Times Interview


The Times Interview - West Papuan activist Septer Manufandu, Explain Yourself to Cameron Broadhurst
Monday, 09 June 2008
Septer Manufandu was born into the Biak tribe on a small island in the north of West Papua, a territory under the control of Indonesia but with a significant native population. They moved to Jayapura, and he grew up in the high mountain areas of central Papua.

The Times Interview - TM Bishop, Explain Yourself to PJ Taylor
Wednesday, 30 April 2008
She's a little bit country and now she’s a little bit rock and roll, Auckland style. TM Bishop is a woman generating laughter across the nation and the world in her distinctively down-to-earth Kiwi style, which regularly links back to her days growing up in the lush Northland countryside.

The Times Interview - Ruban Nielson from The Mint Chicks, Explain Yourself to PJ Taylor
Wednesday, 23 April 2008
The Mint Chicks is one of the big names dominating the New Zealand music scene, after collecting five Tui awards last year for their Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No! album, including for best album and rock group.

The Times Interview - David Shand, Explain Yourself to Cameron Broadhurst
Monday, 14 April 2008
East Manukau resident David Shand must be one of New Zealand’s most experienced and well-travelled consultants, specialising in public sector finances. He was involved in the 1970s in politics, running twice unsuccessfully as a Labour candidate for Wellington Central - “the first one was a narrow loss” and spending time as a Wellington City councillor from 1971-77.

Peter Charles Leitch, QSM. Times photo Bruce Nicholson. The Times Interview - Peter Leitch, Explain Yourself to Dean Wedlake
Thursday, 12 July 2007
Peter Charles Leitch, QSM - The Mad Butcher - is passion personified. There was no prouder man than the 63-year-old Bucklands Beach resident when appointed manager of the New Zealand rugby league side before their 2005 Tri-Nations campaign.

Doug Walters. Times photo Dean Wedlake. The Times Interview - Doug Walters, Explain Yourself to Dean Wedlake
Wednesday, 23 May 2007
To interview Doug Walters is to understand how much cricket has changed in the modern era.

Mike Loder with his winner's prize that spells l-a-u-g-h, collected at the recent 2007 Business to Business Humour in Business Awards. Times photo PJ Taylor. The Times Interview - Mike Loder, Explain Yourself to PJ Taylor
Thursday, 17 May 2007
Everyone's a comedian at this time of year, as some of the funniest people on the planet join Kiwi laugh generators at the annual International Comedy Festival.

A drummer for all seasons, NZ's finest beat master, Frank Gibson. Times photo PJ Taylor. The Times Interview - Frank Gibson, Explain Yourself to PJ Taylor
Thursday, 10 May 2007
Frank Gibson has been an ever-present name in Auckland’s gig and band listings since popular music got people singing and dancing back in the late 1940s. First to keep the gig-going punters right in time was Frank Gibson senior, the beat king of Auckland’s post World War Two dance hall craze and early rock’n’roll years.

The Times Interview - Nik Brown, Explain Yourself to PJ Taylor
Monday, 07 May 2007
A memorable sight at the last night of Th’ Dudes-Hello Sailor-Hammond Gamble national tour triumph in Rocktober was David Gapes viewing the stage action from the balcony, front row centre. Colin Hogg was a couple of seats away.

John Rowles. Photo supplied. The Times Interview - John Rowles, Explain Yourself to PJ Taylor
Friday, 27 April 2007
Cheryl Moana Marie opens the door with a welcoming smile. On the fridge door is an old black and white rugby photo of their father, pre-Second World War Maori All Black, Eddie Hohapata-Rowles. John Rowles is relaxed and refreshed as he sits to chat in a Te Atatu kitchen he’s very familiar with, after four decades of travelling the world moving from one top showbiz assignment to the next.

NZ rock legends after only two albums Elemeno P is, Lani Perkis (bass), Dave Gibson (vocals, guitar), Scotty Pearson (drums/percussion) and Justyn Pilbrow (guitar). Photo supplied. The Times Interview - Elemeno P's Scotty Pearson, Explain Yourself to PJ Taylor
Thursday, 18 January 2007
Drummers seldom steal the limelight, unless they’ve got magnetic character and their chops together. Ringo Starr and Keith Moon had it - especially the comedy - so did Ginger Baker and Mitch Mitchell from rock’s early days, through to Dave Grohl of the recent beat masters.

The Times Interview - Alistair Richardson, Explain Yourself to PJ Taylor
Thursday, 07 December 2006
With much focus on who’ll pay $385 million for the nation’s principal 2011 Rugby World Cup venue, there’s hardly been any talk about what the next generation Eden Park will be like.

The Times Interview - Dai Henwood, Explain Yourself to PJ Taylor
Monday, 13 November 2006
Faster than speeding boy racers, refreshing as chilled ale on a summer’s day, the characters have been left to one side, as his natural funny side emerges week by week on the small screen. It’s an honest, straight-up approach that’s working for him, as C4’s own Insert Video grows in popularity.

The Times Interview - Shona Laing, Explain Yourself to PJ Taylor
Thursday, 09 November 2006
Highly distinctive in sound, attention grabbing lyrically, her work endures as music making listeners stop and think. As a consistent observer of the world around her – that’s been in many places with a greater variation of people than most come into contact in a lifetime – Shona Laing has taken her time to get songs exactly the way she wants, to convey a message that’s substantial and meaningful. 

More Headlines »