Meg Williams, the chief executive of World of Wearable Art - that flamboyant fashion and design spectacle that is part-theatre and part-circusis valiantly making a not entirely successful effort to be a bit more WOW-y with her wardrobe.
She's a Wellingtonian through and through, despite the West Sussex accent the legacy of her upbringing in the oh-so-English village of Horsham. She took to an artsy Wellington life as though she'd actually been born there, so of course she wears a lot of black. It is obligatory.
If you live in Wellington, you wear black, although you can accessorise it with wacky jewellery. I'd seen a picture of her wearing tartan trousers. Tartan trousers, I say, hopefully, might be a bit flamboyant.
"Well, I wouldn't call myself a flamboyant dresser," says Williams. "I wouldn't even say that I like fashion because that would suggest that I'm very knowledgeable in it, which I'm not. I love design. And actually, since I've had this job, I do feel a little bit more permission to wear some of the things that are hidden in the back of my wardrobe."
She does a mental rummage through the back of her wardrobe for something flamboyant and, voilà, conjures a gold glitter jacket. This is a relief to both of us. In truth, she is more chief executive, appropriately given her job title, than ringmaster. She is calm and sensible and practical and efficient, which is what you'd expect from a juggler of budgets and people and expectations, which is what chief executives do, really.
She is talking to me from her office. It's not flash, but it does have a nice view of Wellington Harbour. She began her career in event management in the UK, sticking up posters and volunteering.
She's seen the insides of many offices. Some have been "completely mad", she says. She's worked out of portacabins and the crypt of a London church.
Denne historien er fra June - 1-7 2024-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
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Denne historien er fra June - 1-7 2024-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
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First-world problem
Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.
Applying intelligence to AI
I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.
Nazism rears its head
Smirky Höcke, with his penchant for waving with a suspiciously straight elbow and an open palm, won't get to be boss of either state.
Staying ahead of the game
Will the brave new world of bipartisanship that seems to be on offer with an Infrastructure Commission come to fruition?
Grasping the nettle
Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.
Hangry? Eat breakfast
People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.
Chemical reaction
Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.
Me and my guitar
Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.
Time is on my side
Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?
The kids are not alright
Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.
