Category Archives: Social Commentary

West Coast Economy Benefits From Hidden Tourism $ Yields

Off the Top of my Head By Paul Murray There is quite a lot of talk at Councils and in the local media on the West Coast lately about the need for the tourism industry to be self-sustaining and not … Continue reading

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Posted in Business, Economics, Education, New Zealand, Paul Murray, Social Commentary, South Island, Sustainablity, Tourism, West Coast | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Forgotten White Man in Historic Olympic Photo

By GRIOT October 3, 2015. Today marks the 9th anniversary of Peter Norman’s passing. We want to commemorate him by publishing this text written by Italian writer Riccardo Gazzaniga, who allowed us to share the story of the Australian sprinter … Continue reading

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Posted in Australia, Historical, Nazis, Olympics, Politics, Racism, Social Commentary, Social Equity, Sport, United States | 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

GOAL for Karamea Community!!

Knock, Knock…Who’s there? Opportunity… …Opportunity Who? Opportunity to make our region FABULOUS!   Off the Top of My Head By Paul Murray When opportunity knocks, you open the door right? Well, the Karamea community has a golden opportunity ringing its … Continue reading

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Posted in Art, Bureaucracy, Business, DIY, Economics, Environmentally Responsible Business, Karamea, Money, New Zealand, Paul Murray, Politics, Social Commentary, Social Enterprise, Social Equity, South Island, Sustainability, Uncategorized, West Coast | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Burning Woman Throws Baby

Off the Top of My Head By Paul Murray When a large macrocarpa tree blew down in front of his house in a storm, Granity artist and bon vivant Peter Whitaker saw it as a sign, “It was like a … Continue reading

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Posted in Art, Artist, Artist-in-residency programme, Bureaucracy, Children, Culture, Economics, Environment, Environmentally Responsible Business, Hilarious, Humor, Humour, Interviews, Karamea, LivinginPeace Project, New Zealand, Parenting, Paul Murray, Peter Whittaker, Photography, Resident artist, Rongo, Rongo Backpackers & Gallery, Sculpture, Social Commentary, Social Equity, South Island, Weird, West Coast | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Karamea Food-Branding Initiative Gathers Momentum

Off the Top of My Head By Paul Murray Buller Community Development Facilitator Peter Howard recently presented information at the Karamea Bowling Club about a proposal to establish a “social enterprise” in Karamea to bolster the local economy, create employment and … Continue reading

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Posted in Agriculture, Australia, Buller District Council, Business, Economics, Education, Efficiency, Environment, Environmentally Responsible Business, Gardening, Health, Kahurangi National Park, Karamea, Money, Nature, Oparara, Oparara Basin, Oparara Valley Track, Paul Murray, Permaculture, Photography, Social Commentary, Social Enterprise, Social Equity, South Island, Sustainability, Travel, Uncategorized, West Coast | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Karamea Co.Starters Set World Record

Off the Top of My Head  By Paul Murray  The remote rural town of Karamea at the top of the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand apparently set a world record Monday night by being the smallest … Continue reading

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Posted in Business, Co.Starters, Economics, Education, Historical, Karamea, Money, New Zealand, Paul Murray, Rongo Backpackers & Gallery, Social Commentary, South Island, Sustainability, West Coast | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Man-Bear Possum Terrifies Kahurangi NP People

DOC Uses Mutant Possum Threat to Justify Massive Aerial Poison Blitz Off the Top of My Head By Paul Murray The mystery of the New Zealand Government’s persistence with aerial baiting of vast regions of the “Clean-Green/100%Pure” country with 1080 poison was revealed yesterday by … Continue reading

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Posted in 1080, Conservation, Department of Conservation, DOC, Environment, Funny, Heaphy Track, Hilarious, Humor, Humour, Kahurangi National Park, Karamea, LivinginPeace Project, New Zealand, Parody, Paul Murray, Photography, Politics, Satire, Social Commentary, South Island, Uncategorized, West Coast | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Co.Starters Pitch Business Ideas @ EPIC Celebration Night

Off the Top of My Head By Paul Murray The 16 participants in the inaugural Co.Starters programme from Ross to Karamea on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand came together with programme sponsors, facilitators and invited … Continue reading

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Posted in Buller District Council, Business, Co.Starters, Economics, Education, Karamea, LivinginPeace Project, Media, Money, New Zealand, Paul Murray, Photography, Social Commentary, South Island, Uncategorized, West Coast | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Big Fan of Ho Fan’s Photography

Off the Top of My Head By Paul Murray Teenage photographer, Ho Fan arrived in Hong Kong from Shanghai in 1949. He turned his shape eye and lens to the bustling streets of the then English-administered Chinese city to capture the … Continue reading

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Posted in Art, Historical, Photography, Social Commentary, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment