New Zealand

Sauvignon blanc still jewel of New Zealand’s soil

By: Pamela S. Busch 05/23/13 5:33 PM

I told a winemaker friend of mine I was writing about New Zealand sauvignon blanc this week and his response was not uncommon: “Cat pee on a gooseberry.” But don’t let that turn you off or make you turn the page. Read More

The Bats have flapped back into the belfry with new album

By: Tom Lanham 11/07/11 2:45 PM

Another reason to be cheerful. New Zealand’s brainy chime-rockers The Bats have flapped back into the belfry, with a brand-new album, “Free All The Monsters,” their first in three years, hitting these shores on Nov. 22. Read More

San Francisco couple traveling the world to find ‘supergays’ making impacts

By: Andrea Koskey 08/11/11 4:00 AM

Searching for “supergays” is not easy, but a San Francisco couple is taking on the task. Lisa Dazols and Jenni Chang, who have been together for three years, recently embarked on a 12-month journey to find supergays — a term they coined to describe lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender men and women who are breaking stereotypes not necessarily in a civil-rights fashion, but in a way that inspires those around them. Read More

Neil Finn from Crowded House set hit road with wife in The Pajama Club

By: Tom Lanham 06/08/11 1:13 PM

The last time we spoke to Crowded House mastermind Neil Finn, he waxed rhaposodic about the vocal talents of his wife Sharon, who’d begun duetting with him on band efforts. Read More

Kiwi contingent fighting for trip to San Francisco

By: Brent Begin 04/26/11 10:56 AM

A trio of New Zealand politicians have apparently been invited to San Francisco by Mayor Ed Lee and former Mayor Art Agnos to learn how to recover from a massive earthquake. Read More

Another reminder to be prepared for earthquakes

By: Mayor Edwin M. Lee 04/17/11 11:00 PM

In the past few months, we have witnessed the unimaginable devastation caused by catastrophic earthquakes in New Zealand and Japan, and the destruction brought on by the ensuing tsunami has been overwhelming. Our thoughts and prayers are with those whose lives have been impacted by this tragedy, which is an all too clear reminder of our region’s vulnerability and the need to continue preparations for the next major earthquake. Read More