A scorching hot year, a clumsy canine and the most popular baby names in NZ for 2023.
2023 New Zealand's second warmest year on record - NIWA
Last year was New Zealand's second warmest year on record, NIWA has revealed in its annual climate summary.
The nationwide average temperature was 13.61 degrees. Annual temperatures were above average (+0.51C to +1.20C above the annual average) or well above average (>1.20C above the annual average) for much of New Zealand.
NIWA principal scientist Chris Brandolino told media this morning that winter last year was the fifth warmest on record.
He said increasing temperatures mean people can expect more extreme weather events.
NZ's most popular baby names for 2023 revealed
New Zealand's most popular baby names for 2023 have been revealed today.
For boys, the 10-year holder of the top spot has been deposed by a new name.
Rusty boat a 'blight' on BoP town's main street
Te Teko residents were mystified when a rusted metal boat appeared in the town's main street three months ago.
Some residents believe it's an eyesore and a potential danger for children tempted to play on it. They want it shifted.
New York Times ranks NZ experience fourth in 2024 travel list
The New York Times has released its annual 52 Places to Go list for 2024 — and New Zealand comes in for high praise.
The US newspaper reckons the only better places to visit this year are the Path of Totality in North America, Paris, France and Yamaguchi, Japan.
Savea, Foster among Halberg finalists after All Blacks' RWC run
All Black Ardie Savea, snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott and the New Zealand Warriors headline a list of 30 finalists for the 61st Halberg Awards announced today.
The finalists were voted for by a panel of former elite athletes and coaches, sports administrators and sports media after 76 nominations were received for this year's awards, due to be unveiled next month.
ONE CLUMSY READ
A Southland family's home was gutted by fire yesterday morning after their dog accidentally turned a stove element on, igniting a pot of oil.
The Mataura blaze started when the cocker spaniel, possibly looking for food, accidentally turned on a stove element that happened to have a pot of oil sitting on it.
The oil later ignited, with flames extending into the rangehood filters, which absorb grease particles.The grease caught alight, and the fire quickly spread through the home.
Specialist fire investigator Murray Milne-Maresca said it was the first time he'd heard of a dog starting a fire.
ONE ROMANTIC READ
Romantic love isn't just an emotion but a broad collection of feelings and behaviours key to human evolution, researchers say.
A study by Australian National University researchers is one in a limited field of research on romantic love.
The findings offer insights into why humans evolved to experience romantic love, which is only seen in a handful of other primates.
It influences pair bonding and courtship, encourages lovers to have sex and, in prehistoric times, it helped ensure the survival of mothers and newborn babies.
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