Shantytown – a fascinating recreation of the gold mining days on New Zealand’s West Coast
Dorothy–28/03/2007 Be certain to visit Shantytown if you are travelling on New Zealand’s West Coast…
Spectre of the Brocken on Mt Robert
Peter Hunt- 13/2/04 The name Spectre of the Brocken conjures up mysterious images seen on mountains in Germany. In 1780 the name was given to the phenomenon seen on Mt Brocken when an enormously magnified shadow of the person watching was cast on a bank of cloud. It can happen when the sun is…
Jumbo the elephant enjoying her retirement at Franklin Zoo
News from the Franklin Zoo and Wildlife Sanctuary – 21/05/2010 Franklin Zoo and Wildlife Sanctuary in Tuakau has been the home for Jumbo the retired circus elephant for the past six months. Sanctuary director and veterinarian Dr Helen Schofield says Jumbo has settled in to her life at the Sanctuary well and has developed close…
Cancer Society New Zealand’s views on smoking
Lynne St Clair-Chapman – 05/05/2010 Tuesday 20 April, 2010 It’s sucking the life out of us Fourteen New Zealanders, including two Maori, will die today. The same number will die tomorrow and the day after that and every other day .. all year round. They won’t die in road accidents. They won’t die of old…
Robbie Francis wins 2009 “Attitude ACC Supreme Award”
Jane Pickering – 04/12/09 Robbie Francis, a passionate youth advocate, has won this year’s “Attitude ACC Supreme Award”. The Waikato University student was presented with the trophy by Sir Murray Halberg and Associate Minister for ACC and Disability Issues Pansy Wong at a black tie function at Eden Park in Auckland. Sir Murray founded the…
Leading Pacific writer and artist receives Honorary Doctorate
News from Huia Publishers – 07/07/09 Revered author Albert Wendt was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in May by the University of Hawai’i for his extensive contribution to Pacific literature and art. The honour came soon after Wendt put the finishing touches on his latest novel The Adventures of Vela, released in June in Auckland. Apia-born…
Netball legend backs Air New Zealand Golden Oldies World Netball Festival in Queenstown
Jen Andrews – 15/06/09 Netball legend Robyn Broughton is putting her name behind the Air New Zealand Golden Oldies World Netball Festival which will be held in Queenstown for the first time in November 2009. Robyn Broughton New Zealand’s most successful coach will be the official Festival Ambassador for the event, which runs from November…
MPs elated after skydive for good cause
Fiona Woodham – 08/05/09 Rotorua National MP Todd McClay and Tauranga National MP Simon Bridges were floating on air on Monday May 4 after making the ultimate jump for a good cause. NZONE MPs Simon Bridges (L) and Todd McClay (R) Photo source: NZONE Click here to view a larger version The two MPs took…
Shell Show a Treat for Nature Lovers
Peter Poortman – 12/03/09 New Zealand’s land and waters are home to over 3,000 different species of molluscs (soft bodied animals). Because of this country’s long isolation from other land masses, about 80% of these species are found nowhere else in the world. Most of these animals are very small and unlikely to be noticed,…
Jack Rogers – Man of peace prepared to suffer for his convictions, Part 4: Happier times ahead
The war was nearly over and there was a prospect of freedom and happier days ahead. Meeting Jean was a wonderful change in my fortunes. How I met JeanIt was in the spring of 1945 that some of us from the camp were taken to the nearest dentist who would accept us. The Taumarunui dentist…
The Mail Run
My story is unusual. It is about a secret link between two prison camps during World War Two. This wasn’t in Germany, but on the volcanic plateau south of Lake Taupo. The camps were the Hautu Defaulters’ Detention Camp and the Rangipo Prison Camp. We prisoners were called ‘military defaulters’, and we were imprisoned there…
Jack Rogers – Man of peace prepared to suffer for his convictions, Part 2: The years in detention
In 1941 Jack Rogers had his appeal against military service as a conscientious objector (C.O.) turned down and he was sentenced to detention for the duration of the war. In 1989 Jack wrote of his experiences in detention in No Other Option – Experiences of Conscientious Objectors and Supporters during World War 2.Paragraphs from his…
