I have a book out from the library. It’s a little overdue. Actually, it’s about eight years overdue. I suspect they’ve cancelled my Auckland Public Library membership by now.

The book is called ‘The Shoestring Pirates’ by Adrian Blackburn. It’s the true account (more or less) of four men who set sail to establish a pirate radio station on an old ship anchored in a small triangle of what was deemed to be a patch of ‘international waters’ in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf – as the result of what can only be described as an accident of cartography.

They broadcast pop tunes as well as friendly and hip DJ banter – not to mention commercials and, on occasion, distress calls, for about four years (actually 1111 days, believe it or not) before finally being given a legal licence to broadcast on land.

There are parallel stories to that of Radio Hauraki in other parts of the world at around the same period in history. Radio Caroline in the UK and Radio Veronica in the Netherlands are two close to what is now my home. It’s a story of the battle for independent, private radio in an age of state monopoly control over broadcasting. And it involves men in boats, rock ‘n’ roll records and legal battles.

What makes it of particular significance to me is that I later worked closely with several of the people involved, mostly at other stations (two of the four original “pirates” were management at Radio Pacific, where I worked for five years), but on occasion at Hauraki itself as well.

Of course, what Radio Hauraki represents today is about as far from ‘piracy’ as it’s possible to get in twenty-first century media. But echoes of what it symbolised in the late 1960s and earliest part of the 1970s carried through the station’s development and multiple changes of line-up and ownership until quite recently.

These days, of course, ‘offshore’ means something different to the people of Hauraki. It’s just where the profit goes. And counter-culture has long since been replaced by corporate culture.

But as I go into 2012 – a year in which I write my own book about radio – it’s nice to take a bit of that history with me. And I like to think I’m commemorating their important and historical act of disobedience with a small act of rebellion of my own.

I’ve decided I’m not actually planning on taking the book back for at least another year. And I may even photocopy the whole thing before I do.

Photo ‘pirated’ from NZlive.com

Former New Zealand Labour minister Judith Tizard is hell-bent on making a complete ass of herself in the newspapers in support of a completely unworkable and anti-democratic piece of legislation that would force Internet Service Providers to stop taking money from customers that were accused of copyright infringement.

She says a lot of stupid things about how internet users are pirates and ‘childish’, but perhaps the most offensive and ignorant non-sequitur of the lot is: “The right to use the internet is a vital one, but libraries can provide it.”

But one gets the feeling that even if the words are her own, the sentiment – and, one imagines, the instigation – comes direct from the head of RIANZ, New Zealand’s equivalent to the RIAA and the BPI.

This is one of those industry trade bodies that insists on doing the absolute worst thing for the industry by arguing vehemently for protection of the status quo at all costs. Seth Godin had interesting things to say about such trade bodies earlier today.

The anti-consumer, anti-citizen, anti-technology and anti-innovation stance of these kinds of bodies are just about comprehensible if you factor in large quantities of fear and wholesale personality defects, but there’s no excuse for a politician (even a lapsed one) to simply spout the propaganda of lobbyists – even (or especially) if they do it in such a ham-fisted and cognitively-impaired fashion as Tizard has managed.

No New Zealand musician has asked for S92a. What’s at stake are the commercial interests of multinational corporations and a free trade agreement with the USA is what’s on the table.

There’s the opportunity here for a New Zealand politician (I’m looking at you, Steven Joyce) to seize the moment and draw a ‘No Nukes‘ style line in the sand.

Here’s what you say:

Screw the pressure groups and the lobbyists. Bugger the free trade agreement if that’s what it’ll cost. We have the opportunity as well as both the technological and economic imperative to rewrite the copyright laws from scratch, and we’re going to do it in a way that will incentivise rather than lock down creativity.

We’re going to do what’s right for the intellectual cultural capital of New Zealanders, for the citizens, artists, creators and scientists of New Zealand – and not just in the service of safeguarding the massive but dwindling domains of the major corporate entertainment giants.

We don’t know what copyright will look like when we’re done, but we’re going to start with first principles by asking “What’s important?” and “To what end?” at every step of the game. We’ll let you know when we’re done.

In the meantime, stay out of our waters on this one.

And when you have that conversation, there’s no need to invite Tizard. She clearly has nothing helpful or intelligent to say on these matters.

I’m back from New Zealand, where I had a fantastic time doing all sorts of interesting things. I gave two presentations, did three radio shows, met up with friends and family, attended a couple of industry events, visited several cafes, interviewed half a dozen interesting people – and worked out the structure, treatment, instrumentation and musical personnel for 14 songs.

Here’s video of the speech I gave for The Great Blend;
Here’s the Kim Hill ‘Playing Favourites’ radio interview (mp3);
Here are some photos I took;
Here’s a video stroll through Real Groovy Records;

I’d be more comprehensive, but not only did I not have a single moment to sit down and blog the whole time I was there, now I’m back – I’m rather jetlagged.

Thanks to Mum & Dad for having me stay and the use of their car; Caitlin for the airfare and the chance to work on the album; Russell for the opportunity to share billing with Bruce Sterling and Jasmina Tesanovic; Mark Cubey for inviting me on Kim Hill’s radio programme; Wammo for inviting me on his; Mark Robinson for inviting me on his; Nathan, Blackie, Nick D, Mark Roach, Manual and Danny for the interviews; Brendan for the NZ on Air function invitation; and everyone else for being so nice, friendly, helpful and interesting.

I’ve been trying to find a way to get over to New Zealand in the next few months. I’ve been asked to present a radio documentary about Zane Lowe, and I need to sit down with some people back in New Zealand with a tape recorder rolling.

Of course, there’s no budget, and so I put the call out to a bunch of friends and contacts back in Auckland and Wellington to see if there’s anything going on out that way that may add to the list of reasons to head home, and which may help subsidise the journey.

It’s £1000 return at the moment (summer in NZ, you see…), which is pretty prohibitive.

Anyway, I had an email last night from Russell Brown, asking if I’d take part in a Great Blend event, alongside science fiction author Bruce Sterling and feminist political activist and filmmaker, Jasmina Tešanović.

And of course, I’d love to do that. It’s a huge honour. Unfortunately, as with all such things, the appearance fee doesn’t go terribly far towards covering my travel – but it’s a good start. Here’s the thing though – it’s in just over two weeks time – and I need to find the rest of the money from somewhere.

I went to CMJ in New York late 2007 on donations from New Music Strategies readers, but that was a one-off. First, it was completely relevant to the interests of the site (rather than a documentary about a radio presenter).

Second, I’m reluctant to ask people who read my website (largely poor musicians and struggling independent music businesses) for donations to get me to New Zealand in summer – seems a bit rich, right?

And third, I actually think there must be some value in this for somebody who’d find this sort of cash down the back of the couch. I’m talking corporate sponsorship.

Whether UK Trade and Industry want to load me up with products and brochures; some brand wants me to represent them globally; New Zealand On Air want to send me back to the UK with press kits and CD samplers for the UK market; Air New Zealand want me saying nice things about the high standard of their business class on my blog; a distillery company can think of a use for an online whisky taster to sample their delightful products in an antipodean environment; or somebody wants me to wear their t-shirt at the prestigious Great Blend event – I’m pretty much up for sale.

I just want to get to New Zealand and back. Accommodation’s all sorted (right, Mum?)

Here’s the trick though: just over 12 hours ago, I told Russell that I would let him know whether I’d be attending within 48 hours. So – I’m looking for ideas, and I’m looking for them quickly. Thoughts? Contacts?

If you could send this to people you think may be able to find other people who may be able to help, I’d really appreciate it. The Zane Lowe documentary (and the Great Blend event – not to mention NZ itself!) is very personal to me, and I’d really love this opportunity to do it justice.

If you’ve been sent here and are wondering who I am, what I do, and how I might be helpful… have a look at these links:

My bio on New Music Strategies
A bit about me personally
Whisky tasting on Dubber and Clutch

Thanks in advance for any help you can be. It’s much appreciated.

Dick Frizzell’s Mickey to Tiki, Tu Meke (1997)

We shared an early Christmas morning with Kerryn, Haydn and the boys today. They came up from London yesterday for Jake’s family birthday party, stayed the night and the celebrations transitioned.

It was really cool to wake up on ‘Christmas morning’ with a couple of toddlers in the house, and over breakfast, we exchanged gifts. Unofficially, presents are competitive in this family – both giving and receiving. Whoever gives the best gift is the winner. Whoever gets the best gift – also the winner. This time, I think I won.

Kerryn and Haydn bought me a limited print of Dick Frizzell’s famous lithograph, Mickey to Tiki, Tu Meke.

Dick Frizzell is one of New Zealand’s most famous artists. His son, Otis designed my tattoo.

There were originally 50 prints of the Mickey to Tiki lithograph. Number 5 is in the Christchurch Art Gallery. The image is really famous and appears on t-shirts, postcards, posters and other merchandise. Last year, the gallery arranged with the artist to allow for 1000 prints of their copy to be made available for sale. At the artist’s suggestion, the pencil autograph and the 5/50 numbering on the bottom right of the picture remains on the 1000 prints.

So, in effect, there are a thousand and one 5/50 prints in existence – and I have one of those. Awesome Christmas present. It’s going to look great framed.

Incidentally, tu meke means ‘too much’ in the sense of ‘awesome’ and ‘far out’.

What do you so wish?

Stef and I made a website. Now we made it so you can cut and paste the wishing code into your blog to display a speech bubble like this. And when I say “we” made it… I mean Stef.

Carved from greenstone

I turned 40 back in September, and I had an amazing time doing it. I received one of the best presents of my life and a real fuss was made of me.

The best thing about this birthday is that it still seems to be going on 8 months later. Last night, my sister gave me the one remaining gift from her, my other sister and my parents – and it’s sort of a companion piece to my tattoo.

It’s a one-off, custom designed, hand-carved greenstone (NZ jade) pendant, called a pounamu. It’s based on a fish hook design (hei matua), which traditionally has to do with protection for travel over water.

I met with the designer and chose the stone back in December. We spoke about all of the symbolism of the tattoo, and although I wanted it to have a similar core shape, I wanted the design to be distinct.

It may not be permanent in the same way as the tattoo. I can take it off. But in a way, it’s more so. This thing is thousands of years old, and will certainly outlast me. And like the tattoo, you’re unlikely to find me without it from this point on.

The people who ask me ‘Oh, are you Australian?’ will now have no excuse.

Thanks, guys – it’s awesome.

I’ve got a personal blog, and I tend to write things that are personally significant or important in it (at least, they seem that way to me). You’re reading it now.

I also use Twitter, and that’s a sort of micro-blogging thing: What am I doing right now, in 140 characters or less? I can reproduce that up on the top right of this blog, or you can get it straight to your phone. Clever stuff.

But there are a lot of things that kind of fit neither format. Like – a picture and a comment. A video I thought was interesting. Some links to things I’ve been reading.

I need a scrapbook. And then I remembered – I’ve had a Tumblr account for ages, and all I’ve been using it for was a dumping ground for links that were automatically being siphoned from my del.icio.us bookmarks. Redundancy, if you ask me.

So I’ve revisited the Tumblr account, and pointed a domain at it that I’ve had for a while but didn’t have a use for: dubber.co.nz.

It’s the third way. Nothing indepth or lengthy, nothing completely time-and-place specific. It’s a scrapbook of stuff, and I’m just going to start using it as such. If you find it interesting, feel free to add dubber.co.nz to the pile of things you read.

View over Shiraz Mountains, Iran

27 hours in a plane later, and Jake and I are safe and sound back home in Birmingham. We flew Emirates, watched a bunch of movies and TV shows on the way, had decent meals and surprisingly adequate legroom for economy class. In fact, compare that to my recent return home from foreign parts on another airline, and the service was absolutely superb.

We had an amazing time in New Zealand: saw a lot of people we really wanted to see; did a bunch of things we really wanted to do; and bought a lot of things only a tourist would spend money on. Filled an entire empty suitcase with gifts and bits and pieces that had been requested or seemed appropriate.

I’m absolutely wiped now – it’s early evening Birmingham time, but my brain is convinced I’ve been up for two days, and it’s now around 6am.

Really appreciate everyone’s hospitality while we were back. I’m now going to spend a few days unscrambling my brain.