What's New: News Snippets

Original NZ
booook successss                                                                                                                                                                                                              Snake and Lizard by Joy Cowley won the NZ Post Children's Book of the Year award and the Junior Fiction award. Snake and Lizard is the first original New Zealand title from independent publisher Gecko Press, which specialises in publishing children's books from around the world translated into English. The author says she remembers a time when writing for children was considered the occupation of failed adult writers, but this award gives children's literature its rightful status. "Clearly this is good for the authors of children's books; but I believe that the greater benefit goes to the children of Aotearoa. The award validates them as readers who have their own authority and who are deserving of standards of excellence." Congratulations from actv8 to Joy on her landmark win.

Kiwi gamer wears Halo of prizes
The winner of the recent official Halo 3 tournament was Caleb Craig from Gisborne. Gamers in Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand took part in the contest and, after four weeks of tournament play, five territory champions were selected. Caleb took home a new Samsung 40" LCD TV, Xbox 360 Elite console, Xbox 360 20GB hard drive, 5000 Microsoft Points and an Xbox 360 LIVE accessories pack including Xbox 360 messenger kit, Xbox 360 vision camera and an Xbox 360 wireless adapter. Phew. The tournament was sponsored by Samsung.

New boss in tune with soccer
New Zealand Football has appointed former music biz mogul Michael Glading as its new boss. The 54-year-old took over the chief executive role on
16 July following 19 years as Sony Music New Zealand's managing director. Glading says there are similarities between soccer and rock ‘n' pop: "Football, like music, is an industry where there are many different stakeholders with a lot of emotion invested." We at actv8 reckon NZ Football is lucky not only to have a soccer enthusiast in its top spot, but one who'll bring the sport bags of credibility and help make it as trendy as it already is in other countries.

Bloody good cause
Students and teachers at Auckland's Glendowie College became everyday heroes when they helped the NZ Blood Service launch a campaign aimed at reminding people of the importance of being a blood donor, on World Blood Donor Day, Friday 13 June. "Giving pupils the opportunity to donate blood at school is an invaluable way to teach young people the value of giving back," says Gordon Robertson, the acting principal of Glendowie College. "Giving blood costs nothing but can save many lives and we're therefore very pleased to be able to support World Blood Donor Day." Surveys show that 44 percent of people surveyed have given blood, but only 4 percent of those have done so in the last 12 months. Give blood and you can save a life. By Julian Lees and Christopher Wong (Year 13 students at Glendowie College).

Politicians give sign language a helping hand
The government has set aside $100,000 in scholarships for the Diploma in Sign Language Interpreting through Auckland University of Technology, says Communications and Information Technology Minister David Cunliffe, and the money will be used to fund 20 scholarships in sign language training. "We currently have a shortage of qualified interpreters in New Zealand. The scholarships, which are available from this year, should encourage more people into training." Later this year the government will look into a video relay service to help the deaf to communicate via sign language interpreters.