Sports

[ad_1] Judith Collins sitting in a padded swivel chair in a mid-range Auckland furniture store enduring the strangest television interview of her career. As the stone-faced National Party leader answers questions like: “What do you do to relax?” The sound of an electric drill threatens to drown her. A maintenance …

[ad_1] Independent Fiji has turned 50, and the Fijian government is celebrating the occasion in grand style. It has been 50 years since a young Prince Charles presented the Instruments of Independence to First Prime Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara at a national ceremony at Albert Park in Suva on …

[ad_1] New Zealand’s first leader, Winston Peters. Photo / Dean Purcell We are exactly one week away from Election Day, but given New Zealand’s somewhat outdated election broadcast laws, this time next week, I won’t be able to say much. So I thought I’d start this morning with my findings …

[ad_1] Hagen Hopkins / Getty Images Josh Timu, Josh Ioane and Vilimoni Koroi from Otago celebrate the victory over Wellington. Just six days after a major disappointment, Otago shook himself to surprise Wellington 35-34 and inflict a second narrow loss on last year’s Miter 10 Cup Premiership finalists. A 78-minute …

[ad_1] Some of New Zealand’s leading medical experts have come out in favor of a “yes” vote in the upcoming referendum on cannabis. An editorial in the New Zealand Medical Journal called the Cannabis Control and Legalization Bill referendum a “once-in-a-generation opportunity to place evidence-based controls around a substance that …

[ad_1] Cameron Spencer / Getty Images Sonny Bill Williams unloads the ball to his Roosters teammate Angus Crichton (L) in their NRL semi-final loss to the Raiders. Australian rugby league legend Peter Sterling has praised Sonny Bill Williams’ five-game return to the Roosters, but says he can’t see the kiwi …

[ad_1] Parramatta has been shaken before his semi-final against South Sydney with Michael Jennings retired for testing positive for performance enhancing substances. Just hours before kickoff, Jennings was provisionally suspended Saturday morning by the NRL after they were informed that he tested positive last month. The NRL said the 32-year-old …

[ad_1] The Black Ferns perform the haka. Photo / Photosport World Rugby has become the first global sports federation to recommend that transgender women not participate at the elite and international levels of women’s play. The organization released a statement on Saturday that, while it does not strictly prohibit their …

[ad_1] A Christchurch bar suffered major damage and a nearby motel had to be evacuated after what is seen as an accidental fire early in the morning. New Zealand Fire and Emergency spokesman Daniel Reilly said four teams responded to the fire at The Fitz Sports Bar, at the corner …

[ad_1] A Christchurch bar was significantly damaged in a morning fire, prompting the evacuation of a nearby motel. New Zealand Fire and Emergency spokesman Daniel Reilly said four teams responded to the fire at The Fitz Sports Bar, at the corner of Fitzgerald Ave and Cashel St, at 5 a.m. …