A New Zealand city waves goodbye to its 'disturbing' giant hand sculpture that many came to love
Read full article: A New Zealand city waves goodbye to its 'disturbing' giant hand sculpture that many came to lovePerched on two fingers on the roof of an art gallery in Wellington, New Zealand, the giant sculpture of a hand has loomed over the city for five years.
A New Zealand airport wants you to hug goodbye faster
Read full article: A New Zealand airport wants you to hug goodbye fasterTravelers leaving the New Zealand city of Dunedin will have to keep their emotional farewells brief after a new three-minute time limit was imposed on goodbye hugs in the airport’s drop-off area in order to prevent lingering cuddles from causing traffic jams.
No evidence of major fuel spill on Samoan reef where New Zealand navy ship sank
Read full article: No evidence of major fuel spill on Samoan reef where New Zealand navy ship sankSamoa’s deputy prime minister says there's no evidence of a major fuel spill on a Samoan reef after a New Zealand navy ship sank.
Samoa warns of 'highly probable' fuel spill after New Zealand navy ship caught fire and sank
Read full article: Samoa warns of 'highly probable' fuel spill after New Zealand navy ship caught fire and sankSamoa's acting prime minister says a fuel spill is “highly probable” after a New Zealand navy ship grounded, caught fire and sank off the coast of the Pacific island nation.
Google says it will stop linking to New Zealand news if a law passes forcing it to pay for content
Read full article: Google says it will stop linking to New Zealand news if a law passes forcing it to pay for contentGoogle says it will stop linking to New Zealand news content and will reverse its support of local media outlets if the government passes a law forcing tech companies to pay for articles displayed on their platforms.
Palau's president says China is weaponizing lucrative tourism over his refusal to break Taiwan ties
Read full article: Palau's president says China is weaponizing lucrative tourism over his refusal to break Taiwan tiesPalau's President Surangel Whipps Jr. says Beijing weaponizes tourism to the Pacific Island archipelago in an effort to force it to sever ties with Taiwan.
'Unauthorized' helicopter flight ends with crash on hotel roof in Australia, killing pilot
Read full article: 'Unauthorized' helicopter flight ends with crash on hotel roof in Australia, killing pilotA man has died after an unauthorized helicopter flight in Queensland, Australia ended in a crash on a hotel roof, prompting the evacuation of hundreds of people from the building as flames engulfed the aircraft.
Australia and New Zealand are locked in a battle of tongue in cheek after Māori words are removed
Read full article: Australia and New Zealand are locked in a battle of tongue in cheek after Māori words are removedNew Zealand's prime minister is defending the removal of basic Māori phrases meaning “hello” and “New Zealand” from a lunar new year invitation to an Australian official.
Australian state orders public servants to stop remote working after a newspaper campaign against it
Read full article: Australian state orders public servants to stop remote working after a newspaper campaign against itPublic employees in Australia's most populous state have been told to end remote working in a directive from the premier of New South Wales as he seeks to reverse work-from-home habits established during the pandemic.
New Zealand's inquiry into systemic abuse follows 2 decades of similar probes worldwide
Read full article: New Zealand's inquiry into systemic abuse follows 2 decades of similar probes worldwideNew Zealand is the latest country to confront cruel, systemic and commonplace abuse of children and vulnerable adults in state and faith-based care institutions.
Chinese Premier Li and New Zealand’s Luxon hail close ties as they sign trade deals in Wellington
Read full article: Chinese Premier Li and New Zealand’s Luxon hail close ties as they sign trade deals in WellingtonChinese Premier Li Qiang has met with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Wellington, where the two leaders played up the ability of “good friends” to respectfully disagree — while publicly diverging on little.
Orlando man accused of stealing over $100K in Best Buy merchandise during statewide spree
Read full article: Orlando man accused of stealing over $100K in Best Buy merchandise during statewide spreeAn Orlando man booked in Brevard County is accused of stealing some $118,413.45 in merchandise from Best Buy stores across the state in a crime spree lasting the better part of a year, according to investigators.
New Zealand will ban disposable e-cigarettes in a bid to prevent minors from taking up the habit
Read full article: New Zealand will ban disposable e-cigarettes in a bid to prevent minors from taking up the habitNew Zealand says it will ban disposable e-cigarettes, or vapes, and raise financial penalties for those who sell such products to minors.
Thousands protest Indigenous policies of New Zealand government as lawmakers are sworn in
Read full article: Thousands protest Indigenous policies of New Zealand government as lawmakers are sworn inThousands of protesters have rallied against the New Zealand government’s Indigenous policies as the Parliament convened for the first time since October elections.
New Zealand leader plans to ban cellphone use in schools and end tobacco controls in first 100 days
Read full article: New Zealand leader plans to ban cellphone use in schools and end tobacco controls in first 100 daysNew Zealand’s new prime minister plans to ban cellphone use in schools and repeal tobacco controls in the agenda for his first three months in office.
Christopher Luxon sworn in as New Zealand prime minister, says priority is to improve economy
Read full article: Christopher Luxon sworn in as New Zealand prime minister, says priority is to improve economyChristopher Luxon has been sworn in as New Zealand’s prime minister and says his priority is to improve the economy.
Sponsor an ocean? Tiny island nation of Niue has a novel plan to protect its slice of the Pacific
Read full article: Sponsor an ocean? Tiny island nation of Niue has a novel plan to protect its slice of the PacificThe tiny Pacific island nation of Niue has come up with a novel plan to protect its vast and pristine territorial waters — it will get sponsors to pay.
New Zealand, whose pandemic response was closely watched, removes last of COVID-19 restrictions
Read full article: New Zealand, whose pandemic response was closely watched, removes last of COVID-19 restrictionsNew Zealand has removed the last of its remaining COVID-19 restrictions, marking the end of a government response to the pandemic that was watched closely around the world.
China, Russia and Iran are engaged in foreign interference in New Zealand, intelligence agency says
Read full article: China, Russia and Iran are engaged in foreign interference in New Zealand, intelligence agency saysNew Zealand’s domestic intelligence agency says that China, Iran and Russia are engaged in foreign interference in New Zealand.
Paralluelo's extra-time goal gives Spain a win over the Dutch and a Women's World Cup semifinal spot
Read full article: Paralluelo's extra-time goal gives Spain a win over the Dutch and a Women's World Cup semifinal spotSalma Paralluelo has scored deep in extra time to give Spain a 2-1 win over the Netherlands and send the sixth-ranked nation into the semifinals of the Women’s World Cup for the first time.
Fox and Telemundo see great ratings for American women, but rest of Women's World Cup struggles
Read full article: Fox and Telemundo see great ratings for American women, but rest of Women's World Cup strugglesFans of the United States women’s soccer team remained faithful viewers no matter what hour the game was on.
Knockout round opens at Women's World Cup with Japanese vs Norway, unproven Swiss faces Spain
Read full article: Knockout round opens at Women's World Cup with Japanese vs Norway, unproven Swiss faces SpainThe Women's World Cup suddenly seems wide open with the elimination of many of the top teams in the world.
Italians in tears after shocking loss knocks them out of Women's World Cup
Read full article: Italians in tears after shocking loss knocks them out of Women's World CupItaly’s players dropped to their knees, buried their faces and tearfully wondered how their tournament had suddenly ended following a shocking upset to South Africa in the Women’s World Cup.
U.S. Women's World Cup tie vs. Netherlands draws combined audience of 7.93 million on Fox, Telemundo
Read full article: U.S. Women's World Cup tie vs. Netherlands draws combined audience of 7.93 million on Fox, TelemundoThe United States’ 1-1 draw against the Netherlands in the Women’s World Cup drew 7.93 million viewers, making it the largest combined English- and Spanish-language audience for a group stage match involving the American women.
Blinken heads to Tonga, New Zealand, Australia as US shifts Indo-Pacific strategy into overdrive
Read full article: Blinken heads to Tonga, New Zealand, Australia as US shifts Indo-Pacific strategy into overdriveSecretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Tonga, New Zealand and Australia next week as the Biden administration shifts its Indo-Pacific strategy into overdrive in part to counter China’s growing influence in the region.
New Zealand says it's the first to ban thin plastic bags from supermarkets
Read full article: New Zealand says it's the first to ban thin plastic bags from supermarketsNew Zealand’s government says that from Saturday, it will be the first nation in the world to ban the thin plastic bags that supermarket customers use to collect their fruit and vegetables.
Drug syndicate hid meth in Canadian maple syrup, canola oil bound for Down Under, authorities say
Read full article: Drug syndicate hid meth in Canadian maple syrup, canola oil bound for Down Under, authorities sayA drug syndicate that tried to smuggle tons of methamphetamine from Canada to Australia and New Zealand by hiding it in shipments of maple syrup and canola oil has had its ruse busted, authorities say.
New Zealand police arrest, charge man in connection with hostel fire that killed at least 6
Read full article: New Zealand police arrest, charge man in connection with hostel fire that killed at least 6New Zealand police have arrested a man and charged him with two counts of arson in connection with the fire at a Wellington hostel that killed at least six people.
New Zealand budget plan offers modest financial relief ahead of election
Read full article: New Zealand budget plan offers modest financial relief ahead of electionMonths before an election, New Zealand’s government is offering some modest financial relief to many people by making most prescription medicines free and increasing subsidies for childcare and public transportation.
New Zealand police to remove bodies from hostel where at least 6 died in fire
Read full article: New Zealand police to remove bodies from hostel where at least 6 died in fireNew Zealand police say they plan to start removing bodies from the Wellington hostel where at least six people were killed in a fire.
Fire at New Zealand hostel kills at least 6 people, officials say
Read full article: Fire at New Zealand hostel kills at least 6 people, officials sayA fire ripped through a hostel in New Zealand’s capital overnight, killing at least six people and forcing others to flee in their pajamas in what a fire chief called his “worst nightmare.”.
New Zealand's new leader Hipkins cuts many contentious plans
Read full article: New Zealand's new leader Hipkins cuts many contentious plansNew Zealand’s new Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says he is axing or delaying many of his government’s more contentious policy plans as he looks to refocus on priorities like the rising cost of living.
Natural, manmade factors behind New Zealand's hottest year
Read full article: Natural, manmade factors behind New Zealand's hottest yearNew Zealand had its hottest year on record in 2022, beating a mark set just a year earlier thanks to a combination of natural weather cycles and manmade global warming, according to the agency that monitors temperatures.
New Zealand group wanting voting age set at 16 wins in court
Read full article: New Zealand group wanting voting age set at 16 wins in courtA lobby group seeking to lower New Zealand’s voting age from 18 to 16 has won its appeal to the Supreme Court, which says the current law amounts to age discrimination.
Solomon Islands agreed to accord after China references axed
Read full article: Solomon Islands agreed to accord after China references axedThe Solomon Islands foreign minister says his nation agreed to sign an accord between the United States and more than a dozen Pacific nations only after indirect references to China were removed.
New Zealand PM says no republic plan following queen's death
Read full article: New Zealand PM says no republic plan following queen's deathPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern said her government will not be pursuing any moves toward changing New Zealand to a republic following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Australia says its navy can resume visits to Solomon Islands
Read full article: Australia says its navy can resume visits to Solomon IslandsAustralia says its navy ships have been given clearance to resume visits to the Solomon Islands, which had last week announced a temporary block on all military vessels during a review of its approval processes.
Anti-mandate protesters converge on New Zealand Parliament
Read full article: Anti-mandate protesters converge on New Zealand ParliamentAbout 2,000 protesters upset with the government’s pandemic response converged on New Zealand’s Parliament — but it appeared there would be no repeat of the action six months ago in which protesters camped out on Parliament grounds for more than three weeks.
New Zealand welcomes back first cruise ship since COVID hit
Read full article: New Zealand welcomes back first cruise ship since COVID hitNew Zealand has welcomed the first cruise ship to return since the coronavirus pandemic began, signaling a long-sought return to normalcy for the nation’s tourism industry.
New Zealand designates Proud Boys a terrorist organization
Read full article: New Zealand designates Proud Boys a terrorist organizationNew Zealand’s government has declared American far-right groups the Proud Boys and The Base are terrorist organizations, making it illegal in New Zealand to fund, recruit or participate in them.
Australia, China continue Pacific rivalry with island visits
Read full article: Australia, China continue Pacific rivalry with island visitsAustralia and China are continuing their tit-for-tat diplomatic rivalry in the Pacific as the foreign ministers from each country pay separate visits to island nations.
New Zealand plane finds 7 missing aboard 2 boats in Pacific
Read full article: New Zealand plane finds 7 missing aboard 2 boats in PacificSeven people on two small boats that drifted for days in the Pacific have been rescued after a New Zealand plane spotted them near the remote island nation of Kiribati.
New Zealand to help pay for cleaner cars to reduce emissions
Read full article: New Zealand to help pay for cleaner cars to reduce emissionsNew Zealand will help pay for lower-income families to scrap their old gas guzzlers and replace them with cleaner hybrid or electric cars as part of a sweeping plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
New Zealand welcomes back tourists as pandemic rules eased
Read full article: New Zealand welcomes back tourists as pandemic rules easedNew Zealand has begun welcoming back tourists from the U.S., Canada, Britain, Japan and more than 50 other countries for the first time in more than two years after dropping most of its remaining pandemic border restrictions.
More protesters expected at thinning New Zealand blockade
Read full article: More protesters expected at thinning New Zealand blockadeThe number of cars and trucks blocking the streets outside New Zealand’s Parliament was thinning Friday, but more protesters were expected to arrive for the weekend, including some by boat.
Protester drives at New Zealand police as cordon tightens
Read full article: Protester drives at New Zealand police as cordon tightensPolice in New Zealand's capital say a protester drove a car toward a police line, narrowly avoiding officers, and other protesters sprayed officers with a stinging substance.
New Zealand's PM signals harsher stance on vaccine protest
Read full article: New Zealand's PM signals harsher stance on vaccine protestNew Zealand’s prime minister says protesters who oppose coronavirus mandates are using “intimidation and harassment,” as the convoy of demonstrators continues to disrupt the capital of Wellington.
New Zealand convoy protesters clog streets near Parliament
Read full article: New Zealand convoy protesters clog streets near ParliamentHundreds of people protesting vaccine and mask mandates drove in convoy to New Zealand’s capital and converged outside Parliament as lawmakers reconvened after a summer break.
COVID hits one of the last uninfected places on the planet
Read full article: COVID hits one of the last uninfected places on the planetKiribati and several other small Pacific nations were among the last on the planet to have avoided any virus outbreaks, thanks to their remote locations and strict border controls.
Resort guests raise money as world rallies to help Tonga
Read full article: Resort guests raise money as world rallies to help TongaDozens of former guests from New Zealand, Australia, the U.S. and elsewhere are raising money to help the owners of the Ha’atafu Beach Resort in Tonga after it was destroyed by a tsunami.
Youth urge Pacific Rim leaders to act on climate, pandemic
Read full article: Youth urge Pacific Rim leaders to act on climate, pandemicYoung people living in Pacific Rim countries want to see more ambition from their leaders when it comes to tackling climate change and to see money devoted to a shared fund to prepare for future pandemics.
New Zealand hits virus high, pushes vaccination as way out
Read full article: New Zealand hits virus high, pushes vaccination as way outNew Zealand counted its most new coronavirus cases of the pandemic as an outbreak in its largest city grew and officials urged vaccinations as a way out of Auckland’s two-month lockdown.
Extremist stayed in New Zealand despite immigration fraud
Read full article: Extremist stayed in New Zealand despite immigration fraudThe Islamic State-inspired extremist who attacked shoppers in a New Zealand supermarket had been fighting deportation for immigration fraud, leaving the nation’s leader expressing frustration at the process.
New Zealand loses its precious 'Rings' series to Britain
Read full article: New Zealand loses its precious 'Rings' series to BritainNew Zealand has long been associated with “The Lord of the Rings” but with the filming of a major new television series suddenly snatched away, the nation has become more like Mordor than the Shire for hundreds of workers.
New Zealand apologizes for 1970s raids on Pacific people
Read full article: New Zealand apologizes for 1970s raids on Pacific peopleNew Zealand’s government is formally apologizing for an immigration crackdown nearly 50 years ago in which Pacific people were targeted for deportation, often after early-morning home raids.
Plans for movie on New Zealand mosque attacks draw criticism
Read full article: Plans for movie on New Zealand mosque attacks draw criticismTentative plans for a movie recounting the response of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to a gunman’s slaughter of Muslim worshippers drew criticism in New Zealand for not focusing on the victims of the attacks.