Page 6 - New Zealand

New Zealand expands work rights for migrants' partners; Indians to benefit

This will help migrant families stay together and at the same time fill gaps in industries experiencing labour shortages

Australia, New Zealand to unveil new occupation lists for foreign workers

These changes, set to take effect in late 2024, mark a shift from the joint classification used since 2006

Emotional goodbyes? Not at this airport, where hugs have 3-min time limit

Saying goodbye for too long? A new rule at New Zealand's Dunedin Airport limits farewell hugs to three minutes, aiming to keep the drop-off zone moving while still allowing emotional see-offs

PM Modi holds bilateral talks with counterparts from Japan, New Zealand

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held a "very productive" meeting with newly-appointed Japanese counterpart Shigeru Ishiba here during which they discussed ways to enhance cooperation in different areas, including infrastructure, connectivity and defence. Separately, Prime Minister Modi also met his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon on the margins of the ASEAN-India Summit in Vientiane. Modi, who is in the Laotian capital on a two-day visit, met Ishiba on the sidelines of the 21st ASEAN-India Summit and congratulated him on his new responsibility and wished him success in leading Japan to greater heights. "Had a very productive meeting with PM Ishiba. I'm happy to have met him just a few days after he became Japan's PM. Our talks included ways to enhance cooperation in infrastructure, connectivity, defence and more. Boosting cultural linkages was also discussed," Modi said in a post on X. Ishiba was appointed Japan's prime minister just last week. He replaced Fumio

Google to stop linking to NZ news content if law on pay for content passes

Google said Friday it will stop linking to New Zealand news content and will reverse its support of local media outlets if the government passes a law forcing tech companies to pay for articles displayed on their platforms. The vow to sever Google traffic to New Zealand news sites made in a blog post by the search giant on Friday echoes strategies the firm deployed as Australia and Canada prepared to enact similar laws in recent years. It followed a surprise announcement by New Zealand's government in July that lawmakers would advance a bill forcing tech platforms to strike deals for sharing revenue generated from news content with the media outlets producing it. The government, led by centre-right National, had opposed the law in 2023 when introduced by the previous administration. But the loss of more than 200 newsroom jobs earlier this year in a national media industry that totalled 1,600 reporters at the 2018 census and has likely shrunk since prompted the current governmen

Will stop linking to New Zealand news if proposed new law passed: Google

Caroline Rainsford, Google New Zealand Country Director said in a blog post that if the bill as it currently stands becomes law, Google would be forced to make changes to its products, investments

New Zealand's Dunedin cut off by road, witnesses century's wettest day

The New Zealand city of Dunedin was cut off by road due to flooding Friday after recording its wettest day in more than a century. Local authorities in the South Island city said more than 80 people who lived in low-lying areas spent the night in emergency shelters after the rain began Thursday. There have been no deaths and no one is unaccounted for. But the city of 135,000 people was effectively cut off when the main highways leading into and out of Dunedin were closed due to flooding. They were expected to remain closed until Saturday, the City Council said on its website. Other roads were closed due to landslides. Conditions were unpredictable said local government spokesperson Chris Henderson, who urged residents not to drive unless it was extremely essential. A local state of emergency remains in place for the city, which is due to be battered by rain until late Friday. The forecaster NIWA said 13 centimeters (5 inches) of rain fell on Dunedin between Thursday and Friday ...

New Zealand hikes tourist, student, work visa fee by up to 60% starting Oct

Student visa applicants will see the biggest change, with the fee rising from NZ$300 to NZ$485

Work-life paradise: This country has the shortest work week at 24.7 hours

While some countries enjoy short work weeks, India grapples with long hours and work-life balance struggles

New Zealand extends partner visa duration to 3 years from Oct 1: Know more

This change supports efforts to build a world-class immigration system that attracts and retains the skills needed for New Zealand's economy," INZ said

New Zealand visitor visa: 23% rejection rate for Indian nationals in 2024

Despite visa challenges, Indian nationals continue to show strong interest in New Zealand

New Zealand grants part-time work rights to migrant school leavers from Oct

This plan, first announced in July 2024 by Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and now confirmed, aims to provide much-needed support for young migrants who have been unable to work under the current

Leaders of S Korea, NZ strongly condemn expanding North Korea-Russia ties

The leaders of South Korea and New Zealand strongly condemned the deepening military cooperation between North Korea and Russia as they met Wednesday for a summit meant to strengthen bilateral ties. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon arrived in Seoul, the South Korean capital, on his first trip to the Asian country since he took office last November. Luxon and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol condemned in the strongest possible terms the expanding military ties between North Korea and Russia, including North Korea's export of ballistic missiles to Russia in violation of UN Security Council resolutions, according to a joint statement released by Luxon's office. The two leaders denounced in the most serious of terms North Korea's illegal nuclear and missile development programs. They also strongly condemned Russia's war against Ukraine and pledged to continue to support the sovereignty of Ukraine and its efforts to secure a just and lasting peace, according to the joint

New Zealand visitor visa: Why you must apply for Christmas travel by Oct 15

To avoid missing out on your planned travel dates, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has set some important deadlines

New Zealand unveils new temporary visa for seasonal workers: Details here

To apply for New Zealand Specific Purpose Work visa, workers must submit their applications by March 31, 2025

New Zealand visa fee for students doubles: From Rs 19,000 to Rs 38,190

New Zealand visa fee for students will see a steep increase, doubling from NZ$375 to NZ$750

NZ food bank distributes candy with lethal amount of methamphetamine

A charity working with homeless people in Auckland, New Zealand unknowingly distributed candies filled with a potentially lethal dose of methamphetamine in its food parcels after the sweets were donated by a member of the public. Auckland City Mission told reporters on Wednesday that staff had started to contact up to 400 people to track down parcels that could contain the sweets -- which were solid blocks of methamphetamine enclosed in candy wrappers. New Zealand's police have opened a criminal investigation. The amount of methamphetamine in each candy was up to 300 times the level someone would usually take and could be lethal, according to the New Zealand Drug Foundation -- a drug checking and policy organisation, which first tested the candies. Ben Birks Ang, a Foundation spokesperson, said disguising drugs as innocuous goods was a common cross-border smuggling technique and more of the candies might have been distributed throughout New Zealand. The sweets had a high street val

Want to study or holiday in New Zealand? Visa costs to double from Oct 1

Increased visa costs could deter some students from choosing New Zealand.

Prez Murmu lays wreath at Pukeahu War National Memorial Park in New Zealand

President Murmu will hold a meeting with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and will address an education conference

Prez Murmu discusses ways to boost bilateral ties with New Zealand's Dy PM

President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday met New Zealand's Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters to discuss friendly bilateral ties and ways to enhance cooperation across various sectors. Murmu arrived in New Zealand on Wednesday on the second leg of her three-nation tour. She was accorded Royal Guard of Honour on her arrival in the country. "President Droupadi Murmu held a meeting with Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro of New Zealand. Both leaders hailed the warm and friendly relationship between the two countries and discussed cooperation across various sectors," the President's Office said in a post on X. Later, Peters, who is also the Foreign Minister, called on President Murmu. "Both leaders acknowledged the progress in bilateral relations and deliberated upon ways of enhancing cooperation in several areas," her office said. She also addressed the New Zealand International Education Conference in Wellington. During her address, she spoke about