New Zealand

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who became a global icon of the left and exemplified a new style of leadership, said Thursday that she would leave office.

Just 37 when she became leader, Ardern was praised around the world for her handling of the nation’s worst-ever mass shooting and the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic. But she faced mounting political pressures at home and a level of vitriol from some that hadn’t been experienced by previous New Zealand leaders.

WELLINGTON, Dec 28 (NNN-XINHUA) – New Zealand recorded 32,010 new community cases of COVID-19, and 78 more deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic, over the week ending Dec 25, the country’s Ministry of Health said today.

On average, new cases per day reached 4,565, in the last week.

With the fresh cases, New Zealand reported 2,094,354 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 2,331 COVID-19-related deaths, since the pandemic hit the country in early 2020, the ministry said.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Fijian police on Thursday said they were calling in the military to help maintain security following a close election last week that is now being disputed.

It was an alarming development in a Pacific nation where democracy remains fragile and there have been four military coups in the past 35 years. The two main contenders for prime minister this year were former coup leaders themselves.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged New Zealand to take a leading role in focusing on the environmental destruction his country is suffering as a result of Russia’s invasion.

Zelenskyy delivered his message via video link to lawmakers who packed the debating chamber at 8 a.m. Wednesday. He became just the second foreign leader to address New Zealand’s parliament, after Australia’s Julia Gillard did so in 2011.

Zelenskyy said it was possible to rebuild a nation’s economy and infrastructure, even though it may take many years.

WELLINGTON, Dec 2 (NNN-XINHUA) – An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.4, jolted New Zealand’s North Island last night, according to New Zealand’s geoscience research service provider.

It occurred at 18:07 local time (0507 GMT), striking 20 km south-east of Tokoroa, a town in the Waikato region, of the North Island of New Zealand, at a depth of 159 km, said the GNS Science.

More than 9,000 people reported feeling the quake but there are no reports of casualties, so far.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Finland’s leader says it must give more weapons and support to Ukraine to ensure it wins its war against Russia.

Prime Minister Sanna Marin made the comments Wednesday in Auckland on the first-ever visit by a Finnish prime minister to New Zealand and Australia. Among the aims of the visit are improving diplomatic relations and trade ties.

“We need hard power when it comes to Ukraine,” Marin told reporters when asked what soft-power influence smaller countries like Finland and New Zealand could exert.

WELLINGTON, Nov 28 (NNN-XINHUA) – New Zealand prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, today announced a multimillion-dollar package, to tackle the widespread retail crime and reoffending, in the country.

The initiatives, which partner with small businesses and local councils, are the most significant crime prevention financial package.

WELLINGTON, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand on Wednesday increased the Official Cash Rate (OCR) to its highest level since December 2008, with the rise of 75 basis points, also the biggest hike since 1999.

The Monetary Policy Committee of the New Zealand Reserve Bank (RBNZ) increased the OCR from 3.5 percent to 4.25 percent to further curb the widespread inflation.

WELLINGTON, Nov 21 (NNN-XINHUA) – New Zealand recorded 24,068 new community cases of COVID-19 and 40 more deaths from the pandemic over the past week, the country’s Ministry of Health said, today.

On average, new cases per day reached 3,434 last week. The country has seen the number of daily cases going down steadily from over 10,000 cases nationwide, in early July.

With the new cases, New Zealand reported 1,891,853 confirmed cases and 2,182 COVID-19-related deaths, since the pandemic hit the country in early 2020, the ministry said.

WELLINGTON, Nov 21 (Reuters) - New Zealand's highest court ruled on Monday that the country's current voting age of 18 was discriminatory, forcing parliament to discuss whether it should be lowered.

The case, which has been going through the courts since 2020, was bought by advocacy group Make It 16, which wants the age lowered to include 16 and 17 year olds.

The Supreme Court found that the current voting age of 18 was inconsistent with the country's Bill of Rights, which gives people a right to be free from age discrimination when they have reached 16.