Meteor Shines Bright Green Over New Zealand
A meteor lit up New Zealand skies on Tuesday about 9pm. New Zealander Jono Matla was lucky enough to capture the meteor cutting its way through the sky. It was “one of the most amazing…
News of New Zealanders via Global Media
Kakapo May Need Parasites to Survive
Conservation biologists are doing everything they can to keep the critically endangered kakapo from vanishing. And so, when they discovered a few years ago that a pair of captive kakapo were infected with tapeworms,…
Sound Fossil of the Huia Echoes in Munich
As inhabitants of the Anthropocene age, in which our influence on the planet is so profound and terrifying, the Guardian asks how our writers and artists are responding to this crisis. Included in an…
Global Media Hail Helen Clark’s UN Bid
Former Prime Minister Helen Clark’s announced candidacy for the position of Secretary-General at the United Nations has been hailed around the world by international media. The UN’s current top ranked woman as head of the…
After WWII NZ Navy Rocked With Peaceful Mutinies
As far as navies go, the Royal New Zealand Navy is a relatively young one. For most of New Zealand’s time as a British colony, the country was protected by the British Navy. It…
End of The NZ Flag Referendum? Think Again
Last week the results of the New Zealand flag referendum were released: The Kiwis voted against changing the flag and in favour of keeping their current flag. Is that the end of it? Peter Fitz…
US Study Looks at How Islands Are Saving Natives
“In 1894, a pregnant house cat escaped from a lighthouse on Stephens Island, in the Marlborough Sounds. She had her kittens in the wild, where they went feral. Within 13 months, a native bird…
How to Ford a River
The New York Times asks retired firefighter, New Zealander George Spearing, who has crossed hundreds of rivers on solo wilderness treks, including a five-month, 4265km hike from the Mexican border to British Columbia and…
South Canterbury Contractors Unearth Moa Bones
Contractors at a site in South Canterbury have made an unexpected find while digging a trench – dozens of bones belonging to the long-extinct moa. Workers spotted the bones during excavations in an area which…
New Zealand Ranked Among World’s Most Literate Nations
New Zealand has been ranked the 15th most literate nation in a new study of countries and their literacy. According to the article “the study, conducted by John W. Miller, president of Central Connecticut State…
NZ Could Become One of First Countries to Introduce Citizen’s Wage
Andrew Little, leader of the Labour Party said his party was considering the idea of scrapping benefits and introducing a basic citizens’ income, as reported in The Independent. “Citizens’ income also known as…
Zero-Hour Contracts Banned in New Zealand
Zero-hour contracts have been outlawed in New Zealand after parliament unanimously passed a bill to ban the controversial practice, which is being hailed as a major victory for minimum wage workers, particularly in the…
NZEDGE.COM EDITORIAL (new): 8 Reasons Why I Voted for the New New Zealand Flag
In 2004 I wrote ‘Eight Reasons to Change the Flag’ for Lloyd Morrison’s new flag campaign. Here’s my 2016 update: – The old flag is a relic, like this once mighty VE Valiant,…
Kiwi Pilot Jason Laing Honoured
New Zealand helicopter pilot Jason Laing has been honoured with this year’s Appareo Pilot of the Year Award. The pilot is best known for his work in the aftermath of last April’s earthquake in Nepal. After the…
Kiwi Cycles Across India
New Zealander Tim Chittock started cycling the roads of India to create a world record on February 27. His goal is to pedal 6,000 kilometres from New Delhi along the Golden Quadrilateral in 20…
Ta Moko – Traditional Maori Face and Body Tattoos
The Daily Mail has featured a number of black and white photos, which were taken by possibly the first New Zealand female professional photographer Elizabeth Pulman and depict “how far…
Professor Roger Clark Nominated for Nobel Prize
New Zealand-born Professor Roger Clark, a public international law, human rights and criminal law scholar, has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his work on a lawsuit on behalf of…
Singapore Events Exec Matt Bennett Takes Time Off
New Zealander Matt Bennett, 47, is the managing director of events company Magic Rock, which is organising Magners International Comedy Festival in Singapore. Bennett divides his time between Singapore and Bangkok. He talks to…
Artist Melvin Day Brought a Cubist Edge to New Zealand
Artist Melvin Day, who gave his post-war landscapes, still lifes and images of Maori meetings a cubist sensibility, has died aged 92. Day studied at the Courtauld Institute in London under the Cambridge spy Anthony Blunt,…
Trans-Tasman New Pathways to Citizenship Deal Made
New Zealanders who have lived and worked in Australia for more than five years will find it easier to access citizenship under a deal reached by the leaders of the two countries, the Guardian…
Kiwi in Syria War Zones Raising Relief Funds
New Zealander Michael Seawright, founder of international humanitarian organisation ReliefAid is raising emergency relief funds to provide shelter support to families in Syria War Zones. ReliefAid is one of only a handful of…
Christchurch a City Reimagining Itself
The story of Christchurch’s resurrection is nearly as inspirational as the one that lends the city its name. In the aftermath of a terrible succession of earthquakes between 2010-11, which led to the demolition…
New Zealand Wins ‘Top Country in the World’ Award Voted by British Travellers
With a satisfaction rating of 97 per cent, New Zealand has been ranked as number one country for the second year in succession by 2900 readers of Wanderlust, the UK’s leading travel magazine. “This award…
Kim Casali’s Love Is An Inspiration
Auckland-born Kim Casali created the syndicated cartoon feature Love Is…, originally as notes to her future husband, in the late 1960s. As well, in one of the world’s first cases, Casali gave birth to…
NZ Happy Chickens Farm Video Goes Viral
“A video from a farm in New Zealand, Otaika Valley Free Range Eggs, has been making the rounds on social media in recent days, and it’s easy to see why,” writes Stephen Messenger…
Mesmerising Drone Footage of New Zealand Sheep
An aerial photographer and qualified pilot has captured some truly mesmerising footage of hundreds of sheep being herded in New Zealand as reported in The Daily Mail. The video shows hordes of sheep…
Kakapo Genome Sequencing a Whole Lot of Help
A group of kakapo will have their genomes sequenced in the hope it will improve the birds’ genetic diversity. There are only 125 kakapo left and every one of them will have their genetic…
New Zealand Unemployment Drops to 6-Year Low
New Zealand’s unemployment rate has plummeted to 5.3% – in the fourth quarter of the year – which is a six-year low. “Although the number of employed people has risen, there was also growth in…
New Zealand One of The World’s Most Generous Nations
New Zealand is the country with the second highest rate of charitable donations as a percentage gross domestic product (GDP) according to a new report released by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF). Charitable giving by…
Decorated WWII Fighter Pilot Keith Thiele
Squadron Leader Keith Thiele, who has died in Sydney aged 94, was decorated four times as a bomber and a fighter pilot and was one of only four New Zealand-born airmen to earn three…
Migaloo Sighted in New Zealand
The world’s most famous white whale Migaloo – a pure white humpback – has been sighted between the North and South Island of New Zealand. “Migaloo being in New Zealand waters supports the findings from…
Badass Woman Nancy Wake
Nancy Wake was included in Buzzfeed’s list of “14 Badass Historical Women To Name Your Daughters After”. If you would like your baby to be exceedingly glamorous you should name her Nancy after Nancy Wake –…
Moa’s Range of Ecological Roles Irreplaceable
Filling the ecological gap left by the extinction of the moa with imported Australian emus and cassowaries would not work, according to insights into the giant flightless birds’ feeding behaviours. The findings, reported in the…
Fiji Appointment for Prof Nigel Healey
Professor Nigel Healey has been appointed the new vice-chancellor of Fiji National University (FNU) with the New Zealander, who is currently the pro-vice-chancellor and head of the college of business, law and social sciences…
Antarctica shaping up as 21st century geopolitical hotspot
The locale of one of today’s greatest real estate development grabs might surprise you. It’s not Dubai, Las Vegas, or Shanghai, but the frozen continent that rests at the end of the world. Writing…
Measuring the Anzacs for Online Database
Researchers at Waikato University are calling on the public to help create an online database of all the New Zealanders who served during World War One for a project called Measuring the Anzacs. Volunteers are…
James Bertram’s Mao Zedong Letter Sold at Sotheby’s
A letter from Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong sent to British Labour leader Clement Atlee and typed by New Zealand-born journalist James Munro Bertram, has sold at Sotheby’s for £605,000, more than…
Lyttelton Is Banking on Time
When the port town on Lyttelton was devastated by the 2011 earthquake, a time bank – the first of its kind in New Zealand – helped the community harness the resources to rebuild. Time banking…
Helen Clark Says Living Standards of 2 Billion Better
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP), led by New Zealander Helen Clark, says that 2 billion people have lifted themselves out of low human development in the last 25 years. The Human Development…
Pataka Taonga Returned to New Plymouth
Five intricately carved storehouse carvings have been returned to New Zealand after 150 years buried in a swamp and 40 years exile in Europe. They are the Motunui epa and once were almost sold off…
Face of Climate Change – Helen Clark
Helen Clark, Head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and former Prime Minister of New Zealand was featured in an article on the Deutsche Welle as one of the faces…
New Zealand One of the Best Countries to Retire
New Zealand has been named the tenth best country to retire in the 2015 Global Retirement Index. According to the report retirees in New Zealand can enjoy relatively high levels of material wellbeing…
Charlie Smith Trades in Wedding for Dream Sail
Former ITV weather presenter and model New Zealander Charlie Smith, 27, and her fiancé, who goes by the name, Captain, 34, made the choice to sell their house and put their wedding plans on…
New Zealand Voices Strong Protest over Japan’s Antarctic Whaling
New Zealand has led an “international protest on Monday against Japan’s plans to resume its research hunt for whales in the Southern Ocean, while Australia said it is considering further legal action”, as reported…
Long-legged Arachnids Go to Battle
Entomologists from the University of Auckland have found that harvestmen, Pantopsalis cheliferoides, which live in the wet forests of the North Island, are the first animals found to have different types of weapon in…
Norman Harris – Not Bad for an Old Jogger
New Zealand-born sportswriter Norman Harris, organiser of London’s Sunday Times National Fun Run, and quite possibly the inventor of the word “jogger”, has died in Britain. He was 75. Harris worked as a sports reporter…
Wellington Aims To Be Most Prosperous, Liveable and Vibrant City in the Southern Hemisphere
“Admittedly before visiting Wellington, I didn’t know much about the city, besides that it is supposed to be very windy. But after spending a couple of days exploring the town and meeting the people…
World’s Newest Cat Cafe
The world’s latest cat café has opened in Auckland. At BaristaCats café on Queen Street cat lovers can enjoy a hot drink and a cuddle with the café’s resident cats for only NZ$15 cat…
New Zealand Launches Smart Recycling Program for Soft Plastics
A new Soft Plastics Recycling Program that could keep over four million plastic bags out of the landfill has been launched in Auckland by Environment Minister Nick Smith last week. Whether or not the program…
Fighting the IS Publicity War
New Zealander Janna Hamilton, who has worked for Oxfam in the Middle East and Africa, largely with Syrian refugees on the Jordanian and Lebanese borders, argues in an opinion piece for the New Zealand…
Why New Zealand Shouldn’t Be a State of Australia
The Australia liberal senator Ian Macdonald has caused a media ruckus joking that New Zealand should become Australia’s “seventh and eighth state”. Guardian correspondent Eleanor Roy, who is “half Aussie, half Kiwi”, explains that…
Kiwi Model Eats 22 Big Macs in One Hour
Kiwi model Nela Zisser “devoured 22 Big Macs in under an hour, which was she followed up by scarfing 100 gyoza dumplings in nine minutes, 31 seconds”, as reported in an article on Vice. “It’s just a good…
NZ Launches Online Simulation for International Drivers
The Automobile Association New Zealand (AA) has launched an online driving simulator for international drivers on Wednesday. The online programme can be accessed on the AA website for free. “It will help inform visiting drivers, improve…
Vietnam and New Zealand Sign Cooperation Agreements
“Vietnam and New Zealand have signed several cooperation agreements during a visit by Prime Minister John Key to Hanoi as they seek to double bilateral trade in the next five years”, as reported in…
New Zealand Student’s Speech Goes Viral
A New Zealand student’s emotional valedictory speech has gone viral online with more than 170,000 views. 18-year-old Jake Bailey, who had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer in his final year…
Indigenous NZ Practice Aims to Reunite Kids in Care with Families
A delegation from New Zealand, led by Katie Murray has travelled to Winnipeg to work with the Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre Inc. on reducing the number of children in foster care. The delegation’s…
