The Rongolian Star

The Art of Social Commentary by Waldemar von Kazak

Posted on September 23, 2015 by LivinginPeaceProject

http://waldemar-kazak.deviantart.com

Posted in Art, Artist, Parody, Politics, Satire, Social Commentary, Waldemar von Kazak | Tagged Art, artist/, Painting, Parody, Politics, Satire, Social Commentary, Waldemar von Kazak | Leave a comment

Rongolians Reunite to Remember Jamie Tillett

Posted on July 30, 2015 by LivinginPeaceProject

Off the Top of my Head

By Paul Murray

A small gathering of friends assembled at Rongo Backpackers & Gallery at the top of the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand to remember our friend Jamie Tillett, who died tragically earlier this month in Dunedin.

There was nothing in the media about Jamie’s passing, so this document will hopefully serve as a memorial to him and help to gain the closure those who new him seek and alleviate the confusion we all feel over his demise.

Jamie’s family came out to New Zealand and held a funeral service for their son. Jamie’s father Stephan said his son, “was cremated at a breathtakingly beautiful spot overlooking Tomahawk Bay, Dunedin.” It must have been a very sad, confusing and frustrating time for them. They had planned to visit Karamea and come to Rongo as well, but found the whole experience so terribly difficult that they decided to return to Scotland and spread their son’s ashes there. I hope they can visit someday and see the memorial we have erected for Jamie.

(Photo of completed headstone)

Jamie arrived as a guest and enjoyed staying at Rongo so much, he eventually joined the team and worked as a volunteer at the hostel and on the LivingInPeace Project and helped on the permaculture farm, which he liked very much…especially working with the animals.

Jamie Tillett: 1983 – 2015

He was a gentle soul with a original, but genuinely funny sense of humour. He had a kind word for everyone and made many friends quickly. Some of the people he met at Rongo were able to come back for the informal memorial service we held to remember him.

Pete Dickinson returned from ski fields at Mt Cheesman where he is now working. Pete met Jamie on his travels around New Zealand and they became good mates…they had plans to travel to Thailand together from New Zealand. While they were working at Rongo in June, 2015, they did a radio show together on Karamea Radio 107.5 FM, a community radio station that broadcasts from the hostel.

Pete and Jamie (aka DJs Kaos and Orda) played their favourite tunes, discussed life in Karamea, the LivingInPeace Project and many other topics…Jamie’s unusual sense of humour is recorded here and we played the show and had a good laugh while we sat in his favourite spot “Runga Lodge” at the back of the radio station, while we talked about Jamie and our memories of him. We are making a memorial headstone for Jamie that will rest in place for him in a warm sunny spot where he often enjoyed sitting.

Hear the Show Here:

Pete Dickinson

Front to Back: Adeline, Tristan, Brian, Aymeric, Pete, Paul and Ben with Jamie Tillett at Runga Lodge.

Jamie loved to play the guitar and, while at Rongo, he wrote a song about the place and recorded it with his French friends Adeline Thiery and Aymeric Bizard.

Rongo manager Tristan Lockerbie worked with Jamie a lot while he was in Karamea and they had many good conversations over morning coffee and while working together on Tristan’s many projects.

Tristan Lockerbie remembers Jamie Tillett at Runga Lodge at the back of Rongo Backpackers & Gallery.

(Left to Right) Paul, Brian, Ben, Pete, Aymeric, Tristan, Adeline at Runga Lodge with Jamie Tillett (photograph on cactus)

Benedikt (Ben) Mueller worked with Jamie at the Drifting Sands Backpackers in Hokitika and came to Rongo on his recommendation. Ben was working at Rongo when he heard news of Jamie’s death. He was pleased to be able to talk about Jamie with others who knew him.

Benedikt (Ben) Mueller

LivingInPeace Project General Manager Brian “Big Man” Thomson worked with Jamie everyday for about six weeks.

Brian “Big Man” Thomson

Jamie loved pot-luck dinners, so we decided to have a special one in his memory…Pete, Adeline and Aymeric arrived and cooked up a mighty feast…the food was good, the conversation…a little emotional, but we managed to keep positive as the crew reminisced about their absent friend.

L-R: Ben, Brian. Mitsuyo, Diva and Adeline

L-R: Winston, Sanae and Siggi

Jamie Tillett Memorial Dinner at Rongo Backpackers & Gallery July 29, 2015.

Our thoughts are with Jamie’s parents, his sister Rebecca, other friends and family and all who knew and loved him. While we’ll likely never understand how or why Jamie’s life ended, we’ll always remember how he touched our lives while he lived.

Rest in Peace Jamie.

Three of Jamie’s original songs:

Back in the Day by Jamie Tillett:

Conceited and Wise by Jamie Tillett:

Lord Have Mercy by Jamie Tillett:

Jamie and French friend Aymeric Bizard

Jamie and French friend Adeline Thiery

Photographs by Jamie’s many friends in New Zealand.

Posted in 107.5 FM, Heaphy Track, Jamie Tillett, Kahurangi National Park, Karamea, Karamea Radio, Karamea Radio 107.5 FM, LivinginPeace Project, Music, New Zealand, Obituary, Oparara, Oparara Basin, Paul Murray, Peace, Permaculture, Photography, Radio Karamea, Radio Shows, Rongo, Rongo Backpackers & Gallery, Social Commentary, South Island, Travel, West Coast | Tagged Friends, Jamie Tillett, LivinginPeace Project, Memorial, Obituary, Rongo, Rongo Backpackers & Gallery, Runga Lodge, Suicide | 16 Comments

Aussie Artist Arwen Dyer Shoots Karamea

Posted on July 23, 2015 by LivinginPeaceProject

Off the Top of my Head

By Paul Murray

Nothofagus Gunnii, Western Ranges, Tasmania, Australia (Photo by Arwen Dyer)

Arwen Dyer

Australian creative artist and photographer Arwen Dyer came to Karamea at the top of the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand in July, 2015 as a resident artist at the LivingInPeace Project to capture the natural beauty of the region on film.

The LivingInPeace Project combines the elements of Art, Travel, Permaculture and Education into a sustainable business. It was founded in 2004 and includes and artist-in-residency programme, which provided an opportunity for Dyer to visit New Zealand and stay a few weeks in Karamea where she spent her days exploring the region, which is the gateway to the western side off the Kahurangi National Park and home to the spectacular Oparara Basin and one of New Zealand’s “Great Walks/Rides” the Heaphy Track.

Dyer grew up in the Huon Valley in southern Tasmania, with access to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and national parks. Her childhood was spent in the close proximity to nature and she developed a passion for natural beauty and an eye for capturing it with a camera. Dyer’s passion for wild places has evoked a strong conservation ethic and she uses her images to draw attention to environmental threats resulting from extractive industries like logging, mining.

Dyer has a master’s degree in Creative Arts Therapy and when not behind a camera, she works as a therapist using art to help her clients transcend personal challenges. She often works with children to help them express their emotions through art and creativity process and assist them to overcome traumatic experiences, breakdown mental barriers and restore balance to their lives.

Landscape photography is her staple, but she also specialises in macro, panorama, abstract and night shots with long exposures that capture the beauty and movement in the celestial realm.

Night:

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Landscape:

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Macro

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Panorama:
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Dyer recently showed her photographs in collaboration with fellow Tasmanian photographer Wolfgang Glowacki at an exhibition titled “Wild Tasmania” in Brisbane, Australia. Former leader of the Australian Greens and champion of the environment Dr Bob Brown opened the show. “It was a pleasure and a privilege to have Bob open the exhibition and having his endorsement certainly helped to pull in the numbers and generate interest in the show,” she said.

In return, Dyer assists Brown with his post-politics career by providing images to the Bob Brown Foundation that help to rally public attention to the organisation’s many ecological projects. “Using my images to promote environmental and conservation issues is of great importance to me as an artist,” she said.

After spending a fortnight in Karamea as a LivingInPeace Project Resident Artist and exploring the regions many scenic attractions, she said, “It’s just been an incredible privilege to be here and get grounded in Karamea, which is a wonderful place and I wish I could stay longer.”

From Karamea, Dyer plans to travel with a group of photographers to Mt Cook where she hopes to capture the winter beauty of the Southern Alps and capture the clear night sky and the cosmic brilliance of the moon and stars over the jagged, snow-capped peaks. “I’m really looking forward to working other photographers and learning from them,” she said. She will then return to Tasmania and continue her work battling against the incumbent national and state governments destructive environmental policies. “The Tassie Devil and the Tasmanian Wedge-Tailed Eagle are in danger of extinction and I will continue my work with the Bob Brown Foundation to help avert their imminent demise,” she said.

As the founder of the LivngInPeace Project, it was an honour to host such a talented artist as Arwen Dyer, and in an era when good quality photographic equipment is more affordable than ever before and “everyone is a photographer,” Dyer’s images demonstrate how a camera should be used and shows us that the art of photography is alive and well.

Karamea Images by Arwen Dyer:

www.arwendyer.com

facebook.com/ArwenDyerPhotographer

Karamea Radio Interview with Arwen Dyer: July 21, 2015

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/interview-with-2015-livinginpeace-project-resident-artist-photographer-arwen-dyer-july-21-2015

DJ Crap (Paul Murray) interviews 2015 LivingInPeace Project Resident Artist, Australian Photographer Arwen Dyer about her time in Karamea at the top of the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand.

Tasmanian native, Ms Dyer specialises in nature, abstract, night and macro photography and spent two weeks at the LivingInPeace Project as a resident artist in July 2015.

More Information about the LivingInPeace Project:

LivingInPeace Project: www.LivingInPeace.com

Rongo Backpackers & Gallery: www.RongoBackpackers.com

Karamea Radio: www.facebook.com/KarameaRadio107.5FM

Karamea Farm Baches: www.KarameaFarmBaches.co.nz

Karamea Community Web site: www.Karamea.org.nz

Heaphy Track: www.HeaphyTrack.com

Posted in 107.5 FM, Art, Artist-in-residency programme, Arwen Dyer, Australia, Department of Conservation, DJ Crap, DOC, Environment, Environmentally Responsible Business, Heaphy Track, Interviews, Kahurangi National Park, Karamea, Karamea Radio, Karamea Radio 107.5 FM, LivinginPeace Project, New Zealand, Oparara Basin, Paul Murray, Permaculture, Photography, Politics, Radio, Radio Karamea, Radio Shows, Resident artist, Rongo Backpackers & Gallery, South Island, Sustainability, Travel, West Coast | Tagged Art, Arwen Dyer, Australia, Heaphy Track, Kahurangi National Park, karamea, New Zealand, Oparara Basin, Photographer, Photography, South Island, Tasmania, West Coast | Leave a comment

LED Technician Pete Jenkins Lights up Rongolia

Posted on July 1, 2015 by LivinginPeaceProject

Off the Top of my Head

By Paul Murray

Rongo Backpackers & Gallery in Karamea at the top of the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand has just reduced its lighting power consumption by over 85% by installing LED lighting.

The hostel, which is in perhaps the most remote location of any accommodation facility on mainland New Zealand, is part of the LivingInPeace Project, a venture that strives for sustainability, environmental responsibility and energy efficiency.

Peter Jenkins, a LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting technician, who is also a metal and plastics engineer, a builder, artist and permaculturalist, came to Karamea to do the work and to introduce the new lighting technology to the hostel.

LED lighting technician Peter Jenkins at Rongo Backpackers & Gallery.

The remoteness of the hostel makes the need for energy efficiency and the effective management of resources critical to the business success of the venture as essential services like electricity are more expensive in Karamea than more populated urban regions of New Zealand. For example, power in Karamea is 5c/KWH more expensive than in Christchurch. So as the owner of the hostel, I am always looking for ways to mitigate the operating cost the business and improve its efficiency.

Karamea is also subjected to power surges and electrical storms that can damage lighting, electrical appliances, computer modems, phone lines etc. The expense of replacing light bulbs damaged by the fluctuating power supply is a significant business cost and also contributes to the production of unnecessary waste and mercury contamination associated with the disposal of spent light bulbs.

When I heard about Pete’s lighting system, I was very interested and wanted to learn more about how such technology could be applied to my business to save money, reduce the amount of waste we produce and improve the overall efficiency of the venture. I estimate the cost of installing lighting at the hostel will be completely recovered in two years and the ongoing cost of lighting the building will be a mere 15% of the previous traditional lighting system.

The efficiency of the low energy LED lights is enhanced by further reducing the 12 volt energy flow by adding a resister into the line. This increases the efficiency of the lighting by minimizing the power it requires and also extends the life expectancy of the LED by limiting the amount of energy running through the unit, which means the diodes will last between 100-200 years. The cost saving in not replacing light bulbs alone is significant. The system is also considerably safer than traditional 240 volt lighting.

Pete Jenkins Explains his LED Lighting System:

Pete’s partner Lisa makes creative lampshades from recycled copper that are then attached to the LEDs and soldered onto the wiring. The resultant light fitting then hangs from the ceiling where it is required; above kitchen benches, communal areas, illuminating artworks…wherever light is required.

This exciting new technology will revolutionize lighting, reduce energy consumption and the need for new power generation plants, reduce landfill, pollution, CO2 emissions, improve safety and provide a beautiful soft ambient lighting that is both fully functional and pleasant. It is also a short step from here to convert the building to solar power as the lighting system is 12 volt, which eliminates the need for a transformer and, because the power requirement is lower, it will also significantly reduce the cost of conversion to solar as less panels will need to be installed to power the lighting.

The initial plan was to add LED lighting to the living room and kitchen areas, however, the result was so pleasing that the rest of the building, including the tool shed, radio station, theatre, yoga room, courtyard and all guest and staff rooms was also converted.

I am extremely happy with the lighting system installed at Rongo Backpackers by Pete Jenkins and happily endorse his business Forever Lights and recommend his service to people looking to improve the efficiency of their homes and businesses and are keen to save money on their power bill, reduce their carbon footprint and be more environmentally responsible.

For more information or to discuss refitting your home or business with LED lights, contact Pete directly on 03-432-6162 or 027-595-0056 or join him on FaceBook or check out his Web site: http://foreverlights.nz

FaceBook:

Peter Jenkins: www.facebook.com/autumn.arena.1?fref=ts

Forever Lights: www.facebook.com/pages/Forever-Li…23894395?fref=ts

Interview with LED Lighting Technician Pete Jenkins: July 1, 2015

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/interview-with-led-lighting-technician-pete-jenkins-july-1-2015

DJ Crap (Paul Murray) interviews Pete Jenkins, a LED light technician who recently refitted the lighting at Rongo Backpackers & Gallery, a hostel at the top of the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand with energy saving LED lighting. The new lighting will reduce the energy cost of lighting the building by over 85%.

Pete talks about how he came to be involved with LED lighting, his home base in Oamaru, his Autumn Arena festival, permaculture and his life philosophy of refocussing his life away from consumerism and into a more sustainable way of living.

Pete Jenkins Shows us Around The Oasis:

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Posted in Art, Business, Efficiency, Electricity, Forever Lights, LED Lighting, LivinginPeace Project, New Zealand, Permaculture, Peter Jenkins, Power, Rongo Backpackers & Gallery, South Island, Sustainability, West Coast | Tagged Art, Autumn Arena, Business, DJ Crap, Economics, education, Efficiency, Electricity, Forever Lights, Karamea Radio 107.5 FM, LED Lights, LivinginPeace Project, New Zealand, Paul Murray, Permaculture, Peter Jenkins, Power, Rongo Backpackers & Gallery, South Island, Sustainability, The Oasis, West Coast | 6 Comments

Nuphoria Radio Shows by DJ Marcellus Nealy: Exploring the Art & Science of the Groove

Posted on June 13, 2015 by LivinginPeaceProject

The Nuphoria Radio show is recorded in Tokyo, Japan by DJ Marcellus Nealy exclusively for Karamea Radio 107.5 FM, a small community radio station at Rongo Backpackers & Gallery in the township of Karamea at the top of the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand.

The focus of the show is groove-based music and each week DJ Marcellus explores the art and science of the groove.

Here for the first time is the complete collection of Nuphoria radio shows for your listening pleasure…tune in and tell a friend.

For more information about Marcellus Nealy check out his Web sites:

Photography by Marcellus Nealy

Artist Profile

Personal Web site

FaceBook

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria-by-marcellus-nealy

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria-by-marcellus-nealy-1

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria-vol-3-karamea-radio

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria-vol-4-by-marcellus

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/take-ii-nuphoria-by-dj

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria-vol-6-by-marcellus-nealy-april-14-2014

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria-by-dj-marcellus-nealy-volume-7-april-21-2014

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria-vol-8-marcellus-nealy-april-28-2014

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria-vol-9-dj-marcellus-nealy-may-5-2014

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria-vol-10-by-dj-marcellus-nealy-may-12-2014

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria_vol_11

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria-vol-12-by-dj-marcellus-nealy-may-30-2014

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria-vol-13-dj-marcellus-nealyjapan

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria-vol14-by-dj-marcellus-nealy

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria-vol-15-by-marcellus-nealy-june-20-2014

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria-vol-16-by-marcellus-nealy-june-25-2014

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria-17

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria-vol-18-by-marcellus-nealy-july-7-2014

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria-vol-19-by-marcellus-nealy-july-14-2014

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria-vol-20-dj-marcellus-nealy

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria-vol-21-dj-marcellus-nealy-july-29-2014

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria-vol-22

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria-vol-23-dj-marcellus-nealy-august-11-2014

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria-vol-24

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria-vol-25-dj-marcellus-nealy-august-25-2014

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria26

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria27

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria-vol-28-dj-marcellus-nealy-sept-14-2014

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria-vol-28-dj-marcellus-nealy-sept-14-2015

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria30

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria31

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria-vol-32-dj-marcellus-nealy-october-13-2014

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria33

http://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria34

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria35

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https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria-vol-47-dj-marcellus-nealy-jan-26-2015

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https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria63

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria-vol-64-dj-marcellus-nealy-june-2-2015

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria65

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https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria71

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria-vol-72-jazz-edition-dj-marcellus-nealy-september-2-2015

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria73

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria74

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/nuphoria75

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Posted in Blues, Funk, Groove, Japan, Jazz, Karamea Radio 107.5 FM, LivinginPeace Project, Marcellus Nealy, New Zealand, Nuphoria, Radio Shows, Rongo Backpackers & Gallery, Soul, South Island, Tokyo, West Coast | Tagged Art, Blues, Funk, Groove, Japan, Jazz, karamea, Karamea Radio 107.5 FM, LivinginPeace Project, Marcellus Nealy, New Zealand, Nuphoria, Radio Shows, Rongo Backpackers & Gallery, Science, Soul, South Island, Tokyo, West Coast | Leave a comment

The Detox Diaries: Radio Shows by DJ Echo

Posted on June 11, 2015 by LivinginPeaceProject

DJ Echo and DJ Crap decided on a winter detox to cleanse their respective bodies of the toxins of summer excess…as part of this process, DJ Echo embarked on a mission to do an hour radio show with a cup of hot water each morning and featuring some of his favourite artists…tune in, turn up and rock out!

(DJ Echo and DJ Crap also did a show together to celebrate their newfound abstinence)

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/dj-echo-with-dj-crap-sobriety-special-june-6-2015

The symbiotic relationship between musicians and drugs is well known, but how about musicians who don’t use drugs to unlock their creativity? Do such people exist?

DJs Echo & Crap, who themselves are in the middle of an annual detox programme that stipulates temperance and have been abstaining from any form of legal or illegal stimulation for almost two weeks, decide to find out.

They managed to cobble together a radio show featuring the music of straight-edged artists that was slightly embellished with musicians who reformed their wild ways later in the careers and found sobriety.

Some surprises here…it turns out more musicians than immediately spring to mind have produced musical gems in a state of complete clearheadedness. Stay tuned for the much longer and possibly more interesting inebriates show where there are many more musical choices available.

Thanks for listening and you’re welcome.

From DJ Echo:

Now past the midway point of their collective alkalising detox, DJs Echo and Crap team up for a tribute to sobriety featuring the music of musicians who evidently never indulged in anything stronger than a beer or a cup of coffee (here’s looking at you Frank Zappa!) to the many who have reformed and cleaned up after earlier periods of constant intoxication or ‘worse’! Somehow managing to squeeze the Rolling Stones in the show was a high-point for DJ Echo (the Bill Wyman penned and sung ‘In Another Land’) whilst DJ Crap took listeners through a Tom Waits segment. Comparisons to their last collaboration two weeks back for Bob Dylan’s birthday where the two took more of a Keith Richards path to the palace of wisdom, this was more of a Ted Nugent inspired effort, albeit that there was no chance of that particular gun-happy Republican redneck’s music getting an airing.

Rongo Backpackers & Gallery: www.RongoBackpackers.com

LivingInPeace Project: www.LivingInPeace.com

Karamea Radio: www.facebook.com/KarameaRadio107.5FM

Karamea Community Web site: karamea.org.nz

Heaphy Track: www.HeaphyTrack.com

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1. Johnny Cash

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/dj-echo-the-detox-diaries-1-johnny-cash-may-27-2105

DJ Echo: The Detox Diaries #1: Johnny Cash: May 28, 2015

DJ Echo and DJ Crap wisely decided on a three-week detox after the excesses of their Bob Dylan collaboration. As part of the cleansing process, DJ Echo has embarked on a musical quest that will feature one artist per day for one hour in the morning…today it was Johnny Cash, tomorrow tune in at 8: 00 a.m. for the Nick Cave feature…presumably the music will become brighter as the toxins leave DJ Echo’s body over the course of the next 21 days…perhaps DJ Echo will transcend this world and achieve nirvana…anything is possible on Karamea Radio…stay tuned and thanks for listening.

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2. Nick Cave

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/dj-echo-the-detox-diaries-2-nick-cave-may-28-2015

DJ Echo: The Detox Diaries #2: Nick Cave: May 28, 2015

Part 2 of DJ Echo’s on-going Detox Diaries series features the music of the legendary (round these parts at least) Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. 60 minutes was only sufficient to scratch the surface of the man’s work, but a mix of well known songs (Nick Cave doesn’t really have ‘hits’ as such!) and obscurities gave a glimpse of his outlandish talent. Also included was a very brief weather and traffic report- this is breakfast radio after all. Tune in tomorrow for(most likely) an hour of Cat Power!

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3. Cat Power

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/dj-echo-the-detox-diaries-3-cat-power-may-29-2015

DJ Echo: The Detox Diaries #3: Cat Power: May 29, 2015

DJ Echo returns to the Radio Karamea studio for the 3rd instalment of the increasingly popular Detox Diaries. This episode features the original songs and interpretations of other people’s work by the uniquely talented Chan Marshall, better known as Cat Power. Covers of Dylan, Kiwi artist Peter Jefferies and the Rolling Stones sit alongside tracks from her own 20-year-and-counting canon of work. DJ Echo is headed for the hills over the weekend but will return energised and further detoxed early next week for Part 4 in the ongoing series. Possible contenders for that show include Matthew Houck, aka Phosphorescent but suggestions are welcomed from the local and global audience. Those watching closely will notice that the cover photos for these shows are remarkably similar, but each one will feature DJ Echo with a different cup, even if he’s wearing the same jumper every day. Thanks for listening!

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4. Matthew Houck aka Phosphorescent

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/dj-echo-the-detox-diaries-4-phospherescent-june-2-2015

DJ Echo: The Detox Diaries #4: Phosphorescent: June 2, 2015

Back after a small tramping break in the Nelson Lakes over the long weekend (and using the justification that it would be un-Kiwi to go into the forest and not have at least a couple of drinks to rationalise a slight fall from the detox wagon), DJ Echo returns for the 4th hour-long special in the current series. Focussing today on Matthew Houck, aka Phosphorescent- the songs are by turns melancholy and exuberant and offer a sample of the work of one of the best U.S. songwriters to emerge this century (or so says DJ Echo). Tune in again tomorrow for an hour of an artist yet to be decided.

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5. The Felice Brothers

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/dj-echo-the-detox-diaries-5-the-felice-brothers-june-3-2015

DJ Echo: The Detox Diaries #5: The Felice Brothers: June 3, 2015

A hugely talented musical family from upstate New York, the Felice Brothers (and off-shoot projects) are the focus of today’s instalment of the Detox Diaries. Taking a blueprint developed by The Band nearly 50 years ago, the Felice Brothers combine multiple writers and lead singers, with an element the of ‘no one sings harmonies like blood brothers’ theory which has paralleled the history of popular music for even longer. Songs about chickens, love and hauling meth from Chicago, this show might make you tap your toes and engage your brain at the same time. DJ Echo also took time out to report on overnight news from the world and a report on the near gridlock on Karamea’s Wharf Road this morning with 3 moving vehicles sighted simultaneously! See you tomorrow for another episode in the on-going series. Now, time for lentils for breakfast…………

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6. David Kilgour & The Clean

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/dj-echo-the-detox-diaries-6-david-kilgour-the-clean-june-4-2015

DJ Echo: The Detox Diaries #6: David Kilgour & The Clean: June 4, 2015

Today’s instalment of the Detox Diaries sees DJ Echo pay homage to the uber-lords of New Zealand post-punk rock, The Clean. The Kilgour Brothers, guitarist David and drummer Hamish plus Robert Scott on bass have been making music together and apart for well over a third of a century and an hour was never going to be enough to do more than touch on the major milestones of their collective careers, but within the allotted 60 minutes the sublime wash of David K’s guitar reigned supreme and lit up the morning air of a bright sunny Karamea day. Tracks drawn from David’s solo albums, a couple of more recent Sam Hunt collaborations and a smattering of 80s Clean classics to finish with, this Detox Diary should make your day brighter wherever you are. Tune in tomorrow for an hour of Bill Callahan and Smog.

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7. Bill Callahan & Smog

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/dj-echo-the-detox-diaries-7-bill-callahan-smog-june-6-2015

DJ Echo: The Detox Diaries #7: Bill Callahan & Smog: June 6, 2015

After a 24 hour delay due to technical issues with the radio station computer, DJ Echo returns with an hour of music from U.S. artist Bill Callahan, playing songs from his earlier incarnation as Smog, a couple of covers including Gil Scott Heron and a smattering of selections from Bill’s recent work under his own name. On a rather damp and grey Karamea morning it seemed somewhat appropriate to feature Smog, although the closest we get here is low cloud and a bit of mist. Tune in tonight for a Saturday Night Detox Special– Artists who never (?) strayed from the straight and narrow and chose to remain sober and drug-free throughout their careers. Could be a rather short show!

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8. Nina Simone

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/dj-echo-the-detox-diaries-8-nina-simone-7-june-2015

DJ Echo: The Detox Diaries #8: Nina Simone: June 7, 2015

Nina Simone was the featured artist on a crisp Karamea Sunday morning as DJ Echo explored her vast and impressive catalogue in Part 8 of the Detox Diaries series. Featuring originals by Ms Simone alongside some wonderful interpretations of other artists’ work, this was a fairly low-on-talk show given that many of the songs clocked in at 8-10 minutes, making for a relaxing but inspiring start to Sunday morning for DJ Echo and listeners alike.

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9. Will Oldham aka Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/dj-echo-the-detox-diaries-9-will-oldham-aka-bonnie-prince-billy-june-8-2015

DJ Echo: The Detox Diaries #9: Will Oldham aka Bonnie “Prince” Billie: June 8, 2015

Despite rarely recording under his own name, Will Oldham aka Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy (and a host of other aliases), has amassed a large and wide-ranging body of work since his debut releases in the early 90s. In today’s Detox Diary DJ Echo plays songs from across the Bonnie Prince’s career beginning, as perhaps all Monday morning radio should, with No Bad News from 2006 album The Letting Go and ending up an hour later with Ease Down the Road from the album of the same name. A languid and lyrical but intriguing start to the final week of the Detox Diaries (or is it?)- tomorrow will be altogether stranger and perhaps even a touch psychedelic.

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10. Robyn Hitchcock

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/dj-echo-the-detox-diaries-10-robyn-hitchcock-june-9-2015

DJ Echo: The Detox Diaries #10: Robyn Hitchcock: June 9, 2015

Robyn Hitchcock is a singular talent- by turns whimsical, quirky, surrealistic and downright odd. DJ Echo is a long term fan and chose this tenth instalment of the detox diaries to focus on the work of an artist who seems to polarise people into love him or hate him. Songs about sledges, eating too much cheese and the Sleeping Knights of Jesus sit side by side in the Hitchcock canon with somewhat more conventional but no less idiosyncratic songs about Condeleeza Rice, the Devil’s Radio and an imaginary sighting of Nick Drake. It’s all here, and there’ll be more from DJ Echo tomorrow.

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11. The Decemberists

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/dj-echo-the-detox-diaries-11-the-decemberists-june-10-2015

DJ Echo: The Detox Diaries #11: The Decemberists: June 10, 2015

Hailing from Portland, Oregon, The Decemberists’ sound defies description to some extent, but is hailed by All Music as being influenced by 60s British folk-rockers Pentangle and Fairport Convention as well as the 80s grandeur of the Waterboys. Today’s instalment in the series takes in tracks from 6 of the band’s albums, beginning with a modern sea-shanty and passing through the Mariner’s Revenge Song en route to a suite of tracks from their 2009 masterpiece The Hazards of Love. DJ Echo encountered a rather stormy Karamea morning for the 11th show in the Detox series and made the decision to drive the 400-odd metres from his home to Radio Karamea’s studio (rather than swim) to bring the show to the listening public. Enjoy, and see you again tomorrow!

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12. The Black Heart Procession

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/dj-echo-the-detox-diaries-12-the-black-heart-procession-june-11-2015

DJ Echo: The Detox Diaries #12: The Black Heart Procession: June 11, 2015

San Diego band The Black Heart Procession have long been a favourite of DJ Echo. Their six albums and assorted collaborations (including, featured here, a typically quirky remix by the great Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry) proved to be a fertile musical wellspring for today’s Detox Diary- #12 in the series!. The band’s largely unrelenting sense of bleakness seemed appropriate on an atypically cold and wet Karamea morning. While the band are now on a semi-permanent hiatus, DJ Echo shows no sign of slowing down as the Detox Diaries reaches the round dozen mark with more to follow in the days and weeks ahead.

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13. Okkervil River

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/dj-echo-the-detox-diaries-13-okkervil-river-june-12-2015

DJ Echo: The Detox Diaries #13: Okkervil River: June 12, 2015

Lou Reed once described Okkervil River’s Will Sheff as the best rock singer in America and who are we to argue with Lou?! Today’s Detox Diary features songs from across the Austin, Texas band’s 15 year plus career. Sheff is a great writer and singer of ‘character songs’ but there’s a strong autobiographical streak lurking behind the clever character studies and dense lyrics. DJ Echo takes listeners on a journey down the River of Golden Dreams through the Silver Gymnasium and ends up in search of Lost Coastlines. Tune in again tomorrow for the lucky 14th show in the series.

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14. Roky Erickson & The 13th Floor Elevators

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/dj-echo-the-detox-diaries-14-roky-erickson-the-13th-floor-elevators-june-13-2015

DJ Echo: The Detox Diaries #14: Roky Erickson & The 13th Floor Elevators: June 13, 2015

Managing a small element of symbiosis, DJ Echo brings the music of the 13th Floor Elevators (and the subsequent solo career of lead singer Roky Erickson) to the radio waves of Karamea on the 14th instalment of the Detox Diaries series….on the 14th of June. The at times tragic story of Roky Erickson is one of the most disturbing in the annals of rock music and is worth looking into as a tale of triumph (eventually) in the face of extreme adversity. The music featured across the hour and a bit of this show covers all major periods of Roky’s career from the earliest psychedelic stirrings of the Elevators in mid-60s Texas through solo albums from the 80s and eventually to his most recent tour de force, True Love Cast out all Evil, a collaboration with Okkervil River whose own musical journey was the focus of yesterday’s show.

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15. Aretha Franklin

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/dj-echo-the-detox-diaries-15-aretha-franklin-june-14-2015

DJ Echo: The Detox Diaries #15: Aretha Franklin: June 14, 2015

Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, is a bona fide musical legend and needed no introduction, nor much in the way of talk or explanation, from DJ Echo on the final Sunday of the Detox Diaries series (or is it?). Drawn entirely from Aretha’s classic years on Atlantic Records in the late 60s and early 70s, this is proof, if it were needed, of the timeless wonder of this music. Thanks for tuning in!

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16. Syd Barrett & Early Pink Floyd

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/dj-echo-the-detox-diaries-16-syd-barrett-june-15-2015

DJ Echo: The Detox Diaries #16: Syd Barrett: June 15, 2015

Following on from Saturday’s Roky Erickson show, another of rock’s legendary and polarising figures, Syd Barrett, is the focus of this Monday morning blast of whimsical 60s psychedelia from the earliest days of Pink Floyd as well as Barrett’s own brief but stellar solo career. In keeping with Radio Karamea’s tradition of being the best and least conventional radio station in the world, few others would dare (or bother) to play an hour of slightly unhinged, largely joyous and deeply questing music as this to serenade listeners at the start of the working week. But amidst the meteorological drabness of the past few days what could be better than a blast of Syd. Tomorrow marks the theoretical end of the Detox Diaries; the question is, will DJ Echo begin tomorrow’s show with a beer. Or a whisky. Or both? Tune in on Tuesday and find out!

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17. The Flaming Lips

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/dj-echo-the-retox-diaries-1-the-flaming-lips-june-16-2015

DJ Echo: The Retox Diaries #1: The Flaming Lips: June 16, 2015

As his joint detox (conducted simultaneously with DJ Crap) concludes after an atypically abstemious 21 days, DJ Echo celebrates the return of coffee and, even more importantly, sunshine and with it National-Party-proofing Vitamin D. Oklahoma’s finest the Flaming Lips are the featured artist today and the 60 minutes of their music showcased here is but a taste of the wonders of their illustrious catalogue. The final show in one sequence or the first of a new one? Only time will tell, and as the Flaming Lips kindly remind listeners on the concluding song, All We Have is Now! Thanks for tuning in over the past 3 weeks and 17 single-artist shows. Only on the world’s best radio station, Radio Karamea!

18: Nusrat Fatah Ali Khan

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/dj-echo-the-retox-diaries-3-with-guest-dj-sunny-nusrat-fateh-ali-khan-june-20-2015

DJ Echo: The Retox Diareis #2 Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan June 20, 2015

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. The Greatest Voice Ever Recorded. The Voice of Heaven. The Master of Qawwali. The Sub-continental Elvis. These accolades have been proscribed to the legendary NFAK both during his stellar career and since his death in 1997 (coincidentally 20 years to the day after Elvis himself left Memphis permanently to live here in Karamea!). On a recent Retox Diaries Show (on the 2nd shortest day of the year), DJ Echo took to the airwaves to provide listeners with a sample of the genius of Nusrat.

19: Mercury Rev

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/dj-echo-retox-diaries-mercury-rev-june-29-2015

DJ Echo: Retox Diaries #3: Mercury Rev: June 29, 2015

Mercury Rev: after a week or so of delightful distraction, DJ Echo returns for a final week (well, perhaps!) of morning shows before setting off on his much-anticipated scientific experiement to see if it is actually possible to live in Christchurch during July. Evidence will be gathered and reported back to the good people of Karamea and all our internet listeners in August. In the meantime, this morning’s hour-long special focuses on the music of Mercury Rev, a somewhat (ahem) mercurial and maverick outfit from upstate New York. Spanning their 25 year career and featuring Neil Young and Burt Bacharach covers among the original Rev tracks, this is one worth checking out whether you know the band or not.

20: The Church

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/dj-echo-retox-diaries-4-the-church-june-30-2015

DJ Echo Retox Diaries #4: The Church: June 30, 2015

Another round of morning radio hit the Karamea airwaves today, with DJ Echo focussing this time around on the music of Australian icons The Church. Notwithstanding DJ Echo’s usual predilection for gospel music, this should in no way be confused with ‘church music’ but instead embraces the kind of woozy, slightly mystical psychedelia which is so popular around these parts (it makes the cows lay more eggs, or something like that). Sampling tracks mainly from the middle period of the Church’s 35 year career, this show may be low on the Hallelujahs but high on several other levels.

Posted in Art, DJ Echo, Karamea Radio, LivinginPeace Project, New Zealand, Radio Shows, Rongo Backpackers & Gallery, South Island, West Coast | Tagged Aretha Franklin, Art, Artists, Bill Callahan, Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Cat Power, Chan Marshall, David Kilgour, DJ Echo, Johnny Cash, karamea, Karamea Radio, Karamea Radio 107.5 FM, LivinginPeace Project, Matthew Houck, Music, Musicians, Nick Cave, Nina Simone, Okkervil River, Phospherescent, Pink Floyd, Radio Shows, Robyn Hitchcock, Roky Erickson, Rongo, Rongo Backpackers & Gallery, Syd Barrett, The 13th Floor Elevators, The Black Heart Procession, The Clean, The Decemberists, The Felice Brothers, The Flaming Lips, Tim Hawley, Will Oldham, Will Sheff | Leave a comment

Paul Murray Live on 107.5: The DJ C-Rap Interviews

Posted on June 11, 2015 by LivinginPeaceProject

As the owner of Rongo Backpacker & Gallery Paul Murray gets to meet a LOT of interesting people. Here are Karamea Radio interviews with a some of them…You’re Welcome!

DJ C-Rap Interview with Urban Permaculturalist Eri Suzuki: July 6, 2017

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/dj-c-rap-interview-with-urban-permaculturalist-eri-suzuki-july-6-2017

Urban permaculturalist Eri Suzuki visited the LivingInPeace Permaculture Project in Sunny Karamea at the top of the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand to exchange ideas and learn about rural permaculture. She chats with DJ C-Rap (Paul Murray) about her work in the Tokyo Urban Permaculture project and the reasons she has invested her life in permaculture practice and philosophy and her experience in visting the LivingInPeace Project and her stay at Rongo (home of Karamea Radio 107.5 FM).

The interview includes music from the Permaculture music troupe Formidable Vegetable Sound System and Climbing Tree.

For more information about Eri Suzuki and her work in permaculture, check out the following links:

www.deliciousjourneyforlife.com/
www.tokyourbanpermaculture.com/
www.edible-media.com
www.edibleschoolyard-japan.org/

More information on the LivingInPeace Permaculture Project:

www.livinginpeace.com
livinginpeace.com/ja/ (In Japanese)
www.facebook.com/LivingInPeaceProject/

DJ C-Rap Interviews Star of “Solitude: The Secret Life of Annie Chaffey” May 13, 2017

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/dj-c-rap-interviews-star-of-solitude-the-secret-life-of-annie-chaffey-may-13-2017

DJ C-Rap chats with playwright and actor Martine Baanviger about her play “Solitude” and her portrayal of the true- life story of the amazingly intrepid Annie Chaffey.

A full house at Karamea’s Bush Lounge enjoyed Baanviger’s one-woman show “Solitude-The Secret Life of Annie Chaffey” on May 12, 2017 and her interpretation of Annie Chaffey’s lonely life in remote Asbestos Cottage in the wilds of the Kahurangi National Park where she lived in exile with the man she loved for 40 years.

Annie Fox abandoned two young boys and escaped a violent husband in Timaru in 1913 when she absconded with Henry Chaffey to the remote hut up a mountain in the Cobb Valley near Takaka, Golden Bay. They eventually married when Annie received word that her abusive husband had died.

“Solitude” is about the four decades Henry and Annie spent together in a 25 m2 hut at and altitude of 1,000m living on wild wekas, deer, goats and pigs any vegetables they managed to grow and the power of love.

The play not only recounts this incredible story of intransigence, and perseverance but also explores the dichotomy between loneliness and solitude.

For more information and tour schedule check out her FaceBook Page here: http://www.facebook.com/DramaLabNZ/

DJ C-Rap Interview with Anthropologist Ollie “Cat” Mason: April 24, 2017

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/dj-c-rap-interview-with-anthropologist-ollie-cat-mason-april-24-2017

Ollie Mason is writing a thesis on sustainable living for his master’s thesis in anthropology at Radboud University in Nijmegen, The Netherlands. He came to Kararama at the top of the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand to study the LivingInPeace Project and other sustainable living practices in the region. He has conducted a series of interviews with local people and been involved with the machinations of the LivingInPeace Project for about two months.

DJ C-Rap chats with Ollie about his experience, philosophies, thoughts on sustainability and plans for the future.

DJ C-Rap Interview with Musician Debra Khng: April 1, 2017

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/dj-c-rap-interview-with-musician-debra-khng-april-1-2017

Singaporean musician, singer-songwriter and lovely person Ms Debra Khng is visiting New Zealand and came to Karamea to stay with us at Rongo Backpackers & Gallery (Home of Karamea Radio) for several weeks. She talks with DJ C-Rap about her musical journey and sings one of her original songs “BlackForest Birthday” for us…Have a listen to what she has to say and to her beautiful song.

For more information about Debra Khng check out the following links:

debrakhng.bandcamp.com
www.youtube.com/debrakhng91
www.facebook.com/DebraKhng.music

DJ C-Rap Interview with Mr Lee Traynor Radio 3PBS 106.7FM History: March 17 2017

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/dj-c-rap-interview-with-mr-lee-traynor-radio-3pbs-1067fm-history-march-17-2017

Aussie traveller Mr Lee Traynor arrived at Rongo Backpackers & Gallery in Karamea at the top of the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand after completing a four day walk through the wilds of the Kahurangi National Park along the Heaphy Track.

Over dinner at Rongo, Lee informed us he was involved in the establishment of 3PBS FM radio station in Melbourne almost 40 years ago. PBS 106.7FM is still broadcasting today and the station has grown into a large cooperatively owned community radio broadcaster that hosts about 80 programmes every week.

Lee was interested in our community radio station Karamea Radio 107.5 FM and DJ C-Rap was keen to have a chat with him about his broadcasting background, life as a teacher of technical English at a university in Hanover, Germany, and his experience walking the Heaphy Track.

To hear more of Lee Traynor’s New Zealand advenures, check out his TravelBlog:

www.NZ17.Skeptic.De

DJ C-Rap Interview with Jeremy & Constance from WilderWheels: March 8, 2017

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/dj-c-rap-interview-with-jeremy-constance-from-wilderwheels-march-8-2017

Jeremy and Constance from Sydney, Australia, arrived in Karamea at the top of the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand after walking through the Heaphy Track with their WilderWheels scooters.

They stayed with us at Rongo Backpackers & Gallery (home of Karamea Radio 107.5 FM) and agreed to a radio interview about their adventures in New Zealand and their WilderWheels invention.

WilderWheels is a scooter, it’s a walking pole, it’s a paddle, it’s a shovel, it’s a trolley…It’s set to revolutionise how we move around and interact with the great outdoors.

DJ C Rap talks with the intrepid travellers about their scooters before they head off on their next adventure into the wilds of the Kahurangi National Park.

Check out their Web site: www.WilderWheels.com

and their travelblog: www.TitterPlatt.wordpress.com

DJ C Rap Interview with Intrepid Traveller Mr Roy Smith: March 2, 2017

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/dj-crap-interview-with-intrepid-traveller-mr-roy-smith-march-2-2017

Hosting international travellers at Rongo Backpackers at the top of the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand is a dream job for DJ C Rap as interesting people from all over the world come to him and share their stories. One such person is Mr Roy Smith, an intrepid traveller, mountaineer and bon vivant.

He arrived at Rongo Backpackers & Gallery (Home of Karamea Radio) after walking for several days through the Heaphy Track and the wilds of the Kahurangi National Park.

He agrees to a radio interview and chats with DJ C Rap about his fascinating life growing up in abject poverty in rural England, joining the British Army to escape the penury and developing a quest for experience and adventure. He becomes and mountaineer, leads an expedition down the Omo River in Ethiopia for National Geographic magazine on which one member is taken by a hippopotamus and he almost succumbs to a crocodile attack…Tales of arctic adventure and anecdotes of a life well lived. Roy is a guy who opens the door when opportunity knocks, shakes its hand and says, “Let’s GO Mate.”

Have a listen to a great story told by a great storyteller as DJ C Rap chats with Mr Roy H. Smith about life and other adventures.

DJ C-Rap Interview with Blues Musician Ruth Wyand: April 1, 2016

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/dj-c-rap-interview-with-blues-musician-ruth-wyand-april-1-2016

Ruth Wyand, a blues musician from Kill Devil Hells North Carolina in the United States, stayed with us at Rongo Backpackers & Gallery in Karamea, West Coast, New Zealand on her tour of Aotearoa.

Ms Wyand was here a couple of years ago and played an educational gig at the Last Resort featuring her music and a presentation about the historical influence of female blues musicians like Ma Rainey, Nina Simone, Memphis Minnie, Bonnie Raitt and Billie Holiday called “Mama’s Got the Blues,” which is also the title of her album on the subject.

She is also the musical director of the Mustang Outreach Program that encourages and finds underprivileged and “troubled” kids into music.

DJ C-Rap finds out a little bit about her, they discuss the Mustang Outreach Program, the madness that is the U.S. Primaries, some little-known facts about the Wright Brothers and her upcoming gig at the Little Wanganui Hall Saturday night.

Check out her Web sites:

www.RuthWyand.com

www.MustangOutreach.org

Check her out live at the Little Wanganui Hall on April 2, 2016 @ 7:30 p.m. $10 at the door…buy a CD or download her songs on from her Web site (cheaper than i-Tunes Store!)

DJ Crap Interview German Cyclist Niclas Eschner: September 8, 2015

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/dj-crap-interview-german-cyclist-niclas-eschner-september-8-2015

Young German cyclist and traveller Niclas Eschner chats with DJ Crap about his ride up the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand…from Greymouth to Karamea in one day.

The ride is about 200 kilometres along the winding mountainous West Coast highway. He left Greymouth at 6:00 a.m. and checked in at Rongo Backpackers & Gallery in Karamea at 4:00 p.m., which is not bad going given that the same trip in a car would take about 4 hours. Tomorrow, he takes on the Heaphy Track, the only New Zealand “Great Walk” that is also a “Great Ride,” on a hybrid road/mountain bike with fully loaded panniers.

Interview with Photographer Arwen Dyer: July 21, 2015

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/interview-with-2015-livinginpeace-project-resident-artist-photographer-arwen-dyer-july-21-2015

Tasmanian native, Ms Dyer specialises in nature, abstract, night and macro photography and spent two weeks at the LivingInPeace Project as a resident artist in July 2015.

See Arwen Dyer’s photographs here:

www.arwendyer.com

facebook.com/ArwenDyerPhotographer

Interview with Rocket Scientist Dr Duncan Steel: June 10, 2015

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/dj-crap-interview-with-rocket-scientist-dr-duncan-steel-june-10-2015

Dr Duncan Steel, a bonafide Rocket Scientist, arrived in Karamea as a guest at Rongo Backpackers & Gallery (home of Karamea Radio 107.5 FM) and agreed to an interview with DJ Crap about his experiences working for NASA, astrobiology, space junk, the “Fifth Domain of Warfare” and its implications for New Zealand, the Large Hadron Collider, Project SpaceGuard, missing Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370, the importance of travel, Anthropogenic Global Warming (AGW), the Sex Pistols, alien life forms, geopolitics, the assassination of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy…everything from asteroids to hemorrhoids…the actual interview was over 90 minutes, but a computer failure toward the end of the interview meant that much of it was lost to the ether…perhaps the NSA was listening?

I hope you enjoy this very interesting conversation with a highly educated and personable gentleman…thank you for agreeing to be interviewed on Karamea Radio Dr Steel… I’m sure we’ll all sleep more soundly with the knowledge that clever fellas like yourself are working hard to ensure we’re not smashed out of our beds by a meteorite!

Dr Duncan Steel: www.DuncanSteel.com (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duncan_Steel)

http://www.DuncanSteel.com

Interview with Swedish Anglers: January 309, 2015

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/interview-with-swedish-fishermen-norman-kotzurek-michaelstig-fayergren-january-30-2015

Swedish friends Normann Kotzurek and Stig Fagergren came to Karamea at the top of the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand to catch BIG trout. They embarked on an intrepid journey into the wilds of the Kahurangi National Park in search of the world’s best fishing and emerged with an amazing tale of adventure 11 days later…this is their story.

My Dream Fish New Zealand: www.MyDreamFish.com

Interview with Bon Vivant Carole Beauclerk: January 8, 2015

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/interview-with-the-intrepid-ms-carole-beauclerk-january-8-2015

Paul Murray (DJ Crap) Interviews 71-year-old U.S. traveller Carole Beauclerk about her experience on the Heaphy Track, one of New Zealand’s “Great Walks” and a life spent well doing all sorts of interesting things from taking ayahuasca with an Ecuadorian shaman in the 70s to sleeping with a 25 yr-old Congolese drummer on her 50th birthday in Tokyo…something for everyone here…that’s Karamea Radio folks…thanks for listening!

Interview with Israeli Traveller Arnin Amit: January 3, 2015

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/interview-with-arnon-amit-1st-wheel-chair-conqueror-of-heaphy-track-january-3-2015

DJ Crap interviews Israeli Traveller Arnon Amit, who is thought to be the first ever person to complete the Heaphy Track in a wheelchair. Assisted by his brother Nadav and friends Maayan and Gul, Arnon arrived at Rongo Backpackers & Gallery in Karamea at the top of the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand after a five-day adventure on the Heaphy Track to show the world that it is possible to do the Heaphy without the use of your legs!

Thanks for staying at Rongo team and for taking the time to chat with DJ Crap on Karamea Radio. Happy Trails and keep on keeping on! Shalom Aleichem…Peace be with you!

Interview with “Light Healer” MeWe: December 10, 2014

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/interview-with-light-healer-me-we-december-10-2014

Aussie character Me-We arrived in Karamea with his mobile light-healing cart that he has pulled around New Zealand stopping off to provide his biophotonic light-healing services to all and sundry along the way. He stayed at Rongo Backpackers & Gallery in Karamea and agreed to a radio interview with DJ Crap to discuss his past, present and future. A most interesting chap indeed, part Aussie larrikin, part ethereal, new-age hippy renegade, Me-We thoroughly believes in himself and what he has to offer…the world needs more people like this guy!

Interview with Buller District Councillor Sheryl Rhind: July 25, 2014

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/karamea-radio-interview-with-councillor-sheryl-rhind-july-25-2014

Almost a year after having been elected to the Buller District Council as regional representative for the Seddon Ward, Councillor Sheryl Rhind returns to the Karamea Radio studio to talk with Paul Murray (DJ Crap) about her experience.

Topics include: Broadband Internet, Civil Defense, Reticulated Water Supply, 1080, Mountain Biking, the Oparara Valley Track as well as the influence of central Government on local politics.

This interview is of principal interest to people living in Karamea region of the Buller District, but also provides listeners with a window on life at the top of the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand.

Interview with German Artist Almut Prang: June 25, 2014

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/interview-with-almut-prange-livinginpeace-project-resident-artist-june-25-2014

2014 LivingInPeace Project Resident Artist Almut Prange speaks with project founder Paul Murray on Karamea Radio 107.5 FM about her experience, life in Karamea, art, travel and her future plans.

Interview with Italian Traveller Lorenzo Sebastio: June 25, 2014

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/interview-with-traveller-lorenzo-sebastio-june-25-2014

Lorenzo Sebastio (28) is a traveller, there’s not many of them left. He has walked halfway across New Zealand from the very north tip at Cape Reinga to Karamea at the top of the West Coast of the South Island where he stopped for the night at Rongo Backpackers & Gallery…home of Karamea Radio 107.5 FM where spoke with Paul Murray about his journey before he heads of down the West Coast to Bluff the southernmost tip of the New Zealand mainland.

Interview with Student Nurse Eloise Clayton: April 16, 2016

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/interview-with-student-nurse-eloise-clayton-april-16-2014

Eloise Clayton is nearing the end of her nursing studies and came to the small rural community of Karamea at the top of the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand to complete the practical training component of her degree. She was here for about six weeks and really got involved with the community and met most people in the district. She agreed to have a chat about her experience with DJ Crap on Karamea Radio 107.5 FM.

Interview with Canadian Artist Dejana Lukac: March 2014

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/interview-with-livinginpeace-resident-artist-dejana-lukac

Dejana Lukac from Alberta, Canada, came to Karamea for a couple of months in the summer of 2014 on the LivingInPeace Project artist-in-residency programme. Her art combines natural and found objects with man-made materials to create an entirely new object. The harmony of the nature contrasts with artificial products like foam and acrylic paint that seem to enhance and highlight each entity. Thank you Dejana for coming to Karamea and being a resident artist at the LivingInPeace Project.

Web site: Dejana Lukac: lukacdejana.wix.com/dejanalukac

Interview with Northern Irish Artist Norma Burrowes: March 2014

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/interview-with-livinginpeace-project-2014-resident-artist-norma-burrowes

Northern Ireland photographer and textile artist Norma Burrowes was a resident artist for the LivingInPeace Project in the summer of 2010. She returned to Karamea at the top of the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand in March 2014 for a second residency and spoke with Paul Murray on Karamea Radio about her art, life experiences and upcoming exhibition at Rongo Backpackers & Gallery on March 17, 2014.

Interview with Trail Runners Vicki and Vicki: January 7, 2014

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/karamea-radio-interview-with-heaphy-track-trailrunners-vicki-and-vicki

Trail Runners Vicki Woolley & Vicki Quinn arrived in Karamea after running the Heaphy Track in two days. They stayed at Rongo Backpackers & Gallery in Karamea and enjoyed a Heaphy Conqueror’s Feast, visited the Oparara Basin arches and caves the following day and ran back to Karamea along the Oparara Valley Track…tomorrow, they’re off to Vicki Woolley’s old hometown of Seddonville to take on the newest MTB track in New Zealand…The Old Ghost Road…Happy Trails for 2014 and beyond Super Vickis!

Vicki Woolley is the N.Z. Editor for TrailRun Magazine: www.TrailRun.com She is a single mum on her annual one week holiday….Vicki Quinn is her friend and fellow trail runner. Welcome to Karamea Ladies….

Interview with Permaculturalist Robina McCurdy: October 11, 2014

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/interview-with-robina-mccurdy

Paul Murray interviews Local Food Resilience/Security educator Robina McCurdy about her Local Food Resilience workshop at Rongo Backpackers & Gallery in Karamea on Saturday October 12 (9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)and the presentation the previous evening (October 11, 7-9 p.m.) Robina is a founding member of the Tui Community in Golden Bay and a passionate and enthusiastic champion of growing food, permaculture, biodynamics and building strong communities.

Radio NZ Interview with Permaculuralists Paul and Pete

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/livinginpeace-project-featured

Radio New Zealand Presenter Cosmo Kentish-Barnes visits Karamea and talks with LivingInPeace Project Founder Paul Murray and “Permaculture” Pete Cureen about their respective ventures.

Interview with Buller Council Deputy Mayor Rosalie Sampson

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/rosalie-sampson-interview-sept

Paul Murray interviews Buller District Council Deputy Mayor and candidate in the upcoming BDC elections Rosalie Sampson about her 24 years on the Council, Water, Rubbish, Mountain Biking and other issues important to the people of Karamea and the Buller District.

Interview with Buller Council Mayoral Candidate Margaret Montgomery

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/interview-with-bdc-mayoral

Paul Murray interviews Buller District Council Mayoral Candidate Margaret Montgomery about her nine years as a Councillor, important issues facing the Buller District, ideas about improving the lot for Buller residents her background, experience, business life and family. Essential listening for people interested in making an informed vote in the October election.

Interview with West Coast Conservation Board Chair Stewart Robinson

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/karamea-radio-107-5-fm-2

A Karamea Radio Interview with West Coast Conservation Board Chair Stewart Robertson discussing the role of the WCCB, conservation issues facing the West Coast and the challenges ahead for the West Coast Department of Conservation staff in maintaining a large tract of New Zealand’s national parkland.

Interview with Buller Council Candidate Sheryl Rhind

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/karamea-radio-107-5-fm-1

Buller District Council election candidate Sheryl Rhind chats with Paul Murray on Karamea Radio about who she is, what she stands for and why she wants to represent Karamea, the Seddon Ward and the Buller District as a Councillor.

Posted in 107.5 FM, Adventure, Art, Education, Entertainment, Environment, Fitness, Health, Interviews, Karamea, Karamea Radio, New Zealand, Radio, Science, South Island, West Coast | Tagged Art, DJ Crap, Interview, Karamea Radio, Karamea Radio 107.5 FM, Living in Peace Project, LivinginPeace Project, New Zealand, Radio Karamea, Rongo, Rongo Backpackers & Gallery, South Island, West Coast | Leave a comment

PermaBlitz by Elise Burkevics: Ten Days from Jungle to Garden

Posted on May 29, 2015 by LivinginPeaceProject

Off the Top of My Head

By Paul Murray

As a schoolgirl, Elise Burkevics was “way too cool for farming” despite attending Urrbrae Agricultural High School in Adelaide, South Australia, which specialises in training young people with agricultural aspirations.

More interested in art and design during her school years, it wasn’t until Burkevics graduated and entered the wide world that she discovered a passion for getting her hands dirty and the completion of a permaculture design course with Fair Harvest in Margaret River, Western Australia, really galvanized her passion for growing food and sparked her interest in the environment and sustainable living.

Burkevics moved to New Zealand in 2014 to pursue another passion–snowboarding– and applied to do a permaculture internship in the autumn of 2015 at the LivinginPeace Project in Karamea at the top of the West Coast of the South Island to put her theoretical understanding of permaculture into practice and gain valuable hands-on experience while waiting for the snowfields to open.

The LivingInPeace Project began in 2004 and is located in Karamea at the top of the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It combines the elements of Art, Travel, Permaculture and Education into a sustainable business.

LivingInPeace Project founder Paul Murray offered Burkevics a chance to test her mettle and gave her an opportunity to shine. She enthusiastically accepted the challenge of transforming a neglected patch of garden that had become and jungle into a functional, artistically designed and fertile vegetable patch that would feed the Murray Family with fresh organic produce year-round.

Elise Burkevics Prepares to Tackle the Jungle

After a discussion to establish the project objectives, Burkevics was given complete management authority to create the garden and she set to work with pick, shovel, fork and spade.

The garden had been continuously cropped for about 10 years, but left fallow for a year while the property owners were absent and had gone wild with weeds and overgrowth. This presented a significant challenge and one Burkevics accepted with glee.

She first sat down and drew up a plan in line with her permaculture design training and decided to first remove the weeds and discover what existing plants, if any, could be incorporated into the garden design. The focus was on food production, so ornamental plants, flowers and non-edible vegetation was removed to make way for vegetables, herbs and fruit. So out came the hydrangeas and other ornamental plants, which were relocated to a garden at Rongo Backpackers & Gallery, one of the accommodation facilities at the LivingInPeace Project to enhance the landscaping around the hostel.

Day 2: Work Begins

WED_5218

The garden was once fertile and productive with a diverse range of edible plants. Burkevics embarked on an archeological dig to unearth the lost garden and determine if any of the plants could be rescued from the jungle and incorporated into the new design.

Day 4: Taming the Jungle

On Day 5, Murray decided Burkevics deserved some assistance and Wwoofer Kyla McLachlan offered to help. Together, they removed all the wild vegetation, tamed the jungle and started work on rebuilding the garden.

Kyla McLachlan and Elise Burkevics hard at work

Burkevics was happy to have some help and much progress was made when Kyla McLachlan arrived to assist.

On Day 6, there was an opportunity to take a break from the project and do some other work on the LivingInPeace Project Permaculture Farm, so Burkevics and McLachlan joined the other members of the Wwoofing crew to make some compost and trim the sheep’s feet…and drink some beer.

Left to Right: Elise Burkevics, Kyla Mclachlan, Ruth Schrapper, Peter Dickinson and Jamie Tillett The LivingInPeace Project Wwoofing Crew.

Elise Burkevics and Friend

Elise Burkevics (left) and Kyla McLachlan

After a break, work on there garden resumed with gusto and Burkevics and McLachlan worked well together…progress was rapid. The garden design began to take shape, the pathways formed and the vegetable beds created. They lay cardboard along the pathways as a means of preventing the return of weeds and to provide a base for the river sand that was carted in to line the paths.

Day 6: The garden begins to take shape, pathways are created and lined with cardboard ready to be covered in river sand.

Burkevics applied her love of design to the project and came up with a garden layout that was not only functional and practical, but also aesthetically attractive.

Once the sand was laid on the pathways, the garden beds were clearly defined and the white sand formed an attractive contrast with the rich, dark alluvial Karamea soil.

“Moo” inspects progress as the gardens begin to take shape.

Driftwood and granite river rocks were collected to edge the gardens and further enhance their aesthetic appeal and then the planting began. Silverbeet, brassica, lettuce and other seedlings were planted into the well-composted garden beds to provide a banquet of winter vegetables for the Murray Family to enjoy.

The weeds, grass, sticks and other organic material was piled up and covered to slowly break down and provide compost for the garden beds for the following season.

Diva Murray came to celebrate the completion of the garden reclamation project and climbed to the top of Mt Compost.

Many people stopped by to see the amazing transformation from jungle to garden on one week.

Kyla McLachlan, Elise Burkevics and Diva Murray stand in the completed gardens inspecting the newly planted seedlings.

Ten days later, the garden was complete. The mess of overgrown vegetation gone and in its place, tidy, aesthetically pleasing and productive garden beds with the promise of an abundance of winter vegetables.

Very Happy: Client Paul Murray (right) was rather pleased with the results of the transformation of his overgrown former garden into neat artistic, functional and productive food patch by Elise Burkevics and Kyla McLachlan.

“Anachronism” Party at Rongo Backpackers & Gallery: May 27, 2015. Elise Burkevics (with Hula Hoop) and Kyla McLachlan (as a geisha). (Photo by Tristan Lockerbie)

To celebrate the completion of the project, Burkevics and McLachlan joined the rest of the LivingInPeace Wwoofing Crew for an “Anachronism” dress-up dinner party and climbed Mt Stormy the following day. Thank you Ladies, Great Job!

Elise Burkevics (left) and Kyla McLachlan (right) atop Mt Stormy. (Photo by Mitsuyo Numata)

Posted in Elise Burkevics, Environment, Environmentally Responsible Business, Gardening, Karamea, Kyla McLachlan, LivinginPeace Project, New Zealand, Paul Murray, PDC, PermaBlitz, Permaculture, Rongo Backpackers & Gallery, South Island, Sustainablity, West Coast | Tagged Agriculture, Art, backpackers, Business, education, Elise Burkevics, Environment, Gardening, karamea, KylaMcLachlan, LivinginPeace Project, New Zealand, Paul Murray, Permaculture, Permaculture Design Course, Rongo Backpackers & Gallery, South Island, Sustainability, Urrbrae Agricultural High School, West Coast | 3 Comments

DJs Crap & Echo: Jesus Is In the Moonshine: HillBilly Show: April 18, 2015

Posted on April 23, 2015 by LivinginPeaceProject

https://soundcloud.com/rongobackpackers/djs-crap-echo-jesus-is-in-the-moonshine-hillbilly-show-april-18-2015

DJs Crap and Echo team up to bring the Karamea Radio public the music of the Appalacians, Ozarks and the Deep South…HillBilly Music tonight, put on your overalls, get your banjos out, knock out a couple teeth, marry your sister, chew on some straw, cook up a raccoon, go blind guzzlin’ moonshine, shoot some meth, saddle up a pig and get on down to this good ole HillBilly Hoedown…You’re Welcome!

Rongo Backpackers & Gallery: www.RongoBackpackers.com

LivingInPeace Project: www.LivingInPeace.com

Karamea Radio: www.facebook.com/KarameaRadio107.5FM

Heaphy Track: www.HeaphyTrack.com