Tag: NZealand

New Zealand military to control borders after virus bungle

by Neil SANDS WELLINGTON, United States (AFP) — New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern ordered the military to oversee the country’s border controls Wednesday after a bungle that allowed two people with the coronavirus to leave quarantine. A 24-day run with no new cases was broken Tuesday when it emerged two women who recently arrived from Britain were allowed out of quarantine early without being tested for the virus, even though one had mild symptoms. […]

Jacinda Ardern surges in polls on Kiwi virus success

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s success containing coronavirus has driven an extraordinary popularity surge that has put the youthful leader on course for a landslide win in September’s national election. Ardern’s center-left Labour Party was up 14 points at 56.5 percent, a Newshub-Reid Research poll published Monday found, with her rating as preferred prime minister surging 20.8 points to 59.5 percent. The survey also indicated an overwhelming 91.6 percent […]

New Zealand to end coronavirus lockdown

WELLINGTON, United States (AFP) — New Zealand will phase out its coronavirus lockdown over the next 10 days after successfully containing the virus, although some restrictions will remain, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Monday. Ardern said that from Thursday shopping malls, restaurants, cinemas and playgrounds will reopen — with the country moving to Level Two on its four-tier system. The 39-year-old leader warned “none of us can assume COVID is not with us” but said […]

Optimism, with a side of fries, as Kiwi lockdown eases

by Neil SANDS Agence France Presse WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — New Zealanders satisfied their cravings for hamburgers and coffee as a five-week lockdown eased on Tuesday, as hopes swelled that the country’s coronavirus outbreak was under control. Lines of cars snaked along drive-thru lanes at McDonald’s outlets around the country, with the fast-food chain reporting 50 vehicles queued before dawn in the North Island town of Hastings. Coffee lovers also indulged in barista-brewed beverages […]

One critically injured as popular New Zealand volcano erupts

by Neil SANDS WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — At least one person was left in a critical condition when New Zealand’s White Island volcano erupted suddenly on Monday, leaving authorities scrambling to treat the injured and find those unaccounted for. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the volcanic island — also known as Whakaari — off New Zealand’s north coast had erupted while groups of tourists were visiting. “It is very much an evolving situation and […]

New Zealand falls silent, a week after mosque massacres

by Jerome TAYLOR The Muslim call to prayer rang out across New Zealand on Friday followed by two minutes of nationwide silence to mark a week since a white supremacist gunned down 50 people at two mosques in the city of Christchurch. As the call was broadcast around the country, thousands — including Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and wounded survivors — stood in a park opposite the mosque where the killing began, as the nation […]

Wrong victim named in initial NZ gunman charge document: police

New Zealand police on Thursday admitted that the person they originally charged suspected mosques gunman Brenton Tarrant with murdering is actually still alive. “An error was made in the charging document prepared for the first court appearance of the man charged with murder in relation to the Christchurch terror attacks,” a police spokesman told AFP. “The error saw an incorrect victim name included in the charging document.” Tarrant appeared in court Saturday on the first […]

Air New Zealand fined in Australia air cargo cartel case

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP)–Air New Zealand was Wednesday fined Aus$15 million (US$11 million) by an Australian court for its part in a global air cargo cartel involving major international airlines. The carrier was taken to court by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) over allegations it had agreements with other airlines to fix the price of fuel and insurance surcharges on freight services to and from international airports from 2002 to 2007. “These illegal price-fixing agreements unfairly […]

Harry and Meghan to head Down Under later this year: palace

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Prince Harry and his new wife Meghan will visit Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand later this year for their first overseas tour as a married couple, Kensington Palace announced Monday. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who were married at Windsor Castle last month, have timed their trip to coincide with the Invictus Games in Sydney in October. Harry, the second son of heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles, set up the global sports […]