Tag: New Zealand

A Quirky New Zealand Beach House Lists for $3 Million

Sitting right on the Tasman Sea in the charming village of Mapua, New Zealand, a laid-back private estate is all about harmony and taking things easy. On the market for $4.5 million NZD (about $3 million), this property embodies the iconic Kiwi lifestyle. Over 12 acres of lush nature surrounds this classic 2,368-square-foot beach house….


Novavax Passes First Hurdle for New Zealand Vaccine Rollout

New Zealand is one step closer to rolling out the Novavax protein-based COVID-19 vaccine called Nuvaxovid, with the country’s medicines regulator, Medsafe, granting provisional approval for the vaccine to be used in adults aged 18 and over. Announcing the decision on Feb. 4, Chris James, group manager for Medsafe, said the organisation had worked tirelessly to…


New Zealand to End Quarantine Rules, Reopen Borders

The New Zealand government announced Thursday it will end its quarantine requirements for incoming travelers and carry out a phased reopening of its borders. The country has been imposing strict border controls for much of the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most incoming travelers have been required to quarantine for 10 days…


New Zealand to End Quarantine Rules for Vaccinated, Reopen Borders

The New Zealand government announced Thursday it will end its quarantine requirements for incoming travelers and carry out a phased reopening of its borders. The country has been imposing strict border controls for much of the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most incoming travelers have been required to quarantine for 10 days…


Taliban Grants Pregnant NZ Journalist ‘Safe Haven’ After Ardern Government Denies Her Return Visa

A pregnant New Zealand (NZ) journalist said she had to turn to the Taliban for help after her country refused to grant her a travel exemption due to its strict COVID-19 strict border control. In a column published in the New Zealand Herald on Saturday, Charlotte Bellis, a former journalist with Al Jazeera, said she discovered she…


New Zealand PM Ardern Is Self Isolating After Exposure to COVID-19 Positive Case

WELLINGTON—New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has gone into self-isolation until Tuesday after being deemed a close contact of a person who tested positive for COVID-19, the government said. The exposure took place on Jan 22 during a flight to Auckland from the town of Kerikeri, the government said in a statement on Saturday, adding…


New Zealand Placed Under More Restrictions as Omicron Detected

New Zealand has shifted to the most stringent level of its traffic light COVID-19 restriction system after cases of the Omicron variant were reported in its most populated city, Auckland, and the Nelson-Marlborough region. The shift took place just before midnight on Sunday, following a press conference by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern earlier that day. Ardern…


New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern Cancels Her Wedding Amid New Omicron Restrictions

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden has cancelled her wedding as the nation imposes new restrictions to slow the community spread of the Omicron variant, she told reporters on Sunday. New Zealand will impose mask rules and limit gathering from midnight on Sunday after a cluster of nine COVID-19 Omicron cases showed community spread from…


Incredible View from Cathedral Cove in New Zealand


Tsunami-Hit Tonga in Need of ‘Immediate Assistance,’ Official Says

Tonga’s government has called for “immediate assistance” after a massive eruption by a nearby undersea volcano on Saturday, which was followed by a destructive tsunami, an official has said via satellite phone. The Australian and New Zealand governments dispatched surveillance flights to the Pacific island on Monday to help restore communications and assess the damage. Parliament Speaker…