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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

Passengers wait to board a flight at New Zealand’s Wellington Airport earlier this month. Photo: AP

Australia

New Zealand reports record exodus, driving down net immigration

More than half of all citizen departures were to Australia, official figures show – often in search of better paying jobs.

14 May 2025 - 6:42PM

Hong Kong courts

Editorial | Appointment of latest overseas justice to top court boosts judiciary

14 May 2025 - 5:30AM

Social media

Asia-Pacific takes the lead in fight to regulate Big Tech for children

13 May 2025 - 11:51AMvideocam

South China Sea

Philippines crafts South China Sea strategy to survive political change

After swinging between Beijing and Washington, Manila seeks a steadier maritime policy that will endure beyond the current administration.

12 May 2025 - 8:40AMvideocam

Philippine coastguard (PCG) personnel man the deck of a patrol vessel in Manila Bay last month. Photo: EPA-EFE

The Philippines

New Zealand’s Asian security footprint grows as it turns ‘hawkish’ on China

Analysts say Wellington’s new visiting forces agreement with the Philippines signals a more ‘alliance-like’ approach to foreign policy.

11 May 2025 - 8:00AM

Conservation

Rare New Zealand snail caught reproducing from its neck in eggs-citing footage

The Powelliphanta augusta snail, a threatened species endemic to New Zealand, lays only one egg a year.

9 May 2025 - 3:00PM

Hong Kong courts

New Zealand justice set to join Hong Kong’s top court as non-permanent judge

William Young, 73, will serve on Court of Final Appeal after his endorsement by city legislature.

9 May 2025 - 6:43PM

A New Zealand justice will serve as a non-permanent judge at the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong following his endorsement. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong society

Opinion | Healthcare reforms overdue as ageing Hong Kong faces rising costs

While revising the public hospital fee structure was a much-needed move, more can be done to improve efficiency and resource allocation.

7 May 2025 - 10:49AM

Cinema

‘Breaks my heart’: New Zealand airport bids farewell to flying Gandalf sculpture

Travellers have until Friday to admire the giant hovering eagles from the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films before they go into storage.

6 May 2025 - 2:48PM

Social media

First Australia, now New Zealand eyes social media ban for under-16s

Worried about cyberbullying and harmful content, New Zealand’s PM is pushing for a ban modelled on the one Australia is introducing.

6 May 2025 - 1:23PMvideocam

A student looks at social media apps on her mobile phone. Regulators the world over are wrestling with how to keep children safe online. Photo: Reuters

Australia

Australia and New Zealand unite against Trump’s film tariff threat

Trump said the US film industry is declining due to incentives from countries like Australia and New Zealand, which are home to Lord of the Rings, and Marvel studios.

5 May 2025 - 4:53PMvideocam

Actors Elijah Wood (lef) and Sean Astin, stars of “The Lord of the Rings The Return of the King”. Photo: Reuters

Tourism

6 hotspots where art deco still dazzles, from London to Shanghai

As the art deco movement marks its first 100 years, take a look at some of the finest examples of this bold architectural and design style.

30 Apr 2025 - 6:15PM

Gender

New Zealand party pushes for ‘biological’ definition of men, women

The populist New Zealand First Party, which forms part of the country’s governing coalition, introduced the bill to parliament on Tuesday.

22 Apr 2025 - 1:02PMvideocam

Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese EV makers face tariff dilemma as Beijing intervenes in go-global plans

China wants decisions by carmakers to be made strategically, prioritising geopolitically favourable countries, Trivium China’s Ries says.

17 Apr 2025 - 6:45PMvideocam

Cars ready for export are stacked at the Taicang port in Suzhou, in eastern China’s Jiangsu province. Photo: AFP

Banking & finance

Battered dollar drifts lower on tariff nerves

Investor confidence in the world’s reserve currency in question following stream of tariff pronouncements from US President Donald Trump.

14 Apr 2025 - 2:06PM

US dollar and euro notes are pictured on September 6, 2022 in Brest, western France. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong rises along with other Asia-Pacific stock markets as Trump pauses most tariffs

All but six of the Hang Seng Index’s 83 members strengthened, with exporters and manufacturers leading gainers.

10 Apr 2025 - 4:42PMvideocam

United States

My Take | Donald Trump’s tariff madness targets not only allies but animals

Penguins, seals and seabirds have not been spared in America’s global trade war, likewise territories with significant US or allied military assets.

4 Apr 2025 - 9:00PM

Singapore

Singapore detains boy, 17, allegedly planning to kill Muslims

The boy, 17, had decided on five mosques across Singapore for his post-Friday prayer attacks.

2 Apr 2025 - 6:10PMvideocam

Singapore has seen several cases in recent years where young Singaporeans have been detained for allegedly making attack plans following exposure to extremist content online. Photo: AFP

Science

Australia complains after being excluded by China, New Zealand in historic dive

Scientific mission collects specimens from ocean depths of 6,000 metres in first crewed exploration of Tasman Sea trench.

1 Apr 2025 - 5:53PMvideocam

Hong Kong Sevens

Editorial | ‘Successful try’ at the Sevens proves game changer for stadium

Despite teething troubles at the rugby showcase, fans cheered the new Hong Kong venue that now eagerly awaits a top band and the best in football action.

1 Apr 2025 - 6:30AM

Australia

‘We’re keeping an eye on this’: Australia tracks hi-tech Chinese research ship

‘I would prefer that it wasn’t there’, Australian PM Anthony Albanese said on Monday of the ship, which recently visited New Zealand.

31 Mar 2025 - 1:03PM

Australian servicemen use binoculars to scan the ocean in 2014. Australian media described the Chinese vessel as a hi-tech research ship. Photo: Australian Defence Force/AFP

Hong Kong tourism

Hong Kong Sevens scores with fans, brings boost for hotels and restaurants

Visitors say new Kai Tak Stadium enlivens the atmosphere while some businesses report up to 20 per cent increase in sales.

28 Mar 2025 - 9:44PM

Revellers on day one of the Hong Kong Sevens at Kai Tak Stadium. Photo: Sam Tsang

History

Ghostly guides invoke tragic tales of New Zealand’s parliament

Visitors who take part in the ‘spooky tours’ hear spine-chilling stories of mysterious deaths and late-night apparitions in Wellington.

24 Mar 2025 - 10:05AM

India

Amid India’s trade blitz, New Zealand joins the race for a deal

New Delhi is simultaneously pursuing agreements with the UK and the EU, driven by export-led growth ambitions and concerns over US policies.

22 Mar 2025 - 3:00PMvideocam

Australia

Fin-tastic: world’s ugliest animal wins New Zealand’s fish of the year

The quirky deep-sea blobfish beat the orange roughy to claim the honour.

20 Mar 2025 - 6:49PM

Photo: HUM Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Facebook

Who is Meta whistle-blower Sarah Wynn-Williams, whose new book is causing a stir?

Meta has successfully barred a former Facebook employee from promoting or further distributing copies of her tell-all memoir, Careless People – so who is the author, Sarah Wynn-Williams?

19 Mar 2025 - 6:05PM

Whistleblower Sarah Wynn-Williams’ new book about Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta offers a damning portrayal of the all-powerful company. Photos: Sarah Wynn-Williams, Flatiron Books

Donald Trump

New Zealand PM says trade wars will cause ‘serious headwinds’ to global economy

‘Geopolitical calculations are being totally upended,’ Christopher Luxon says, calling Indo-Pacific pacts key to weathering any instability.

18 Mar 2025 - 4:03AMvideocam

Donald Trump

Fractures threaten Five Eyes’ future as Trump’s ‘America first’ era unfolds

With questions being raised about Canada’s continued membership, doubts cloud the integrity of the decades-old intelligence-sharing alliance.

10 Mar 2025 - 12:48PM

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