Category Archives: Nature

The King & THE NOMAD Groove Karamea

Daimon “THE NOMAD” Schwalger successfully organized a musical event in Karamea, despite numerous challenges. Featuring King Kapisi and other artists, the sell-out show united local supporters and visitors. The event culminated in a vibrant celebration, highlighting Daimon’s dedication to the community and the region’s musical talent. Plans for a 2026 event are underway. Continue reading

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Posted in Art, Artist, Business, Community, Community-Led Development, Culture, DJ Crap, Entertainment, Karamea, Media, Music, Musicians, Nature, New Zealand, Paul Murray, Photography, Social Commentary, Uncategorized, West Coast | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

2024 KaraWearable Show Delights All-Concerned

Off The Top of My Head By Paul Murray On the evening of June 1, 2024, the Karamea Pulse Energy Centre came alive with creative ferment, glamour and style. The second KaraWearable Arts Show by the Karamea Pop-Up Gallery team … Continue reading

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Posted in Art, Buller District Council, Community-Led Development, Education, Entertainment, Environment, Fashion, Karamea, Nature, New Zealand, Paul Murray, Photography, Sustainability, Sustainablity, Uncategorized, Wearable Art, West Coast | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Settlement: Battle for the Bluff by Bruce Cole

Off the Top of My Head Book Review By Paul Murray Imagine a dystopian scenario in which all the systems and services of contemporary life, the comforts and conveniences we currently take for granted, no longer exist. Good people are … Continue reading

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Posted in Art, Book Review, Community, Crime, DIY, Entertainment, Environment, Hilarious, Hilarous, Historical, Humor, Humour, Kahurangi National Park, Karamea, Little Wanganui, Nature, New Zealand, Paul Murray, Peace, Photography, Politics, Power, Property, Real Estate, Seddonville, Social Commentary, South Island, Sustainability, Sustainablity, Tragedy, Uncategorized, War, West Coast | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Agent Sells “Unsaleable,” “Munted” House

Creative property blurb attracts unprecedented media attention for dilapidated Seddonville house Munted: This 120-year-old house is in an excellent location on a rise, surrounded by hills and forest and with a stunning view of a waterfall. The garage, sheds and … Continue reading

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Posted in Advertising, Architecture, Buller District Council, Coal, Community, DIY, Economics, Entertainment, Hilarious, Hilarous, Historical, Humor, Humour, Media, Money, Nature, New Zealand, Parody, Paul Murray, Photography, Product review, Property, Property Brokers, Quotes, Real Estate, Satire, Seddonville, Social Commentary, Social Equity, South Island, Uncategorized, Weird, West Coast | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How Tourism Sustains Life in Karamea  

Off the Top of My Head  By Paul Murray  The idyllic rural community of Karamea in the Buller District at the the top of the West Coast, is possibly the most remote on Mainland New Zealand in terms of its … Continue reading

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Posted in 107.5 FM, Art, Artist, Arwen Dyer, Community, Community-Led Development, Conservation, DOC, Economics, Education, Environment, Environmentally Responsible Business, Food, Heaphy Track, Kahurangi National Park, Karamea, Karamea Radio, Karamea Radio 107.5 FM, Mining, Money, Nature, New Zealand, Oparara, Oparara Basin, Oparara Valley Track, Paul Murray, Photography, Radio Karamea, Real Estate, Restaurant, Social Commentary, Social Equity, South Island, Sustainability, Sustainablity, Tourism, Travel, West Coast | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

West Coast Wearable Art Show WOWs All Comers

Karamea’s Creative Couture Transcends All Expectations   Off the Top of My Head   By Paul Murray   WOW! The World of Wearable Art came to the small rural community of Karamea at the top of the West Coast of the South Island … Continue reading

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Posted in Art, Artist, Buller District Council, Community, Community-Led Development, Culture, Education, Entertainment, Environment, Funny, Karamea, LivinginPeace Project, Nature, New Zealand, Paul Murray, Photography, Property Brokers, Tourism, Travel, Uncategorized, West Coast | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

In for a Penny, Out with a Pounding

Off the Top of My Head  Book Review: “The Last Front Line: Building the Paparoa Great Walk” by Brendan O’Dwyer  By Paul Murray  It’s a long way from Tipperary to the wilds of the Paparoa National Park on the West Coast of the South Island … Continue reading

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Posted in Adventure, Book Review, Brendan O'Dwyer, DOC, Environment, Historical, Karamea, Mining, Mountain Biking, MTB, Nature, New Zealand, Paparoa, Paul Murray, South Island, Tourism, Tramping, Travel, West Coast | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Artists Plan New “ArtofNature” Exhibition for Tokyo

Off the Top of my Head By Paul Murray This photograph really started something. It was taken on the Heaphy Track in the Kahurangi National Park at the top of the South Island of New Zealand in 2005. I’ve always … Continue reading

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Posted in Art, Artist, Artist-in-residency programme, Belgium, Heaphy Track, Japan, Kahurangi National Park, Karamea, LivinginPeace Project, Nature, New Zealand, Paul Murray, Photography, Resident artist, South Island, Uncategorized, West Coast | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Business Opportunity Knocks in Paradise

Off the Top of My Head By Paul Murray  In the Spring of 2006, German traveller Lena Fischbach happened across a remote Marlborough Sounds lodge, met Kiwi journeyman Mike MacMillan and ended up with two kids living in Karamea at the … Continue reading

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Posted in Business, Children, Community, Economics, Environment, Heaphy Track, Kahurangi National Park, Karamea, Marriage, Money, Mountain Biking, Nature, New Zealand, Oparara Basin, Oparara Valley Track, Paul Murray, South Island, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Karamea Community Hui Draws BIG Crowd

Off the Top of My Head By Paul Murray Seventy-five positive people from all walks of Karamea and Little Wanganui life spent a sunny Saturday afternoon at the Last Resort on August 12 learning more about the Community-Led Development Programme … Continue reading

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Posted in Community, Community-Led Development, Economics, Environment, Kahurangi National Park, Karamea, Karamea Estuary Enhancement Project, Mountain Biking, MTB, Nature, New Zealand, Oparara, Oparara Basin, Oparara Valley Track, Paul Murray, Permaculture, Politics, Social Commentary, Social Enterprise, Social Equity, Sustainability, Uncategorized, West Coast | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment