As political fervor for New Zealand's Māori resurgence wanes, a new Indigenous holiday comes of age

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — When Ngarauru Mako told her family she was calling off Christmas festivities in favor of celebrating Matariki, the Māori new year holiday that's experiencing a renaissance in New Zealand, her children didn’t believe her. “We grew up with...

Attention: US teams tackling the challenge of ending an Olympic rugby sevens medal drought

The anthem played as Army officer Sammy Sullivan stood to attention, saluting, beside her United States rugby teammates before the final of the Hong Kong Sevens. Sometimes, like all of us, her mind drifts. So no prizes for guessing another big occasion Sullivan may have strayed to:...

US to play Canada, New Zealand and Panama in September, October matches

CHICAGO (AP) — The United States will play Canada, New Zealand and Panama in friendly matches in September and October. The U.S. faces Canada on Sept. 7 at Kansas City, Kansas, then meets New Zealand three days later at Cincinnati. The match against Panama is on Oct. 12 at Austin,...

An ex-gun lobbyist is revising New Zealand's gun laws, tightened after the 2019 mosque attack

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand’s government will overhaul the tighter gun laws introduced after a deadly mass shooting by a white supremacist five years ago, because they put excessive burdens on gun owners who feel vilified by law enforcement and the public, the lawmaker leading...

Former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun will have memoir out in 2025

NEW YORK (AP) — The first Black woman elected to the U.S. Senate, Carol Moseley Braun, will have a memoir out next year. Hanover Square Press, a HarperCollins Publishers imprint, announced Thursday that Moseley Braun's “Trailblazer: Perseverance in Life and Politics” is...

Much of New Zealand's far north is without power after a transmission tower fell over

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Much of the northernmost part of New Zealand is without power after a transmission tower toppled over in a rural area on Thursday, with no indication when power will be fully restored to the area. The 220-kV tower fell “unexpectedly” in a field,...

Japan, New Zealand agree on intel sharing pact amid growing regional security concerns

TOKYO (AP) — Japan and New Zealand agreed Wednesday in principle on an intelligence sharing pact as their leaders shared concerns over the increasingly challenging security environment in the region, including closer ties between Russia and North Korea. In a joint statement, Prime...

Passenger plane lands safely in New Zealand after a fire shuts down an engine

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A passenger plane landed safely at a New Zealand airport on Monday after a fire shut down one of its engines, the nation’s fire service said. The Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800 jet bound for Melbourne, Australia, with 67 passengers and six crew...

New Zealand fire service says a passenger plane has landed safely after an engine caught fire during takeoff

Chinese premier lands in Australia on first such visit in 7 years

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived in Australia on Saturday on a relations-mending mission with panda diplomacy, rock lobsters and China’s global dominance in the critical minerals sector high on the agenda. His visit is the first by a Chinese premier in...