News of New Zealanders via Global Media

All Blacks Depart Europe Undefeated

All Blacks Depart Europe Undefeated

The All Blacks completed their European end-of-year tour with a comprehensive victory at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, overcoming the Welsh 45-10. The result, means that the All Blacks finish the 2006 season with 13…

Capping Off a Great Year

Capping Off a Great Year

Following their seven-try, record-breaking victory last week against the French in Lyon, the All Blacks continued their run of success in Paris against the host nation at the Stade de France. Despite the French side showing…

The Imblackables

The Imblackables

In the French rugby stronghold of Lyon, the All Blacks demolished the home side and second-ranked team in the world 47-3. Dubbed “The Imblackables” by Le Midi Olympique, as a defensive unit the All Blacks were flawless….

Kiwis Fly in Wellington

Kiwis Fly in Wellington

Putting a week of controversy behind them, the Kiwi rugby league team put the English away in emphatic style over the weekend 34-4 at Wellington’s Stadium. The result puts pressure on England, who must now win…

Superstar in Waiting

Superstar in Waiting

Kiwi basketball sensation Jessica McCormack, 17, has signed with the University of  Washington in Seattle, The 1.94m teenager won a Commonwealth Games silver medal this year with the Tall Ferns, for whom she has…

The Money’s on Efficient

The Money’s on Efficient

NZ-bred horse Efficient has been dubbed “racing’s next big thing” in the Australian press after winning the AU$1.5 million Victoria Derby at Flemington. The three-year-old gelding’s win earned him the right to enter the Melbourne…

Former AB and Famous Father

Former AB and Famous Father

Former All Black Brian Fitzpatrick has died aged 75. A sturdily built five eigths, Fitzpatrick was a strong runner and tackler. He made two tours with All Black sides in the early…

Going the Distance

Going the Distance

NZ distance runner Kim Smith came second in the Continental Fifth Avenue Mile, held in New York on 30 September. The 24-year-old was a four-time National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) champion while at Providence College in Rhode…

NZ Cricket Patriarch Remembered

NZ Cricket Patriarch Remembered

Walter Hadlee, involved in NZ test cricket from the start has died in Christchurch aged 91. A productive and aggressive batsman, Hadlee played 11 Tests for NZ, eight of those as captain, and later served as national…

More medals for Vili and Willis

More medals for Vili and Willis

NZ athletes won two medals at the IAAF World Cup of Athletics in Athens this month. Valerie Vili followed up her Commonwealth Games gold by winning the women’s shotput event, with a throw of 19.87m. Fellow…

Three in a Row for Black Ferns

Three in a Row for Black Ferns

NZ’s Black Ferns have won their third successive women’s rugby World Cup, beating traditional rivals England 25-17 in the final. The tight defensive match was a virtual replay of the 2002 final against England, which NZ…

Holland Ahoy

Holland Ahoy

New Zealander Ron Holland is one of the world’s top naval architects. Based in the small Irish sailing port of Kinsale, his latest project is designing and building a 190-foot, $50 million superyacht Ethereal for Sun…

All Blacks 7, Opposition 0

All Blacks 7, Opposition 0

The All Blacks remain undefeated in 2006 having secured both Bledisloe and Tri-Nations trophies after a ferocious Eden Park test against Australia on 19 August. The victory puts Graham Henry’s team on the verge of breaking…

Earthrace Is On

Earthrace Is On

Kiwi Peter Bethune is now part way through a 30-city world tour aboard Earthrace, his unique biodiesel-fuelled powerboat. Since leaving NZ, Earthrace has visited Samoa, Vancouver, Portland, Seattle, Hawaii and San Francisco on its mission to promote…

World Descends on Rotorua

World Descends on Rotorua

Rotorua’s Mt Ngongotaha played host to the UCI World Mountain Bike Championships from August 23-27, the first time the event has been held in the southern hemisphere in ten years. The Rotorua cycling community had campaigned for…

Kiwi Creation Joins World’s Supercars

Kiwi Creation Joins World’s Supercars

NZ’s first supercar, the Hulme.F1, secured a rare invitation to show at Britain’s prestigious Goodwood Festival of Speed. The annual event showcases the latest designs by big names Ferrari, Maserati and Aston Martin, as well as…

One for the True Fan

One for the True Fan

In the era of selling Britney Spears’ used chewing gum on eBay, Adidas has released a limited edition All Blacks poster containing DNA samples from every member of the national team. According to Chris…

History Maker Remembered

History Maker Remembered

International archery associations and Olympic committees have paid tribute to Neroli Fairhall, who has died aged 61. Fairhall won a gold medal in archery for NZ at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in…

Return to Peak Form

Return to Peak Form

Commonwealth Games medallist and Olympian, Greg Henderson, marked his return to form with a convincing win at the inaugural Commerce Bank Reading Cycling Classic in Philadelphia, USA. Riding for the Health Net-Maxxis team, Henderson beat Uzbekistan’s Sergey…

Rowing World Comes to Waikato

Rowing World Comes to Waikato

NZ has secured the hosting rights for the 2010 World Rowing Championships. The event will be held at Lake Karapiro in Cambridge, Waikato, with Hamilton acting as the official host city. Lake Karapiro previously hosted the championships…

Career High for Cunningham

Career High for Cunningham

NZ’s up-and-coming Indy racing star, WadeCunningham, pulled out a thrilling win at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Freedom 100 event. The 21-year-old led all 40 laps, setting an average speed record of 295.48km/h

Fast Inductee

Fast Inductee

Kiwi legend Burt Munro is one of nine new members selected for induction into Ohio’sMotorcycle Hall of Fame this year. The Invercargill native set a land-speed record on his customised 1920 Indian Scout at…

ABs at the Top of UK Game

ABs at the Top of UK Game

Former All Blacks Carlos Spencer and Justin Marshall lead the nominations for the Professional Rugby Players’ Association (PRA) player of the year award. Described by The Independent as godlike and “the union game’s answer to Diego Maradona”,…

One to Watch

One to Watch

Debbie Tanner claimed the first major victory of her career at the 26 ITU Ishigaki World Cup triathlon in Japan. UK veteran Michelle Dillon and fellow Kiwi Samantha Warriner came second and third respectively….

Race with a Difference

Race with a Difference

February 22 saw the official launch of Earthrace, a 100% biodiesel fuelled boat aiming to set a new world record for circumnavigating the globe. The brainchild of Pete Bethune, Earthrace is a charitable foundation promoting the…

Records Broken, Legends Born

Records Broken, Legends Born

New Zealand won 31 medals – 6 gold, 12 silver and 13 bronze – at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. 200m butterfly victor Moss Burmester became the first NZ man to win gold in the…

2005 Campbell’s Year

2005 Campbell’s Year

Golfer Michael Campbell has been named NZ’s Sportsperson of the Year for 2005 after winning both the US Open and the World Matchplay Championship in Britain. It is the second time Campbell has won the country’s…

JK on Growing the Game

JK on Growing the Game

The Observer talks to All Black legend John Kirwan about his globetrotting ways and aspirations to coach in the UK. “Kirwan was a travelling rugby player long before it became the fashion it is today ……

World to Come to Waikato?

World to Come to Waikato?

NZ has officially placed its bid to host the 2010 world rowing championships at Lake Karapiro in Waikato. “It’s our turn,” says RNZ chief executive Craig Ross. “NZ rowing has never been…

End of One Era, Beginning of Another

End of One Era, Beginning of Another

All Black captain Tana Umaga has officially retired from the game aged 34, with a stellar career behind him. “Already he has been admitted by his countrymen into the exclusive band of great NZ captains, along…

Black Caps Start as They Mean to Go On

Black Caps Start as They Mean to Go On

The Black Caps made a fine start to their 2006 season, cruising to victory in the five-match ODI home series against Sri Lanka. NZ won the deciding third match at Jade Stadium by five wickets. Nathan…

Revved Up for ’06

Revved Up for ’06

2005 was an incredibly successful year for NZ motorsport, as TMC reports in its annual review. Two of the top three places in the world MX1 motocross championship were filled by New Zealanders, with…

Billiards Hall of Famer

Billiards Hall of Famer

NZ billiard legend Rocky Lane has made the sport’s Internet Hall of Fame thanks to his undefeated world record in jump shooting. In October 2005 Lane cleared all 15 balls off the table in 14.16…

2005: Year of the All Black

2005: Year of the All Black

The All Blacks’ decisive win over Scotland on December 2 made them the first NZ side since 1978 and the first team since Australia in 1984, to complete a “grand slam” of the UK and Irish…

A Victory for the Underdogs

A Victory for the Underdogs

Not to be outdone by their rugby union counterparts, NZ’s national rugby league side achieved a momentous Tri-Nations win against traditional rivals England and Australia. The BBC describes the NZ’s 24-0 victory over Australia in the…

Battle Cries

Battle Cries

Even more upsetting than giving the World Cup to New Zealand or losing a match to the All Blacks currently seems to be facing their new “throat slitting” haka. British media are feverishly objecting to New…

All Black Domination

All Black Domination

The All Blacks have continued their domination of their Northern hemisphere tour with a 23-19 victory over England. Easy victories over Wales and Ireland were useful opportunities for trying out new playing combinations, but…

Next Stop Commonwealth Games

Next Stop Commonwealth Games

NZ won the New South Wales 100m Relay Championship at Sydney Olympic Park on November 19, breaking a NZ national record in the process. Led by Olympic representative Chris Donaldson, the winning team also included Dallas…

Five Million in the Stands

Five Million in the Stands

Despite widespread international media opinion that we would be out in the first round, New Zealand has won the bid to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup. After South Africa’s unexpected removal from the running, New…

Golden Year for Silver Ferns

Golden Year for Silver Ferns

2005 has proved an incredible year for NZ netball, with the Silver Ferns winning all eight of their international tournaments. The latest came with a definitive Tri-Series victory over Jamaica and Barbados. “We certainly wanted to…

A Winning Formula on and off the Field

A Winning Formula on and off the Field

Hyde Pride, Washington’s only all-African American school rugby side, has a Kiwi connection that extends beyond its game of choice. Established in 1999, the team at Hyde Leadership Public Charter School has been sponsored by the…

A Heartfelt Plea

A Heartfelt Plea

The Wellington Racing Club has asked the help of PM Helen Clark in borrowing the heart of legendary racehorse Phar Lap from Australia’s national museum in Canberra. “I’ve written to the prime minister to see if she…

Wundercoach

Wundercoach

Richard Tonks has been named 2005 FISA Coach of the Year by the International Rowing Federation. Tonks, himself a silver medallist for NZ at the 1972 Munich Olympics, is the man behind a spate of recent rowing…

Twin Peaks

Twin Peaks

Sir Edmund Hillary and Sir Roger Bannister are the inspiration behind Sports Illustrated writer Frank Deford’s new feature film – Four Minutes. According to Deford, “the pinnacle of athletic achievement in the 20th century was not to be…

Sugarfoot Speaks Up

Sugarfoot Speaks Up

In a sports-mad country like NZ, how can one of its richest and most successful exponents be virtually unknown? Kickboxer Ray “Sugarfoot” Sefo has quietly earned more than $1 million from the sport and is a…

Great Expectations

Great Expectations

Former Black Cap Mark Greatbatch is the new coach for British county cricket side Warwickshire. Greatbatch is also Director of the Warwickshire Academy, and has previously coached at Giggleswick School in Yorkshire and at Edgbaston.

One to Watch

One to Watch

16-year-old Rebecca Spence is shaping up to be one of NZ’s star triathletes. The Rangitoto College student won the elite junior title at the ITU Duathlon World Championships in Newcastle, Australia, just two weeks after claiming silver…

Major Campbell

Major Campbell

2005 is undoubtedly Michael Campbell’s year. Not content with winning the US Open last month, Campo has snatched a “knife-edge” victory in the HSBC World Matchplay Championship at Wentworth. Past winners of the esteemed tournament, which boasts…

Ka Mate Ka Mate gets an American Accent

Ka Mate Ka Mate gets an American Accent

An American accent American College football team, the Brigham Young University Cougars have adopted their version of the haka Ka mate Ka mate. Lead by American-born Maori Bryce Mahuika, Utah’s Cougars have adopted the practice…

Dream Team

Dream Team

The All Blacks have added the Bledisloe and Tri-Nations Cups to their increasingly well-stocked trophy cabinet, confirming their status as the number one ranked rugby side in the world. The team is expected to clean up against…

Gold Rush

Gold Rush

NZ won a staggering four gold medals at the world rowing championships in Kaizu, Japan. The unbeatable Evers-Swindell twins (Georgina and Caroline) won the women’s double sculls, Nathan Twaddle and George Bridgewater the men’s pairs, Nicky Coles…

Wave Watching

Wave Watching

The Surfer’s Path features top New Zealand surf spots in its 50th edition. In a gallery of images titled “Aotearoa Light Play”, one of surf photography’s greats Aaron Chang and rapidly rising star Brian Nevins captured…

Wilding at Heart (1)

Wilding at Heart (1)

Roger Federer became the eighth player in Wimbledon championship history to win three consecutive men’s singles titles. Federer joins William Renshaw, the Doherty brothers: Reggie and Laurie, New Zealander Anthony Wilding, Fred Perry, Bjorn…

Rugby Fever Reaches New Heights

Rugby Fever Reaches New Heights

The All Blacks demolished the British and Irish Lions in three straight Tests, in one of the most highly anticipated rugby tours of recent years. The hype both at home and in the UK was spectacular,…

Marks Takes a Bow

Marks Takes a Bow

Tall Blacks star, Sean Marks, has announced his retirement from NZ basketball, after helping the San Antonio Spurs to victory in the NBA final. “I’ve given it a lot of thought and it was a tough decision…

And France Makes Three

And France Makes Three

Kiwi motor cross stars Ben Townley and Josh Coppins finished first and second respectively at the French Grand Prix in St Jean d’Angely. The win marked the third Grand Prix title of Townley’s rookie season. “At…