The state of New Zealand’s dollar and broader economy along with this country’s stance on climate change received interest around the world this week.

In the New York Times, New Zealand’s wine industry feature on the front page of its website on Friday as vintners work hard to maintain prices and market share.

Today, the Wall Street Journal noted New Zealand’s dollar rallied overnight and noted their were signs the Reserve Bank could end monetary stimulus by the middle of next year. New Zealand’s official cash rate update was also noted by the WSJ.

Eturbonews published an AFP story quoting Foreign Affairs Minister Murry McCully who called for new rules governing tourist Ships visiting Antarctica. There was concern that a humanitarian and environmental disaster was nigh. The same story was picked up in China.

New Zealand mudsnails managed in a mention in The Seattle Times, but only because they have invaded Washington state’s Capitol Lake. The tiny snails reproduce rapidly and can crowd out other species that serve as food for fish.

Reuters posted a story a Billboard profile of New Zealand band Fat Freddy’s Drop and noted the release of its second album.

Fox Sports in Australia noted the Perth Wildcats took a win from the clutches of the New Zealand breakers in their latest National Basketball Association game in Auckland this week.

Datacenerknowledge.com picked up on IBM’s plans to build a new data centre in Auckland investing about $80 million. The facility to be built in East Tamaki was to be fully operational by late 2010.

With an NZPA story, the Sydney Morning Herald noted that Australian IT services company CSG Ltd was to buy Konica Minolta New Zealand for $132 million.

Voice of America touted that China topped New Zealand and the United Kingdom as Australia’s chief source of immigrants. In the four months to October, migrants from New Zealand fell by almost half to just over 4700.

The heavily censored Fiji Times covered the New Zealand Maori women’s hockey team crushing the President’s XI 5-0 in the 2009 hockey Pacific Cup.

Moko the dolphin’s fall from grace received coverage in the United Kingdom. The Gisborne-based dolphin was becoming aggressive as he entered his “teen” years.

New Zealand court news was picked up by the BBC detailing the facts after and HIV-positive man infected his sleeping wife with a tainted needle. It was believed the man infected her so she would have sex with him again.