New Zealand

15 Mar 2019; AFP: Attacks on two mosques in New Zealand which left at least 49 people dead on Friday have sparked horror, revulsion and dismay around the world.

One of the gunmen – believed to be an Australian extremist -- apparently livestreamed the deadly assault.

"It is clear that this can now only be described as a terrorist attack," said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, describing it as "one of New Zealand's darkest days."

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, March 15 (Xinhua) -- The terrorist attack in Christchurch has left 40 dead and over 20 seriously injured on Friday, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.

Four suspects were arrested, including an Australian-born man. At this stage the government had no reason to believe there are any other suspects, she added.

"It is clear that this can now only be described as a terrorist attack," Ardern told a press conference in Wellington, adding that the attack appeared to have been "well-planned."

Christchurch, Mar 15; PTI: The Bangladesh cricket team's tour of New Zealand was Friday called off after the players had a narrow escape from a shooting attack on a mosque here, described as an "unprecedented act of violence" by the country's Prime Minister Jacinda Arden.

The attack on the Masjid Al Noor mosque in Hagley Park killed several people, the local media reported.

Two mosques have been attacked by terrorists in Christchurch during Friday prayers, at around 1.40 p.m. local time, causing multiple fatalities.

Witnesses said one gunman was "white, aged in his 30s or 40s and wearing a uniform.

"I saw people jumping over the back fence of the mosque into Oakward Close. I heard at least 20 (gunshots)." Said another witness.

Welington, Mar 14 (AFP) A senior New Zealand government minister was assaulted in an early-morning street attack Thursday that left him with a black eye and shook up Wellington's normally laid-back political atmosphere.

Green Party co-leader James Shaw was walking to the parliament building known as the Beehive when a man punched him in the face in what his office described as an unprovoked attack.

WELLINGTON, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Of New Zealand households on a low income, 4 in 10 also have the smallest safety-net of household wealth to fall back on if they lose a job or face unexpected costs, Stats NZ said Wednesday.

"Many households with a low income have little wealth behind them," labour market and household statistics senior manager Jason Attewell said.

"But perhaps surprisingly, a low income doesn't always mean low wealth. About 1 in 10 households with a low income is in the wealthiest group in society."

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand’s government announced plans on Monday for a new tax targeting online giants like Google and Facebook that earn plenty of money in the country but pay little tax.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said there’s a gap that needs to be closed.

“Our current tax system is not fair in the way that it treats individual taxpayers and the way that it treats multinationals,” she said. “It’s not fair.”

Mount Maunganui, Jan 28; PTI: A formidable Indian team completely dominated an out of sorts New Zealand for a series-clinching seven-wicket win in the third ODI, continuing to send a resounding message of its near invincibility to every World Cup opposition.

With an unassailable lead in the five-match series, skipper Virat Kohli signed off his tour Down Under on a high with a first ODI series win in New Zealand in 10 years. However, it is to be noted that prior to this, India played just one series here since the one in 2009.

6 Dec 2018; AFP: Pakistan's leg-spinner Yasir Shah Thursday became the fastest cricketer to take 200 Test wickets, breaking an 82-year-old record on the fourth day of the third Test against New Zealand.

The 32-year-old trapped nightwatchman Will Somerville leg before for four -- his second wicket of the New Zealand second innings -- to reach the milestone in his 33rd Test, beating Australian leg-spinner Clarrie Grimmett's record of 36 Tests achieved against South Africa in Johannesburg in 1936.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Fifty-one pilot whales died Friday in another mass stranding in New Zealand, less than a week after 145 pilot whales and nine pygmy killer whales perished in two other, unrelated strandings.

In the latest stranding, up to 90 pilot whales beached themselves late Thursday at Hanson Bay on the remote Chatham Islands, said the Department of Conservation.