Tag Archives: New Zealand

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Some of the 40 contenders – whittled down from 10,292 suggestions – for New Zealand’s new flag.

The list will be whittled down further to just four in September and then New Zealanders  will vote for their favourite in a November referendum.

See the full list of flags here

FIGHT!

The Long List (New Zealand Government)

Forty flags, and only one with a Union Jack – so which one is best? (New Zealand Herald)

Thanks Ted

TV3NZ

Ah here.

TV3 New Zealand.

Thanks Reppy

Meanwhile….

Australia’s inability to achieve marriage equality is now an international embarrassment. While Ireland is gripped by euphoria after a resounding win for the “yes” campaign in Friday’s referendum on same-sex marriage, Australia must reflect on the failures of its political system and its leaders.

The referendum delivered a landslide 62 to 38 per cent majority for change, and is being hailed as a nationally unifying transformative moment for Ireland. It should not be forgotten that homosexuality was illegal in Ireland until 1993, divorce until 1996, and abortion is still banned, except where the mother’s life is in danger.

Opinion polls suggest public support for marriage equality is even higher in Australia than in Ireland, at more than 70 per cent, according to a Crosby Textor poll. Yet we remain incapable of a reform achieved by about 20 other democracies, including now the strongly Catholic nation of Ireland, a country deeply grafted into the DNA of Australia.

Australians deserve a say on gay marriage (TheAge)

Previously: How Low Can Australia Go?

Thanks Mark Geary

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The Irish men’s lacrosse team faced their toughest challenge yet when they faced off against a Haka-pumped (above) New Zealand side in Thursday’s action at the World Lacrosse Championships in Denver.

Tom writes:

“New Zealand controlled the first face-off and went straight to goal, but the shot was saved by Sweeney, who quickly cleared the ball back up field to Kris Prior who then buried a shot to put Ireland on the scoreboard first, 1-0. New Zealand quickly equalised however when the long-pole #10 headed straight down-field and scored to make it 1-1. A ding-dong ensued, first Tom Riley scored for Ireland to make it 2-2, followed by a New Zealand equaliser, then Mike McTernan scored his first goal of the day on a spinning jumpshot to make it 3-2. Ireland would then go on to score two more goals to make it 5-2 at the end of the first quarter. The Irish team continued to build on its small margin throughout the game, leading 8-3 at half-time and 11-6 at the end of the third quarter. But New Zealand are a team that plays to the final whistle, and they worked hard in the fourth quarter to reduce the deficit to just two goals (11-9) with just over 2 minutes left in the game. Ireland hung on and ran out 12-10 winners

Ireland will face the [gulp]  Germans in their final game of the tourney tonight. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 here at MIDNIGHT (Irish time).

Ireland Lacrosse

std

“The link between the Irish nationals and the chlamydia statistics was of the newspaper’s making and not supported by any reported information. Likewise the headline ”Luck of the Irish has downside in sex-disease stats” is inaccurate and this complaint is upheld.” New Zealand Press Council

Reppy writes:

You may recall a while back the racist article in the NZ press. well the NZ Press Council have upheld the complaints against the paper and the journalist, even referring to her rude outbursts on Twitter following the negative feedback the article received! It was worth the wait.

 

Press Council Finds Against ‘The Press’ (Stuff.co.nz)

Previously: Trouble Down Under

cuba-1 cuba-6 cuba-5 cuba-3 cuba-2Kiwi photographer Andrew Smith’s idyllic shots of ocean landscapes around his New Zealand home. As detailed in his Before And After Lightroom Blog, all photos are shot with a NikonD800 and processed in Adobe Lightroom.

Hundreds more sumptuous shots here.

colossal