2014 days ago

Future Hollywood star found in Upper Hutt boxing gym

Reporter Community News

James Matamua is a name to remember.

The Upper Hutt 22 year-old has taken an unlikely path to acting stardom after being discovered in an Upper Hutt boxing gym.

When Kiwi director Sam Kelly walked into the Heretaunga Boxing Gym, he wasn’t expecting to find New Zealand’s next big talent. But that is exactly what Kelly found when he handed out audition forms to the young men hanging around after training.

Matamua was so confident he’d get the role after auditioning, James started signing off as ’’Next Big Thing’’ in his emails to the producer, telling them not to bother auditioning anyone else. It was this confidence, humour and natural charm that endeared the casting team to him and won him the role.

Matamua scored a role in Savages, a film about the early history of gangs in New Zealand.

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More messages from your neighbours
2 hours ago

Got more greens than you know what to do with? 🥦🌱🥕

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Whether it’s a courgette takeover or a feijoa frenzy, don’t let those garden gems go to waste!

Our suggestion to you: Did you know you can grate and freeze excess courgettes to use in chocolate cake later? It sounds a bit dodgy, but it makes the cake incredibly moist ... and hey, it counts as a serving of veg, right? 🍫

What’s your go-to move for a bumper harvest? Drop your best "glut" recipes or preservation hacks in the comments below! 👇

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9 days ago

💨 Wellington: Is the real summer finally here?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

It’s the talk of the town (and every coffee queue): the Wellington "summer" has felt more like a very long, very damp spring! 🌧️ We’ve definitely had our fair share of grey skies and raincoats lately.

In fact, The Post reports that our "pretty average" summer has been tough on the local venues and events that usually thrive under the sun. But don't pack away the sunscreen just yet!

The good news? The next couple of weeks are looking a bit more "settled" (the Wellington word for "not a gale-force downpour"). With autumn officially here, now is the time to squeeze every last drop out of the season! ☀️

Any local hidden spots or activities you’d recommend for a calm Wellington day? Drop them in the comments! 👇

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8 hours ago

Have a say on Petone to Grenada Link Road

Robyn from Newlands

NZTA plan to build a Four Lane link road from Petone to Grenada under Fasttrack legislation. They plan to take it through several well established significant native bush reserves (Seton Nossitor, Gilberds Bush, Escarpment, a small part of Belmont Park etc). These are precious recreation areas in the northern suburbs and home to an amazing array of birds. The evening birdsong in Seton Nossitor Park makes it easy to think you are not even in a city. This will all disappear forever if NZTA have their way. Under Fasttrack there is little option for consultation and feedback. Tomorrow there is an "information" session where you have a chance to engage with NZTA and find out why they are building a road straight through an established builtup suburb and mulitple areas of native bush (when there are other options that can go through bare farmland). Go down and have your say. We have to stop this senseless destruction.
Community information sessions:
Newlands Baptist Church, 5 Horokiwi Road West, on:
• Saturday 14 March from 11am–2pm
• Tuesday 17 March from 4pm–7pm

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