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New Zealand

The latest news, analysis and opinion on New Zealand. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Wellington

Head of State

King Charles III

Head of Government

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon

A China Coast Guard vessel (right) fires its water cannon at the Philippines’ BRP Datu Pagbuaya near Philippine-occupied Thitu island, locally called Pagasa island, in the disputed the South China Sea on October 12, 2025. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard via AP

China-Philippines relations

Asian Angle | South China Sea: 6 risks facing Philippines, China as conflict threshold lowers

From violent incidents to US missiles in Luzon, a ‘perilous new normal’ and vanishing red lines threaten to derail the Code of Conduct.

1 Feb 2026 - 11:00AMvideocam

US-China relations

As Canada and UK hit refresh on China ties, is this the end of Five Eyes?

31 Jan 2026 - 3:31PMvideocam

China consumption

How changing tastes in China are hitting Australia’s wine exports

30 Jan 2026 - 11:17AM

Natural disasters

New Zealand landslide: human remains found as rescue operations end

A Chinese national died in another landslide near the Mount Maunganui campsite, both triggered by Thursday’s heavy rains.

24 Jan 2026 - 9:48AM

Rescuers work at the scene of a landslide in Mount Maunganui on Saturday . Photos: Reuters

Natural disasters

‘I could hear people screaming’: several feared buried in New Zealand campsite

‘I looked behind me and there’s a huge landslide coming down. And I’m still shaking from it now,’ a tourist at Mount Maunganui says.

22 Jan 2026 - 1:34PM

Hong Kong national security law

Hong Kong justice minister slams sanctions threat, accusations against judges

Justice minister Paul Lam reviews judges’ performance in national security cases over past year and stresses they treated defendants fairly.

19 Jan 2026 - 11:26PM

From our archives

On This Day | Drama in Hong Kong’s first international marathon in 1969 – SCMP archive

Ahead of Sunday’s Hong Kong Standard Chartered Marathon, we look back at Hong Kong’s first international marathon, more than 55 years ago.

17 Jan 2026 - 3:30PM

Runners taking part in the Tin Tin international marathon at Yuen Long Stadium in the New Territories on December 14, 1969. Photo: SCMP

Jerome Powell

New Zealand central bank chief scolded for poking nose in Trump-Fed feud

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters reminded Anna Breman to ‘stick to domestic monetary policy’.

14 Jan 2026 - 4:10PMvideocam

The Philippines

Why the Philippines is taking control of undersea cable security

The moves will help strengthen regional stability and prevent Indo-Pacific connectivity from being quietly weaponised, analysts say.

9 Jan 2026 - 6:26PM

The Philippines

Philippine navy ‘up to the challenge’ of defending territory in South China Sea

Manila is banking on modern ships and global alliances to challenge China’s increasing presence in the contentious waters.

9 Jan 2026 - 12:00PMvideocam

Chinese coast guards use a water cannon against a Philippine vessel in the South China Sea on October 12, 2025. Photo: China Coast Guard/Xinhua

Donald Trump

US’ Asian allies reluctant to slam Trump’s ‘cowboy tactics’ against Venezuela

These countries fear the consequences of criticising the US, particularly given Trump’s willingness to use the tariff threat in trade talks.

6 Jan 2026 - 8:57PMvideocam

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in handcuffs after landing at a helipad in New York, escorted by US federal agents on Monday. Photo: TNS

India

‘It’s paying off’: India spreads its trade bets to beat Trump’s 50% tariff

With exports hitting a record US$825 billion and a spate of new trade pacts, India is finding success diversifying away from the US.

4 Jan 2026 - 5:00PMvideocam

United States

World welcomes 2026 with fireworks, lightshows and hopes for peace

From Paris to Dubai to Sydney, crowds ring in the new year with exuberant celebrations.

2 Jan 2026 - 8:20AMvideocam

Australia

‘Not cowed’: Australia sees defiant start to 2026 after mass shooting

Many police officers openly carried rapid-fire rifles, a first for the popular annual fireworks display over Sydney’s Harbour Bridge.

31 Dec 2025 - 11:33PM

Fireworks explode over Sydney Harbour Bridge to mark the New Year. Photo: Reuters

China trade

China imposes beef-import quota, adds over-quota tariffs to guard local industry

From Thursday, over-quota imports from Brazil, Australia, US and other trade partners face new duties to help local producers recover amid price declines.

31 Dec 2025 - 9:00PM

Handlers move cattle at a livestock market in Canuelas, Argentina, in October. China is kicking off 2026 with additional tariffs on beef imports exceeding specific quotas for major trading partners. Photo: AP

Fame and celebrity

Meet Stranger Things newcomer Nell Fisher, who plays Holly Wheeler

Nell Fisher, playing a pivotal role in season five, is only 14 years old – but she’s already acted alongside Elijah Wood.

29 Dec 2025 - 7:00PM

US-China trade war

Explainer | Will US-led ‘Pax Silica’ be a new dawn for the international AI supply chain?

Trump administration aims for deeper technology cooperation on new AI infrastructure with allies.

25 Dec 2025 - 1:05AMvideocam

Indonesia

Rafflesia flower rediscovery in Indonesia revives push to drop colonial name

The giant flower find has renewed calls among researchers to rename its genus, which honours British colonial official Thomas Raffles.

23 Dec 2025 - 7:04PM

A close-up of the rare Rafflesia flower rediscovered in West Sumatra last month by flower-hunter Septian Andriki, a team led by researcher Joko Witono, Oxford scientist Chris Thorogood and local guide Iswandi. Photo: X/Chris Thorogood

China-EU relations

China slaps tariffs on EU cheese and cream amid trade row

Alleging that European subsidies are hurting Chinese producers, Beijing has imposed fees that look to hit French exporters the hardest.

22 Dec 2025 - 11:26PMvideocam

India

‘Pax Silica’: America’s new AI inner circle and Asia’s chosen few

Japan, South Korea and Singapore made the cut, leaving key partners like India and Vietnam – and even New Zealand – on the sidelines.

22 Dec 2025 - 8:00AM

Social media

Editorial | Curbs on children’s social media use and screen time must strike a balance

The digital world is part of young people’s lives; there is a need to limit risks without depriving children of the benefits of being online.

10 Dec 2025 - 7:15AM

A schoolboy looks at his phone in Melbourne on November 27, 2024. Australia will ban young teenagers from social media on December 10, launching a world-first crackdown designed to unglue children from addictive scrolling on the likes of Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Photo: AFP

China-New Zealand relations

7 Chinese warships followed our navy vessel in East Asia, New Zealand says

Wellington says ship was to carry out surveillance and deterrence activities to bolster UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea.

9 Dec 2025 - 10:18PMvideocam

The HMNZS Aotearoa, a Polar-class replenishment vessel of the New Zealand Navy, was deployed to the East China and Yellow seas with allies in November. Photo: Handout via Reuters

Australia

Australian bushfires destroy homes in 2 states as firefighter killed

More than 50 bushfires are burning across New South Wales as a massive blaze is contained in Tasmania.

8 Dec 2025 - 12:18PM

Australia

TikTok will block under-16s in Australia to comply with ‘upsetting’ new law

Australia’s world-first legislation banning under-16s from social media platforms and websites comes into effect on December 10.

9 Dec 2025 - 4:22PMvideocam

Crime

Swallowed Faberge pendant exits suspect after 6-day wait

The US$19,000 diamond pendant inspired by the film James Bond film Octopussy was recovered naturally by New Zealand police.

5 Dec 2025 - 5:24PM

An officer displays a recovered diamond-encrusted green Faberge egg on Friday in Auckland, New Zealand after keeping a six-day watch over the thief accused of swallowing it. Photo: New Zealand Police/AFP

Crime

Call of duty: New Zealand police wait for evidence after Faberge pendant theft

The 32-year-old man is accused of eating an ornate Faberge octopus pendant inspired by the James Bond film ‘Octopussy’.

3 Dec 2025 - 3:46PM

A Faberge x 007 Special Edition Octopussy egg surprise locket. Photo: Faberge

Pacific nations

How sanctioned Russian oil flows freely via a tiny Pacific island nation

Some 20 tankers registered in the microstate allegedly smuggled Russian and Iranian fuel between 2024 and 2025 amid lax oversight.

2 Dec 2025 - 12:50PMvideocam

Law

Legal Tales | A new test for consent: reforming Hong Kong’s approach to sexual crimes

Efforts to update the city’s sexual offence laws aim to reflect evolving views on consent and improve prosecution outcomes.

28 Nov 2025 - 12:49PM

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New Zealand

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Asian Angle | South China Sea: 6 risks facing Philippines, China as conflict threshold lowers

From violent incidents to US missiles in Luzon, a ‘perilous new normal’ and vanishing red lines threaten to derail the Code of Conduct.

As Canada and UK hit refresh on China ties, is this the end of Five Eyes?

How changing tastes in China are hitting Australia’s wine exports

New Zealand landslide: human remains found as rescue operations end

A Chinese national died in another landslide near the Mount Maunganui campsite, both triggered by Thursday’s heavy rains.

‘I could hear people screaming’: several feared buried in New Zealand campsite

‘I looked behind me and there’s a huge landslide coming down. And I’m still shaking from it now,’ a tourist at Mount Maunganui says.

Hong Kong justice minister slams sanctions threat, accusations against judges

Justice minister Paul Lam reviews judges’ performance in national security cases over past year and stresses they treated defendants fairly.

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}On This Day | Drama in Hong Kong’s first international marathon in 1969 – SCMP archive

Ahead of Sunday’s Hong Kong Standard Chartered Marathon, we look back at Hong Kong’s first international marathon, more than 55 years ago.

New Zealand central bank chief scolded for poking nose in Trump-Fed feud

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters reminded Anna Breman to ‘stick to domestic monetary policy’.

Why the Philippines is taking control of undersea cable security

The moves will help strengthen regional stability and prevent Indo-Pacific connectivity from being quietly weaponised, analysts say.

Philippine navy ‘up to the challenge’ of defending territory in South China Sea

Manila is banking on modern ships and global alliances to challenge China’s increasing presence in the contentious waters.

US’ Asian allies reluctant to slam Trump’s ‘cowboy tactics’ against Venezuela

These countries fear the consequences of criticising the US, particularly given Trump’s willingness to use the tariff threat in trade talks.

‘It’s paying off’: India spreads its trade bets to beat Trump’s 50% tariff

With exports hitting a record US$825 billion and a spate of new trade pacts, India is finding success diversifying away from the US.

World welcomes 2026 with fireworks, lightshows and hopes for peace

From Paris to Dubai to Sydney, crowds ring in the new year with exuberant celebrations.

‘Not cowed’: Australia sees defiant start to 2026 after mass shooting

Many police officers openly carried rapid-fire rifles, a first for the popular annual fireworks display over Sydney’s Harbour Bridge.

China imposes beef-import quota, adds over-quota tariffs to guard local industry

From Thursday, over-quota imports from Brazil, Australia, US and other trade partners face new duties to help local producers recover amid price declines.

Meet Stranger Things newcomer Nell Fisher, who plays Holly Wheeler

Nell Fisher, playing a pivotal role in season five, is only 14 years old – but she’s already acted alongside Elijah Wood.

Explainer | Will US-led ‘Pax Silica’ be a new dawn for the international AI supply chain?

Trump administration aims for deeper technology cooperation on new AI infrastructure with allies.

Rafflesia flower rediscovery in Indonesia revives push to drop colonial name

The giant flower find has renewed calls among researchers to rename its genus, which honours British colonial official Thomas Raffles.

China slaps tariffs on EU cheese and cream amid trade row

Alleging that European subsidies are hurting Chinese producers, Beijing has imposed fees that look to hit French exporters the hardest.

‘Pax Silica’: America’s new AI inner circle and Asia’s chosen few

Japan, South Korea and Singapore made the cut, leaving key partners like India and Vietnam – and even New Zealand – on the sidelines.

Editorial | Curbs on children’s social media use and screen time must strike a balance

The digital world is part of young people’s lives; there is a need to limit risks without depriving children of the benefits of being online.

7 Chinese warships followed our navy vessel in East Asia, New Zealand says

Wellington says ship was to carry out surveillance and deterrence activities to bolster UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea.

Australian bushfires destroy homes in 2 states as firefighter killed

More than 50 bushfires are burning across New South Wales as a massive blaze is contained in Tasmania.

TikTok will block under-16s in Australia to comply with ‘upsetting’ new law

Australia’s world-first legislation banning under-16s from social media platforms and websites comes into effect on December 10.

Swallowed Faberge pendant exits suspect after 6-day wait

The US$19,000 diamond pendant inspired by the film James Bond film Octopussy was recovered naturally by New Zealand police.

Call of duty: New Zealand police wait for evidence after Faberge pendant theft

The 32-year-old man is accused of eating an ornate Faberge octopus pendant inspired by the James Bond film ‘Octopussy’.

How sanctioned Russian oil flows freely via a tiny Pacific island nation

Some 20 tankers registered in the microstate allegedly smuggled Russian and Iranian fuel between 2024 and 2025 amid lax oversight.

Legal Tales | A new test for consent: reforming Hong Kong’s approach to sexual crimes

Efforts to update the city’s sexual offence laws aim to reflect evolving views on consent and improve prosecution outcomes.

Asian Angle | South China Sea: 6 risks facing Philippines, China as conflict threshold lowers

On This Day | Drama in Hong Kong’s first international marathon in 1969 – SCMP archive