Politics

A police officer stands guard outside the Masjid Al Noor mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, two days after the March 15, 2019, shooting attack by a lone Australian gunman.
Terrorism

Two years after Christchurch shooting, far-right haunts Australia

New Zealand attack by Australian gunman exemplifies growing security threat

15 March 2021
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, left, and her new foreign minister, Nanaia Mahuta, face an increasingly challenging diplomatic landscape.
International relations

Australia-China divide forces New Zealand to 'straddle two worlds'

New foreign minister cuts her teeth as tensions -- and pressure to speak up -- build

14 December 2020
A passenger arrives from New Zealand after the Trans-Tasman travel bubble opened. Travelers outside the bubble are still largely banned.
Economy

Businesses push back on Australia and New Zealand travel bans

With low infection rates, companies say entry limits are too strict

8 December 2020
Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chairs the 4th RCEP Summit on Nov. 15: the agreement is poised to become a critical platform for the discussion of trade and economic issues.
Opinion

RCEP agreement will transform trade in Asia, for Asia

First time China, Japan, and South Korea connected via one trade pact

16 November 2020
Leaders and trade ministers from the 15 Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership countries pose for a virtual group photo during the signing ceremony hosted by Vietnam on Nov. 15.
Trade

Asia forms world's largest trading bloc RCEP after years of talks

After signing, focus turns to ratification; China to hold sway in India's absence

16 November 2020
Polling suggests New Zealanders likely voted against legalizing recreational use of cannabis.
Society

Cannabis and euthanasia votes bring New Zealand to moral crossroads

Referendum results due Friday after impassioned campaigns

29 October 2020
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern holds a meeting with her Labour Party's members of parliament on Oct. 20, after their landslide victory in the country's general elections.
Politics

New Zealand economy, trade and China in focus after Ardern triumph

Handed first majority in decades, PM faces challenge of 'delivering'

23 October 2020
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks at her victorious Labour Party's election night event in Auckland on Oct. 17.
Politics

New Zealand's Ardern eyes COVID rebound after landslide reelection

Unprecedented performance gives Labour Party enough seats to govern alone

17 October 2020
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, left, and opposition National Party leader Judith Collins: Recent polling puts the incumbent's Labour Party well ahead. (Pool photo/Reuters)
Politics

New Zealand's COVID election tests true power of 'Jacinda-mania'

PM aims to turn pandemic success into unprecedented majority on Saturday

16 October 2020
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern seeks a second term in the Oct. 17 election.
Politics

New Zealanders to vote on legalizing cannabis and euthanasia

Prime minister supports assisted-suicide bill but silent on pot question

13 October 2020
Facebook is enhancing the encryption capabilities of its Messenger and Whatsapp services.
Technology

Five Eyes and Japan call for Facebook backdoor to monitor crime

Security alliance worries encrypted messaging apps can be used by bad actors

11 October 2020
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will face reelection on Sunday. 
Your Week in Asia

Apple 5G iPhone, China-India talks, New Zealand election

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

11 October 2020
Commonwealth flags in London: Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the U.K. share a common language and democratic norms, though this does not guarantee smooth sailing toward closer ties.
International relations

'CANZUK' alliance idea makes waves with Indo-Pacific in flux

Assertive China and unpredictable US revive calls for tight-knit 'Anglosphere'

4 September 2020
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks to the media on Aug. 17, explaining her decision to postpone the general election until Oct. 17.
Politics

New Zealand's COVID comeback overshadows Ardern's reelection bid

As mysterious new outbreak delays vote, popular PM's rivals smell opportunity

18 August 2020
New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern listens during a joint news conference with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Auckland in December 2018. 
Opinion

New Zealand says South Korean diplomat row separate from WTO chief pick

Country's ambassador to South Korea responds to Nikkei Asian Review article

8 August 2020
South Korean President Moon Jae-in, left, and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speak after a summit in Auckland, New Zealand, in December 2018.
International relations

Diplomat sex scandal in New Zealand imperils South Korean WTO bid

Ardern has asked Moon to send suspect back to Wellington to face charges

6 August 2020
A submarine-cable laying ship in the Caribbean Sea. Chile picked a route that would take the cable to New Zealand and Australia, not Shanghai.
29 July 2020
Japan is eager to reopen business travel to and from a number of territories, including Taiwan, Brunei, Myanmar and Singapore, but not China.
Coronavirus

Japan puts Taiwan and Brunei atop its business travel agenda

Myanmar also considered as Tokyo moves to undo coronavirus restraints

30 June 2020
New Zealand rugby star Dan Carter trains ahead of the 2020 Super Rugby Aotearoa season, which begins this weekend after the country eradicated COVID-19.
Coronavirus

New Zealand kicks off post-pandemic era with weekend of rugby

Successful virus strategy allows for crowd-filled stadiums, then a reality check

12 June 2020
Planes wait on the tarmac at Narita International Airport. Japan is eager to restart business travel to and from countries with low coronavirus infection rates. (Photo by Takaki Kashiwabara)
Travel & Leisure

Japan set to lift quarantines for business travelers in summer

Exclusive: Visitors from Thailand, Vietnam, New Zealand and Australia are first in line

5 June 2020
Temperature screening at Singapore's Changi Airport before the ban on short-term visits: The city-state is working to set up safe travel links with multiple countries.
Coronavirus

Singapore and China set strict rules for airtight 'travel bubble'

Business flyers will need visas, virus tests, contact tracing apps and more

3 June 2020
Shanghai Disneyland will reopen this week since it closed on January 25 amid China's coronavirus lockdown. 
Your Week in Asia

Shanghai Disney, Sony results and Bitcoin 'halving'

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

10 May 2020
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern faces the prospect of a deep economic contraction in an election year.
Politics

New Zealand's winning virus tactics spell election risks for Ardern

Popular PM vulnerable to attacks over lockdown's economic damage

7 May 2020
Meat, fish vegetables and fruit are among the items covered under a mutual supply initiative signed by Singapore and New Zealand.
Trade

TPP countries defy protectionist trend to maintain supply chains

Singapore teams with New Zealand and Japan to keep food and medical gear flowing

2 May 2020
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong can learn lessons from the way South Korean President Moon Jae-in's government handled the coronavirus outbreak. (Nikkei Montage/Reuters) 
Politics

South Korean landslide changes Japan and Singapore election math

Abe, Lee and other leaders face judgment over coronavirus performance

24 April 2020