Photo: RNZ
A Christmas jigsaw miracle, a course turning surfers into lifesavers and a landmark book reframing Māori art are among this week's feel-good stories from RNZ.
The course that's turning surfers into lifesavers
Photo: Surfing New Zealand
While volunteer and paid lifeguards regularly patrol at only a small percentage of beaches, surfers are hitting the waves across the motu. As a result, they rescue countless swimmers, fishers and fellow surfers. Surfing NZ has started offering a two-hour course for surfers - teaching basic CPR and first-aid, and how to bring in conscious or unconscious people on a surfboard. So far about 600 surfers have completed the course and it can be completed by surfers as young as 10.
Kiwi claims victory at Scrabble tournament - despite not speaking Spanish
Nigel Richards competes in a category of the Francophone Scrabble World Championships in 2015. Photo: AFP
Nigel Richards claimed victory at this year's Scrabble tournament in Granada, Spain, showcasing once again his ability to outperform even native speakers in their own languages. "This is an incredible humiliation," Benjamín Olaizola, who came second to Richards, said, calling his opponent a "gifted man" with "very specific capabilities". Richards bested more than 145 opponents from across the world, winning 22 consecutive matches.
A Christmas miracle in the puzzle community
The two husky puppy puzzles, one with a missing piece and one with an extra piece. Photo: supplied
Darryl Batchem bought a 500-piece puzzle of a blue-eyed baby husky next to some purple flowers from retailer Mighty Ape. He got it to practice piecing together fur, a notoriously challenging texture. However, once completed, he noticed an extra piece. He was going to chuck it out, but then posted on the New Zealand Jigsaw Enthusiasts Facebook group. Toni Edwards chuckled to herself when she saw the post. She had bought the same puzzle from Mighty Ape. What if...? "I'll let you know if I'm missing a piece!" And she was! The missing piece was sent and the puzzle was completed.
James Nokise wins 2024 Topp prize
Actor and musician Maaka Pohatu with comedian James Nokise. Photo: RNZ
James Nokise hopes his Topp Prize win inspires more Pasifika to achieve their dreams. The prize, presented by the New Zealand Comedy Trust, honours individuals who "push boundaries and inspire through their work". "I'm always just hoping someone sees me doing this and goes 'I could do that' or 'I could do it better'," the Samoan/Welsh stand-up comic says. "I hope there's more Pacific representation in not just comedy, but podcasts and journalism and a little bit more fearlessness in the next generations."
Landmark book reframing Māori art
Deidre Brown and Ngarino Ellis with the book Toi Te Mana. Photo: Chris Loufte
A 600-page book that took 12 years to create is set to reframe the history of Māori art. Toi Te Mana brings together work from Māori artists and museums from around the globe, ranging from Polynesian voyaging waka to contemporary Māori art, from body adornment and carving to street art and moving image. It's packed with lively accessible breakout texts on different topics from its writers: art historians and curators. It addresses what historian Roger Blackley once called, in relation to the treatment of Māori art, "an unofficial apartheid".
Artist weaving history back into daily life
Dunedin artist Kari Morseth's Rope/Walk art project. Photo: Justin Spiers
Artist Kari Morseth's Rope/Walk community art project is centred around South Dunedin's Rope Walk Building where Morseth has so far woven 68 metres of harakeke rope by hand, with the help of many volunteers. "With a focus on many hands doing it with the idea of not only learning a skill but while you're doing it sharing stories and you know the idea of the walk is also slowing down and taking time to make things," she says. Morseth acknowledges harakeke is taonga for Māori as tangata whenua.
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