New Zealand

28 March 2024; MEMO: Amid the ongoing onslaught by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza, a petition was moved in the New Zealand Parliament seeking support for the people in the besieged coastal enclave, Anadolu Agency reports.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — After almost five years of engagement and a postponement due to the coronavirus pandemic, former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern married longtime partner Clarke Gayford in a private ceremony Saturday.

Details of the event were closely held by the pair, but the ceremony is reported to have been staged at a luxury vineyard in the scenic Hawke’s Bay region, 325 kilometers (200 miles) from New Zealand’s capital, Wellington.

WELLINGTON, Dec 18 (NNN-RNZ) – New Zealand Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, said today, he will travel to Sydney on Wednesday, to meet with Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese.

“The coalition government will be engaging internationally with new urgency and intensity, to invest in relationships, increase prosperity and enhance our security,” Luxon said.

Australia is New Zealand’s most important partner, he said, adding that, the two countries are deeply connected and have strong people-to-people ties.

WELLINGTON, Nov 29 (Reuters) - New Zealand’s central bank chief defended its use of the Maori language in official communications on Wednesday, as the country’s new centre-right government looks to roll back the use of the Indigenous language in the public sector.

The three parties in the new coalition government last week signed agreements that outline policies to roll back the use of Maori language and require all government agencies to primarily use English for their department names and communications.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealanders can expect tax cuts, more police on the streets and less government bureaucracy, according to the three leaders who signed an agreement Friday to form a new government.

The coalition deal ended nearly six weeks of intense negotiations after New Zealand held a general election on Oct. 14.

The deal will see Christopher Luxon serve as prime minister after his conservative National Party won 38% of the vote, the largest proportion of any party.

WELLINGTON, Nov 18 (NNN-XINHUA) – The New Zealand government is contributing a further five million NZ dollars (three million U.S. dollars) to support the response to urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel.

This brought New Zealand’s total contribution to the humanitarian response to the Gaza conflict so far to 10 million NZ dollars (six million U.S. dollars).

“New Zealand is deeply saddened by the loss of civilian life and the grave humanitarian situation as a result of the conflict,” Prime Minister, Chris Hipkins, said, today.

AVARUA, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- High quality Belt and Road cooperation will bring great opportunities for the development of Pacific island countries, China's Special Envoy for Pacific Island Countries Affairs Qian Bo have said at the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, which ran from Nov. 6-10 in the Cook Islands.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A trial of New Zealand tourism operators accused of safety breaches after 22 people died in a 2019 volcanic eruption ended Tuesday with the last remaining defendant found guilty on one count.

The three-month, judge-only trial against 13 groups already saw six plead guilty and six have charges against them dismissed. The charges were brought by regulators and carried fines as a maximum penalty.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Defeated New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said Tuesday he will continue to lead his liberal Labour Party — for now, at least — despite its big election loss over the weekend.

“I’ve still got a bit of fight left in me,” Hipkins told reporters.

Hipkins made the comments after a meeting with his party’s caucus, during which there was no immediate move to oust him.

14 October 2023; AA: Voting has ended in New Zealand's general elections and the counting of ballots has begun, the country's election authority said on Saturday.

"Preliminary results will be released progressively throughout the night," said the Electoral Commission.

Thousands of New Zealanders on Saturday cast their ballots to elect representatives to parliament from 19 political parties.

Voting opened at 9 a.m. local time Saturday (2000GMT on Friday) and closed at 7 p.m. (0600GMT).