Kiwi inventions
Here are 11 Kiwi inventions that you probably didn't know about. New Zealand inventors have a proud record of creating things the rest of the world really needs.
Among the most famous Kiwi inventions are:
Splitting the atom
Kiwi scientist Baron Ernest Rutherford was the first in the world to split the atom in 1919. He was awarded a Nobel Prize for his work with radioactivity.
Flying
Possibly the most impactful Kiwi invention of the 20th century. Many New Zealanders claim it was a Kiwi who first got an aircraft off the ground. There is evidence that Timaru's Richard Pearse was working on powered flight concepts from 1899 and built his first two-cylinder petrol engine by 1902 for powered flight. The Wright brothers got the plaudits but flying was a Kiwi invention.
Bungy
Probably the most famous Kiwi invention of the modern world. Daredevil AJ Hackett pioneered the bungy jump, opening the world's first commercial site in 1988, the year after he illegally leapt from the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Certainly the most hair-rasing Kiwi invention!
Jogging
Did you know this was Kiwi invention? Running coach Arthur Lydiard developed a training technique for runners that the world now calls jogging. It helped win Olympic gold medals for his proteges Peter Snell and Murray Halberg at the 1960 Rome Olympics.
Electric fences
An early version of the electric fence was developed by Kiwi inventor William Gallagher in 1937. He used an ignition coil from his car and a Meccano set to make the first electric fence to add to the list of famous Kiwi inventions.
Jetpack
Christchurch inventor Glenn Martin has developed a jet pack that enables fliers to stay aloft for half an hour. He launch the jetpack at the Oshkosh air show in the United States in July 2008 and his company is now taking orders.
Disposable syringe
One of the most important Kiwi inventions in the world of public health. Timaru's Colin Murdoch came up with the idea for the disposable syringe, a simple device that has saved millions of lives and helped diabetes sufferers around the world. He also conceived the tranquiliser dart gun for use on animals.
Amphibious vehicle
Alan Gibbs has invented the world's first high speed sports vehicle that travels on water as well as land. It was launched to worldwide publicity when Sir Richard Branson drove the Aquada across the Thames river in London.
Jet boats
Farmer William Hamilton invented the world's first propellerless jet boat in 1953. He also is responsible for inventing the hay lift, an advanced air compressor and a machine that smooths ice on skating rinks.
Referee's whistle
Most definitely a famous Kiwi invention but few know it came about when New Zealand referee William Atack became the first person in the world to use a whistle to stop a game of sport in 1884.
Eggbeater
Kiwi Ernest Godward was a serial inventor, coming up with designs for eggbeats, burglar-proof windows and the world's first spiral hair pin. He sold the patent for the hair pin for $20,000, a huge amount in 1901.