Category: Jacinda Ardern

New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern Meets President Joe Biden at the White House

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern met with U.S. President Joe Biden in the Oval Office on the backdrop of the increasing spotlight on climate change, gun control and rising tensions in the Pacific as China seeks to expand its influence in the region. Biden told Ardern the United States needed guidance from New Zealand’s…


‘Dangerous’: Think Tank on NZ PM Call for More Government Control Over Social Media

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s call for greater social media oversight to prevent “misinformation” and “radicalisation” is very dangerous, according to a think tank director. On Friday, Ardern’s Harvard keynote speech identified social media as a threat to democracy, calling on tech giants to work with governments to do more to address misinformation. Muriel…


Jacinda Ardern to Visit the United States for Tourism Promotion

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will visiting the United States on a trade mission to promote trade and tourism as the country opens up from two years of COVID-19 restrictions. The prime minister departs on Monday evening, local time, and will visit New York, Washington D.C., Boston, San Francisco, and Seattle. It is still…


Ardern Government Unveils Unprecedented Spending in 2022 Budget

The New Zealand government has revealed its 2022 budget on May 19, with a focus on relieving cost-of-living and record health investment. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the government had set out to give people as much certainty and security as possible in the budget. “That is what we have set out to do in…


New Zealand Government to Use Emission Trading Scheme to Fund EV Rollout

New Zealand families will be encouraged to scrap their old vehicles in exchange for low-emission alternatives under the government’s Emissions Reduction Plan, with more details to be revealed when the 2022 budget is released. “This is a landmark day in our transition to a low emissions future,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said. “This is a…


New Zealand to Completely Open International Borders in July

New Zealand (NZ) Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that the country’s international border would be fully reopened to all visitors on July 31, two months earlier than planned. The move will be the final step of reopening, allowing tourists from countries such as China and India to enter the country. Borders are already opened to…


Almost Half of New Zealand Jobs in 2021 Received a Government Wage Subsidy

Almost half of New Zealand’s working population received at least one COVID-19 wage subsidy during the past two years, the Ardern government revealed in a new report. Excluding sole traders, 47 percent of New Zealand’s labour force, or 1.2 million employees, received a wage subsidy in 2021, down from 62 percent of jobs in 2020….


New Zealand PM Stands Firm on ‘Mature’ Relationship With Beijing

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stood by her government’s relationship with Beijing, saying that there was still a need to “work together” in areas of mutual interest, despite its “growing assertiveness” in the region. “China is a very important trading partner for us, but it’s also a mature relationship for us,” Ardern told the…


New Zealand PM Goes on First Post-COVID Overseas Trip to Promote Tourism

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern departed on Monday for a six-day trade mission to Singapore and Japan, her first overseas trip since COVID-19 began. Ardern is hoping to promote New Zealand tourism and education in the two Asian nations and support local businesses rebuild and grow connections in both markets. “This is a chance…


New Zealand to Deploy Military Aircraft, 50 Personnel to Aid Ukraine War Effort

New Zealand (NZ) will deploy a C130 Hercules military aircraft with 50 personnel to Europe on Wednesday to support Ukraine against Russia’s invasion. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also announced NZ$13 million (US$8.9 million) in further support, including $7.5 million to procure of weapons and ammunition via the United Kingdom and the deployment of eight logistics…