The Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust is extending an invitation for a once-in-a-lifetime experience to celebrate World Ranger Day on Sunday 31 July 2011.

Tournament organiser Rugby New Zealand 2011 today confirmed arrangements for the Official Team Welcomes for each of the 20 participating teams at Rugby World Cup 2011 (RWC 2011).

A mix of marae-based and civic events are being arranged for each team (see schedule below).

Ski area staff were delighted to be told today (June 30) that The Remarkables ski area in Queenstown will open at 9am on Saturday (July 2) for the 2011 winter season.

On track. That's how Lego Olympics organiser Stuart Croft describes this year's contest soon to be held at Bluestone School Hall in Timaru - and it's a fitting comment.

Overriding all thrills, spills and celebrations today (Wednesday 29 June) at the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival was the announcement that Queenstown ski area Coronet Peak will open tomorrow.

Since everyone sulks into their wine glasses because “there’s no cuuuulture in this town” the turn out to a local fundraising benefit (for some endangered monkeys) was pretty good.

Rotorua - Rotorua has been chosen to provide Team Samoa's official Rugby World Cup 2011 welcome to New Zealand and the city's RWC2011 team is gearing up for their September arrival.

They haven't even been in store a month and yet the new Vidal Reserve Series of wines have already picked up Gold and Silver awards at the inaugural Spiegelau International Wine Competition 2011.

Villa Maria Estate has picked up four Golds at the inaugural Spiegelau International Wine Competition 2011.

Villa Maria Chardonnays again showed their class with three Chardonnays from three different regions collecting golds.

A summary of Villa Maria's gold collection:

Queenstown's Coronet Peak ski area will open tomorrow (Thursday June 30) for the 2011 winter season thanks to the hard work of its snowmaking and grooming teams.