In conversation with Tina Cross and Carl Doy
Memories of winning the Pacific Song Contest
Forty years ago on 18 October, Tina Cross, a young singer from South Auckland won the Pacific Song Contest, with ‘Nothing But Dreams’ written by Carl Doy. To celebrate this career-defining moment the pair will perform a concert in Wellington at the National Library on October 18.
At lunchtime on the day of the concert, Tina and Carl will speak with Paul Diamond about their memories of their 1979 win and the impact it had on their careers. There’ll also be an opportunity to see footage from the 1979 contest, and from the 1980 contest, where Tina sang another Carl Doy composition (‘Once Again With You’), a duet with Derek Metzger.
This free session is part of the public programme for the National Library exhibition — Pūkana: moments in Māori performance.
About the speakers
Tina Cross ONZM (Te Aupouri/Ngāti Porou) has been a household name since ‘Nothing But Dreams’ took her into living rooms across the country when the Pacific Song Contest was broadcast live to millions of TV viewers. Turning sixty this year Cross celebrates an incredible 44-year career as a singer and entertainer in the business as one of New Zealand’s timeless leading wāhine as a recording artist, TV darling, musical theatre queen, Lady Killer and anti-domestic violence advocate. Not forgetting also that Cross sang the vocals on the original theme song for our longest running soap — Shortland Street.
Carl Doy ONZM is also an icon in the New Zealand musical scene having recorded over twenty piano albums, starting with Piano by Candlelight in the 1980s, which set records with triple-platinum sales in New Zealand and over one million albums sold in USA. As a producer he has been hugely successful producing double-platinum albums for Yulia, Elizabeth Marvelly, Martin Winch (Espresso Guitar) and Brian Smith (Moonlight Sax). He has also been musical director for such NZ luminaries as Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Sir Howard Morrison and Rob Guest.
Paul Diamond (Ngāti Hauā, Te Rarawa and Ngāpuhi) was appointed as Curator, Māori at the Alexander Turnbull Library in 2011. Together with Ariana Tikao and Vicki-Anne Heikell, he curated Pūkana, an exhibition celebrating Māori performance over time. Tina Cross is one of the artists featured in the Ngā Tāngata Mīharo/Performing Careers section of the exhibition.
Image: L to R: Tina Cross at the Pacific Song Contest, Christchurch, 1979. Photographer unidentified. Private collection. Carl Doy at the Pacific Song Contest, Christchurch, 1979. Photographer unidentified. Private collection.
Poll: If we want to reduce speeding, what do you think actually changes driver behaviour? 🛻🚨🚓
In the Post's article on speeding penalties, the question is asked whether speeding fines are truly about road safety, or are they just a way to boost revenue for the Crown?
What do you think? Should speeding motorists receive speeding fines or demerit points?
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32.5% The sting of a fine (Money talks!)
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67.5% The threat of demerit points (Nobody wants to lose their license!)
Some Choice News!
DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.
Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.
For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.
Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?
We hope this brings a smile!
Poll: Are you still heading to your local for your caffeine fix, or has the $$ changed your habits? ☕
Wellington’s identity is built on its cafe culture, but with costs climbing, that culture is under pressure. We’ve seen the headlines about recent closures, and it’s a tough pill to swallow along with a $6+ coffee.
We all want our favourite spots to stay open, but we also have to balance our own budgets ⚖️
We want to know: How are you handling the "coffee math" in 2026? Are you still heading to your local for a chat and a caffeine fix, or has the cost of living changed your habits?
Keen to read more about "coffee math"? The Post has you covered.
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46.4% I avoid spending money on coffee
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44.1% I still indulge at my local cafe
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9.5% Irrelevant - coffee is not for me
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