Wellington, August 20 : Scientists in New Zealand are working on robots that can perform a host of doctors’ duties like measuring blood pressure, helping patients who fall over, carrying out ward rounds, and keeping older folk company.

Auckland University has opened a new joint-venture robotics laboratory with Korean scientists for the purpose.

At the opening of the laboratory in Auckland, a robot took Research, Science and Technology Minister Pete Hodgson’s blood pressure.

The laboratory has been made for the purpose of adapting robot technology already developed by Korean researchers, and westernising it so that the machines could speak and recognise English.

Wellington - New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said Wednesday the situation in Fiji, whose military ruler has boycotted a regional summit meeting, was like Zimbabwe in the lead-up to its suspension from the British Commonwealth.

Clark was talking to reporters at the opening of the annual meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum in Niue, which Fiji strongman Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama refused to attend after backing down on a promise he gave his colleagues last year to hold fresh elections by next March.

Wellington - Thousands of spectators turned out to watch about 30 topless women take part in a so-called Boobs on Bikes parade through Auckland's main street on Wednesday after a judge rejected a city council bid to stop it.

The council failed Tuesday to get a court injunction to stop the parade organised by a self-confessed pornography baron, with Judge Nicola Mather saying it may be tasteless but "in a mature society the vast majority might consider it harmless."

Wellington - Fiji's military strongman, Voreqe Bainimarama, tightened his grip on the South Pacific island state Monday and announced he would boycott a regional summit where he was expected to defend his refusal to hold fresh elections next year, according to reports from the capital, Suva.

Bainimarama, who made himself prime minister after ousting the elected government in a bloodless coup in December 2006, told reporters he was taking over the post of finance minister and responsibility for national planning, the independent Fijilive website reported.

Wellington - New Zealand is experiencin

Wellington  - The fates of six Australian mountaineers, believed to be trapped in New Zealand's Southern Alps, remained unknown on Saturday as atrocious weather prevented search and rescue efforts.

The group of four men and two women from Sydney are thought to have activated an emergency beacon late Thursday, but heavy snow, low clouds and extreme avalanche risks have prevented a full-scale air- and-ground search.