Having a child is one of, if not, the most important and monumental moments in anyone’s life. But how do you ruin that special moment? By giving your special bundle of joy a name they will never be able to live down. Thankfully New Zealand is putting a stop to the madness.
The country has compiled a list of 77 names that are, by law, unacceptable to give a child. Honestly, they’re so ridiculous I wouldn’t even give any of these names to a dog. Some names on the list are, “Lucifer,” “Mafia No Fear,” “4Real” and anything that includes a royal title—so no “Duke,” “Princess” or “King.”
New Zealand has been putting an end to stupid baby names after they ordered parents to legally change the name of their child after naming her “Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii” in 2008.
Can other countries please get behind this? Or another thought is to just send every parent who gives their kids dumb names to New Zealand, including (if not exclusively) celebrities. I’m looking at you Jermaine Jackson! “Jermajesty?” Really?
Wednesday was a historic day in New Zealand as the government finally passed legislation legalizing gay marriage.
It wasn’t just the crowd gathered outside, however, who were ecstatic to hear the news. In what is probably one of the most heartwarming videos I have ever seen, the entire House of Representatives broke out singing the love song “Pokarekare Ana” in Maori, a language spoken by indigenous tribes in the country.
I’m not one to watch televised coverage of parliamentary debates (I prefer Keeping Up With the Kardashians), but this is a must see. Just try to make it to the end of this video without cracking a smile.
If only the rest of the world – I’m looking at you, USA – would follow New Zealand’s lead, we could all be singing too!
Okay, well that’s a little dramatic of a headline, but it’s sort of true. An economist in New Zealand named Gareth Morgan is demanding the country’s entire domestic cat population get eradicated. Right now about half of New Zealanders own a cat and he says they cause tons of environment damage and harm his precious endangered birds. Those are legit concern but seriously?!!
He’s SO SERIOUS he even created a website called Cats to Go. He’s urging all cat owners to spray, neuter or EUTHANIZE their poor little kitties. I know something has to be done to save the bird population but there must be another solution — like, keeping your cat INDOORS MAYBE?
Also, I argue this
This Read more…
It really does suck to be an avid Lord of the Rings fan who doesn’t live in New Zealand. While it’s easy to live the life of a dedicated LOTR fangirl, apparently they are just living it up in New Zealand, where the films were actually filmed. Oh and the weather is really nice there too, according to this Elvish weather man.
PureNewZealand uploaded this awesome news report that features a Sindarin speaking weather man who let’s everyone aware of the beautiful summer ahead in Middle Earth. The language is usually exclusive between the elves, but clearly this weather man wants to share his talents with the world. The report is basically coming just in time for the release of The Hobbit. Don’t be surprised if you hear people brushing up on their Sindarin for this long-anticipated film.
Watch the weather report here:
You may remember these two from their hilarious HBO series a few years ago but comedy duo Flight of the Conchords are back for a special reunion. Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement just released a video for their new charity single, “Feel Inside (And Stuff Like That)” for Cure Kids based in New Zealand. With the help of some adorable (and very honest) children who had no idea who Flight of the Conchords were, the lyrics to the song were set. They talked about everything from where money comes from, robbers and The Muppets. A few other musicians joined in on the recording process.
Watch here:
It seems that performing is turning into a dangerous feat nowadays. Just last week, Justin Bieber suffered a concussion after running into a glass wall during a concert in Paris. This weekend, a dancer accidentally hit Lady Gaga on the head with pole during “Judas” in Auckland, New Zealand on Sunday. The accident resulted in a concussion for the singer.
Of course, we all know how hard Lady Gaga works. Even Elton John confessed that he worries for the singer whose busy schedule leaves little room for rest. So, it’s no surprise here that Gaga opted to endure her injury and continue on with the show, performing another 16 songs.
Gaga’s make-up artist later tweeted, “Gaga has a concussion but she is going to be okay.She wants u to know she loves u. I’m taking care of her.cant believe she finished the show.”
Check out how she follows the dancer with a machine gun after the incident below:
Victoria Abraham defines one up and coming artist each week so you can impress your friends with your musical brilliance. This week, she tackles Kimbra, an electro soul sensation from New Zealand.
It’s possible that you haven’t heard of Kimbra. But it’s more likely that you’ve been playing Gotyé ft. Kimbra’s “Somebody That I Used to Know” on repeat 24/7. This fiery 22 year-old begun her love affair with music when her dad gave her a guitar at the age of 12. Now she’s quickly making a name for herself with the recent release of her debut album Vows in the US and her traveling live band.
Origins: Hamilton, New Zealand
Real name: Kimbra Johnson Zottola.
Live band members: Fagan Wilcox (samples/synth/bass/vocals), Timon Martin (guitar/vocals), Stevie McQuinn (drums), Ben Davey (keyboards/vocals)
Known for: Kimbra is known for her kick-ass fashion sense and energetic electric live shows.
Used in a sentence: “Kimbra’s sophisticated vocals and fun style make her uncompromisingly unique.”
File next to: Nina Simone, Bjork
Download now: “Good Intent”
Fun facts: Read more…
Just when you thought there couldn’t be any weirder (or painful) competitions, here’s a video of a bellyflopping competition between the Aussie Dugongs and the New Zealand Puku Plungers.
Yes, that’s right. There’s officially a competition dedicated to people with oversized bellies bellyflopping while doing tricks. It’s just like diving…but a lot splashier.
It’s a little hard to believe why there would be something like this. All I can think of here is the red marks from all the pain!! But from the looks of the video, the competitors looks pretty fierce.
I just hope the rewards are worth it.
It seems everyone wants a piece of The Naked and Famous after the success of “Passive Me, Aggressive You” (2010). Since then, the band has been all over the world and sometimes it’s hard for them to keep up. Thom talks about how he keeps it all together on the road and explains why people call New Zealanders “kiwis.”
God dangit Peter! Don’t you know you that millions of the world’s biggest, greasiest, lamest, acne-filled, Gandalf-worshipping geeks are patiently waiting for their film version of “The Hobbit”?
Sure you do, but you had to go and have an ulcer. How convenient for you, Sir Peter, to be able to take time off whenever the hell you please? Must be nice to be able to abandon one of the world’s largest film-crews in the treacherous mountains of New Zealand to schedule a doctors appointment when you have a little tummy ache.
How selfish can a film director be? Does he knot know that I, along with many others, in anticipation for the Hobbit, have almost burned out the bottom of our “Return of the King” special edition dvds because we’ve watched them too many times. With full commentary. From Gollum.
Apparently, Peter Jackson doesn’t realize any of this. Because E online is reporting that Jackson was indeed admitted to a to a New Zealand hospital “after complaining of stomach pains”. After some poking and prodding, it was determined Jackson would need emergency surgery for an ulcer.
The Oscar-winning director’s publicist, Melissa Booth, said that only a “minimal” delay is expected and the first of the two movies is still scheduled for release in December 2012, with the second due a year later.
It all sounds optimistic, but a “minimal” delay in Middle Earth can really turn into a to-do.
Despite being a small creature, this Bilbo Baggins is causing huge amounts of problems.
Guillermo del Toro, who was handpicked by Peter Jackson to steer The Hobbit movies, has decided to leave his directing post for the two-part Lord of the Rings prequels because of ongoing troubles at the two studios behind the highly anticipated films, reports Eonline!
The studios are MGM and New Line.
“In light of ongoing delays in the setting of a start date for filming The Hobbit, I am faced with the hardest decision of my life,” Guillermo announced on TheOneRing.net fan site. “After nearly two years of living, breathing and designing a world as rich as Tolkien’s Middle Earth, I must, with great regret, take leave from helming these wonderful pictures.”
To prep the films with Jackson, del Toro moved with his family to New Zealand. And shooting was planned to take way this summer for a holiday 2012 release. But problems with MGM and New Line began as they couldn’t get their act together, and del Toro couldn’t wait any longer.
“The blessings have been plenty, but the mounting pressures of conflicting schedules have overwhelmed the time slot originally allocated for the project,” del Toro said. “I wish the production nothing but the very best of luck and I will be first in line to see the finished product .”
Aside from all of the problems, del Toro will remain as a co writer on the project, along with Jackson and his LOTR partners, Fran Walsh and Phillippa Boyens.
But for now, the hunt for a new director has begun. Possible candidates: Gandalf the Grey.
She is the hardest working woman in show business, but that stress level seems to be taking its toll on Lady Gaga. Days after crumpling to the floor during a New Zealand concert, Lady Gaga took to the airwaves to explain what happened.
“I was so jet lagged,” she told the Australian radio show Kyle and Jackie O on Friday. “I passed out about three times on stage that night but I got myself to the floor. I’d rather die on stage than walk off because I was going to pass out.”
Now THERE’S a headline you probably never thought you’d see.
Jason Mac, a New Zealand radio DJ for The Rock FM, lost some kind of bet which meant he had to get the image of Nickelack singer/guitarist Chad Kroeger tattooed on his right butt cheek.
To make matters worse, the tattoo depicts Kroeger holding a penis instead of a microphone.
Ouch.
