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Internationally renowned painter Jason "Ponzi" Ponzuric has accepted an artist residency at Rongo Backpackers & Gallery in Karamea, New Zealand from Feb. 24 to March 27, 2009.

Ponzi specialises in painting live at music gigs and will be performing in Karamea and conducting art classes for residents and visitors during his tenure.

Ponzi is a great guy, a gifted artist and we are thrilled to have him as our resident artist.

For more information on the art classes and live painting gigs contact Paul Murray: E-mail: rongo@actrix.co.nz or Ph: 03-7826-667

Pictures to come soon, there are currently some problems with our database which have broken the photo gallery

Joe Citizen

You've met Hollywood and Bollywood – now meet Hamil-wood.

Hamilton film maker Joe Citizen is a man with a mission – to introduce New Zealand to Hamil-wood, New Zealand's great unsung film melting pot - by means of a national tour.

Mr Citizen is so passionate about Hamilton film (and Hamilton art generally) that he fronted up to six of the town's business leaders acting as judges on a small TV show called 'Show Me The Money' to pitch his idea of showcasing Hamilton film, and ask them for money.

Hang on a minute – Hamilton film?

The judges were impressed. They gave him the prize money of $12,000. Thus was born the compilation of short Hamilton films collectively entitled 'It Came From the Swamp', and a new national tour of the collection which will take in places as well known as the National Film Archive in Wellington, and as obscure as Granity on the West Coast of the South Island.

"The tour will be slightly mad," says Mr Citizen.

"We're packing a PA system, a screen and projector into the back of a campervan and playing pretty much anywhere that will take us. I'm going to be giving out my mobile phone number and if we're passing through a town and someone – anyone – calls me up to ask for a showing and if we've got time we'll rock into town and roll tape."

It's not all chaos though. There are a number of pre-scheduled dates as well.

The seven films have all been shot locally in the Hamilton area, and last an average of ten minutes each. Look out New Zealand, you're about to get take on a place once voted our second most boring town, after Levin.

For Details, Contact:

Joe Citizen

Chairperson, Waikato Moving Image Trust

We must be crazy! But Karamea is worth checking out for more than just one night and we make this offer because we want people to get out and see what Karamea has got to offer while they are here. We have also dropped the prices on our larger dorm room

Every Fourth Night is Free!

We've even done the Mathematics for you:

4 Nights in Double Room: ($28 pp per night) (BBH Members $26)

4 Nights in Twin Room: ($28 pp per night) (BBH Members $26)

4 Nights in 70s Dorm Room: ($22 pp per night) (BBH Members $20)

4 nights in Rasta Dorm Room: ( $20.25 pp per night) (BBH Members $18)

4 Nights in a Tent: ($19 pp per night) (BBH Members $16.50)

This track climbs the Oparara river gorge from the edge of the National Park and mountains, about 5km from Karamea to reach the renowned Oparara Basin, previously only accessible via road or helicopter.

The new track is the work of the Oparara Valley Trust, which was set up to make the Oparara Basin the premium visitor attraction on the northern West Coast. The valley track marks the final stage of the project.

New picnic tables, toilets and information boards have recently been installed at the basin carpark.

New solid wood picnic tables Map of the Basin Mirror Tarn

Click to see picture full-size