Press Releases

Willowbank’s newest residents are just a little on the porky side – but that’s not worrying rangers who are excited about the latest arrivals at the Christchurch - New Zealand animal sanctuary.

A party of mountain-loving New Zealanders is carrying on Sir Edmund Hillary’s torch – an ongoing friendship between Kiwis and the Sherpas of Nepal – by helping foster a quiet revolution on the side of Mount Everest.

An inspired ‘steampunk’ design has won New Zealand artist Yolanda Bartram first place at the 2010 World Body Painting Festival in Austria.

Kiwis love pies – they’re an iconic national food – but spare a thought for judges of this year’s bid to find New Zealand’s top pie baker as they chomp through a record 4336 entries.

New Zealand will further its bid to create the world’s first World Heritage Starlight Reserve above the South Island’s Mackenzie country, with a delegation to Brazil this week.

Taranaki, known as the garden of New Zealand, will honour its long standing reputation when the region’s annual Rhododendron and Garden Festival opens in October.

SpongeBob - the world’s most famous sea sponge - is also a fluent te reo Māori speaker. Or at least he will be for five episodes of SpongeBob Squarepants – screening during Māori Language Week 2010.

Put a bunch of rugby-loving Kiwis together for a while, and you’re bound to witness a rousing Māori haka at some stage.

New Zealand's undefeated All Whites have achieved their second-highest world football ranking ever – sitting at no. 54 after their stunning three-draw run at the FIFA World Cup.

Kiwi athletes competing in India at the 2010 Commonwealth Games will take inspiration from the memory of two great mountaineering heroes – New Zealand’s Sir Edmund Hillary and his Nepalese companion Tenzing Norgay.