Xfinity Series playoffs set to open this weekend at Kansas with van Gisbergen studying the rules

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Welcome to the Xfinity Series playoffs, Shane van Gisbergen. Now here’s a copy of how the system works, so study up. The New Zealand driving sensation — who won the first Cup Series race he ever entered with a victory last year on the street course in...

Italy's Luna Rossa showed two skippers are better than one on the America's Cup yachts

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Before the last America’s Cup, Italy’s sailing team had what helmsman Francesco Bruni called a “crazy” idea: run the boat with two skippers, each taking turns steering as the foiling yacht crisscrossed the race course. While the other crews lost...

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...

Separatist rebels free New Zealand pilot who's been held hostage for over a year in Papua, Indonesian authorities say

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...

Separatist rebels say Indonesian army attacks threaten the safety of kidnapped New Zealand pilot

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Separatist rebels in Indonesia’s restive Papua region warned Friday that increased Indonesian military attacks in recent days to rescue a New Zealand pilot who was taken hostage over a year ago could instead threaten his safety. Independence fighters led...

Seen abroad as a leader on Indigenous rights, New Zealand enters a divisive new era

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — On the eve of New Zealand’s Māori language celebration week, the country’s right-wing political leaders ordered public agencies to stop affirmative action policies for Māori people, who are disadvantaged on almost every metric. The lawmakers...

A smelly penguin wins New Zealand's hard-fought bird election

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — It's noisy, smelly, shy — and New Zealand’s bird of the year. The hoiho, or yellow-eyed penguin, won the country’s fiercely fought avian election on Monday, offering hope to supporters of the endangered bird that recognition from its victory...

US allows late goal off defensive mix-up in 1-1 draw vs. New Zealand as Pochettino hiring announced

CINCINNATI (AP) — Christian Pulisic stared in frustration after the final whistle and made clear how much work Mauricio Pochettino has ahead. An 89th-minute defensive mix-up had dropped the United States into a 1-1 tie with New Zealand in a friendly on Tuesday night, a match that...