Friday, August 13, 2010

Nominate your Local Hero

Nominations are being sought from around the country for ‘Local Heroes’ as part of the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards 2011. Kiwibank Local Heroes Awards recognise those everyday people doing extraordinary things in their local communities. These awards celebrate the enormous contribution, sacrifice and commitment of those Kiwis who selflessly work to make their local communities a better place.

Local Heroes may be involved in business, leadership, voluntary work, community and environmental groups, education, sporting clubs, working with the disadvantaged or have displayed courage in overcoming a personal difficulty. Whatever their field of endeavours we need to recognise these unsung heroes and say thank you for their inspiration and contribution.

The Local Heroes Awards celebrate one national winner at a Gala Awards Presentation dinner in Auckland on the 2nd February 2011. Principal sponsor Kiwibank will provide the national winner with $5,000 and a handcrafted, New Zealand-made trophy.

These awards will also recognise Local Heroes at a regional level by awarding up to 250 Local Heroes medals in 25 regions across New Zealand. These will be presented at a special ceremony in each of the 25 regions during March 2011. All nominees will receive a certificate of achievement or encouragement in recognition of their contribution.

New Zealander of the Year Awards Manager Grant McCabe is encouraging all New Zealanders to nominate someone from their community for this prestigious award.
“There are so many unsung heroes all around New Zealand whose charity, selflessness and contributions are making a profound effect on their communities. A nomination in the Local Heroes Awards is a great way to show appreciation and say thank you to those people who make our local communities a better place to live” says McCabe.

Nomination forms are available online at www.nzawards.org.nz or Kiwibank, Countdown and Mitre 10 stores.

For information or assistance in submitting a nomination Text: ‘nominate’ to 244 or call toll free: 0508 692 927.


Bookmark and Share

Thursday, August 12, 2010

National competition to jumpstart jazz careers

The ASB Queenstown JazzFest is inviting talented young musicians from around New Zealand to enter the 2010 ‘JumpStart’ Jazz Competition, to be held in October as part of the ASB Queenstown JazzFest.

The Jumpstart competition will be held on October 23 and 24 as part of Queenstown’s major springtime event, the ASB Queenstown JazzFest. The Youth Competition (12-17years) and NZONE Emerging Talent Competition (18-25 years) aim to give exposure to young musicians and help ‘jump start’ their careers.

Event Manager Simon Green says the competition welcomes any entries demonstrating an understanding of the key elements of jazz, and offers contestants a fantastic opportunity to perform on an international stage.

“It’s a wide genre and we’re looking for individuals or bands that stand apart from the crowd with unique and creative sounds,” he says. “An entry must be based on a jazz standard, and contestants are to perform their own interpretation of the piece. In previous years we’ve been enthralled and delighted by the breadth of young talent that’s out there just waiting to be discovered.”

The Youth Competition invites anyone aged between 12 and 17 to take part in an open competition, to be held on Saturday 23rd October at Queenstown’s Village Green. Categories include most outstanding) solo vocalist, solo instrumental and best band combo, with the band section (3-5 piece combo’s only) open to all High School students regardless of age. Entrants have until 5pm Friday October 15 to register online at www.asbjazzfest.co.nz. The winning soloist and solo instrumental will receive $500 cash, runners up $250, and the top band $750.

For the NZONE Emerging Talent Competition, open to professionals and amateurs aged from 18 to 25, up to 12 finalists will be selected from an initial audition round via DVD or web upload submissions. The finalists will compete in a live performance in front of a judging panel and audience at Queenstown Village Green on Sunday October 24. Categories include most outstanding solo vocalist and solo instrumental. Entries must be submitted by 5pm on Friday October 1.

The Emerging Talent winner will receive $750 cash, runner up $350, and the top three placegetters will all receive an NZONE skydive.

Finalists in both categories will be given free entry to a workshop of their choice from the Festival Development Programme, to be held over Labour weekend.

Mr Green said the competitions were being held during peak festival time to enable contestants to soak up the jazz music and atmosphere and take part in workshops.

For all enquiries and registrations go to www.asbjazzfest.co.nz for details.

The ASB Queenstown JazzFest is Queenstown’s major springtime event. It brings music to the masses in a 5-day live music celebration from 21 to 25 October, showcasing a breadth of jazz styles from around New Zealand and the world.

The 32nd annual jazz festival has a sensational line-up of more than 50 bands and 200 Kiwi and international performers.

Event details:
JumpStart Jazz Competition

Youth Competition
Date: Saturday 23rd October
Time: Heats: 10am-1pm
Time: Finals: 3pm
Venue: Queenstown Village Green
Cost: FREE

NZONE Emerging Talent Competition
Date: Sunday 24th October
Time: Finals: 3pm
Venue: Queenstown Village Green
Cost: FREE





Bookmark and Share

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Nominations Open to Find Extraordinary New Zealanders

Rt Hon Jim Bolger and New Zealander of the Year 2010, Ray Avery, will launch nominations for the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards 2011 at an event on Tuesday 3 August at Te Papa. Awarded for outstanding service, achievement and contribution to the nation, the awards celebrate excellence in New Zealand.

Recognising people from all walks of life, the awards seek out and honour exceptional individuals, organisations and community groups who inspire through their hard work and achievement.

All New Zealanders are encouraged to nominate a fellow Kiwi whose contribution to society makes them feel proud and deserving of recognition. Nominations are open from Tuesday 3rd August until Friday 22 October 2010 and judging will take place in December. The winners and runners up in each category will be honoured at a gala awards dinner on Wednesday 2 February 2011.

Any citizen over the age of 15 can be nominated in one or more of the five award categories:

Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year
Honouring the inspirational achievements of a remarkable person

Countdown Senior New Zealander of the Year
Recognising over 60s making a positive contribution to the nation

Coca-Cola Amatil Young New Zealander of the Year
Role models aged between 15 and 30 who are inspiring young New Zealanders

Mitre 10 Community of the Year
Acknowledging groups and organisations working together to build better communities

Kiwibank Local Heroes
Rewarding everyday people doing extraordinary things in their communities. Up to 250 Kiwibank local Hero medals will be awarded in up to 25 regions across the country. One national winner will be celebrated at the gala awards dinner.

“Ideal candidates are inspirational New Zealanders who are stepping up, making the most of what they have to offer, helping others and seeking new ways of making society better,” explains Awards Patron, Kiwibank Chairman and former Prime Minister Jim Bolger.

“I am amazed by the overwhelming contribution made by people of all ages to their communities, New Zealand and the world at large. These awards give us a platform to recognise, celebrate and encourage those Kiwis making a difference in our communities.”

Principal sponsor Kiwibank is pleased to provide each category winner with $5,000 towards their work and a handcrafted, New Zealand-made trophy. All nominees will receive a certificate of achievement or encouragement in recognition of their contribution.

Nomination forms are available online at www.nzawards.org.nz or Kiwibank, Countdown and Mitre 10 stores.

For information or assistance in submitting a nomination:

Text: ‘nominate’ to 244
Call toll free: 0508 692 927
Email: info@nzwards.org.nz
Post: New Zealander of the Year Awards, PO Box 7443, Market Road, Auckland 1543

Last year’s overall winner, Ray Avery, 63, is a former street kid turned scientist whose low cost, sustainable medical devices - invented in the garage of his Mount Eden home - are making a difference to millions of the world’s most vulnerable and poor.

Also honoured at last year’s event were:

Sir Eion Edgar of Otago, named Senior New Zealander of the Year for his lifetime of philanthropic service.

Divya Dhar, 24 of Manukau, named Young New Zealander of the Year for campaigning against global poverty and climate change.

Haami (Sam) Tutu Chapman of Manukau, given the Local Heroes Award for his extraordinary work with gangs and communities at risk.

Victory Village in Nelson, given the Community of the Year Award for creating strong support services for happy and successful communities.

www.nzawards.org.nz



Bookmark and Share

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

2010 Tax Code

The only thing that the Government has not taxed yet is the male penis.

This is due to the fact that 69% of the time it is hanging around unemployed, 10% of the time it is hard up, 20% of the time it is pissed off and 1% of the time it is in a hole.

On top of that, it has two dependants and they are both nuts!

HOWEVER: effective January 1st, 2010, the penis will now be taxed according to size:
The brackets are as follows:

5 - 10 cm. Nuisance Tax 20.00
10 - 20 cm. Privilege Tax 100.00
20 - 25 cm Pole Tax 200.00
25 - 30 cm Luxury Tax 300.00
Males exceeding 30 cm must file capital gains.

Those under 5 cm are eligible for a tax refund.
PLEASE DO NOT ASK FOR AN EXTENSION...



Bookmark and Share