Serendipity the Secret to Cyber-Success
“Human beings, by and large don’t know what they’re interested in,’ says Denis Dutton, a professor in New Zealand who started and edits the highly accliamed Arts and Letters Daily, perhaps the most eclectic,…
News of New Zealanders via Global Media
Windy Wellington Challenges the Eternal Spirit of the Olympic Flame
NZ Prime Minister Helen Clark was forced to take an unscheduled breather on the Olympic Torch Relay when “Windy” Wellington remained true to name. As the Prime Minister jogged down the stairs of Parliament House in the…
Tua Terminates Sullivan in Tysonesque Power Show
“Even Mike Tyson would have been impressed. Fighting with the savage explosiveness of the former champion, David Tua needed only 51 seconds to stop Obed Sullivan and firmly establish himself as the heavyweight division’s leading challenger.”
Kiwi Commonwealth Leader Gets Pacific About the Pacific
The Commonwealth Secretary General, New Zealander Don McKinnon, working towards peace in Fiji, admitted yesterday that it would be hard to find an effective way of pressing Fiji to abandon its newly re-imposed race-based constitution.
Bugger the #*!@&! Domain Names
A ban on seven deadly words deemed too offensive to register as part of a domain name has been lifted in New Zealand. Deciding that a censorship role didn’t fit in with their purposes,…
Gandalf: Lord of the Seas
Sir Ian McKellen takes a break on Auckland Harbour from playing the wise wizard Gandalf in the 16 month long shoot of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings. He is immersing himself in the…
Quality Not Quantity for Outstanding New Zealand Vintage
“Outstanding quality and lower quantities characterize the 2000 vintage in New Zealand. The country’s hallmark Sauvignon Blanc and very promising Pinot Noir varieties in particular have benefited from the difficult growing conditions.”
New Zealand No.8 Legend Farewelled
He changed the rugby ball in the same crazy way that Kiwi farmers altered fencing wire. “The career of Zinzan Brooke, a singular player in a uniform age, ended at Twickenham yesterday amid a sea of points…
Alison Maclean gives
The story of a grunged out herion addict ‘FH’ (Billy Cudrup), based on the stories of Dennis Johnson and inspired by the Lou Reed lyric, also stars Oscar nominated Samantha Morton, Holly Hunter and…
David Tua Demonstrates Power
“In only 51 seconds, David Tua showed why the heavyweight division may become a more interesting place once again. In knocking down Obed Sullivan the squat Samoan from New Zealand also staked a claim alongside Mike Tyson…
Détente New Zealand Style
The New Zealand-China Friendship Society is determined to double its efforts to promote friendship and exchange between the peoples of China and New Zealand the People’s Daily reports. Chinese Consul in Auckland, Zhao Xianling said…
From the Edge to the (Medical) Centre: Kiwi Brings Tibetan Medicine to Chelsea
New Zealand born Christopher Hansard, is medical director of the newly opened Eden Medical Centre in London’s King’s Road. It aims to blend Dur Bon, a Tibetan form of medicine, with Western conventional and complementary systems.
Boar-wheel Drive: Kiwi Kune Kune Goes Skateboarding
Ten month old Purdey, a rare New Zealand Kune Kune pig is amusing the locals in Warrington by adopting a sty-lish mode of transport.
New Zealand Whites Give Bland Californians a Taste of the Real Thing
“Here come the sauvignon blancs from New Zealand. Hooray!” White wines from “half a world away” are challenging the blandly commercial US natives, “they almost seem juicier than other wines, maybe because they supercharge our salivary glands.”…
Helen Clark on the Edge of World Power Summit
Kiwi PM attends Conference on Modern Governance in the 21st Century in Berlin. The Conference, chaired by Gerhard Schroeder and attended by Bill Clinton, was a meeting of the world’s “third way” governments. Clark was the only female amongst the…
Kiwi ‘Ghost of 68’ Asks if Secret Service Intelligence is an Oxymoron
Victoria University’s “frightenly radical” David Robinson gets accused of being ‘a red under the bed’ in a British Secret Service intelligence report, but questions whether a secret intelligence report means that the report is secret or that…
Wordplay No Game for Kiwi King of Scrabble
“Nigel Richards was something else. The man of the tournament, considered by many to be the world’s best scrabbler, thrilled everyone with his clinical skills and microscopic reading of the game.” Nigel has a record six straight…
Campbell Hits Record Breaking Haka of a Round
“The New Zealand Maori produced a spear-waving, chest beating, lip-curling, foot-stompin’ 63 in the first round of the English Open here yesterday”. Cambell’s nine under par round created a new European PGA record – no one has…
Queenstown in World’s Ten Best Places for Mountain Biking
“Queenstown has a deserved reputation as the extreme sport’s capital of the southern hemisphere, and the mountain biking is nothing short of crazy. Gorgeous scenery that assaults the senses with waterfalls and snow-capped mountains.”
Wild Weather
New Zealander Kevin Trenberth, head of the Climate Analysis Section of the Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder Colorado, is in the middle of the wild weather/global warming storm.
South Sea Sojourn: Discovery Explores Abel Tasman National Park
Discovery’s Natasha Nowakowski gets immersed in the colourful allure of the “unique and exhilarating” Abel Tasman National Park. Kayaking around the steel-blue waters to the isolated white sandy beaches, emerald-green lagoons, sentrious cliffwalls and lustrously sodden forests…
Hyper-girl Lisa Reihana Weaves The Pacific Wave at Sydney Biennale
Along with fellow Kiwi Bill Hammond. Lisa Reihana, with the Pacific Sisters, has been honoured with a show at the prestigious Sydney Biennale 2000. Exploring Toi Maori, her works weave between the contemporary and…
On the Road the New Zealand Way
Discovering along the journey Hone Heke, the ‘inventive’ Richard Pearse and the Kauri Gum Rush, Road & Track takes to the other side of the street on the great New Zealand road-trip. “Was I interested? Which…
Fine Wine
Kim Crawford Unwooded Marlborough Chardonnay 2000: “sprightly, with pure quince apple and tangerine-lime citric accents and bright acidity tamed by the process of malolactic fermentation”. Seresin Estate’s Pinot Noir and Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc make Bloomberg’s favourites of…
“Nobody Does Sauvignon Better Than New Zealand”
“Certain wine regions become known for certain wines because the majority of producers there do them better than anyone else … when it comes to sauvignon blanc, nobody does it better on a consistent basis than…
WTO Promises Moore Action
Ex-New Zealand Prime Minister Mike Moore needs to enlist all his skills of diplomacy in taking steps towards launching a round of global trade talks this year if he is to get the World Trade Organisation…
Xena Look Out
An unlucky Auckland criminal chose the wrong victim when he picked on the same woman – a tae-kwon do black belt – twice in two days. “Each day I teach myself never to use martial arts…
Courtney Love: Nelson Girls old-girl takes on Napster
As a user Courtney loves Napster, but it carries some risks and the Hole lead singer is wary of corporate relationships in general, “If you want some little obedient slave content provider, then fine….
New Zealand Firm Hails Taxi Innovation in India
Tait Electronics is launching in India an innovative two-way radio communication service using using cutting edge technology. The ‘Mega Cab’ service, using a satellite based global positioning system is set to revolutionise the business of catching…
Buller’s birds’ blues at Sydney biennale 2000
Artist Bill Hammond (alongside fellow Kiwi Lisa Reihana) has been selected to show alongside some of the hottest names in contemporary art, including Chris Ofili, Tracey Moffat and Vanessa Beecroft. The selection panel included…
Art Bin editor itches to be scratched
Auckland based Elam School of Fine Arts lecturer Phil Dadson’s innovative percussion group ‘From Scratch’ makes Art Bin editor’s “favourite things” list.
Heavenly Creatures: In New York not all angels are innocent
From New York Daily News TV preview: “Lynskey and future “Titanic” star Winslet are phenomenal as two alienated teens in 1950s New Zealand who construct their own, ultimately lethal fantasy world in Peter Jackson’s…
New Zealand: Hottest destination of movie makers
It’s official: Bollywood star Hritihik Roshan has been made a singing-dancing- fighting icon in the Bollywood smash hit Kaho Naa … Pyar Hai (Say you Love me), a romantic musical thriller shot in the…
Kiwi Goes AWOL with Marvel of Medical Handiwork
After acquiring a new hand in a revolutionary operation, he was meant to lie back, take his drugs and recover. Instead Clint Hallam hit the US chat shows, spent 20000 pounds on another patient’s credit card, then…
The Cold War is Over, but Rogue Kiwi Spy Wants to Sell Secrets to the Russians
Richard Tomlinson, whose ‘licence to spy’ was revoked by MI6 in 1995 is negotiating with a Russian publisher to disclose details of his experiences as an agent. He claims he was unfairly dismissed. MI6 said he was regarded…
Today in History: Hillary’s Everest Ascent Remembered
LA Times remembers Hillary and Tenzing’s historic achievement in being the first to reach the top of the world’s tallest mountain.
Sarah Ulmer Burns Up the Rubber in Columbia
Kiwi Sarah Ulmer won the gold medal in the 3000 metres individual pursuit at track cycling’s World Cup in Columbia and firmly set her sights on Sydney gold.
Apology Not Black and White for Aussie PM
The Kiwi way puts pressure on John Howard to formally apologise to the aboriginal people. Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said: “This is a global issue … he pointed to leaders in the United States, Canada, New Zealand and…
This is our music
“It pays my way and it corrodes my soul … oh give us the money” sings Kiwi indie star Dean Wareham, ex-lead singer of Galaxie 500 has joined the list of college radio icons…
Jonah the Barbarian: Tackled by Media Frenzy
“Images of him snarling, smiling and sneering as he tore through defenses like a crazy cartoon character were the most memorable of the tournament and his performance has gone down as one of the the most almighty…
They Shoot Horses Don’t They? Crusaders Put Down the Brumbies
The Canterbury Crusaders beat the ACT Brumbies 20-19 to win the Super 12 rugby union series for the third year running. New Zealand teams have now won all five editions of the Super 12…
Kiwi designed green house for the good life 2000
Brenda and Robert Vale, from Auckland University, have designed what has become known as the Autonomous House. Producing its own electricity and suppling its own water, it is the realisation of their design manifesto…
Basic Instinct gives Alpha Male brilliant bittersweet edge
The Times gives William Brandt’s collection of short stories, Alpha Male, lavish praise: “Surreal and sometimes downright weird, every tale is strong in its own right – a rare thing in any book of…
Counting on Sheep
A flock of mentally deficient sheep in New Zealand are providing scientists with vital clues in the search to find a cure for Batten disease. Dave Palmer of Massey university has spent nearly twenty years breeding sheep…
Glamorous ballet dancer wooed to the edges of the world by inspirational Kiwi
Ballet dancer Polly Benge went from a life of hip restaurants and competitive yoga to a hazardous cycling trip around India with Kiwi chef Tim Molena, 5 years her junior. She has no regrets…
Ice Station Sirius:
Kiwi constructs camp of civil disobedience for Greenpeace Henk Haazen, a Dutch-born New Zealander, built the hi-tech camp and coordinated supplies for the Alaskan Greenpeace protest against oil company Northstar. Haazen’s part in Greenpeace’s ‘cold-war’ recently…
Lies, Dammed Lies and … Number Crunching
New Zealander Len Cook, a man with a reputation for plain speaking is intent on making sure the numbers stack up when he takes over as head of the Office of National Statistics. He…
“Where do anarchists go to die?”
New Zealand, apparently. In Richard Vetere’s new play The Atheist in all of Us, about legendary atheist and founder of American Atheists Inc. Madylyn O’Hair, the dying protagonist escapes persecution from religious zealots by…
Kiwi Blokes Prefer Scoring to Scoring
According to recent New Zealand study, most men would turn down a date with Elle Macpherson in a favour of a big footy match – and sports mad Australians are no different.
Kiwi Chosen to Restore Sparkle to Britain’s Millennium Crown
Kiwi Former head of British pay-TV operator BSkyB, Sam Chisholm, has been appointed the new head of the much hyped, but troubled, Millennium Dome. Despite anger from Labour backbenchers at its public cost, Chisholm insists he will look to…
Edge Record: “And a Good South Wind Sprung Up Behind; the Albatross Did Follow”
For a very long time without a wallow … “The longevity record is of a giant royal albatross banded in New Zealand and recovered as a breeding adult 58 years later.”
“I See (Nz) Red” – the Critic’s Palette Tells the Facts as It Sees Them.
“In terms of sheer quality, the most exciting of all emerging wine-producing countries is New Zealand … if I were compelled to pick the wines of just one country … to drink for the rest of…
Six or Sex? Looks Like Fush and Chups Hasn’t Affected Kiwi Males’ Performance in Bed
In an extensive new study by Shere Hite (the author credited with fuelling the sexual revolution) it was found that “in the English-speaking world Australia generally lagged behind New Zealand on the sex-scale ……
World’s Second Largest Mall Gets Submerged in Kiwi Designed Undersea Experience
Underwater Adventures at Mall of America has recently expanded its its exhibit space. “Originally built for $25million, the aquarium was designed by New Zealand ocean explorer Kelly Tarlton, using his trademark glass tunnel that revolutionised the traditional…
Did You Know That New Zealand Has More to Offer Than Sheep and Trout Fishing?
The Chicago Tribune goes for the salubrious response to the searching question.
