For a Kiwi to be left speaking Strine must be the worst thing that could happen to him. He should sue the Wombat for every penny it has.

The rest of the world still wouldn't be able to hear the difference though.

(ducks rapidly approaching ANZAC flames.)

Lester Haines, you REALLY must get out more.

I hope the wombat didn't suffer any injuries in this needless tragedy.

Another proud day for NZ's judicial system, where an innocent man who is obviously traumatised having been violated by a ferocious creature is persecuted by the State for having the audacity to speak in a civilised accent.

Mine's the one with the big aussie fag on the back.

>> Cradock was subsequently charged with "using a phone for a fictitious purpose"

>How is this is an offence?

This law dates from the days when there were only 5 phones in NZ, and they were on a party line (the 1980's). The PM got mighty stroppy if you were on the line when he wanted to have a heart-to heart with Maggie.

This probably explains how all those English-speaking convicts came to speak Australian so quickly.

Did British officials employ wombats for this purpose? Sounds like secret exploitation to me.

"Mine's the one with the big aussie fag on the back." Um, whuh? Does it make you speak strine?

Having spent an afternoon with a NZ web dev, I can confirm the easiest way of telling them apart is in NZ they say "World Wide Wib" and in Oz, they say "World Wide Web".

Yeah, I know.

Are we talking cigarettes here, or , umm, wombats?

Perhaps it wasn't one after all, but in fact a Hobbit.

Both are small, hairy and fond of running around waving their sword.

Surely it should be he'll marSUEpial the wombat for every penny it has?

Is that a typo or are you admitting what many have suspected actually hides behind the Oz macho veneer?

..banging away like a belt fed wombat?

Mines the DPM one stained with gun grease....

You mean NZ has 6 phones now? Wow, that's progress.

How is that even possible? Whatever you're using it for, it becomes a real purpose the minute you're actually doing it. Well I can see why they'd want to stop people doing things like that, the paradox might destroy the entire universe!

Or does it mean "using a phone as a plot device"? Calling up Sherlock Holmes for a chat?

Mind if we call you Bruce?

Rule 1 ..... No

yes, it was a typo.

but now that you mention it, I was wondering what that boke was doing there a this time.

surey its pint o'cock!

Most jurisdictions here in the US have similar laws about making "hoax" calls to emergency services. Plus there are the Federal laws about making "hoax" calls using a radio (to the Coast Guard, for example). Hoax (ficticious) calls are no joke - they not only tie up a phone line (that's the least important aspect) but they tie up an emergency operator or watchstander and may result in the dispatch of police, fire or search-and-rescue assets all of which could result in a legitimate emergency not receiving a timely response.

This guy obviously needs help and should get it -- in prison.

"I'll retract the rape complaint from the wombat, because he's pulled out. Apart from speaking Australian now, I'm pretty all right you know, I didn't hurt my bum at all.''

Two key things here.

1) The wombat pulled out!! Cant sue for child support.

2) It didnt hurt his bum at all. Cant sue for pain and suffering.

Of course it does beg to ask. . .did he atleast get a courtesy reach around?

Wombat Rape; priceless - but you already had me with the parallel universe story.

Well done El Reg, this is what keeps me coming back.

Now if you could only do something about the relentlessly inane and, oh so boring, OS flame wars .... its like watching paint dry and just about as pointless.

if the 'victim" consents. I'm sick of all these people changing their story out of regret the morning after. Who suffers, the poor wombat, or sheep-unless it's a bigger animal but that's a horse of a different color.

*rimshot*

laugh. Honestly some people need to be wombatted to let a little out.

Honest, it wasn't. Never even been to Nelson.

Always fun times at highschool getting NX exchange students up at assembly to say "Six is between Five and Seven".

Now if it had been a sheep and the roles of perp. and victim had been reversed he might have escaped the 'ficticious' bit of the charge.

I was in nelson in 1982 and there were no wombats around in those days; you had to make your own entertainment. they are native to OZ but not NZ. how did it get there ?bloody marsupials, comin' over 'ere etc..

Eats, Roots and Leaves....selfish little buggers!

That's "Eats, roots, shoots and leaves"

Don't bother, I'll get it myself.