Category: Jacinda Arden

Japan, New Zealand Boost Defense Cooperation Amid ‘Unprecedented Challenges’

New Zealand and Japan agreed Thursday to strengthen defense cooperation and initiate formal negotiations toward an information-sharing pact as the world faces “unprecedented challenges” from the Russia-Ukraine war. Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met with visiting New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for the first time on Thursday since his election last year. In a…


New Zealand Reopens for Tourism Earlier Than Expected

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced today the country will reopen its border to tourists earlier than planned, hoping an influx of tourists during the winter holidays would accelerate the recovery from the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. “Reopening in time for the upcoming Australian school holidays will help spur our economic recovery…


Anti-Mandate Protestors Clash With Police in New Zealand

New Zealand police have dispersed anti-mandate protesters who had set up an encampment outside the country’s parliament, towing away vehicles and making dozens of arrests. Following three weeks of confrontations between the protesters and police at parliament, hundreds of officers in riot gear stormed the encampment on Wednesday morning, tearing down tents, using pepper spray…


‘Time to Re-engage’: New Zealand to Open Border to the World

New Zealand has announced it will be opening up its borders to fully vaccinated Kiwis from around the world from midnight on March 4. Prime Minister Jacinda Arden announced the border change in Parliament noting that this would be welcome news to many Kiwis who are “eager to travel home to see loved ones as…


New Zealand Supermarket Chain Temporarily Removes Knives From Shelves After Terror Attack

New Zealand supermarket chain Countdown has temporarily removed all knives from its shelves after an ISIS-inspired knife-wielding terrorist wounded seven people at a mall in Auckland. Kiri Hannifin, Countdown’s general manager of safety, said in a statement on Sept. 4 a day after the attack that the company had decided to temporarily pull all knives and scissors from…


New Zealand Opens to Cook Islands From May 17

New Zealand (NZ) will open its borders further in a fortnight, green-lighting quarantine-free travel to and from the Cook Islands from May 17. The NZ-aligned Pacific nation has been in negotiations for a travel bubble arrangement with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s government for months. The move follows NZ’s opening to Australia two weeks ago. “It…


Australians Taking Advantage of the Loophole in Trans-Tasman Travel Bubble May Face Prison

Australians who choose to travel onwards from New Zealand to other destinations through a loophole in the newly-opened trans-Tasman travel bubble could face prison under new biosecurity legislation. On Monday, a change to the Biosecurity legislation warns that Australians may face a “civil penalty” if they travel onwards from New Zealand to other countries. According to the…