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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 still from “Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea”. Photo: Voyage Studios

The Philippines

Filipino film that China wanted to cancel wins at New Zealand festival

‘You can cancel a screening, but you cannot cancel a story whose time has come,’ ‘Food Delivery’ director Baby Ruth Villarama says.

13 Jul 2025 - 3:00PMvideocam

Fame and celebrity

Meet Lorde’s talented little sister Indy Yelich, who’s also a singer

13 Jul 2025 - 6:00AM

International Property

New Zealand visa scheme draws mainland Chinese, Hongkongers

6 Jul 2025 - 9:38AM

Pacific nations

Fiji rejects idea of Chinese military bases in Pacific islands

‘If they want to come, who would welcome them?’ Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said on Wednesday. ‘Not Fiji’.

2 Jul 2025 - 2:37PMvideocam

Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of an Apec summit in San Francisco in 2023. Photo: Xinhua

Science

China steps up deep-sea science role with UN-backed oceans exploration project

Ocean Decade endorsement for Chinese-led initiative ‘reflects’ increasing leadership role in specialised marine field.

30 Jun 2025 - 4:48PMvideocam

Pacific nations

Will New Zealand’s ‘patronising’ aid freeze push Cook Islands closer to China?

The funding cut leaves the Cook Islands facing a sudden financial shortfall, prompting warnings that Wellington’s approach could backfire.

29 Jun 2025 - 8:00AMvideocam

US-China relations

What key Nato summit absences reveal about Indo-Pacific worries

No-shows by regional leaders at this year’s gathering suggest growing anxiety about US commitments in the region, experts say.

28 Jun 2025 - 10:00AM

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon (left) and Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte attend a summit press briefing in the Netherlands, on Tuesday. The absence of other Indo-Pacific leaders in the region signaled anxiety about waning US commitment to the region, experts say. Photo: EPA

Pacific nations

A drop in the ocean? Pacific nations tap local know-how for marine conservation

Among the measures being taken are a ban on fishing and mining activities in vast marine protected areas.

27 Jun 2025 - 9:30AM

Nato

Beijing’s ‘massive’ build-up raises threat of Taiwan Strait conflict: Nato chief

Its enlarged military presence could draw in Russia and thus European forces into the fray, secretary general warns ahead of summit.

24 Jun 2025 - 2:06AMvideocam

Mainland China

US, mainland China, Hong Kong lead rush for New Zealand’s ‘golden’ visas

In less than three months, New Zealand has received ‘a flood of formal interest’ for its revamped investor migrant visa.

23 Jun 2025 - 3:08PM

People watch a lion dance during an event celebrating Dragon Boat Festival in Auckland, New Zealand, last month. Photo: Xinhua

Israel-Iran conflict

‘Dangerous escalation’: world reacts to US strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites

While Israel praised Trump’s action, Iran warned of ‘everlasting consequences’ as the UN and others called for de-escalation in the conflict.

22 Jun 2025 - 3:17PMvideocam

A protester stands outside the White House ahead of US President Donald Trump’s address to the nation. Photo: EPA-EFE

China-New Zealand relations

‘No conflict of interest’ between China and New Zealand, Xi tells Luxon

New Zealand leader’s China trip focuses on trade and tourism, but differences over Pacific island ties cast a shadow.

20 Jun 2025 - 6:57PM

China-New Zealand relations

Cook Islands slams ‘patronising’ New Zealand over China deals

Prime Minister Mark Brown said the agreements did not ‘compromise’ his country’s sovereignty.

20 Jun 2025 - 2:16PM

China-New Zealand relations

New Zealand suspends US$11 million Cook Islands funding over China deal

Wellington urged its neighbour to ‘take concrete steps to repair the relationship and restore trust’.

19 Jun 2025 - 3:48PMvideocam

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown (left) with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Harbin on February 14. Photo: Xinhua

Diplomacy

Classified New Zealand papers detail alarm over China’s Pacific missile test

Documents obtained under the Official Information Act reveal deep diplomatic unease about China’s ‘mischaracterisation’ of its ICBM launch.

18 Jun 2025 - 1:26PMvideocam

China’s PLA Rocket Force launches an intercontinental ballistic missile carrying a dummy warhead into the Pacific Ocean from an undisclosed location on September 25, 2024. Photo: Handout via AFP

Medicine

New Zealand gives thumbs up to ‘magic mushrooms’ for depression treatment

Psilocybin, a psychedelic compound once primarily known as a party drug, is increasingly being recognised for its medical potential.

18 Jun 2025 - 11:59AM

Indonesia

Singapore, China, India airlines cancel Bali flights after volcano erupts

A towering ash plume 10km high from Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki has forced cancellations, with further disruption possible.

18 Jun 2025 - 6:42PMvideocam

Mark Rutte

My Take | Hey, Nato boss man, keep your hands off the Asia-Pacific region

The West’s unspoken assumption is that Asians cannot be trusted to manage their own affairs, at least when Western interests are involved.

11 Jun 2025 - 9:00PM

Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte gives a speech at Chatham House, London, Monday June 9, 2025, during his visit to the UK. Photo: AP

Malaysia

US$900 million seized as China helps Malaysia dismantle Tedy Teow’s scam empire

MBI Group’s Malaysian founder has been called ‘Jho Lo 2’ because of the sheer scale of his operation.

11 Jun 2025 - 5:49PMvideocam

Australia

Qantas partly blames high Singapore airport fees for Jetstar Asia’s closure

The move will free US$326.40 million in capital for the company to invest in its fleet renewal plans.

11 Jun 2025 - 1:27PM

Middle East

US denounces sanctions by UK, allies on far-right Israeli ministers

Israeli ministers sanctioned for ‘inciting’ extremist violence; US and Israel condemn move.

11 Jun 2025 - 1:44PM

Britain and four other nations have imposed sanctions on two far-right Israeli cabinet ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. File photo: Reuters

Hong Kong national security law

Overseas judges leaving top Hong Kong court ‘only natural’: ex-justice chief

Former secretary for justice Elsie Leung says first batch of overseas judges appointed to Court of Final Appeal in 1997 are aged 80 to 90.

9 Jun 2025 - 7:51PM

Foreign justices have been appointed to the Court of Final Appeal since 1997. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong courts

New Zealand judge gets nod from Hong Kong lawmakers to join top court

William Young will serve as non-permanent justice of Court of Final Appeal, the first foreigner to take up role in over a year.

4 Jun 2025 - 9:04PM

Hong Kong economy

Outside In | Mark Twain was wrong. Travel is not as fatal to prejudice as hoped

For every traveller open to learning from our differences, there is another impregnably confident in the superiority of his or her culture.

30 May 2025 - 4:30PMvideocam

Tourism

Avoiding Trump’s USA: 8 suggestions for similar experiences

Not interested in going to the US in the current geopolitical climate? Consider these alternatives to some of the country’s most popular attractions.

29 May 2025 - 6:36PM

Guanacos in Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile. Photo: Shutterstock

LGBTQ

New Zealand’s rainbow capital sees rise in anti-LGBTQ hate

LGBTQ activists and residents report a disturbing shift in Wellington’s once-accepting atmosphere.

27 May 2025 - 2:35PMvideocam

An aerial view of Wellington, New Zealand. Photo: AP

Hong Kong politics

Hongkongers on BN(O) visas rethink options over UK migration policy uncertainty

One student weighs moving elsewhere, while mother of two says she will feel ‘scammed’ if her children fail to get citizenship.

24 May 2025 - 9:23PM

Donald Trump

US warship’s New Zealand visit a sign of ‘deep ties’ amid Trump-era uncertainty

New Zealand has committed to US$7.1 billion in defence spending over the next four years in response to rising global tensions.

23 May 2025 - 3:51PMvideocam

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