New Zealand

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New Zealand Rated Most Peaceful; US 83rd

(Newser) - The Institute for Economics and Peace has released its annual list of the world’s most peaceful countries, Bloomberg reports. The index is based on things like "international security" and "tolerant solidarity." New Zealand is No. 1; the US is No. 83. A sampling:
  1. New Zealand: A
...

Jilted Guy Hides Ring in Twitter Treasure Hunt

Will tweet clues as searchers scour his New Zealand city

(Newser) - What to do when "Em, no" greets your question from bended knee? A New Zealand man who finds himself with a “spare ring” is going to hide it somewhere in the capital city Saturday—and post clues as to its location on a Twitter treasure hunt, the Dominion ...

Polly Steals a Passport
 Polly Steals a Passport 
May 29, 2009 4:55 AM CDT

Polly Steals a Passport

Winged New Zealand thief makes off with Scottish tourist's passport

(Newser) - One of New Zealand's native parrots now has a British passport, the AP reports. The kea, one of a notoriously brazen species of alpine parrots, snatched the brightly colored bag containing the passport from the luggage compartment of a stopped tour bus and flew off into the rainforest with it....

Toddler Buys $20K Digger Online

Girl, 3, wins auction for heavy machinery while parents are sleeping

(Newser) - A tech-savvy New Zealand 3-year-old bought a $20,000 piece of heavy machinery while her parents were sleeping, the Daily Telegraph reports. Pipi Quinland went to the family computer after waking up early, entered the online auction site TradeMe—her mom had logged on earlier—and won an auction for...

'Accidental Millionaires' May Have Fled NZ for China

Had asked for $6K overdraft; got $6M instead

(Newser) - A New Zealand couple on the lam after they became accidental millionaires may be in China, and an investigator has been dispatched to look for the fugitives, the Rotorua Review reports. Interpol is also on the case. Of the $3.6 million originally transferred into a gas station's account because...

Couple Vanishes After $6M Bank Deposit Error

(Newser) - Police are searching for a New Zealand couple who disappeared after withdrawing a fortune mistakenly credited by their bank to their account. Westpac Bank blamed the $6 million deposit blunder on "human error," and executives want the money back. Unlike the "Bank Error In Your Favor" Monopoly...

New Zealand Hosts 'Penguathlon'

Event draws attention to world's penguin capital

(Newser) - Penguins and people are swapping places at New Zealand’s Penguathlon, a sort of penguin Olympics. As the birds face off in icy versions of soccer, Frisbee, surfing and waddle races, spectators are invited to try waddling themselves in giant penguin feet. The month-long event is meant to showcase how...

Trial Begins in Maori Exorcism Death

Woman drowned during ritual to rid her of evil spirits

(Newser) - Nine Maoris accused of killing a mother of two during a botched exorcism have gone on trial in New Zealand, the Daily Telegraph reports. The six women and three men have pleaded not guilty to manslaughter in the death of the 22-year-old woman who drowned when the accused restrained her...

Fiji Dictator Defies Calls for Democracy

Commodore flouts deadline, says he needs another 5 years

(Newser) - The military leader of Fiji, where a coup overthrew the elected government in 2006, defied international demands for a restoration of democracy. Frank Bainimarama had been given a deadline of today to announce an election date, but the commodore said that he would not allow a return to democracy for...

Swine Flu Spreads as Far as New Zealand

10 students infected with mild strain after returning from Mexico

(Newser) - Ten students from New Zealand who just returned from Mexico have tested positive for influenza, and the country's health minister said the cases are "likely" to be swine flu. The students were quarantined after returning to New Zealand yesterday, and one student had to be hospitalized. The minister added...

Israel Yanks Ambassador to Switzerland

Outraged as Iranian, Swiss leaders meet at UN racism conference

(Newser) - Israel has angrily called home its ambassador to Switzerland after that country's president met with Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ahead of a politically charged UN meeting on racism that began today, the Times of London reports. On Israel's Holocaust Memorial Day, Switzerland’s “guest of honor is a racist...

New Enemy in Climate Fight: Methane-Heavy Sheep Burps

Methane from livestock may cause more emissions than automobiles

(Newser) - Big oil, coal-fired power plants, automakers and now sheep: As governments look to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, researchers are looking seriously at livestock, believed to contribute more than cars via the methane gas they belch during digestion, the Wall Street Journal reports. To that end, researchers in New Zealand are trying...

Woods Upset at Caddie for Ripping Mickelson

Pal Williams has been 'dealt with' over calling rival 'prick,' fat joke

(Newser) - Tiger Woods is “disappointed” in longtime caddie Steve Williams for making derogatory comments about rival Phil Mickelson, the Times reports. “It was inappropriate. The matter has been discussed and dealt with,” Woods said in a statement. Williams told a large crowd in his native New Zealand that,...

7-Person Air New Zealand Flight Crashes Off France

Airbus A320 was on a training mission over Mediterranean

(Newser) - Three bodies have been recovered after an Air New Zealand jet with seven aboard crashed into the Mediterranean today, AFP reports. The Airbus A320—which can carry about 150 passengers—was on a test flight when it went down off the coast of the French city of Perpignan. Five on...

Feds Bust One of World's Largest Spammers

Feds say network sent 10B emails a day

(Newser) - Thank the feds if you find fewer offers for Viagra in your inbox today. The FTC says it shut down one of the world's largest spam operations, which promoted the sale of prescription drugs and male enhancement pills by way of billions of illegal email messages, the Chicago Tribune reports....

Invasive Species Getting Bad Rap: Scientists

Exotics can cause extinctions, but spur diversity, evolution, too

(Newser) - Invasive species don’t always spell disaster for native ecosystems and animal life, scientists say after a study of the process and its effects on New Zealand. More than 22,000 non-native plants have been introduced to the islands, the New York Times reports, and only three native species have...

At Age 111, Finally a Dad
 At Age 111, Finally a Dad
Aug 6, 2008 2:33 PM CDT

At Age 111, Finally a Dad

New Zealand's Harry the tuatara regains libido after 40 years

(Newser) - A New Zealand reptile is about to become a father at the ripe old age of 111, reports the Guardian. Henry the tuatara displayed no interest in reproducing during 40 years of captivity but regained his sex drive earlier this year after removal of a cancerous growth from his genitals....

Kiwi Judge Chucks Kid's Crazy Name
Kiwi Judge Chucks Kid's Crazy Name
Jul 25, 2008 5:17 AM CDT

Kiwi Judge Chucks Kid's Crazy Name

'Tallulah Does The Hula From Hawaii' latest of many

(Newser) - A New Zealand judge has allowed 9-year-old Tallulah Does The Hula From Hawaii to change her name, the BBC reports. The judge said the bizarre name makes a fool of the girl—who prefers to be called "K"—and would pose a likely handicap later in life. He...

NZ Farmers Gas About Sheep Flatulence Pollution Law

Fears that methane curb could ruin farms

(Newser) - In its quest to be the first carbon-neutral country, New Zealand is cracking down on methane emissions--and that means regulating the gas released by livestock, the Los Angeles Times reports. Farmers are worried a government proposal to fine them if their livestock exceed greenhouse-gas limits could leave many bankrupt—a...

New Zealand Says Sorry to Vietnam Vets

Protester-turned-PM: Treatment after return from war 'inadequate'

(Newser) - The government of New Zealand expressed regret today over its unfair and harsh treatment of Vietnam veterans upon their return, Reuters reports. Prime Minister Helen Clark, who protested the war as a student in the 1970s, made the apology before parliament to the 37 killed and 187 wounded as a...

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