NZ names

Apparently in New Zealand it's compulsory to follow through on those daft ideas you find yourself bandying about in the pub.

A judge in New Zealand made a young girl a ward of court so that she could change the name she hated - Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii.

Judge Rob Murfitt said that the name embarrassed the nine-year-old and could expose her to teasing. He attacked a trend of giving children bizarre names, citing several examples.

New Zealand does not allow names that would cause offence or that are longer than 100 characters, Registrar-General Brian Clarke said. Officials often tried to talk parents out of particularly unusual choices that could embarrass their offspring.

Allowed: Violence; Number 16 Bus Shelter; Midnight Chardonnay; Benson and Hedges (twins)

Blocked: Yeah Detroit; Stallion; Twisty Poi; Keenan Got Lucy; Sex Fruit; Fat Boy; Cinderella Beauty Blossom; Fish and Chips (twins) [BBC]