Drink on the Wing
Looking to grab a drink a mile up? Try Air New Zealand, whose cellars rate third in the world for quality in the air.
News of New Zealanders via Global Media
GE Free?
Against anxiety that it will affect our clean, green image, New Zealand’s Royal Commission on Genetic Engineering suggests cautious introduction of GM. In reaction, Kiwi artists raising their voice include Dave Dobbyn and Bic Runga wearing their…
The X-factor
From sword and sorcery to the paranormal, Lucy Lawless moves from Xena to The X-Files, where “we’re thrilled to work with Lucy, whose work we’ve admired for a long time,” says X-Files producer…
Kiwi Temps
New Zealanders on the big OE are staffing London’s offices: “They usually have stable work histories and excellent IT skills, great interpersonal skills, confidence, and a good work ethic”.
Fur Patrol on patrol
Ex-Wellington band Fur Patrol build up a loyal fan base in Melbourne, their new home, clocking up 2 miles supporting acts like Neil Finn and Killing Heidi.
The Kiwis are Coming
“Russell Crowe won’t be the only brand-name export to the United States if New Zealanders get their way. The island country is aggressively pursuing foreign markets by liberalizing trade policies and encouraging smaller firms…
Land Purchase
1841: 1,214 acres of land around Waitemata Harbour purchased from Maori – the future site of Auckland city.
Big Jump
“New Zealander St Steven completed a rare double and put himself in contention to be named Australia’s champion jumper for 2000-01 with his win in the $120,000 A.V.Hiskens Steeplechase at Moonee Valley yesterday.”
The real McKiwi
How can you tell New Zealand wine has really arrived? The French start labelling their products “Kiwi Cuvee”.
Underground S&M
Q&A with Emily Perkins, including her worst fear – “it’s a tie between black-water rafting and those SM zip masks. So I guess being on a black-water raft with everyone wearing those masks would…
Tour That Divided the Nation
It was twenty years ago that New Zealand heaved into violence as 150,000 New Zealanders took to the streets to stop the Springbok tour. A time when “New Zealander turned against New Zealander” in…
Green and Gorgeous Land
“New Zealand … is a gorgeous place. It’s pristine and green, people are friendly, and it’s well organised for visitors …” South Africa’s Independent takes an edge challenge and tries to review NZ without mentioning “hot-air ballooning,…
Put Another Bird on the Bar
Collector and Te Anau bar owner Neil McDowall offers a free jug to anyone who presents him with a dead magpie, a bird notorious for its aggression towards smaller native species.
WTO Tangle
“It’s a little puzzling that the major trade remedy for an organization that promotes liberalized trade is to restrict trade,” says Mike Moore, referring to the problems in enforcing WTO rulings. Will the next round of…
Fit to Fight Tiger
Top Kiwi golfer and World No.15 Michael Campbell answers the Independent’s Q&A about his routine – how he gets into the mental and physical swing of things …
Perkins short cuts to praise
The Guardian Review draws comparisons between Perkins’s tale of small town angst and the American master of the form: “Perkins has wonderfully light touch; she is a master of dialogue and plain speech, a…
History of the Cup
A rundown on the history of the world’s oldest sporting trophy, currently held by Team NZ.
Once More Around the Track
Driving-man New Zealander Scott Dixon turns twenty-one, old enough to have a drink to celebrate being the youngest-ever winner in major open-wheel racing.
Once More Around the Track
Driving-man New Zealander Scott Dixon turns twenty-one, old enough to have a drink to celebrate being the youngest-ever winner in major open-wheel racing.
Awesome Enthusiasm
It’s awesome,” enthuses Middle Earth’s biggest small man, Elijah Wood about upcoming Lord of the Rings. “It’s a really, really incredible group of people and a very brilliant, talented group of artists who…
“Trust me: it is magnificent”
“At the end of this first film, Frodo and Sam are separated from the rest and row across the river, destination Mount Doom: on even a scratchy video, Elijah Wood and Sean Astin are…
Six degrees of connection
Mark de Clive-Lowe, NZedged leading exponent of nu-jazz guides iJazz listeners through the musical territory and affirms his edge cultural vibe: “I grew up in a totally unique place – New Zealand. A gem…
In with their idols A-Z
Kiwi pin-up boys of rock Zed sign with Interscope for American release of Silencer. Interscope artists include Eminem, Dr Dre, Weezer and U2. “To be put in the same context as all our idols…
No 2, one year on
Picked by Observer critics as an Edinburgh Best of Festival 2 and winner of a prestigious Fringe First, Toa Fraser’s No. 2 continues to thrive and garner praise despite a bit of reality-biting about…
Chill of Fame
Russell Crowe would be the crowd-pulling choice to play Earnest Shackleton in the bio-pic Endurance, about the ill-fated South Pole expedition of 1914-15. Did you know: captain of Shackleton’s epic Artic voyage was NZ…
Click Go the Sheilas
Kiwi shearer Kylie Hamilton, “not really a very hefty bird,” but “with a good chassis under her” matches the men in her gang sheep for sheep – one of the first women in enter this very…
Energetic Performance
Bringing energy to the Aussies, New Zealand super-drink V grows Frucor revenue 27%.
Fox judging
Award winning edge-actress Kerry Fox sits in the judging seat for the 54th Locarno International Film Festival.
Driving On
Eric Bailey-Balfour, 99, of Timaru passes his “very easy” driving test and gets a cake from the AA.
Riding High
Kiwi wonder-kid jockey Michael Walker rides for Aussie trainer Lee Freedman at the Anniversary Cup in Queensland.
Whiff of Health
Edge-designed disease-detecting super-nose could lead to a revolution in doctoral diagnosis, as well as having commercial applications in the oil and gas industry.
Eco-powering Taranaki
Small-scale mixed-source energy generation at Pioneer Village “brings a little closer the prospect of freeing consumers forever from rising power bills and the guilt of contributing to pollution and climate change.”
Polished Knowledge
“Digital Libraries hold the possibility that we might regain perspective on the billions of pieces of information in the web ocean.” In particular, DL system Greenstone, created by Dr Witten of Waikato University, offers an online…
Van Dyke Taken to Heart
Former South African International Netballer Irene Van Dyke picks up public choice player of the year as New Zealand fans claim her as one of their own.
The Lion Doesn’t Sleep Tonight
‘If you must know, I woke up at two o’clock. My mind was racing. I tried to read for a bit, dropped off and woke again at four thirty. Mind racing again.” Lions coach kiwi Graham…
Get Up Stand Up – Kiwi Cultural Laboratory
New Zealand doesn’t get the attention it deserves as a “kind of cultural laboratory for issues such as the rights of indigenous inhabitants or the equality of women”.
Schuster, Stoppard, Sauvignon
The 1999 Montana Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (“my homage to Michael Schuster”) is a current favorite of British women’s-health guru Dr Miriam Stoppard. This New Zealand example is ‘fresh and rich and slightly oaky with a really lovely…
Brits take to New Girl
Emily Perkins’s The New Girl: “The atmosphere of summer, youth and restlessness in a social backwater is strong, as is the projection of Miranda’s intriguing personality and its effect on Julia, her brightest pupil….
Island Export
Treasure Island, Survivor – love them or loathe them “reality” means ratings. With a patent on the format Treasure Island is a New Zealand export success for Touchstone Productions.
Origin Controversy
Is every living thing on earth descended from a heat loving bacteria – or are we, as Dr Anthony Poole of Massey University suggests, all really aliens on our own planet?
School’s dinner
On the heels of his hotly anticipated new venture Providores, edge fusion food-man Peter Gordon spurns the celeb-chef cliche for knife-wielding cruelty and cooks top notch cuisine to raise funds for a new school…
Advice to Note
Icon of NZ music remembered. Composer Douglas Lilburn, 85, found a “distinctive voice from his native New Zealand.” The Guardian praises the “strong emotional appeal” of his music, noting that Lilburn took to heart…
Palliser Palate Thriller
“My top pick Vintages white is a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc that thrills the palate: Palliser Estate 2000 Sauvignon Blanc.”
Historian Remembered
Professor Neville Phillips – erudite, open-minded “sometimes spiky”. One of New Zealand’s leading historians, remembered for the day he stood up to Rob Muldoon in defence of the university and intellectual freedom. Neville Phillips: Died July 2001
Yankee Dangle
Want thrills? Inhale the air head to Queenstown for “utter exhilaration” and the town Bill Clinton called the “most beautiful place on earth.”
Easy-over or Sunnyside Up?
Which ever way you flip it, global warming will affect every part of New Zealand – but perhaps we’re among the lucky ones?
Dealing to the Queen
It’s only a matter of time before New Zealand becomes a republic says PM Helen Clark, stressing that it’s still not a high priority.
ANZAC Bond
On April 25, 1935, Ataturk, the great general who masterminded the historic Turkish defensive victory at Gallipoli said, “Wipe away your tears. Your sons are now resting in our bosom and are at peace.” Words symbolic…
Miracle Reading
Reading Recovery, developed by New Zealand’s Dame Marie Clay, means results at a Toronto Public School where staff “watched miracles unfold” after the programme was introduced.
