General News

New Zealand’s specialist land based university, Lincoln University; has recently signed a significant three–way agreement for research collaboration with two Chinese Universities.
The agreement was a key milestone in the programme of events during NZ Education Week aimed at highlighting NZ as a highly developed centre of education and re search at the NZ Expo in Shanghai.

A Wellington writer’s first novel will go head-to-head with works by two of our most acclaimed authors as finalists in the country’s most prestigious literary honours, the inaugural NZ Post Book Awards.

Over 200 people attended the opening of Auckland’s newest all-access playground for children of all abilities in Pt Chevalier’s Coyle Park.
This unique playground features an inclusive, all-access play space that is accessible to children of varying abilities, including disabled children.

The world’s most famous sea sponge, SpongeBob SquarePants, is back this year playing his part in promoting Maori Language Week with full episodes in te reo Maori all week screening on Nickelodeon NZ from Monday 26th July until Sunday 1st August (SKY channel 041, 8.10am and 4.00pm weekdays and 8.10am and 8.40am on the weekend).

With the winter flu season upon us – and the impact of last year’s swine flu epidemic still fresh in people’s minds – Kiwi parents are calling for schools to improve their washroom hygiene as a crucial part of protecting their children from colds and flus this winter.
A new survey by BIS Shrapnel shows that, although most schools have installed warm air dryers or paper towel dispensers, many people were unaware of the difference between the two when it comes to clean hands.

Social stigma, intolerance and ignorance are holding back the development of children on the autism spectrum, Autism NZ says.

Grey Lynn School is excited to be celebrating its Centennial in September 2010 and is inviting all past and present students, as well as the local community, to join in the festivities.

The seasonally adjusted value of electronic card transactions in core retail (which excludes the motor vehicle related industries) was up 1.0 per cent in May 2010, compared with April 2010, Statistics NZ has said.

How do you effectively block ‘bad stuff’ on the internet, protect your children and simultaneously provide a flexible, parent-controlled environment that can’t be circumvented?

Tickets are on sale now for the seventh New Zealand International Science Festival.

A full programme of festival events is now available on-line and visitors are urged to book early as many of the events, including free children’s workshops, will book out quickly.