TELLING LIVES
At Telling Lives we develop factual communication and creative content for communities and the public. We believe that collaborative storytelling provides a more pluralistic and hopeful way forward.
"What you do and why it matters"
I was recently asked by Michael Mehaffey from www.thesouthernseries.com to film the 2025 Royal Canterbury A&P show with a focus on sheep and shearing. What a joy, a sheer pleasure if you will! Michael has a passion is to bring New Zealand sheep shearing to a global audience...
A sponsored story explaining how water cremation or alkaline hydrolysis works, providing a clear picture of the process and the basic science behind it. New Zealand's first Water Cremation service was opened in 2025 beginning a new era in funeral practices in Aotearoa. This story gives the background.
"Everyone has a story "
Copyright RNZPA 2024.
Lifting the kilt on kiwi pipe bands with a unique insight into the passion and dedication of New Zealand pipers and drummers. This Documentary/series follows four New Zealand pipe bands travelling to Scotland to compete against the best of the best at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow. Nine thousand pipers and drummers gather annually for this global battle of the bands, and the kiwis want to make their mark.
Treaty settlements with Maori try to redress past wrongs. In Christchurch, you might think all was fair until you hear the wretched story of Kemp's Purchase.
On the fifth anniversary of the Massacre of 51 Muslims at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, survivor Farid Ahmed is delivering cakes to his neighbours. He's joined by U.S. Ambassador at large Rashad Hussain, promoting a simple concept, that love can be more powerful than hate.
When you think of street art what is front of mind? Banksy? Well how about the homeless, people who actually call the streets home because they have nowhere else to live. In Ĺtautahi Christchurch, to mark World Homeless Day, the homeless are holding their own street exhibition. Here in New Zealand we call them the Kaewa or wanderers a term of respect for those struggling to find permanent shelter because of hardship, mental health issues or addiction. The project has been organised by Housing First and runs until Sunday the 15th of October https://www.housingfirstchch.co.nz/.../World-Homeless.../ partnering with The White Room Creative Space, Life in Vacant Spaces, Creative Junk and Telling Lives to bring you this event. #homeless #housingfirst #whiteroom #lifeinvacantspaces #tellinglives #christchurchcitycouncil body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.
HOPE PROJECTS
"living with gratitude"
This is a story of hope that provides inspiration and education through the lived experience of two former Meth addicts Danyon and Nicole. Their vision is to help others grappling with substance abuse by creating a grass roots educational resource which incorporates their own journey and expert advice enabling positive change. Rehab is not a linear process, relapse and struggle are part of the process of getting clean. We hope this helps those working towards a better future. My gratitude to Danyon and Cole's family and friends for your courage and belief. This is a pro bono project by Telling Lives. If you need help in NZ the Alcohol Drug Helpline – 0800 787 797 or text 8681 for support around alcohol and drugs, a free and confidential chat with a trained counsellor, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
To be able to grow your own fruit and veg on a busy street in the inner city is such a joy, we only have a tiny section but my wife Mel has put considerable energy and time into creating a beautiful wild garden. It's a surprising untamed place, a mix of flowers, vegetables, berries and herbs. It's where we go foraging for food, our wild place amidst the noise and traffic of modern living - literally. The cars rumble past as we weed the garden and tend the tomatoes. Mel is such a wonderfully positive person, the garden she gifted the family has changed our lives for the better. It's living proof that you can build your own kind of paradise even in a central city suburb.
John Sellwood rants
There are important lessons here for those watching New Zealand's own homegrown platforms which are taxpayer supported through NZ on Air. Whether freeview or payview, what are we actually seeing and why? what are we actually paying for and why? Are we simply paying millions to subsidise commercially fragile kiwi media platforms or are we paying to ensure a future for kiwi made factual content? These questions are particularly relevant as the government considers new funding models for both film and television.
No mistake, bowls is a highly competitive game, you need only watch the experienced players to see how seriously they take each delivery. But as a newbie my chance of falling anywhere close to the jack is more accident than design. But that’s not a bad thing as my reason for taking up bowls is stress relief than success.
While, like anyone I like to win, it’s the psychological break from the incessant buzz of the world that has really drawn me to the game. It’s been suggested that when they were handing out adhd diagnoses I was probably near the front of the queue, while I’m not sure that I would agree, I’m happy to acknowledge that bowls is a salve for the restless mind.