Results for New Zealand

New York Times reporting: Nanaia Mahuta entered New Zealand’s Parliament as the youngest Maori woman to ever gain a seat. More than two decades later, she has become the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, another trailblazing first. Labour’s newly elected majority is made up mostly of women...it is, by far, the most diverse Parliament the country has ever seen, reflecting New Zealand’s demographics and its place within the broader Pacific islands.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s landslide victory two days ago was consolidated by the successful election of many members of her parliament, including Tongan-born MP Jenny Salesa. By Finau Fonua.

The Auckland Institute of Studies (AIS) awarded various bachelor degrees to 17 Tongan overseas students at a graduation ceremony on Monday, 21 September. Unfortunately, the parents of the students could not attend the ceremony because of the Covid-19 border restrictions in Tonga.

A fleet of boats have been gifted to the Vava’u Blue Water School in Neiafu, for Tongan youth to learn how to sail. The Vava'u community is fundraising to ship the boats from New Zealand to Vava'u.

New Zealand is increasing its chances of securing access to a CoViD-19 vaccine when it becomes available, after announcing millions of dollars to support domestic and international vaccine efforts. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is also ensuring Pacific Island countries are supported.

A study led by Massey University to look at the barriers to self-management of asthma in Pacific children has been awarded $971,541 by the Health Research Council of New Zealand. Pacific people are three times more likely to be hospitalised with asthma than Europeans or other New Zealanders, said Principal Investigator Dr Sunia Foliaki.

A massive joint effort between New Zealand Government agencies, employers, and the Vanuatu Government is underway to repatriate over 1000 Vanuatu nationals stranded in New Zealand, NZ Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Ron Mark said today.

Air New Zealand will resume passenger flights between Auckland and Shanghai next week, with passengers subject to government border controls in each direction.

Two Tongan seasonal workers, who pleaded guilty to abduction and sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection of a 35-year-old woman, were imprisoned in Otago, New Zealand, on June 3.