A documentary which could rewrite New Zealand’s early history screens at the Kumara Box on Pouto Rd, near Dargaville, early next month.

Mystery at Midge Bay – The Discovery of New Zealand’s Earliest Shipwreck investigates the theory that the Spanish or Portuguese might have been the first Europeans to discover New Zealand, before the Dutchman Abel Tasman in 1642.

The 50-minute documentary, co-produced by David Sims and Winston Cowie and directed by Sims, premiered at the same venue a few weeks ago but, since tickets sold out well before the one-off screening, a re-showing has been arranged.

Mystery ay Midge Bay. Solaris Films New Zealand Ltd.

Sims and Cowie, who was born in Dargaville, investigated three shipwrecks which local folklore says are linked to early Iberian voyages.

The documentary focuses on one in particular, at Midge Bay near the mouth of the Kaipara Harbour. They say they have obtained previously missing scientific evidence regarding this shipwreck.

The Kaipara bar and harbour have a notorious reputation and their depths hold many ships’ graveyard secrets.

For the full story, written by Annette Lambly of the Northern Advocate, click here.

Mystery at Midge Bay will screen for one night only at Matakana Cinemas on  Thursday 6 December, at 6:30pm, and The Kumara Box, Dargaville, on Friday December 7 at 6:30pm. Limited seats are available. Please contact the venues for bookings.

A Flame Flickers in the Darkness                                                                                    And there are only circa 75 out of 500 copies left of A Flame Flickers in the Darkness, Winston Cowie’s New Zealand historical fiction novel or book based on the New Zealand Wars or Maori Wars or New Zealand Land Wars of the 1860s. You can grab a copy from Whitcoulls, independent bookstores and online on PublishMe and Fishpond.

Cheers

Winnie

(Winston Cowie)

4 December 2012

Westlake’s 2012 Leavers were farewelled in style on Saturday night at their Graduation Dinner. 180 Year 13 students, their families and 40 staff members enjoyed many highlights throughout the evening including a performance by Westlake’s award-winning string orchestra, Camerata; an address by an inspiring Westlaker of many talents and accomplishments, 2000 Head Boy Winston Cowie; dinner entertainment by The Groen Experience and a top notch DVD featuring memorable people and events of the past five years.

Headmaster David Ferguson kicked the evening off with a rousing address and Head Boy Prasad Ravi closed the evening with a witty Valedictory Speech before leading the Class of 2012 through their final chorus of the school song. Ravi was honoured with a spontaneous Haka by his Year 13 counterparts who, as reminded by Westlakers President Richard Stevens, became Westlakers as they crossed the stage during the evening’s official Graduation Ceremony…..

For the full article, click here.

And….

Solaris Films New Zealand Ltd Update                                                                          Mystery at Midge Bay will screen for one night only at Matakana Cinemas on 6 December, at 6:30pm, and The Kumara Box, Dargaville, on December 7 at 6:30pm. Limited seats are available. That is next week – please contact the venues for tickets.

A Flame Flickers in the Darkness Update                                                                 And there are only circa 80 out of 500 copies left of A Flame Flickers in the Darkness, Winston Cowie’s New Zealand historical fiction novel or book based on the New Zealand Wars or Maori Wars or New Zealand Land Wars of the 1860s. You can grab a copy from Whitcoulls, independent bookstores and online on PublishMe and Fishpond.

Winston Cowie Westlake Graduation Dinner speech 2012

Cheers

Winnie

(Winston Cowie)

30 November 2012

October and November 2012 have been some of the busiest months of my life and for all the right reasons!

In between being a fiance and father of two and working full time for GHD Consultants, there has been a fair bit going on…….

Check out a summary below for the blogs that follow:

• Riding the in-house wave – New Zealand Law Society LawTalk Magazine (11 October 2012). Click here.
• New Zealand Underwater Heritage Goup Annual General Meeting (13 October 2012). Click here.
• Auckland Young Lawyers Spring Seminar Series: Creating a unique career path (1 November 2012). Click here.
• Rodney College Prizegiving – Guest Speaker Winston Cowie (7 November 2012). Click here.
• Writer’s documentary premiers in Matakana (11 November 2012). Click here.
• Kaipara documentary rewriting history (13 November 2012). Click here.
• International Order of Hoohoo (21 November 2012). Click here.
• Mystery at Midge Bay premiers at Matakana Cinema and at The Kumara Box in Dargaville (22 November 2012). Click here.
• Documentary makers hot on Dutch shipwreck theory. Click here.

I also turned 30 years old in November! Thanks to Lucy and family and friends for a great day and those who were keen for an impomptu Moana Nui fishing trip celebation which resulted in my first 22 lb Snapper!

Winston Cowie 22lb Snapper

Time for a break over Summer!

And there are only circa 80 out of 500 copies left of A Flame Flickers in the Darkness, Winston Cowie’s New Zealand historical fiction novel or book based on the New Zealand Wars or Maori Wars or New Zealand Land Wars of the 1860s. You can grab a copy from Whitcoulls, independent bookstores and online on PublishMe and Fishpond.

Cheers

Winnie

(Winston Cowie)

New Zealand Land Wars, New Zealand Historical fiction, New Zealand Wars, Maori Wars,  Marine Science and Policy, Fishing and Spearfishing, Surfing, Diving, Rugby, Underwater Heritage, Tramping, Winston Cowie, Tuatara, Oxford University Rugby Football Club, Author, Solaris Films New Zealand 2012

A documentary, written and co produced by a former Matakana and Warkworth school student, Winston Cowie, premiered at Matakana Cinemas on November 15.

Mystery at Midge Bay takes an independent look at shipwrecks along the Pouto Peninsula to the Hokianga Harbour, and their European connections……

Pouto lighthouse – on set for Mystery at Midge Bay

Winston, says his interest in the wrecks was sparked years ago, ater a conversation with his father while watching ginger-haired Paul Tito playing rugby for NZ Maori.

For the full story, featuring in Mahurangi Matters 1 December issue, and written by Janette Thompson, click here.

Mystery at Midge Bay will screen for one night only at Matakana Cinemas on 6 December, at 6:30pm, and The Kumara Box, Dargaville, on December 7 at 6:30pm. Limited seats are available.

And there are only circa 80 out of 500 copies left of A Flame Flickers in the Darkness, Winston Cowie’s New Zealand historical fiction novel or book based on the New Zealand Wars or Maori Wars or New Zealand Land Wars of the 1860s. You can grab a copy from Whitcoulls, independent bookstores and online on PublishMe and Fishpond.

Cheers

Winnie

(Winston Cowie)

27 November 2012

Blog topics: Solaris Films,New Zealand Wars, New Zealand History, New Zealand Land Wars, Maori Wars,  Marine Science and Policy, Fishing (rod and spear), Surfing, Maori Wars, Diving, Rugby, Underwater Heritage, Tramping, Winston Cowie, Tuatara, Oxford University Rugby Football Club.

Mystery at Midge Bay premiers at Matakana Cinema and at The Kumara Box in Dargaville

Solaris Films New Zealand Ltd premiered their New Zealand discovery documentary “Mystery at Midge Bay – Discovering New Zealand’s earliest shipwreck” at both The Matakana Cinema, Rodney District, and The Kumara Box in Dargaville on the 14^th and 17^th November 2012.

www.solarisfilms.co.nz

Co-produced by David Sims and Winston Cowie and directed by Sims, the documentary investigates the theory that it may have been the Spanish or Portuguese that were the first Europeans to discover New Zealand, prior to the Dutchman, Abel Tasman in 1642. Sims and Cowie investigate three shipwrecks that local folklore says are linked to early Iberian voyages and focus on one at Midge Bay near the mouth of the Kaipara Harbour, for which they obtained scientific evidence that was previously missing.

Feedback on “Mystery at Midge Bay” was overwhelmingly positive and both venues were packed to the rafters. The Matakana Cinema’s Paradiso Theatre was a classy venue with the audience packed with family, friends and members of the New Zealand Underwater Heritage Group. Similarly, The Kumara Box’s rustic charm was the perfect setting for the premier in Dargaville with David and Winston being welcomed by Ernie the Kumara and by local children with a haka.

Two futher screenings have been demanded. These are open to the public on a first in first served basis – please contact the venues for bookings:

• Matakana Cinema, Thursday 6 December 2012, 6:30pm; and
• The Kumara Box, Dargaville, Friday 7 December 2012, 6:30pm.

And the documentary is currently being assessed by TV networks.

Some photos of both premiers are below.

David Sims and Winston Cowie at the Mystery of Midge Bay premiere in Matakana

David Sims and Winston Cowie welcome at The Kumara Box for the premiere of Mystery at Midge Bay

Winston Cowie and David Sims are welcomed to The Kumara Box by a haka

Winston Cowie and David Sims Documentary premiere

Winston Cowie, David Sims, Ernie the Kumara & team at The Kumara Box

And there are only circa 80 out of 500 copies left of A Flame Flickers in the Darkness, Winston Cowie’s New Zealand historical fiction novel or book based on the New Zealand Wars or Maori Wars or New Zealand Land Wars of the 1860s. You can grab a copy from Whitcoulls, independent bookstores and online on PublishMe and Fishpond.

Cheers

Winnie

(Winston Cowie)

22 November 2012

International Order of Hoohoo – Winston Cowie Guest Speaker

Winston Cowie was the invited guest speaker at The Auckland Forest Industry Club #248, Jurisdiction IV of the International Order of Hoohoo, on 21 November 2012.

The International Concatenated Order of Hoo-Hoo is one of the world’s oldest service organizations, having been organized in 1892. That it has survived all these years is due to the fact that its members are interested in the welfare and promotion of the forest products industry.

Membership is drawn by invitation from all aspects of the forest products industry. People become members of Hoo-Hoo in their own right, not as representatives of a company or an organization although businesses and organizations often support members in Hoo-Hoo.

Membership is open to people over 18 years old (with some clubs requiring members to be at least 21) who are employed in some aspect of wood-related industries. Members need not be affiliated with a local club where no local club exists and may become members-at-large.

Guest Speaker Bio

Winston Cowie works a dual role as a Senior Environmental Law & Policy professional and Aquatic Science Consultant in GHD’s Environmental and Planning Group, based in Auckland. A qualified lawyer (Otago University), Winston has a Master’s of Science in Environmental Policy from Oxford University, is an experienced scientific diver with over 230 logged dives, and is now a published author. And he is only 29!

The story behind his novel, A Flame Flickers in the Darkness, is almost as interesting as the story itself. A six year odyssey, it begins by candlelight on the family mullet boat at Bayswater Marina (where Winston lived while working as a lawyer at Russell McVeagh) and then progresses to the pubs of Oxford (frequented by JRR Tolkein and CS Lewis) and the coffee shops of Qatar, and then back home to New Zealand with his wife and two young daughters.

Winston was inspired to write the book after reading some history books on the New Zealand Wars. Realising that New Zealand had a fascinating story that wasn’t being taught in schools, Winston’s aim was to make it accessible to all New Zealanders by creating a novel.

For more details, click Hoohoo.

And there are only circa 100 out of 500 copies left of A Flame Flickers in the Darkness, Winston Cowie’s New Zealand historical fiction novel or book based on the New Zealand Wars or Maori Wars or New Zealand Land Wars of the 1860s. You can grab a copy from Whitcoulls, independent bookstores and online on PublishMe and Fishpond.

Cheers

Winnie

(Winston Cowie)

22 November 2012

Blog topics: New Zealand Wars, New Zealand History, New Zealand Land Wars, Maori Wars,  Marine Science and Policy, Fishing (rod and spear), Surfing, Maori Wars, Diving, Rugby, Underwater Heritage, Tramping, Winston Cowie, Tuatara, Oxford University Rugby Football Club.

Kaipara documentary rewriting history

Mystery at Midge Bay, a documentary which may rewrite New Zealand’s history books, will hold its premiere at The Kumara Box near Dargaville, writes Rose Rees-Owen of The Kaipara Lifestyler.

Writer, historian, and co-producer, Winston Cowie said he and director, David Sims wanted to take an independent look at the shipwreck washed up on the Pouto Peninsula….

Winston Cowie and David Sims – on set at Mystery at Midge Bay

“For years I’d been hearing about Spanish and Portuguese ships being the first European settlers in New Zealand but there was no scientific proof, there was only smoke and David and I wanted to investigate it thoroughly and independently.”

He began researching part time in 2008 and sort the help of local historians, Ron Halliday, Al Willcocks, Ian Godfrey, Logan Forrest and Noel Hilliam who retrieved a piece of the wreck from Midge Bay in 1982.

“I chose the Kumara Box to give those of the locals involved and their families the first opportunity to see it.

For the full story, written by Rose Rees-Owen, of The Kaipara Lifestyler, click here or visit www.solarisfilms.co.nz.

And there are only circa 100 out of 500 copies left of A Flame Flickers in the Darkness, Winston Cowie’s New Zealand historical fiction novel or book based on the New Zealand Wars or Maori Wars or New Zealand Land Wars of the 1860s. You can grab a copy from Whitcoulls, independent bookstores and online on PublishMe and Fishpond.

Cheers

Winnie

(Winston Cowie)

13 November 2012

Blog topics: New Zealand Wars, New Zealand History, New Zealand Land Wars, Maori Wars,  Marine Science and Policy, Fishing (rod and spear), Surfing, Maori Wars, Diving, Rugby, Underwater Heritage, Tramping, Winston Cowie, Tuatara, Oxford University Rugby Football Club.

Writer’s documentary premiers in Matakana

Winston Cowie has kept his love of history alive while adding documentary making to his list of achievements.

Winston Cowie Author

The rugby player come lawyer come marine biologist come author has been working on a 50-minute documentary film about possibly New Zealand’s earliest shipwreck.

Mystery at Midge Bay – New Zealand’s Oldest Shipwreck will change the way Kiwis view the history of the country, he says.

Mr Cowie, originally from Matakana but now living in Manly, says he got the idea for the documentary from watching the New Zealand Maori rugby team, in particular the red-headed Paul Tito.

He became interested in the early Spanish influence in New Zealand.

Investigations led to teaming up with film- maker David Sims.

‘‘We’ve made this with no budget but it’s technically very good and we’re hoping that TV – both nationally and internationally – will buy it and commission us to make two more because we still have a fair bit up our sleeves.’’

The film investigates three shipwrecks, particularly one in Midge Bay at the mouth of the Kaipara Harbour, for which they obtained scientific evidence that he says was previously missing.

And Mr Cowie says the revelations are surprising.

There will be two premiers of the film – at Matakana Cinemas on November 14 and at Dargaville on November 17, both starting at 6.30pm.

There will also be a meet and greet at both cinemas at 5.30pm.

Mr Cowie is a former Mahurangi rugby player and an environmental law policy and science consultant, specialising in the marine field.

Earlier this year, Mr Cowie published his first book, A Flame Flickers in the Darkness, a novel set amid the New Zealand wars of the 1860s.

For the full article, which appeared in the Rodney Times on 8 November 2012, click here.

You can get your own copy of A Flame Flickers in the Darkness, a New Zealand historical fiction novel or book based on the New Zealand Wars or Maori Wars or New Zealand Land Wars of the 1860s, from Whitcoulls, independent bookstores and online on PublishMe and Fishpond.

Cheers

Winnie

(Winston Cowie)

11 November 2012

Blog topics: New Zealand Wars, New Zealand History, New Zealand Land Wars, Maori Wars,  Marine Science and Policy, Fishing (rod and spear), Surfing, Maori Wars, Diving, Rugby, Underwater Heritage, Tramping, Winston Cowie, Tuatara, Oxford University Rugby Football Club.

Nga mihi mahana ki a koutou.

Last night our Senior Academic Prizegiving was held with the hall being packed out with parents, students and friends of the college who came along to celebrate the academic successes for 2012.

The 2013 student leaders were also announced. Guest speaker, Winston Cowie who has strong connections with this area, is a very high achiever being a lawyer, Oxford University graduate, author and adventurer, was inspirational. He had some wonderful messages about doing things that you are passionate about and doing something that will result in you growing as a person. He also talked about working hard and staying away from negative people.

For the full article, please click here.

You can get your own copy of A Flame Flickers in the Darkness, a New Zealand historical fiction novel or book based on the New Zealand Wars or Maori Wars or New Zealand Land Wars of the 1860s, from Whitcoulls, independent bookstores and online on PublishMe and Fishpond.

Cheers

Winnie

(Winston Cowie)

7 November 2012

Blog topics: New Zealand Wars, New Zealand History, New Zealand Land Wars, Maori Wars,  Marine Science and Policy, Fishing (rod and spear), Surfing, Maori Wars, Diving, Rugby, Underwater Heritage, Tramping, Winston Cowie, Tuatara, Oxford University Rugby Football Club.

How do you combine legal skills with a passion for other fields of work? What opportunities are there outside the traditional career path?

The NZLS Auckland Young Lawyers’ Committee and Russell McVeagh are pleased to present the tenth in this year’s series of lunchtime seminars for Auckland Young Lawyers. Winston Cowie, a lawyer turned environmental law, policy, and science consultant will speak about his experience in creating a unique career path. Winston has combined his legal background with a passion for environmental science to create a role that is uniquely suited to his interests and skills…..

For the full invite, please click here.

You can get your own copy of A Flame Flickers in the Darkness, a New Zealand historical fiction novel or book based on the New Zealand Wars or Maori Wars or New Zealand Land Wars of the 1860s, from Whitcoulls, independent bookstores and online on PublishMe and Fishpond.

Cheers

Winnie

(Winston Cowie)

1 November 2012

Blog topics: New Zealand Wars, New Zealand History, New Zealand Land Wars, Maori Wars,  Marine Science and Policy, Fishing (rod and spear), Surfing, Maori Wars, Diving, Rugby, Underwater Heritage, Tramping, Winston Cowie, Tuatara, Oxford University Rugby Football Club.