Hanekom Family in Wellington New Zealand
The largest eggs in the world are those of the ostrich. An ostrich egg is the equivalent of around 20-24 chicken eggs.
The largest egg relative to the body size of the bird that lays it is that of the kiwi. The kiwi’s egg is six times the expected size for an egg of a bird of that size. Because of the size of the egg, a clutch consists of a single egg.
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There are some pretty short names, and then there are some pretty long names.
The longest official single word place name is “Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu”.
It is the name of a hill on the North Island of New Zealand and in Maori.
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The inspiration for bungee jumping comes from an ancient ritual practiced on Pentecost Island of Vanuatu in the Pacific. Jumpers (originally only woman, now only men) jump of high platforms with forrest vines tied to their ankles.
In the 1970s a group of thrill seekers attached to Oxford University; the Oxford University Dangerous Sports Club made a number of experimental jumps.
The Dangerous Sports Club’s efforts inspired New Zealanders AJ Hackett and Henry van Asch and they started to develop new bungy cords with the assistance of scientists from the University of Auckland.
Hackett became the first commercial opperator and promoted the bungy jump (the NZ spelling) by making a number of jumps in Europe in the 1980s including a Jump in the Eiffel tower (for which he got arrested).
Since then millions around the world experiences the thrill rushing towards the ground at free fall speeds.
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There are more native plant species on table mountain than in the whole of the United Kingdom.
Table mountain is part of the Cape Floral Kingdom or Floristic Region. It is the smallest of the six such natural areas in the world, and the only one contained within the borders of a single country.
Eight pockets of lands combined forms a World Heritage Site , a serial site called the Cape Floral Region Protected Areas. This site comprises around 0.5% of the surface area of the African continent, but is home to nearly 20% of its flora.
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In 1893, New Zealand became the first modern country to introduce universal suffrage (both men and women can vote). The most prominent member of the woman’s’ suffrage movement was Kate Sheppard.
To commemorate 121 years of universal suffrage, pedestrian crossings around parliament sports a walking image depicting Kate Sheppard rather than the traditional walking man.
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The location for the Dimholt road (leading to the Paths of the Dead) in the Lord of the Rings movie; the return of the king, was the Putangirua Pinnacles in the Wairarapa.
The pinnacles is an example of Badlands, a type of dry terrain where softer sedimentary rock have been extensively eroded by wind and water.
Badlands apparently got its name from the fact that is was difficult to cross, i.e. bad land to travel across.
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Did you know; the first model trains running on extendable tracks were manufactured by German toymaker Märklin in 1891 (who at the time mainly manufactured doll house accessories.)
Needless to say, the target market for model trains is substantially larger than that for doll house accessories.
Its not a toy its a hobby.
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Elephants use their feet to detect and interpret vibrations in the ground.
The feet stomping display of aggression can be detected some distance away as warning vibrations traveling through the ground, causing the elephants to gather in defensive formations .
It has also been noted that if unknowns vibrations are detected, the animals vacate the area.
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Parrots, just like humans display handedness (a dominant left of right hand). In contrast to humans; parrots are predominantly left handed (footed).
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During the latter part of the second Anglo-Boer war (Boer war / South African war) 1889-1902, the British constructed almost 8,000 blockhouse type fortifications to restrict Boer movements.
The Boers at that time engaged in very effective guerrilla tactics.
Several blockhouse structures (some in various stages of disrepair) are still scattered across the landscape.
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