Across the Ditch: NZ’s Big Freeze + Olympics Trans Tasman Rivalry

Across the Ditch: Australian radio FiveAA.com.au’s Peter Godfrey and EveningReport.nz’s Selwyn Manning deliver their weekly bulletin Across the Ditch. This week they discuss: Weather comparison Headlines roundup ITEM ONE: The Big Freeze – For the past week New Zealand has been in the grip of a snow monster. The South Island has experienced heavy snowfalls, and the North Island has certainly had its fair share of snow too. For example, the Desert Road that cuts through the Central Volcanic Plateau has seen heavy snow, bringing superb skiing conditions to the North Island ski fields of Turoa and Whakapapa on the sides of Mt Ruapehu. Also, the Napier-Taupo Highway that connects the Hawke’s Bay’s Pacific coast towns and cities to their northern counterparts had been closed due to heavy snowfalls from Friday through to Tuesday. Schools were closed and power outages plagued the art deco city of Napier. Speaking of power, Kiwis are in for some huge electricity bills once the August power-metres are read. Estimates suggest over $4 million dollars extra will be paid by families to their respective power companies for their power usage for last week alone. ITEM TWO: The Olympics – It’s been a challenging start for Kiwis competing at the Olympics. But there’s been some surprises too. But generally, big news here was the NZ Rugby Sevens (women team) being beaten for Gold by Australia. On becoming the Silver Medalists to Australia’s Gold Medal win, he Kiwi Sevens women performed and dedicated a Haka in Australia’s honour. Another KIWI silver medalist, Natalie Rooney surpassed pundits back home, coming through the competition to go head to head against her Australian fellow competitor, Catherine Skinner. It was a tense shootout which saw Australia win the gold. But a lot of coverage here centred on how Skinner fired the winning shot, but retained her silent composure so the Kiwi, Rooney could make her final shot for the silver. It was a great Olympic moment.]]>