Last month I wrote about my friend Tom McFadden … Stanford University brainiac, Fulbright Fellow, biology teacher, and itinerant rapper.  AKA The Rhymebosome, Tom has been touring New Zealand, spreading his infectious enthusiasm for science to intermediate and secondary students through raps and rhymes. You may have seen him in the media recently as he hip-hopped from Auckland to Dunedin where he is completing the Masters degree he started as a Fulbrighter.

Tom and a posse hip-hopping toward, rather than fleeing from, science.

His recent tour was intended in part to promote a competition that he inspired to get students interested and involved in science by making it more fun and interactive. The contest, titled New Zealand‘s Science Idol, encouraged students to write and perform rap or hip hop songs about a science topic that interests them.

Twenty-seven contestants submitted video clips. Judges (including Tom) narrowed the field to eleven finalists based on scientific content, lyrical ingenuity, and performance quality. After intense scrutiny and vigorous debate, the judges selected winners in three age-group categories:  8 -14 years, 15-21 years, and 22-101 years. Each winner received a shiny new iPad to facilitate his or her ongoing scientific explorations.

I thoroughly enjoyed the winning videos, so I thought I’d share them with you here. The winner in the 8-14 category was Ella Cameron, a student at Tahuna Normal Intermediate School in Dunedin. She dominated the field with her fun-filled and factual rhyming video clip, The Heart Goes Boom:

James Mustapic, a student at John McGlashan College in Dunedin, took the 15-21 year-old category with Covalent Love, a daring nuclear parody of one of Justin Bieber’s most recent releases:

Topping the older-folks category with the visually and lyrically cool Auditory System was American expat Lee Tripp, who teaches science in Nelson:

The Science Idol competition culminates late next week at the grandly titled New Zealand International Science Festival in Dunedin, this year themed ”What Makes Us Tick.” On Friday, July 6th, one of the three age-category winners highlighted above will be named the grand prize winner.

In addition to being showered with acclaim, the newly crowned Sci-Rap Grand Master π will perform live with The Rhymebosome on stage at the Festival. He or she will also be invited to use the University of Otago’s studio facilities to make a music video.

I’m running my own populist poll, so please watch the three videos above and drop me a note before next Friday (July 6th) with your choice for the grand prize winner — The Heart Goes Boom, Covalent Love, or Auditory System. I’ll let you know the week after the Festival whether we the people agreed with the judges.

The Rhymebosome in action at Cardinal McKeefry School in Wellington.

Although, disappointingly, he doesn’t communicate with me in rhyme, Tom can’t stop gushing about how proud he is of the ”creativity and scientific swagger” demonstrated by everyone who entered the contest or engaged with him during his tour. Having viewed many of the videos myself, I can see why he is so impressed.

I have to say, though, that I turn the proud-and-impressed thing right back on Tom. He has used his Fulbright time in New Zealand exceptionally well. Yes, there’s the creativity and scientific swagger, but there’s also infectious passion and extraordinary generosity of spirit and time. Big thanks to Tom for being such a great ambassador and catalyst, cerebral and otherwise.

Big thanks as well to the folks at Fulbright for having the wisdom to recognize and select such an impactful free spirit for such a prestigious exchange program. And, of course, big thanks to the budget-challenged governments that continue to invest in the future in a pound-wise manner by funding academic exchanges such as the Fulbright.

Mondays are turning into very festive days for us at the Embassy and Consulate General. This past Monday we again threw a party, welcoming more than 400 guests to the stunning Events Centre on the top floor of the Auckland War Memorial Museum.  Once again we were celebrating the 236^th Independence Day of the United States of America as well as the 70^th anniversary of the arrival of American armed forces to help defend New Zealand during World War II.

It was not an accident that we chose the Museum as the site of our reception. Auckland Domain, in which the Auckland War Memorial Museum sits, was home to two U.S. camps during the war — Inner-Camp Hale (which housed more than 1,000 U.S. Navy shore staff and patients recovering from wounds suffered in combat in Pacific island battles against the invaders) and Outer-Camp Hale (consisting of 15 buildings on the slope directly in front of the Museum and used as a U.S. Army hospital complex with 750 beds).

Auckland War Memorial Museum as it looked in 1943 when Auckland Domain was home to Camp Hale.

As in Wellington a week earlier, it was a wonderful evening filled with music, conversation, dance, shared memories, and warm appreciation for ongoing friendship and collaboration. We maintained the 1942 theme and brought with us the same vintage photo posters, video reel, and music that we used in Town Hall in Wellington. We had some trouble, though, getting a vehicle up to the top floor of the Museum, so we parked three 1940′s American jeeps on the outside steps to greet guests and ease them into the mood of the evening.

As they reached the roof-top venue guests were met by the sounds of Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, and other 1940′s masters, played by the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band. Many more people than in Wellington took the opportunity to dance, and the floor in front of the stage was filled with jiving, spinning couples. Perhaps the most popular of the dancing duos was national treasure Lucy Lawless and my star-struck colleague Jeremy.

Lucy and Jeremy leading the way on the dance floor.

Our other guests included friends from academic, NGO, cultural, faith, business, medical, legal, and media circles as well as military veterans and many of my students. As in Wellington, I had some difficulty getting around the room, but I did get to say hello briefly to most of the attendees including Lady June Hillary, Jools Topp, AWMM Board Chairman Dr. William Randall, Aliya Danzeisen (founder of  Women’s Organization of the Waikato Muslim Association), Pacific Cooperation Foundation chief executive Meg Poutasi …

… Rev. Uesifili Unasa (chair of Auckland’s Pacific Peoples Advisory Panel), Bevan Chuang  (of Auckland’s Ethnic Peoples Advisory Panel), Pasifika Festival director Ole Maiava, worldclass sportswoman and educator Beatrice Faumuina, Auckland Art Gallery director Chris Saines, Professor Sergei Gulyaev (director of AUT’s Radio Astronomy Institute), Spasifik Magazine editor Innes Logan, Westpac private banking head Simon Power, MIT’s Dr. Stuart Middleton, James Pinker (of Mangere Arts Centre), Kiwibots’ Chris Hamling, Computer Clubhouse’s Mike Usmar, among others.

Lady Hillary chatting with friends at the reception.

Government, public service, and diplomatic circles were also well represented. I chatted with His Worship the Mayor of Auckland Len Brown, Labour Foreign Affairs spokesman Phil Goff, Te Ariki Tamaroa Whatumoana (representing his father Kingi Tuheitia), Minister Maurice Williamson, and MPs including Jacinda Ardern, Paul Hutchison, and Shane Jones …

… as well as several City Councilors, MFAT Auckland office director Warwick Hawker, and Chairman Peter Kiely of the Pacific Cooperation Foundation. Most of the Auckland diplomatic corps turned out including my good friends Rodney Walshe (New Zealand’s most prominent Irishman, honorary or otherwise) and Samoan Consul General Pogi Reupena.

Helen Kotua and Te Ariki Tamaroa Whatumoana.

As usual, we poured fine American wines and Coca Cola products. My staff vetoed my request for pizza and hot dogs so we offered guests an assortment of American fusion hors d’œuvres including avocado-salsa-espelette-cilantro tortilla wafers, polenta-blue-cheese-pomegranate-caramelized-onion filo tartlets, pancetta-wrapped scallops, smoked-chicken-mango-cilantro-chili-pepper tortilla crisps, and spiced lamb burgers with tomato chutney, feta, and mint.

We started the formal proceedings with the two national anthems. The Star-Spangled Banner was again sung by Chief Warrant Officer Michael Smith of the Marine Band. God Defend New Zealand was sung by NZ Defence Force veteran Grant Armishaw. I then spoke briefly about the 70th anniversary of the arrival of U.S. forces and what I consider to be the true meaning of friendship, service, and independence.

Mayor Len Brown offered spirited remarks about Auckland’s historically strong and increasingly vibrant relationship with the United States including with sister city Los Angeles (and with Waitakere’s sister city Huntington Beach). He made a few rugby comments that riled the crowd, so I responded in kind.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown offers remarks on behalf of the people of Auckland.

The Mayor and I then asked three World War II veterans — U.S. Marine Jack Long and N.Z. Army infantrymen Doug Ross and Rangi Ryan — to join us on stage to toast the People, Heads of State, and veterans of our two countries. Led to the stage by active-duty U.S. Marines, the three veterans were enthusiastically applauded by attendees for their service.

Mr. Long volunteered for the Marine Corps before Pearl Harbor and fought as a Flying Sergeant in two of the most hellish battles of the Pacific war, Guadalcanal and Bougainville. He was twice evacuated to New Zealand where he spent lengthy periods recovering in hospital, first from jaundice and then from wounds suffered when his airplane crashed during a mission.

Doug Ross and Rangi Ryan served in the 37th Infantry Brigade, NZ 3rd Division both in the Pacific and Europe during World War II. Mr. Ross saw action on Guadalcanal, Vella Lavella (in the Solomons), Nissan (in the Green Island group), and Italy. Mr. Ryan’s most memorable combat experience was in the Solomons and New Caledonia.

Introducing WWII veterans (left to right) Rangi Ryan, Doug Ross, and Jack Long.

Just as with our event in Wellington, a lot of hard work and effort went into planning and executing the reception. I would like to thank our friends at the Auckland War Memorial Museum including Director Roy Clare, Kim Poole, and Rachel Prebble, as well as our corporate partners without whom the evening would not have been possible …

… Boeing Australia & South Pacific, Christchurch Engine Centre (Pratt & Whitney), Cubic Defence NZ, GE Corporate, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft New Zealand Limited, Motion Picture Association of America, NZFACT, UPS (United Parcel Service), Ceres New Zealand, MagTek, Visa, and Distilled Spirits Association of New Zealand (and its CEO Thomas Chin).

Mayor Brown, Chris Hamling (national manager of Kiwibots NZ), and Sean Topham (Northern Regional Chair of Young Nats).

Kim Daly, Hon. Phil Goff, and Stuart Middleton sampling the food.

Guests viewing images of wartime New Zealand.

Visiting U.S. Army Major General Roger Mathews greets WWII veterans.

We aren’t done yet, though. Believe it or not, I’ve just dropped into a third city in time for a third Independence Day celebration. I flew to Christchurch from Wellington yesterday afternoon to meet the Marine Band, which had flown directly from Auckland the day before.

We played two great concerts yesterday – to a full house of more than 600 folks at La Vida in Riccarton and then to a couple hundred Cantabrians at the Geodome in Hagley Park. Today, after morning tea with my friend (and starlight doyen) Margaret Austin, we returned to the Geodome for another concert to a packed house of 400 Christchurch primary school students. Tonight we will conclude the two-week U.S. Marine Band tour as well as our formal 70th anniversary commemorations with an Independence Day celebration at the Royal NZ Air Force Museum here in Christchurch.

I’m sorry about any typos in the text above, but I’m firing off this post quickly on my laptop while trying to change into a fresh shirt and suit for this evening’s reception. It’s certainly a bad look for a host to show up late for his own party, so I’ll problee nede too forego mi uzule prufereeding. Apollogeez.

Last Monday night we welcomed more than 500 guests to Wellington’s historic Town Hall to celebrate both the 236^th Independence Day of the United States of America and the 70^th anniversary of the arrival of American armed forces to help defend New Zealand and repel the invaders after the outbreak of World War II in the Pacific. It was a wonderful evening filled with music, conversation, dance, shared memories, and warm appreciation for ongoing friendship and collaboration.

Guests arriving at Town Hall.

Because the reception was scheduled for the eve of the precise day that American forces first landed at Waitemata harbor in Auckland 70 years ago, we themed the event for June 1942. The hall was decorated with huge posters of American servicemen and the Kiwis who welcomed them, as well as an actual 1940′s American jeep parked in the middle of the floor for guests to inspect or climb into for photographs.

A video reel comprising movie clips, news footage, cabaret footage, photographs, and music from June 1942 played on a big screen above the stage throughout the evening. A troupe from the New Zealand School of Dance performed an excerpt from Paul Taylor’s Company B in period dress.  And, in a highlight of the evening, the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band took the stage to play big band classics including Benny Goodman’s Sing Sing Sing and Glenn Miller’s In the Mood and Pennsylvania 6-5000.

The U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band, under an image of forebears playing in Majestic Cabaret in Wellington in 1942.

Our guests included friends from academic, NGO, cultural, faith, business, medical, legal, media, and diplomatic circles as well as a large number of students and military veterans. I had a bit of difficulty navigating the crowd, but I saw Te Papa CEO Michael Houlihan, composer/performer Gareth Farr, philanthropist David Carson-Parker, music archaeologist Jeremy Commons, Opera Chair David Gascoigne, Film Commission Chair Patsy Reddy,  Royal NZ Ballet GM Amanda Skoog, Portrait Gallery Director Avenal McKinnon, political tweeps David Farrar and Jordan Carter, Federated Farmers CEO Connor English, Recording Industry Association of NZ CEO Chris Caddick, breakfast impresario Peter Cullen, Chris Laidlaw of Radio NZ, and dancer (and famous mum) Deirdre Tarrant, among others.

From the public service sector, attendees included Speaker of the House Dr. Rt. Hon. Lockwood Smith, Minister Gerry Brownlee, Minister Judith Collins, Minister Paula Bennett, Minister Murray McCully, Minister Dr. Jonathan Coleman, Minister Chris Tremain, Minister Jo Goodhew, NZ First Leader Rt. Hon. Winston Peters, Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown, Kapiti Mayor Jenny Rowan, Hutt City Mayor Ray Wallace, Carterton Mayor Ron Mark, Wellington Deputy Mayor Ian McKinnon, and a couple dozen Members of Parliament from the Labour, Green, New Zealand First, and National parties. Also well represented were the various branches of the NZ Defence Force and retired public servants including my good friend the Hon. Robert Talbot.

A view of the proceedings from back stage.

Conversation and good cheer were facilitated by a selection of fine California wines and four whiskey tasting stations featuring the libations of Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, Wild Turkey, and McKenna (from straight bourbon to unique kiwi-lime whiskey cocktails, as one wished). For the designated drivers there were Coca Cola products. Food included rice paper rolls with soy lime dip, honey & hazelnut pumpkin bites, duck confit pancakes, Hawkes Bay lamb on candied tomato, and other American and Kiwi favorites.

After an hour of mingling and conversation the formal program started with the presentation of the colors by a detachment of U.S. Marines, followed by the two national anthems.  The Star-Spangled Banner was sung by U.S. Marine CWO3 Michael J. Smith, accompanied by the Marine Band. God Defend New Zealand was sung by Royal New Zealand Air Force Sgt. Allan Wright, also accompanied by the Marine Band.

U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard launches the formal program.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully and I then offered remarks on the long history of service, sacrifice, and friendship shared by our two countries. The highlight of the Minister’s speech was a pithy review of the deepening and broadening of the already strong bilateral relationship over the past several years. For my part, I was pleased to share a quote that I think perfectly sums up the events we were commemorating. As the great American philosopher Oprah Winfrey said, “Everyone wants to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.”

As usual, Oprah nailed it. The essence of friendship isn’t trade, or commerce, or an unrealistic desire for perpetual harmony. There aren’t epic poems or requiem masses written to Gross Domestic Product, and even the best of friends and closest of spouses disagree with great regularity, and often vehemence. It’s only natural. The marks of true friendship are shared core values … common aspirations … and jumping to help each other when the need — and cost — is greatest.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully speaking on behalf of the Government.

To return to Oprah’s rubric, in the first half of 1942 the limo didn’t just break down. It was bombed to bits, as was the bus. So Kiwis and Americans walked shoulder-to-shoulder into hell to try to sort things out and help others … because that’s what Kiwis and Americans do. The sentiment might seem quaint to some these days, but great generations take responsibility and act. Even when doing so is uncomfortable, dangerous, costly, or unpopular.

For that reason, the emotional highpoint of the evening was when the Minister and I welcomed onto the stage to join us in the traditional national day toast two very special guests, World War II veterans Claude Bohn and Bruce Cunningham. The two servicemen climbed to the stage to loud applause, with photos of themselves taken in 1942 projected on the huge screen behind them.

U.S. Marine veteran Claude Bohn and R.A.F. veteran Bruce Cunningham being acknowledged for their WWII service.

Mr. Bohn is a U.S. Marine who fought as a machine gunner at Guadalcanal and then later at the Battle of Okinawa. He was last in New Zealand in 1943 when he was convalescing in Wellington after being wounded in combat in the South Pacific. He traveled from his home in the United States in order to attend the 70th anniversary, and he spent a busy week at commemorations in Kapiti and Wellington, including last week’s sunset ceremony and reception at Parliament.

Mr. Cunningham is a Lancaster bomber pilot who served with Number Three Group, RAF Bomber Command, based near Cambridge, England. He flew numerous missions at the height of the war in Europe. In 1944 he was shot down over Belgium, captured by the Germans, and sent to a POW camp. After two unsuccessful attempts, he finally escaped and was able to make his way across Europe to return to England. Mr. Cunningham also attended other commemorative events in the Wellington area last week.

U.S. World War II veteran Wayne Harter with author Joan Ellis.

As is customary, the official proceedings concluded with toasts to the People and leaders of our two countries. After the toasts, a troupe from the New Zealand School of Dance entertained guests with a vintage dance performed to the Andrew Sisters’ Rum and Coca-Cola.

The Marine maestro then struck up the Band to play additional selections popular in 1942. Some folks danced, and others continued to mingle and chat. To the bemused consternation of our venue hosts, the party ran almost 2 hours past the intended end time. Which I think is the best sign of a great evening.

Performers from the NZ School of Dance entertain guests.

A lot of hard work and effort went into planning and executing the event. I have sent the appropriate thank-you notes to those involved, but I would like to express special thanks here to our key sponsors and partners without whom the evening would not have been possible …

… Boeing Australia & South Pacific, Christchurch Engine Centre (Pratt & Whitney), Cubic Defence NZ, GE Corporate, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft New Zealand Limited, Motion Picture Association of America, NZFACT, UPS (United Parcel Service), Ceres New Zealand, MagTek, Visa, Distilled Spirits Association of New Zealand (and its CEO Thomas Chin), and of course our friends from Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, Wild Turkey, and McKenna.

Putting guests In The Mood.

Monday was not a one-off event. Dr WcWaine and I have spent the past week on tour with the Marine Band, stopping for formal concerts and spontaneous RSA, pub, and community jam sessions in Paraparaumu, Paekakariki, Poirirua, Kapiti, Carterton, Masterton, Waiouru, Ngaruawahia, and elsewhere.

The tour is intended not only to commemorate the events of 70 years ago but to thank Kiwis for the hospitality, generosity, and warmth with which they received our countrymen and women in the 1940′s. That’s why our schedule is heavily weighted toward towns and districts where American camps were located.

The Laurie Paddi dance band plays at Majestic Cabaret in Wellington in June 1942.

American servicemen and their dates in Majestic Cabaret in 1942 Wellington.

We stopped yesterday evening for a concert at Turangawaewae to thank Kingi Tuheitia, Te Atawhai, and the iwi of Tainui for the extraordinary kindness shown to American servicemen and women by Kingi Korokī and Princess Te Puea Herangi during the war. After the concert Kingi Tuheitia and Te Atawhai honored the full Marine Band with an invitation into the Mahinarangi meeting house for a group photograph.

We have now arrived in Auckland, and I just introduced the Band to more than 1,000 music lovers at the Bruce Mason Centre in Takapuna Beach. Once this concert is over, I’ll head back across the bridge to prepare for tonight’s Independence Day celebration at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. It should be another great evening. Then we pack our bags again and head to Christchurch for concerts and a reception later in the week.

See you soon, somewhere around the country.

This week New Zealand Post issued a set of stamps commemorating the 70th anniversary of the arrival of American servicemen and women to defend Aotearoa and the South Pacific during World War II. What was known locally as the “friendly invasion” had a significant and very positive impact on life in New Zealand, not only for security but also socially, culturally, and economically.

By using vintage photographs drawn from the national archives, the stamps convey a sense of the charm and spirit of local interactions during the 1940s, even as war raged just to the north and west. Below are images of the stamps as found in the commemorative booklet. Following the images are the notes from the booklet describing each scene.

A. Sergeant Nathan E. Cook, 37th Infantry Division, comes down the gangway at Prince’s Wharf in Auckland to become the first American soldier to step onto New Zealand soil, 13 June 1942.

B. The U.S. Camp in Central Park, Brooklyn, Wellington.

C. Taking on the locals: On 28 August 1943 a U.S. Marines selection played a game of rugby against a local Army team at Athletic Park in Wellington. The match, won by the New Zealanders 22–13, was described by a visiting American photographer as ‘mayhem’.

D. Frank Zalot ‐ survivor of the Paekakariki disaster in Wellington with friend. Frank was a crew member of USS American Legion, and was a survivor on 20 June 1943 of a tragic landing craft capsize off our beach. (Frank attended this year with his daughter and grand-daughter a ceremony dedicating the new Sailors’ Memorial at Queen Elizabeth Park in Kapiti.)

E. U.S. forces carry out a mock Pacific island landing on the Māhia Peninsula between Napier and Gisborne.

F. At a public gathering in Gisborne an American sailor, Fred Watson, discusses with Nancy O’Connor the differences between the American dollar and the New Zealand pound.

G. Private Arlen Olson (left) and Corporal Al Cartwright pose for a photograph with New Zealand ‘land girls’ Dorothy Penny and Lindsay Horwell (right), who they are helping harvest crops at Patumāhoe, near Pukekohe.

H. Columns of US troops march through the streets of Auckland towards their transport ships, which will take them to war in the Pacific.

I.  Milk bars spring up all over the city to cater to American tastes, although cakes, crumpets, scones, and dainty sandwiches are usually served with shakes instead of the much preferred hamburgers, hot dogs, or grilled sandwiches.

J.  The well‐stocked PX store at Camp McKay (or Mackay) does an average US$26,000 worth of business monthly.

I haven’t looked, but I assume that the stamps are available in most New Zealand Post shops. So, when you next need a book of stamps, please consider asking for a bit of history to go with your current correspondence.