Actor and singer Shane Cortese is a guest of the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival, a 10-day celebration that includes street parties, music, comedy and on-the-slopes fun. Cortese and his 8-Track Band played the opening party.
What was the best birthday present you ever received, and why?
I've had a few birthdays! About seven years back, Nerida made me a handmade handwritten canvas of the lyrics to Johnny Be Good. The song has always been my favourite old school rock 'n' roll song. Simple present but it meant a lot.
What smell do you find irresistible?
I have always been a sucker for Hypnotic Poison. Something about it. I can pick it straight away. Followed closely by the smell of a Kamado Joe outdoor oven heating up.
What is your least favourite thing about humanity?
I dislike the fact that people can be so cutting and rude now. It's easy as a faceless nom de plume to write something on a blog, comments page, etc. I teach my boys to only write what they would say to someone's face. We are all entitled to an opinion, but an opinion is a lot different from cyberbullying.
What's something only your family knows about you?
My Wi-Fi password.
You are a new addition to the crayon box. What colour are you, and why?
Black, deep black, because that is the colour of New Zealand and that's what makes me very proud.
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
