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…
News of New Zealanders via Global Media
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…
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…
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…
“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…
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…
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Richard Tomlinson, whose ‘licence to spy’ was revoked by MI6 in 1995 is negotiating with a Russian publisher to disclose details of his experiences as an agent.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.
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.
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 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…
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.
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 ……
Nuclear Free New Zealand Adds Weight to New Agenda Coalition
United Nations, New York: After pressure from the New Agenda Coalition, weeks of intense negotiation and decades of international pressure, the five original nuclear powers have agreed for the first time to the “unequivocal” elimination of nuclear…
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.
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…
Niccol turns into Hollywood gold
Kiwi Andrew Niccol is to write and direct ‘the Hollywood project’, rumoured to star Al Pacino as a down and out movie producer. Niccol was Oscar nominated for the screenplay to The Truman Show and…
New Zealand Nature on the Edge of London
An oasis of calm – in the form of a 105-acre wildlife reserve – has been developed just seven miles from the bustle of the centre of London. The Wetlands Center includes a New Zealand white…
GST Fringe Not so Taxing
“New Zealand’s goods and services tax is relatively foolproof because it makes few exceptions, but it hasn’t stopped those with a touch of entrepreneurial flair making the odd killing, especially on the land.”
Manimal Farm: Science’s Brave New World
New Zealand government researchers have developed a herd of super-producing cattle.
Streaming Coolness Reveals Beautiful Form at Tekapo Canal
From the Bangkok Post: “Simple and beautiful, these little stones reveal the time it takes to be ‘cool’ inside and out.”
New Zealand Whites the Best
Before you call the PC Police, the reds are pretty good as well: The National Post’s Michael Vaughan pines for New Zealand wines, “The LCBO Classics Catalogue offers slim pickings from a country with a lot…
Food unites through Kiwi chef’s fusion menu
Tainted by the bad press of football violence and last August’s earthquake, Times writer Cath Urquhart found Istanbul to instead be beautiful and friendly, helped in no small way by the diverse fusion menu…
Moving Places: Peter Carr
Peter Carr has been promoted to chief financial officer and chief actuary of Pearl Assurance, the life and pensions arm of AMP. Carr joined Pearl as chief actuary from AMP New Zealand.
Word on the Street is That It Will Be a Tough Contest
Will Nigel Richards from New Zealand sweep the board and take home the biggest champion’s prize in Malaysian Scrabble? How far can the local champions take the game to the best in the world? The questions…
Wall Street Gets Emotional Rescue from the Edge
Kevin Roberts says there is a challenge for the ‘anti-social medium’ of the web, traditional advertising and product design in general. That is, to get emotional and to create mystery and sensuality in order to re-connect…
Tomlinson, Richard Tomlinson, MI6
Richard Tomlinson, New Zealand born Cambridge educated British spy, faces prosecution under the Official Secrets Act for revelations about his past work for M16. Tomlinson, claiming wrongful dismissal and already sentenced to prison for…
Russell Crowe maximises his earnings
“What we do in life echoes in eternity,” Russell Crowe as General Maximus says while admonishing his battle-ready troops in Gladiator. And what we do at the box office echoes in our paychecks”.
Tua Training to Become King of the Heavyweight Jungle
Las Vegas Sun columnist Dean Juipe’s boxing notebook profiles No.1 challenger to the heavyweight throne, David Tua, from his utopian home in Las Vegas – lions included.
You Can’t Grow Money on Trees … but Cabbages?
Extracting gold from plants sounds like modern day alchemy, but 26 yr-old Massey University of New Zealand scientist Chris Anderson has managed to do it in the laboratory – extracting gold from cabbages.
‘Red Ken’ Appoints Blue-chip Kiwi as His Business Advisor
51-year-old New Zealander Judith Mayhew has joined London Mayor Ken Livingstone’s cabinet as his business advisor. Announcing the appointment on Thursday, Mr Livingstone said he was “delighted.” The appointment of Tory Mayhew gives new meaning to socialist Ken’s…
New Zealand Wines Meet the Challenge
Hong Kong: Kiwi wines dominate in the South China Morning Post’s Kevin Sinclair’s answer to the challenge of how to build the perfect home wine collection from scratch.
Who Says Sport and Politics Don’t Mix?
US Senate Candidate John Ensign revived former UNLV basketball star Mark Dickel when the player struck his head during a pick-up game and went into convulsions. Dickel, from New Zealand, an honourable mention All-American point guard, was…
Superstar Jonah Shows that He’s got Grass-roots
Rugby superstar Jonah Lomu, shows he still knows what the game’s all about in the professional era, and will play for a local club in the Wellington second division club rugby competition.
A Funeral to Die For
Death is finding new life on the web: a New Zealand-based Web site, www.funeralstodiefor.com, will plan a customer’s last rites down to the choice of music and type of flowers–and promises to help make the ceremony happen…
Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport – They’ve Done It Again
In the “Cool places to shop (and what to buy)” section of the South China Morning Post’s “Cool guide to Sydney”, Williams Street is noted for Collette Dinnigan, and Janine Edwards is mentioned for…
Roman in gloamin’ ?
Russell Crowe is being hailed here as the best-looking guy in a skirt since Mel Gibson. The showbiz press have gone crazy over the New Zealander’s performance in Gladiator, just like Mel’s in Braveheart. …
Grey Power? Not Unless You Drink More Milk
Auckland University researchers have found that women who go grey earlier have lower bone density and are more at risk from osteoporosis.
G’Day Caesar
Crowe’s accent crosses the expanses of the globe and the distance of time in the Gladiator – Owen Duggan corrects the notion that it’s Bondi-based, and Christine Kenneally muses on the sound of things ancient…
Ten Million Leap over the Edge
Bungee jumping, inspired by a South Pacific rite, was commercialised world-wide by New Zealander A.J. Hackett, who established the Kawarau river bridge site near Queenstown in 1988. This year the 10 millionth person across the world took the…
