Proud

This tale is a parody, a 'tour de force' glimpse into New Zealand's long history of cultural tolerance and integration, Maori mystique, technological innovation, adventurism, their world-famous rugby teams, the anti-nuclear policy, the pervasiveness of sex and alcohol; the artfulness, treachery, and perfidy of politicians, and the disconnect between town and country. The much-maligned sheep, as synonymous with New Zealand as Sir Edmund Hillary and beautiful scenery, earns a well-deserved place in the unrelenting sun that is driving a deadly drought. Proud also examines, through the prism of humour and a historical perspective, the incestuous relationship between the media and political classes. It could be Washington, London or Paris. The conventions, traditions, and plain hypocritical double-dealing, deviousness, and unscrupulous behaviour by bad actors are common to all. Alternatively, Paddock epitomises small-town attitudes and customs light years removed from the Chardonnay swilling, self-important, smug denizens of Hubris, formerly Wellington, the political capital; and Freewheeling, formerly known as Auckland, the commercial capital and scene of many a Fast Harry driving a Ferrari one minute and in jail for fraud the next. Sheep, cattle, dogs, flat beer, bad bakery goods, honest values, simplicity, and a healthy disrespect for the ruling class are Paddock's raison d'être. Paddock could be any small town in the world. Proud is a parody, loaded with satire, LOL humour, sex, social commentary, perhaps prophetic (global warming warning!), and culturally insensitive (political correctness gone mad) but in a caring sort of way. "God's Own" hides many secrets set against the blazing reality of climate change and the undeniable reality of nuclear power. Proud unlocks them in an unerring, strangely weird, and unnerving way.