This New Zealand Life

Threatening yachties, rats, rain and mud on Stewart Island

Endless boardwalk on Stewart Island

Stewart Island boasts stinking mud, poisonous traps, head-numbing rain and a hotel. Californian writer and traveller, Douglas Wilkins, takes a sideways look at the hazards facing explorers of the far south.

NZ prices: Theft by another name

Ship loading with chocolate biscuits from WikiCommons

Kiwi myth exploded: Generations of honest New Zealanders have been paying a massive premium for imported goods. But a little bit of maths shows shipping costs are a minor part of the overall price. Kiwis are being shafted.

Raise petrol prices to stop needless deaths

Petrol is one of the few things that is cheaper in New Zealand than in Europe

News Roundup: Could premature death and destruction be halved with European style petrol taxes. Here's one day's motoring headlines.

Pineapple lump epiphany

Lump the taste from wikicommons

Comment: If you spend any length of time in New Zealand it won't take you long to come across the fabled sweets that have a reputation out of all proportion to their generally tasteless, odourless and - let's face it - sweet-less character.

Odd celebrations, weighty bread and uncompromising fairness

Kiwis have an underdeveloped part of the brain responsible for getting the rounds in.

Blog roundup: New Zealanders have some strange customs and habits that this week's blogs examine.

Climate Change attitude risks NZ economy

Bovine climate criminal from WikiMedia

Government is wowed by analysts, but inaction on climate change risks Kiwi livelihoods.

Astonishing Kiwi prices

Comment: If the price of a cup of tea includes the biscuit, you'd better check your credit rating.

Experience real life in New Zealand

In goggle-eyed and stunned disbelief as the schedule pummels your intelligence to grey-mash.

Blog Roundup: Crash barriers Kiwi style, NZ TV and why immigration advice might be illegal.

A nation of pyromaniacs

Comment: Few activities give a red-blooded male more pleasure than lighting a fire. But when your fingers are blue from cold you begin to wonder if there isn't a better way of keeping warm.

Why should the UK buy NZ exports?

You can just see the UK dairy and meat advertising executives rubbing their hands

Comment: If NZ only commits to a 15% reduction in carbon dioxide while Britain pays for 34%, why should UK consumers purchase NZ goods and support an economy subsidised by inaction?

Fear and loathing in NZ

Swine flu in NZ hospitals

Editorial: As children skip happily back to school, swine flu lurks in snotty noses, and criminals wait in dark corners.