Issue 02: Autumn 2020
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The collector
Bruce Mahalski has great bone structure. Bruce Mahalski makes art from bone. A sculptor and mural artist, Bruce is probably best known for running the incredible Dunedin Museum of Natural Mystery (highlights: the mummified housecat and legendary musician Chris Knox’s painting of the 1977 line-up of his legendary band The Enemy), and for being the
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Book Review: Aspiring
by Damien Wilkins FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD RICKY LIVES IN ASPIRING, A TOWN GROWING AT AN ALARMING RATE, LIKE RICKY HIMSELF, WHO HAS HIT 6’7” AND IS GETTING TALLER BY THE DAY. IT’S THE SECOND YEAR OF THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY. CLIMATE CHANGE FRAMES EVERYTHING. RICKY’S INTERNAL MONOLOGUEIS GETTING LOUDER. “THE SELFIE STICK CARRIED IN ITS TIP THE MOST
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It’s a (sled) dog’s life
Sled dog racing is a thing in New Zealand, and it’s growing in paw-pularity. ACCORDING TO AMERICAN HUMOURIST LEWIS GRIZZARD, “LIFE IS LIKE A DOG SLED TEAM. IF YOU AIN’T THE LEAD DOG, THE SCENERY NEVER CHANGES.” GOOD POINT, LEWIS. ALTHOUGH I’M NOT SURE I’D WANT TO BE FRONT MUTT IN THE EVENT MOST OFTEN
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Run, rabbits, run
Nothing says “Christ rising from the grave” quite like blasting away several thousand little furballs. Nathan discovers the annual Easter ritual that is the Central Otago Bunny Hunt. DESPITE TEN YEARS OF SUNDAY SCHOOL IN THE BIBLE BELT OF THE SOUTHEAST OF THE UNITED STATES, I’VE ALWAYS FOUND EASTER CELEBRATIONS SLIGHTLY CONFUSING. THE CROSS, THE
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Canada Girl
IT’S HIS LEGS SHE NOTICES FIRST, UNDER THOSE SHORT, SHORT SHORTS. BEYOND THE LEGS, STREAKED SKINS HANG STRETCHED ON THE WIRE FENCE ON THE BOUNDARY OF HIS PROPERTY. EASY ENOUGH TO FIND IN THE END. SHE DROVE INTO TOWN, STOPPED AT THE SHOP. ASKED FOR BILL. SECOND ON THE LEFT, FOLLOW THE ROAD FOR ABOUT
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Electrifying driftwood
Walking the thin line of sanity in Papatowai at The Lost Gypsy Curios & Coffee. IT’S THE SMALL PLACES THAT HIDE THE UNEXPECTED. YOU DRIVE THROUGH AND WONDER, WHAT HAPPENS HERE? THE TRIP FROM INVERCARGILL TO PAPATOWAI TAKES ALMOST TWO HOURS, AND AS YOU HEAD THROUGH THE CATLINS TO THE SMALL COASTAL SETTLEMENT (FULL TIME
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Derby girls
Kingston-based photographer Philippa O’Brien has been capturing Aotearoa’s high rollers for her latest project. THE JAMMER SPINS. WITH A TWIST, SHE EVADES THE BLOCKERS INTENT ON KNOCKING HER OFF THE TRACK. THE CROWD GOES BALLISTIC. THESE SKATERS ARE SPEEDY AND STRONG, WILY AND UNCOMPROMISING. THEY HAVE TO BE. THEY’RE COMPETING IN A SPORT ONE ATHLETE
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Making tracks
How to get inked in the name of conservation. AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND HAS THE HIGHEST RATE OF THREATENED SPECIES ON EARTH. THANKS TO INTRODUCED PREDATORS LIKE STOATS, FERRETS, WEASELS, POSSUMS, RATS, HEDGEHOGS AND HUMANS, MORE THAN 80% OF OUR BIRDS AND REPTILES, AND MORE THAN 70% OF OUR FRESHWATER FISH, ARE ENDANGERED. PESTS KILL SOMETHING
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Hot schist
All that glitters is not gold. IT WAS GOLD THAT FIRST BROUGHT THE HOARDS TO OTAGO. PROSPECTOR GABRIEL READ FOUND SO MUCH OF IT IN THE LAWRENCE AREA IN 1861, HE SAID IT SHINED “LIKE THE STARS IN ORION ON A DARK FROSTY NIGHT”. WORD GOT OUT AND, BY CHRISTMAS OF THAT YEAR, 14,000 HOPEFULS