Al Jazeera English launches in New Zealand

Al Jazeera, the Qatar-headquartered news network, has launched in New Zealand.

Al Jazeera English managing director Al Anstey said that they were incredibly pleased to be making these breakthroughs in New Zealand.

He added that the network was looking forward to offering to viewers' in-depth global journalism, marked with integrity.

According to news.com.au, the network has recently been in New Zealand headlines after Kiwi journalist Wayne Hay was detained in Egypt along with cameraman Adil Bradlow, and producers Russ Finn and Baher Mohammed.

Al Jazeera has publicly demanded their release and said the arrests are part of what Reporters Without Boarders has labelled growing hostility towards journalists in Egypt, the report said.

Launching as an independent Middle-Eastern news channel focusing on the Arab world, Al Jazeera now has over twenty channels including Al Jazeera Arabic and Al Jazeera English, it added.