Vigil for Ukraine

19/03/2026

It was wonderful to hear words of support of Ukraine from His Excellency Lawrence Meredith, the Ambassador of EU in NZ, who came to Taranaki with his first visit.

01/03/2026

14/02/2026

Lovely memories

25/01/2026

01/01/2026

Happy New Year and Merry Christmas!
Wishing peace to you all. Glory to Ukraine!

29/12/2025

I have repaired an old ethnic doll. It was a cheap mainstream production of Soviet era. It was dirty, dusty, broken and smelled like an item from an abandoned cabinet from a very old house.

I stripped off her dirty clothing (including old questionable stockings), washed her body and hair, repaired broken limbs and made a new costume. I have never bought any of the materials. All patches of materials were from a drawer downstairs. The colourful decorative ribbons were the leftovers of my WOMAD dress. The vinok (head dress) is made from flowers from another project.

Doesn’t she look better now? Sincerely yours, Olena W.

24/08/2025

On Ukraine's National Flag Day, we honour the blue and yellow that unite us.

💙💛 What does the Ukrainian flag mean? Blue skies and golden fields – yes. And oh-so much more!

It embodies courage, resilience, and the daily fight for freedom. It carries our memories, our determination, and our hope.

Happy Ukraine's National Flag Day! 🇺🇦

01/05/2025

WE DON’T NEED SUITS, WE NEED SINCERETY and PASSION

Taranaki musician Andy Bassett was appalled by how President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky was treated in the Oval cabinet during his last visit to USA.
The title of the song -"Stranger in the room", can refer to different concepts. In the entertainment industry, it can mean someone present in a meeting who doesn't have a key role in the project and can be disruptive to the point that the project is curbed. It can also refer to a figure in a book or film who is a new perspective or an outsider.

The US president set up Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the now notorious staged meeting in the Oval Office back in February. The whole world observed how school yard bullying can became a tool for excluding from international “political elites”.

Guess what? We, people of the world, can live without suits, luxury bags and multibillion salaried politicians. We can’t live without dignity.
Thank you people of New Zealand for the support of Ukraine and Ukrainians. On many levels: from our political leaders to creatives and people on streets, we feel that you care.
Now the song:

https://andybassett.bandcamp.com/track/stranger-in-the-room


Andy Bassett

track by Andy Bassett

13/04/2025

Sharing Ukrainian culture with students at Sacred Heart Girls' College - New Plymouth

13/03/2025

Walking at Taranaki Multi Ethnic Council parade showed that we care, we are united, we support all our fellow Ukrainians wherever they are.