Broadcaster, writer and traveller, Michael Palin talks to Stephanie Holmes about his new book Into Iraq. “The first book I was ever given was Tales from the Arabian Nights,” he writes in his new book, Michael Palin Into Iraq. Michael Palin, whose new book Into Iraq is out now, says travel is about 'looking at the hard things as well'. Michael Palin Into Iraq, a new book by the British broadcaster, actor, comedian and writer, is out now. Michael Palin Into Iraq, published by Penguin Random House, is on sale now, RRP $40This story originally appeared in New Zealand Herald Travel here.

Jockey Samantha Wynne is grateful for small mercies after a race crash killed friend Megan Taylor. Photo / SuppliedSouth Island jockey Samantha Wynne says there is one small personal mercy in the aftermath of the horror race fall that claimed the life of her friend Megan Taylor two weeks ago. ”I am grateful for one thing — that I can’t remember it,” says Wynne from her Canterbury home. Megan Taylor, 26, died in a racing accident at Ashburton raceway. There is no suggestion Taylor, Wynne or Comignaghi were responsible in any way for the accident.

''We would have been better off loosening all restrictions last summer, when we had peak vaccine effectiveness'', writes Brooke van Velden. ''We would have been better off loosening all restrictions last summer, when we had peak vaccine effectiveness'', writes Brooke van Velden. In fact, New Zealand was better prepared for Covid last summer than this one. Why did we spend last summer in the trenches, and this summer in the sunshine? The simple answer is that last summer the Prime Minister’s messaging was all about fighting Covid.

Photo: Know Your Stuff / suppliedThe government says boosting its investment in drug checking services could save lives this summer. It has ringfenced nearly $4 million to help cover the costs of drug checking services at summer festivals and other events over the next three years. Health Minister Andrew Little said the boost in funding will make drug testing more accessible to those already-intent on using illegal substances. Drug Foundation chief executive Sarah Helm said the funding would enable the four organisations licensed to test illegal drugs, which included the Drug Foundation, to reduce drug harm for a wider range of people. Drug testing services have been running at festivals since 2015 but were first legalised by the current government in 2020.

Three friends were fishing just off the coast at holiday hotspot Kaiteriteri on December 23, when they had a close encounter with a 7m long whale. The three men had anchored their boat just south of the popular summer destination on Friday , when they encountered the approximately seven metre long whale. We were kind of buzzing out”Tamanui Uerata The sudden appearance of a 7-metre long whale gave three fishing mates some adrenaline-filled moments off the coast of Kaiteriteri, near Nelson. “Looking back, it was pretty awesome, but when it caught our lines, things got pretty real pretty quick. General manager of environmental organisation, Project Jonah, Daren Glover said it was hard to tell from the video if the whale was a humpback or a southern right whale.

Frigid Monster Storm Across US Claims 34 Lives. They hunkered against the breeze to ride out the winter storm, finally killing 34 people across the United States. The frigid storm is expected to claim more lives. The unprecedented storm spanned the Great Lakes near Canada to the Rio Grande along the Mexican border. Emergency crews couldn’t reach them to treat them, and 10 more people died in Erie County during the storm, including six in Buffalo.

Joshua ParociAn Australian detective who drowned during a rafting trip on the Shotover River was only about a metre from being pulled to safety when he lost grip of a safety rope. In her findings released today, coroner Heather McKenzie said Mr Paroci’s group was on one of three rafts on the Queenstown Rafting trip when it flipped over. Although his five friends were retrieved, Mr Paroci began experiencing difficulty after a safety rope was thrown to him. As he was pulled to the river bank, he let go of the rope about a metre from safety and floated downstream. Mr Paroci’s death was an accident, and no party was to blame, she said.

Steve Hansen says the process to find the next All Blacks coach should not detract from their World Cup buildup. Sir Steve Hansen says NZ Rugby must ensure Ian Foster is happy with the All Blacks coach appointment process, or it could risk jeopardising the team's World Cup campaign. “And the ironic thing is that if they win the World Cup, what do they do with Ian Foster if they have already appointed someone [else]? Hansen says NZ Rugby has to figure a way to handle this difficult situation – and not alienate Foster with the outcome. It will be the first time the pair have coached against each other since the ill-fated World Cup semi in 2019.

Joseph Parker reveals his wish listJoseph Parker reveals his wish listPhoto:Stuff.co.nzJoseph Parker has revealed his wish list as he looks to get his heavyweight career back on track. Parker has a January 22 fight against English cruiserweight Jack Massey in Manchester next up, but he has bigger things on his mind in what he hopes will be a busy 2023. Parker says it would be nice to get a rematch with Anthony Joshua, Dillian Whyte and probably in the future, a rematch with Joe Joyce, a hit-list of British opponents that screams redemption for the only three defeats on his 30-3 pro record. Source: Stuff.co

These are our editors’ picks of the stories that had the biggest impact in Aotearoa. READ MORE:* Graham Philip: Trout fisherman, fan-fiction author, saboteur* The 10 biggest, baddest and weirdest NZ media stories of 2022* Wake up, sheeple! KAI SCHWOERER/Stuff Ruby Tui of the Black Ferns walks past the trophy after winning the Rugby World Cup. What happened before the Black Ferns wonThe Black Ferns’ World Cup win was one of the most glorious moments of 2022, not least of all because of the challenges the team overcame to get there. One of the year’s biggest political scandalsSenior writer Kirsty Johnston’s report that the National Party’s newest MP, Sam Uffindell, was asked to leave his exclusive boarding school after viciously beating a younger student late at night, triggered one of 2022’s biggest political stories.

After a seven-year spell at the helm of England’s national rugby union team, the Australian was sacked off the back of a lacklustre 2022. Then-England coach Eddie Jones (left) and New Zealand coach Steve Hansen at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Instead, the Rugby Football Union will trust Steve Borthwick to lead England to a Rugby World Cup. That’s led former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen to question the call. Asked by Stuff.co.nz whether he was surprised by Borthwick’s appointment over Jones, Hansen replied, “Well, he’s their most successful coach.

Photo / 123RFA Kiwi woman has been shown incredible leniency after she “turned her vehicle into a weapon” by pursuing a cyclist through empty properties and smashing into front yard fences as neighbours slept. Alabaster, 46, struck the cyclist in Inala, Brisbane, at 3.30am in October last year. Kelso said the impact was not at speed, but it left the cyclist with bruising and swelling on his calf. As the cyclist stopped, Alabaster allegedly began making “racial accusations” and warning him to stay away, revving the car, news.com.au reported. In sentencing Alabaster, Justice Callaghan lashed her for the “uncivilised” and “terrifying” course of conduct towards the innocent victim.

However, England's Rugby Football Union found it had enough to depose Jones less than nine months out from the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Then-England coach Eddie Jones (left) and New Zealand coach Steve Hansen at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Instead, the Rugby Football Union will trust Steve Borthwick to lead England to a Rugby World Cup. That's led former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen to question the call. Asked by Stuff.co.nz whether he was surprised by Borthwick's appointment over Jones, Hansen replied, "Well, he's their most successful coach.

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A mum-of-three has revealed why her family stopped using toilet paper. Photo / YouTubeA mum-of-three has revealed why her family stopped using toilet paper. "We've used cloth instead of toilet paper for the past three years," Amber said in a video on her YouTube channel. "We started not using toilet paper for several reasons. "One day it occurred to me, why are we using toilet paper?