Flavour of New Zealand
NZ popular culture 1960 onward
NZ popular culture 1960 onward
Excerpts from Strange Facts & True about New Zealand should be seen as having validity as of its publishing date of 1981.
The first moose to be liberated in New Zealand were sent here by the Canadian government in 1900. Fourteen moose were originally sent out, but only four survived the storms and rough seas. These four were kept just opposite Parliament Buildings in Wellington for some time, before being released in Hokitika. Curiously, one of the cow moose took a liking to the town and for 14 years she regularly disturbed the inhabitants by chasing them up and down the streets. 1
No part of New Zealand is more than 128 km from the sea. The furthest settlement from salt water is Garston, Southland. 1
The Raurimu Spiral, on the North Island Main Trunk Railway, is a unique piece of engineering. Designed by Mr R W Holmes, the spiral enables the railway to surmount an ascent of 217.6 m by means of a complete circle and 2 loops, one of them shaped like a very long horseshoe. The spiral involves a gradient of 1 in 50 and was opened to traffic on 6 November 1908. 1
During 1971 there were more marriages solemnized than in any other year; 27,199 couples were married. 1