THE LATEST NEW ZEALAND NEWS FROM MAILONLINE

Woman puts her ex-husband's six-figure yacht up for auction with a reserve price of just $1 and receives more bids than she bargained for - including a MARRIAGE proposal

08/01/17 13:16

An $800,000 yacht up for auction with a $1 reserve has attracted its female seller in New Zealand a marriage proposal, swaps for land a top bid of more than half a million with a week to go on the sale. Fiona Campbell (inset) is selling the Ruah (pictured), a former Australian Navy boat with a luxurious refit. She bought the 1944 vessel for her ex-husband but she's aiming for a fresh start in 2017 and wants the 20-metre boat gone. Currently berthed in Wellington, the Ruah has six cabins, beds for 14 people, two showers and all the creature comforts of a house - as well as the seaworthiness to cross the Tasman in heavy seas. ...read

May the force be with you... til death do us part! 'Nerdy' bride arranges for a STORMTROOPER to walk her down the aisle (and the groom didn't have a clue)

08/01/17 03:09

Courtney and Gareth Titchmarsh, both 23, from New Zealand, got married after eight years together in November last year. In a surprise twist the bride arranged for a Stormtrooper to attend

Woman 'attacks a shop owner with an AXE' after he refuses to give her family a refund for a squashed loaf of bread

05/01/17 11:05

The fracas at Duke Street Food Mart in Hastings on New Zealand's South Island came after a man tried to walk out of the shop without paying for a loaf of bread.

Somalian refugee who hijacked an Air New Zealand flight and stabbed two pilots set to walk free - even though she has threatened to do it AGAIN when released

04/01/17 18:28

A woman who hijacked an Air New Zealand plane in 2008 is due to be released on February 7 despite the fact she says she will do it again upon her release. Somalian-born Asha Ali Abdille remains 'high-risk'.

Fisherman, 17, filmed dragging a shark onto the beach by its tail says he was 'helping the species'

04/01/17 17:31

Jack Alexander, 17, and a group of friends caught the bronze whaler shark (pictured) at a New Zealand beach before tagging it and hauling it back into the sea.

'She's barely coffee-coloured': Businessman's spokeswoman hits back at Maori woman who accused him of racism - after he called her birthplace a 'white man's island'

04/01/17 16:57

A New Zealand businessman's spokeswoman has hit back at a Maori woman who accused him of racism saying: 'She's barely coffee-coloured.'

'I was really gutted... I had a cry': Devastated couple return home to find thieves have stolen their twin baby boys' PLACENTAS in bizarre meat robbery

04/01/17 15:14

New Zealand family is robbed of placentas they had been storing since the birth of eight-month-old twin boys. Mother Hayley Thorpe has been left 'gutted' after discovering the theft on Monday.

Bringing the pain! Rapper T-Pain announces Australia and New Zealand tour after last appearance Down Under was cancelled because he didn't receive payment

04/01/17 08:20

American rapper T-Pain has announced a run of Australia and New Zealand performances starting in January.

Newly engaged Serena Williams flashes her ring as she steps out with Reddit co-founder fiance Alexis Ohanian in New Zealand

03/01/17 18:41

The Tennis star, who revealed her engagement news with Reddit co-founder in a sweet poem on social media, boarded a helicopter to jet to Waiheke island for the New Year.

Girl, 14, bravely fights off middle-aged man after he sexually assaulted her younger sister, 12, as they walked past a public toilet

02/01/17 18:05

A teenage girl kneed and pushed away a middle-aged man who assaulted her 12-year-old sister in the New Zealand South Island city of Nelson. The hero, 14, was out walking on New Year's Day.

'It didn't understand a word I said': New Zealand woman claims Jetstar's automated voice service was 'straya as' - because it didn't recognise her accent

02/01/17 03:07

The New Zealand woman called up Jetstar after her scheduled flight for Monday was cancelled - but the voice-controlled service failed to understand her 'accent' (stock image).

'I tell people Jesus loves you, but I don't:' Another bikie gang takes the law into its own hands to battle meth dealers in New Zealand

30/12/16 12:25

A heavily-tattooed gang leader (left) and a church minister (right) are the latest to wage a war on drugs in New Zealand, haunted by the death of a girl at the hands of her drug-affected stepfather.

Udderly amazing! Teenager teaches herself to ride a COW like a horse after her parents refused to buy her a pony when she was a little girl

30/12/16 12:22

Hannah Simpson, now 18, from New Zealand, started riding dairy cow Lilac when she was just 11 after her parents refused to get her a horse, and has since taught the heifer to canter and jump over obstacles.

Inseparable! Kaley Cuoco and boyfriend Karl Cook pose for a series of selfies while on holiday in New Zealand

29/12/16 16:14

The 31-year-old actress recently shared a series of selfies with main man on her Instagram page while vacationing in New Zealand. The actress beamed next to her boyfriend, 26.

'Dude you almost spilled my beer!': Twitter users make light of 'severe' earthquake after 5.5-magnitude tremor rocks central New Zealand (and scatters a few Cornflakes!)

29/12/16 15:56

More than 7,000 New Zealanders reported feeling the ground tremble beneath them as the earthquake struck near the small South Island town of Seddon, at a depth of 10 miles.

Severe earthquake hits New Zealand shaking the capital just weeks after massive quake ripped through the country

29/12/16 13:41

A severe earthquake with a 5.5 magnitude has struck central New Zealand, near Seddon, just weeks after two massive quakes rocked the country. MORE TO COME

Bouncing around! Rachel Hunter goes BRALESS as she jumps for joy in a spirited video as she continues holidaying at home in New Zealand

28/12/16 13:52

Rachel Hunter looked happy to be home in her native New Zealand on Friday, as the supermodel went braless whilst jumping for joy at a Tibetan retreat outside of Auckland

Cruise ship forced to ferry passengers to shore on LIFE RAFTS because it is too big to dock at a New Zealand port

27/12/16 15:46

We're going to need a smaller boat! One of the world's largest cruise ships was too big to dock in Auckland - so passengers had to be ferried off in lifeboats.

Shoe retailer under fire for telling women to take wolf whistles as a 'compliment' and to 'cover up and wear loose clothing' while running

27/12/16 14:49

A shoe retailer in New Zealand has faced criticism for publishing a guide for female runners advising them to take wolf whistles as compliments 'that all the hard work must be paying off'.

Is it REALLY wrong to encourage your kids to hug or kiss a relative this festive season? New children's rights campaign sparks debate for shaming parents who do

27/12/16 14:13

A New Zealand children's rights campaign is shaming parents who tell their children to embrace family members, via a meme which has swept the Internet

What does it mean? Body of woman with an unusual tattoo wearing a blue swimsuit is found floating off a beach

26/12/16 14:52

Police are hoping an unusual tattoo on the body of a woman whose body was found floating in the water east of Auckland on Sunday will be the key to identifying her.

Propose like a man, man! Old Spice pitchman Isaiah Mustafa pops the question while on holiday with girlfriend Lisa Mitchell in New Zealand

26/12/16 14:27

He's known as the 'Old Spice Guy' who encourages men around the world to 'smell like a man, man'.

Well, that stinks! Truck driver furious at a customer he claims failed to pay for digging work dumps four loads of 'the smelliest dirt' outside his restaurant

25/12/16 12:33

An Auckland man who claims a client refused to pay him $30,000 for completed construction work dumped four truckloads of dirt in front of the employer's store on Friday.

Two people die in horror crash after bus carrying student musicians to a Christmas Day concert rolls 100 metres down a steep bank

25/12/16 09:33

Two people died after a bus carrying student musicians on their way to perform at a Christmas concert crashed down a bank near Gisborne, New Zealand.

Pictured: Woman, 20, and boy, 12, killed in New Zealand bus crash as students headed to Christmas Day concert

25/12/16 09:21

A 20-year-old woman Talitha Moimoi and a 12-year-old boy Sione Taumalolo have been killed after a bus they were on crashed down a bank on Christmas Eve about 30km from Gisborne.

'Christmas ruined': Internet user berates brother-in-law's 'unusable toilet facilities' and others agree he is 'a monster' - but can YOU see why this photo is causing a stink?

25/12/16 00:58

The 125-year-old 'toilet paper debate' has divided people once again, this time during Christmas in New Zealand at the in-laws house.

Single mother heartbroken after her two-year-old son mysteriously dies in his sleep staying with family friends - while she recovered from surgery

24/12/16 05:19

A New Zealand single mother-of-two has lost her two-year-old son in tragic circumstances after he failed to wake up at a family friends house.

'Gutless' anti-Muslim protesters dump a dismembered pig's head on the site of a planned Islamic Centre

23/12/16 06:04

Anti-Muslim protesters left a dismembered pig's head at the site of a planned Islamic Centre in Marlborough, New Zealand, leaving Race Relations Commissioner Susan Devoy furious.

'We're sorry, something's missing': New Zealand Government's hilarious 'Page Not Found' screen – but can YOU spot why it's cracking the internet up?

23/12/16 05:44

A screenshot of the New Zealand Govt website's 'Page not found' screen has the internet in hysterics - but can you see why?

'Are too many kids being forced to sit on Santa's lap? Children's rights advocates say the annual tradition can 'break the trust of a child'

23/12/16 03:29

A social services agency in New Zealand is urging parents not to force their children to sit on Santa's lap. 'Tis the season to teach kids about body autonomy!' the organisation wrote online

Inside the breathtaking New Zealand lodge that sleeps only 10 guests and costs $4,000-a-night - and has just been named the world's best luxury hotel

22/12/16 06:22

Helena Bay Lodge, north of Auckland, was named the world's best luxury hotel for 2016. The lodge sleeps a maximum of ten people and costs up to $4000 per night.

Man hands back $10,000 he found in a bag on the side of the road - and the owner buys him a bottle of wine as a reward

22/12/16 04:23

A man who found $10,000 by the side of a road in Auckland gave the money all back to its owner. Nigel Edwards, pictured, tracked her down through a Google search and saved her Christmas.

Is it a Prrrrada? Woman deported from New Zealand for smuggling her pet on a 14-hour flight from Canada in her HANDBAG

22/12/16 01:42

The woman failed to declare her pet as she arrived at Auckland Airport but admitted she was carrying the extra passenger when security staff tried to x-ray her bag.

'I need room for two': Heavily pregnant Joanna Burgess shares a snap of her buff husband George on the edge of their bed while on honeymoon... ahead of the birth of their first child

21/12/16 23:51

Heavily pregnant Joanna Burgess joked that the baby is already changing their lives in a candid snap shared to Instagram on Wednesday, showing George Burgess pushed to the edge of a plush bed.

Drunk teacher attacks colleague at staff Christmas party after he was criticised for rapping - and only stopped when another staff member kicked him in the head

20/12/16 19:59

A drunken staff end-of-year party and some awful rapping led to a violent altercation between members of staff at a New Zealand school last year.

Not worried about the doping then? Lance Armstrong is mobbed by cycling fans as he goes for a ride in Auckland

20/12/16 07:23

Several hundred people have turned up for an early morning bike ride around Auckland with disgraced seven time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong.

Teacher struck off for squirting soap in eight-year-old autistic boy's mouth and hitting him in the back of the head to 'teach him a lesson'

20/12/16 02:39

A special school teacher has had her registration cancelled by New Zealand authorities after she squirted hand soap in the mouth of an autistic boy, 8, and repeatedly hit him in the back of the head.

'The road ain't a bin': Vigilante biker shames littering driver - and THROWS his rubbish back through his car window

20/12/16 00:52

The biker filmed as he drove up to the red 4x4, which was parked at a set of red traffic lights in New Zealand, and picked up the rubbish before chucking it back inside the vehicle.

Pregnant woman 'humiliated' when a male lifeguard, 15, asked her to take off her 'inappropriate' swimwear at public pool - because it was made of cotton

20/12/16 00:41

A pregnant woman said she was humiliated by a 15-year-old lifeguard at a public swimming pool after being told she had to change out of her 'inappropriate' swimsuit.

Pregnant teacher loses certification after having sex with 17-year-old female student and bringing the girl home to sleep with her partner

19/12/16 14:55

An Auckland teacher lost her certification after having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student. Kiri Jasmine Kay began having sex with the teenager in late 2015.

Call for baaaaa-ck up! New Zealand Police issue hilarious appeal after a ram attacks an an officer from behind

19/12/16 13:03

The sheep, which is currently on the run from Waitemata Police in New Zealand, was caught on camera charging into and headbutting a police officer.

Enjoying the views? George Burgess and his heavily pregnant wife Joanna go sightseeing in Queenstown as they continue their honeymoon

19/12/16 12:30

George and Joanna Burgess (nee King) were taking in the stunning vistas in Queenstown on Monday. Mountains and sea provided the picturesque backdrop for a photo.

Female jockey, 40, dies in front of her two horrified children after her horse fell midway through a race

19/12/16 04:33

Mother-of-three Rebecca Black, 40, was flung to the ground after her horse Point Proven stumbled at the Tapanui Racing Club meeting in New Zealand on Sunday afternoon.

Families still isolated a MONTH after New Zealand earthquake as landslide blocks most direct road into their town - and face a 460km drive to get around the huge boulders

19/12/16 01:38

Nine families between coastal Marlborough and Molesworth Station are being forced to drive a six-hour detour to reach nearby towns after precarious boulders blocked roads.

New Zealand is named the most prosperous country in the world - while Australia lags in sixth place

18/12/16 19:46

New Zealand is the top country in the 2016 Legatum Prosperity Index, which measures countries on wealth, economic growth, education, health, personal wellbeing, and quality of life.

Is Middle Earth a sham? Lord Of The Rings actor says parts of the country where the famous trilogy was filmed are a 'dirty and polluted sewer'

18/12/16 16:34

A New Zealand Lord of the Rings actor has slammed the country where 'Middle Earth' was filmed as dirty and polluted - despite its '100% Pure' tourism campaign.

‘Whip out my bottle of whisky, you f***ot’: Patient with cystic fibrosis records crying doctor showing up to his room at 4am ‘drunk’ and swearing at him

18/12/16 16:14

Cystic Fibrosis sufferer Robert Pere Williams, 22, has recorded the moment he was awoken at 4am by a 'drunk' doctor early in the morning while undergoing treatment at New Zealand's Waikato Hospital.

'It was nice until I started getting cramps': Heavily pregnant Joanna Burgess visits New Zealand glacier... after hinting at name for her and NRL star husband George's unborn baby

18/12/16 13:31

Joanna Burgess (nee King) ran into trouble as she visited a glacier in New Zealand on Saturday. The heavily pregnant 28-year-old admitted she suffered from 'cramps' during the visit.

Women fight to Free the Nipple as they go topless on a New Zealand beach - but claim the protest attracted unwanted 'sexual' attention

18/12/16 08:56

Women go topless at Mission Bay, New Zealand on Saturday to fight for the Free the Nipple movement. But Grace Blundell, 22, said the protest attracted unwanted and 'sexual' attention.

Dwarf serial arsonist 'assaulted an elderly woman, 91, before braying at her like a donkey'

16/12/16 13:07

Serial arsonist Shane Anthony Reid, on bail for assaulting a 91-year-old woman before braying at her like a donkey, has pleaded guilty to attempting to burn down a New Zealand classroom.

7 shares Serial arsonist brayed at old woman like a donkey after assaulting her

New Zealand woman claims pop star PRINCE is the father of her adult son and he's taking a DNA test to prove it

15/12/16 22:52

A woman from the southernmost town in New Zealand has claimed Prince is the father of her adult son, and he's getting a DNA sample in an attempt to prove it.

Scientists discover New Zealand glow-worms ensnare their prey with sticky traps built from their own URINE

15/12/16 09:30

Scientists have shed light on the hunting habits of New Zealand's iconic glow-worms, who lure insects into caverns before trapping them with sticky traps built from their own urine.

Man, 18, dressed as The Joker rapes an autistic woman dressed as Harley Quinn - but claimed it was consensual because the pair had exchanged Facebook messages afterwards

14/12/16 11:13

A New Zealand man who raped an autistic woman had the appeal against his 10-year jail sentence thrown out, after he tried to prove it was consensual by using their Facebook messages as evidence.

High-flying style! Makeup-free Rachel Hunter, 47, looks radiant as she films safety video for Air New Zealand

14/12/16 10:16

Renowned supermodel Rachel Hunter, 47, showed off her youthful and blemish-free complexion, as she filmed a short clip for Air New Zealand.

Police officer filmed pushing a boy, 13, off his bike before pinning him against a fence is cleared of criminal charges

14/12/16 10:13

A New Zealand policeman who was filmed pushing a 13-year-old boy off his bike and pinning him against a fence will not face criminal charges but will be asked to apologise to the teen and his family.

Tourist 'bitten on both legs by a grumpy seal' in a vicious attack while swimming in New Zealand

14/12/16 10:02

An 18-year-old German tourist had to be rescued by helicopter after he was attacked by a 'grumpy seal' while swimming in New Zealand on Wednesday.

Woman shocked when she reads about a toddler who vanished on Facebook - only to walk into her living room to find the missing boy in her grandson's arms

14/12/16 01:03

New Zealand woman has spoken about the moment her grandson brought home a toddler, just after she had seen a photo of the 18-month-old on Facebook announcing he was missing (stock image).

43 shares The moment a mother's child bring a missing baby into her home

'That was the worst idea ever!' The heart-stopping moment a young boy nearly shoots himself with a GUN he found in his grandpa's shed

14/12/16 00:23

Harrison Woods is lucky to be alive after he nearly shot himself in the foot with a gun he found in his grandpa's shed while holidaying in New Zealand.

Are George and Joanna calling their baby Boston Burgess? Heavily pregnant star hints at her unborn bub's name as couple continue their honeymoon

14/12/16 00:03

Joanna Burgess (nee King), 28, shared an Instagram story on Wednesday, hinting at the name of her and husband George's unborn child.

Teacher, 42, shared hundreds of sordid text messages and bawdy poetry with student, 13, he invited to his house before she 'killed herself after he broke off the relationship'

13/12/16 23:17

New Zealand schoolgirl Reiha McLelland, 13, was likely in love with her teacher Sam Back, 42, before the disturbing relationship broke down and she tragically took her life in 2014.

A snacker's dream or fuelling a dirty habit? Edible chocolate nails are the latest beauty trend - but some people are worried about how hygienic they are

13/12/16 13:20

New Zealand nail artist Jessie Mills has created edible nails made out of chocolate - the latest beauty nail craze to sweep the web. But not everyone is a fan, with some saying the nails are 'unhygienic.'

'I will be back for the wine next time': Heavily pregnant Joanna King visits a vineyard with her husband George Burgess as the couple continue their honeymoon in New Zealand

13/12/16 09:47

They tied the knot in Noosa last week. And after a few days of sunshine in Byron Bay, George Burgess and Joanna King jetted off to New Zealand to continue their honeymoon.

Accused pervert 'filmed 14-year-old girl trying on clothes in a change room as her mum stood nearby - before fleeing when confronted by a worker'

13/12/16 02:14

A man has been accused of filming a 14-year-old girl as she tried on lingerie at an Auckland store. The man allegedly followed the girl and her mum at the store in Auckland's south, and remains at large.

An alien time capsule, a Maori canoe and a Rastafarian whale: Barnacle-encrusted mystery object washed up in New Zealand inspires some bizarre theories... so what do YOU think it is?

12/12/16 11:59

A giant alien-like object covered in barnacles that washed up on a New Zealand beach last week has sparked debate online and left locals baffled.

‘What the?’ Mystery surrounds giant shaggy barnacle-covered object that washed up on a New Zealand beach

11/12/16 05:09

A giant alien-like object covered in barnacles that washed up on Muriwai Beach near Auckland, New Zealand, has locals baffled with suggestions including a shipwreck or Rastafarian whale.

Parents of New Zealand woman killed after Contiki tour bus plunges off a cliff fly to Indonesia to retrieve her body - as an Australian tourist recovers with multiple broken bones

10/12/16 14:14

Shocking images show the crushed Contiki van that crashed on the way to a Gili Island surf beach on Thursday, injuring Abbey Moore, 29 (pictured) and killing a New Zealand woman.

Terrifying moment adventurers’ campsite is ripped apart by a tornado of dust in a South Pacific crater

09/12/16 19:04

The weather turned extreme during an expedition to the top of the Marum Crater, on the island of Vanuata, and battered the camp.

A petrolhead's dream holiday: Check out these snaps from McLaren's inaugural Epic New Zealand Road Tour

09/12/16 12:48

McLaren do package holidays, and they're probably the best package holidays in the world - as long as you own one of their ultra expensive supercars, that is.

'A crazy idea and a dream come true': The incredible moment a 12-year-old girl stand up paddle boards on the world's HIGHEST lake to break the world record

08/12/16 22:18

Incredible footage shows a 12-year-old girl stand up paddle boarding on the world's highest lake: Lake Pumori in the Himalayas. Maya Allsop, from New Zealand, completed the daring stunt on icy waters.

'Famous' New Zealand actor accused of sexually violating four female models during secretive one-on-one 'acting classes' - and forcing one of them to kiss his genitals

08/12/16 11:25

The lawyer of a prominent New Zealand actor (pictured) accused of sexually violating four models has accused one of the alleged victims of making up stories about his client.

Asian man's passport photo is rejected because facial recognition software insists his 'eyes are CLOSED' and therefore 'does not meet the criteria'

07/12/16 11:33

A man born in Taiwan who had his passport photo rejected by the New Zealand immigration website as it registered his eyes as being closed.

Every flatmate's worst nightmare: Woman sets up camera because she suspects her male roommate is stealing - but instead catches him scratching his GENITALS with her toothbrush

07/12/16 09:51

A 28-year-old woman from New Zealand, named only as Sarah, said set up a webcam to catch her female housemate stealing, but caught her male roommate doing something much worse.

Brave burns victim, 11, proudly shows off his scars – eight years after he pulled a dish of boiling water onto himself when he was a toddler

07/12/16 09:18

Young New Zealand burns victim Jack Dragicevich, 11, has bravely shown off his scars eight years after pulling a dish of boiling water onto himself when he was a curious toddler.

The world’s best film set: Spellbinding photos reveal the jaw-dropping beauty of New Zealand

07/12/16 09:17

Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and King Kong - it’s no wonder so many movies have used New Zealand’s epic backdrop to depict a fantasy universe. Rach Stewart's photos capture the magic.

'A lady is watching me and I want her to think I'm leaving my information': Man finds note on his Jeep after an unapologetic stranger backed into his car and left a huge dent

07/12/16 08:09

A New Zealand man who returned to his car to find someone had backed into it and found a note on his windscreen, got a much different response than he expected.

Want your home to smell like KFC? Internet goes wild for a SCENTED CANDLE that spreads the aroma of its fried chicken

06/12/16 22:05

KFC has turned its signature dish into a scented candle. The candle - a prize in an online competition - is designed to send the smell of fried chicken into the air as it burns.

A Space Oddity! Doctor named David Bowie treats Buzz Aldrin, 86, in New Zealand hospital after astronaut's evacuation from South Pole expedition

06/12/16 18:05

Former astronaut and second man on the moon, Buzz Aldrin (left), is in a New Zealand hospital being treated by a doctor (right) with the same name as David Bowie - who wrote songs about space.

'He stuck his hand down my top': Woman reveals how she was 'sexually violated and punched in the face by an Indian man' on Air New Zealand flight

06/12/16 13:32

The woman was travelling from Sydney to Auckland via an Air New Zealand flight on Monday afternoon when a male passenger allegedly touched her despite repeated pleas asking him to stop.

Lawyers for singer Prince's estate agree to DNA test after New Zealand man claims he is the dead pop legend's SECRET SON

06/12/16 10:10

Max Stacey McCormack has contacted the Purple Rain star's estate claiming to be the late singer's son, and lawyers have agreed to carry out DNA tests on him.

There goes the neighbourhood bro: New Zealand Black Power bikies are infiltrate the Gold Coast and pose for photos with guns in full outlawed gang colours

06/12/16 09:45

Armed New Zealand Black Power gang members are infiltrating the Gold Coast and brazenly posing for pics in full gang colours - with two members posing for a photo on Facebook.