0 Photo of the Day - 12 July 2014

We drove up to Auckland yesterday. And just south of Waiouru we saw such an odd cloud formation ahead we stopped to take a photograph; here'tis:

There was a strong easterly wind blowing where we had stopped, but it was bright and clear overhead. By the time we had got a couple of kilometers north of Waiouru however the view of the mountain was gone (and anything else for that matter!), and the drive across the Desert Road was completed in trick mist and drizzle.

We really are blessed to live in such an amazing country, even if it is a grey, miserable morning in the Big Smoke. Here's hoping the rain clears before we head off to Mt Smart to watch the Mighty Vodafone Warriors smoke some Eels this evening!

0 Photo of the Day - 10 July 2014

John Key got a unique gift from the First Golfer on his recent visit to the USA; the Herald reports:

He's used to receiving innocuous pottery vases and decorative ornaments from international leaders while on foreign visits, but the engraved Ping golf putter - a gift from US President Barack Obama to Prime Minister John Key when he visited the White House last month - arrived on Monday via diplomatic pouch to the sheer delight of its recipient.
"We sent it back in the diplomatic bag from Washington which is why it's taken so long to get here. But I used it immediately," a chuffed Key told The Diary.
Luckily a mug was on hand to collect the accompanying presidential golf balls.
Honolulu golfing buddies Obama and Key share a love for the game. The putter came engraved with Obama's signature and the presidential seal and Key's initials, JPK, for John Phillip Key.

Here's the implement in question:

The Prime Minister has no excuse for missed putts any more! 

0 Photo of the Day - 1 July 2014

Some people clearly have too much time on their hands. This just arrived in our in-box:

#TeamMoa; yeah, that might catch on!

0 Photo of the Day - 25 June 2014

Who said test match cricket was boring? It took Sri Lanka until the second-to-last ball of scheduled play to beat England at Headingley, and win their first ever series in England.

And check out this great photograph of the agony and the ecstacy of the final moment of the match:

Well done Sri Lanka, and back luck England. Will Alastair Cook's dreadful run of form both as skipper and as a batsman now be addressed?

Test cricket is boring? Yeah right!

0 Photo of the Day - 19 June 2014

Here's a bit of light relief from all the drama playing out in politics. Has there ever been a more apt slogan on a commercial vehicle?

Of course, it's not so much fun for the people whose house The Republican's news hit, but the damage looks relatively minor.

Be careful out there folks!

0 Photo of the Day - 16 June 2014

This image arrived in our inbox overnight from a reader with a very sharp eye for detail:

Did anyone know that Rawiri Cunliffe was of Maori descent? We guess that explains his accent on this infamous speech:

Thanks for clearing that mystery up Tamati!

0 Photo of the Day - 11 June 2014

This arrived unsolicited in our inbox a short while ago:

They say that many a true word is spoken in jest. This is living proof of that saying, even if Hone Harawira hasn't yet cottoned on to the fact that he is now Dotcom's puppet.

0 Photo of the Day - 10 June 2014

New Zealand and West Indies are currently doing battle in the first test at Sabina Park in Jamaica. And New Zealand has produced another strong batting performance on a pitch that promises to help the spinners as the match goes on.

It's also West Indian opener Chris Gayle's 100th test match, and in a lovely touch, the New Zealanders marked the occasion at the start of play:

This was a great gesture from New Zealand cricket and the New Zealand side. Here's hoping that the big fella doesn't feel obliged to say "Thanks" by scoring a century in his 100th test!

0 Photo of the Day - 30 May 2014

Eat your heart out Winston; Grey Power Upper Hutt has a new darling:

Maybe the Grey Power folk didn't like Winston's "Jimmy Savile" smear either. Is Grey Power's love affair with Winston First on the rocks?

0 Photo of the Day - 27 May 2014

We were sent this some time ago, and filed it away for the right day. With the announcement today of the formation of Internet Mana, we guess the time is right:

You really do have to chuckle at the marriage of convenience between the Mana Party and Kim Dotcom. The only thing they have in common is a mutual hatred of the Prime Minister, and politics requires just a little more like tham. The Internet Party has no leader, no candidates, and a cheque-writing "visonary" and founder whose future in New Zealand is very limited.

We recall Hogan's Heroes as being reasonably amusing, representative as it was of the era in which it was playing. We're not sure whether this attempt to circumvent democracy is farce, or whether it is a tragi-comedy.

0 Photo of the Day - 25 May 2014

Chris Cairns flew out to London yesterday where he will be interviewed by the Metropolitan Police over allegations of match-fixing. The Herald must have missed him at the airport, because we doubt this is his mode of transport:

The recent leaking of the testimonies of Lou Vincent, Brendon McCullum and Elly Riley has clearly expedited this investigation. And the Herald has some questions which need answers:

Once Cairns has negotiated his way through Heathrow Airport this afternoon (NZ time), he will get the opportunity to address several issues that have puzzled, confused and intrigued cricket fans, most notably:
1. What motive could Brendon McCullum have inventing fictitious testimony against Cairns?
2. What does Cairns know about the contents of a recording between Lou Vincent and Cairns' friend and former legal adviser Andrew Fitch-Holland discussing match-fixing by Cairns' Indian Cricket League team the Chandigarh Lions. The exact details of the recording, taken before Cairns' successful 2012 defamation case against former Indian Premier League impresario Lalit Modi, are unknown.
3. Who or where are the "dark forces at play" which Cairns referred to in an earlier statement?
4. How does he explain the testimony from Vincent's ex-wife Elly Riley?

Interesting times await as this situation escalates. We have just one more question; does Chris Cairns have an open-ended return ticket?

0 Photo of the Day - 30 April 2014

This one wins hands down. Not only does it show Judith Collins as you've almost certainly never seen her before, but it carries a very strong underlying message:

Tackling crime was a key election promise by National in 2008 and 2011. And it is a promise that the Government is delivering on, although there will always be room for improvement.

0 Photo of the Day - 22 April 2014

Just so Merv doesn't have to point out the blindingly obvious, we've shamelessly stolen this image from Whaleoil. Just to make it even more blindingly obvious, we've left his little caption underneath.

But really; how could you resist?

And yes; the dog does look miserable. It must have heard the Roy Morgan poll result that came out on the eve of the Easter weekend!

0 Photo of the Day - 21 April 2014

Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her 88th birthday today. And this photograph of the Queen has been released to mark the occasion:

We reckon Queen Elizabeth still has a few years of loyal service left in her, but she has lived a remarkable life so far. We wish Her Majesty a very Happy Birthday, with many more to come.

0 Photo of the Day - 19 April 2014

The look of glee on TJ Perenara's face says it all. 

The Hurricanes halfback was on the end of a sweeping 80 metre move on the way to his side's bonus point against the Blues in Wellington last night. The Hurricanes won, 39-20.

With four wins in their last five matches including their last three in a row, the Hurricanes are playing some wonderful rugby. Last night's win took the side to fifth on the competition table, and second place in the New Zealand conference.

There's still a lot of rugby to be played, but the Hurricanes are playing a terrific brand. We might just have to plan a trip to Wellington on May 24th to watch their clash with the Chiefs.