]> http://wn.goldenprose.com/?q=blog/429 en http://wn.goldenprose.com/?q=node/2287 <!-- google_ad_section_start --> <p>The Yellowheads or Bush Canaries, are an endangered bird species in New Zealand that conservationists have attempted to assist by transfering to a predator free island in the South Island area.</p> <p>The New Zealand Government's Department of Conservation (locally known as DOC) is at the head of all conservation programs in this country. It has established a mohua(Yellowhead) recovery plan.Its goal is to maintain and enhance the mohua population by halting and reversing the degradation of the forest eco system.</p> <p>A SMALL PASSERINE found only on the South Island of New Zealand, the Yellowhead (Mohoua ochrocephala) was once abundant and occurred in mature forests throughout its range (Gaze 1985). No estimates are available on the original population size, but based on the area of forest once available and recorded densities (Higgins and Peter 2002), there may have been 1-3 million Yellowheads when Europeans first reached New Zealand. Forest destruction and the introduction of exotic mammalian predators (against which the birds have little defense) have now reduced the species to less than 25% of its former range and a total population of less than a few thousand birds (Higgins and Peter 2002). Control of introduced predators in some populations on the mainland has been successful in reversing the decline, but this strategy is risky: the last surviving population of 15 birds in the north of the South Island increased to 99 birds after a decade-long program of predator control, only to disappear during a rat plague over a single winter (Higgins and Peter 2002).</p> <!-- google_ad_section_end --> News Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:07:47 -0700 http://wn.goldenprose.com/?q=node/2285 <!-- google_ad_section_start --> <p>NZ could legalise the medicinal use of cannabis...</p> <p>First published at Qassia:</p> <p>The New Zealand government could soon legalise the medicinal use of cannabis products such as sprays, after an application by the leading British manufacturer of "Sativex". </p> <p>Medsafe is considering whether to allow the marketing and sale of cannabis sprays for severe pain relief in this country. </p> <p>Cannabis is a class C drug, and cannabis preparations are class B drugs in New Zealand. But the NZ Medicines Act allows the drug to be used with ministerial approval. </p> <p>It comes at a time when the country faces a parliamentary election in a matter of weeks, and mounting pressure from patients and scientists to legalise the use only foraccident victims, cancer patients and some multiple sclerosis patients.</p> <!-- google_ad_section_end --> Health and Fitness Fri, 03 Oct 2008 18:59:46 -0700 http://wn.goldenprose.com/?q=node/2282 <!-- google_ad_section_start --> <p>More than half of Chinese consumers say they mistrust New Zealand milk food products after the melamine milk contamination. What a bloody cheek - the contaminated milk powder was Chinese not New Zealand!</p> <p>The connection between NZ and the melamine contaminated milk was the fact that NZ dairy giant, Fonterra, owns 43% of Sanlu, the company company involved. No NZ milk, I repeat no NZ milk was ever involved.</p> <p>A consumers survey came up with a rather confusing set of comments, because NZ still comes out with a rating second behind the European Union and head of the US,Canada, Australia, Japan and China in that order.</p> <!-- google_ad_section_end --> News Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:49:31 -0700 http://wn.goldenprose.com/?q=node/2277 <!-- google_ad_section_start --> <p>Melamine - added to foodstuffs can cause serious health problems to children...</p> <p>Melamine - a chemical proven fatal when added to foodstuffs: </p> <p>A melamine-resin plateMelamine resin or melamine formaldehyde (also shortened to melamine) is a hard, thermosetting plastic material made from melamine and formaldehyde by polymerization. This plastic is often used in kitchen utensils and plates (such as Melmac) and is the main constituent of high-pressure laminates, such as Formica and Arborite, and of laminate flooring. Melamine-resin tile wall panels can also be used as whiteboards. Melamine resin often is used to saturate decorative papers that are directly laminated onto particle board; the resulting panel is often called melamine and commonly used in ready-to-assemble furniture and inexpensive kitchen cabinets.</p> <!-- google_ad_section_end --> Food and Drink Wed, 24 Sep 2008 19:52:12 -0700 http://wn.goldenprose.com/?q=node/2275 <!-- google_ad_section_start --> <p>The Chinese Sanlu/ Baidu milk scandal is despicable and disgusting to say the least - 3 dead babies, 150 with kidney failure and another 6,244 taken ill. Those responsible will ultimately pay with their lives in China!</p> <p>It is so bloody embarrassing for us in New Zealand that our dairy food company Fonterra, the sixth largest in the world, has a 43% joint venture with Sanlu and kept things quiet for 45 days, before the New Zealand government spilt the beans on them and made the scandal public here.</p> <p>It wasn't a good start to our free trade relationship with China, even if it wasn't Fontera's fault and it didn't involve NZ milk.</p> <!-- google_ad_section_end --> Business Wed, 17 Sep 2008 20:49:32 -0700 http://wn.goldenprose.com/?q=node/2274 <!-- google_ad_section_start --> <p>The grapefruit diet is alive and well and works in NZ too...</p> <p> I don't know about you folks, but I carry a bit of middle age weight that is difficult to get rid of. I was listening to a talkback radio program just last night, and a caller there praised the virtues of the humble grapefruit. It brought back memories of a popular diet of a quarter of a century ago - the grapefruit diet. So off to Google I went!</p> <p>A new study by Nutrition and Metabolic Research Centre researchers at Scripps Clinic has confirmed that a simple act of adding grapefruit to your diet can result in real weight loss.</p> <!-- google_ad_section_end --> Health and Fitness Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:36:08 -0700 http://wn.goldenprose.com/?q=node/2273 <!-- google_ad_section_start --> <p>Emissions trading scheme announced:</p> <p>An emissions trading scheme will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote environmentally friendly behaviour and create business opportunities for New Zealanders, according to Finance Minister Michael Cullen and Climate Change Minister David Parker.</p> <p>The scheme, announced by the Labour-led government today, will be phased in from next year, beginning with the forestry industry, and including all sectors and gases over time. “Climate change is a real threat from which New Zealand is not immune. We must do our bit to help the world deal with it. As part of our response to climate change, Cabinet has agreed to the key design features for a New Zealand emissions trading scheme,” said Dr Cullen. “An emissions trading scheme will create an incentive for businesses and households to make decisions that are good for the environment, and will discourage actions that cause greenhouse gas emissions.” New Zealand’s forestry industry will receive incentives to plant trees equivalent to hundreds of millions of dollars under the scheme. “Forestry is critical to New Zealand’s response to climate change. We want to see more forests planted, and we want to see harvested forests replaced. The government, therefore, has agreed with the forestry sector that they should receive a free allocation of carbon credits,” Dr Cullen said. “Consistent with the commitments we have made to farmers, the government is proposing that agriculture will not join the scheme until 2013, and the sector will also receive generous free allocation equivalent to 90 percent of their 2005 emissions. “We have designed the scheme to assist business as much as possible without defeating the purpose of the scheme, and other industries will also receive transitional assistance.” New Zealand is one of a number of countries, such as the UK, Australia, the EU and parts of the US, which have or are developing such schemes. “This is the way the world is heading,” David Parker said. “For those at the forefront of carbon-friendly services and technologies there are considerable opportunities emerging from such an economic transformation. Sectors such as tourism and viticulture have already identified this and are planning and investing based on sustainability. Energy efficiency in businesses will also improve their competitiveness. “There will be increased costs in, for example, petrol and energy. The government will look at what assistance households need to adjust to these increases. There will also be increased efforts to make all households more energy efficient – through insulation, solar panels, and other measures. “The development of an emissions trading scheme demonstrates the government listened during consultation on policy options earlier this year,” said Mr Parker. “Submissions received during this consultation on the five climate change and energy discussion documents made it clear that there is a high level of support for emissions trading. “The government is now committed to providing opportunities for detailed engagement with interested parties, such as industry, consumer groups, NGOs and Maori, to ensure the final design of the scheme is fair and can be implemented effectively,” said David Parker. The engagement, which is happening from now until November this year, will focus on the core design elements and will include a series of hui to address priority issues for Maori. Once emissions trading scheme legislation has been introduced, the public will be able to provide further input as part of the select committee process. “The government looks forward to working collaboratively with all those involved, as it develops a scheme that will work for New Zealanders in the long term,” said Mr Parker. For more information see: www.climatechange.govt.nz</p> <!-- google_ad_section_end --> Politics and Government Sun, 14 Sep 2008 20:49:59 -0700 http://wn.goldenprose.com/?q=node/2272 <!-- google_ad_section_start --> <p>NZ All Blacks rugby union team win pulsating match against Australian Wallabies at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia... </p> <p>The New Zealand All Blacks rugby union test side stared defeat in the face but refused to blink at what was described as a seething Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, last night.But they unleashed a withering and dramatic second half effort, after being down 7-17, to storm back to a scintilating 28-24 win over the Australian Wallabies. </p> <p>The All Blacks have taken their fourth consecutive Tri-Nations title with that pulsating victory over the Wallabies in front of a sell-out 52,328 at Suncorp Stadium. Both teams had beaten each other at home earlier, and had also won and lost against the South African Springboks, who had been knocked out of the competition. The All Blacks also retained the Bledisloe Cup against Australia. The fourth game to played before the end of season tour of Britain and Ireland at the neutral venue of Hong Kong will be irrelevant as the competition is now a dead rubber.</p> <!-- google_ad_section_end --> Sports Sun, 14 Sep 2008 18:17:44 -0700 http://wn.goldenprose.com/?q=node/2267 <!-- google_ad_section_start --> <p>New Zealand's Marineland loses last dolphin...</p> <p> The last captive dolphin at Napier's Marineland has died. Napier is in the Hawkes Bay, on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island.</p> <p>Kelly, who was aged 38- year- old had been battling illness over the last week, but Marineland manager, Gary Macdonald says he did not expect her to pass away so quickly. He says staff are devastated, but relieved she did not suffer.</p> <p>"Obviously everyone is extremely sad. This is an animal that myself and my staff have worked with for many, many years. She'll leave a huge gap. It's just like losing a member of the family."</p> <!-- google_ad_section_end --> Health and Fitness Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:18:00 -0700 http://wn.goldenprose.com/?q=node/2265 <!-- google_ad_section_start --> <p>An old New Zealand gentleman aged 83 years was holding up the customs queue at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, France. He couldn't find his passport, and was agitating the customs officer.</p> <p>"Have you been to France before, monsieur?" the customs officer asked impatiently.</p> <p>As he continued to rummage in his bag, he admitted to having come to France previously.</p> <p>"Then you should have had your passport ready!" the customs officer retorted, rather rudely.</p> <p>The old Kiwi said he didn't need it last time he came to France.</p> <p>"Impossible!" the customs officer exclaimed. "Everybody must show their passports when they come to France."</p> <!-- google_ad_section_end --> Humor Mon, 08 Sep 2008 18:44:09 -0700 http://wn.goldenprose.com/?q=node/2264 <!-- google_ad_section_start --> <p>Kiwi champion driver Scott Dixon won his second Indy Car racing series title this morning.</p> <p>He was second in the last race by a record barest of margins of about one thousandth of a second. He needed to finish only in the top eight to win the series.</p> <p>Dixon won the Indy 500 race earlier in the season. He won a US$1 million for his efforts.</p> <p>He will need it having got married this year. LOL</p> <p>Who said Kiwis can't fly...around racetracks so fast?</p> <p><a href="http://kiwiriverman.blogspot.com">More stories here</a</p> <!-- google_ad_section_end --> Sports Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:05:42 -0700 http://wn.goldenprose.com/?q=node/2263 <!-- google_ad_section_start --> <p>I recently wrote a post telling how my Google Adsense was disabled and Senserely Yours.com has followed suit...</p> <p>I recently wrote a post explaining how my Google Adsense account was disabled. I have emailed Google on a number of occasions without reply. </p> <p>I believe that I am entitled to a reply to my enquiry, if not the actual details of the reason for the disablement of my account.Google have a monopoly in website advertising and have acted like a bully in this instance. It is also extremely unjust in the extreme!</p> <p>Yesterday I received an email from Senserely Yours.com, one of my blogsites, who had also disabled my account there because my Google Adsense account had been disabled and they thought I was not blogging any more.When you take such action you need to do it on more than thought alone!</p> <!-- google_ad_section_end --> Business Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:16:34 -0700 http://wn.goldenprose.com/?q=node/2261 <!-- google_ad_section_start --> <p>When did New Zealand gain independence from Britain... I was recently asked when did New Zealand gain full independemce from Britain?</p> <p>Lets read a bit of background material and history about New Zealand, the small dual island nation in the South Pacific,about 1200 miles or 2,000 km from Australia. I say dual island because the two main islands are still known as the South Island and the North Island. The south is the larger of the two, but the North has about two thirds of the population, with the capital city being Wellington, at the bottom of the North Island.</p> <p>The population today has a majority of caucasians with Maori and Pacific Islanders making up the two largest population minorities. The Maori are not indigenous to New Zealand despite claims to the contary, perpetuated no doubt because of longstanding land claims.</p> <!-- google_ad_section_end --> History Sun, 31 Aug 2008 17:41:12 -0700 http://wn.goldenprose.com/?q=node/2258 <!-- google_ad_section_start --> <p>Tom is now the new chairman of the board - wins New Zealands third and final Olympic gold medal...</p> <p>Tom Ashley from Auckland won New Zealand's third and final gold medal in the RS.X Board Sailing. Tom is also the reigning world champion for this event. </p> <p>The Olympics are over for the NZ team who added the 4000m Cycling Team Pursuit bronze medal to their tally: 25 year old Lower Hutt born and raised Nick Willis, reigning Commonwealth Games Gold medalist for that distance, added the Olympic Gold medal for the distance with a withering late run; and Aucklander Brian Docherty added the Bronze for the Triathlon to the team tally as well.</p> <!-- google_ad_section_end --> Sports Sat, 23 Aug 2008 16:45:33 -0700 http://wn.goldenprose.com/?q=node/2257 <!-- google_ad_section_start --> <p>First published at Qassia:</p> <p>Super Golden Saturday - New Zealand's most successful day in Olympic history... </p> <p>New Zealand has won more than one gold medal in a day in an Olympic Games before - Peter Snell and Murray Halberg achieved this on the track in Rome within an hour in 1960, but have never won five medals in one day before.</p> <p>New Zealand is not the US, we have only four million people and we don't have a Michael Phelps; but we like to believe we can punch above our sporting weight at times.</p> <p>New Zealand had five boats through to the finals in rowing: </p> <p>Georgina and Caroline Evers-Swindell, the twin sisters, repeated their achievement in Athens four years ago by winning the gold medal for the women's double scull, by one 1/hundredth of a second, a sensational performance in getting up to win after their trials and tribulations of the last year or two, sickness, loss of form and failure in the world championships. We have a saying in New Zealand: The cream always rises to the top!</p> <!-- google_ad_section_end --> Sports Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:29:11 -0700