September 2007

The Archives

Happenings, Sam, Writing
Are you a “young and hungry” playwright?
21.09.07 | Permalink | Comment?

Are you aged between 15 and 25? Do you like to write plays? The Young and Hungry Playwrights’ Initiative 2007 is under way!

The Young and Hungry Arts Trust wants you to submit an idea for a play based on the theme FLIGHT. Your play will need to have special appeal to youth aged 15-25, a minimum of six characters and a running to of no longer than 60 mins. If your submission is a flier (pardon the pun) it may end up commissioned for the Young and Hungry New Works Festival 2009. Visit www.youngandhungry.org.nz for more info.
Books, Competition, Simon, Writing
Write and win
18.09.07 | Permalink | Comment?

Re-Draft is a book published annually by the School for Young Writers, containing the best submissions from teens throughout New Zealand. The latest edition, Tennis With Raw Eggs, is now available from the library. The 2007 Re-Draft entry form is available from the book or the central library; more information about what is expected from writers is available at their website here.

A competition of interest to young writers (years seven and eight) from the Wellington region is the Jack Lasenby Award. Write a story and win a set of books from Longacre Press and $200! Entry forms are available at your local library, or download it yourself here (pdf file).
Happenings, Sam
Hurray! The holidays are almost here!
12.09.07 | Permalink | Comment?
Many of you will have been slaving over your mock exams over the past week or two. The good news is that the end is in sight, and you’ll have a couple of weeks to get your breath back before plunging into the last term.

But how to fill those two blissful, school-free weeks?

Well aside from playing XBox all day you could always try something like:
- Free Hip Hop Dance Classes. These are being held at Pump Dance Studios, 22 Webb Street. For more information, ring 472 0703 or visit www.pumpdance.com.
- Going to ‘A Hiphop Legacy’. This show at the Bats theatre is presented by Legacy, Wellington’s very own international Hip Hop dance crew. Cost $10. Visit www.bats.co.nz for more information.
- Robotics for Robocup. Use Fischertechnik building sets and your programming skills to build the ultimate robot. The workshops (for 14 yrs and younger) are being held at Capital E , 24-26 September. Cost $20 per person.
- Watching the Australian Youth band playing at Te Papa. With members’ ages ranging from 13 to 25, this marching-concert band has impressed audiences around the world with its unique choreographed performances. Thursday 27, 11.30am–12.10pm & 12.30pm–1.10pm. Free entry.
OR, you could just ‘Push Play’ and enjoy excercising in that spring weather.
Books, Classic novels, Sci Fi, Simon
“It was a dark and stormy night …”
08.09.07 | Permalink | Comment?

Madeleine L’Engle wrote many books for children and teens. A Wrinkle in Time (library copy) is perhaps her most famous book; it won many awards, including the Newbery medal, and is 22nd on the list of Most Frequently Challenged Books. It is a very, very good book, and although it came out a long time ago, it and its sequels are well worth reading. Many of L’Engle’s other books are still popular with readers, of all ages.

L’Engle died on Thursday at the age of 88.
Internet, Simon, Study
All the news fit to print
04.09.07 | Permalink | Comment?

The Times Digital Archive (scroll to the bottom of the page) has all news articles printed between 1785 and 1985 scanned and is fully searchable. Obviously it’s going to be useful as a study resource – if you’re looking at early New Zealand history, for example – but it’s also worth seeing what else you can find. ’Jack the Ripper’, ‘ Titanic sunk’, ‘Neil Armstrong’, ‘New Zealand earthquake’, ’Oscar Wilde libel’ …
Prudence, Youth Politics
How to win friends and influence people
03.09.07 | Permalink | Comment?

The Wellington City Council is looking for interested young people between 12 and 24 to join the Youth Council. This is an advisory group to the WCC who meet regularly and work across and with the many works areas of the Council. The closing date for applications is 5pm on 12th September 2007.

There’s a flyer on the Wellington Youth Network wiki and there is also an application form on the same page. Please contact Bessie Fepulea’I (04 801 3178) or Mark Farrar (04 803 8525) at Wellington City Council for information, or if you want a hard copy of the application form or flyers mailed to you.