Latest New Zealand government News
A New Zealand city waves goodbye to its 'disturbing' giant hand sculpture that many came to love
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Perched on two fingers on the roof of an art gallery in Wellington, New Zealand, the giant sculpture of a hand has loomed over the city for five years. Named Quasi, the 16-foot — almost 5 meters — creation of Australia-based sculptor Ronnie van...
Samoan coast where King Charles will visit worries about the future after ship damaged reef
SIUMU, Samoa (AP) — Under clear skies Tuesday, shortly after sunrise in the beachside fishing village of Siumu, Samoa, a dozen men and children prepared their small boats for a day at sea. But underwater, a mile off the coast, a sunken New Zealand naval vessel is forcing them to travel farther...
Here's why every Australian can request, and receive, a free portrait of King Charles
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Hours before King Charles III was due to arrive in Australia last week, lawmaker Patrick Gorman posted on social media offering free printed portraits of the British royal for any constituents who visited his office in Perth to claim one. Gorman, an...
New Zealand exempts abuse victims from a forced two-year wait before they can seek divorce
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Victims of domestic violence in New Zealand will be allowed to cut ties to abusive spouses more quickly after lawmakers unanimously voted Wednesday to exempt them from a mandatory two-year separation period before divorce can be sought. The required...
New Zealand ship didn’t sink because its captain was a woman, the ‘appalled’ defense minister says
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand's defense minister issued stinging rebukes of what she said were “vile” and “misogynistic” online remarks by “armchair admirals” about the woman captain of a navy ship that ran aground, caught fire and sank off the coast of Samoa. ...
No evidence of major fuel spill on Samoan reef where New Zealand navy ship sank
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Divers and marine experts found no evidence of a major fuel spill on a Samoan reef Tuesday after a New Zealand navy ship ran aground and sank, Samoa's deputy prime minister said. All 75 people on board the HMNZS Manawanui evacuated safely as the boat...
Samoa warns of 'highly probable' fuel spill after New Zealand navy ship caught fire and sank
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A fuel spill is “highly probable” after a New Zealand navy ship grounded, caught fire and sank off the coast of Samoa, the Pacific island nation's acting prime minister said late Sunday. All 75 people on board the HMNZS Manawanui were taken to...
Hawaii has gone down under for invasive species advice – again
A delegation of Hawaii lawmakers and officials recently returned from a more than $50,000 visit to New Zealand seeking ways the state could better shield itself from invasive species – advice it failed to heed almost two decades ago. The South Pacific nation had originally offered...
A New Zealand pilot is freed after 19 months in rebel captivity in Indonesia's Papua region
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — A New Zealand pilot held hostage for more than a year in the restive Papua region of Indonesia was freed Saturday by separatist rebels. Phillip Mark Mehrtens, a 38-year-old pilot from Christchurch, was working for Indonesian aviation company Susi Air when...
New Zealand’s army chief: Pacific nations need tailored military training
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — As the U.S., China and other powers vie for strategic influence in Pacific Island militaries, the army chief of New Zealand told The Associated Press that not all of the larger nations bidding to offer support are supplying what tiny island nations find most...
