This week’s roundup of cheerful Kiwi stories takes us from pilgrim trails in Spain to free coffee in Taihape, with a stop in Parliament along the way.
Twins walking the Camino de Santiago for their dad, Kiwi runners on the world stage, a food truck handing out hot drinks for Māori Language Week and MPs debating in te reo all highlight the power of language, culture and connection.
I hope these snapshots of community and kindness brighten your day.
🏅 Sport and Triumphs
Double Gold for New Zealand
Geordie Beamish
New Zealand is a small country, but when it comes to sport, Kiwis often punch above their weight, and not just in rugby.
At the World Championships in Tokyo, New Zealand’s Geordie Beamish snatched a gold medal in the 3,000 m steeplechase, edging out favourite Soufiane El Bakkali by just 0.07 seconds. An incredible performance, especially after Beamish got his face stood on in the heats 😱
More on Reuters: New Zealander Beamish stuns Bakkali to take steeplechase gold
Or watch the end of the final:
Hamish Kerr
A day after Beamish’s historic win, Hamish Kerr leapt to a world championship title in the high jump, clearing 2.36 m (his personal best) to add to his Olympic gold. He held his nerve in a tense finish and gave a proud, gritty performance.
Reuters: Clutch Kiwi Kerr adds world high jump crown to Olympic title
Or watch Kerr’s jump for gold:
20-Year-Old Bet Finally Settled
15 September 2025
In Weekly Whirl #18, I reported on two students settling a 20-year-old bet by running the Dunedin marathon.
Well, two decades after their late-night bet, at age 40, Jolyon Swinburn and his mate Blake finally faced their marathon showdown in Dunedin, with high stakes.
Swinburn crossed the finish line in 3 hours 28 minutes, but Blake’s race ended early with a calf injury, leaving him cheering from the sidelines.
The loser must shout dinner and drinks for friends, run another marathon and get a Dunedin-themed tattoo. Blake has already paid a hefty dinner bill, with the tattoo still pending.
Despite the setback, the race doubled as a reunion and celebration of long-lasting friendship.
Full story: Mates’ marathon wager ends with a calf blowout, big bill and tattoo and $10k, dinner for 30 and a tattoo: The marathon bet two mates can’t escape
🎨 Culture
Upside-Down Taupō Stamp Sets New Zealand Auction Record
20 September 2025
A rare New Zealand stamp has fetched a record price at auction, selling for $263,250 including buyer’s premium.
Printed in 1902, the four-pence Lake Taupō stamp features the lake shown upside down. This is the only known example of a printing error worldwide.
First used on a letter from Picton in 1904, it later surfaced in London in 1930 before vanishing for decades. Last sold in 1998 for $125,000, its return to the market after 27 years was hailed as the highlight of auctioneer John Mowbray’s 60-year career.
The stamp was purchased by an overseas collector, and it will be exhibited internationally, showcasing New Zealand’s philatelic history on the world stage.
Read more on 1News: Rare, century-old NZ stamp fetches record price at auction
Māori Language Week
This week was the 50th anniversary of Māori Language Week.
There were a lot of initiatives around the country to celebrate te reo (the Māori language) and encourage New Zealanders to use more Māori words and phrases in everyday life.
Two very different stories caught my eye:
Coffee in te reo
16 September 2025
In Taihape, The Coffee Cove food truck is serving up more than doughnuts and burgers; it’s handing out free hot drinks to anyone ordering in te reo Māori.
Owner Jessie Swan says it’s about celebrating the 50th Te Wiki o te Reo Māori and keeping the language alive.
Locals and long-haul drivers alike are giving it a go, with Swan offering friendly help for pronunciation.
We’re not here to judge. We’re just happy people are trying.
Read more on Stuff: The food truck handing out free hot drinks to anyone giving te reo Māori a go
Te reo in the House
19 September 2025
Parliament sounded a little different this week.
To mark Māori Language Week, MPs swapped their usual back-and-forth for debates entirely in te reo Māori.
What began in 1972 with a petition to teach Māori in schools has grown into a celebration of language woven into the heart of the nation.
For once, politics felt less about division and more about pride in a shared cultural taonga.
Full story on RNZ: MPs celebrate Māori Language Week by arguing … in te reo
🚶♂️🚶♀️ Community and Inspiration
Twins Hike For Dad’s Dream
16 September 2025
Kiwi twins Sophie and Nick Milne, 37, have set out on the 780 km Camino de Santiago across Spain to honour their late father Richard, who dreamed of completing the pilgrimage but passed away in 2021.
Inspired by his adventurous spirit and live-in-the-moment philosophy, they’ve quit their jobs to take on the journey together.
Along the way, they’re raising funds for Parkinson’s New Zealand, the organisation that supported their dad during his illness.
Their month-long trek blends remembrance, resilience and the joy of walking in his footsteps.
Full story: NZ twins hike Camino de Santiago for their father and Parkinson’s New Zealand
🔬 Science and Discovery
Kerr’s Black Hole Breakthrough Confirmed
17 September 2025
More than 60 years after Kiwi mathematician Roy Kerr solved Einstein’s equations to describe rotating black holes, his handwritten theory has been confirmed.
A global team of scientists detected gravitational waves from two colliding black holes, showing that Kerr’s predictions about space, time and ‘black hole voices’ were right on target.
A proud moment for New Zealand science.
Full story on Stuff: A Kiwi scientist had a revolutionary theory. 60 years later it turns out he was right