Björk Attacks New Zealand News Photographer

Pilot, workers survive mishap at Christmas Tree ceremony

(NEWSER) - Viewers thought they were tuning in to watch a webcast of Auckland’s Christmas tree being hoisted into place when they signed onto TVNZ’s site yesterday morning. Instead they witnessed this: A helicopter snapping in two as it crashes to the worksite below. Miraculously no one was seriously injured in the incident, TVNZ reports—the chopper missed the half-dozen people below. Pilot Greg Gribble was taken to the hospital after being thrown halfway out of the chopper, but is fine. More»

Other parts of New Zealand also affected for first time in decades

(NEWSER) - Downtown Auckland is seeing snow for the first time in 80 years today, as a "once in a lifetime" blast of winter weather hits New Zealand. "If Auckland is getting reports of snow flurries now at the warmest point of the day that makes you wonder about what might be coming tonight," says one forecaster, adding that similar conditions have not been seen in the area since the 1930s. Snow was also reported in Wellington in levels not seen since the 1970s, and in Wanganui for the first time since 1974, the New Zealand Herald reports. More»

Australian city gets drop on New Zealand with early display

(NEWSER) - Sydney welcomed 2010 a little early this year, with a 9pm fireworks display over the harbor for the family crowd. That hour in Australia happens to fall at midnight in Auckland, New Zealand, which usually lays claim to the first big celebration of the New Year, but appears to have been eclipsed by what many consider the best display in the world. Sydney set off still more fireworks when the year actually turned there, the Times reports. More»

Catholics offended by Anglican church billboard

(NEWSER) - A New Zealand Anglican vicar trying to be funny by putting a sheepish Joseph naked in bed with Mary on a billboard has infuriated Catholics. "Poor Joseph, God was a hard act to follow," reads the ad. The idea "was to lampoon and ridicule the idea of a male God in the sky who somehow impregnated Mary,” Archdeacon Glynn Cardy told the Times of London. More»

(NEWSER) - The Institute for Economics and Peace has released its annual list of the world’s most peaceful countries, Bloomberg reports. The index is based on things like "international security" and "tolerant solidarity." New Zealand is No. 1; the US is No. 83. A sampling:

1. New Zealand: A new government and little strife make the island's 4.2 million people the most peaceful in the world.
2. Denmark. Norway is No. 3, and Iceland fell from the top spot to No. 4 due to the banking collapse and subsequent public protests.