Age: 51 Director, AMPM What would be the first thing on your “Bucket List”? Travel, What would be the first thing on your “Bucket List”? Ride in What would be the first thing on your “Bucket List”? Get What would be the first thing on your “Bucket List”? A through the birth of my first child (in May) without fainting. skydive – been meaning to do one for years. Share a “success” story that happened to you this month? Share a “success” story that happened to you this month? Working with a great team to organise Auckland’s first Startup Weekend (auckland. startupweekend.org). So much progress has been made in such a short time – it’s amazing! My 15-year-old daughter took great delight in obtaining her learner driver’s licence and is taking to driving like a duck to water – cool (but serious) stuff. travel, travel! a stage of the Tour de France. Share a “success” story that happened to you this month? Share a “success” story that happened to you this month? I did a translation of our company website into Russian and we had it checked by a native speaker, who was convinced that another Russian had done it. I am not a native speaker, I have only ever studied it at university. It was a real buzz to have my work recognised. I got my stuff that I freighted home from the UK three months ago. What does Anzac Day mean to you? Several years ago, Your biggest challenge next month will be? Buying a house I started joining my English grandfather for the noon service. He didn’t often talk about his experiences in World War II but on this day, he would share some of them with me. He died in 2009 and Anzac days have not been the same since but we still attend the service with my grandmother. before the interest rates change. Your biggest challenge next month will be? Working out! What business leader or sports coach would you most like to have lunch with? The Mad Butcher! What business leader or sports coach would you most like to have lunch with? Your biggest challenge next month will be? Launching a PLAY – I’m lucky enough to have got my hands on one prelaunch and they’re incredible! What business leader or sports coach would you most like to have lunch with? What Have you discovered a really cool place to eat out? Prego. Is it possible for the country to be smokefree in the future? Leave it as it is. I think are we having for lunch? What’s the last thing you bought to use at home? A little Austrian restaurant in Glendowie, called Restaurant Konditorei Carinthia. hammer – to devastating effect. What’s the last thing you bought to use at home? soldiers who fought for us. Everyone should own one of these... A Sony Ericsson Xperia Gordon Tietjens. other brand of e-reader! could happen now! What does Anzac Day mean to you? A day to celebrate the successful Startup Weekend on 1-3 April, landing my first client with my new business, jobsheet.co.nz and staying calm around my eight-monthpregnant partner. Have you discovered a really cool place to eat out? A nice Is it possible for the country to be smokefree in the future? It will happen but it M2magazine.co.nz the heroes of an era and personified Kiwi spirit around the world, so Anzac Day means a lot to me. we are by a long way better than the rest of the world, so it’s best not to tinker with things too much. Everyone should own one of these... A “Kindle” or some 16 What does Anzac Day mean to you? The Anzacs were Everyone should own one of these... A MacBook Pro. Have you discovered a really cool place to eat out? Not lately What does Anzac Day mean to you? My dad was a not only a returned WW2 RNZAF serviceman but an ex-POW. It’s our one special time of year when we can all pause as a nation to consider and give thanks to all those brave souls who served our country. Your biggest challenge next month will be? To accelerate the forward momentum of our business. What business leader or sports coach would you most like to have lunch with? Michael Hill. Now there’s a man with a great story. Everyone should own one of these... A Warwick but I’m open to suggestions. 3B1 notebook. Is it possible for the country to be smokefree in the future? Yes, we just have to Have you discovered a really cool place to eat out? get the government to push my mate, James Stewart’s business, kick.it. What’s the longest you’ve been loyal to one particular brand and why? I have been a What’s the last thing you bought to use at home? Sony man all my life (shameless plug, sorry guys) but it’s hard to go past the best. What’s the longest you’ve been loyal to one particular brand and why? Isaac’s Cider Icecream. – it’s great! Symonds Street’s Middle East café. Is it possible for the country to be smokefree in the future? Absolutely. Could take a while though... What’s the last thing you bought to use at home? A SodaStream machine. We now drink gallons of ice-cold, free, fizzy water and we don’t bother with that syrupy flavouring. I can’t actually remember but I did buy a Total Gym a couple of years ago. What’s the longest you’ve been loyal to one particular brand and why? “It must be What’s the longest you’ve been loyal to one particular brand and why? If I do stick Watties.” Hey, I grew up in Hastings! I’ve eaten it all my life and still do. We only buy Watties in our house. Don’t bring any of that Oak stuff near me. to one, it’s mostly because it’s something I’m comfortable with and I’m used to. TWO0 W 4 WO0 485 485\ 8 TTBWA BWA Become the centre of attention. 2degrees Pocket WiFi lets you create a WiFi hotspot whenever you need it. You and four friends can connect laptops, phones, game consoles and music players to the one Pocket WiFi device all at the same time, using the 2degrees 3G network. It’s only $199RRP and comes with a 3GB Data Pack*. Grab one from participating stores: *To find out if you’re in a mobile broadband zone go to 2degreesmobile.co.nz/broadbandzones OPINION YES OR NO WHAT DO YOU THINK? Results of our online poll at: M2magazine.co.nz Should Benji Marshall be replaced as “posterboy” for the NRL? Yes / 40% No / 60% Should people with higher incomes lose part of their tax cuts to assist with earthquake funding? Yes / 33% No / 67% Have you resorted to public transport because of the high cost of fuel? Yes / 71% No / 29% Have you ever watched TVNZ7? Yes / 50% No / 50% Should Christchurch create a new CBD away from its current location? Yes / 39% No / 61% Have you personally made a contribution to the Earthquake Relief? Yes / 73% Is it time to pull our troops out of Afghanistan? Yes / 60% No / 40% No / 27% Were you confident that Terry Serepisos would come through for the Wellington Phoenix? Yes / 25% No / 75% timberland.com ts is o o % .0 b d 100 u ™ 2 s n o per ngs a that y e e i k rth ET lin ottles . ® Ea P b d ET ro, you ed n l P a c l cy er 1½ u he mb 0% re that’s o i T 5 , et y of l l g n r i a n a l a si n ep ry p ted u ces. I h t e v c g a E stru PET l itterin n o l d c cle event y c r re ld p u o c Timberland , and Earthkeepers are trademarks of The Timberland Company or its affiliates. ©2010 The Timberland Company. All rights reserved. Available from Timberland, Shop 69, Sylvia Park, 286 Mt Wellington Highway, Auckland. Ph: (09) 579 6154. Email: [email protected] APRIL 2011 MUSIC 1 Apr Phil Edwards Band – Album Release Tour – YOT Club, Raglan 2 Apr Twin Trees Festival – Ruakaka Tavern, Bream Bay 5 Apr Usher – Vector Arena, Auckland CBD 6 Apr Gerry & The Pacemakers and Herman’s Hermits – Regent on Broadway, Palmerston North 9 Apr NRG Rising Album Release Party – Clyde Hotel, Wairoa 13 Apr Jimmy Eat World – Powerstation, Eden Terrace 14 Apr Storehouse – Brain Surgeon Limbo Tour – Hotel Bristol, Wellington 16 Apr Ken Nicol – The Free House, Nelson 18 Apr Bruno Mars – Vector Arena, Auckland CBD 22 Apr – 24 Apr Waiheke International Jazz Festival All Day Jazz Shows – Waiheke Island Resort / The Dunes / The Bay, Waiheke Island 25 Apr Trudy Lile and Mojave – Coopers Creek Vineyard, Huapai 27 Apr Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band – Powerstation, Eden Terrace 30 Apr Bob Dylan – Vector Arena, Auckland CBD CULTURE 1 Apr – 2 Apr A Greener Way 2011: Sustainable Living Field Days – Ashhurst Domain, Ashhurst 5 Apr iD Dunedin Fashion Week 2011 – Various venues in Dunedin, Dunedin 9 Apr Kaipara Kai and Fun Festival – Selwyn Park, Dargaville 13 Apr The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Tasting – Crowne Plaza, Auckland CBD 16 Apr Southeast Asian Night Market – Frank Kitts Park, Wellington 22 Apri – 24 Apr The Square Affair: A Festival of Miniature Attractions – The Square, Palmerston North 29 Apr Arrowtown Autumn Festival – Arrowtown Athenaeum Hall, Arrowtown (Start) 30 Apr Cheesemaker For A Day – Make Your Own Feta & Haloumi – Historic Village on 17th, Tauranga SPORT 2 Apr Salomon Southern Tri Series – Jack’s Point Autumn Triathlon – Jack’s Point Resort, Queenstown 3 Apr Porirua Grand Traverse – Battle Hill Farm Forest Park, Porirua – Mana 7 Apr Nordic Walking First Steps Course – Te Rapa Sportsdrome – Ashurst Park, Hamilton 10 Apr Arrowsmith Thee Run 42km Off Road Marathon – Mt Arowsmith Station, Methven 15 Apr Chiefs vs Crusaders – Baypark Stadium, Mt Maunganui 19 Apr ECHO Walking Festival – Katikati War Memorial Hall, Katikati 23 Apr Mangere Mountain Guided Walks Summer Season 2010/2011 – Mangere Mountain Education Centre, Mangere Bridge 24 Apr DirtMasters Ben Lomond Downhill – Ben Lomond Scenic Reserve, Queenstown 30 Apr Placemakers Superstock Series – Grand Final – Arena Manawatu, Palmerston North MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY Bowls Oxford Inc – Monthly Triples Tournaments – Bowls Oxford, Oxford 1967 – Martin Luther King, Jr. delivers his “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence” speech in New York City’s Riverside Church. b. 1965 – Robert Downey, Jr b. 1979 – Heath Ledger Usher – Vector Arena, Auckland CBD iD Dunedin Fashion Week 2011 – Various venues in Dunedin, Dunedin Auckland Aces v Central Stags Plunket Shield Cricket – McLean Park, Napier 1954 – Elvis Presley records his debut single, “That’s All Right” Gerry & The Pacemakers and Herman’s Hermits – Regent on Broadway, Palmerston North 2011 World Class New Zealand Awards – Langham Hotel, Auckland CBD Apotheosis – Dunedin Town Hall, Dunedin 1987 – Sugar Ray Leonard upsets Marvelous Marvin Hagler b. 1975 – Zach Braff NZ International Piano Festival – Auckland Town Hall, THE EDGE, Auckland CBD ANZ Championship – Waikato / BOP Magic vs NSW Swifts – Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre, Tauranga 1980 – Paul McCartney releases “Coming Up” Michelle Shocked – Powerstation, Eden Terrace Convene Auckland 2011 – SkyCity Convention Centre, Auckland CBD 1961 – Ray Charles wins four Grammys 1981 – Human spaceflight: The first launch of a Space Shuttle: Columbia launches on the STS-1 mission. b. 1979 – Claire Danes Jimmy Eat World – Powerstation, Eden Terrace The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Tasting – Crowne Plaza, Auckland CBD M2 MAY & M2TECH ON SALE The Tuesday Open Mic – One 2 One Cafe (121), Ponsonby Elizabeth Marvelly – The Home Tour – TSB Theatre – TSB Showplace, New Plymouth ECHO Walking Festival – Katikati War Memorial Hall, Katikati b. 1979 – Kate Hudson 4 5 6 11 12 Bruno Mars – Vector Arena, Auckland CBD Echo Walking Festival – Te Aroha Gold Rush – Te Aroha i-SITE Visitor Centre, Te Aroha 18 8 9 0 EASTER MONDAY ANZAC DAY Operatunity Presents – Rock around the �50s – Taupo Baptist Church, Taupo Super City Uni Games 2011 – Hikuwai Plaza, AUT University, Auckland CBD (Start) TSB Bank Women’s Surf Festival – Fitzroy Beach, New Plymouth (Start) 1962 – NASA’s Ranger 4 spacecraft crashes into the Moon Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band – Powerstation, Eden Terrace International Administrative Professionals’ Day Breakfast – James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor, Wellington 1968 – Jimmy Ellis beats Jerry Quarry for heavyweight boxing title 1981 – Xerox PARC introduces the computer mouse. b. 1984 – Patrick Stump 26 277 CALENDAR THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY Phil Edwards Band – Album Release Tour – YOT Club, Raglan Acoustic Smoothie – Titirangi Festival of Music – The Top Floor, Titirangi A Greener Way 2011: Sustainable Living Field Days – Ashhurst Domain, Ashhurst (Start) Mangawhai Walking Weekend 2011 – Mangawhai District, Mangawhai (Start) b. 1980 – Randy Orton Twin Trees Festival – Ruakaka Tavern, Bream Bay A Greener Way 2011: Sustainable Living Field Days – Ashhurst Domain, Ashhurst (Finish) Armageddon Expo – Christchurch Convention Centre, Christchurch (Start) Salomon Southern Tri Series – Jack’s Point Autumn Triathlon – Jack’s Point Resort, Queenstown b. 1939 – Marvin Gaye Gerry & The Pacemakers and Herman’s Hermits – The Opera House, Wellington Armageddon Expo – Christchurch Convention Centre, Christchurch (Finish) Mangawhai Walking Weekend 2011 – Mangawhai District, Mangawhai (Finish) 1968 – Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech. b. 1985 Leona Lewis Tiny Tapping Toes – Music Centre of Christchurch, Christchurch Yank Tank Thursday – Botany Town Centre Square, Botany Downs Nordic Walking First Steps Course – Te Rapa Sportsdrome – Ashurst Park, Hamilton 1953 – The first west-to-east jet transatlantic nonstop flight 1964 – IBM announces the System/360. b. 1964 – Russell Crowe NRG Rising Album Release Party – The Frasertown Tavern, Wairoa The Food Show Christchurch – CBS Canterbury Arena, Christchurch 1899 – Martha Place becomes the first woman to be executed in an electric chair. 1968 – The Beatles go gold again, receiving a gold record for the single, “Lady Madonna.” NRG Rising Album Release Party – Clyde Hotel, Wairoa Kaipara Kai and Fun Festival – Selwyn Park, Dargaville Mangere Mountain Guided Walks Summer Season 2010/2011 – Mangere Mountain Education Centre, Mangere Bridge 1967 – The first Boeing 737 (a 100 series) takes its maiden flight. Gerry & The Pacemakers and Herman’s Hermits – Bruce Mason Centre, Takapuna All Ford Day – Manfeild Stadium, Feilding The Canterbury Wind Quintet – The Nut Point Centre, West Melton Arrowsmith Thee Run 42km Off Road Marathon – Mt Arrowsmith Station, Methven 1953 – The first 3D film is released in New York. Storehouse – Brain Surgeon Limbo Tour – Hotel Bristol, Wellington NZ Symphony Orchestra Presents Elizabeth Marvelly & Carl Doy – Civic Theatre, Rotorua Waikato/BOP Magic vs. Canterbury Tactix – Energy Events Centre, Rotorua 1927 – The first Volvo car premieres, in Gothenburg, Sweden. The Funky Meters – Powerstation, Eden Terrace The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Tasting – Crowne Plaza, Auckland CBD (Start) Chiefs vs Crusaders – Baypark Stadium, Mt Maunganui 1966 – The Rolling Stones release Aftermath 1983 – Tokyo Disneyland opens b. 1982 – Seth Rogen Ken Nicol – The Free House, Nelson Southeast Asian Night Market – Frank Kitts Park, Wellington Cape Brett Challenge – Te Rawhiti, Russell 1987 – Michael Jordon becomes 2nd NBA to score 3000 points in a season b. 1965 – Martin Lawrence Auckland Vintage Jazz Society – Takapuna Boating Club, Bayswater The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Tasting – Crowne Plaza, Auckland CBD (Finish) Taupo Home & Garden Show – Great Lake Centre, Taupo REAL Duathlon 2 – Ambury Regional Park, Mangere Bridge b. 1974 – Victoria Beckham Our: House Presents Deadmau5 + Skrillex – Vector Arena, Auckland CBD Afternoon Delights – Music Centre of Christchurch, Christchurch Emrging NZ Grape Varietals Wine Tasting – Scenic Cellars, Taupo 1977 – Broadway play Annie opens, first of 2,377 performances. GOOD FRIDAY GrassRoots – The NZ Blues and Roots All Music Festival 2011 – Puhinui Reserve, Wiri (Start) Mangere Mountain Guided Walks Summer Season 2010/2011 – Mangere Mountain Education Centre, Mangere Bridge Riverton Easter Carnival 2011 – Riverton Racecourse, Riverton (Start) EASTER SUNDAY b. 1981 – Jessica Alba Storehouse – Brain Surgeon Limbo Tour – Wine Cellar, Newton Arrowtown Autumn Festival – Arrowtown Athenaeum Hall, Arrowtown (Start) Super City Uni Games 2011 – Hikuwai Plaza, AUT University, Auckland CBD (Finish) b. 1970 – Andre Agassi 1 2 3 7 8 9 10 0 6 177 14 15 16 Waiheke International Jazz Festival All Day Jazz Shows – Waiheke Island Resort / The Dunes / The Bay, Waiheke Island (Start) The Square Affair: A Festival of Miniature Attractions – The Square, Palmerston North (Start) 1965 – Number one hit on UK music charts – The Beatles – “Ticket To Ride” Waiheke International Jazz Festival All Day Jazz Shows – Waiheke Island Resort / The Dunes / The Bay, Waiheke Island (Finish) GrassRoots – The NZ Blues and Roots All Music Festival 2011 – Puhinui Reserve, Wiri (Finish) The Square Affair: A Festival of Miniature Attractions – The Square, Palmerston North (Finish) 21 222 23 24 Bob Dylan – Vector Arena, Auckland CBD Cheesemaker For A Day – Make Your Own Feta & Haloumi – Historic Village on 17th, Tauranga Placemakers Superstock Series – Grand Final – Arena Manawatu, Palmerston North 29 30 Anthony Hopkins in Thor. THOR Two worlds. One hero. This epic adventure spans the Marvel Universe from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. At the centre of the story is The Mighty Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live amongst humans as punishment. Once here, he learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth. Kenneth Branagh directs this fantasy epic which stars Australian actor Chris Hemsworth as the ancient Norse god and Natalie Portman in her first foray into comic book movies. In Ten Words: MARVEL KEEPS DELIVERING HITS AND NOW THEY’RE USING A HAMMER. JUSTIN BIEBER: NEVER SAY NEVER TEN WORD PREVIEWS FOR BUSY READERS ON THE GO Here we are again. No time to waste, so it must be time for the ten-word film reviews for the M2 man on the move... Never. Justin Bieber: Never Say Never is the inspirational true story and rare insight into the rise of Justin from street performer in the small town of Stratford, Ontario to internet phenomenon, to global super star, culminating with a sold out show at the famed Madison Square Garden in 3-D. The film includes home movies of the pint-sized icon as a baby, and cameos from Miley Cyrus, Usher and Boys II Men. A pants-wettingly intense experience that will have you gripping onto your girlfriends and screaming OMG at the top of your lungs. This is your last chance to experience Justin before his voice drops. In Ten Words: A MASTERPIECE TO RIVAL DR. ZHIVAGO AND CITIZEN KANE. NOT. FILM Courtney Cox in Scream 4. SCREAM 4 PAUL New decade. New rules. Fugitive. Celebrity. Slacker. Joker. Alien. The gang’s all back but this isn’t Scooby Doo. Solving the mystery doesn’t mean revealing it was Old Man Peterson, the owner of the haunted amusement park. No, in this game people die and in it’s latest incarnation forget the rulebook – all bets are off. Sidney Prescott, now the author of a self-help book, returns home to Woodsboro on the last stop of her book tour. There she reconnects with Sheriff Dewey and Gale, who are now married, as well as her cousin Jill and her Aunt Kate. Unfortunately, Sidney’s appearance also brings about the return of Ghostface, putting Sidney, Gale, and Dewey, along with Jill, her friends, and the whole town of Woodsboro in danger. For the past 60 years, an alien named Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen) has been hanging out at a top-secret military base. For reasons unknown, the space-travelling smart-arse decides to escape the compound and hop on the first vehicle out of town – a rented RV containing Earthlings Graeme Willy (Simon Pegg) and Clive Gollings (Nick Frost). Chased by federal agents and the fanatical father of a young woman they accidentally kidnap, Graeme and Clive hatch a fumbling escape plan to return Paul to his mother ship. And as two nerds struggle to help, one little green man might just take his fellow outcasts from misfits to intergalactic heroes... In Ten Words: OH SIDNEY, DON’T YOU KNOW YOU SHOULD NEVER GO BACK? HOP Candy, chicks and rock �n’ roll. Where does the Easter Bunny live? Easter Island, of course. Blending state-of-the-art animation with live action, Hop tells the comic tale of Fred, an out-of-work slacker who accidentally injures the Easter Bunny and must take him in as he recovers. As Fred struggles with the world’s worst house guest, both will learn what it takes to finally grow up. This film features Hollywood flavour-of-the-minute Russel Brand as the voice of Fred bringing his free-wheeling and anarchic “brand” of humour to a tale that could be in danger of becoming yet another cutesy romp. In Ten Words: GRAB YOUR KIDS, HOP ON AND ENJOY THIS WILD RIDE. In Ten Words: A MOVIE THAT ASKS THE PROBING QUESTIONS. HILARIOUS MAD FUN. ANOTHER YEAR Life’s not always kind, is it? Mike Leigh is a director whose methods are steeped in mystery. How he creates his movies is a closely guarded secret. However he does it, he manages to produce films that are involving, different and undeniably human. His films are movies for grown ups. There are very few explosions or giant CGI robots in his films but that isn’t a bad thing. Here he takes us into a small world with a tale that doesn’t try to dazzle our eyes, instead it seeks to capture our hearts. In Another Year, we meet a married couple who have managed to remain blissfully happy into their Autumn years, and are surrounded over the course of the four seasons by friends, colleagues, and family who all seem to suffer some degree of unhappiness. In Ten Words: IN THE MOOD FOR A GROWNUP MOVIE? THIS IS IT. BOOKS No Angel: The Secret Life of Bernie Ecclestone Tom Bower Bernie Ecclestone went from selling second-hand cars in London’s East End to becoming the multi-billionaire president and CEO of Formula One Management and Formula One Administration, and part owner of Alpha Prema. For the first time, details of his rags-to-riches story are revealed, including the staggering wealth Bernie has accumulated over the years, the wheeling and dealing, and unvarnished facts from Formula One drivers, ex-girlfriends, politicians and others he’s encountered. No one makes it to billionaire status without taking down some opponents, and getting a bit nasty along the way – and this book reveals the gritty details of how Bernie clawed his way to the top. M2magazine.co.nz RRP $73.99 (Hardback) 24 Superfreakonomics The Red Coffin Empire of Gold Stevin Levitt and Stephen Dubner Sam Eastland Andy McDermott As the sequel to Freakonomics, despite the authors and many others attempting to nail it down, no one can really summarise what these books are about. And there’s a reason for that – there really is no unifying theme (despite, in the introduction the authors making a poor attempt to find one). Basically, it’s not really about economics, and it doesn’t really ask questions so much as pose weird theories about the way the world works (why walking drunk is more dangerous than driving drunk, why prostitutes are charging less for oral sex these days, why car seats are no safer than seat belts, and so on). It reads like a series of magazine articles without enough substantial evidence, and relies too heavily on anecdotes and stories. So you can analyse it all you like but in the end, this book is lacking in any kind of impact in terms of information and writing, and, well, it’s a little boring. In 1939, Stalin is facing the threat of Nazi Germany and has placed his hopes on a 30-tonne steel monster, known to its inventors as the T-34 tank, and the “Red Coffin” to those men who will soon be using it. But before the design can be finished, the weapon’s architect Colonel Nagorski is found murdered. Meanwhile a group called the White Guild, made up of former soldiers of the Tsar, may be behind the death of the Colonel, and Stalin’s trusted investigator Pekkala must embark on a mission to track them down and expose their plans to propel Germany and Russia into conflict. This book is the sequel to Eye of the Red Tsar, but can be read as a stand-alone book. Packed with Russian history, blazing guns and a supporting cast including Stalin, Nicholas II, Hitler and Rasputin, you’re in for an actionpacked read. Empire of Gold is like a cross between The Da Vinci Code and the National Treasure movie. Think, man and woman on the hunt for lost treasure such as the Holy Grail or in this case, El Dorado, and they have to defeat the baddies along the way. Andy seems to like this formula – this is the seventh book in the series, all of which involve a man and woman on the hunt for Atlantis/the tomb of Hercules/Excalibur/ take your pick, and they have to find it before the baddies do and the secrets are unleashed, bringing “an end to civilisation as we know it.” In real Dan Brown/R.L Stine style, most chapters end with cliffhangers like someone being kidnapped/having a gun pointed at their head/in an explosion/ take your pick. So this one isn’t going to go winning any Nobel prizes for literature, but fans of this formula will enjoy it just as much as the Da Vinci Code/National Treasure/the other books in the series. RRP $39.95 RRP $39.99 RRP $29.99 MUSIC BOB GELDOF How To Compose Popular Songs That Will Sell Robert Frederick Zenon “Bob” Geldof, KBE was born in 1951 and is considered more than just an Irish singer. He’s a songwriter, author, and political activist and his newest solo album is his first since 2001’s Sex, Age & Death. It’s his fifth as a solo artist but if you include his work with his band Boomtown Rats, this work would be his 11th project. From track one, it’s obvious that Geldof hasn’t lost any of the enamel that has helped him bite into the core of what dwells in the songwriter’s soul. “How I Roll” has early strains of Joe Cocker’s remake of The Lovin’ Spoonful classic “Summer in the City.” It quickly veers off to almost become a soliloquy of how the artist must continue to become a champion of issues for the undermined and underprivileged. The single “Mary Says” has a stylistic similarity to cornerstone musos from the 1970s – Crosby, Stills and Nash – and brings out the harmonic talents of Sir Bob. The album contains new Geldof compositions recorded with his band in his home and in other mates’ studios. It’s produced by his longtime collaborator Pete Briquette and musically defines the sexagenarian as being more than comfortable with where he’s at in life. It’s an album that reiterates his musical and songwriting talent without any overt activism. CUT COPY Zonoscope As covers go, I really dig it. And as albums go, I totally get the groove of this third offering by the aussie electro-synthpop band. Recorded over a six month period in a warehouse space the band rented in Melbourne, and mixed in Atlanta, this has all the hallmarks of post-punk dance with the clarity of 80s alternative music. It’s musically futuristic, but with clever concise rhythm and a constant syncopation that adds credence to their pop percussion. It’s a wonder the group was able to produce this album considering their hectic and never ending touring schedule, but the result is noteriety and the headline for events like Lollapalooza and the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago. Frontman Dan Whitford, who created a lot of the raw synth and vocal framework of the album, describes the project as “this weird vision of a tropical, jungle, tribal sound. A place or an idea that we wanted to reach with some of the songwriting; to explore a looping hypnotic trance and revise the whole palette of what Cut Copy was about.” VARIOUS Ihimaera The album was commissioned as a musical showcase for one of this country’s distinguished and renowned Maori writers, Witi Ihimaera. Prolific Wellington-based producer Charlotte Yates invited 12 personally selected New Zealand recording artists to create songs from lyrics written by Ihimaera and the resulting album was premiered at a unique concert for the Auckland Arts Festival. The invited artists include Lupin with Taranaki songbird Victoria Girling-Butcher, LA Mitchell, Unitone Hi Fi, Ruia Aperahana, Horomona Horo, King Kapisi, Warren Maxwell, Maisey Rika, The Twinks with Milan Borich and Tim Arnold ex-PLUTO, SJD, Teremoana Rapley and Charlotte Yates herself with the track “Kingfisher Come Home.” The project is a significant juxtaposition of art forms and knowing this, I took from the album its legacy, and nothing more. There are some really “nice” tracks but nothing stand-out-ish. What I did get from the album was a musical interpretation of the high-impact lyrics of an author whose writing I’ve enjoyed since reading his first short story in the 1970s, right through to all his major works since. I also get a sense of respect from how the artists have created the songs. Would I listen to the album again? In the right place and at the right time. Would I buy a copy? Already have. GEORGE FM YEARBOOK M2magazine.co.nz Dick “Magik” Johnson Club fans will be flocking to grab a copy of this album. It’s a celebration of all things dance and highlights the success of 2010 for the different music genre that made the playlist of maverick radio station George FM. Dance veteran DJ “Magik” Johnson has put his deft talent to effective use by creating a collection of sampled, shaped and skilled tracks that includes Kiwi artists Vince Harder and P-Money, and the music of Shapeshifter, David Dallas and PNC. The opening track explodes with the hit-busting “Young Blood” from The Naked and Famous and pretty much never loses momentum from that point on. Getting the remix treatment from Johnson and mix-master P-Money quells the ravenous appetite of any house or dance music groupie. You would do well to keep this album close by at all times. You know, just in case you decide to have a serendipitous “rage.” HEEMI KATENE-HILL 26 DVD New Releases TRON: Legacy As the sequel to the original TRON movie released in 1982, Legacy starts out about seven years after the end of the first film. Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) has taken over Encom, and tells his young son Sam of his exploits “on the grid” and promises to take him there one day. Just before he disappears without a trace, he also tells his son that he is on the verge of bringing a “miracle” to the world that will redefine the human race. Fast forward to Sam at 27 years of age, where he discovers a secret lab, and entering his father’s last computer command, is transported into the cyber universe of the grid. Here he discovers the grid is under the dictatorship of Clu, the computer program Flynn designed to run the program, who plans to invade the “real world.” Sam is reunited with his father, who has been trapped there since he disappeared, and with the help of Quorra (Olivia Wilde) together they have to stop Clu before he enacts his plan. So the storyline isn’t exactly genius, but it’s worth watching just for the visual effects, and the soundtrack by Daft Punk is an excellent match. See it on Blu-Ray 3D if you can. Castle – Season 2 This season came back even stronger than the first with more puzzling and serious crimes to solve, and good character development. Crime-solving duo, author Rick Castle and detective Kate Beckett continue unraveling mysteries, including the one of who murdered Beckett’s mother – and although more is revealed about the murder this season, questions remain unanswered, leaving room for this storyline to continue in further seasons. The show takes another serious turn with Beckett being taunted by a serial killer obsessed with her alter ego, Nikki Heat. Detectives Esposito and Ryan become a more integral part of the show in this season, breaking up the Castle-Beckett flirtation storyline, and Castle’s mother, Martha and daughter, Alexis get less screen time – so overall, less of the fluffy stuff, and more attention on the gritty homicide investigation side of things. In the end, the only mystery that goes unsolved is why Castle and Beckett can’t get together – but then, there wouldn’t be much of a show left if they got married and settled down in a house with a white picket fence and a Labrador. Maybe they’re saving that one for the finale. After The Waterfall M2magazine.co.nz New Zealand cinema often seems to have a bleakness to it (In My Fathers Den, Rain) and this is no different. That’s not to say it’s no good – in fact, despite its depressing content, this is an impressive directorial debut from Simone Horrocks. Based on the book The Paraffin Child by Stephen Blanchard, this drama is set in Auckland’s West coast and tells the story of John Drean (Antony Starr), a forest ranger whose four-year-old daughter Pearl (Georgia Rose) mysteriously disappears in the bush while in his care. In the fallout that follows, John accidentally burns down his house and finds out his wife is having an affair with his best friend, who is also the cop working on Pearl’s case. The sense of mystery surrounding Pearl’s disappearance mingles with the desolate New Zealand landscape and a haunting soundtrack, to create a film that emphasises the grief and guilt experienced by Starr’s character. Starr does an excellent job of holding together what might otherwise be a sparse and slow film. 28 The Kids Are All Right Nic (Annette Bening) and Jules (Julianne Moore) are in a committed relationship and the “Momses” of two teenagers. Nic is a somewhat wound-up physician, whereas Jules is the more “groovy” of the two and on the verge of a mid-life crisis. Their two children, Joni (Alice in Wonderland’s Mia Wasikowska) and Laser (Cirque du Freak’s Josh Hutcherson), are born of each woman from the same unknown sperm donor. As Joni is planning on leaving the nest for uni, Laser pleads with her to track down their biological father. Enter Paul (Mark Ruffalo) – a farmer and restauranteur/man child who rides a motorbike. Cue hilarious family banter, less than subtle themes about family values and social anthropology, love scenes and more than a few emotional moments from the women concerned. Moore and Bening give great performances and the movie has some really funny moments, but let’s just be honest here: the only way you’re going to sit through this if your girlfriend makes you. The good news is, you can make her watch TRON: Legacy with you afterwards. Devil The bad news is that Devil is based on a story by M. Night Shymalan, who also produced the film, but the good news is that it’s not nearly as bad as The Village. You’d call this one more of a thriller than a horror – there’s not a huge scare factor but at 80 minutes long it’s a nice short piece of entertainment. The film begins with the voice-over of a security guard explaining the legend of how the Devil will sometimes roam the earth to gather a group of damned individuals, and torture and kill them before claiming their souls. Then just like the story predicted, in a high-rise building in Philadelphia, five people become trapped in an elevator. As they begin to be killed off one by one, Detective Bowden (Chris Messina) tries to find a way to free them and figure out which one is the killer. As a side story, Bowden is a recovering alcoholic who explains that the reason for his alcoholism was the hit and run death of his wife and toddler son five years prior (hint hint). The movie switches between claustraphobic elevator scenes and the struggles of those outside to free the trapped individuals, and as with all Shymalan movies, the mystery is only revealed at the very end. Some will like the surprise “twist” but clued-up viewers would have already guessed the ending just by watching the trailer – it’s a little obvious, and if you don’t guess it, you’ll probably have a “D’oh!” moment when it’s revealed. IN CINEM A S A PR IL 28 UPDATE M2magazine.co.nz PREMIER POWERTRAIN 30 Lamborghini is famous for its sculpted testosterone-fuelled designs, but they’re also concerned with what goes on underneath the bonnet too. Their all new V12 power plant might not look like art, but its specs are enough to leave even the most hardened automotive snob shaking. This powertrain features a completely new transmission concept for super sports cars. The “Lamborghini ISR” automated manual gearbox combines minimal shift times and convenience with low weight and dimensions to guarantee the intuitive gearshift that you expect from a super sports car. This is then bolted to a 6.5 litre 12-cylinder engine pumping out 525 kW (700 hp) and maximum torque of 690 Newton metres. Developed with state-of-theart technology, the pairing offers a high performance, high-revving exhilaration, low weight and moderate gas emissions. The new powertrain will enter this year. A SOUND INVESTMENT It is often thought that driving a flash sports car brings into question certain aspects of your manhood. However, a new study from the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology suggests that guys who drive sporty cars get more attention from women. The study, titled “Conspicuous Consumption as a Sexual Signalling System,” surveyed 408 students at a public university about their feelings toward potential mates. Each participant was told about a person of the opposite sex, including details such as education and job. Then the participant was either told that the person had bought a new Porsche Boxter or a new Honda Civic. When asked to rate the imaginary person on how desirable they were in terms of a long-term or short-term relationship, the results showed that women preferred to have a short-term fling with the Porsche owner, but showed no preference between the Porsche and Honda owner when it came to a long-term relationship. Men, as it turned out, didn’t care what women drove. Go figure. WALKING ADVERTISEMENT People are set to become human billboards as Superette, an Auckland boutique chain, has come up with one of the most innovative advertising ideas yet. To promote a recent sale on short shorts, they put indented plates on bus stop, mall, and park benches, so that when people sat down, the message was imprinted on their thighs. The idea was that as well as having branded seats, an army of free media was created, with thousands of imprints being created and lasting up to an hour. The idea works in principal – but how many of those imprints would have actually have been readable? And the plates on the benches themselves were written in reverse. But perhaps they’re onto something – putting adverts just centimetres below a girl’s behind is sure to get plenty of views, right? UPDATE CLONING THE BEAST It seems that scientists aren’t satisfied with finding fully mummified dinosaurs in the frozen wastelands of the world anymore. Now they want to bring these creatures back to life. Specifically the woolly mammoth. This might read like a plot for another Jurassic Park sequel but Dr. Akira Iritani from Kyoto University is deadly serious. The good professor is so confident of his pending success, the dialogue is not so much about how this will all happen but what to do with the woolly beast when it’s born. The procedure includes inserting the nuclei of mammoth cells into a modern elephant’s egg cell. The extinct proboscideans will then be brought to full term by its genetically similar elephant surrogate. The key to this breakthrough technology is the ability to extract cells containing DNA from the soft tissue of the frozen animals. And although most of the prehistoric vertebrates died out more than 5,000 years ago, Dr. Iritani claims he’ll have one resurrected in about five years. Let’s hope the scientific team has seen all the Jurassic Park movies before starting the “back to life” programme. DAILY GRIND Tucked away in the corner of High Street, this little café is the perfect place to stop and grab a long black after hitting the shops. Grind on High is famous for its breakfast Bocadillas (fresh rolls filled with scrambled egg, fresh basil, tomato and relish) and award-winning Toasted espresso, not to mention the prices are damn reasonable for their quality – a flat white is only $3.30. Located at 51 High Street. (09) 379 7344. SECOND SUN All your Star Wars dreams are about to come true – according to scientists, any day now we could see a second sun appear in the sky, and for several weeks, night will become day on Earth. The red super-giant star in Orion’s nebula – Betelgeuse – is losing mass, indicating that gravitational collapse is occurring and the star will soon turn into a supernova. The giant explosion will be tens of millions of times brighter than our sun, and will light up Earth’s atmosphere, appearing as a second sun. Some experts have speculated Betelgeuse’s explosion may cause a neutron star or result in the formation of a black hole approximately 1,300 light years from Earth, which is doing nothing to dispel the 2012 myth… M2magazine.co.nz FUNNY FACT 32 Having a body like Brad Pitt in Fight Club might get you all the girls, but if you’re lacking in the abs department you might want to try playing the “funny guy.” In a study, titled “Men’s Sense of Humour and Women’s Responses to Courtship Solicitations,” a researcher recruited several young men to sit in a bar near a woman, while one of them told three jokes to his companions, who responded with “That’s hilarious!” and, “You always know the good ones!” The companions then left, and the joker asked the woman (who had overheard) for her phone number. The woman was then “debriefed” and asked to take a short survey to rate the man on his attractiveness, intelligence, and sense of humour. The results showed that the joke-telling (as compared to the control condition, where no jokes were told) was associated with the guy getting more phone numbers, and a better over-all evaluation. So looking like a funny guy is good for when you’re trying to get the girl, but just don’t go forcing your friends to laugh at your jokes – you might end up a nigel-no-mates. INSPIRED BY PANCAKES An age-old pancake recipe looks to have held the secret to a technological breakthrough that will revolutionise a whole range of new products. Engineers at Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute recently created a flexible plastic material that they hoped would replace the glass backpane that’s used in most displays we use today. The new material, dubbed FlexUPD, would enable manufacturers to build display panels on a foundation that was far lighter, thinner, more durable and flexible. However, they became stuck – literally, when it came to the manufacturing process, which required the plastic film to be mounted on a glass panel. Here’s where the pancake thing comes in: The heat of the process meant the plastic bonded to the glass panel behind it, and every time they tried to peel it off, it tore. They tried, and failed, 63 times. However, inspired by a traditional Chinese recipe for making pancakes, one engineer suggested that the team use a layer of oil between the glass and plastic, which once heated, would release the plastic pane from the glass panel. That lead to the development of a polyolefin separator, an oil-like material that did the trick. Who knows what secrets lie in those good old waffle recipes? PEWPEWPEW! Pointing your fingers, a banana, a stick, or whatever you could get your hands on and going “PewPewPew!” may have been one of your favourite childhood pastimes, but now there’s a grown-ups version. At the Global Game Jam 2011, the guys from Incredible Ape introduced “PewPewP ewPewPewPewPewPewPew” (yes, that’s really the name) – a game that involves two people using two microphones to control one jet-pack equipped, shape shooting spaceman. Thus the sound “PewPewPew” creates the action of “PewPewPew.” Coming soon to Xbox Live Indie Games. incredibleape.com STYLE M2magazine.co.nz BEEMER DREAM 34 Connected Driving technology is not a new concept for vehicles, and BMW is not the only car brand that is developing driver assisted systems. But the luxury car brand has certainly kicked up a gear with the introduction of the Vision Connected Drive concept vehicle. It’s debut was an heralded success at the recent International Motor Show in Geneva. BMW created a showcase for their pioneering technology in the form of an impressive two-seater roadster, which fully demonstrates their integrated mobile internet technology in spectacular style. The vehicle gathers information from its environment through cameras, sensors and antennae, at all times engaging internet connectivity. It conveys this information to the driver and passenger using three colours which are displayed in and around the car. In a normal driving situation, the car is always “connected” to other cars on the road, and if it detects a dangerous situation, visible parts of the car will light up in red to alert the driver, or it will simply stop the car by itself. This is an example of the “safety” experience of the vehicle. Another function deals with information which is coloured blue on the roadster. This does things like letting you get driving directions, maps and details of your final destination, like where the best pubs are, and relays all that information through the in-car monitor. This is the “infotainment” experience. The last experience lights up the car green, and is headlined, “convenience.” In this mode, the vehicle is all about making your driving easier through its connectivity. It does so by synchronising mobility devices on the car like activating the automatic parking procedure and by launching micronavigation on your smartphone. Even though we’ve barely scratched the highly polished surface of this impressive concept car, you at least get a feeling of appreciation for the extraordinary creativity that has gone into forging our future transport options. One I’m sure that will include this Vision Connected Drive BMW roadster at the forefront of vehicle innovation with technology. bmw.co.nz THE NEW GENERATION OF LUXURY ANTI AGING Ultra Intensive Age-defying Complex RACY DENIM This couldn’t come at a better time because I’m desperately in need of a new pair of jeans. If you are too, then read on. And if you’re into racy, style-setting strides made of denim, then read on. Although the innovation of adidas Originals is not immediately noticed, it doesn’t take long to appreciate that this debut collection is as attention grabbing as its voyeuristic advertising campaign. The two new styles for men – the “Conductor” and the “Rekord” – are provided in a variety of washings with more on offer as the range expands. Both brands come in the modern carrot style and can be worn dressed-up or casually with a pair of kicks. There is subtle but clever detailing with each pair from contrasting colours on the inside of the jean to give a flash of colour when you cuff-up the legs, to the choice of zip or button fly fronts. The trefoil stitching feature on all five Conductor pockets provides room enough to carry all your precious bits. Just a word of advice though – don’t leave your new Originals where your partner can get them. As good as these look on you, the same pair look awesome on her. » Mimics the desired effects of Botox® adidas.com/originalsdenim GUESS IT’S BLING This new collection gives a manly slant to bloke bling with bold, solid designs that have attitude and a masculine edge. Oversized pieces include dog tag necklaces and bracelets. The collection includes a styled version of a sound wave pattern which mixes culture and technology. There are sleek design elements that are subtle but edgy on the wide rings and the variety of pieces on offer includes the expressive fusion of leather bracelets with steel tags attached. The new Guess collection would modernise any style-driven guy. guess.com luxury you deserve www.4voo.co.nz AUCKLAND MELBOURNE SYDNEY LONDON PARIS TOKYO NEW YORK STYLE MARC THE SEASONS Another focused collection for Autumn and Winter means you’re well taken care of with the new range of hard-wearing essentials from the enduring fashion brand. Marcs have created stylish options of military inspired coats, as well as their popular classic selection. Jackets and coats provide protection from the wintering weather, but without losing your stylish edge. The latest collection is refined and smart with sharp asymmetrical variations in some of the jackets and tasteful textures in the winter weighted blazer. Cool classics like simple chinos and well fitting pants corner the market with the addition of the refined cargo, a tailored pant featuring cargo style pockets and roll up buttons. All these hard wearing essentials and even more season inspired styles are both comfortable and tailored, presenting the Marcs man as a modern and enduring fashion-focused individual. marcs.com.au DITA SUNGLASSES Created by long-time school buddies, John Juniper and John Solorio, this vintage-style eyewear was inspired from their passion for photography and design. They eventually agreed on the styles from the �50s through to the �80s using both the materials and shapes from that fashion period. Jeff and John wanted Dita to be an alternative to label branded eyewear and did this partly by making the logo details intentionally subtle so that the frame itself defined its look. Another distinctive element of the brand is by having all of its frames hand-made in Japan using quality materials like titanium, 18K gold, white gold and Japanese zyl acetates. It’s not surprising then that the range has become a favourite of the well-known and well-heeled. Celebrities fans include Lenny Kravitz who prefers Dita “Selector,” Bruno Mars is often seen in the “Spectator” style and Rasheem Devaughn is a fan of “Copious.” Other A-lister fans include Brad Pitt, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, Jessica Simpson, Penelope Cruz, Kate Hudson, Eva Mendez and Jamie Foxx. premiumeyewear.co.nz M2magazine.co.nz OLAY OKAY 36 You may think you’re being clever by using your girlfriend’s fancy face products, but you actually need something more suited to your skin. Men’s skin is thicker than women’s, the texture is coarser, less hydrated and more likely to present dullness. The new Olay Men Solutions range balances the moisture levels in the skin to prevent large pores, acne, and signs of fatigue and dullness. The Olay Men Solutions range includes formulations of Niacinamide, vitamin Pro B5, vitamin B3, vitamin C, Ginseng, Green tea, witch hazel and cucumber. The products provide a solution for multiple skin concerns; controlling oil secretion, keeping skin hydrated and improving skin elasticity. The Olay Men Solutions range includes the Refreshing Energy Range for normal to oily skin and the Multi Solution range for normal to dry skin. As an added bonus, these products won’t make you smell like your girlfriend. RRP $12.99 – $19.99. olay.co.nz BUCKLE UP BUGATTI When you hear the names Iten or Bugatti you know it’s in the context of mechanical precision and supreme luxury. So when the two came together to create a belt buckle the only result would be “a masterpiece.” Gifted designer Roland Iten used the same technology in this buckle as you would find in luxury precision watches including custom bridges, cogs, wheels, springs and pinions. And like the legendary Bugatti supercar, all the parts interconnect to produce a sophisticated and exquisite mechanism engineered from components in solid white gold with rose gold accents, lightweight titanium and stainless steel, hand crafted, polished and assembled by hi-precision watch-making master craftsman R Magnin Bijouterie. A rolling click calibration lock complication, vertical rotating friction controlled pin and a mechanically leveraged belt insertion clip are all part of this meticulous accessory and all maintaining savoir-faire under the smoked sapphire crystals and Côtes de Genève engravings. Now I know you’re thinking, “What would the true gentleman connoisseur expect to pay for an R22 Mk.I-22mm Bugatti edition belt buckle?” Dude, if you had to ask, then... well, you know the rest. rolanditen.com M2 BEST AWARDS 2011 17 FEBRUARY PHOTOGRAPHY BY NORRIE MONTGOMERY & CHRIS MILLER M2 BEST AWARDS 2011 1 2 3 6 4 5 7 8 9 1. Colin-Mathura Jeffree & Nikki Phillips. 2. Andre Rowell & Heloise Garrity. 3. Cathy McKeown & Marisa Johnstone 4. Helen & Doug Borne. 5. Teuila Blakely & Shavaughn Ruakere. 6. Brian & Joy Sinclair. 7. Peter Williams & Wendy Petrie 8. Ido Drent, Natalie Medlock & Ari Boyland. 9. Nicholas O’Flaherty & Jennifer Duval-Smith 1 2 3 4 5 7 6 8 9 10 11 12 1. Malcolm Phillipps. 2. Melissa-Anne Smit Jay Kachelhoffer. 3. Jo Holley. 4. Krishanie & Tim Lawrence. 5. Krishanie Lawrence, Kayla Langhorne, Heloise Garrity, Julia Fyers & Summer Hamilton. 6. Sally Martin & Amelia Reid. 7. Jared Turner, Emmett Couling Skilton & Dean O’Gorman. 8. Matt Andree Wiltens, Abigail Fonseca, James Nicholls & Ailise James. M2 BEST AWARDS 2011 13 14 16 15 17 18 9. Dianne Reynolds, Emma Barton, Shelley Blundell & Shannon Simons. 10. Sarah Edwards & Carly Morris. 11. Turet Knuefermann & Danilo Santana David. 12. Tania & James Griffin. 13. Katheryn Sidders, Cathy McKeown, Marisa Johnstone & Kathryn Love. 14. Leon Heketoa & Fou Brown. 15. Ido Drent, Will Hall & Ari Boyland. 16. Jonathan Ogier. 17. Jamie Wilson & Anna Moore. 18 Georgina, Joy, Brian & Greg Sinclair. 4 1 2 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 1. Craig Hall & Sarah Wiseman. 2. Rai Banbury, Rob Sinclair & Nina Stojnic. 3. Nikki Phillips. 4. Dave McLeod & Phil Dossett. 5. Grant Chilcott’s Neo-Swing Dektet. 6. Mike Erkkila, Prime Minister John Key & Selina Lawson. 7. Andre Rowell, Wendy Petrie & Peter Williams. 8. Laressa Marinovich, Prime Minister John Key, Sarah Edwards, Carly Morris & Tim Lawrence. 9. Kayla Langhorne, Heloise Garrity, Julia Fyers & Steve Westley. 10. Winner of the Red Wine of the Year. 11. Heemi Katene-Hill. 12. Seba Farry. 13. Jean-Michel Tallott & Sarah Wakeman. M2 BEST AWARDS 2011 14 15 17 16 18 19 20 21 22 23 14. Wendy Petrie, Prime Minister John Key & Peter Williams. 15. Prime Minister John Key. 16. Anderson Mar & Diane Nuyad. 17. Tim Lawrence, Prime Minister John Key & Andre Rowell. 18. Prime Minister John Key & Teuila Blakely. 19. Jo Holley & Prime Minister John Key. 20. Emmett Couling Skilton, Ido Drent, Prime Minister John Key, Natalie Medlock, Ben Barrington & Ari Boyland. 21. Anderson Mar, Diane Nuyad, Julia Fyers, Prime Minister John Key & Kayla Langhorne. 22. Dave McLeod, Prime Minister John Key & Tim Lawrence. 23. Jared Turner, Wendy Petrie, Nikki Phillips & Colin Mathura-Jeffree. FOOD Some like it hot As they say, if you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen – but Martin Bosley can UBLFUIFIFBUBMSJHIU5IJTJTBHVZXIPXBTCPSOUPDPPLmFYQPTFEUPÎOFDVJTJOFGSPN BZPVOHBHFCZBHFOJOFIFBMSFBEZIBEBNCJUJPOTPGCFDPNJOHBDIFG#ZUIFUJNFIF reached 20, he was head chef at the Grain of Salt, where he won the Best Restaurant in New Zealand award. And within a few years, he was head chef at Brasserie Flipp – listed as one of the best restaurants in the world in Courvoisier’s Book of the Best. M Two columns, a book and multiple awards later, Martin Bosley’s is still going strong and the man himself is working as hard as ever. M2 talks to Martin about flavour matching, New Zealand cuisine and what it takes to be one of New Zealand’s most successful restaurateurs. What’s an average day like for you? I guess the average day would be about 12 hours, that’s not all in one hit, but I start at about 6:30 and go on until about ten, 11 at night. So you’re able to balance things, and keep a work-life balance? Someone said to me years ago, this is your rose and you’re smelling it – you know how they say, stop and smell the roses – this is my rose and I’m enjoying it, this is the work-life balance for me. This is my life, this is my passion. Where I find the work part comes in and gets mundane is all the admin I have to do these days. So the balance is getting out and doing the rest of it and doing what I love, which is cooking and writing. Have you noticed a change in expectation of service in New Zealand? People are expecting a really high standard of service, and for the most part, they get it. They expect it at whatever level they’re dining at – they expect to have great service at a café, great service in a restaurant like mine. What they’re not prepared to do some of the time is pay for that level of service in a restaurant, they think it should be automatic. Any flaws that get exposed in a café are ignored or forgiven, but in a restaurant like mine, we’re not given the same opportunity, there’s no second chance sometimes. New Zealanders do have a high standard and expectation, as we should. What is your approach in the kitchen – are we talking Gordon Ramsay stuff? No, I’ve had the same crew for so long, that’s largely unnecessary, if someone’s just made a basic mistake. I lost the “angry guy” thing a number of years ago; I was quite young and really insecure, and that was what the angry guy was all about. And now we’re just focused, there’s no yelling or screaming, which is a waste of energy. You need people to feel good about what they’re doing to cook good food, and to produce a really stellar product, so we provide an environment that is creative and calm, and if you’ve got a problem then instead of yelling and screaming and calling people names, we say “let’s deal with the problem.” It’s a really healthy environment and I’ve had zero turnover in four years. You mentioned in your book that in your pocket you keep lists scribbled down of ingredients that you encounter. Is that your process? Yes, it is actually. Last night for instance, I did this garden-to-table dinner in Auckland and one of the chefs did this carrot purée that had ginger and cinnamon through it, so I wrote that down, carrot and cinnamon. I hadn’t encountered that before, and it was the kind of thing I don’t want to forget. He was using that as a savoury thing but my first thought was we could do that as a dessert dish, you know, carrot cake, that’s not that great a leap to go to carrot icecream or carrot pudding. And I write flow-charts of flavours as well. I start with a central theme like scallops, and go from there – scallops go with this, with that, and the flavours come together. So you might end up going, scallops go with asparagus, goes with bacon, goes with eggs, so you’ve got a little scallop salad with a poached egg. It just falls into place. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Think before you speak, that was my mother – engage your brain before opening your mouth. And listen. Listen to people, listen to ingredients, listen to your staff, listen to what people are telling you, and you’ll learn so much. Martin’s latest book, Martin Bosley brings together over 100 of his favourite recipes. Turn the page for three such recipes from this stunning collection that you can try at home. M2magazine.co.nz artin continued his successful career in the restaurant industry while traveling between Australia, Auckland, Wellington and France over the next few years. It was in France where meals at Pierre Gagnaire, Michel Bras and Troisgros inspired him and his business partner to open a seafood restaurant, where guests could have a unique dining experience. The result was Wellington restaurant, Martin Bosley’s. 45 Hot & Cold Pea & Ham Soup with Spanner Crab, Lemon Oil & Pea Shoot Salad & Prosciutto Powder SERVES 4 When we started serving soup, we did it as a trio. But as the soups CFDBNFNPSFBOENPSFJOUSJDBUFXFGPVOEUIFZFBDIOFFEFEUIFJS PXOQMBDFPOUIFNFOV5IFJEFBPGNBSSZJOHUFNQFSBUVSFTXJUI UFYUVSFTNFBOUXFDPVMEDIBMMFOHFUIFEJOFSTQFSDFQUJPOPGB TJNQMFCPXMPGTPVQ HOT & COLD PEA & HAM SOUP 50g unsalted butter 180g onion, chopped into 2cm pieces 180g celery, chopped into 2cm pieces 180g peeled carrots, chopped into 2cm pieces 2 rindless rashers bacon, chopped 1 small ham hock 200ml white wine M2magazine.co.nz 1 bay leaf 6 black peppercorns 4 litres water salt and freshly ground black pepper SPANNER CRAB SALAD Melt the butter in a deep saucepan. Sweat the onions, celery and carrots in the butter until tender. Stir the bacon into the vegetables and sauté for 5 minutes until fragrant. Add the ham hock and white wine, and simmer to reduce the wine by half. Add the bay leaf, peppercorns and water, and simmer for 3 hours, skimming off any scum that comes to the surface. Strain through a fine chinois and season with salt and pepper (reserve the hock for another use). Fill 2 Pacojet canisters with the peas and cover with the hot ham stock. Freeze overnight. Before serving, process one of the canisters. Tip the contents into a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Process the second canister and keep in the freezer until required. 120 spanner crab meat 2 teaspoons finely chopped chives 20ml lemon-infused olive oil 16 snow pea shoots sea salt to taste In a small bowl, gently toss all the ingredients together and season with sea salt. TO ASSEMBLE 2 teaspoons prosciutto powder. Arrange the salad to one side of each soup bowl, top with a quenelle of the frozen pea soup and dust with prosciutto powder. Pour the hot soup into the bowl. 1kg peas Recipes by Martin Bosley from his book Martin Bosley. Photography by Jane Ussher. 46 FOOD Soy Sake Lacquered Groper with Fried Silken Tofu, Bok Choy & Shiitake Mushroom Pickle SERVES 4 8FXFSFUSZJOHUPDBQUVSFTPNFPGUIFÏBWPVSTPGBEJTI*BUFJO5PLZPCVUBMM* DPVMESFNFNCFSXBTUIFEFFQMZBSPNBUJDBOETUJDLZHMB[FUIBUDMVOHUPUIFPVUTJEF PGUIFÎTI8FDBNFDMPTFBOEUIJTJTPOFPGUIFGFXPDDBTJPOTXIFSF*JOUFOUJPOBMMZ TUVDLUPUIFJOUFHSJUZPGUIFFYQFSJFODF*IBEPOMZCSFBLJOHVQUIFQSFTFOUBUJPO 5IFTIJJUBLFNVTISPPNQJDLMFOFFETUPCFQSFQBSFEBEBZBIFBE SHIITAKE MUSHROOM PICKLE SOY SAKE LACQUER BOK CHOY 1 litre water 100g brown sugar 2 heads bok choy, leaves separated and rinsed 60ml soy sauce 20g black peppercorns 30ml sake 50g yellow rock sugar 90g sugar 2 bay leaves Mix all the ingredients together in a saucepan, bring to a simmer and reduce to a thick syrup. 6 sprigs thyme 250ml white wine vinegar 500ml water 10 fresh shiitake mushrooms, sliced and stalks removed Mix together all the ingredients except the mushrooms in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Once the sugar has dissolved, remove from the heat and cool completely. Place the mushrooms in a non-reactive bowl, pour over the pickle mixture and refrigerate overnight. Remove herbs and drain before using. FRIED SILKEN TOFU 500g silken tofu flour for dusting 750ml grapeseed oil salt and freshly ground black pepper Drain the tofu and cut into 2cm cubes. Dust with flour. Heat the grapeseed oil to 180°C and fry the tofu until golden. Drain on paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Keep warm. SOY SAKE LACQUERED GROPER 4 x 180g groper fillets 400ml soy sake lacquer Preheat the oven to 180°C. Place the groper fillets in a shallow baking dish and brush with the lacquer. Put the fish into the oven for 3 minutes, then baste with more lacquer. Cook for another 3 minutes, depending on the thickness. Remove the fish to a plate. TO ASSEMBLE Place the fish in the centre of each plate and spoon over any leftover cooking juices. Arrange the bok choy leaves, tofu and pickled mushrooms around the fish. M2magazine.co.nz 20g brown mustard seeds Bring a saucepan of salted water to the boil and blanch the leaves for 2 minutes. Remove and plunge into a bowl of iced water. Drain in a colander and transfer the leaves to paper towels. 47 FOOD Strawberries & Black Pepper, Crème Fromage, Preserved Ginger & Strawberry Ginger Coulis SERVES 4 Strawberries take savoury seasonings so well. Perhaps one of the TJNQMFTUEFTTFSUTXFWFFWFSTFSWFEJUTSFWFMBUJPODPNFTJOUIF GPSNPGDSBDLJOHUIFJTPNBMUUPSFMFBTFUIFIFBEZBSPNBPGUIF TUSBXCFSSJFTBOEHJOHFS5IFDS¾NFGSPNBHFDPNFTGSPNUIF 'SFODIEFTTFSUDPFVS·MBDS¾NFBOENBLFTBTUPOLJOHMZHPPE NBSSJBHFXJUICFSSZGSVJU :PVOFFEUPNBLFUIFDS¾NFGSPNBHFBEBZBIFBE 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise STRAWBERRIES & BLACK PEPPER 150g mascarpone 200g strawberries 100g cream cheese freshly ground black pepper 250g cream Wash and hull the strawberries. Drain on paper towels and cut into quarters. Place in a mixing bowl and season with a couple of healthy grinds of black pepper. Set aside. CRÈME FROMAGE 125g icing sugar M2magazine.co.nz 125g plain unsweetened yoghurt 48 PRESERVED GINGER Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean into the mascarpone, add the cream cheese and beat together until smooth. 125g caster sugar Whip the cream to soft peaks with the icing sugar then fold in the yoghurt. Gently fold the cream mixture into the mascarpone mixture. 100g crystallised ginger Rinse and wring out a large piece of muslin. Place the mixture in the cloth, gather the edges together, tie and suspend over a bowl to drain. Refrigerate overnight. 125ml water In a small saucepan, bring the sugar and water to the boil for 2 minutes, then add the crystallised ginger. Leave to simmer until the ginger is soft. Drain, reserving the ginger-infused syrup for another use. Set aside the ginger to cool. Once cool, cut into 5mm dice. STRAWBERRY GINGER COULIS 125g caster sugar 125ml water 300g strawberries, washed, hulled and roughly chopped grated zest and juice of 2 lemons 200g crystallised ginger In a small saucepan, bring the sugar and water to the boil for 2 minutes. Place the strawberries in a deep saucepan with the sugar syrup and remaining ingredients. Simmer for 20 minutes then transfer to a blender. Purée until smooth, then pass through a fine chinois. Refrigerate. ISOMALT 75g isomalt Preheat the oven to 200°C. Lightly coat a Silpat mat with non-stick spray and place on a flat baking sheet. Sprinkle the isomalt over the mat and melt in the oven for 3 minutes until the isomalt becomes liquid. Remove from the oven and leave to set. TO ASSEMBLE Place 2 tablespoons of crème fromage in the base of each glass. Top with the peppered strawberries and cover with the coulis. Sprinkle with the preserved ginger. Break the isomalt into pieces big enough to cover a glass, then place a piece on top of each glass. Using a brûlée torch, apply just enough heat for the isomalt to soften and melt down the sides of the glasses, sealing the tops. HOLLYWOOD STEALTH MACHINE James Franco is the stealth bomber of the entertainment world. That might seem like an odd comparison to be making but bear with us on this. The stealth bomber was a weapon that appeared to arrive from nowhere. No one had seen the technology used to develop it. There had been no evolution of aircraft that culminated in the creation of the delta bomber. It was suddenly right there, winning the war. One minute, Franco was another actor whom you had seen hanging out in the background, then suddenly, he was a leading man and hosting the Oscars. For anyone who was paying attention, it was easy to see the subtle advances in aviation that lead to the creation of the stealth bomber. The same is true of Mr Franco. If you were watching, you could see that he’s put a lot of work into his overnight success. He started off as a freak, or should that be a geek? >> PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF 20TH CENTURY FOX COVER STORY COVER STORY Franco described the show as “one of the most fun” work experiences that he has had. He went on to say, “When we were doing Freaks and Geeks, I didn’t quite understand how movies and television worked, and I would improvise even if the camera wasn’t on me. So I was improvising a little bit back then but not in a productive way.” He was cutting his teeth. So a cancelled show was not a terrific start but Franco had something that made people sit up and pay attention. While Freaks and Geeks sank, his career was setting sail. He followed his failed television career by appearing in the romantic comedy, Whatever It Takes. Critics advised audiences to do whatever it took to avoid this film. It’s hardly a highlight in the history of cinema. However, Franco was still afloat. Next up, he was in a car-crash of a film but one that a lot of people slowed down to see. James Franco became James Dean. It was 2001 and Franco was cast in the title role of Dean in the madefor-television biopic about the actor’s tragic life. Similar to Franco, Dean started his career on television before exploding seemingly fully-formed onto the big screen in the iconic film, East of Eden. Franco got all “De Niro” on the role. He went deep into the persona of Dean. Franco went from being a non-smoker to smoking two packs of cigarettes a day, dyed his dark brown hair blonde, and learned to ride a motorcycle, as well as play guitar and the bongos. In order to really climb inside Dean’s head, Franco spent hours with Dean’s old buddies. He read every book on Dean he could get his hands on and watched his movies over and over. As if this wasn’t enough, Franco further immersed himself in the role by cutting off communication with his family and friends, as well as his then-girlfriend. “It was a very lonely existence,” he notes. “If I wasn’t on a set, I was watching James Dean. That was my whole thinking. James Dean. James Dean.” This kind of dedication to the role would no doubt have impressed Dean himself. The iconic actor was a member of the legendary Actors Studio where he studied Method acting under the famous acting tutor, Lee Strasberg. Method actors are often characterised as immersing themselves in their characters to the extent that they remain in character even off stage or off camera for the duration of a project. It might sound a bit much for a role in a small budget one-off TV movie but there was a retrospective method to Franco’s madness. People couldn’t help but notice his performance. Noted reviewer, Ken Tucker had this to say about the actor’s performance: “Franco could have walked through the role and done a passable Dean but instead, gets under the skin of this insecure, rootless young man.” Franco’s dedication got him noticed and it bore some serious fruit. He received a Golden Globe Award for his performance. He was on Hollywood’s radar as someone to watch. This was a lad who was extremely easy on the eye but also had the acting skills to match. The next year, he snatched up the role of a homeless drug addict in the drama, City by the Sea. This part came his way after his co-star, Robert De Niro saw a snippet of his work in James Dean. It must be a pretty good day in the life of an actor when you get noticed by an actor of De Niro’s skill and stature. True to form, Franco dived into the role by living on the streets for several days to better understand the character. This same year, he also immersed himself in another role by being adopted by a green goblin and making best friends with an irradiated teenager. Okay, he didn’t really do that but we wouldn’t be surprised if he did. Franco appeared in Spider-Man as Harry Osborn, SpiderMan’s best bud and son of the villainous Green Goblin. This was as big as movies get. Spider-Man grossed $114 million during its opening weekend in the US and went on to earn a whopping $822 million worldwide. That’s not too shabby. However, in all the madness of the web-slinging, the upside-downing kissing and the rain-soaked nipples, you’d be forgiven for missing Franco. Still, it was the kind of role that ensured Franco would have his pick of roles from now on. He continued to choose parts that challenged him as an actor and kept his feet firmly planted in his Method boots. For the film, Annapolis, he did eight months of boxing training. In Tristan + Isolde, he played the famous hero, Tristan and became a skilled horseman and swordfighter in the process. He also flew with the Navy’s precision flying team, the Blue Angels, and got his pilot licence for his part in Flyboys. He racked up an impressive series of roles and in the process, moved himself further from his role as “that actor” and into a trailer with the star on the door. Next up, Franco returned to play with some old friends. Pineapple Express was a goofy balls-out stoner action comedy produced by Apatow who had produced Freaks and Geeks and co-starred one of Franco’s old friends from that show, Seth Rogan. Apatow said this about Franco at the time: “You tell him, �Okay, you’re going to play a pot dealer,’ and he comes back with a three-dimensional character you totally believe exists. He takes it very seriously, even when it’s comedy.” The New York Times even managed to look beyond the low-brow nature of the film and find itself impressed by Franco’s performance: “He’s delightful as Saul, loosey-goosey and goofy yet irrepressibly sexy, despite that greasy curtain of hair and a crash pad with a zero WAF (Woman Acceptance Factor). It’s an unshowy, generous performance and it greatly humanises a movie that, as it shifts genre gears and cranks up the noise, becomes disappointingly sober and self-serious.” Even in a film where everyone would have forgiven him for sitting back and coasting, he still brought the big guns. This is a man who, unlike many actors, wasn’t happy just to rest on his laurels and sleepwalk through the film. Yes, we’re looking at you, Mr Rogan. His performance was so convincing, he was awarded High Times Magazine Stoner of the Year Award. Forget your Oscars and your Golden Globes, these are people who know what they’re talking about. After sucking on a doobie, Franco found himself looking for something else to sink his teeth into. For his next big role, he once again shared the screen with another method guru: Sean Penn. Milk was a film that was both challenging and a crowd-pleaser at the same time. After all, there’s nothing that Middle America dislikes more than movies about homosexuals, and nothing Hollywood loves more. It must be hard for an actor to find much airtime while Mr Penn is chewing his way through the scenery but Franco held his own. His performance won awards and critical praise. So after reaching such heady heights, you would expect Franco to build on this by seeking out another high-profile film. However, Franco is nothing if not unpredictable. For his next role, he joined the cast of the long-running daytime soap opera, General Hospital. Yes, he went from appearing in an Oscar-winning movie to a soap opera. On the show, he played Franco, a multimedia artist with unfinished business with a mob enforcer. As you do. Franco called the role performance art and to further blur the lines of the fourth wall, the fictional Franco held an exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art in LA, while the real Franco held an exhibit at the museum based on his experiences on the soap opera. He has since cropped up in a series of roles on television and in films but you really have to hand it to him for his latest role. Thankfully, this time around, Franco chose not to go full Method on his role because it was the kind of role many actors might have given their right arm to play. Literally. M2magazine.co.nz J udd Apatow’s name is on everyone’s lips these days. He’s the power producer behind movies like Anchorman, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Superbad, Get Him to the Greek, and countless other hits. But back in 1999, he was struggling with a television show called Freaks and Geeks. It was getting good reviews and it was on a lot of watch lists but sadly, it was canned after just 18 episodes. However, in its short run, it discovered and launched the careers of currents stars such as Seth Rogen, Jason Segel and, of course, one James Franco. 53 In 2003, while hiking, Aron Ralston found himself in a tight spot. A boulder had become dislodged and pinned his right forearm on a canyon wall. Ralston hadn’t told anybody of his hiking plans and knew no one would be searching for him. Assuming that he would die, he spent five days slowly sipping his small amount of remaining water while trying to extricate his arm. Eight years later, Ralston found himself sitting in a darkened screening room watching 127 Hours – the fictionalised film of his ordeal. One row behind him sat Franco. The actor was convinced that the young adventurer would be disappointed with his performance. It’s one thing to play a dead legend but it’s a whole other story playing a living one. Ralston, he says, spent much of the film whispering in his wife, Jessica’s ear and Franco began to worry that he didn’t like what he was seeing. “The first time I watched it with an audience, I sat behind Aron,” he says. “He was sitting with his wife and all throughout the movie, he kept leaning over and whispering to her, and I thought, �Oh God, I guess he hates it!’ With 127 Hours, the audience is reliving a true story and by that point, has invested in Ralston’s plight, and they want him to get free no matter what it takes. “You go through so much with this character that by the time you get to that scene, I think people want him to go through with it and so are actually experiencing that scene in a different way – in a much closer kind of way. “I think maybe even people that normally wouldn’t want to watch that kind of scene, are actually trying to watch it or will him through it in a way. And so that’s why I think some people are having those reactions. “Danny is very aware of the sensitive nature of this kind of scene but first and foremost, we have to be loyal to what Aron went through; we have to respect what he went through. It took him over 40 minutes to cut his own arm off and our scene is like three minutes. “And he said that from a quarter of the way through to the end, he had been crying the whole time. I guess he had leaned over to his wife and he was just telling her about the real experience, getting her support. So hopefully, he likes it and obviously, it’s a very emotional experience for him to watch the film.” “To cut back on it any more would really shortchange what Aron went through. You have to make the experience a little difficult because it is a portal, not just for the character but also for the audience to get through. You want to give them that experience of getting through this difficulty, so that they can come out on the other side and have that relief on the other side. “James is so good that the first few times I watched it, it was so real that I didn’t even think he was acting,” says Ralston. “His response and his emotions are so realistic. I have to say that I think James did a phenomenal job with it and I’m really happy with what he does in the film.” Ralston also admits that within an hour of becoming trapped, he began to contemplate the unthinkable – that he would have to amputate his own arm in order to get free. He pushed it to the back of his mind but eventually, as his limited water supply ran out and fever began to ravage his body, he took drastic action – using his blunt, cheap multipurpose penknife to pierce the skin and using the very boulder that trapped him as a lever to break the bones in his forearm. “A story about a man trapped in the wilderness, no matter how dramatic his escape, presents any filmmaker with a considerable challenge. Namely, how do you make five days of confinement cinematically interesting? Boyle brings his unique, dazzling style to the story with flashbacks and hallucinations, and it becomes a fastpaced, visual feast,” says Franco. “Danny is so good at incorporating all the elements that make a great film. Once he’s edited and the music is in there and everything, he delivers a full experience. “I think another reason the movie feels so intense is not necessarily because of the amputation scene that a lot of people are focusing on; it’s because of the overall effect of the movie – the way that it’s shot. “I thought about this before we did it because it’s a story told primarily through physical actions and all these little victories and failures, and if done right, it brings an audience close to a character. As Franco points out, when audiences watch 127 Hours, they are confronted with one very pertinent question – just how far would you go in order to survive? “He’s not telling you how Aron’s feeling, he’s showing you; he’s doing it and so the audience really gets on board with the character. And when the character does speak, it’s a very unconventional device where he’s talking directly to his video camera. “But, knock on wood, I don’t think any of us will ever be in that kind of situation – unless you are plugging your refrigerator in and get stuck behind it somehow,” he laughs. “But I don’t think any of us will have to contemplate cutting our arms off. “That gives the character a justification to talk directly to the audience. Yes, he’s talking to his family and friends but he’s looking right into the lens as if he’s talking right to the audience – so it creates a very intense experience.” “If you think about it, like Aron says himself, it’s insane. And you know, the boulder could have landed on his head, not on his arm, and he’d have been dead. So it’s a very unusual situation. For Franco, the challenge of making 127 Hours was considerable – not least because he rarely had other actors to perform with. Mostly, he was alone in a canyon. But, he says, the whole creative team – Boyle, screenwriter, Simon Beaufoy and the cinematographers – had to adapt to an unusual narrative structure. “I’m certainly happy with the way that Danny created his own very unique experience.” “The movie allows us to experience it with the character and then maybe question our own lives. I guess working on the movie reinforced my appreciation for having my family and my loved ones.” The scene itself has attracted much debate but for Franco, it’s essential that audiences share that moment of release with the character, no matter how grisly it is. M2magazine.co.nz “There are tonnes of things that are worse in Saw III or other horror films; people get decapitated, disembowelled and all of that. But it’s because you know it’s a horror film, you know these characters are expendable.” “It was like, �What’s he saying?’ because I couldn’t see his face. I started to think maybe he’s thinking I didn’t do the part right. Then when the movie was over, I went up to Aron and said, �Come on, man, tell me what you think? Was it okay?’ It is indeed. Ralston’s inspirational story of survival against the odds is truly remarkable and Franco’s performance in Danny Boyle’s gripping, extraordinary film is quite brilliant – and that’s according to Ralston himself. 54 “Because if you look at it, once it’s out on DVD and you slow down that scene, it’s like, �Oh, they are actually not showing that much.’ I truly believe that the reason that scene feels so intense is actually the context and everything that’s come before, and the audience’s relationship to this character. “Some people have trouble with that scene and the unfortunate thing is that the more we talk about it, the more people talk about it, it builds it up in a certain way, so some people are now going to be disappointed when they get to that scene and it’s like, �Oh that’s all it was?’ And the thing about Franco is that he is not a man to shy away from a challenge. He might have started out a freak or a geek but with hard graft, dedication to his craft, and a wide assortment of interesting roles, he has made his way to the top of his game. If his recent trajectory is anything to go by, the man’s still got some ride ahead of him. Hopefully, strange religions, drugs, or hookers in closets won’t knock him off course. But then, Franco seems smarter than all that. And far too focused on the career that he has stealthily built for himself. COVER STORY HOME GIRL When you share your birthplace with other iconic names like aviatrix Jean Batten, Sir Howard .PSSJTPOJOUFSOBUJPOBMÎMN TUBS$MJGG$VSUJTBOEGFBUVSFÎMN thespian Temuera Morrison, you get a head start in following the hardworking legacy of these talented trail-blazing mentors. WOMAN D on’t get us wrong, for Marvelly it’s been nothing but sheer determination and hard work. A value that the late Sir Howard saw and nurtured when he became one of her biggest fans, and most influential mentors. From the age of 13, Sir Howard saw enough in the gifted Marvelly to admit that “she’s just so good” – enough recommendation for anyone when it comes from one of this country’s legends of entertainment. Like every young “wannabe” the classical-pop crossover performer admitted to being that kid “singing Britney Spears into her hairbrush.” Nowadays there are more refined challenges that are evident on her sophomore album. Home fuses musical influences, including elegant versions of iconic songs by Crowded House and Dave Dobbyn. The chic and grounded 23-yearold is homegrown with finesse, and she sings with the timbre of warmth and confidence that allows her to draw on a contemporary edge to her classical training. This is one classy classical crossover songbird. TRAIL BLAZING M2magazine.co.nz When you journey through Australia’s Larapinta Trail, you’ll experience one of the most vast, unusual and harsh landscapes on the planet. 58 TRAVEL T he 223-kilometre trail runs along the spine of the West MacDonnell Ranges, and has 12 different sections you can experience, taking one to two days each. The trail takes its name from the Northern Territory indigenous name for the Finke River, one of the oldest water-ways on Earth. World Expeditions tours travel in small groups of no more than 16, so despite the popularity of the Larapinta trail, you still get a sense of the vast Australian landscape. Trekking the big ridgeline of the West MacDonnell Ranges, we gained a rare perspective of vast flood plains, the rocky razorback outcrops and sheer scale of this ancient land. Walking through 800 millionyear-old rocks with fossils that were amongst the first life forms on earth at Bitter Springs sure puts things in perspective. During our journey we walked to Count’s Point, where for the first time we saw the comet impact crater, Goose Bluff, which would be a feature of the landscape for the next few days, bringing an entirely different sense of reality to our travels. After a long, hot day of walking in the sun, we were able to swim in a refreshingly cold billabong to wash off the red dust. While we cooled down in the water, the guides prepared a tasty and abundant dinner of the Australian version of a hangi – a roast dinner and even a cake for dessert – all cooked in the ground over hot rocks. While we settled down for the night our two guides, who are local Alice Springs experts and experienced trampers, shared their wealth of knowledge and their interpretation of the stories from the traditional land owners. World Expedition guides are known for having many years experience covering the culture, geography, history and environment, and share a deep passion and knowledge for the country. The walking changed daily from flat to uphill and through gorges, but several things remained the same – great food, amazing guides and spectacular scenery. That, with the opportunity to sleep under the stars in a swag, was an experience I will recall for the rest of my life and are highlights that will bring me back to do this trek again – as well as recommending the trip to friends and family. The Larapinta Trail is perfect for couples who want to reacquaint themselves with what really matters. It cleared my head, blew out the cobwebs and made me feel good about being alive. What an amazing experience for anyone, especially for two people to share in an adventure of a lifetime. Call World Expeditions on 0800 350 354 for special M2 reader offers. worldexpeditions.com M2magazine.co.nz What I expected is definitely not what I saw or experienced on this walking and camping adventure. The open expanse of the sky provides a dramatic backdrop to the variety of colours, terrain, flora and fauna. The contrasting greens and reds of the landscape were astounding, and we spotted spiny lizards, echidnas, black footed rock wallabies and owls amongst the scrub. 59 Explore dramatic landscapes and imperial monuments. Immerse yourself in Chinese culture and learn of ancient tales of mythical proportion. W hatever images, ideas or emotions China conjures up for you, talk to anyone who has visited there and you will come away with one key bit of information: it is a “must-experience” destination. As you’d expect from the most populous (more than 1.3 billion people) and most continuously populated (at least 4,000 years) place on the planet, China brims with an astounding history, interesting people, and an incredible array of culinary styles and diverse cultures you’re unlikely to encounter anywhere else. It is a land of contrasts, with some of the most densely populated cities in the world, yet many travellers describe China as having a surprising amount of vast, wide open spaces. So where do you start your odyssey? If you want to see the Great Wall of China, then this is obvious: Beijing. As the capital of China, formerly called Peking by the Western world, Beijing is recognised as one of the world’s greatest cities. Staying in Beijing is like walking through the pages of a history book. Tiananmen Square is at the entrance to The Forbidden City which was built 600 years ago and only recently (late 1970s) opened its doors to the West. The Forbidden City is the best preserved imperial palace in China and is the largest ancient palatial structure in the world. It was home to 24 emperors of the Ming (1368 – 1644) and Qing (1644 – 1911) Dynasties with 90 palaces, 980 building and around 9,000 rooms surrounded by a moat on 174 acres, right in the heart of Beijing. First you must experience the many museums, pagodas, temples, bridges and gardens, or be carried by rickshaw through the hutongs (alleys) of old Beijing to visit the Siheyuan (courtyard houses) since these neighbourhoods are quickly disappearing due to new construction. Then, head out of town towards the Terracotta Warriors, kilometres of rice paddies, mountains, fields and forests, and the Great Wall of China. The Great Wall of China is more than 8,500 kilometres long. The first set of walls were designed to keep intruders out of China and built with earth and stone during the third century BC. TRAVEL The best way to learn about the Great Wall and the remote sections of this ancient construction is to have a guide describe the culture, history, traditions and myth that surrounds the place. Can you really see the Great Wall from the moon? How did people live during the early time of construction? How did such ornate detail remain intact while other parts of the wall have crumbled? You can spend anywhere from four hours to more than 14 days walking certain sections of the Great Wall. All this history and exploration will work up quite an appetite. And you’re in luck, because another of the most talked about aspects of China is the incredible food. Most restaurants in China serve communal style so that you share each dish – “tapas style.” The great thing about eating this way is you can try a variety of different foods. And, don’t forget to try Peking duck in Beijing. It is the most ordered dish in the capital. Call World Expeditions on 0800 350 35 for special M2 reader offers. worldexpeditions.com KATHY CUNNINGHAM M2magazine.co.nz Construction continued for the next thousand years with more than one million workers, mostly farmers and prisoners. During the Ming Dynasty, large fortifications were built in new areas. Since the wall is not a continuous wall, but a series of walls that follow the land formation, these watch towers were an important addition to this military structure. As staggering and fascinating as the Great Wall of China is, you’d kick yourself if you didn’t explore China further. The Terracotta Warriors are the most significant archaeological find of the 20th Century. Seven thousand soldiers, horses and chariots stand guard at the tomb of the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang who ascended to the throne in 246 BC at the age of 13. 61 TRAVEL -PPLJOHBUJUTHSFFOÎFMETSJPUPVTHBSEFOT BOEUIFHFOUMFTUSFUDIPGTBOEBU&NJMZ#BZJUT IBSEUPCFMJFWFUIBU/PSGPML*TMBOEXBTPODF DPOTJEFSFEBQMBDFPGUPSNFOU WORDS BY JANE WARWICK TRAVEL M2magazine.co.nz T 64 he mandate had been to keep the many prisoners here just this side of death and so they were. Barely existing, they were so willing to die. But they were predominately Irish Catholic and even more afraid of divine retribution if they committed suicide; they were already in hell and the thought that this might truly be forever was unendurable. So they entered into desperate lotteries in which they hoped to be murdered. It wasn’t a one-prize draw, either. The winner got put out of his misery and his murderers were sent back to Botany Bay to await trial, which was a blessed relief. Jail on the mainland was a soft billet compared to life on Norfolk Island and there was the end of a rope to look forward to. They were going to hang by their wretched necks until they were dead and they couldn’t wait. Leaving the haunted foreshore and driving up the hill to the main settlement of Burnt Pine is like coming blinking into the sunlight from an afternoon movie. It’s a kind of fuzzy portal where you’re not longer absorbed into the movie but you haven’t quite rejoined the real world. All those normal things – the kids calling and laughing, heading home from school, friends talking to each other from one car window to the next, stopped in the middle of the street, a burst of laughter over a cup of coffee at an outdoor café. It all seems vaguely obscene because just down the road in a glass topped case is a cat o’ nine tails, that in the greater scheme of things hasn’t been used all that long ago when the prison yards ran with blood. Down along the waterfront, the cranes on Kingston Wharf pluck the fishing boats from the water. All it takes is a bow, a curtsey and a smooth retreat. The sea is too rough to leave a boat at anchor and the cranes swing them in and out of the water like toys. In between, the boats head out into the Pacific where the big fish hunt – huge grouper, yellow-fin tuna, kingfish, trevally and even the ten-kilogram snapper every fisherman/woman/person is praying for. It’s little wonder that the sea around Norfolk is so rough. The island is only eight kilometres long and five kilometres wide, nothing really big enough to quell the huge surges of the open sea. But it’s a big little place with a vineyard, coffee plantation, restaurants, shops and nearly 2000 inhabitants. Not very long ago it was a tax free haven as well and the place to go in the Pacific for duty free perfume, electronics, German steel and top of the range fishing gear at ridiculous prices. When Australia bought in GST, that all went by the wayside and prices will never be as cheap again. However, down at the end of town is Pete’s Place with racks of rods and stacks of steel at prices that compel you to spend. If the fishing palls, there’s always golf down in Kingston, which is the capital of Norfolk Island. Like many capitals, it’s not the biggest settlement in the country and perhaps when you were first told of the fact you’d hang around, briefly, waiting for the punch line. It’s not coming. The eight Georgian houses, the ruins of three others, a tumble of bricks and mortar that used to be a jail, the Old Military Barracks that are now the seat of the Norfolk Island Legislative Assembly, a museum and a meandering herd of cows that are the last word in bovine insolence, make up Norfolk Island’s major “city.” It was here, too, that what makes today’s Norfolk Islanders so intrinsically Norfolk Islanders originated – the arrival of members of the now extended family of the Bounty mutineers. The rock called Pitcairn, that they called home, had become too small for the burgeoning tribe of Fletcher Christian, and Queen Victoria had one of her small ideas that had big consequences. She told the Pitcairners that they could resettle on Norfolk. The group took this to mean that they could have Norfolk, a misunderstanding that remains in some dispute to this day. Some of them stayed, some went back to Pitcairn but the point of the story is that it was these settlers more than any other, who gave Norfolk Island its particular identity. Norfuk, the patois of the Island, came from the blended regional accents of Bounty sailors from the north west of England and the Tahitian dialect of the men and women who joined them. And the surnames of true Norfolk Islanders reflect those of the original mutineers, such as Christian, Buffet, Quintal and Adams. Norfolk is a little island with a big history but everything has settled into a more peaceable existence now. The glorious sub tropical tangle of Norfolk Island is lush and green and full of hope, even if it was fertilised by blood and bone and not the kind we put on gardens today. And there’s no point in screwing up your nose at what you think is gratuitous hyperbole because that is the way it was. And the way it is now is that well-fertilised hibiscus bushes grow all over the island, heavy with flowers in fat bloom. They are all the things that Norfolk Island once wasn’t and have a tender fragrance, befitting of a place that has been brought gently back from an horrific past. HEALTH 12 Metabolism Boosters When you were a teenager, you could probably devour eight McDonald’s cheeseburgers in one sitting, and still be hungry. But once you approach 30, you might begin to realise that your body KVTUJTOUCVSOJOHPGGBMMUIBUGVFMBOZNPSF*OGBDUZPVNJHIUÎOE yourself eating rabbit food just to maintain your weight. T he reason you can’t put it away like you used to might be down to your metabolism, which declines by about two percent every decade after the age of 20, and by five percent every ten years after your reach 40. So how does the metabolism work? When you eat, your body breaks down the different components into energy that it can use to run different cellular processes. Enzymes released by your thyroid gland and pancreas help to break your food down into sugars, amino acids, and fatty acids. 1 Spice it up It turns out capsaicin, a compound found in chili peppers, can also fire up your metabolism. According to a study published in the Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology, eating about one tablespoon of chopped red or green chilies boosts your body’s production of heat and the activity of your sympathetic nervous system, resulting in a temporary 23 percent spike in your metabolism. Chili also adds flavour to many dishes, so try chopping it finely and stirring it through a stir fry, thai curry or pasta. These three types of energy are then absorbed into your bloodstream and transported to cells in the body to run different processes. Any excess energy is then stored by your body as muscle or fat, so that it can be used in the future. When your metabolism slows down, more energy is stored – yes, that’s your spare tyre we’re looking at. The good news is that you don’t have to start nibbling on celery, and there are things you can do. Try these 12 metabolism-boosting tips to kick-start your body back into gear. 2 Fish Oil 4 Ginger and Cinnamon A study from the International Journal of Obesity found that including fish oil in the diet increases metabolic rate by 26 percent. Researchers say this is because the Omega 3s in fish oil reduce the leptin in your body, and lower leptin levels lead to an increase in metabolism, allowing you to burn fat. Similar studies have shown that this effect is multiplied when combined with exercise. M2magazine.co.nz Not only does ginger aid in digestion, but it increases body temperature and metabolic rates by as much as 20 percent after eating. This is because ginger stimulates gastric enzymes, which can aid metabolism and improve gastric mobility. Try including some sliced ginger in a stirfry, or try a ginger tea. While you’re at it, include some cinnamon in your diet, which has a similar effect to ginger. For breakfast, try an ice-cold banana smoothie with maple syrup and a pinch of cinnamon – you’ll have the added benefit of the magnesium in the banana, and the ice-cold drink in the morning will kick-start your metabolism. 66 3 Eat organic Researchers in Canada found that dieters with the most organochlorides – chemicals found in pesticides – stored in their fat cells were the most susceptible to disruptions in mitochondrial activity and thyroid function, leading to a slow metabolism. Avoid this effect by swapping to organic produce – there is a wide range of organic produce available in most supermarkets now. 5 Cold Water German researchers found that drinking six cups of cold water a day can increase resting metabolism by about 50 calories daily. The researchers suggest that the increase may come from the work it takes to heat the water to body temperature. Drinking plenty of water has the added benefit of helping you to feel full, and making you less likely to overeat. Don’t Cut Calories 6 Food stimulates energy metabolism required for digestion, a process called “dietary induced thermogenesis” – so when you cut calories, the calories burned from eating diminish, and so does your metabolic rate. Also, restricting calories signals to the body that there is no food available, so it tries to conserve energy from carbohydrate and fat by slowing down your metabolism, putting your body into storage mode. Try eating healthy, but regular meals, and make sure you don’t skip breakfast. 8 Magnesium More than 300 biochemical reactions in the body require magnesium to function, including muscle, nerve and heart function, and energy metabolism. Include plenty of green vegetables in your diet as well as nuts such as almonds, cashews and peanuts, whole grain cereals, and legumes such as lentils, which are all excellent sources of magnesium. Gain Muscle 7 Muscle tissue uses more calories than fat tissue because it has a higher metabolic rate – which means, the more muscle you have, the more energy you expend in day to day life. Aerobic exercise also speeds up your metabolism for four to eight hours after you stop, so hitting the gym is a win-win situation. B Vitamins 9 B6, B12, folate, thiamin and niacin are required for the healthy functioning of your central nervous system, the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and protein, and energy production. Without adequate amounts, you will feel fatigued, and your metabolism will slow. You can get your vitamin B from dairy products, poultry and green leafy vegetables – so include plenty of eggs, spinach, asparagus, beans, and broccoli in your diet. 10 Coffee A study published in the Journal Physiology and Behaviour found that the average metabolic rate of people who drank caffeinated coffee increased 16 percent over that of those who drank decaf. The reason is that caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant, so your daily coffee can help you burn off up to 200 extra calories a day. Just make sure you hold off on the sugar, and use skim milk instead of full fat. 11 Get 40 Winks Studies have shown that those who get an average of nine hours of sleep a night release more metabolismboosting hormones than those who don’t. When sleep deprived, your body releases the hormone cortisol, which slows down metabolism and results in fat storage. Sleep deprivation also alters the production and action of other hormones, slowing the secretion of thyroid stimulating hormones. Give your metabolism a hand by making sure you get an average of eight hours sleep every night. 12 Green Tea Green tea is said to contain a plant compound called ECGC, which promotes fat burning. In one study, people who consumed the equivalent of three to five cups a day for 12 weeks decreased their body weight by 4.6 percent. For even more of a boost, try green tea’s big brother, oolong. This semi-fermented tea contains polyphenols that help block fat-building enzymes, and research shows that your metabolism will be raised for two hours after a cup of oolong. Try these teas hot, or keep a jug of iced green tea or oolong in the fridge. SUCCESS How to get what you want in life You wake up to your dog licking your face, get ready for work, kick your piece-ofKVOLDBSCFDBVTFJUXPOUTUBSUUIFOESJWFUPXPSLUISPVHISVTIIPVSUSBGÎD8IFO you arrive, your boss yells at you before kicking off early for the day to go test-drive a new Mercedes, and your colleagues dump their work on you before making a few KPLFTBUZPVSFYQFOTFBOETUFBMJOHZPVSMVODIGSPNUIFTUBGGGSJEHF"TZPVESJWF home, Celine Dion starts playing, and you have a little cry about the fact that you IBUFZPVSKPCZPVIBWFOPHJSMGSJFOEBOEZPVTUJMMMJWFXJUIZPVSNVN w man, that must really hurt your feelings. Here, have a tissue and a nice cup of Stop Being A Little Blouse. We’ve got news for you, wimpy boy: it’s time to man-up. Decide what you want, and then go get it, Hulk style – smashing everything that comes into your path with your big, veiny, green fists. Okay, maybe you don’t need to get violent. In fact, we’ve put together a guide to getting what you want, in five easy, non-violent steps. First up… A …decide what you want M2magazine.co.nz It’s no use being in a constant state of dissatisfaction if you can’t identify what it would actually take to make you happy. Take some time to make a list of long-term goals, such as owning your own business, a mansion, and three girlfriends with their own reality television show. Now make a list of short-term goals, such as getting fit, getting a new job, and a social life that exists outside of chat rooms. Then, make a step-by-step plan to achieve each of those goals by breaking them down into smaller segments. 68 Now, try to do one thing every day towards your goal. For example, if you want to find yourself a girlfriend, on Monday you can sign up to a dating website. On Tuesday, you can go to the supermarket and put some bananas in the front of your trolley. On Wednesday, you can go to a Speed Dating evening. On Thursday, you can ask out the girl at the coffee shop. And on Friday, you can go back to watching Sleepless in Seattle with your dog, because at least he loves you unconditionally. But you can always try again next week. And before you do, you will need to… …do your research There’s no point in applying for a job as a bartender if you don’t know the difference between a Margarita and a Mojito. Everybody has met some idiot who goes around telling people he’s going to be the next Tiger Woods, but he’s never picked up a golf club in his life. And then there’s the guy who says he’s going to be a multimillionaire, but he’s unemployed. That’s because it’s easy to look at a successful person and say “I can do that!” but chances are, Skippy, you can’t. So what do you do? You do your research. Read books, or take a course, or get yourself a mentor – someone who’s been there, done that. Ask them what they did and what advice they have for someone wanting to follow the same path. Which leads us to… ….hard work and perseverance There’s a little something called hard work that you’re going to have to acquaint yourself with. Just look at any top athlete – they didn’t get there overnight, it took years of practice and training, and there were many setbacks and injuries along the way. Likewise any man who started his own business will tell you he didn’t do it without a whole lot of late nights, blood, sweat and tears. Okay, maybe not the tears. But you’re going to have to learn how to turn set-backs into opportunities, and to seek alternative options if you hit a dead end. With perseverance, however, just keep in mind that persistently asking out the girl you like may be misconstrued as harassment or stalking. Which brings us to… …knowing when to quit So it’s been three years, and still your social-networking site for pets hasn’t taken off. You were sure it was the next Facebook, and you were the next Mark Zuckerberg. But you need to learn the difference between persevering and flogging a dead horse. A “dead-end project” is one where you won’t get any better or different results despite continuous effort. And often, we are reluctant to recognise it. Let’s be honest: sometimes humans can be pretty stupid, and blind determination or stubbornness can get in the way of us knowing when to let go. For example, if you’re still chasing after the girl you’ve had a crush on since you were 16, and she’s now married with kids and still doesn’t know your name, you may be hitting your head up against a wall. Or if your dream was to be head of a company where you’ve been employee of the month every time for the past four years, but still haven’t been given a pay rise or promotion…. dead horse, buddy. Move on. This is a common occurrence; people will often stay in a less than ideal situation because they fear they can’t do any better. If you leave the job you hate, there’s a small risk, but you’ve got a pretty good chance of landing a better job and a fatter paycheck. However if you stay where you are, you risk nothing, but you gain nothing. Which brings us to… …don’t stand in your own way Sometimes, fear of failure can stop you from leaping into the unknown. But we’re telling you now, the chances of a job opportunity, a million dollars or the woman of your dreams climbing in through your window and falling into your lap while you’re playing World of Warcraft in your bedroom is about a billion to one. When it comes to getting the life you want, the one person most likely to get in your way is you. If you lack self belief, drive, or motivation, or if you’re just a lazy sod, you’re not going to get anywhere and you’ll only have yourself to blame. Another commonly cited reason for holding back is fear of success. As Nelson Mandela said, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” You know, that old chestnut. It might sound confusing at first, you might ask, “Why would someone be afraid of success?” Well, put it this way: why would you continue to live with your mum and work part-time at the movie theatre when you could be out, working hard and running your own business and living in your own apartment? Because it’s easier. Likewise, continuing to work in your safe, 9 �til 5 job, for a moderate wage, is a nice, comfortable option compared to quitting and starting your own business venture from scratch. How to get the woman you want First of all, unlearn everything you’ve heard from a) Two and a Half Men, and b) Dating books like The Game. Putting a woman down, using sexual innuendo, playing hard to get, and being cocky, won’t get you anywhere and if it does, you’ve just attracted a woman with desperately low self-esteem. And you don’t want to go there. Look at the kind of women Charlie Sheen is spending time with. Get my drift? If you want to get the girl, the formula is quite simple: dress nice, be polite, be confident, smile, and listen to her. Trust us on this one. How to get the job you want Networking is always a good place to start when trying to get your foot in the door. Next, do whatever you can to get an interview or meeting with the top dogs, and do as much research on the company as possible. For the interview, dress professionally. No matter how casual the workplace is, you can’t go wrong with turning up in an (ironed) shirt, tie, and suit. Make a good first impression by being confident and having a firm handshake. Make eye contact, sit up straight and don’t mumble. Now based on your research, tell them why you would be a good asset to their company. How to get the lifestyle you want If you want the house, the car and the bach, buying a Big Wednesday ticket every week isn’t exactly a fool-proof plan. There are four ways you can go about getting rich: Climb the corporate ladder (time + hard work); take up a second job (time + even harder work); stay where you are, and save hard until you have enough cash to buy yourself the house/car/bach (time + suffering); or you could start your own business (time + hard work + huge risk). Sorry, no get-rich-quick schemes here. Best get your nose to the grindstone. The point is, grow some proverbials and take the leap. The path to success is never an easy one, that’s why before you start on your journey, you have to think clearly about what it is you want to achieve, and whether or not it will really make you happy. And once you’ve set your mind on something, don’t lose sight of it. It may sound cliché, but just as the song goes, you can get it if you really want. SUCCESS The leadership equation = Motivation is one of the most powerful forces in the world; it gets us up in the morning, it takes us to work and gives us the desire to achieve our dreams. However, when we are lacking motivation, minutes feel like hours and our dreams stay just that, dreams. A s a leader, we are entrusted with the responsibility of motivating people around us, a group of individuals each with different personalities, priorities, ambitions and dreams. We often forget that not everyone has the same drive and passion as we do, and we easily fall into the trap of getting frustrated with people who don’t share that same vision. Motivating ourselves is hard enough, let alone other people. But why? Why do some people respond positively to a pep talk yet others seem to be reluctant to leave their comfort zone? It’s a difficult puzzle because motivation is incredibly personal and unique to an individual, but there is a simple solution. There is a formula that explains how motivation is produced, and a correct understanding of this formula will help you motivate not only your team but yourself as well. Sounds too simple? Well, it’s like everything in life; solutions are easy, it’s the getting there that’s difficult. DISCOMFORT + HOPE = MOTIVATION A mind produces motivation when there’s a balance of discomfort and hope. Without discomfort, there’s no reason to change, and without hope, there’s no reason to believe we should try. So there are your two questions that need to be answered: What’s the reason to change? And is there enough belief to try? Let’s look at each one in more detail DISCOMFORT: WHAT’S THE REASON TO CHANGE? If a person feels that everything is okay, then why would they consider changing? Too often we assume that people share our concerns and are fully aware of the consequences if their behaviour continues, but more often they think, “It’s not that bad” or “It’s not that serious,” which means that their discomfort is too low, so the balance is wrong and no motivation is being produced. In these circumstances, it’s not until the situation gets serious and you start talking disciplinary action that realisation sets in, but by then, a lot of time and effort has been exhausted, and in some cases, your relationship with that person is damaged. You need to understand the other person’s perspective of what is happening, and compare it to your own. Test their perceptions by asking them, “What’s the reason to change?” Most people will look at your bizarrely and reply “Well, because you’ve told me to.” This is a red flag, a warning sign. True motivation is very personal and any true reason to change has to be likewise a personal reason. Probe until you get an answer that turns from “you” to “I” such as “I don’t want to let everyone down”, or “I want to be successful.” Once they understand that the state they want to be in is not the state they currently are at, then we are creating discomfort, but not too much. How many times have you seen a staff member leave a manager’s office upset or physically shaking after a manager’s tirade – not too many times I hope – but it does happen that the law is laid down so heavily that discomfort goes too high, again creating imbalance and no motivation is created. A person needs to have a realistic projection of where their current behaviours will take them. Then and only then is there enough discomfort to generate change. HOPE: IS THERE ENOUGH BELIEF TO TRY? Regardless of what level of discomfort someone is feeling, or how much they want to change, nothing will work without hope. In every single case you will see that belief precedes evidence – people have to believe that something is achievable before they can actually do it. As a leader, you need to check that there is enough belief in order to balance the discomfort. If the person does not believe that they can do it, then there’s no balance and the mind doesn’t generate motivation. How many times have you heard people say, “I didn’t think I could do it.” That’s self-destructive before they have even started, and there’s no wonder that they fail. Yet surprisingly, having too much belief can be equally destructive, overconfidence trips us all up eventually. Hope is generated when the self-image of that person is perceived to be capable of achieving the necessary goal. Remember self-image is different to self-esteem. You only have one point of view in terms of self-esteem, but you can have many self-images – one for each situation you find yourself in. You may have a positive self-image of yourself for delivering a presentation on a topic that you are an expert on, but a very poor self-image in other areas. SELF-ESTEEM IS HOW YOU VALUE YOURSELF; SELF-IMAGE IS HOW YOU SEE YOURSELF. If the reality of what is required doesn’t match the self-image, then the mind generates tension until they are both matched. Ask your staff if they believe they can do something and study their reply, look for reasons that are personal and directed towards them such as “I believe I can because...” Once you hear this, then you know that genuine realistic hope is present. Motivation is a very personal and powerful source, but it is our responsibility as leaders to help people as well as ourselves, to find that delicate balance of discomfort and hope. Once that balance is found, then not only do we have the courage to chase our dreams, but we have the passion to make them a reality. Mark Wager is a Leadership coach with Elite LD Limited Contact: 021 354 831 or [email protected] eliteld.co.nz EHWWHUZRUNEHWWHUOLIH We became No.1 in the world by putting you first. :KHWKHULWpVDJUHDWMRERUJUHDWVWDII\RXpUHORRNLQJIRUZHpYHJRW \RXFRYHUHG $GHFFRWKHZRUOGpVOHDGLQJHPSOR\PHQWVSHFLDOLVW Industrial Office Engineering & Technical Finance & Legal 6DOHV0DUNHWLQJ(YHQWV Information Technology 0800 4 Adecco adecco.co.nz Adecco is proud to partner with the New Zealand Olympic Committee to support our athletes through the Athlete Career Programme SUCCESS FREE YOUR CAREER %PZPVXBOUJOEFQFOEFODFÏFYJCJMJUZ and the right to surf on Fridays? I t’s estimated that 30 percent of the industrial world’s workforce is now employed as contractors or flexible workers. While there are no precise statistics available for New Zealand, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that approximately 25 percent of the Australian workforce is currently on contract or considered temporary staff. In 2011, the number of people opting to call themselves professional contractors is on the increase and it’s easy to see why. Companies are serious about being fiscally sensible. More than ever, they are battening down the hatches and focusing on their core business. Then for everything from HR, to project management, or for a oneoff IT project, these same companies are contracting in a professional to deliver – and then leave. On the other side of the desk, many individuals now prefer contracting as their dedicated career path. The reasons are many from wanting to have a real life outside the office to realising that professional contractors can earn 25 percent more than their permanently tethered office colleagues. So if your goal is to work four days a week and on the fifth day, surf – read on because the moment of the professional hired-gun has arrived. Frog Recruitment’s Director, Jane Kennelly reports they have a large cluster of professional contractors or “portfolio workers” and it’s rare for these individuals to accept a permanent placement. “We have a growing group of professionals aged 30 to 55 years of age who are highly skilled in say, HR consulting, payroll management, business analysis or project management. They want the freedom, flexibility and stimulus that the everchanging contract work lifestyle provides,” says Jane Kennelly. Kennelly adds that it’s thanks to the likes of LinkedIn that skilled professionals and those looking to use their services are building communities to find each other when the need arises. Dave Hopkins came from Mayo, West of Ireland and is now a professional contractor in New Zealand. Nine years ago, he and his wife arrived while on their OE. “We wanted to get away from our average jobs, have a holiday – and we’ve ended up never leaving New Zealand.” Dave Hopkins is now firmly part of that new breed of professional contractor. With a university degree in science, Dave takes on contracts that revolve around managing people in projects. DAVE HOPKINS’ ADVICE FOR BUDDING PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTORS: • Be able to sell yourself: There is no room for modesty as you are the commodity and a company won’t contract you unless they think you can deliver the goods. Typically, a contracting company will meet with you only after the recruitment agency has done the hard work to assure the client you are the contractor with the suitable credentials. • Turn up on day one ready to go: Arrive with your own equipment from pens, paper to laptop. Remember you’re not an employee, so it’s up to you to hit the ground running. This includes being prepared to find your own phone and workspace – it’s unfair to expect employee treatment as the company is paying you a good rate, so make it easy for them. “The reason I became a contractor is that I don’t like working for a �boss.’ So I thought what can I do to stop having bosses? The answers were either to set up my own business, or create a business where I’m the product I am selling.” Dave is quick to emphasise that contracting for him is a mental thing. “I go to work each day thinking I’m working for myself but in reality, I still have to deliver, I still have to report and perform and someone definitely pays me.” In the past four years, Dave has completed seven contracts in organisations as diverse as pharmaceuticals, software design, shipping logistics, education and telecommunications. The bulk of Dave’s contracting work revolves around project and quality management assignments. Apart from a better hourly rate, being a professional contractor allows Dave to do the school runs and be on call to pick up a sick child. “I can leave my desk pretty easily at a moment’s notice, unlike my wife who’s a full time HR Director for a multinational,” said Dave. Dave says he gets his contracts via wordof-mouth and his recruitment company, Frog Recruitment. • Service, service: Ultimately, it is all about the service you provide. Your current contracting company is your next reference. Any value you can add on daily basis will benefit you in the long run. Your first question should never be, “What time is your lunch break?” You’re the hired gun and you should be ready to get on and deliver. • Take out professional indemnity insurance: It’s quite expensive at approximately $2,000 a year but some recruitment companies will not contract your services out unless you are covered for any major boo-boos. Dave’s final piece of advice is: Don’t look for hugs and kisses from your contracting employers. You are an independent, so don’t expect to be part of the social club or even to be invited out for a drink. You are there for your expertise and to deliver on time. It’s a case of always remembering that you are a separate entity – adapt to this mindset and you’ll do well. Performance Products to Make You Run Happy® WHAT’S YOUR DNA? CUSTOM CUSHIONING THAT ADAPTS TO YOUR RUN. This season, everyone can Run Happy® as Brooks® DNA technology becomes available in a range of performance running footwear. Brooks® DNA is a breakthrough innovation that provides custom cushioning to the runner by instantly reacting to each step. It delivers just the right amount of cushioning and resiliency for each runner regardless of their size and speed. DNA defies the law of physics using polymer chain interactions at the molecular level that respond differently to high or low impact forces. Brooks® DNA is now available in a range of models with varying levels of underfoot protection in high pressure zones. Try on a pair at your running footwear specialist or visit brooksrunning.co.nz for more info. 30% Improvement in cushioning. Compared to standard gel or EVA materials at baseline impact. 2x Twice as much energy return. With maximum force applied. DNA requires much less energy than traditional cushioning systems. Trance™ 10 Men’s Brooks® DNA is now available in a model for every runner: • • • • • • Glycerin® 8 Ravenna 2 Trance™ 10 Adrenaline™ GTS 11 Beast® /Ariel® Cascadia 6® Available at The Athlete’s Foot, Shoe Clinic, Shoe Science,, Smiths Sports Shoes and leading running retailers. Full-length Brooks® DNA maps to the pressure points beneath the foot during running. brooksrunning.co.nz DIAL IT UP Three guys, a few beers and some rough brainstorming on a napkin was all it took to kick-start a business venture that looks to change the way businesses and consumers interact in New Zealand. SUCCESS These guys are definitely set for success if their enthusiasm is anything to go by. M2 talks to Robbie and Mike from 0133 about what it takes to start your own business, and how they stand up against the competition. Are you going up against Yellow pages and the 018 service? Robbie: It seems to be a general misconception that Telecom owns 018 and that we are simply a business directory. Yellow pages owns 018 and while they may be our closest competitor in this market, the truth is, the Yellow Pages 018 proposition pales in comparison, simply by the fact that we are free to call, locally owned and operated, and provide a much more extensive service. These factors alone provide businesses with far more value while providing consumers the most simplistic solution for information sourcing. Why pay to call 018 for a limited response? Why even pick up a print directory? Why even go online? Just call us and we do all the homework instantly. How do you promote businesses? Robbie: When consumers call us free from landline or mobile, anytime of the day or night, looking for something that you provide, we inform, recommend and then offer to send more info or connect that caller directly to your company. It’s like having all your advertising and marketing collateral on one profile that is then advertised to targeted “ready to buy” consumers. And you don’t have to pay huge air time and ad space fees like you would on billboards, television and radio. From there, our clients can measure their exact return on investment because the whole transaction is monitored by a powerful analytical engine. It’s really the most complete advertising solution out there. What do you think gives 0133 an edge? Robbie: The real beauty about 0133 is that we have created a full advertising solution for businesses that is completely moulded by the evolving consumer demographic. It’s our back-end service that can continuously grow to keep up with changing consumer expectations. Today we live in the “I want it now” generation. Being able to call toll free from anywhere in the country to find what you need, when, where and how much is a very powerful thing and it’s something that no other marketing solution in the country can provide. When I’m shopping, I don’t want to do all the homework, price comparisons, online searching and shop to shop travelling. I want to know where to get what I want at the best price. Mike: It’s all about targeted advertising and targeting people at the right time. You get bombarded with all sorts of advertising, billboards, radio, television, but it’s when you are ready to buy, or look for that product, with 0133 you have that information. You’re driving home in your car, or on your way to work and you hear all these ads, but come the weekend, you can’t recall all that information. So a lot of businesses have signed up already, but did it feel like a bit of a gamble? Robbie: No, we’re pretty steadfast in what we’re doing, we really believe in the concept. I guess, we don’t have any preconceived ideas that this is going to be an easy road, but the support that we’ve had thus far has been sensational, we can feel the momentum, it’s getting stronger and stronger every day. So where did the idea come from? Robbie: Long story short, Paul and I have been friends for quite some time, Paul came to Mike and I last year, and over a beer he presented us with this concept. On a napkin, we started drawing it out and planning, and I just saw the immediate benefits. We decided to form the business together, and we’ve been hard at work ever since. How do you guys work together? Do you bring different strengths to the party? Mike: I think we all do a bit of everything. Robbie has a sales focus, and Paul has got a creative focus, I tie up the loose ends and manage the ongoing relationships, but I think we all complement each other really well. One thing that’s really important is that we trust each other to do what we know best. I know what Robbie’s good at and what Paul’s good at, and I’ll trust them to do it. If you don’t have that trust, you’ll always be trying to meddle in things you don’t know much about. So it’s a really good dynamic. You have this vision of where you’re going, but how do you share that passion with your staff? Mike: Robbie and Paul and I have been doing the bulk of the training so far. We’re all very passionate about it, and it’s rubbed off. All our call centre staff are excited about what we’re doing and they’re jumping on board and sharing that journey with us. Not only that, but from the inside, it’s easy to see how this service will seriously benefit you as a consumer. That alone makes the staff feel very privileged to be on the ground floor of a company looking to do something very dramatic. Robbie: We always say, “the sky’s the limit” when it comes to your role in the business. Because we’re new and we’re agile, the opportunity for growth in this company is huge. Is there a secret to starting your own business? Robbie: Optimism, focus, attitude – you’ve just got to own it, live it, breathe it, don’t procrastinate. Just get on with it, muck in boots and all, don’t be afraid to do anything. We’ve painted, we’ve put furniture together, we’ve all been on the phones, we’ve trained. I do some finance stuff, do the budgets with our CFO, so you’ve just got to be prepared to work long hours, but it will pay off. Also, be open-minded to constructive criticism. We are fortunate to have quite a significant board of advisors all with extensive backgrounds across a diverse range of industries. This has really helped us establish strong working relationships and strategic alliances with associations and complimentary affiliates, as well as assist in building an operationally efficient enterprise. What’s the advice you’d give us for negotiating? Robbie: I think be optimistic, be tenacious, be positive, and be prepared. The biggest thing is attitude and passion. Planning is everything. Make sure that when you deliver the proposal, you have that self-belief and confidence. Mike: Just be confident, always be positive, go out there knowing it’s going to happen. M2magazine.co.nz T he idea is simple: Businesses pay a monthly fee to have themselves listed with 0133. Customers make a free call to the local operators with either a business name or just a rough idea of what they’re after, and the operators offer a personalised service to get them in touch with the business most suited to their needs – all while promoting companies based on their unique selling points. 75 Strength in numbers This time of year is always a significant milestone in the wine calendar. While the wine drinkers are trying to squeeze every last moment from the closing Summer, viticulturists and winemakers are beginning the annual vintage season and working around the clock to turn grapes into the early stages of great wine. In addition, around this time some of the best wines harvested and produced in previous years, which have been slowly maturing and developing in oak barrels, are now ready to be released on the world. WORDS BY DAVE CAMPBELL Bin 138 Barossa Valley Grenache Shiraz Mouvedre 2009 The Grenache Shiraz Mouvedre blend (GSM for short) is a blend of three uniquely different wines, but when combined together can produce a rich, full-flavoured wine, without the big hefty tannins of its Bin counterparts. Each different grape has a part to play in this blend, with the grenache adding a musky bouquet, the shiraz producing fruit-forward flavours, while the mourvedre adds spicy, leathery notes. Produced from some of the oldest vines in the Barossa Valley, the Bin 138 is a crowd pleaser with its fruit-driven style and smooth texture. RRP $32.99 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2008 Bin 150 Marananga Shiraz 2008 The Bin 389 is most famous for being referred to as “Baby Grange,” partly attesting to the fantastic quality of this wine, and partly due to the fact that some of every 389 vintage is matured in the same barrels that held the previous vintage of the iconic grange. First produced in 1960, the Bin 389 has a fantastic reputation for its longstanding quality and the 2008 vintage definitely delivers. Not for the fainthearted, underneath this wine’s big and bold exterior are succulent flavours of blackcurrant, coffee and chocolate. Known for its consistency over the years, we think the 2008 Bin 389 is something a little bit special. The Bin 150 Shiraz is a slightly different approach to the traditional Penfolds winemaking process, with this wine 100 percent grown in the Barossa Valley sub region of Marananga. The 2008 wine is the inaugural release for Penfolds, and upon tasting it, I’m sure it will not be the last. A stylish wine, it is an intense blackish purple in the glass, but don’t let this put you off. Immensely drinkable, flavours of ground coffee beans blend with the more traditional dark berry fruits. Only small in production, the Bin 150 will not last long. RRP $49.99 RRP $49.99 DRINK o this month, we have been lucky enough to taste some examples that I’m sure need no introduction. Penfolds is arguably Australia’s most recognised global wine brand, and has a long and proud history after being established by British doctor Christopher Rawson Penfold in 1844. A true mark of Penfolds’ success has always been its exceptional selection of wines that vary in range and style, with its famous Penfolds Grange Shiraz a true wine icon (and pricey at over $500 a bottle). S If this is a little outside your budget, never fear because the new vintages of the Penfolds Bin range offer the same classic Penfolds style, at a fraction of this hefty price. Steeped in tradition, Penfolds traditionally maintained a system of numbered “bins” in the cellar where the very best wines were stored, often for the exclusive enjoyment of the company’s directors. Now they mark the individual identities of Penfolds exciting new breed of wines. So without further ado, gentlemen, it is my pleasure to introduce to you the latest Penfolds graduates of 2011... penfolds.com Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz 2008 Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz 2009 Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Bin 23 Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir 2010 First made in 1959, the Bin 28 Shiraz is named after the famous Barossa Valley Kalimna vineyard, purchased by Penfolds in 1945. This fine example is the 50th commercial release of Bin 28 and shows why Australia is heralded the world over for producing exceptional warm-climate shiraz. Classic pepper notes are combined with flavours of dark plums and spice. Finely balanced, the Bin 28 has a soft and supple texture for such a rich, juicy wine. Penfolds head winemaker Peter Gago calls it one of the vintages of the decade... we don’t disagree. The Coonawarra region is 380 kilometres south of Adelaide, close to the border of Victoria, and produces an elegant style of cool climate shiraz. The Bin 128 was first produced in 1962, and is 100 percent grown in the Coonawarra region, giving it a unique point of difference when compared to other Barossa Valley shiraz blends. Crimson red in colour, the Bin 128 can be described as rich and flavoursome yet quietly restrained. The palate shows notes of raspberries and black pepper, showcasing a wine with true finesse. A stylish wine for those looking for something that is easy to approach, but full and flavoursome. First launched in 1993 because of the abundance of high-quality fruit available, the Bin 407 can only be described as a textbook cabernet sauvignon. A wonderful example of the longstanding Penfolds formula of combining ripe fruit with excellent use of oak, this wine is a blend from some of the best warm climate vineyard sites in South Australia. Vibrant in colour, the Bin 407 has an intensely flavoured palate with strong berry and spice flavours. Only getting better with some age, this wine is a must for the cellar. The opposite of its shiraz counterpart, the pinot noir grape flourishes under a cool climate, so Penfolds have taken to the high altitude Adelaide Hills to produce this wine. However, don’t be fooled, despite pinot noir being traditionally a lighter style red wine, this is a classic Penfolds example – big, bold and flavoursome. Concentrated fruit flavours of strawberries and black cherries come to the fore, and are wrapped in a soft, silky texture. Only in its second vintage, we are certain the Bin 23 is destined for big things. RRP $49.99 RRP $39.99 RRP $32.99 RRP $32.99 BEER BASICS DRINK D avid Elmsly and Andrew Somervell started the New Zealand Beer Festival back in 2007, and thank God they did. Now men who just aren’t “Wine and Food festival” types can enjoy good beer, good food and good music, all in one place. This year’s New Zealand Beer Festival is bigger and better than ever with 70 beers from more than 24 breweries in New Zealand and internationally. There will be a range of foods to chow down with your beer, and live music includes good Kiwi beats from Tahuna breaks, Phil Edwards band, Sweet Mix Kids, Sam Hill, Sentimental Sound System and Franko. M2 talks to David and Andrew about business, beer and breweries. What got you into event promotions? David: When I was growing up and going through university, I would put on dance parties to help pay my way, so I know how to promote and attract crowds. We were at a food and wine festival six years ago, we were surrounded by lots of people, but the music was really lame. I thought, this festival would be so much better if I could select all the music and bands, I could make it into a really good festival. Andrew turned to me and said, “No, it would be way better if we were drinking beer.” From that moment we just went, “Right, we’re going to do a beer festival!” It was a real eureka moment. I don’t like drinking wine that much, why would I run a wine festival when I could run a beer festival, and do it exactly how I want to? So we got to work. How much planning goes into each event for you? David: We start working about six months out, we’re very open with breweries and welcome feedback, we ask them what they liked about what we did, if there’s anything they want to add in or anything they want to change. Once we’ve got a feel for how we went last year, we identify changes and work on them. We have to consult with police and district licensing, then I start getting my feelers out for new bands, new marketing angles – we’ve always got a fresh angle. The marketing side of things is obviously a key part of it. So what kind of marketing angles do you use? David: Almost everything is online now, we were one of the first events to run paid advertising on facebook over three years ago and that worked really well for us. This year we’ve created a facebook application where you create a six pack of beer bottles, and drag your friends’ profile pictures onto different bottles. You can change the label of the beer to their personality, and then once you’ve uploaded your six pack you can unlock discounted tickets. We know from experience that people buy tickets in groups, so we wanted to find a fun way that people could get their crew together and create a fun experience. What is your long-term strategy? Andrew: We put our heart and souls into this thing, when I look at successful large festivals around the world, the common theme is that they look after their customers, they keep the event exciting and fresh to come back to year on year. I’ve seen too many event promoters fall by the wayside because they take unnecessary risk, and never get to see the ten year mark or become a great part of the local event calendar. The long-term strategy, the way to run the business is through nurturing long-term relationships with customers, the brewing industry, liquor licensing and police. We go back to them every year, the same meeting, we know what we’re doing and it gets easier with our proven track record. There’s a key theme we will never change, and that’s the appreciation of great craft beer. Is the market changing, are you getting a different crowd coming along? David: We get a great mix of guys and girls because the festival wraps the craft beer theme with food, music and other things that make it a great day. Getting a guy to a beer festival is a no-brainer, but we’ve tried hard to get the girls to come as well. Over time, I would hope that the crowd has become a little more sophisticated. Andrew: Absolutely, we both do different things – we have a shared vision for the festival – but I focus on marketing and branding, and Dave on operations. When it comes to getting the event looking great, choosing bands, and arranging suppliers, that’s Dave’s focus. I focus on relationships, ticket sales, branding, marketing, stuff like that. We’re calling and emailing each other daily for months. At this stage, going up to the big day, is it a stressful time for you? Andrew: There are a lot of different strings to pull to get things across the line. Our relationships with suppliers, band members, volunteers, all of them know what they need to do and get it done with little input. That gives us time to work by exception and concentrate on the little things that show on game day. Dave’s done a great job of bringing all the suppliers together and getting a plan together, now we just have to concentrate on spreading the word, selling tickets and enjoying the day! Andrew: It’s key to us that this is not about drinking lots of cheap beer. We get three emails a day saying “Hey, do I pay $35 and get to drink free all day?” People come back to us at the gate saying, “We didn’t realise we have to pay for beer,” and we give them their money back and send them on their way. You’re always going to get that, but the market that the brewers want there, the police, food vendors is a more mature, 25-plus, affluent demographic who are there to taste the wide range on offer. We offer 70 different beers, so there’s something for everyone. My idea of taste is different to the person standing next to me, but there’s something for everyone and that’s what it’s about. Something I’ve really chased down hard, probably at the expense of revenue is our tag-line “beer, food, music and summer” – it’s not just beer, it’s a day out, an experience. You want to have some awesome beers, listen to some music, have some food and have some good times with great mates. That’s the focus. >> M2magazine.co.nz How do you guys work together, do you have complementary skills? 79 “ It’s not just beer, it’s a day out, an experience, you want to go and have some cool beers, listen to some music, have some food and have some good times with great mates. M2magazine.co.nz ” 80 DRINK Craft beer has grown quite well in popularity. What do you think is behind that? Are we looking for something different? David: The craft beer industry has picked up on the growth seen in the wine industry, food matching and so on. People are wanting something a bit different, made with soul and a story. The taste palette is wider than what the mainstream breweries would produce, and people are just excited to try something new, a little premium, a treat even. Is there money in producing craft beer in New Zealand? Are the breweries surviving? David: They’re definitely surviving, there are four or five craft breweries that will start to create headaches for the big breweries, who are starting to emulate the styles of beer they brew. Tuatara and Epic are two that are having a lot of success overseas as well; there’s definitely an underground following, but they’re doing better than just surviving. Aside from that there’s those mum and dad teams that are two-man, or four-man companies, they’re doing it because they just love beer. They’re making an income out of it but they’re not going to be driving a new Porsche tomorrow or anything. When did the smaller breweries start affecting the big boys and the kind of beers they’re producing? David: The big boys bought into the craft industry long ago, Lion with Mac’s for example, and DB with Monteith’s. They’ve really started to push and explore flavours that even five or six years ago you weren’t seeing. Monteith’s has the “hand made on the west coast” perception, and you’ll notice they’ve put a real effort into pushing it recently and adding new flavours, Mac’s have done a real on-premise push, with their Mac’s brewbar experiences. They definitely see it as a growing category. What advice do you have for negotiating? Andrew: Be colloquial, set your own start price to be talked up or down from. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Andrew: Probably, be yourself, and be honest about yourself. I’m a pretty blunt person but it’s because I say what I mean, and I don’t ever do anything that I wouldn’t want anyone else to know about. The New Zealand Beer Festival will be held on Saturday, 26 March at the Ellerslie Racecourse, Auckland, from 12:30 to 9 pm. Pre-sale tickets cost $25 or $35 on the door. For more information, see beerfestival.co.nz. AotearoaBreweries Grolsch Monteiths mata.net.nz grolsch.com monteiths.co.nz RVI Baltika Harrington’s Brewery Peroni rvinz.com harringtonsbreweries.co.nz peroniitaly.com Bath Ales Hoegaarden Renaissance Brewing bathales.com hoegaarden.com renaissancebrewing.co.nz Bennett’s Fine Beers and Ales Hofbräuhaus Tuatara bennettsbeer.co.nz hofbraeuhaus.de/en tuatarabrewing.co.nz Carlsberg Kirin Stella carlsberg.co.nz kirin.com stellaartois.com Croucher Brewing Leffe White Cliffs Organic Brewery croucherbrewing.co.nz belgian-beer-cafe.co.nz organicbeer.co.nz Epic Beer Mac’s WigramBrewing epicbeer.com macs.co.nz wigrambrewing.co.nz Emersons McCashins Yeastie Boys emersons.co.nz mccashins.co.nz yeastieboys.co.nz M2magazine.co.nz BREWERIES TO CHECK OUT AT THE FESTIVAL: 81 M2magazine.co.nz 82 PHOTOGRAPHER: MARISSA FINDLAY STYLIST: ATIP WANANURUKS PHOTO ASSISTANT: JESSICA SIM AND ALYX FAUSETT HAIR & MAKEUP: DIANA MOAR USING MAC AND KEVIN MURPHY RETOUCHING: JESSICA SIM Clothes by Adidas Originals, shoes by Converse. M2magazine.co.nz FASHION 83 84 M2magazine.co.nz Opposite: Hooded track top & blazer, BOSS Orange from Farrys For Men, trousers by Acne from Fabric, shawl by Gucci from DFS Galleria. Above: Blazer by Paul Smith & shirt by Eton from Fifth Ave Menswear, scarf by Coach from DFS Galleria, trousers by Karl Lagerfeld from Fifth Ave Menswear. M2magazine.co.nz FASHION 85 86 M2magazine.co.nz Sweat hood by Zambesi Man, shirt by BOSS Orange from Farrys For Men, jeans by Adidas Originals, shoes by Converse. M2magazine.co.nz FASHION 87 88 M2magazine.co.nz FASHION M2magazine.co.nz Opposite: Shirt by Paul Smith from Fifth Ave Menswear, waistcoat by RJB, tie by Zambesi Man, scarf by Gucci from DFS Galleria, watch by Louis Vuitton. Above: Shirt & gloves by Zambesi Man, tie by Paul Smith from Fifth Ave Menswear, jeans by Calvin Klein, belt and sunglasses by Louis Vuitton. 89 M2magazine.co.nz 90 Sweat hood by Zambesi Man. M2magazine.co.nz FASHION 91 M2magazine.co.nz 92 Opposite: Blazer by Paul Smith & shirt by Eton from Fifth Ave Menswear, scarf by Coach from DFS Galleria, trousers by Karl Lagerfeld from Fifth Ave Menswear. Above: Clothes by Zambesi Man, shoes by Converse. M2magazine.co.nz FASHION 93 M2magazine.co.nz 94 Stripe top by Zambesi Man. FASHION Why did you get involved with martial arts? As a kid, I think I was just taken in by the dynamic nature of the martial arts, like a lot of youngsters. I think if you take any small kid to see a martial arts demo or performance, you’ll see they naturally get excited by the energy, and before you know it, they’ll be imitating the performances and doing their own version of Kung Fu Panda. How has your tertiary degree helped your Taekwon-Do? The studies I completed at the University of Auckland continue to help a great deal. I feel my undergraduate study gave me a solid basis from which to apply a critical mind-set that helps me to train and coach in a smarter, more scientific way on a daily basis. Sport and exercise science training principles in areas such as strength and conditioning, recovery, nutrition and exercise rehabilitation have helped me bounce back from the inevitable injuries that occur when training at high volume and intensity year-in and year-out. More recently, the post-graduate studies I finished last year saw a shift toward the mental side of the game, where I researched the impact that specific “self-talk” cue-words have on enhancing sporting performance. What’s your main message to Taekwon-Do or martial arts students? I often reflect on a message that probably applies to a lot of things but if we love what we are doing, we’re going to go far no matter what. Whatever adversity we encounter along the way is not only going to be a learning experience but will be buffered by our love for the art, which no one can take away from us and ultimately allows us to prioritise and make sacrifices in a way that keeps us growing, adapting and learning when others are unwilling to do so. Does New Zealand have a healthy attitude towards sport, considering everyone just wants to make the big bucks? I don’t think that’s why I continue to dedicate my life to the martial arts. Having worked with and observed athletes from all different codes working at the New Zealand Academy of Sport, it seems that money isn’t what drives the majority of sports people who represent New Zealand. Instead, maybe it is just that the public is more exposed to those sports where the “big bucks” lie. So overall, I’d say we have a national attitude to be proud of, with a lot of people in a vast array of sports willing to make sacrifices for the honour of representing our country. Do you think people choose a sport or does the sport choose the person? Surely both but I like to think that we choose our own destiny more than we wait for destiny to come and choose us. What will your involvement be at the World Championships in Wellington in March? I will be competing in individual and team events, as well as coaching members of the New Zealand junior (under 18) team. Competition wise, this will be my fifth ITF (International TaekwonDo Federation) world championships. My main divisions are under 80kg sparring in which I took silver at the previous worlds, and special technique (a series of five different jumping kicks in which competitors compete to kick boards at increasing heights until they are eliminated) in which I am ranked as the current no.1. What special preparation is there for a world championship? This campaign began almost a year ago. As with other sports, our lives tend to revolve around training. Whether it is finding the time to see the physio, fit in resistance training or plyometrics, do some sparring or pad-work or work on some of the more technical aspects, from an athlete’s point of view, at least from my perspective, this means that most other things in life tend to sit on the back-burner for a bit. What’s the difference between the two major federations of Taekwon-Do in the world? One being the ITF (International Taekwon-Do Federation), which is running its world championships in Wellington this year and the other being the WTF (World Taekwon-Do Federation), which also runs their own world championships and is included as an Olympic medal sport. While the two arts are similar in regard to the style of kicking techniques employed in competition, there are some important differences. In the WTF sparring competition, competitors wear body protectors and while they kick above the belt, including to the head, are prohibited from punching to the head. ITF competitors wear a glove, which resembles a light boxing glove, do not wear body protectors and may punch to the head as well as kick above the belt. Points are awarded similarly in both styles, with more difficult techniques such as high kicks being awarded greater points than simple kicks or punches. Personally, I appreciate both arts, and have trained and competed with people involved in both federations. However, I have focused my energy on promoting International Taekwon-Do and representing our country at ITF events, which as I mentioned earlier is the largest unified martial arts organisation in New Zealand. How can we get martial arts more support in New Zealand? Firstly, as far as International Taekwon-Do is regarded, it is heartening to see a dramatic increase in exposure of our art over the last decade, with steady and gradual increases in support from both the government and the media. Will you have to leave New Zealand to take your Taekwon-Do further? When I first began competing internationally, I think that was definitely the case but with the support we have seen the New Zealand government give ITF Taekwon-Do, we have managed to get our top competitors far more exposure to the scene overseas than was previously possible. Our “carded” athletes training out of the NZAS (New Zealand Academy of Sport) have had the opportunity to compete at major open and championship tournaments throughout Asia, Europe, North and South America in a way that allows for an optimum level of challenge throughout the year in a way which the previous generation never imagined. This previous generation paved the way for our first generation of carded (SPARC supported athletes) who have trained around the world with leading coaches and competitors, and this generation has also been supported with athletic scholarships in their studies, several of which have pursued study in fields which complement their lifestyles as sports people like myself. What’s the best advice you ever got and what do you always pass on to your students? Before my first world championships, I remember being anxious and my first martial arts instructor, Chris Dessa simply telling me, “Just don’t forget to use your loaf.” Although it didn’t seem particularly profound at the time, it’s a phrase that in retrospect holds a great deal of meaning for me. The simple reference to that often overlooked but always recognised “mental edge,” which separates the good from the truly great is something I return to when I’m looking for a way to evolve as a martial artist or help others to do the same. M2magazine.co.nz his isn’t a case of Jack of all trades, master of none – Carl Van Roon has mastered them all. This 27year-old has won multiple gold medals at previous Taekwon-Do World Championships, has an MSc in Sport and Exercise Science, a Postgraduate Diploma in Exercise Rehabilitation, and is a trained TaekwonDo instructor. Oh, and he’s a model. With all those credentials, it would be easy to be jealous of this guy if he wasn’t such a good bloke. M2 talks to Carl about being a professional athlete in New Zealand, and training for the world championships. 95 WHEELS MASERATI GRANCABRIO THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS Some of the world’s most advanced cars, brought to you by our most advanced diesel fuel, BP Ultimate Diesel. BP476_M2_Strip Maserati began life on 1 December 1914, in Bologna, GPVOEFECZUIFCSPUIFST.BTFSBUJm"MÎFSJ#JOEP Carlo, Ettore, Ernesto and Groucho. They began business with one simple goal: to build cars that won races. It was something they achieved in spades. However in its life Maserati has changed hands more times than Lady Gaga has changed costumes. >> I M2magazine.co.nz n 1937, the remaining Maserati brothers sold their shares in the company to the Adolfo Orsi family. They took the Maserati brand to a series of stunning victories on the racetracks of europe. In back-toback wins in 1939 and 1940, a Maserati 8CTF won the Indianapolis 500, the only Italian manufacturer ever to do so. They also almost built a race car for Hitler but they don’t really talk about that much. 98 Then in 1968, Maserati found themselves under the ownership of Citroën after a takeover bid. Less than seven years later, Maserati was in new hands again. In 1975, the company was taken over by Alessandro de Tomaso, an Argentinian former racing driver, who became managing director. Then in 1993, Maserati was acquired by Fiat. Four years later, Fiat Auto sold a 50 percent share in the company to Maserati’s long-time arch-rival, Ferrari. Eventually, in 1999, Ferrari took full control, making Maserati its luxury division. In all honesty, it was the best thing that could’ve happened to the brand. Maserati had been passed around like a pizza at a teenage party. All that was left was the memory and the greasy stained box of past victories. Under Ferrari, all this changed. A new factory was built, replacing the existing factory that was built in the 1940s. Ferrari breathed new life into the stalled engine of successes, after many lackluster years of Maserati teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. The “mmmm” was back in Maserati. However, the story wasn’t over yet. In 2005, Maserati were split off from Ferrari and merged with Alfa Romeo. So it’s a company that has been owned and operated by some of the best car manufacturers in Europe. That’s a toe-curling pedigree and one that not many other car companies could come close to. Through this process Maserati has created some of the most beautiful motor cars in history including – but not limited to – the 1957 Maserati 200SI at the Scarsdale Concours, the Maserati “Birdcage,” the 1959 Maserati 5000 GT Coupe, the Maserati Sebring and, naturally, the mouth-watering GranTurismo. It’s this automotive evolutionary process that has led Maserati to unveil their latest piece of automotive desirability. At the recent Geneva International Motor Show, Maserati took the wraps off the new 285 kmh version of its glamorous GranCabrio. Reading through the press release, it’s clear that this car has more specs than Maserati has had owners. Much of the tech frankly sounds a little scary. Check this out. “The naturally aspirated engine produces in this configuration 331 kW (up from 323 kW) and has 510 Nm (up from 490 Nm) at the peak of its rich, thick torque curve. Maserati’s Friction Reduction Program has made the GranCabrio Sport’s engine react more quickly to driver demands and cut fuel consumption by six percent. The top speed of the GranCabrio Sport is 285 km/h.” Frankly, a lot of that doesn’t make a great deal of sense to us. “Rich, thick torque curve” sounds like something from a pornographic film and as for a “naturally aspirated engine,” what the heck is that? A quick online search for the word aspirated gives us the following definitions: 1. An expulsion of breath in speech 2. The act of breathing in, and our favourite, 3. An object of such desire; an ambition. So it’s an engine that speaks to you, breathes and is an object of desire. I don’t think this is what the PR monkeys intended when they wrote the release but just one look at this engine and you’ll agree it’s all of these things. What’s more, when you hear this sex kitten purr you’ll be standing up and paying attention. With a sexy beast like this engine under the hood you definitely need something to keep the “aspiration” under control, so Maserati has improved the handling accordingly. The Skyhook active-suspension system has been upgraded – now with a more aggressive tuning – and they have adopted ventilated and cross drilled dual-cast brake discs for more powerful braking during sustained high-speed use. Visually, the GranCabrio Sport is distinguished by its rampant sex appeal. This begins at the GranCabrio’s unique nose with a black grille and a Trident with red accents. The headlights are now black with white edges, while front corner splitters and the redesigned side skirts are both body coloured. The GranCabrio Sport also debuts a new body colour for Maserati: Rosso Trionfale, inspired by the red Italian national colours used on 1950s racing Maseratis. In 1957, Juan Manuel Fangio won his fifth F1 World Title at the wheel of a Maserati 250F in this shade of red – because as we all know, red cars go faster. It’s been scientifically proven according to a guy we met down the pub. Okay, all this mechanical yabba dabba is a given when you purchase a car of this calibre, and you expect it to be packing some highend mechanicals. The thing that sets the new Maserati GranCabrio (specifically the GranCabrio Sport) aside is its looks. It took a lot of history to make this car and it shows. Attention to detail is what you get with a Maserati; that and a car that will turn heads and lift skirts. It’s fitting that the Maserati logo is a trident because this car – like its predecessors – is a racy little devil. NICK WARD M2magazine.co.nz WHEELS 99 REALITY BITES Here at M2, we see a lot of concept cars. They always look either jaw-droppingly sexy or jaw-droppingly mad. They turn heads and bring huge crowds to the display stands at the auto shows. They’re innovative and stylish. Design and style coming together in a great big automotive pash. WHEELS T hen something happens. On the way from the design studio to the shop floor, the cars change and instead of the wonderful promise of the concept instead, we get the bland reality of the jelly mould. Sure, they might keep a wing mirror or a fuel injections system or two but the end result more often than not is a bitter disappointment. Which was kind of how we felt when Pagani Automobili revealed their latest model – the Pagani Huayra. It was a classic concept car filled with tasty technological treats, mad, wonderful design features and style up the whazoo. We were blown away by the looks and the specs. But sadly, just another concept car. Then someone politely pointed out this isn’t a concept. This is a production car. Okay, that’s when we sat up and started paying serious attention. This is a car we can actually buy? Not to say the car didn’t already have our attention – it’s hard to miss – but now we could see, finally, a car than delivers all the promise of a concept car onto the shop floor. For a start, just look at it. The PR blah blah that the company has sent out tells us that this car was designed “through meticulous attention to detail that has resulted in a continuous and exhausting search for proportion and elegance.” But really, all you need know is this beast is sexier than Mila Kunis asking you if you’d like to have a threesome with Sofia Vergara. Yes it’s bloody beautiful, but this isn’t style over performance. The Pagani Huayra is basically a wing, able to actively change its angle of attack by changing the height of the front from the ground and operating independently of the four flaps placed at its ends. The result is that the machine changes its shape from time to time to ensure the minimum friction coefficient and the maximum downforce. It’s like a super model with a heavyweight title. Now let’s have a look under the hood. The Pagani Huayra is powered by a 6.0-litre (5980 cc) Mercedes – AMG V12 Bi-turbo M158 engine developing more than 700 hp and 1000Nm of torque. The exact output figures of the Pagani Huayra have not been announced yet. WHEELS The engine of Pagani Huayra sends it power to the rear wheels via a seven-speed sequential cross. It also has an AMT robotic transmission system with driving programs. Robots help you drive, how cool is that? Just like R2D2 in the X-wing. M2magazine.co.nz State-of-the-art vroom vroom. This means the Pagani Huayra can reach a top speed of 370 kilometres per hour and generate as much as 1.5G of lateral force during cornering. The estimated 0-100 km/h, acceleration time of Pagani Huayra is estimated to be around the 3.3 second mark. 102 This car isn’t just something that will sit in your driveway and look sexy. The way it’s been designed will endure some of the most extreme conditions in the world. The turbines are designed to offer an immediate response to the minimum stress of the butterfly, giving the driver complete control over the power at any speed and preventing unwanted delays in disbursement. The two radiators on the sides of the mouth anterior ensure the best cooling efficiency of the intercooler located above the cylinder head. This cooling system is designed to operate in adverse conditions of Death Valley with temperatures above 50 °C. That’s right – you can drive this car in Death Valley! As you can see we’re all a bit gushy and fan-boy over this car but it’s so rare that we see something so wonderfully mad that is actually available to buy. So let’s talk about price, shall we? Well, the Pagany Huayra price list hasn’t been announced, but chances are you won’t get much change out of $1.8 million. So chances are – unless you have a very big piggy bank – you might not be buying one just yet. However, for us that’s not really the point. The point is we live in a world where magnificent creations such as the Pagany Huayra exist. Some people cry when they see a beautiful sunset but we believe to truly know the beauty of the world is to watch a you-tube clip of this car revving up in a garage. Pagani Automobili, we tip our hats to you, you mad, wonderful bastards. NICK WARD Tomorrow’s diesel cars haven’t yet been created. But we’re thinking about the fuel they’ll run on. Introducing new BP Ultimate Diesel. It’s our most advanced diesel fuel yet. GADGETS 1 THE SECOND COMING Apple have released the game-changing (like we haven’t heard that phrase been chucked around a lot lately) next generation iPad. Is it really? Well, it’s thinner, faster, has two cameras, will retail around the same price as the original model and it’s lighter. What more do you want? Fine, it also comes in white. Satisfied now? Maybe the battery life could’ve been improved and it would been nice to have a larger screen with corresponding large-scale retina display. But the silly button problem that locked orientation, that’s been fixed and “2” has an HDMI-Out, which means you can hook it up to your television for better presentations or just enjoying that dodgy movie you have. Oh yeah, it also comes with a cool smart cover that attaches magnetically to its side... in a range of colours no less. You can’t forget that this tablet device hasn’t even been in the marketplace for a year yet. The first ever iPad was sold in April 2010. So to have this category defining product introduce a next generation redesigned model within such a short period of time is significant. Obviously, the great masterplan of Apple was to capitalise on the momentum of their global gizmo, that, and growing feedback regarding a few shortcomings in the original device, like a camera. However, the company still deflects its competition. The question is, for how much longer? Since other technology companies have surged forward in capturing a slice of the lucrative tablet market. Regardless of the great “create the next-big-thing race” the iPad deserves its multi technology awards and iPad 2 is strongly deserving of the mantle of “game-changing” consumer gadget. apple.com SIGHT AND SOUND As style defining as the iPod, iPhone and iPad have been, third party docks have seldom stacked up in terms of their looks and their sound for that matter. That was until now however, with Bang & Olufsen’s first entry into speaker docks, the BeoSound 8. And what an entry it is. As well as being very good at the technical side of things, Bang & Olufsen make some jaw-droppingly beautiful products and this puppy is no exception. Everything might be all 3D these days but the BeoSound 8 pays homage to two dimensions with flat faced and rear coned shaped speakers which makes the unit seem as though it is hovering when attached to a wall. The BeoSound 8 can take iPod, iPhone, iPad, AUX line-in USB and it can also be networked using the Apple Airport Express. And in keeping with the unit’s consideration of aesthetics, it comes available with the choice of black or white speaker covers and the option to buy additional speaker covers in a range of other colours if you feel the desire to colour coordinate. And of course for the most important point, the sound: quite simply, it sounds as good as it looks. Sound definition and frequency response is very good, especially for something of this size. A very impressive package. RRP $1,925 bang-olufsen.com SPECIAL M2 MAGAZINE OFFER NEVER MISS AN ISSUE OF M2 MAGAZINE Delivered direct to you in print & on your Android-enabled smartphone, every month for 1 year for only $79.95! THE COMPLETE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE FOR THE NEW ZEALAND MAN SAVE 55%! THE COMPLETE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE FOR THE NEW ZEALAND MAN HAVE YOU GOT THE LIFE YOU WANT YET? THE SECRET EQUATION TO LEADERSHIP 12 THE SECRET EQUATION TO LEADERSHIP METABOLISM BOOSTERS 12 HOW TO FREE YOUR CAREER ESCAPE TO THE GREAT WALL $10.95 Apr 2011 ISSUE M2.71 9 771176 JAMES FRANCO: A 10-YEAR OVERNIGHT SUCCESS ESCAPE TO THE GREAT WALL $10.95 Apr 2011 ISSUE M2.71 9 771176 166012 166012 SIMPLY SUBSCRIBE, RENEW, TOP UP OR GIFT M2 Get 12 monthly issues of M2 Magazine (RRP $131.40) in print & 12 monthly issues of M2 Magazine on your Android-enabled smartphone (RRP $47.40) All for only $79.95 (Save $98.85!) Hurry – offer only valid till 17 April 2011! NEVER MISS AN ISSUE – FREE POSTAGE DIRECT TO YOUR DOOR – VISIT: M2MAGAZINE.CO.NZ FOR MORE GREAT OFFERS SUBSCRIBE NOW AT: M2magazine.co.nz Telephone: Julia on 09 361 55 40 or E-mail: [email protected] *Shown on this page is the slick white Ideos X5 Android Smartphone from 2degrees. GADGETS LIGHT WEIGHT Casio’s new XJA245 Data Projector packs a lot of punch for size: 2,500 Ansi Lumens – WXGA, USB and Wireless all within an A4 sized body weighing only 2.3kg. This amazing Tardis-like capability means that it slips neatly into a briefcase and travels with you easily to presentations. Casio has applied its clever new Laser & LED Hybrid Light Source to achieve a mercury-free high-brightness projector which allows for a long light source of around 20,000 hours. This will get you through the entire season of Lost more than a few times. The longer life of this technology compared to conventional projectors employing mercury lamps means that you save money and the time and effort involved in exchanging lamps, while still maintaining clear, high-quality images. This projector is evidence that big things come in small packages. RRP $2,795 casionz.co.nz 4 ALTERNATE GALAXY This has to be compared to an iPad, so here we go. Hardware-wise the Samsung Galaxy Tab is roughly half the size at seven inches, meaning it’s basically a large Samsung Galaxy S cellphone. It’s the same width as the iPad, but obviously lighter. It has two cameras, front and back (with a flash), a micro SD card slot and also a sim card slot for phone calls, which the iPad doesn’t have. Is it better than an iPad? That depends. I like the bigger size of the iPad, and the Galaxy Tab feels too small, more like a very large phone. Obviously in terms of software you’ll be using Android so you’ll be able to play Flash on the web. The more I play around with the Galaxy tab the more I wonder about the size they’ve chosen. It’s just too big to be easily portable, yet too small to use as a laptop replacement for surfing the web. The iPad is still the King, but if you like the size of the Galaxy Tab then this is a great tablet. RRP $999 cheaper on a phone plan samsung.com 5 M2magazine.co.nz WAFER THIN 106 The Samsung 9 series is the pinnacle of televisions, and the Samsung LED 9000 3D is just sexy. It’s crazy thin at 8 millimetres, yes you read right! This 55-inch piece of nirvana has a full stainless steel frame and comes with everything a television wants and needs. It has four HDMI ports, including a USB port to play various multi-media files directly from the flash drive or USB HDD. Not only does it support 3D, it’s able to convert 2D viewing into 3D in real time. I had my doubts when I was told about this but the results were actually pretty good. It also features WiFi connectivity, DLNA-compatible media streamer, Samsung Apps, Internet television and an EnergyStar rating of four. But wait there’s more. You also get a touch screen remote control that can be used as a second, mini television! Great for watching one channel and having the cricket in the small screen to keep up to date. Amazing! RRP $9,999 samsung.com 6 PLAY ME The newest smartphone to impress the gadget craving community had an enthusiastic launch at the World Congress in Barcelona at the beginning of this year and the reaction was almost choreographed. All us geeks can tend to be a little “gadget wary” with new technology launches, but since mention of the Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY was speculated, the anxiety levels of technophiles world-wide effervesced. First and foremost this is a significant smartphone. As the younger brother of the impressive Xperia X10 it has the genetic makeup of the extreme handset with all the superior benefits of Android 2.3 or Gingerbread platform. Then without skipping a heartbeat, PLAY can slide out it’s neatly housed gaming control to expose a world of mobile gaming. The game pad has a digital D pad, two analogue touch pads, two shoulder buttons and the four PlayStation icons: circle, cross, square and triangle. This almost had me salivating. Coupled with snapdragons 1 GHz CPU and embedded super sharp Adreno GPU graphics, you get super smooth play-back 3D mobile gaming and web browsing, providing you with a superior smartphone with the enviable element of immersive gaming. And when the inclination strikes, you can play any of the pre-loaded games for up to five continuous hours. This is a serious gamers-take-it-anywhere device. The bonus being it’s from the highly respected Xperia family of smartphones. That credential alone was enough to blow me away, but then add the gaming experience and you’ve got a serious game changer (pun intended). As a footnote it’s also the first PlayStation Certified device, which is no small feat to be embraced by the “Daddy” of Global Gaming. Sony Ericsson tell us it will be in the marketplace in the second quarter of this year and pricing will be announced around release time as well. sonyericsson.com CeBIT 2011 M2magazine.co.nz T 108 he largest computer expo in the world is held annually in Germany and is known to geekdom as CeBit or Centrum der Büro-und Informationstechnik. The Hanover hosted event for the “Centre of Office and Information Technology” continues to be a barometer of state-of-the-art information and technology and although this year’s was a scaled down expo, more than 4,200 companies from 70 countries still attended. It’s worth noting that after several years away, the tech-fest saw the welcome return of companies like Oracle, HP, Xerox, Canon, Epson and Siemens Enterprise Communications. As with CES, which was held at the start of the year, CeBit echoes 2011 as being the year of the tablet with some analysts predicting sales of tablet PCs smashing 50 million units this year. And so predictably CeBit served up an overdose of tablets. But as the keynote theme this year was “Work and Life With The Cloud” there was also a focus on smartphones – let’s face it, no self-respecting technology event would be without them – as well as business solutions and applications for emerging gadgetry, 3D (with and without glasses), IT security, cloud-based print technologies, intelligent networking for health and traffic applications and sustainable energy for both business and domestic environments. There is a chorus of consumer calls for greater computing power and significant memory capacity and the cloud is showing how it is able to facilitate these requests. As a super trend, entire systems are able to interact across this technology landscape from wherever you work. CeBit was able to highlight examples of cloud technology in use, covering multi devices and without noticeable issues with continuity. Wireless was also a significant part of CeBit 2011. One company was able to profile a PC that was wireless for data and power. This “induction” technology attaches an antenna underneath a working desk and a low-powered magnetic field emanating from the device is then able to continuously power it. As the magnetic field is so low there is no detectable reaction or harm to the user. Tobii was at the show this year demonstrating their “Eye Tracking” prototype for the wider market. Using your eyes to manipulate the mouse cursor of your computer had enormous potential for supermarkets to monitor what shoppers were “noticing.” They could then manipulate the eye-appeal of a product by making the packaging more attractive or by placing it in a better position on the shelves. This was a show for technology players and consumers both large and small and it was good to see a broad spectrum of ideas and applications being demonstrated. The expo is another encouraging example of the positive influence technology innovation can have on our lives and how creative application can have a more efficient influence on our goals for premium productivity. GADGETS Worldwide trekking #OMMUNITY¬0ROJECT¬ 4RAVEL ¬WORLDWIDE¬PROJECTS¬TO¬CHOOSE¬ FROM¬INCLUDING¬OUR¬AWARD¬¬ WINNING¬!RNHEM¬,AND¬-ARINE¬ 2ESCUE¬0ROJECT¬IN¬THE¬.ORTHERN¬ 4ERRITORY¬3MALL¬GROUP¬AND¬ALL¬ INCLUSIVE¬#ALL¬NOW¬FOR¬YOUR¬ &2%%¬BROCHURE¬AND¬$6$ Call for M2 reader offers 0800 350 354 worldexpeditions.com änääÊÎxäÊÎx{ ܜÀ`iÝ«i`ˆÌˆœ�ðVœ“ 1. Tango DEVELOPER: TANGO Tango is the top app on the market for free, high-quality mobile voice and video calls over 3G and Wi-Fi. You can call between Android and iOS devices over 3G, 4G, and Wi-Fi, and it’s easy to use – set up is instant, it takes your contact list directly from your phone, and you can easily switch between audio and video during a single call. Price: Free 2. Handcent DEVELOPER: HANDCENT_ADMIN There are plenty of messaging apps available but this one has to be one of the best – Handcent is a fully customisable message app, with hundreds of themes available, a built in spell checker, a built in blacklist to block unwanted messages, security lock options, and customisable notifications for different friends. Price: Free 3. Rdio DEVELOPER: RDIO On Rdio you can follow your friends and other people with great musical taste, find new music to listen to, and make your own playlists from the 8 million songs available. You can search and find any song, album or artist, and start listening immediately, or sync songs, albums and playlists to your phone and listen when you’re offline. Price: TBC 4. Alchemy DEVELOPER: ANDREY “ZED” ZAIKIN In this puzzle game, you have only four basic elements: Fire, Water, Earth and Air. Combine them and their products to get more than 360 new elements. For example, combining “air” and “fire” creates “energy,” combining “water” and “earth” makes “swamp,” while “energy” and “swamp” makes “life.” You can create anything from vampires, to beer. A highly addictive game. Price: Free. Premium Version $6.74 5. PewPew DEVELOPER: JEAN-FRANCOIS GEYELIN The name “PewPew” pretty much sums this one up. Going back to the good old days of gaming, there’s no story here, just you, your enemies, and your ammunition. With retro graphics and a high frame rate, this one is for serious gamers. Price: Free GADGETS 6. Graphic.ly comics DEVELOPER: GRAPHIC.LY Browsing through a comic is the best way to pass the time when you’re at a loose end, and now you can do it on your smartphone. With Grahpic.ly you can browse, buy and read your favourite books from Marvel, Archie, IDW, and more than 150 other comics, as well as discuss them with other readers. Price: Free 7. CamCard DEVELOPER: INTSIG INFORMATION CO., LTD This app is an essential for any tech-savy businessman. CamCard business card reader captures business card images with your smartphone camera, and converts the content into a contact, saving it into your phone address book. This is a really clever app that saves a lot of time and trouble. Price: $14.99 8. Bump DEVELOPER: BUMP TECHNOLOGIES INC. This app is more than just a novelty – you literally bump two phones together, and you can share photos, contacts, apps and music. All you need is the bump app on both phones, bump, then confirm the exchange, and you’re away. Price: Free 9. Gmote 2.0 DEVELOPER: MARC STOGAITIS & MIMI SUN Two of a man’s most prized possessions are his smartphone and his remote – and now you can combine the two. Gmote 2.0 turns your phone into a remote control for your computer, allowing you to start and control movies and music at a distance. This also comes in handy for controlling powerpoint and image slideshows, and streaming music from your computer to your phone. Price: Free 10. NZRoadInfo DEVELOPER: KASEUS LTD Any Aucklander knows what a nightmare traffic can be like at 5:30, but now NZRoadInfo takes New Zealand traffic cam images from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Tauranga, so you can check the traffic status for yourself. Or you could just kick off half an hour early to avoid the rush… Price: Free THE TOP 10 ANDROID APPS ARE BROUGHT TO YOU BY HEALTH TECH THE LOW DOWN ON BACK PAIN Lower back pain is said to be the most prevalent and most expensive to manage musculoskeletal condition in our society today. The latest ACC New Zealand statistics have shown that about 25 percent of work injuries are related to back pain conditions and that a whopping $130 million has been spent on treating them. Joyce Ramos, a trainer at Concept 10 10, discusses how some prescribed cures can actually make the problem worse, and how Concept 10 10 may be a better solution. M ost people who suffer from lower back pain cannot be given a specific diagnosis and are said to be suffering from idiopathic lower back pain or non-specific lower back pain. This arises from ageing and is affected by occupation, genetics, and personal behaviour. The degeneration of the inter-vertebral disc and muscle atrophy are the two most recognised causes of lower back pain. M2magazine.co.nz The inter-vertebral discs contain a gel-like substance to resist compression and absorb shock caused by everyday movement. However, the scary thing is that at 11 to 16 years, the inter-vertebral disc starts to degenerate, reducing their ability to absorb shock. So if excessive loading on a degenerated disc is applied, damage can occur, resulting in lower back pain. 112 Unfortunately, our abdominal and back muscles lose strength as we age. So often, exercises will be prescribed to activate particular muscles to develop and maintain the strength to stabilise the lower back and reduce pain. However, there is a concern over different styles of abdominal exercises currently practiced. Studies have shown that abdominal exercises such as longlaying, hooklaying, and bench curl ups, which are all performed while lying on the ground and involve the flexing of hips and knees in different positions, result in an increased load placed on the lumbar spine, worsening back pain. Also, most lower back exercises practiced in different fitness facilities today, such as trunk lifts and leg lifts, which are either done on a bench or a Swiss ball, are usually found by most people to be too difficult. These types of exercises don’t allow people to isolate lower back muscles, as the exercise position allows the buttocks and thigh muscles to contribute to the movement. Concept 10 10 has now brought the solution to New Zealand as part of a full body fitness regime. The revolutionary MedX equipment and the specialised training methods used by Concept 10 10 have been developed over 25 years of medical research. The lower back and abdominal machines are designed to have you in a sitting position more appropriate and comfortable for most people, especially the elderly. The lower back machine prevents the activation and movement of the thighs, and lower leg muscles, allowing the targeted muscles to be activated. This allows a greater increase in strength of the lower back muscle to stabilise the lumbar spine. The abdominal machine is designed to allow a short range of motion to prevent the hip flexors from activating, enhancing the isolation of the abdominal muscles. The machines are designed to allow slow flexion and extension movements of the trunk, enabling a greater force to be exerted by the targeted muscles and also decreasing the chance of the lumbar vertebrae from jarring, which prevents the inter-vertebral disc from wear and tear. The result – a stronger, more supported back. JOYCE RAMOS Concept 10 10 is located at 9 Morgan st, Newmarket, Auckland. concept1010.co.nz Outsmart viruses, hackers and other internet threats ESET NOD32 Smart Security 4 The world’s best internet security software,but don’t take our word for it. Leading independent tester AV-Comparatives.org rated ESET “best proactive on-demand detection”. Industry gurus Virus Bulletin have awarded ESET products more VB100 Awards [for 100% detection without false positives] than any other product. Customers like that. Low system overhead and fast scanning also make them happy. BEST PROTECTION BEST LOCAL SUPPORT FAST AND VERY EASY TO USE Can’t argue with that. To find out more visit www.eset.co.nz, talk to your computer supplier, or call NZ distributor Chillisoft on 09 309 3281. TRIVIA STRANGE FACTS In some countries, the amount of your speeding ticket is based on how much money you make. In Finland, a man who had an annual income of $7 million was issued a speeding ticket for $116,000. Scientists began experimenting with micro “waves” at the end of WWII using “magnetrons.” Percy Spencer happened to stroll through with a chocolate bar in his pocket and noticed that it had melted. He thought he might be able to use the magnetron to cook food, which lead to the “Microwave” oven. 18 percent of adults are afraid to ride in a car with their VLJQLÀFDQWRWKHUV Saturday mail delivery in Canada was eliminated on 1 February 1969. Great grandmother Lillian Lowe has laid claim that she is the world’s oldest Facebook user. Lowe turned 103 last year – and she updates her status from…her iPad. In ancient England, a person could not have sex unless they had consent from the King. When anyone wanted to have a baby, they got consent from the King, and he would give them a placard, which they hung on their door while they were “in action.” The placard read, “Fornication Under Consent (of the) King.” For some beer commercials, they add liquid detergent to the beer to make it foam more. Over 2,500 left-handed people a year are killed from using products made for right-handed people. The word “left” in Latin means “sinister” and “right” is “dexter.” Therefore, ambidextrous simply means “both right.” $145 million is made from mobile services daily. It takes about 48 hours for your body to completely digest the food from one meal. 25 percent of women think money makes a man sexier. The Sun produces so much energy, that every second the core releases the equivalent of 100 billion nuclear bombs. The most famous decorated Easter eggs were made by the well-known goldsmith, Peter Carl Fabergé. In 1883, the Russian Czar, Alexander, commissioned Fabergé to make a special Easter gift for his wife, the Empress Marie. It had an outside shell of platinum and enameled white, which opened to reveal a smaller gold egg. This opened to display a golden chicken and a jewelled replica of the Imperial crown. Only 57 “Fabergé” eggs were made. Two-thirds of the people in the world have never made a phone call. The dot over the letter “i” is called a tittle. You could theoretically lose weight eating celery since it takes more calories to digest celery than are contained in the vegetable. The human brain is much more active at night than during the day. The first tie was worn in Croatia. The most expensive wedding in the world was held in Dubai, and cost around NZ $48 million.
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