Coach Joe Schmidt Granted Irish Citizenship
He has long been considered an honorary Irishman in the eyes of rugby fans. But Ireland’s head coach Woodville-born Joe Schmidt, 49, was made an official Irish citizen in a special ceremony organised by…
News of New Zealanders via Global Media
Racing Star Mitch Evans Proponent of F1 Noise
New Zealander Mitch Evans, 21, one of the leading lights of single-seater junior auto racing, says he believes Formula One’s audiences could accelerate if the series returned to 2.4-litre V8 engines which it dropped…
Flight of the Conchords Musical Is Coming
The upcoming Flight of the Conchords movie is shaping up to be a musical like no other, co-creator Jemaine Clement has promised – albeit tentatively. The film is “definitely a couple of years away,…
Richie McCaw Most Powerful in Rugby Union
Richie McCaw, “arguably the greatest All Black of all time”, has been named the most powerful person in the “50 Most Powerful People in Rugby Union” ranking by The Daily Telegraph. “The flanker’s…
NZ – Rugby World Cup Breeding Ground
“The All Blacks may be favoured to retain the Rugby World Cup but New Zealand’s influence on the global showpiece will extend far beyond its national team”, according to an article on
Kids Design Playground in New Zealand
Local kids have helped to design a new playground as part of the rebuild of the Christchurch city center following the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes. The Christchurch city council consulted the community about the rebuilt…
Three Million Reasons to Celebrate Tourism’s Value to New Zealand
Over three million visitors have travelled to New Zealand in the year ending July 2015, according to data released by Statistics New Zealand. The 7.3 % per cent increase of visitor numbers is good news for…
New Zealand Launches Currency Notes
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has launched new banknotes with new security features, which will go into circulation later this year. “The polymer notes are striking in their design and innovative in their security with the…
New Zealand Kicks off Record Cruise Season
New Zealand is expecting its biggest cruise season with 267,800 passengers in 2015-16. According to Cruise New Zealand the summer season has already begun with the arrival of Sea Princess in Auckland. “The next two…
Otahuna Wins Andrew Harper’s 2015 Reader’s Choice Awards
Otahuna Lodge in Tai Tapu, New Zealand has been voted the world’s Top International Hideaway by readers of one of the world’s most influential luxury travel reader’s polls, Andrew Harper’s…
Final Designs for New Zealand’s New Flag Chosen
“For more than a century, New Zealanders have fought wars and won Olympic medals under a flag with four red stars on a blue background and Great Britain’s Union Jack in the corner”, writes…
Casting for the Elusive Mr Brown on Ruakituri River
“As we cut through the clouds in the small Bay Heliwork chopper, the sky opens to a stunning view of Hawkes Bay and the legendary Ruakituri River where the elusive ‘Mr Brown’…
Janet Frame Travels Home Around the World
Janet Frame’s 1963 novella Towards Another Summer reimagines the New Zealand author’s “roots crisis” and is a sharp drama of fleeing, and missing, home, Catherine Taylor writes for the Guardian. The novella’s theme – taking…
New Zealand Has Some Filmtastic Backdrops
Many of the grander surroundings in Craig Zobel’s new film Z For Zachariah were filmed in New Zealand. Women’s lifestyle site Bustle takes a look back at other notable films shot throughout the country…
Domestic Market Key to Demise of Imperiled Dolphins
American environmental writer Andrew Revkin, in his regular column for the New York Times, says local nets, not faraway markets are the key to the “deeply imperiled toothed whale” New Zealand’s Maui’s dolphin. “The subspecies…
Gin Wigmore Embodies Casual Tough Girl Style
New Zealand-born musician Gin Wigmore has a fashion sense equally eclectic as her sound, according to style site Paste Magazine. With unfussy platinum blonde locks, a beautifully detailed tattoo sleeve and rings for every…
Lips Argue Against Online Streaming
New Zealander Steph Brown and West Virginia-born multi-instrumentalist and producer Fen Ikner are Lips, an electronic pop act characterised by a girl with giant lips for a head. The duo has just relocated from…
Comedy Show Nominee Trygve Wakenshaw Shines
The “angular New Zealander” Trygve Wakenshaw, who was nominated for best show at this year’s Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy awards, “has the audience in raptures with his wonky physical comedy – and a brilliantly inventive…
Teddy Tahu Rhodes Has a Devil of a Time
New Zealander Teddy Tahu Rhodes, “the drawcard” of State Opera SA’s recent season of Faust, “brings his powerful voice of dark charm to the role of Mephistopheles, an imposing icon of evil,” Adelaide Now…
Locust Jones Permanently Plugged into Chaos
It is a rare and rewarding moment to stumble across an exhibition that is as cohesively considered as Christchurch-born artist Locust Jones’ A Week in the Life of the World, not only in its…
All Blacks Squad Announced
There were few surprises in the All Blacks squad announcement “with coach Steve Hansen naming 17 forwards and 14 backs with the emphasis on the backs being their versatility to cover numerous positions.” “Richie McCaw…
Scott Dixon Wins Fourth IndyCar Championship
Scott Dixon has won Sunday’s race at Sonoma Raceway to clinch the 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series championship. He was awarded the title because he had three victories this season as opposed to Montoya’s two,…
Laura Myers Is Reimaginging ’90s Minimalism
While Laura Myers’ influences are all-American – she cites Carolyn Bessette and Lauren Hutton as totems – the collection has Oceanic roots. Myers, now based in London, was born in New Zealand and spent…
Lydia Ko Wins Canadian Pacific
Lydia Ko has won the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open for the third time and first as a professional, beating American Stacy Lewis with a par on the first hole of a playoff. The 18-year-old Ko…
Is this New Zealand’s Best Ever Ski Season?
After a phenomenal start to the season and continuing snowfalls, both Coronet Peak and Mt Hutt ski resorts in New Zealand may stay open longer than the usual. Ordinarily the season runs from mid-June…
New Zealand’s Jonah Lomu Still Talks a Good Game
Jonah Lomu changed the sport of rugby forever – his “emergence at the 1995 World Cup was seismic”. He was a pioneer for rugby union, who “raised interest to levels not witnessed before and…
12 Things To Do in Queenstown
Queenstown offers “an incredible mix of gorgeous views, great food, fun outdoor activities, and more” writes Geoffrey Morrison for Forbes Magazine. The article collates the Top 12 things to do in the…
TIFF Exclusive: Bust a Move With This Clip From ‘Born To Dance’
“While Hollywood has got the dance formula down cold, New Zealand actor/filmmaker Tammy Davisis bring(s) his own unique flavor to the genre”, writes Edward Davis for Indiewire. The New Zealand feature film Born To…
Patrick Bevin Signs Contract with Cannondale-Garmin
Continuing its tactic of working with some of the most promising young riders in the sport, the Cannondale-Garmin team has announced that New Zealand cyclist Patrick Bevin and Irish Ryan Mullen will join the…
5 Reasons You Will Love ‘Fear The Walking Dead’
The Walking Dead spinoff Fear The Walking Dead featuring Kiwi actor Cliff Curtis is “a worthy successor” – “the atypical spinoff that preserves and deepens the tone of its original show”, according to Adweek,…
McLaren Stalwart, Kiwi Phil Kerr
New Zealander Phil Kerr, an instrumental figure in the formative years of McLaren, has died in Auckland aged 80. Born in Auckland in 1934, the Kiwi became friends with Bruce McLaren when competing in hillclimb…
Shane van Gisbergen Says Rival Drivers are no Wet-Weather Specialists
Shane van Gisbergen says he looks good in wet-weather V8 Supercar races because his Australian rivals are so bad. “I don’t like driving in the rain. I’m just more used to it”, said the young…
Rob Hall’s Final Climb Roars to Life in Everest
It’s been almost two decades since the infamous 1996 tragedy on Mount Everest in which New Zealand guide Rob Hall and seven others perished. The world’s highest mountain has seen more destructive seasons –…
Michael Hazlewood Dishing up Outstanding Food
New Zealand chef Michael Hazlewood’s new London venture served Evening Standard reviewer Fay Maschler some “eerily outstanding food” by “charming, wine-savvy staff”. “‘Hazle’ as his friends and maybe even his wife know him is, as…
Marlon Williams Has Had a Crazy Year
If the events of 2015 are anything to go by, New Zealander Marlon Williams could certainly say this has been his year, Jade Lazearevic writes in a profile of the singer for the Newcastle…
Chef Ryan Arboleda Takes Tapas to the next Level
New Zealand-born chef de cuisine Ryan Arboleda, 34, has contrasted “complimentary elements” fusing “traditional and contemporary techniques with cross continent flavours” for his new menu at The Restaurant in Kuala Lumpur’s Saujana Hotel. Arboleda fits…
Singer Tamaryn Celebrating Unpredictable Potential
When a musician describes one of her tracks as “an early Madonna song if it was produced by My Bloody Valentine’, you know you’re in for something special,” online magazine PopMatters writes in a…
What’s in Jemaine Clement’s Library?
In the film People Places Things, New Zealander Jemaine Clement plays a New York City graphic novelist and professor struggling with life as the newly single father of twin girls. In real life, he’s…
Brewer Mark Hatherly’s Ale Wins Bronze in London
New Zealand brewer Mark Hatherly, who lives in Luxembourg, has received positive recognition for his first beer, Red Bridge amber ale, after winning bronze at the London 2015 International Beer Challenge in the ales…
Streaming Service Baboom Changes Tack
New Zealand streaming service Baboom “has a refreshing, possibly promising, approach to its place in digital music – Baboom wants to give the independent artists its focused on courting chances at greater exposure, and…
Memorial to Battle of Britain Hero Unveiled
A memorial to a Battle of Britain hero, New Zealand-born Cecil Henry Hight has been placed at the location he was shot down when his Spitfire squadron was scrambled to intercept German bombers on…
Trygve Wakenshaw Hits the Physical Comedy Jackpot
New Zealand comedian Trygve Wakenshaw’s “near-silent comedy produces loud laughs and a warm atmosphere” at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the List writes in a review of Wakenshaw’s solo show Nautilus. “By the time Wakenshaw…
Meet NZ’s Youngest Fashion Blogger Harley McVicar
Harley McVicar from Christchurch has holidayed with actress Pamela Anderson, made her catwalk debut at the age of two and runs a popular fashion blog – and she’s only eight-years-old. Harley has attended every New…
Brent Martin Serving Some of the Best Brunch in US
The in-house executive chef at Seattle’s Hyatt Regency Bellevue restaurant, Eques is New Zealander Brent Martin. Martin, who came to Eques after two decades of honing his culinary craft over several continents, has been…
Quirky Places and Travel Hacks: New Zealand
Lifehacker has picked five top quirky places and travel hacks for travel in New Zealand so you will explore “New Zealand like you’ve been there a thousand times – even if it’s your first…
Five Reasons why New Zealand Rule the Rugby World
The New Zealand All Blacks “have been almost untouchable” for four years and World Cup-winning coach Graham Henry believes the current class of All Blacks were better than the group that lifted the 2011 Webb…
How Actor Cliff Curtis Avoids Playing ‘Repetitive Stereotypes’
New Zealand actor Cliff Curtis has played interesting roles over the years. In 1999 he “hit a kind of American cinematic jackpot” with his work on Michael Mann’s The Insider, David O Russell’s Three…
New Zealand Cities Make Condé Nast List of Friendliest Cities
Queenstown has been ranked as third friendliest city in Condé Nast Traveller’s ‘The 2015 Friendliest and Unfriendliest Cities in the World’ ranking. Auckland has been ranked ninth friendliest city. Queenstown is “the birthplace of adventure…
New Anchor Campaign Celebrates New Zealand’s Finest Exports
Last weekend’s Bledisloe Cup test saw the launch of Anchor’s new campaign, which acknowledges the huge contribution farming has made to building the nation, the dairy industry and the All Blacks. The campaign features both…
Experiential Designers Gibson Group Calls for Bigger, Bolder Thinking from Museums
What museums are getting right and wrong when it comes to embracing today’s new digital landscape is analyzed by Gibson Group’s director of visitor experiences Allan Smith in an Entrepreneur.com…
Tourism New Zealand Claims Top Honours at US Tourism Awards
Tourism New Zealand has been named Tourism Board of the Year 2015 by U.S. luxury travel network Virtuoso. The winners were selected by Virtuoso’s community of luxury travel advisors. Chief Executive Kevin Bowler said the…
53M Views for All Blacks Men In Black Airline Safety Video
Air New Zealand’s new safety video, shown on all domestic and international flights, is featuring the New Zealand All Blacks, who have teamed up with former rugby rivals in the Man In Black-themed safety…
Heidi O’Loughlin’s Edinburgh Debut a Delight
For her first solo Edinburgh Fringe hour, comedian Heidi O’Loughlin tries out a variety of topics. The New Zealander’s Tahitian heritage is up first in a spot of family history, as she recounts the…
Coffee Cups of the World by Henry Hargreaves
Though New Zealander Henry Hargreaves thoroughly enjoyed his time as a fashion model, he decided from the outset that his career on the catwalk would have an expiration date and he stuck to it,…
Great Reviews for Jemaine Clement’s Latest Role
Indie world veteran director James Strouse’s People Places Things “gets a lot of its infectious spirit from star Jemaine Clement, 41, the New Zealander best known for being half of the Flight of the…
Appeal to Find Ron Stenberg’s Scottish Wifies
One of Scotland’s leading art galleries is launching an appeal to discover the identity of two elderly Dundee women depicted in an oil painting, which has been gifted to the city by New Zealand…
