Maori marae integral to New Zealand tourism

0 Comments read Indigenous, Travel

By Neena Bhandari

Hawke’s Bay, 04.07.2005 (IPS): Atop the Te Mata peak, in freezing 6C weather, visitors to New Zealand are treated to a traditional Powhiri or Maori welcome ceremony.

The traditions and protocol of the Powhiri, which means venturing into the unknown and sharing information and knowledge, provide an insight into the unique and spiritual world of New Zealand’s indigenous people.

“The welcome ceremony is very important for us as it is the protocol for establishing a new relationship and renewing relationship with all the five senses – sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste,” says Lilian Hetet-Owen of Maori Treasures, near Wellington.

Continue reading →

The Phases of Polio – Past, Present and Future

0 Comments read Disability, Health & Science, Poliomyelitis

By Neena Bhandari

Canberra, 15.12.2004 (IPS): As developing countries move closer to polio eradication, the developed world is battling with ageing polio survivors experiencing post polio syndrome (PPS).

Many of the 40,000 Australians, who survived the polio epidemics of the twentieth century, are facing the threat of new disabilities. While they initially recovered and made the most of life with disability, today they are battling with profound fatigue, increasing muscle weakness, joint and muscle pain, increased sensitivity to cold temperatures and sleeping, breathing or swallowing difficulties. These are all linked to the late-effects of polio or PPS.

Continue reading →

Women in Australian film & Television

0 Comments read Arts, Entertainment & Lifestyle, Gender

By Neena Bhandari

Sydney, 10.08.2004 (WFS): For women in the film and television industry in Australia, it has been a long and arduous struggle to achieve gender equity on and off screen. Much of the changes in the portrayal of women on screen have come about with women filmmakers challenging patriarchal attitudes and making a mark not only in the field of script writing, direction and production, but also technical fields of cinematography, design, sound and editing.

Not long ago, a woman with a professional camera in public would be met with sighs and disbelief. The general notion was that women worked as production secretaries, negative cutters or in the editing, research, makeup and wardrobe sections.

One of the first woman cinematographers, Martha Ansara, recalls how she had cried on the steps of the Sydney Town Hall before shooting a demonstration.” You were made to feel as though you were from Mars. It wasn’t easy to be walking around with a camera on your shoulders”.

Continue reading →