The 9 buzziest stories to come out of NZ in 2017

The 9 buzziest stories to come out of NZ in 2017
Photo credit: Instagram / @joshdtattoos

From Patrick Gower tattoos to 'Pizzagate', 2017 had it all.

While a lot of the weirder news comes from overseas, New Zealand had some absolute pearlers of its own.

Here's a wrap of nine of the weirdest New Zealand stories of the year.

Woman confesses breast-loving cat's weird habit

A woman shocked the hosts of More FM's breakfast show with a candid confession about her loving pet cat.

"My cat, he comes to his name, he comes to bed if I say 'we're going to bed now'," the woman, who was identified as Rachel, said.

"He gets boobie from my nightie. He thinks I'm his mummy and he sucks on my nightie like it's his mummy's boobie."

Rachel was quickly cut off.

Rachel was taken off-air after admitting her cat's strange habit.
Rachel was taken off-air after admitting her cat's strange habit. Photo credit: Getty

Man gets giant Patrick Gower tattoo on his calf, hopes he's 'grateful'

A Christchurch man has taken his love of the f**king news seriously by getting a huge tattoo of Patrick Gower on his leg.

Caleb Julian now has a caricature of Newshub's political editor etched permanently into his calf, with the slogan "I am the f**king news".

"Life's too short to be square isn't it?" said Mr Julian, when Newshub asked him why.

He says after going through three hours of "intense pain", Gower "better be grateful".

Should Patrick Gower be grateful?
Should Patrick Gower be grateful? Photo credit: Instagram /@joshdtattoos

Service station's 'BOOBIES' sign a 'coincidence' - Z Energy

Z Energy has labelled the public display of a smutty calculator joke on a petrol pricing sign at one of its northwest Auckland service stations "an unfortunate coincidence".

The creation of the phrase 'boobies' on the calculator - using the numbers '8008135' - has been done for decades, to the amusement of many a school student.

But the joke's never been quite as widespread as it was when it was displayed on the petrol pricing sign of a Z service station in the rural Auckland suburb of Kumeu.

Z Energy says the sign was simply a coincidence.
Z Energy says the sign was simply a coincidence. Photo credit: Twitter / Melanie Bracewell

Newshub journalist uncovers Lorde's secret onion ring Instagram account

A savvy Newshub journalist discovered Lorde had been running a secret onion ring review Instagram account, which was been abruptly shut down following questions sent to her management.

Before it was taken down, the @onionringsworldwide account amassed a grand total of 24 followers. One of them was Lorde.

The "massively random" (according to the BBC) story went global with Huffpost calling it " possibly one of the greatest investigations of our time".

After releasing her second album, Melodrama, the Kiwi pop star appeared on Jimmy Fallon's talk show and confirmed "it's me".

Lorde owned up to running the account following Newshub's investigation.
Lorde owned up to running the account following Newshub's investigation. Photo credit: Instagram / @onionringsworldwide / @lordemusic

Stranded cow makes home on deserted island

After a week of heavy flooding in the Hauraki Gulf, a missing cow turned up on an uninhabited island.

'Friday' is thought to have swum to Karamuramu Island, a voyage of nearly 1.5 kilometres.

Quarry workers who travelled to the island each day kept the lonely cow supplied with hay and fresh water.

'Friday' the cow looks a little lonely.
'Friday' the cow looks a little lonely. Photo credit: Newshub.

Dog freed from five-metre hole after two days

A digger came to the rescue of Jacko the Jack Russell who spent two nights trapped in a five metre-deep hole on the West Coast.

The dog fell down a crevice, which formed during the Kaikoura earthquake, while he was out possum hunting with his owners.

The owners never left his side, and put out a desperate plea on Facebook for help.

Miraculously, Jacko emerged unscathed.

Jacko the Jack Russell could be heard barking for two days.
Jacko the Jack Russell could be heard barking for two days. Photo credit: Supplied / Willow Leigh
Miraculously, Jacko emerged unscathed.
Miraculously, Jacko emerged unscathed. Photo credit: Facebook / Willow Leigh

Ex-inmate with 'DEVAST8' facial tattoo inundated with job offers

An ex-inmate struggling to find work because of a confronting facial tattoo was inundated with job offers after his story went global.

Mark Cropp, 19, has the word 'DEVAST8', his nickname, covering the lower half of his face. Cropp said he got the tattoo done when he was drunk on homebrew in prison.

After posting is story to Facebook, saying he was struggling to support his family, he was flooded with more than 50 job offers.

He was also offered free tattoo removal - but decided to keep his ink.

Mark Cropp decided to keep his facial tattoo.
Mark Cropp decided to keep his facial tattoo. Photo credit: The Project

Bill English's pineapple, spaghetti pizza offends New Zealand

Former Prime Minister Bill English sparked outrage when he posted a photo of himself with a pineapple, spaghetti-covered pizza.

His Facebook post polarised the nation, already deeply divided on the pineapple on pizza issue.

'Pizzagate' was condemned by top chefs worldwide and Last Week Tonight host John Oliver even called it "an actual hate crime".

"You get those proper pizzas, they're not always satisfying because they don't always have enough stuff on them," Mr English told MoreFM.

Bill English proudly posted his questionable pizza to social media.
Bill English proudly posted his questionable pizza to social media. Photo credit: Facebook / Bill English

Kiwi-shaped feijoa found in Auckland

An Auckland family spotted one of New Zealand's endangered birds in the form of a feijoa hanging in their backyard.

North Shore resident Evelyn Lukis, 33, was collecting fruit from her tree on Thursday when she spotted the small fruit, about the size of a grape.

She posted her discovery on Facebook, hoping to "share some kiwi loving".

Is this a feijoa or a kiwifruit?
Is this a feijoa or a kiwifruit? Photo credit: Supplied / Evelyn Lukis

Newshub.