Wellington - New Zealand Customs officers seized drugs worth millions of dollars on the illegal street market when they arrested three travellers from Hong Kong as they flew into Auckland over the weekend, a spokesman said Wednesday.
The three were carrying more than 15 kilograms of Contact NT, a pseudoephedrine-based cold remedy used to make methamphetamines, known as crystal ice or P, a spokesman said.
Wellington - New Zealand's biggest retail variety chain, The Warehouse, will start charging 10 New Zealand cents (about 5 US cents) for plastic shopping bags next month to protect the environment, according to news reports Wednesday.
The company, which has 128 variety and discount stationery stores, says it wants to take 20 million bags out of circulation in the next year.
Wellington - A German tourist died when he was hit by a truck in New Zealand a week before flying home after a three-year cycling trip around the world, according to news reports on Wednesday.
Police said that Stephan Stoermer, 38, had a ticket to fly back home in Frankfurt on Friday after travelling through 26 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia since early 2006.
He died on the way to hospital after his bicycle was hit by a logging truck near Te Puke, in the Bay of Plenty, on March 12.
He was not wearing a cycle helmet, which is compulsory in New Zealand, at the time he was hit, the Bay of Plenty Times reported. It was hanging on his handlebars.
Hamilton (New Zealand), Mar. 17 : With New Zealand flunking in their first test against the much vaunted Indian batting line-up, bookies believe that India has a chance to alter its abysmal Test record in this country.
The task before the Kiwis appears quite formidable, given that apart from Sachin Tendulkar, they also have to deal with the broad and scything blades of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman.
The destructive Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh are the others that the Black Caps have to be wary about.
Hamilton (New Zealand), Mar. 17 : Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officials flexed their financial muscle in New Zealand again today, seeking to accommodate broadcaster Sony Entertainment Television's request to start play at 12 p. m. instead of 11 a. m. during the three-test cricket series.
A New Zealand Press Association report said that New Zealand Cricket and Sony were locked in discussions till late today after NZC''s broadcasting partner wanted the first test here at Seddon Park to start an hour later.
Wellington - New Zealand's 4-month-old conservative government moved Tuesday to relax rules governing foreign investors, hoping to attract more outside capital to the country, which has been in recession since early last year.
Finance Minister Bill English said overseas investment could play an important role in an economic recovery and job creation.
Announcing a review of the Overseas Investment Act, English said the current law was cumbersome and the rules often difficult to interpret.
He said an application to buy land near the sea, or otherwise declared "sensitive" because of historical or cultural importance to the indigenous Maori population, had to pass 27 different criteria.
Wellington - New Zealand Customs officers seized drugs worth millions of dollars on the illegal street market when they arrested three travellers from Hong Kong as they flew into Auckland over the weekend, a spokesman said Wednesday.
Wellington - New Zealand's biggest retail variety chain, The Warehouse, will start charging 10 New Zealand cents (about 5 US cents) for plastic shopping bags next month to protect the environment, according to news reports Wednesday.
Hamilton (New Zealand), Mar. 17 : With New Zealand flunking in their first test against the much vaunted Indian batting line-up, bookies believe that India has a chance to alter its abysmal Test record in this country.
