INTIMATES AND MEMORABLE ESCAPES IN NEW ZEALAND
Wherever you are in New Zealand, they say romance is never far away.
It whispers across a deserted beach, into a majestic forest glade, underneath
clear star-filled skies, and sets the scene to launch you headlong into shared
adventures.
Romance also provides a good excuse to enjoy some special
treats, and New Zealand’s hotels, lodges and spas will exceed your
expectations.
When you plan your romantic holiday in New Zealand, make
sure you have included some of these Top 10 experiences in your itinerary.
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Gaze into the eyes of your loved one under the Southern Cross – New Zealand’s dark night skies and minimal light pollution will have you star struck.
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Sail away together and explore the country's pristine coastline, with its paradisiacal islands and abundant marinelife.
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Bubbles and balloons – clink your champagne glasses at
dawn as your balloon lifts you quietly into an unfolding New Zealand
landscape where you’ll drift away from all worldly cares.
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Soar to new heights together as you are spirited away on a scenic flight over some of New Zealand’s most astonishing and accessible alpine and coastal landscapes.
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Leap into the unknown from heart-stopping heights as you take a romantic tandem sky dive – ‘falling in love’ together in the skies over New Zealand.
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Swoop in by helicopter to a secluded spot where a
gourmet picnic hamper, fine New Zealand wine and an intimate setting
just for two awaits your private indulgence.
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Toast yourselves with a delectable local vintage as you cycle one of New Zealand’s gentle vineyard trails.
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Settle in for a romantic escapade in one of New Zealand’s many boutique lodges where Kiwi style and service will set the tone for a unique experience.
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Replenish yourselves with a spa treatment for two – you
can choose to go the natural way soaking in a Rotorua mud bath or opt
for a full luxury pampering designed to soothe mind, body and soul.
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Saddle-up and ride off together into the dusk along an
endless deserted New Zealand beach - just you, your horses and the
whisper of waves lapping the sand.
SCHOOLBOY WINS HAIR-RAISING LEGAL FIGHT IN NEW ZEALAND
WELLINGTON - A New Zealand schoolboy won the right
to keep his long hair on Friday after the nation’s top court combed
through the merits of an often tangled case and found in his favour.
Lucan Battison, 16, called in the lawyers after he was suspended from
St John’s College in Hastings last month for refusing to cut his mop of
curly hair.
The Catholic school said it did not meet the school rule that hair be
“off the collar and 
out of the eyes” and refused to accept his
compromise offer of wearing it in a bun.
out of the eyes” and refused to accept his
compromise offer of wearing it in a bun.
During the High Court hearing, Battison’s lawyer Jol Bates said his
client was standing up for his rights, likening him to US civil rights
leader Martin Luther King and suffragettes who won the vote for women.
The case has enjoyed front-page coverage in New Zealand and generated
heated debate on social media, with some accusing the school of being
heavy handed and others saying Battison should obey the rules.
Judge David Collins sided with the teenager on Friday, finding the
school’s hair policy was open to interpretation and his refusal to cut
his locks did not warrant suspension.
- “(School) principals must ensure that serious disciplinary consequences are reserved for truly serious cases,” he said in a judgement.
- The school said in a statement that it was “naturally disappointed” with the decision but did not indicate whether it would appeal.
A NEW ZEALAND'S MAN SHOT DEAD IN HOSTAGE DRAMA
AUCKLAND, New Zealand - This morning police shot dead Anthony Ratahi, 46, from Stratford after he took a woman believed to be his ex girlfriend, hostage at gunpoint at a Taranaki Hotel last night.Ratahi was released from jail on July 6 after serving eight weeks, Corrections Department community probation services general manager Katrina Casey said in a statement.
- The department would not disclose what Ratahi had been jailed for or the total length of his sentence. He had reportedly been charged previously over assaulting a woman using a knife and injuring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. .
Acting District Commander Pat Handcock told media this afternoon Ratahi went armed into the restaurant at the Headlands hotel where there were about 10-16 patrons, about 10.45pm. He produced a hand gun to a woman he knew, who worked at the restaurant, and shouted at patrons to leave.- "He then barricaded himself into the building holding the female victim hostage and negotiations between police and the man continued on and off throughout the night, mainly by telephone," Mr Handcock said.
- Mr Handcock said police challenged him, deployed a police dog and "there was a struggle prior to the discharge of a police firearm". But as it was "very early" in the investigation, he was not prepared to discus the details and circumstances of the shooting. Ratahi died at the scene.
The police Officers stormed a small villa next to the hotel at about 10.20am, and loud yelling and bangs, believed to be shots, were heard. The hostage, a 30-year-old woman, suffered minor injuries during her ordeal. She was checked by ambulance staff and did not require hospital treatment, he said.
VISITORS GEOFLAGS SINCE AUGUST 26, 2009
