A Playboy mansion in Rotorua - must be April Fool's

By Eveline Jenkin

The aphrodisiac properties of Rotorua's hydrogen sulphide smells have reportedly attracted Hugh Hefner. Photo / SuppliedIn an April Fool's prank conducted under the cover of darkness, cars wrapped in cling film greeted residents of inner-city Melbourne this morning.

At least 28 vehicles that were parked outside shopping malls, railway stations and in sought-after residential areas fell victim to the phantom wrappers, according to news website heraldsun.com.au.

"There was a Holden ute outside Coles in Clarendon St that has been wrapped from top to bottom, even the tyres, the bonnet and the doors," motorist James Rzan told the Herald Sun.

"I think somebody has lost their marbles, it's one out of the box for sure."

The note on the ute reportedly read: "Happy April Fools Day love Evie."

A police spokesperson told the Herald Sun the cling-wrapping incidents weren't being investigated by police as there had been no damage to vehicles.

By the time the 12-hour window of prank opportunity dawns in the Northern Hemisphere, tricksters downunder have had their fun. But in recent years, April Fool's Day pranks in New Zealand have been few and far between.

 
AdvertisementIn fact, one of this country's best-documented hoaxes dates back to April 1, 1949, when 1ZB host Phil Shone used his radio programme to announce that a plague of wasps was heading towards Auckland.

"Lock your doors and put out jam as a peace offering," he suggested to listeners, who responded by making panicked calls to the police.

The prank was denounced by the New Zealand Broadcasting Service, which reminded radio stations of their obligation to report the truth, and nothing but the truth.

And the truth has - on the whole - prevailed, though a number of press releases received by nzherald.co.nz this week have attempted to pull the wool over our eyes.

Rotorua Tourism released a statement announcing that Playboy mogul Hugh Hefner had brokered a deal with the Rotorua Museum Centennial Trust to convert part of the Rotorua Museum into a Playboy holiday mansion.

The statement said Hefner set his sights on the central North Island town after reading research in the Journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences which linked hydrogen sulphide – the gas that gives Rotorua its rotten egg smell – and male sexual arousal.

He was also, the statement continued, excited by the architectural similarities between the museum and the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles and upon learning from local real estate agents that the Rotorua Centennial Trust had a $900,000 shortfall in the final development stage, he contacted trust chairman Lyall Thurston.

"While I thought the research findings would attract a lot of international interest from men looking to improve their sexual performance, I never expected a call from the man responsible for the sexual revolution of the 60s," Lyall said.

Read the rest at http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10564660&pnum=2
All credits to New Zealand Herald and Eveline Jenkin