http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/newzealand/ en-us Sun, 9 Nov 2008 22:32:17 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2128994/posts Yesterday New Zealand woke up to the dawning of a new Era. It was Sunday and, as usual, conservative Kiwis of a religious persuasion awoke, scrubbed up, got the kids ready for Sunday School, and went to church to worship. And sometime during the Service we thanked our Creator for the deliverance He granted us the night before. And those of us conservative Kiwis of lesser religious persuasion slept in, grateful for the hangover arising from Saturday evening's libations. For them the sleep of the Righteous would be lengthened by knowing that their sore heads were well-earned in good service... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2128994/posts#comment Sun, 9 Nov 2008 22:32:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2128686/posts WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand entered a new era of conservative rule Sunday, with incoming Prime Minister John Key promising to be a moderate amid fears some of the country's policies on global warming and indigenous people could be rolled back. Voters on Saturday elected the wealthy former currency market trader to lead them through a recession worsening because of the global financial meltdown, handing long-serving Prime Minister Helen Clark and her central-left Labour Party a crushing defeat. Key said Sunday he hoped his National Party and coalition partners would be sworn into government within about a week... AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2128686/posts#comment Sun, 9 Nov 2008 12:56:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2127591/posts NEW Zealanders will decide the fate of Prime Minister Helen Clark tomorrow following an election campaign branded "ugly" by global standards. The latest polls show Ms Clark, whose Labour Government has been in power for nine years, is fighting for her political life. She is up against National Party leader John Key who has doggedly pursued two boyhood ambitions – one to make a million dollars, the other to become New Zealand's prime minister. The first he's managed with ease. His career as an investment banker has helped him amass a fortune of $NZ50 million ($43.7 million). The second for... Herald Sun http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2127591/posts#comment Fri, 7 Nov 2008 04:09:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2121979/posts WELLINGTON, New Zealand – A rare reptile with lineage dating back to the dinosaur age has been found nesting on the New Zealand mainland for the first time in about 200 years, officials said Friday. Four leathery, white eggs from an indigenous tuatara were found by staff at the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary in the capital, Wellington, during routine maintenance work Friday, conservation manager Rouen Epson said. "The nest was uncovered by accident and is the first concrete proof we have that our tuatara are breeding," Epson said. "It suggests that there may be other nests in the sanctuary we don't... AP on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2121979/posts#comment Sat, 1 Nov 2008 21:03:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2070322/posts The View From Down Under Most Americans I think have a high regard for Aussies, based on our traditional mutual support of one another in our common wars. These positive views were I believe re-enforced recently with the rather sudden appearance of a whole bunch of first-rate Aussie movies in the 70s -- among some of my favorites would be Gallipoli and Breaker Morant. Then of course everybody loved Mel Gibson and Crocodile Dundee. Aussie culture quickly became the latest rage with the American in crowd. But Americans really don't know what Aussies think about them. And I think... Radarsite http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2070322/posts#comment Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:42:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2065147/posts Knickers in knot over undies Beijing - The Olympic dress code applies to places never seen, it seems, with the New Zealand hockey manager banished from the field at a crucial men's match because officials objected to his players' underwear. Kevin Marr was ordered to watch the must-win match against Germany from the grandstand as punishment for three players wearing black underwear beneath white shorts in an earlier match. Initially, the officials wanted to suspend the players involved - Bradley Shaw, Simon Child and Blair Hopping - but Marr successfully argued it was unfair because he was in charge of... 24.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2065147/posts#comment Wed, 20 Aug 2008 22:30:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2064088/posts A NEW Zealand court has allowed a parade of topless porn stars on motor bikes to proceed on the main street of Auckland, local media said today. Auckland City Council had sought a court injunction to stop the "Boobs on Bikes" parade, scheduled for Wednesday, saying it breached a bylaw banning offensive public events. But Judge Nicola Mathers said while opponents may find the parade offensive or tasteless, the fact that 80,000 people had gathered for a similar event last year meant a significant number of people did not agree with the critics, New Zealand Press Association said. Herald Sun http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2064088/posts#comment Tue, 19 Aug 2008 02:52:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2052215/posts A newspaper report from Dannevirke featuring a comment which equates gay men with paedophiles has angered the manager of a nationwide LGBT support service. In a meeting of Dannevirke residents who oppose plans for a brothel opening in the small town's main street, the president of the Tararua chapter of the Full Gospel Business Men's fellowship - a religious group – reacted specifically to a plan by the brothel to offer a gay service. According to the Manawatu Standard, Garth Taylor announced: "Most paedophiles are homosexuals, and you know we don't want to bring that here." "This is shocking," reacts... New Zealand Daily News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2052215/posts#comment Sun, 27 Jul 2008 21:29:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050949/posts After her brief visit to Perth, the United States Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, will fly to New Zealand tonight. Dr Rice will fly into Auckland tonight and her minders will need to be on alert after a student group announced a reward for anyone who could arrest her. Auckland University's Student Association is offering $5,000 to anyone who can make a citizen's arrest. Association president David Do says Ms Rice should be ashamed of her role in the Iraq war. "I think New Zealanders have an inherent sense of fairness and justice and they understand why we are doing... ABC News AU http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050949/posts#comment Fri, 25 Jul 2008 02:29:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2050584/posts A judge in New Zealand made a young girl a ward of court so that she could change the name she hated - Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii. Judge Rob Murfitt said that the name embarrassed the nine-year-old and could expose her to teasing. He attacked a trend of giving children bizarre names, citing several examples. Officials had blocked Sex Fruit, Keenan Got Lucy and Yeah Detroit, he said, but Number 16 Bus Shelter, Violence and Midnight Chardonnay had been allowed. One mother wanted to name her child O.crnia using text language, but was later persuaded to use Oceania,... BBC News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2050584/posts#comment Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:48:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2046207/posts Christopher Lee offers his voice for Smaug… won’t go back to NZ. July 13th, 2008 by Compa_Mighty In a bittersweet note, forummer DiveTwin reports this note that appeared in Cinematical: TheOneRing.Net http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2046207/posts#comment Wed, 16 Jul 2008 08:35:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2045073/posts More than 30 Indian youths have disappeared in New Zealand, where they were in transit to go to Sydney for World Youth Day, a spokeswoman for the Catholic Church said Monday. Lyndsay Freear told Radio New Zealand that a party of 220 Indian Catholics who arrived in Auckland a week ago were due to fly to Sydney Tuesday, but 32 of them had disappeared. All were billeted with church members in Auckland under a so-called Days in the Diocese programme before going to Australia, where Pope Benedict arrived Sunday for events associated with World Youth Day. Freear said all the... Web India 123 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2045073/posts#comment Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:07:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2033314/posts Two refrigeration engineers have been convicted by a New Zealand court for depleting the ozone layer. The country's Ministry for Economic Development prosecuted the two men in the first ever case taken under a 1996 law protecting the ozone layer. Reuters UK http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2033314/posts#comment Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:55:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2028013/posts President Bush returned to the White House today (presumably from Camp David). He was accompanied by Secretary of State Rice. First Lady Laura Bush made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan on Sunday with an appeal to the international community not to abandon the war-torn country in the face of resurgent Taliban violence. President and Mrs. Bush Saddened by Death of Jim McKay Laura and I were saddened to learn of the passing of Jim McKay. For a generation of Americans, Jim was more than the much-honored host of Wide World of Sports and ABC's Olympic coverage. He was a... Yahoo News Photos; Whitehouse.gov http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2028013/posts#comment Sun, 8 Jun 2008 20:48:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2025522/posts Humans May Have Come To New Zealand Later Than ThoughtHumans Arrived In New Zealand 1,000 Years Later Than Believed, New Study Finds WELLINGTON, New Zealand, Jun. 3, 2008 (AP) Radiocarbon dating of rat bones and rat-gnawed seeds reinforces a theory that human settlers did not arrive in New Zealand until 1300 A.D. _ about 1,000 years later than some scientists believe, according to a study released Tuesday. The first settlement date "has been highly debated for decades," said Dr. Janet Wilmshurst, a New Zealander who led the international team of researchers in the four-year study. The team carbon dated rat... CBS News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2025522/posts#comment Tue, 3 Jun 2008 22:50:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2020746/posts Road workers in a small New Zealand town got their wish granted when a woman stripped saying she was fed up with their wolf-whistles. Reuters - Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2020746/posts#comment Sat, 24 May 2008 16:44:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1998011/posts A man in New Zealand has been charged with using a hedgehog as a weapon, the New Zealand Herald has reported. Police said William Singalargh, 27, had hurled the hedgehog about 5m (16ft) at a 15-year-old boy. "It hit the victim in the leg, causing a large, red welt and several puncture marks," said Senior Sgt Bruce Jenkins, in the North Island town of Whakatane. It was unclear whether the hedgehog was still alive when it was thrown, though it was dead when collected as evidence. The police spokesman said the suspect was arrested "for assault with a weapon, namely... BBC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1998011/posts#comment Mon, 7 Apr 2008 17:42:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1994879/posts Fresh protests in New Zealand on Monday have highlighted concerns about China's treatment of Tibet. They come as Helen Clark leaves on an overseas trip which will see her sign a free trade agreement with the giant dictatorship. In Dunedin and Wellington, pro-Tibet protesters were demanding that human rights be respected by China and demanding that the PM rethink her free trade deal. "I think that Helen Clark should not be doing it especially when the situation is like this," says one of the protesters. The situation in Tibet is sensitive for China as it prepares to host the Olympics.... tvnz.co.nz http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1994879/posts#comment Tue, 1 Apr 2008 04:32:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1994875/posts NZ's Pamplona Sheep Run..lol Sheep have raced along the streets of a New Zealand town as it tries to imitate Spain's Pamplona bull run. Live leak http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1994875/posts#comment Tue, 1 Apr 2008 04:12:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1185352/posts Aug. 4, 2004 21:16 | Updated Aug. 4, 2004 22:01 New Zealand passport scam takes Canadian twist By HERB KEINON The New Zealand passport flap is thickening, with Canada trying to determine whether one of the Israelis allegedly involved in the scam who managed to leave New Zealand is traveling on a stolen Canadian passport. Canadian Foreign Ministry spokesman Reynald Doiron confirmed to The Jerusalem Post that the Canadian police and other federal agencies are investigating whether Ze'ev Barkan, one of the men New Zealand suspects of involvement in the scandal but who has reportedly left the country, is traveling... Jerusalem Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1185352/posts#comment Thu, 5 Aug 2004 06:19:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1994257/posts China will sign its first free trade pact with a developed country on April 7 when it inks a deal with New Zealand, according to reports here Sunday. ADVERTISEMENT Details of the agreement, the result of three years of negotiations, will not be released until after the signing ceremony. The New Zealand government has confirmed the date and Prime Minister Helen Clark will lead a delegation of 150 business and government representatives to Beijing for the ceremony, the New Zealand Press Association said. Yahoo News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1994257/posts#comment Mon, 31 Mar 2008 04:43:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1992620/posts SYDNEY — A New Zealand man has been sentenced to community service after telling police he was raped by a wombat and the experience had made him speak "Australian".[snip]Cradock pleaded guilty in the local court to using a phone for a fictitious purpose. He was sentenced to 75 hours' community work. Police prosecutor Sergeant Chris Stringer told the court alcohol played a large role in Cradock's life. FoxNews http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1992620/posts#comment Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:09:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1987953/posts Their weapons may not sound like much: two belts, a newspaper and a rose-pattern blanket. But six Chinese immigrants from Chamblee all but gift-wrapped an international fugitive for authorities recently, ending a five-month manhunt for a self-described martial arts expert twice featured on "America's Most Wanted." Nai Yin Xue had sought cover in Atlanta's Mandarin-speaking community. There, he encountered a scrappy band of cooks and deliverymen whose possessions, though few, include a good memory and a keen sense of justice. Now the "Chamblee Six" await final details of a sizable reward from New Zealand police. Today, the five men and... Atlanta Journal Constitution http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1987953/posts#comment Wed, 19 Mar 2008 03:29:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1984714/posts New Zealand dolphin rescued stranded whales Last Updated: 6:10pm GMT 12/03/2008 A dolphin led a pair of stranded whales to safety on Monday after all efforts by a human rescuer had failed. Mr Smith said he was 'not aware dolphins could communicate with pygmy sperm whales' The pygmy sperm whales, a 10ft female and her 7ft male calf, were seen to be in trouble off a New Zealand beach. They appeared to have become confused by a sandbar near the beach and could not find their way back to open water. Conservation Officer Malcolm Smith was called to Mahia beach,... The Telegraph (UK) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1984714/posts#comment Wed, 12 Mar 2008 23:26:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1984325/posts Moko is well known locally for playing with swimmers in the bay A dolphin has come to the rescue of two whales which had become stranded on a beach in New Zealand. Conservation officer Malcolm Smith told the BBC that he and a group of other people had tried in vain for an hour and a half to get the whales to sea. The pygmy sperm whales had repeatedly beached, and both they and the humans were tired and set to give up, he said. But then the dolphin appeared, communicated with the whales, and led them to safety.... BBC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1984325/posts#comment Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:28:18 GMT