StrangeSights: Dog bites…president; a controversial ‘Bird of the Century’; and, biggest plane yet lands in Antarctica
DAVID ADAMS provides a round-up of some stories on the odder side of life…
New Zealand election results show National needs other parties to form government
Wellington, New ZealandReuters Final results from New Zealand’s 14th October election released on Friday show the centre-right National Party will need the support of both the ACT New Zealand and NZ First parties to form a government. The Electoral Commission said the conservative National Party won 48 seats and right-wing ACT 11 seats, giving them […]
Inquiry into New Zealand’s deadliest shooting opens with memorial to victims
Wellington, New ZealandReuters A coroner’s inquiry into New Zealand’s worst mass shooting opened on Tuesday with a traditional Maori welcome and a reading from the Quran in remembrance of the 51 Muslim worshippers killed by an Australian white supremacist. Armed with high-capacity semi-automatic weapons, Brenton Tarrant, 32, killed 51 people and injured dozens when he […]
Explainer – New Zealand voted for change, what happens now?
Wellington, New ZealandReuters New Zealand’s centre-right National Party will head the country’s next government after Saturday’s general election, but it will be several weeks until vote counting is finalised and for now the country is in transition. Where are things with forming a new government?National won 50 seats and the right-wing, free-market ACT Party won […]
New Zealand National Party’s Luxon to lead new government
Wellington, New ZealandReuters New Zealand’s centre-right National Party led by Christopher Luxon will form a new government with its preferred coalition party ACT, as Prime Minister Chris Hipkins conceded his Labour Party could not form a government after Saturday’s general election. The National Party, now in opposition, had 39 per cent of the votes with […]
Voting closes in New Zealand election, counting set to begin
Wellington, New ZealandReuters Voting closed in New Zealand’s general election at 7pm on Saturday and counting was set to start, with provisional results due later this evening. People head to the polls to vote in the general election in Auckland, New Zealand, on 14th October, 2023. PICTURE: Reuters/David Rowland Opinion polls have indicated the opposition […]
Three killed in Auckland shootout ahead of World Cup kick off
Updated: 10:50am (AEST)Auckland, New ZealandReuters At least two people and an armed attacker were killed and six others wounded in a shooting in New Zealand’s largest city of Auckland on Thursday, hours ahead of the opening match of the Women’s soccer World Cup in the city. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the soccer tournament would […]
New Zealand’s national broadcaster probes “inappropriate” editing of Ukraine war stories
Wellington, New ZealandReuters New Zealand’s national radio broadcaster has launched an investigation and put a staff member on leave after it said a series of news stories on its website about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had been edited to present “a false account of events”. Radio New Zealand, which is government funded but has editorial independence, […]
How Indonesian village aid funds weapons for Papua’s rebellion
Jakarta, IndonesiaReuters Separatists in the Indonesian region of Papua where a New Zealand pilot was taken hostage in February have been siphoning off government aid money to buy black market guns for a deadly guerrilla war, officials say. The “Dana Desa” village fund introduced by President Joko Widodo in 2015 and valued at $US4.7 billion […]
Australia, NZ mark King Charles III’s coronation with 21-gun salutes
Sydney, AustraliaReuters Australia and New Zealand on Sunday celebrated the coronation of King Charles III with 21-gun salutes in their capitals, after the countries’ leaders, both republicans, attended the coronation ceremony in London. King Charles is head of state in Australia, New Zealand and 12 other Commonwealth realms outside the United Kingdom, although the role […]