Christmas Fantasia at St Peter’s Cathedral in Hamilton

What: Christmas Fantasia Who: Hamilton Civic Choir When: Saturday, December 17 Where: St. Peter’s Cathedral Works: Christmas music Conductor: Timothy Carpenter Soloists: Jonathan Eyers, bass; Yotam Levy, cello; Philip Smith, organ Reviewer: Sam Edwards Oh, the excitement. Imagine, a week before Christmas after weeks of tinsel-tune nightmares, to be present at an event where participatory carol singing was so enthusiastic that one could utter at full voice and not be heard.

Hunting for the real wilderpeople on Takaka Hill

It’s one of those summer days where the sun is so high in the sky you have to crouch down really low, and mash your face against the glass, craning your neck to see it out the car windows. The heat, the hill, the innumerable bends, your stomach rolls with every jolt.

CRICKET: Calne cricketer Dawson hits half-century on England Test debut against India

LIAM Dawson bagged a piece of English cricket history as his unbeaten half-century underpinned the tourists’ revival on day two of the fifth Test against India. Calne’s Dawson was hit on the helmet by the second ball he faced in his Test career from Ishant Sharma, but went on to display the battling qualities – and sound technique – for which he was chosen here as a spinning all-rounder as he and Adil Rashid shared a much-needed eighth-wicket stand of 108 in a total of 477 all out.