Category Archives: New Zealand

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

“Virtual Symposium” Wows West Coast Theatregoers  

Off the Top of My Head   By Paul Murray   The stage production “Virtual Symposium,” which was written, directed, produced and performed by local playwright Brendan O’Dwyer, co-director Sacha Healey and a troupe of actors from Karamea closed on Saturday February … Continue reading

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Posted in Art, Artist, Brendan O'Dwyer, Business, Community, Community-Led Development, Department of Conservation, DOC, Economics, Education, Electricity, Entertainment, Funny, Hilarious, Hilarous, Humor, Humour, Karamea, Karamea Radio, Karamea Radio 107.5 FM, Media, Money, Music, New Zealand, Paul Murray, Photography, Product review, Property Brokers, Radio Karamea, Social Commentary, South Island, Theatre, Uncategorized, West Coast | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Kudos for the Karamea Summer Holiday Programme     

Off the Top of My Head      By Paul Murray      With financial support from the Community Led-Development Programme (CLDP), local volunteers have provided Karamea kids with a wonderful schedule of exciting, intellectually stimulating and practical activities this summer. From cooking, Stand … Continue reading

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Posted in Artist, Children, Community, Community-Led Development, Education, Entertainment, Environment, Fitness, Health, Heaphy Track, Kahurangi National Park, Karamea, Karamea Radio, Mountain Biking, Music, New Zealand, Oparara, Oparara Basin, Oparara Valley Track, Parenting, Paul Murray, Social Commentary, South Island, Sustainability, Sustainablity, Tramping, Travel, West Coast | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Murray Family Life in Sunny Karamea

Anabela Rea, Oct 24 2023: STUFF NZ From Tokyo to Karamea: The Start of the Road at the End of the World’s Longest Cul de Sac. Sanae and Paul Murray say life is sweet in this remote town of 700 … Continue reading

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Posted in Artist, Cheese, Children, Environment, Environmentally Responsible Business, Food, Gardening, Health, Japan, Kahurangi National Park, Karamea, LivinginPeace Project, New Zealand, Oparara, Paul Murray, Photography, Property, Rongo, Social Commentary, South Island, Sustainability, Sustainablity, Tokyo, Tourism, Travel, 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

From Little Things, BIG Things Come…

Karamea Co.Starters Graduate with BIG Plans for Business Success Off the Top of My Head By Paul Murray In the small rural enclave of Karamea in a community ravaged by COVID, seven local entrepreneurial ladies graduated from a 10-week Co.Starters … Continue reading

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Posted in Business, Cheese, Co.Starters, Community, Economics, Education, Food, Karamea, Money, New Zealand, Paul Murray, Permaculture, Photography, Social Enterprise, Sustainability, Tourism, Uncategorized, West Coast | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fromagère Di Anderson Says, “Say “Cheese” Karamea.” 

Off the Top of My Head  By Paul Murray  After 52 years of “running around after other people,” Dianne Anderson said, “Right… It’s my turn now; I want a cheese room,” and, just like that, she started a new career … Continue reading

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Posted in Agriculture, Business, Cheese, Co.Starters, Community, Community-Led Development, Food, Kahurangi National Park, Karamea, New Zealand, Uncategorized, West Coast | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 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