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”.
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