Here I have listed a few issues and groups or friends Web-sites for you to visit. Scroll down the page to read a short introduction and link to their site.
TV is a way of Life but why TV is a way of life, just try saying this at the next party "actually we don't have a television" and see the crowds disperse with departing "what a nutter" looks over their shoulders. People define themselves by the shows they watch and to challenge TV's value in our lives is to make people feel inherently uncomfortable. But as parents we must put these feeling aside, so switch off the TV and read: "Remotely controlled. How television is damaging our lives - and what we can do about it" by Dr Aric Sigman. He cites the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines recommending that children under the age of two watch no television or any screen entertainment at all, as 'it can negatively affect early brain development'. He goes on to quote Havard medical school academics "Television viewing is exactly the opposite of what toddlers need for their development...young children's television should be postponed as long as possible and other activities provided and encouraged". Last and most damning quote "Television is a major health issue and getting around this by offering reassuring incantations like 'everything in moderation' is highly irresponsible'"(Sigman, 2005, pp 262) . Bearing in mind the many health issues and in particular the strong links between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and television viewing in young children we made a decision as parents to switch off. From our own personal experience (approx 2 years) of withdrawing television we have found it difficult and inconvenient. But have observed our children (now 3 & 5) participating in more independent imaginative play, reading books, hours outside in the garden playing with worms, and yes it means initially more parent involvement when it is not always convenient but then the children become able to entertain themselves with their own play and books rather than relying on the television and that is a really important gift/skill. Just remember there was life before television.
Next stop is my brother's site. He lives in Mt Tamborine Australia. Full time muso singer song writer and music teacher. Craig performs solo and duo all over the Gold Coast from good time music to jazz. Now he is also writing his own compositions. Check him out.
www.myspace.com/craigtaylor08 www.craigtheentertainer.com Heres an old photo of Craig in one of his Whangarie bands about 1986 before he joined me on the road full time. 
Welcome to the Te Aroha i-SITE 
Welcome to the Te Aroha i-SITE Visitor Centre. We have the information and tourism services you need to make your stay in Te Aroha the very best time ever.
Visit Te Aroha to experience our naturally hot soda spas and warm leisure pools set among the green tree ferns of Mt Te Aroha. Our magnificent mountain is an ever changing backdrop to an historic and vibrant Spa town through which the Waihou River winds its way out to the Firth of Thames.
Discover Te Aroha's rich history when 'taking the waters' was a fashionable pastime and a cure for everything. Be transported back in time to the gold mining days of Waiorongomai Valley where fortunes were made and lost, where you can still follow old miners' trails and discover relics of the gold rush days.
After a day walking or biking the hills, following the arts trail or simply relaxing, we can help you find the accommodation that best suits you, be it backpackers, motel, country cottage or luxury villa, and we can happily recommend somewhere to eat. We can also help you book a massage or treatment, and tell you 'What's On' in town.
However you spend your time in our town you will be assured of great Te Aroha hospitality.
"Te Aroha i-SITE Visitor Centre is a particularly well run
and well stocked hub at the bottom of the Domain..."
North & South - July 2008Michele Laurie | Information Consultant
Te Aroha i-SITE 102 Whitaker St, Te Aroha 3320
p 07 884 8052 | f 07 884 8259 | e info@tearohanz.co.nz | w www.tearohanz.co.nz
Amber Emm (painted myself and guitar with Luca on my knee displayed above)Preferred Media: Painting
Classification: Emerging, Galleried
Commissions AcceptedRepresenting Galleries
Monmo Gallery . Matakana Gallery & Design Amber's inspiration comes from boats, the seaside and the coastal fauna and flora. She took up painting in 1990 purely for pleasure. Positive feedback from a painting demonstration encouraged her to start teaching.
Over the years Amber has won numerous awards recognising the achievement of her work and in 2008 she was published in "New Zealand's Favourite Artists" by Denise Robinson.
Amber also paints commissions (like the painting above) and supplies several galleries. 
She also teaches painting to adults in Whenuapai, Auckland.
Classes are for beginners to budding artists, in all mediums - watercolour, acrylic and oil.
classes are: Tuesday 12.30 - 2.30
Wednesday 12.30 - 2.30
Thursday evenings 5 - 7 and 7.30 - 9.30
for all enquireries please email emmt@vodafone.co.nz
Awards: - 2008 Winner of the "People's Choice Award" at the "Nautical Art Exhibition", Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.
- 2006 2nd Place in the "Professional section", Royal Easter Show
- 2005 Winner of the "People's Choice Award" at the "Nautical Art Exhibition", Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.
- 2004 Winner of the "Laurie Coons Award for Landscape", North Shore Art Awards
- 2003 Winner of the "People's Choice Award" at the "Nautical Art Exhibition", Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.
- 2001 Winner of the "People's Choice Award" at the "Nautical Art Exhibition", Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.
Leamington Primary School Room 6Marg the teacher of room 6 has produced an amazing blog site for you all to visit. I performed to her class and others their. Luca came along and we had an amazing session. If you visit my "School Visit" tag you will read about the visit.Check out Marg's blog www.classblogmeister.com/blog.php?blogger_id=239221
Pittsy's Mountain Radio 
Pittsy's Mountain Radio is unique to Te Aroha. An under verandah wired speaker system covering three blocks of the town broadcasts to shoppers weekdays. Playing country and easy listening music with local advertising for businesses and community groups. Pop in and see Wayne for more details.
155A Whitaker St, Te Aroha
021 644 321
wayver@xtra.co.nz Wayne supports my music on his Radio station. A huge thanks to Wayne. I often have locals commenting on hearing my music in the main street. What more could I ask.
Check out www.jeffson.co.nz or www.kiwibikes.co.nz FRAME BUILDING: Manufacturing Jeffson Frames I am Jeff Anderson and bicycles are my passion. I have built my business Kiwibikes to have a national reputation for outstanding tradesmanship and service. I handcraft bicycle frames (Jeffson is my brand) made to your specifications. Kiwibikes also specialises in frame repairs and repainting to restore your favourite bike to just how you want it.
Jeff has to be one of he nicest guys in the bike industry, still lovin those Rotorua trails. Also check out Jeff's home stay. Awesome cottage and surroundings in Rotorua. Drop into his shop as I always do even just to say Hi. KIWIBIKES LIMITED
1155 Pukautua St (next to Zippy's Cafe)
Rotorua, New Zealand
Phone: +64 (0)7 348 2929
Fax: +64 (0)7 348 2930
Mobile: +64 (0)274 484 035 bikes@kiwibikes.co.nz
Kip Tipuna (kip has a facebook contact also)Latin / Jazz Guitarist / Vocalist
Auckland Region I met kip briefly in Whangarei in the late 70's and again while at the Masonic in Napier in 1982-4 while I was playing in the corner Med bar and he was in the Cobb Bar next door. Amazing singer guitarist. Still playing full time 30yrs on. Kip Tipuna has been playing professionally since early 80's, and performs regularly around Auckland, often in a duo or trio. Today Kip explores influences from acoustic jazz, Latin, country, and the 'standards". His style of melody and bass playing has developed from an amalgam of the styles of Manuel Gomez, Earl Klugh, Joe Pass, Johnathan Butler, Chet Atkins, and more recently Tommy Emmanuel. Kip says the key is to think of playing piano on guitar! Kip was raised in Invercargill, and started playing when he was just seven. After his father - a finger-style player - had taught him three chords, Kip took some classical lessons, but he disliked the regimentation, and decided to teach himself with the help of extended family, and by listening to the likes of Jose Feliciano, Earl Klugh, and George Benson. After meeting Manuel Gomez in 1978 - who in Kip's humble opinion is the greatest solo artist of his type in New Zealand - Kip set his sights on a career as a professional guitarist-singer-songwriter. At weekends, Kip would travel for miles in his Morris 1100 to see Manuel play, and covertly glean all he could from his mentor.
Those with a keen eye may notice that Kip has false fingernails. After searching for a more convenient means than plectrum and finger, in 1984 on the suggestion of a bass player, he tried falsies, and has been using them ever since. Contact Shane thru his contact page and he will pass you on to me, Cheers Kip
Dedicated to those unsung heros of the brewery circuits of New Zealand who played covers for the drinkers and diners in pubs, hotels, clubs, restaurants and spent their lives on the road.
Click Links Below to view Acts: Amber / Shade / Bobby Gee / City Limits / Requiem / Russia / Pilot / Topaz / Rick & Gary / Alternative Two / Nightshift Duo / Shane Taylor / Destruction / Peta & The Pois / Mike McGregor / Lion Acts / Old Stickers
If you were a musician or in a band entertaining on the brewery circuit from 1970 to 1995, you may be interested in sending me a picture and a few details of your act and add to this site
Penny Humphries www.penoirart.com
After the busy years of working in the family business and bringing up our four beautiful teenage girls, my husband Terry encouraged me to have time out to explore and discover my passion for art. So since 1998 I have been able to take the opportunity to find good teachers / artists who would introduce me to a wide range of mediums and techniques. The following is a brief summary of those I have enjoyed studying under.
Waikato Society of Arts - 2 yrs Life drawing
Watercolours
Oils
Portraits
Out door sketching
Landscapes
Mairangi Art Centre (Auckland) Lance O'Gorman acrylics impressionism & abstract - 2 yrs - loved it!
Ben Ho oils impressionism - weekend workshop - loved it
Belinda Wilson - acrylics, collage - term - really stretched my creative abilities.
I currently enjoy using acrylics as my main medium on stretched canvas, painting with an impressionistic style. It allows me to experiment with colour and the freedom to be able to use a looser style to capture the feeling I want to express. This is probably why my friends coined the name Penoir for me. I hope you enjoy your visit to my site. Penny (Penoir) Humphries
www.audioreference.co.nz 1 Wellingtn Street Hamilton ,New Zealand Audio Reference Co - HiFi amplifiers, speakers, CD, stereo & home theatre equipmentWe have travelled the world to source best-of-class mid- to high-end components, including amplifiers, speakers, turntables, CD & DVD players, racks and cables. NZ audiophiles can now enjoy the following brands:
Arcus, Avalon, Brinkmann, Clear Audio, Cambridge Audio, Paradigm Speakers, Definitive Technology, EAT Tubes, Emille, Esoteric, Exposure, Finite Elemente, Gemme Speakers, Holfi, Hovland, Hyperion, Lyngdorf, McCormack, Music Hall, Neotech, Octave, Primare, Solid Tech, Triangle, Tri-The Triode Corp, Usher, Yter. You're welcome to buy online or experience a personal audition in our Hamilton studios. We welcome your questions & comments and invite you to sign up for our newsletter that will keep you in touch with the latest components and items of interest. Looking forward to helping you enjoy your favourite music on some of the best audiophile gear available! Terry Humphries
Jan Paul Van Der MeijSinger / Songwriter and much more........ 
www.J-P.nl/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jan-Paul van der Meij (Wijk aan Zee, Holland 1995) I recorded Crossfire in his studio. He was a fantastic friend to me in Holland both as a musician and cycling buddy. We did many cycling trips together around Holland, from Holland to Prague and Jan Paul even cycled over to my place in London. Musician / Painter / Photographer / Recording Engineer / Adventurer Check out Jan Pauls very interesting web site. 
Here is his lovely studio in Wijk aan zee where "Cross fire" was recorded.
Sound and Picture Specialist Ltd314 Grey StreetHamilton Eastshane@soundandpicture.co.nz Sales in HiFi, live sound, Home Theatre, Mutli room design sales and installation. Turntables and second hand LP's. We have great brands: Yamaha, JBL, Mordaunt Short, Anthem, Magnan Planer, Manley, Michelle Turntables, Musichall, Cambridge Audio Turntables, Fatman, Audio Engine, Panasonic. Drop into our little shop, We focuss on mid priced products that offer excellent value for money. Keep it simple and relistic, keep listening to the music on any level stereo. Great music sounds great on almost anything.
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