Celebrating new children's music album on East FM, this Saturday arvo
Children’s music with an environmental conscience is her habitat, and to celebrate the release of her new album for the younger folk, Claudia Robin Gunn is the featured artist on tomorrow’s She’ll Be Right on Saturdays Show with PJ Taylor, 3-7pm (NZ time) July 23 on East FM.
Claudia will join us in the studio from 3.30pm to 4.30pm, to talk about Sing for the Sea – Little Wild Ocean Friends (Little Wild Music), and if we’re really well-behaved, she’ll play a song or two live.
The Cockle Bay mum and songwriter says the 24-song collection is a deep dive into the theme of sea life and conservation.
“Children’s connection to the oceans and the little, the wild and the gentle giant creatures that call it home.
“There are songs of ferries and tugboats, glow in the dark sea life, escaping octopus, and saving our ocean from plastic,” says Claudia.
“Styles include gentle seashore lullabies, sandcastle rock ’n rollers, rollicking sea shanties, mirror ball dance parties and everything in between.”
A true story brought to life in song is of Inky the Octopus, who escaped from Napier Aquarium in 2016, and now stars in his own theme tune, after many children's books have detailed the escapade.
Sing for the Sea – Little Wild Ocean Friends is produced by Tom Fox at The Sound Room, illustrated by Howick mum Elise De Silva, and a matching songbook is authored by Claudia’s sister Melissa R Gunn.
Funded by Creative New Zealand, the album was produced entirely at distance to mitigate Covid delays and lockdowns throughout its year in making.
The She’ll Be Right Show with PJ beams out of East FM, East Auckland’s community-powered public service radio station, on local frequencies 88.1FM and 107.1FM, nationally and globally at www.eastfm.nz... and on app iHeart Radio.
East FM is proudly the official broadcaster for www.howick175.co.nz... and in keeping with the theme of celebrating our local achievers, we’re hearing Claudia Robin Gunn’s musical story on Saturday.
There are very favourable reviews of Little Wild Ocean Friends:
‘Featuring vocals that elevate her modern take on folk music, Gunn’s voice is at times almost ethereal, making it the perfect companion to lyrics that tell the tale of creatures found deep in the ocean. Each track has its own story to tell and is strengthened by the intentional way that each song focuses on only one creature or aspect of the watery environs. Animals spotlighted include whales, squid, octopus, and jellyfish, while rock pools, seaweed, and coral reefs are also shown special treatment. Although each song is packed with scientific facts, they are consistently entertaining and never feel didactic.’ - (Veronica De Fazio - Kids Rhythm and Rock)
‘If Florence and the Machine recorded an album of songs about the ocean and conservation, it would probably sound like Claudia Robin Gunn’s new collection.’ - (Jeffrey Cohen - Mr Jeff 2000)
‘One of the wonders of this collection of songs (as well as the music she’s written that has come before it), is that she could easily fit in the canon of great women songwriters before her: Sarah McLaughlin, Taylor Swift, Imogen Heap. Claudia Robin Gunn has the privilege of not only being a killer songwriter, but also of living on the beautiful sea-surrounded island of New Zealand. This is an album children around the world need and would love to hear.’ - (Greg Walker - Prism Reviews)
Director: Little Wild Music: www.claudiagunn.com...
The album is available on all streaming services:
bfan.link...
Bandcamp (album plus PDF Songbook download)
claudiagunn.bandcamp.com...
The songbook (standalone ebook) is on digital services:
books2read.com...
Some Choice News!
Many New Zealand gardens aren’t seeing as many monarch butterflies fluttering around their swan plants and flower beds these days — the hungry Asian paper wasp has been taking its toll.
Thanks to people like Alan Baldick, who’s made it his mission to protect the monarch, his neighbours still get to enjoy these beautiful butterflies in their own backyards.
Thinking about planting something to invite more butterflies, bees, and birds into your garden?
Thanks for your mahi, Alan! We hope this brings a smile!
Poll: 🗑️ Would you be keen to switch to a fortnightly rubbish collection, or do you prefer things as they are?
Aucklanders, our weekly rubbish collections are staying after councillors voted to scrap a proposed trial of fortnightly pick-ups.
We want to hear from you: would you be keen to switch to a fortnightly rubbish collection, or do you prefer things as they are?
Keen for the details? Read up about the scrapped collection trial here.
-
82.5% Same!
-
17.5% Would have liked to try something different
East Auckland Christmas light displays 2025
Please help me find other light shows and updating this list!
Times when the lights turn on/off is helpful.
Last updated: 19 December 2025 18:47.
Google map with all of these houses pin pointed: maps.app.goo.gl...
Add a display: [Google forms] forms.gle... , or comment: [Location], [Lights on/off times], [Other features].
*************************************
CONFIRMED CHRISTMAS LIGHT DISPLAYS 2025:
7 Northpark Ave, Northpark. 8pm to 10pm Mon-Thu, 8pm to 11pm Fri-Sun. Synchronized to music. Website with status/information: northparklights.remotefalcon.com... (my own light show).
6 Kookaburra Place, Botany Downs. 8:30pm to 10:30pm every night. Donations for Bellyful.
5 Ben Lomond Cres, East Gate Church Christmas Light show. 7Pm[?] to 11pm. Christmas walk-through running 18 – 23 December 7pm – 10pm.
18 Redcastle Drive, East Tāmaki. 9:15pm to 11pm. Synchronised to music. FB page: www.facebook.com...
13 Tui Vale Road Shelly Park. 6:30pm to Midnight. Santa visiting 23rd & 24th December.
9 Drysdale Place, Somerville 8.30 to 11pm.
10 Saidia Place, Huntington Park. 8:30pm to 10:00pm.
1 Woodview Rise, Botany. 8:30pm to 11pm.
57 Palmcrest Grove, Highland Park, 7pm & overnight.
1 Palmcrest Grove, Highland Park, 7pm & overnight.
51a Paparoa Road, Cockle Bay, 8pm to 10pm, 8th Dec to 24th Dec.
111 Bradbury Road, Botany Downs. 8:00pm to 10:30pm [Assuming last year's times].
9 Cyclades Place, Shelly Park. 8:00pm to 11:00pm [Assuming last year's times].
98 Angelo Ave, Howick. On all the time.
** John Brooke Crescent, East Tamaki Heights. Unknown number of houses & times.
** Trust Place, Sunnyhills. 8:30pm to midnight. Multiple houses.
** Fern Place Beachlands. 8:00pm to midnight. Multiple houses.
** Paerata Rise, Paerata. Unknown times. Multiple houses.
**************************************
NO LIGHTS THIS YEAR (Moved or other reasons):
44 Archmillen Ave, Pakuranga Heights.
9 Harford Place, Pakaranga Heights.
**************************************
FEEDBACK REQUIRED FOR 2025.
These were confirmed in 2024:
2 Edingale Court, Flat Bush. 8:30pm to 10:30pm.
56 Sorrel Cresent, Bucklands Beach. 7:30pm to 9:00pm. Trains/miniature displays in the garage Wednesday to Sunday.
6 Rothwell Place, Sunnyhills. 8:00pm to 10:00pm.
4 Greenbrooke Drive, Flatbush. 830pm to 11:00pm.
75 Hutchinsons Road, Bucklands Beach. 9:00pm and overnight.
6A Kentville Place, Somerville. 8:00pm to 12:00am.
27 Amberwood Drive, Northpark. 7:00pm to 12:00am.
136 Kilkenny Drive, East Tamaki Heights. 8:00pm to 12:00am.
86 Sandspit Road, Shelly Park. Unknown times.
81 Tiraumea Drive, Unknown times.
29 Meadowlands Drive, Sommerville. Unknown times.
** Headcorn Place, Botany. 7:30pm to 11:00pm. Multiple houses.
****** ******
SPECIAL CHRISTMAS EVENTS 2025:
<none added so far>
**************************************
Please help find more houses and update this list!
Comment on this post.
Loading…
