25 million years ago, penguins used to be huge
A tall and elegant race of penguins inhabited what is now New Zealand 25 million years ago, scientists have learned. The bird stood over 4ft tall and was slimmer than modern penguins, with a long beak and flippers. Researchers gave it the Maori name Kariuku, which loosely translated means ‘diver who returns with food’. A … [Read the full story]
On this day…in 1840
Under the leadership of British statesman Edward G. Wakefield, the first British colonists to New Zealand arrive at Port Nicholson on Auckland Island. In 1642, Dutch navigator Abel Tasman became the first European to discover the South Pacific island group that later became known as New Zealand. While attempting to land, several of Tasman’s crew … [Read the full story]
The Haka is losing its potency in the World Cup
New Zealand’s haka is in danger of losing its impact because it’s being performed too often at the Rugby World Cup, warns South Africa coach Peter de Villiers. The eye-rolling, chest slapping Maori challenge has been performed by the All Blacks before Test matches since 1905, becoming an integral part of the international rugby landscape. But … [Read the full story]
