Auckland (New Zealand), Mar. 31 : New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram has said that he may opt out of 675,000 dollar Indian Premier League contract if he fails to complete the State Championship final.

The injury-plagued all-rounder is suffering from an aggravated Achilles tendon injury, and after consulting New Zealand Cricket''s medical staff it was decided he should miss the current match and aim for the five-day final against Auckland, starting on April 6.

Auckland (New Zealand), Mar. 16 : Kiwi pacer Iain O''Brien is looking forward to playing Test cricket.

New Zealand''s most successful bowler during the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy stalemate in Australia last month, O''Brien was brought down to earth with a bang against India.

A batting card fronted by Virender Sehwag dominated the five-match series until a surprise eight-wicket loss in Auckland last night.

After snaring 10 wickets at 25.30 across the Tasman O''Brien, like every New Zealand bowler, was punished by Sehwag''s flailing blade.

Auckland (New Zealand), Mar. 13 : The New Zealand cricket team will focus on avoiding a clean sweep against their Indian counterparts on Saturday, when they meet up for the fifth and final one-day international here.

New Zealand''s euphoria after their two Twenty20 victories against India has been punctured. The visitors have blasted the Kiwis into submission in the four ODIs played so far.

Auckland (New Zealand), Mar. 1: India won the fourth men''s hockey test 2-0 against New Zealand in Auckland today to secure the series by the same margin.

Second-half strikes by Sandeep Singh and Dilip Tirkey settled the issue a day after the teams fought out a 1-1 draw at the same venue in the third international.

They were perhaps fortunate not to be behind at half-time after the New Zealanders felt they should have had a goal two minutes before the interval.

New Zealand were instead awarded a stroke after the ball hit an Indian body, stopping a certain goal.

The Indians successfully appealed on the grounds that the ball had hit a New Zealand foot earlier.

Auckland, Feb. 19 : An exhibition football game with superstar David Beckham and his LA Galaxy has ended up costing the Auckland Regional Council a disastrous
1.79 million dollars.

"This is a very disappointing outcome and it has been a disaster for the ARC," stuff. co. nz quoted ARC CEO Peter Winder, as saying.

Beckham and the Galaxy played at Mt Smart Stadium on December 6 in a game against an Oceania All Stars team. While 6,500 children from 130 schools saw Beckham, not enough people paid to go the game.

Auckland, New Zealand  - There are strict rules in force on this island: No pets are allowed and visitors are told to remove any dirt from their shoes or clothes before they disembark.

"Please ensure that your lunch is kept in a container made of plastic or metal and take all your refuse with you," passengers are told before the catamaran sets off from Auckland harbour

From here, the voyage takes them to Tiritiri Mantangi, an island in the Gulf of Hauraki, just four kilometres from the end of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula and 30 kilometres north-east of Auckland, New Zealand's largest city.