New Zealand

Qantas Airways last updated its dress regulations about 10 years ago. Seen here are uniforms that were unveiled in 2016.
Transportation

Qantas goes gender-neutral with dress code to aid hiring spree

Aussie carrier lets women jettison heels; Air New Zealand plans new uniforms

22 June 2023
NATO headquarters in Brussels. The alliance is deepening partnerships with the AP4 nations of the Indo-Pacific.
Indo-Pacific

NATO to upgrade ties with Australia, New Zealand, South Korea

Together with Japan, four nations will have tailored partnership programs

13 June 2023
New Zealand Defense Minister Andrew Little tells Nikkei his country has an interest in eventually cooperating with the U.S., U.K. and Australia in technologies that might lead to breaking encryptions. (Photo by Rurika Imahashi)
Indo-Pacific

New Zealand interested in AUKUS cooperation in non-nuclear tech

Defense chief says country eyeing cybersecurity, AI, quantum computing

2 June 2023
A New Zealand soldier guards a convoy of trucks in the Solomon Islands in April 2006.
29 May 2023
People load shopping into a car in New Zealand. The nation's central bank has remained singularly focused on curbing inflation, lifting rates by 525 basis points since October 2021.
Economy

New Zealand central bank ups rates to 14-yr high, signals hikes done

RBNZ raises interest rates by 25 basis points to 5.5%

24 May 2023
Air New Zealand is launching bunk beds in economy class on its Auckland-New York and Auckland-Chicago flights. (Photo courtesy of Air New Zealand)
Travel & Leisure

Air New Zealand to offer beds in economy class from $250 each

Skynest available on Auckland to New York or Chicago flights

13 May 2023
Jacinda Ardern is embraced as she arrives at the Al Noor mosque in Christchurch in 2020 to unveil a memorial plaque in memory of the victims of a 2019 terror attack: She demonstrated how a woman leader can be both firm and empathetic.
Opinion

Jacinda Ardern did 'have it all' as New Zealand's prime minister

Despite sexist attacks, pioneer leaves with track record of policy successes

29 January 2023
It is expected that more than 20,000 satellites for observation and communication will be launched into space within the next 10 years, which makes the total of satellites about 30,000, including ones in operation now.
Aerospace & Defense Industries

Palm-sized satellites, 3D-printed rockets herald new era in space

Number of satellites to triple to 30,000 -- and change life on the ground

22 January 2023
New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks during a news conference on July 8, 2022 in Sydney.
Politics

Ardern's departure shakes New Zealand election landscape

Likely that remote nation will have three prime ministers this year

20 January 2023
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern grimaces as she announces her resignation at a press conference in Napier, New Zealand on Jan. 19. 
Politics

New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern to step down in February

Prime minister also announces general election set for October

19 January 2023
Jacinda Ardern and Xi Jinping shake hands in Beijing in April 2019: New Zealand is finally waking up to the reality of the potential geostrategic threat posed by China.
Opinion

New Zealand is done with speaking softly to China

Wellington's shift to a firmer stance on Chinese abuses unlikely to go further

21 December 2022
Yili products at a market in China. Global consumption of fresh dairy items is expected to grow by 22% from 2021 to 2030. (Photo by Shin Watanabe)
Food & Beverage

China dairy giant Yili on aggressive overseas shopping spree

Investments in New Zealand and at home spurred by upswing in global demand

7 December 2022
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern opens her speech in the native Maori language at the Forbes Women’s Summit 2022 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. (Photo by Lien Hoang)
Politics

What can Asia learn on gender from New Zealand? Ardern has ideas

Look beyond aggressive, 'knives-out' politics, PM says on Vietnam trip

26 November 2022
Sydney-based Blackbird says it has backed over 100 startups. (Source photos by AP and courtesy of Blackbird) 
DealStreetAsia

Australia's Blackbird raises $640m in nation's largest VC fund

Company is key investor in graphic design platform Canva

3 November 2022
A large crack is seen in a highway near the town of Kainantu, following a 7.6-magnitude earthquake in northeastern Papua New Guinea on Sept. 11.
11 September 2022
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's support has dropped off considerably since 2021.
Politics

Inflation and lockdowns hurt New Zealand's ruling party in polls

Once a COVID success story, PM Ardern's camp trails opposition ahead of 2023 election

23 August 2022
Dai-ichi Life will acquire Partners Group through its wholly owned subsidiary Dai-ichi Life Insurance International Holdings, which controls the group's overseas business. (Photo by Yo Inoue) 
Business deals

Japan's Dai-ichi Life to acquire NZ insurer for $630m

With its growing population, New Zealand will be insurer's 9th overseas market

12 August 2022
Japanese, Australian and U.S. destroyers participate in last December's Annualex joint exercise. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Pacific Fleet)
Indo-Pacific

Japan PM to flex muscles for Indo-Pacific security at NATO summit

Kishida plans 4-way meeting on sidelines with South Korea, Australia, New Zealand

25 June 2022
People walk outside a train station in Auckland. New Zealand launched a special visa program for entrepreneurs on a trial basis in 2017.
Economy

New Zealand social innovator visa offers blueprint for Japan

Program draws entrepreneurs as global competition for tech pioneers heats up

4 June 2022
Protestors gather outside the parliament building in Honiara, Solomon Islands on Nov. 24, 2021. Georgina Kekea via REUTERS
International relations

New Zealand extends military deployment to Solomon Islands

Troops part of Pacific-led assistance force amid fears of growing China presence

25 May 2022
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will visit the U.S. as her country looks to fully reopen its border after more than two years of COVID restrictions.
International relations

New Zealand's Ardern to visit U.S., promoting exports and tourism

PM plans Harvard commencement address, meetings with senators and U.N. chief

23 May 2022
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, left, shakes hands with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz ahead of a G-7 summit in Brussels on March 24. The two leaders are expected to discuss issues such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine when Scholz visits Japan this week.
Your Week in Asia

Raisina Dialogue, German chancellor visits Japan, New Zealand expands reopening

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

24 April 2022
New Zealand Minister for Trade and Export Growth Damien O'Connor. (Photo by Tetsuya Kitayama) 
Interview

N.Z. calls for potential CPTPP members to meet 'high standards'

Membership negotiations with U.K. will be held cautiously, says Minister O'Connor

22 April 2022
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed in Tokyo to start negotiations to share information and intelligence. 
International relations

Japan, New Zealand in talks to share information and intelligence

PM Ardern stresses importance of bilateral ties in move toward renewable energy

21 April 2022
A display case shows photos outside Chinese Embassy in Honiara, Solomon Islands, on April 2: China is here to stay in the Pacific.
Opinion

Solomon Islands pact cements China's Pacific power status

Recent controversy is just the first step in a long-running struggle

19 April 2022