Page 10 - New Zealand

India, New Zealand discussing UPI introduction to promote ease of doing biz

India and New Zealand are discussing the possibility of introducing the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in the island country with a view to promoting ease of doing business, trade and tourism between the countries, the commerce ministry said on Tuesday. The two countries are also looking at ways to allow the import of wooden logs from New Zealand. These issues were discussed during a bilateral meeting between Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and New Zealand's Minister for Trade and Export Growth Damien O'Connor on Monday here. "Ministers welcomed early discussions between National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and Payments NZ regarding the UPI system and agreed that both sides should continue deliberations on this issue. They agreed that introduction of UPI in New Zealand would promote ease of doing business between both the countries and promote trade and tourism as well," the ministry said. In 2022, the National Payments Corporation Of India (NPCI), the umbrel

Tech giants to face 3% digital tax in New Zealand, will begin in 2025

It would be applied at 3% on gross taxable New Zealand digital services revenue, similar to the taxes adopted by other jurisdictions such as France and the UK

Governments abroad call Data Protection Bill a 'landmark' regulation

Countries such as New Zealand said that they are taking a 'keen interest' in the implementation of the Bill and also its approach to privacy regulation

New Zealand removes last of its closely watched Covid-19 restrictions

New Zealand on Monday removed the last of its remaining COVID-19 restrictions, marking the end of a government response to the pandemic that was watched closely around the world. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the requirement to wear masks in hospitals and other healthcare facilities would end at midnight, as would a requirement for people who caught the virus to isolate themselves for seven days. New Zealand was initially praised internationally for eliminating the virus entirely after imposing nationwide lockdowns and strict border controls. But as the pandemic wore on and more infectious variants took hold, the nation's zero-tolerance approach became untenable. It eventually abandoned its elimination strategy. Reflecting on the government's response to the virus over more than three years, Hipkins said that during the height of the pandemic he had longed for the day he could end all restrictions, but now it felt anticlimactic. He said about 3,250 New Zealanders from a popula

NZ to boost defence capabilities amid increasing tensions in Pacific

New Zealand said Friday it plans to boost its defence capabilities as tensions rise in the Pacific, due in part to a military buildup by China. Defence Minister Andrew Little said current defence spending amounted to about 1 per cent of the nation's economy, a proportion he expected would need to increase, although not as high as 2 per cent. He said replacing aging navy frigates and patrol vessels is among the most pressing needs under consideration. He said the country is also facing an increase in domestic threats such as misinformation, cyberattacks and terrorism. The new defence policy paper released by Little contained no specifics about increases in spending, equipment or troops, with those details expected to be finalized in a later plan. Rather the paper pointed to a rethinking about the role of the nation's military, which has often been used primarily to act as peacekeepers or provide aid when Pacific countries are hit by natural disasters. Now, the paper said, New Zeala

FIFA Women's World Cup: Wilkinson takes New Zealand to 1-0 win over Norway

Hannah Wilkinson scored to open the second half and New Zealand went on to beat Norway 1-0 on Thursday for its first-ever win at the Women's World Cup, just hours after a shooting in downtown Auckland shocked the host nation. A gunman stormed a high-rise construction site near Norway's team hotel and opened fire, killing two people. The gunman was found dead after a police shootout. There was increased security at Eden Park stadium, where 42,137 a record crowd for a soccer match in New Zealand were on hand to cheer on the home team, co-hosts of the tournament with Australia. New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins was among those at the game. After an opening ceremony that honored New Zealand's Indigenous heritage, there was a moment of silence for the victims of the shooting. Four people were wounded in the attack, including an police officer. New Zealand got the nod to stage the first game, although co-host Australia's match against Ireland in Sydney started about an hour ...

Gunman in New Zealand kills 2 hours ahead of 1st game in Women's World Cup

A man stormed a high-rise construction site in downtown Auckland early Thursday morning, shooting at terrified workers and killing two people hours before New Zealand planned to host the first game of the FIFA Women's World Cup tournament. The gunman was found dead after a police shootout, during which an officer was shot and wounded. Four civilians were also injured. The shooting happened near hotels where Team Norway and other soccer teams have been staying. New Zealand Prime Minster Chris Hipkins said the tournament would go ahead as scheduled. Clearly with the FIFA World Cup kicking off this evening, there are a lot of eyes on Auckland," Hipkins said. "The government has spoken to FIFA organisers this morning and the tournament will proceed as planned." I want to reiterate that there is no wider national security threat, he added. "This appears to be the action of one individual. The shooting jarred New Zealand, where active shooter incidents are rare, leading the country's t

New Zealand to continue with Gary Stead as the all-format coach till 2025

Gary Stead will continue as coach of New Zealand in all three formats for two more years after New Zealand Cricket ruled out any move to appoint different coaches in different formats. NZC general manager of high performance Bryan Stronach said a split coaching model was considered and rejected, though flexibility remained to co-opt additional coaching staff if necessary. Stead was first appointed in 2018 and this is his second contract extension. His current contract was due to expire after the upcoming Cricket World Cup in India. He will stay on until the end of the current World Test Championship cycle in 2025. The support for Gary was overwhelmingly positive from the players, the Black Caps support staff, major association coaches and support staff as well as the New Zealand Cricket Players Association and NZC High Performance Unit staff, Stronach said. Gary's results have been very impressive and we're confident that he still has a lot to offer the team. Of course, a big part

Tourists received no safety warnings before New Zealand volcano killed 22

Tourists received no health and safety warnings before they landed on New Zealand's most active volcano ahead of a 2019 eruption that killed 22 people, a prosecutor said Tuesday. There were 47 people on White Island, the tip of an undersea volcano also known by its Indigenous Maori name Whakaari, when superheated steam erupted on December 9. Most of the 25 people who survived were severely burned. The island's owners, brothers Andrew, James and Peter Buttle, their company Whakaari Management Ltd. and tour operators I.D. Tours NZ Ltd. and Tauranga Tourism Services Ltd. went on trial Tuesday in Auckland District Court for allegedly failing to adequately protect tourists and staff. Prosecutor Kristy McDonald said in opening the prosecution case that the eruption at the popular tourist destination was not predictable but was foreseeable. The 20 tourists and two tour guides who died were given no warning of the risks, she said. They were not given the opportunity to make any informed .

Xi Jinping vows to protect foreign investors ramps up charm offensive

'Development is the top priority of the Communist Party of China in governing and rejuvenating the country,' Xi told New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins

New Zealand PM's plane so prone to breakdowns he took backup on China visit

New Zealand's aging air force fleet has a track record of stranding politicians due to mechanical problems

Man attacks diners with axe at New Zealand's Chinese restaurants, 4 hurt

At least four people were injured after a man armed with an axe allegedly attacked diners at several Chinese restaurants in Auckland, New Zealand police said, adding that suspect was arrested at scene

Cybertruck's prototype spotted arriving in New Zealand by plane: Report

Elon Musk-owned Tesla's much-awaited Cybertruck's prototype has been spotted arriving in New Zealand by plane, possibly for the electric pickup truck's last winter testing

New Zealand's economy dips into recession as higher interest rates bite

New Zealand's economy has dipped into recession as higher interest rates take their toll, new figures released Thursday show. Gross domestic product fell by 0.1 per cent in the March quarter, following a revised 0.7 per cent fall in the previous quarter, Statistics New Zealand said. That fulfils the nation's definition of a recession, which is at least two consecutive quarters of negative growth. The slowdown comes after New Zealand's central bank raised its benchmark interest rate 12 straight times to 5.5 per cent as it tries to tame inflation. The rate is at its highest level since 2008, making it more expensive for people to borrow money for homes, cars and other purchases. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has indicated it doesn't plan to raise the rate any further for now and that its next move will be a cut. The downturn in growth was in line with economists' expectations, and the currency was little changed, with one New Zealand dollar trading at around 62 U.S. cents. Taken ov

Foreigners now flocking to New Zealand, net immigration surges in April

New Zealand has loosened immigration policy, allowing more foreign workers to enter the country to ease labor shortages that had became acute when the border was shut during the Covid-19 pandemic

India, New Zealand hold meeting, agree to work on areas of mutual interests

India and New Zealand have held first round table joint meeting, where both sides acknowledged huge potential in a mutual partnership and need for bringing in synergy for enhanced economic relations

New Zealand's bank hikes key interest rate to 5.5%; cut may follow next

New Zealand's central bank raised its benchmark interest rate again on Wednesday to 5.5 per cent but signalled its next move would be a cut, sparking a sell-off in the currency. Wednesday's quarter-point rate rise was the 12th straight hike imposed by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand since October 2021. But for the first time since the tightening cycle began, the bank projected the next move would be a cut, which would likely come later next year. The projection was more dovish than markets had expected and caused the New Zealand dollar to drop by more than 1 per cent to trade at a little below US 62 cents. Like many central banks around the world, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand has been raising rates to try and tame inflation, which in New Zealand has fallen from a recent peak of 7.3 per cent last June to 6.7 per cent. That remains well above the bank's target inflation rate of around 2 per cent. New Zealand's unemployment rate remains low at 3.4 per cent, putting upward pressur

PM Modi, New Zealand counterpart discuss full range of bilateral ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met his New Zealand counterpart Chris Hipkins during which they discussed the full range of bilateral ties and ways to expand cooperation in various sectors like trade and commerce, education and sports. Modi arrived here on Sunday on his maiden visit to Papua New Guinea to host a key summit between India and 14 Pacific island countries to boost bilateral ties. Modi met Hipkins on the sidelines of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) summit. "Giving fresh impetus to India-New Zealand relationship. PM @narendramodi met PM @chrishipkins of New Zealand in Port Moresby. The two leaders, in what was their first interaction, discussed expanding cooperation in various sectors including trade & commerce, education, culture, sports and people-to-people ties," the Ministry of External Affairs tweeted. "Had an excellent meeting with New Zealand PM @chrishipkins and discussed the full range of India-NZ relations. We talked about how t

Tsunami warning issued in New Caledonia after 7.7 magnitude earthquake

Earthquake hits the South Pacific French territory of New Caledonia, and tsunami warnings are issued in the coastal areas. New Zealand is also assessing the tsunami threat on its west coast.

Hostel fire that killed 6 people was arson, says New Zealand police

New Zealand police said Wednesday they believe a fire that killed at least six people in a Wellington hostel was arson and launched a homicide investigation. Police Inspector Dion Bennett said they haven't yet arrested anybody but they have a list of people they want to speak to and hope to quickly identify any suspects or persons of interest. He declined to say if they had found accelerant or other evidence of criminal behavior at the scene. Police said there had been a couch fire at the Loafers Lodge hostel about two hours before the large, fatal fire on Tuesday. They said the couch fire was not reported to emergency services at the time, and they were investigating to see if there was any link between the two fires. Bennett also told reporters there was more reconnaissance and examination to be done in some unstable parts of the four-story hostel building and his gut feeling was the death toll could rise. The homicide investigation represents a change in outlook by police, who o