Wellington, New Zealand

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This Is the Most Livable City in the World

Auckland, NZ, takes top spot in Economist's rankings, though Kiwis give honor the side-eye

(Newser) - The pandemic has caused a major upset on the Economist Intelligence Unit's annual list of the most livable cities on the planet. Thanks to their relative isolation from the rest of the world, the island nations of New Zealand, Australia, and Japan all had strong showings in the top...

School's Sweeney Todd Play Goes Bloody Wrong

2 boys taken to hospital with cuts to their necks

(Newser) - If you're going to have a prop mishap, you'd hope it wouldn't be during a play about a barber who uses a razor to slit his customers' throats. But that's what went down during the opening night of Saint Kentigern College's production of Sweeney Todd...

Cat Lives Secret Life With 2 Families

New Zealand households in catfight over Ming/Cleo

(Newser) - Alice Alexander probably had no idea that the name she gave her new Siamese cat 14 years ago would prove so prescient. She called him "Ming," because he liked to mingle—so much so that he has been going back and forth between her New Zealand home and...

Massive New Zealand Quake Has Been Going on All Year

But no one can feel it

(Newser) - A magnitude 7 earthquake has been hitting a New Zealand city for five months now—but life in Wellington continues on as normal. That's because the rumbling is taking place 25 miles underground across an area spanning over 60 miles, in a slow-moving type of earthquake called a "...

Auckland Sees Snow for 1st Time in 80 Years

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...

Zoo Plans Release of Lost Penguin

'Happy Feet' still improving, but it's only getting a partway-ride home

(Newser) - A young emperor penguin that turned up on a New Zealand beach won't be getting a free ride all the way back to its Antarctic home—but the bird's human friends will at least help it get a little closer. Today, an advisory group headed by the nation'...

Wayward Penguin Better After Surgery

'Happy Feet' had been eating sand and wood

(Newser) - New Zealand's favorite penguin visitor is more lively and eating fish after undergoing endoscopic surgery today to remove some of the beach sand and twigs it swallowed, apparently mistaking it for snow. Full recovery for the young emperor penguin—nicknamed Happy Feet—may take months, and officials are still...

Hollywood to New Zealand: Get Your Own Sign

City plans to build 'Wellywood' sign on hillside

(Newser) - Sequels are one thing in Hollywood, blatant rip-offs are another—especially when it comes to the town's iconic sign. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is prepared to take legal action against Wellington International Airport in the New Zealand capital as it announced plans to build a giant "Wellywood"...

World's Most Terrifying Airports

From New York City to New Zealand, the scariest places to take off and land

(Newser) - If you're already afraid of flying, go watch this video of a frolicking baby lamb . If you're feeling tough, enjoy SmarterTravel's picks for the 10 most frightening airports in the world:
  • Barra Airport, Barra, Scotland: The world's only commercial beach airport. "Passengers can expect to arrive safely on one
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