We consider different notions of non-degeneracy, as introduced by
Kouchnirenko (NND), Wall (INND) and Beelen-Pellikaan (WNND) for plane curve
singularities {f(x,y)=0} and introduce the new notion of weighted
homogeneous Newton non-degeneracy (WHNND). It is known that the Milnor number
μ resp. the delta-invariant δ can be computed by explicit formulas
μN​ resp. δN​ from the Newton diagram of f if f is NND resp.
WNND. It was however unknown whether the equalities μ=μN​ resp.
δ=δN​ can be characterized by a certain non-degeneracy condition on
f and, if so, by which one. We show that μ=μN​ resp. δ=δN​
is equivalent to INND resp. WHNND and give some applications and interesting
examples related to the existence of "wild vanishing cycles". Although the
results are new in any characteristic, the main difficulties arise in positive
characteristic.Comment: 23 pages, 2 figures. Final versio