Jezebel: New Zealand

Wiley Lesbian Couple Sabotages Divorce Contest

Anna North — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST

New Zealand radio station The Rock got a lot of flak for its plan to give away a divorce on Valentine's Day. But no criticism was as effective as what actually happened — a lesbian couple sabotaged the contest. More »

We've Located the World's Biggest Potheads

Margaret Hartmann — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 23:18:00 EST

While Amsterdam has a reputation for being the weed capital of the world, college students looking to do something vaguely rebellious during their junior year abroad should set their sights on a different hemisphere. It turns out that residents of the land Down Under consume more marijuana than any other people in the world. More »

Thigh'm Coming To Get You!

Cassie Murdoch — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:45:00 EST

WHANGAMATA, NEW ZEALAND - JANUARY 02: Kane Arthur of the Rarangi Surf Life Saving Club competes in the New Surf Boat Championships on January 2, 2012 in Whangamata, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Johnston/Getty Images) More »

New Zealand Church Billboard Features A Panicked Virgin Mary With Pregnancy Test In Hand

Whitney Jefferson — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:50:00 EST

If you happen to be a resident of Auckland, New Zealand, you might have already seen this billboard on your local street corner. But for the rest of us who have never laid our eyes on this wondrous spectacle, I think I speak for us all when I say whaaaaa? More »

Cover Your Thighs In World Cup Confetti

Cassie Murdoch — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 15:55:00 EDT

New Zealand All Blacks Cory Jane and Israel Dagg, right, make snow angels in confetti after their Rugby World Cup final win over France in Auckland, New Zealand, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011. (AP Photo/Ross Land) More »

The Worldwide Campaign To Knit Sweaters For Penguins

Whitney Jefferson — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:40:00 EDT

Skeinz, a yarn store in New Zealand, is calling on knitters throughout the world to knit sweaters for the penguins affected by a massive oil spill that occurred earlier this month. The tiny sweaters, while eliciting aww's and squee's, serve a very important function: they prevent the oil-soaked birds from poisoning themselves by preening, as well as keeping them warm before it's their turn to be cleaned up by cleanup workers. And, you know, who doesn't want to save the lives of penguins by dressing them in the most adorable way possible? More »

Devoted Mom Spreads STD Rumor To Smear Daughter's Rival

Anna North — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 09:50:00 EDT

A New Zealand mom's plot to convince school admissions officials that her daughter's rival had an STD went awry recently, mostly because it was totally bizarre. More »

Clever Lady Pretends She's In Labor To Avoid Speeding Ticket

Evangeline Spracklin — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 13:58:00 EDT

Remember that time in junior high when you used the old "cramps" excuse to avoid running the mile in gym class? Well, a New Zealand woman recently took it to the next level when she lied to police, telling them she was in labor. The woman was sitting shotgun in a car traveling at 146 km/h (90 mph), speeding around corners toward oncoming traffic and ignoring police signals to pull over. Officers responded to the pregnancy plea by cordoning off part of the road and rushing the woman to the hospital in an ambulance. Upon arrival at the hospital the woman, who was 7 months pregnant, promptly discharged herself and hopped in a waiting car that sped off into the night. Like a boss. More »

Lost Penguin Gets Help From Zoo Workers

Anna North — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 17:00:00 EDT

A ten-month-old emperor penguin got lost and ended up on a New Zealand beach, far from her home in New Zealand. She (or he — experts aren't sure yet) began eating sand — perhaps mistaking it for snow — and pieces of wood, and got increasingly sick and unhappy. Luckily, rescue workers took the penguin, nicknamed Happy Feet, to a local zoo, where she can get medical care and rehabilitation. Get well, Feet! More »

CEO Says Ladies Get Paid Less Because We're Always On Our Periods

Jenna Sauers — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 19:10:00 EDT

Did you hear the one about the C.E.O. who told the radio show that women make less money because they menstruate? Yeah. More »

Teen Retailer Shills Jeggings With Racy Topless, Ass-Wiggling Ads

Dodai Stewart — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:02:00 EDT

Supré is a family-owned and operated clothing company founded in 1984, with stores in Australia and New Zealand. Similar to what Americans can find at Forever 21 (though perhaps not quite as inexpensive), Supré shoppers are offered tees, knitwear, jackets, cardigans, party dresses, accessories… and, now, jeggings. The campaign to promote said jeggings involves a young, topless model -- photographed with her hair covering her breasts -- and the tagline "get jegged." Uh-oh. More »

The Specious Midwest v. Coastal Elites Debate

Jenna Sauers — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 16:17:00 EDT

To a foreigner like myself — I moved to the United States seven years ago, at the age of 18, to attend college in Minnesota and then in Iowa — the Midwest v. Coastal Elites argument has always seemed a little...off. More »

Turns Out Christchurch Sits On A Previously Undiscovered Earthquake Fault Line

Jenna Sauers — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 16:48:00 EST

The confirmed death toll from the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, now stands at 71 — but Prime Minister John Key has warned that it is expected to rise. This morning, local time, Police reported that no additional people were found alive in the rubble overnight. Many buildings have been flattened, and some sectors of the city are damaged beyond probable repair. Around 80% of the city lacks water, some neighborhoods are flooded, and sewage lines have ruptured throughout the city, raising fears of disease. These relatively lightly damaged shops happen to be a few blocks from my high school. More »

Over 100 People Are Believed Buried In The New Zealand Earthquake

Jenna Sauers — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 14:30:00 EST

Christchurch, New Zealand, February 22, 2011 — Office workers are evacuated from downtown Christchuch following a devastating earthquake. The death toll, currently 65, is expected to rise. (The childhood friend of one of my friends is among the dead. He was 24.) Mayor Bob Parker says more than 100 people are believed to be buried in rubble. Sewage lines have burst throughout the city and fires are burning. Though, at 6.3 on the Richter scale, eleven times less powerful than the magnitude 7.0 quake that struck last September, this earthquake caused more damage because its epicenter was closer to the city center, and a great deal shallower. There is a video of the moment the quake struck. The best news I've found on the earthquake is this liveblog from Channel 4; the New Zealand Red Cross is seeking donations here. Image via Getty. More »

Actually, Blackface Is Also Offensive In New Zealand [Updated]

Jenna Sauers — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 14:10:00 EST

Although kiwis would be more likely to recognize the black figure in this ad as a golliwogg. Jones Soda serves up whole sheaf of ethnic and sexual stereotypes, including a turban'd man holding a detonator, for your soft-drinking pleasure. Revolutionary. More »

Teal Or No Teal

Erin Gloria Ryan — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST

Aukland, NZ, December 26: A punter looks on during the Boxing Day Race carnival at Ellerslie Racecourse. These pictures always make me wish I had a fancy hat wardrobe, except I look weird in hats.

Breast Cancer Campaign Quickly Becomes Porn

Anna North — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 09:35:00 EST

A New Zealand site aimed at young women has asked users to send in photos of their breasts to help raise money for cancer research. And predictably, some of the photos have ended up on a porn site. More »

Stick A Fork In Freddy Rodriguez

Jenna Sauers — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 18:20:00 EST

...Pretending to be a Dangerous Gangster in 2005's Christ-awful Havoc. Last night I watched a Godfather marathon on AMC with the aid of a lot of scotch; Katie saw this. What random things are you watching on your relatives' cable? More »

Man Gets Jail for Posting Nude Pic of His Ex

Lauri Apple — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 17:22:36 EST

Twenty-year-old New Zealander Joshua Simon Ashby will do four months in jail after posting a nude photo of his ex-girlfriend on Facebook. The pic was up for 12 hours before Facebook authorities removed it. He did other bad things, too. More »

Glowing After Rowing

Lauri Apple — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 14:30:00 EDT

[Cambridge, New Zealand, November 6: Rebecca Scown and Juliette Haigh celebrate their victory in the Women's Pair Final during day seven of the World Rowing Championships at Lake Karapiro. Image via Getty.]

Michelle Obama Fundraises With Donna Karan, Pisses Off PETA

Jenna Sauers — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 11:54:00 EDT

Michelle Obama wore Donna Karan to the $10,000-a-head fundraiser Karan threw her. PETA protested the event, because Karan uses fur, and PETA will do anything for a headline. "She is gorgeous and smart," said guest Diane von Furstenberg. [WWD]

New Zealand Hit With Major Earthquake

Margaret Hartmann — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:44:50 EDT

An earthquake registering 7.2 on the Richter scale hit near New Zealand's second-largest city, Christchurch, early Saturday. Residents are reporting damage, power outages, and large aftershocks. More »

Italian Vogue 3D Cover Stars Miranda Kerr And A Puppy

Jenna Sauers — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:34:00 EDT

Vogue 3D Cover Stars Miranda Kerr And A Puppy" alt="Click here to read Italian Vogue 3D Cover Stars Miranda Kerr And A Puppy" src="http://cache.jezebel.com/assets/images/39/2010/08/miranda_kerr_083010.jpg"/>

Miranda Kerr nabbed the September Vogue Italia cover, which is her first. Shot by Steven Meisel, the cover and its accompanying editorial is in 3D. Kerr's Yorkie puppy, Frankie, shares the honors. Who can argue with a puppy? [Models.com]

Flag Day

Anna Holmes — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:10:00 EDT

[Nelspruit, South Africa; June 20. Image via Getty]

The Belly Of The Beast

Dodai Stewart — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 11:10:00 EDT

[Paradise Valley Springs, New Zealand; June 3. Image via Splash]

Preaching To The Choir

Anna Holmes — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 11:10:00 EDT

[Singapore, April 25. Image via AP]

Chelsea Boarding

Anna Holmes — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:10:00 EDT

[New Plymouth, New Zealand; April 15. Image via Getty]

Peebles & Bam-Bam

Anna Holmes — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:10:00 EST

[Auckland, March 10. Image via Getty]

Mile High Message

Katy Kelleher — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:20:00 EST

Attention passengers: the skycouch is not for forking. Air New Zealand wants you to know that their so-called "cuddle class" is not to be used for afternoon delights. But spooning is cool - just keep those prongs to yourself. [Copyranter] More »

The Devil's Playground

Anna Holmes — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 10:15:00 EST

[Auckland, January 15. Image via Getty]

Total Monarchy

Anna Holmes — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:10:00 EST

[Christchurch, November 10. Image via Getty]

The Last Picture Show

Anna Holmes — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:10:00 EDT

[Auckland, October 16. Image via Getty]

Broken Embraces

Anna Holmes — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:10:00 EDT

[Auckland, October 13. Image via Getty]

Obama Appoints Openly Gay Ambassador

LatoyaPeterson — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:20:00 EDT

"If confirmed by the Senate, David Huebner would become the third openly gay ambassador in U.S. history and the first pick by this administration." [NY Times, CBS News] More »

Richie Rich: A Vivid '80s Fever-Dream, With Man-Candy

Dodai Stewart — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EDT

Former club kid and Heatherette designer Richie Rich showed his A Muse collection at New Zealand Fashion Week today, and if you're into bright colors, crazy patterns, men in teeny swim trunks and Pamela Anderson half-naked, you're in luck! More »

Let Down Your Golden Hair

Anna Holmes — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:10:00 EDT

[Auckland, September 25. Image via Getty]

Ice, Ice Baby

Anna Holmes — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:10:00 EDT

[Naseby, New Zealand; August 30. Image via Getty]

G-Shock

Anna Holmes — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:10:00 EDT

[Queenstown, New Zealand; August 26. Image via Getty]

Mellow Kitty

Anna Holmes — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:10:00 EDT

[Auckland, July 15. Image via Getty]

Balancing Acts

Anna Holmes — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:10:00 EDT

[Auckland, July 8. Image via Getty]