It’s one of the great genres of New Zealand news: the unusual thing that just blocked our main arterial road. Here’s a sampler.

The Timaru sea lion

A repeat offender. “He’s just living up what we have to offer here in Timaru … He’s been having fun as young guys tend to do,” said Timaru District Council Parks and Recreation manager Bill Steans.

A boat

Also Timaru.

Offal

Again, Timaru.

Shit

Not Timaru. A truck carrying untreated effluent crashed into a car.

Sheep

Obviously and often.

Cows

In Bluff.

Goats

“Orewa’s Grand Liquor owner Heather Cresswell has had customers bleating about goats.”

A steer

It got shot.

Turkeys

In Rodney.

Ducklings

Also Rodney.

Chickens

The road was covered in feathers.

A flock of geese

“Police were on the scene to help the geese safely across the motorway.”

A flapping swan

“No birds or people were harmed during the incident.”

Fish

Tbh this one was SH5.

Watermelons

Police said watermelons blocked both lanes for 15 minutes.

Windows

A real pane for motorists.

Beer

“A witness told the Herald they were devastated to drive past the pile of Steinlager beer.”

Butter

Northern Advocate headline: “Truck carrying load of butter rolls.”

Honey

“A driver found himself in a sticky situation,” etc.

Oats

The Otago Daily Times went with the headline, “Wild oats slowed”.