News of New Zealanders via Global Media

The Hills Are Alive with the Sound of Runners

The Hills Are Alive with the Sound of Runners

Jonathan Wyatt (1998 Champion) took out the Mountain Running World Trophy at the Bavarian village of Bergen, while the New Zealand Women successfully chased Gold as well.

Home Run

Home Run

Shane Hunuhunu plays baseball for the Ashland (Ohio) Bombers’. The fireplug slugger imported from New Zealand features in “Fastpitch”, a new film by first-time film-maker Jeremy Spears. The footage was shot over a summer Spears spent playing…

Tuaman

Tuaman

”I discovered at an early age that I had something special,” says championship contender David Tua. ”It’s a God-given talent I have to knock people out.” It is a gift rewarded only in one place. Only…

Phar Lap’s Hide on Display Again After Three Years in Storage

Phar Lap’s Hide on Display Again After Three Years in Storage

“The hide is in Melbourne, the heart in Canberra. The bones are in Wellington, the big delicate skeleton of a horse who used to mean business.” (from ‘Phar Lap’, by Bill Manhire)  

Cycling Gold

Cycling Gold

New Zealand won two gold medals in the fifth and final leg of the Track World Cup Cycling Championship. Glen Thompson won in the 30km points race and Sarah Ulmer continued her superb Olympic preparation.

Sport of Kiwis

Sport of Kiwis

New Zealand beat South Africa 11-10 after withstanding an onslaught in the final chukka, to win the BMW polo series 2-0 in Durban. They won the first test 10-8 and showed the benefit of professional experience,…

Getting Jiggy: Bolstad Axes the Competition at ESPN Outdoor Games

Getting Jiggy: Bolstad Axes the Competition at ESPN Outdoor Games

Dave Bolstad “considered to be one of the world’s best” of Taumarunui won the most medals at the inaugural ESPN Outdoor Games held in the last week of July. The timber expert and world champion axeman…

Biking Versus Hiking and the DOC Peacemaker

Biking Versus Hiking and the DOC Peacemaker

Mountain biker Yuri Kuzyk takes issue with an Ottawa Citizen article claiming that mountain biking erodes mountain trails in Gatineau Park. He cites the hard science of a 1995 New Zealand Department of Conservation Study that shows…

The New Zealand Presence at Wimbledon

The New Zealand Presence at Wimbledon

Unfortunately it wasn’t a tennis player: “New Zealand’s profound influence on international sport goes beyond the haka and influencing the bidding of World Cup football finals. Consider, for example, Aorangi Park, the area of the All England…

Kiwi Behind the Scenes Racing Legend

Kiwi Behind the Scenes Racing Legend

“She is perfect and I think most people agree.” Efficiency, accuracy, reliability and above all loyalty are the words the Sydney Morning Herald uses to describe Sue Hutchinson, the first female to hold the position of…

“I Never Thought the World Cup Was So Important to So Many People.”

“I Never Thought the World Cup Was So Important to So Many People.”

Call it Kiwi modesty, call it naive call of the week, but we had to mention it somewhere. After all it may not be New Zealand’s proudest, or smartest, moment, but in terms of international achievements…

The White Sox’ Hurling Hope

The White Sox’ Hurling Hope

As the New Zealand women’s softball team hopes to reclaim glory at the Olympics, they place a great deal of expectation on the shoulders of Gina Weber as the Vancouver Sun reports: “There was a -time…

Mandy Smith: Hockey’s Answer to Anna Kournikova

Mandy Smith: Hockey’s Answer to Anna Kournikova

In an article deploring the emphasis on sex over substance in the sporting press, the Irish Times compares New Zealand hockey’s Mandy Smith to Anna Kournikova. This, following a 3-0 drubbing of World and Olympic champions Australia….

“I’m Quite a Fearful Person Actually”

“I’m Quite a Fearful Person Actually”

Sir Ed might have to do some convincing – he will go down in history as one of the Twentieth Century’s great adventurers. The Independent asks if the 81 year-old has any mountains left to climb,…

Pete Sampras Follows Historic Kiwi Footsteps at Wimbledon

Pete Sampras Follows Historic Kiwi Footsteps at Wimbledon

Kiwi contribution to a tennis legacy: “No man in this century has dominated the world’s only important grasscourt tournament quite like Sampras. Not Hugh Doherty. Not the dashing New Zealander Tony Wilding. Not Fred Perry. Not Rod…

Wilson Picked in All-Star Futures Game

Wilson Picked in All-Star Futures Game

Kiwi baseball player Travis Wilson, who is a rookie with the Atlanta Braves, has been selected to play in the US vs the World All-Star Futures Game – a strong indication that he’s on track to…

World set to discover the rigours of the Southern Traverse

World set to discover the rigours of the Southern Traverse

“One of the world’s most prestigious adventure races, and the cornerstone of global media company announce a new partnership in adventure racing. Discovery Channel will be the exclusive media sponsor of the Southern Traverse (New Zealand),…

Windy Wellington Challenges the Eternal Spirit of the Olympic Flame

Windy Wellington Challenges the Eternal Spirit of the Olympic Flame

NZ Prime Minister Helen Clark was forced to take an unscheduled breather on the Olympic Torch Relay when “Windy” Wellington remained true to name. As the Prime Minister jogged down the stairs of Parliament House in the…

Tua Terminates Sullivan in Tysonesque Power Show

Tua Terminates Sullivan in Tysonesque Power Show

“Even Mike Tyson would have been impressed. Fighting with the savage explosiveness of the former champion, David Tua needed only 51 seconds to stop Obed Sullivan and firmly establish himself as the heavyweight division’s leading challenger.”

David Tua Demonstrates Power

David Tua Demonstrates Power

“In only 51 seconds, David Tua showed why the heavyweight division may become a more interesting place once again. In knocking down Obed Sullivan the squat Samoan from New Zealand also staked a claim alongside Mike Tyson…

Wordplay No Game for Kiwi King of Scrabble

Wordplay No Game for Kiwi King of Scrabble

“Nigel Richards was something else. The man of the tournament, considered by many to be the world’s best scrabbler, thrilled everyone with his clinical skills and microscopic reading of the game.” Nigel has a record six straight…

Today in History: Hillary’s Everest Ascent Remembered

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.  

Sarah Ulmer Burns Up the Rubber in Columbia

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.

Word on the Street is That It Will Be a Tough Contest

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…

Tua Training to Become King of the Heavyweight Jungle

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.

Who Says Sport and Politics Don’t Mix?

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…

Kiwis’ Towering Achievement in Kuala Lumpur

Kiwis’ Towering Achievement in Kuala Lumpur

New Zealanders showed their domination at the Kuala Lumpur International Towerathon 2000 in both the men’s and women’s categories. Jonathan Wyatt broke his own record to win the event, climbing the 2,058 steps of the tower in 10.39s….

The Greatest Rider of the Century

The Greatest Rider of the Century

As Mark Todd prepares to leap the final fences of his distinguished career, The Time’s Simon Barnes heaps lavish praise on the New Zealander who is “without peer” in the equestrain world.  

Tua to Lewis: “It’s Time to Face the Music”

Tua to Lewis: “It’s Time to Face the Music”

“The fans need to see David Tua destroy Lennox Lewis. He’s tailor-made for me.  I Respect what he’s accomplished, but I believe I have the style to knock Lennox Lewis out” …

New Zealand Yorkies

New Zealand Yorkies

Global Soccer show Futbol Mundial profiles three young New Zealanders who’ve made the long journey to the English town of Barnsley in the hope of launching a professional career.  

Without a Fault, World Champ Wins

Without a Fault, World Champ Wins

Blyth Tait of New zealand, the reigning world and Olympic champion, rode Welton Envoy to a faultless round over all 16 fences to win the Rolex-Kentucky Horse Trails.  

I’m Gonna be a Contender

I’m Gonna be a Contender

David Tua has the respect of World Heavyweight boxing champ Lennox Lewis, “I think Tua deserves a shot”. A possible title fight is lined up for later this year.  

With Time in Hand Tait Wins Rolex Three-Day Event

With Time in Hand Tait Wins Rolex Three-Day Event

Blyth Tait of New Zealand, had a clear final round and no time faults to win on an untried horse, Welton Envoy.  

“Go You Good Thing, Go” – Kiwi Kingz Supporters Hailed as Best in NSL

“Go You Good Thing, Go” – Kiwi Kingz Supporters Hailed as Best in NSL

How good are the Auckland Kingz fans? Up there with the best, it seems. While the Kingz may have enjoyed a topsy-turvy season, their fans have consistently been hailed as the best in the NSL -…

Fat-Pig New Zealand Speedsters Bring Home the Bacon

Fat-Pig New Zealand Speedsters Bring Home the Bacon

Pig racing has taken off in Groombridge, near Tunbridge Wells. Pig trainer Mike Foley’s favourite pigs are the Kune Kune (pronounced Koonie Koonie) from New Zealand.

New Zealander has the Chance to Make Top-four

New Zealander has the Chance to Make Top-four

UNLV guard Mark Dickel was knocked out of the NCAA Tournament in the first round last week. There is still a New Zealand player with a chance to reach the Final Four. Kirk Penny …

Eco-race

Eco-race

“Up ahead there is likely to be John Howard, 46, arguably the world’s greatest adventure racer, a crusty old Kiwi window cleaner who, late in a race, looks like he just crawled out from under a…