John HarnettJohn Harnett

John Harnett is a freelance writer and a former staffer at four New Zealand daily newspapers. He also worked in London for the British Press Association, and in the press division at the Central Office of Information, the British Government’s information and marketing agency.

Pongo, Bonzo, Bubsy and Spud: A eulogy for the great New Zealand nickname

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On playing fields, in classrooms and at workplaces across the country, the colloquial Kiwi nickname once ruled the roost. But now, writes John ‘Nick’ Harnett, those who go by a nickname are members of a dying breed. What happened to nicknames? Almost everyone had one when I went to school and, most of the time, they … Read more