Bebo: building the New Zealand Army

Bebo has become the new recruiting tool for the New Zealand Army, according to Commander Shaun Forgarty from the New Zealand Defence Force.
Fogarty says the army’s media resources are limited with cost being a big issue. He says this makes the internet a useful tool for reaching target markets.
“The New Zealand Army is [...]

NZ media failing on human rights issues, says Amnesty International

The New Zealand media seems to lack interest in and knowledge of human rights issues, says the deputy director of Amnesty International New Zealand, Rebecca Emery.
Emery was speaking at a conference hosted by Amnesty International at AUT University last week as part of its upcoming Demand Dignity campaign.
“Human rights are pretty much taken for [...]

Dating the 21st century way

Online dating, once viewed as a haven for the desperate and dateless, is emerging as a practical option for time-starved professionals and those looking for a bit more romance.
In New Zealand alone, no fewer than 10 websites help single Kiwis find love.
The biggest of these, NZ Dating, claims to have nearly 25,000 members online each [...]

NZ pop music needs more Maori input, says MLC

With another New Zealand Music Month well under way, some Maori are saying there needs to be ways to encourage more Maori participation in popular music.
Strategic communications officer at the Maori Language Commission Debra Jansen (Ngati Porou and Nga Puhi) says she would like to see more Maori “promoting their brand of music”.
“I think [...]

Charities seek new ways to appeal to public

New Zealand charities are struggling to raise funds during the current economic climate.
Non-profit organisations are being forced to investigate new ways to appeal to the public for donations.
KidsCan executive director Julie Helson says KidsCan has recently had to cancel several high-end charity fundraising events because people are not buying tickets.
“We are exploring new [...]

Mexican Wave

The world is getting smaller. Not literally smaller, but as we all know technology has made it possible to communicate with people on the other side of the world in the same way we would speak to a neighbour.
It is also even easier for Kiwis to travel to foreign exotic places, eat unfamiliar and exotic food [...]

ACT MP moves to allow ‘reasonable force’ in disciplining children

New Zealand’s controversial “anti-smacking” legislation is again under scrutiny as ACT MP John Boscawen moves to allow the use of force to discipline children.
Boscawen will introduce a private member’s bill to allow parents and guardians the use of “reasonable force” to correct children and set statutory limits to define it.
He says the current law is [...]

Where on earth are all the men?

It is so wrong these days that a girl cannot find a straight, single, tall, dark, handsome man. There is most definitely a man drought.
After spending many an hour searching, I have come to conclusion that they either don’t exist or live overseas – and this was with me lowering my standards once or twice.
With more [...]

The search for NZ’s sexiest man begins

The annual search for Cleo Magazine’s “Bachelor of the Year” begins this week.
Those with an ego who are eager to try out for the position of being the country’s sexiest single man have been told to meet in Auckland’s Viaduct Basin, at Degree Bar at 4pm.
Cleo Magazine feautres editor Charlotte Cowan is really excited about the search. [...]

Auckland Muslims celebrate Eid ul-Fitr

Muslims in Auckland welcomed Eid ul-Fitr with special prayers and spent the evening visiting friends and relatives.

The morning congregational prayers were held at mosques in Ponsonby, Mt Roskill and Avondale.
Ruqqaya Hancock, 22, celebrating Eid ul-Fitr as a Muslim for the first time, was one of hundreds who had gathered at Ponsonby Mosque as early as [...]