Surf and skate legend joins local musical talent

Surf and skate legend joins local musical talent at TEDxQueenstown

With less than one month to go until TEDxQueenstown’s fourth annual event (April 17, 2016), two more stars have been announced in the line-up of influential speakers and performers.

At opposite ends of successful careers, the legendary Peggy Oki will join up-and-coming musician Holly Hoogvliet on stage at the Queenstown Memorial Centre.

Peggy Oki is renowned for being the only female member of the Z-Boys, a competitive skateboarding team which took the world by storm in the mid-1970s with their unique style of skateboarding, based on surfing styles.

After her days shaking up the skateboarding world, Peggy perused her other passions in surfing and protecting marine life. Now a fine artist and an environmental educator, Peggy splits her time between Raglan and California, skating, surfing and painting.

In 2004, she founded the Origami Whales Project to raise awareness about commercial whaling. She has also developed the Whales and Dolphins Ambassador Program and led campaigns such as ‘Let’s Face It’, which petitions to save New Zealand’s critically endangered Maui’s dolphins and Hector’s dolphins.

“At TEDxQueenstown, I’ll talk about how I came into my environmental art and activism,” says Peggy.

“My intent is to inspire everyone to be pro-active. I’ve been working hard with the TEDxQueenstown team and it’s been a wonderful experience so far. I’m really gearing up for this!”

Queenstown born Holly Hoogvliet is already gathering a reputation as a top-notch musician at just 21 years old. She was playing piano by the age of four and writing songs at the age of eight. In 2007, she was identified as a talent to watch out for at the International Pacific Songwriting Awards.

Holly regularly plays at venues and events across Queenstown, including the annual Shotover Jet Christmas Cracker show.

Currently splitting her time between Queenstown and completing her studies in Occupational Therapy in Dunedin, Holly said she feels “honoured” to be part of the event.

“I’ve not shared a lot of my own songwriting, so you’re catching me at the start of a very personal journey,” she says.

“I’ve played in a few other venues and events around Queenstown and I think TEDx will be another supportive setting to share my songwriting.”

Other speakers and performers announced for the event include world record holders Tashi and Nungshi Malik and performance poet Liz Breslin.

The half-day event includes an exciting programme of eleven speakers and performers, delicious food and beverages from local businesses and special satellite activities.

Tickets for TEDxQueenstown 2016 cost $138 and can be purchased viaEventfinda.co.nz from March 17th .

ENDS

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