RWC Fans Trapped, Transport Chaos, Fans In Water

There are reports that Auckland’s transport system has failed to get fans to the opening ceremony and first match this evening as packed trained have raced past stations without stopping and the ferries stopped running. Some have had to resort to walking up train tracks to get to Eden Park One disgruntled fan wrote The…

Why We Left New Zealand

Continuing in our series of Migrant Tales, first had accounts of the migrant experience in New Zealand taken from locations around the net. Today’s tale was sent in by a reader and it was first published on Blogspot. The author moved to Christchurch shortly before the deadly February quake, her partner planning to study at…

Another Mob Attack In A NZ School

After the Ombudsman’s shocking report into vicious assaults at Hutt Valley High School was released yesterday there are reports of another serious assault in a New Zealand school and inadequate sanctions taken against alleged offenders. The culture of violence in New Zealand’s schools is widespread, some would even say endemic. If you are emigrating to…

Prohibited Items At Rugby World Cup

Thinking about taking your favourite car parts, trumpet, bagpipes, umbrella, fan banner or shirt, mobile phone or bike to the RWC matches? think again. You risk having them confiscated at the gate. In the absence of a national religion the sport of rugby is taken very seriously in New Zealand, where strict regulations are in…

The Pacific Islands’ World Cup

Auckland’s already congested transport system came to a shuddering halt yesterday and there was dancing on the motorways as Tongans turned out in their thousands to welcome their rugby world cup squad to New Zealand. The team responded to a rapturous reception at Auckland airport by performing a ‘haka’: It followed a similar display from…