Strange goings on in New Zealand, where lawyer Rob Moodie - who made news around the world in July for turning up for court dressed in a smart skirt and blouse - has taken his protest against the country's male-dominated legal culture to the next stage by officially changing his name to 'Miss Alice' (Miss being his new first name). He once apparently turned up at the Court of Appeal wearing an Alice in Wonderland costume.

'Some days I'm in court and I'm the prettiest thing here,' he was quoted as saying. Press coverage is always keen to point out that Mr Moodie is very masculine and heterosexual - he's a former rugby player, smokes a pipe and has been secretary of the police union - and that his wife and three children support him.


'My confidence in the male ethos is zilch,' he told the Associated Press back in July. 'It's a culture of intimidation, authority, power and control.' He went on that he was born with an innate understanding of the female gender. 'I prefer and relate to the gender which is involved in the creation and nurturing of life: giving, sharing and also, I believe, fairness.'


Put that way, it's not unconvincing, and it would put a new slant on the court-dress debate.