Page 9 - New Zealand

Inflation slows in New Zealand to its lowest rate since 2021, shows data

Inflation in New Zealand has slowed to its lowest rate in two and a half years, the country's official statistics agency announced on Wednesday. Stats NZ revealed the latest consumers price index (CPI) data had slowed to 4.7% across 2023, a significant drop from the 5.6% result in the year to September 2023. The agency said falling food and transport prices were the main drivers of the slowdown in the inflation rate which had peaked at 7.3 per cent in 2022. While the CPI is still above the the Reserve Bank of New Zealand's target band of 1-3%, the better than expected slowdown all but ends any speculation of a further hike of the official cash rate which currently sits at 5.5% when the Reserve Bank next meets in on Feb. 28. The fall to 4.7% was in line with market expectations, but lower than the Reserve Bank's prediction of 5%. New Zealand Finance Minister Nicola Willis said a key goal of the government was to lower inflation. Our immediate focus is getting inflation back into

New Zealand MP Golriz Ghahraman resigns after shoplifting allegations

The allegations were first reported on January 10 by Newstalk ZB Plus, which stated that Ghahraman had been accused of shoplifting during the holiday season at a luxury brand store

New Zealand's Auckland first major city to celebrate New Year 2024

Auckland has become the first major city to ring in 2024, with thousands cheering a fireworks display sprouting from New Zealand's tallest structure, Sky Tower, and a downtown light show. This year's New Year's Eve celebrations are overshadowed by the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, which have cast a pall over festivities and heightened tensions across parts of the world. Many cities are deploying extra security and some places have canceled New Year's Eve events altogether. In Auckland, light rain throughout Sunday had cleared as forecast by midnight over the city of 1.7 million people before the countdown began on an illuminated digital display near the top of the 328-metre communications and observation tower. Two hours later in neighbouring Australia, the Sydney Harbor Bridge will become the focal point of a renowned midnight fireworks display and light show viewed annually by around 425 million people worldwide, according to city authorities. More police than ever have been

Cabinet nod to open Consulate General of India in New Zealand's Auckland

India will soon open a consulate general in Auckland, which is home to a large number of non-resident Indians in New Zealand. The Union Cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, approved the proposal to open a Consulate General of India in Auckland, an official statement said. The consulate is likely to be opened and fully operationalised within 12 months, it added. India currently has a consulate in Auckland, which is headed by a honorary consul. The opening of a consulate general would pave the way for the appointment of a consul general, a post usually held by an officer of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS). Opening the Consulate General of India in Auckland would help increase the country's diplomatic footprint and strengthen its representation in view of its increasing global engagement, the statement said. "This will also help promote India's strategic and commercial interests and better serve the welfare of the Indian community in Auckland,"

Land for job scam: Tejashwi allowed to travel to Australia, New Zealand

He is to travel to Australia and New Zealand for an official visit from January 6 to 18, 2024

Rocket Lab launches Japanese satellite from company's New Zealand complex

California-based Rocket Lab, which specializes in putting small satellites into orbit, launched a Japanese satellite on Friday from the space company's complex on New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula. The mission, named The Moon God Awakens, was initially scheduled for Wednesday but was postponed due to forecast strong winds. The Electron rocket launched at 5:06 p.m. local time (0406 GMT). The rocket is carrying a TSUKUYOMI-I satellite into orbit on behalf of Japanese start-up Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space Inc. Rocket Lab is to release a statement on the mission's progress after the satellite reaches its orbit around an hour after takeoff. The synthetic-aperture radar satellite, named after a Japanese god of the moon, will collect images of the Earth, Rocket Lab said. The mission is Rocket Lab's 10th for 2023, exceeding its annual record of nine set last year. It is the 42nd Electron launch from Mahia or from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport in Wallops Island, Virginia, since

NZ: 3 Khalistan supporters sentenced for plot to kill Kiwi radio host

During the hearing, Judge Mark Woolford emphasised the need for community protection and a strong deterrence against religious fanaticism

New Zealand reverses ground-breaking smoking ban to fund tax cuts

The move has sparked outrage among public health officials and anti-tobacco groups, who are dismayed by the decision to abandon the ban to finance tax cuts

Luxon sworn in as New Zealand prime minister, says economy is top priority

Christopher Luxon was sworn in as New Zealand's prime minister on Monday and said his top priority was to improve the economy. The 53-year-old former businessman leads a conservative coalition after his National Party struck a deal on Friday with two smaller parties following a general election last month. After the swearing-in ceremony, which was presided over by Governor-General Cindy Kiro, Luxon told reporters the job was an awesome responsibility". He said he would hold his first Cabinet meeting on Tuesday and look to quickly finalise a 100-day plan. He said he also planned a visit to Australia before Christmas Day. Luxon said he needed to get a Treasury briefing on the state of the government's finances. We are concerned and worried that it's been a deteriorating picture for a number of months now, Luxon said. Under the coalition agreement, Luxon has promised to deliver tax cuts and train 500 more police officers within two years. He has also promised less government bureau

New Zealand National Party forms coalition government with two parties

Christopher Luxon will replace the outgoing Labour Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, who held the role for a mere nine months

What did Satya Nadella do during the India-New Zealand semi-final match?

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said he stayed awake all night to watch the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup semi-final between India and New Zealand before delivering his keynote speech

India vs NZ semi-final: Celebs guest list for the ICC World Cup 2023 today

Superstar Rajinikanth and former footballer David Beckham are among the guests at the Wankhede stadium to attend the India vs New Zealand semi-final clash today

HCLTech appoints Sonia Eland as country manager for Australia, New Zealand

IT services company does business in digital, engineering, cloud, AI in the two countries

India beat New Zealand by 4 wickets to record straight 5th win in World Cup

India beat New Zealand by four wickets to record their straight fifth win in the World Cup here on Sunday. Virat Kohli struck 95 off 105 balls and shared 78 runs with Ravindra Jadeja (39 not out) for the sixth wicket to chase down the 274-run target in 48 overs. Captain Rohit Sharma contributed 46 off 40 balls at the top of batting order. Lockie Ferguson was the most successful New Zealand bowler with figures of 2 for 63. Earlier, pacer Mohammed Shami grabbed 5/54 in his comeback game to help India restrict New Zealand to 273. Kuldeep Yadav bagged 2/73. Daryl Mitchell top-scored for New Zealand with a career-best 130. New Zealand lost openers Devon Conway (0) and Will Young (17) cheaply, but thereafter Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra (75) shared a 159-run partnership to revive their innings. Brief Scores: New Zealand 273 in 50 overs (Daryl Mitchell 130, Rachin Ravindra 75; Mohammed Shami 5/54). India: 274 for 6 in 48 overs (Virat Kohli 95, Rohit Sharma 46; Lockie Ferguson 2/63).

X tests $1 fee for new users in Philippines, New Zealand to target spam

Elon Musk's social media platform X has begun charging a USD 1 fee to new users in the Philippines and New Zealand, in a test designed to cut down on the spam and fake accounts flourishing on the site formerly known as Twitter. The company said late Tuesday that it has started trying out the annual subscription method for new and unverified accounts. The program, dubbed Not a Bot, won't apply to existing users. It's not clear why it only applies to New Zealand and the Philippines or why those countries were chosen. This new test was developed to bolster our already successful efforts to reduce spam, manipulation of our platform and bot activity, while balancing platform accessibility with the small fee amount, the X support account tweeted. It is not a profit driver. Since Musk bought X a year ago, he has introduced a slew of changes such as renaming the platform and gutting its workforce including its content moderation team. Outside watchdog groups say the changes have allowed

Musk's X to test charging users $1 a year to reduce spam, bot accounts

The test, called "Not a Bot," started Tuesday in New Zealand and the Philippines, X said in a blog post

NZ immigration hits all-time high as movement surges after pandemic lull

New Zealand's immigration numbers have hit an all-time high, enabling employers to fill jobs but also putting pressure on the housing market, according to economists. The net number of immigrants was 110,000 in the year ending August, beating the previous high of 103,000 set a month earlier, according to figures released Wednesday by Statistics New Zealand. The numbers represent a big turnaround after more people left New Zealand than arrived during much of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are talking very, very big numbers for a small economy like ours, said Jarrod Kerr, chief economist at Kiwibank. Kerr said the surge likely reflected pent-up demand that had built during the pandemic. He said it had come as a relief to employers, who last year were having great difficulty finding skilled workers to fill vacant roles. New Zealand's unemployment rate remains at a relatively low 3.6 per cent. But Kerr also cautioned the migrants would need a lot of resources, including tens of thousands o

CWC 2023: Mitchell Santner bowls New Zealand to victory against Netherlands

The Netherlands bounced back in the game as they departed Mitchell (48), Glenn Phillips (4), Mark Chapman (5) and Latham, who slammed a fifty

Early voting begins in NZ's election and in Australia for Indigenous Voice

Early voting began on Monday in New Zealand for the nation's October 14 general election, with conservative contender Christopher Luxon casting his ballot. Early voting also began in some parts of Australia in a referendum that would enshrine in Australia's constitution a mechanism for Indigenous people to advise Parliament on policies that affect their lives. In New Zealand, the campaign of Prime Minister Chris Hipkins faced a setback on Sunday when he tested positive for COVID-19. He said he would isolate for five days or until he returned a negative test, but planned to continue with some engagements over Zoom. Hipkins and his liberal Labour Party have been lagging behind the opposition National Party, led by Christopher Luxon, in opinion polls.. After a rough night I woke up this morning feeling pretty unwell and just got this test result, Hipkins wrote on Instagram, and said he'd work twice as hard when he got back out on the campaign trail. Luxon on Sunday released a 100-da

MoS Ranjan Singh, New Zealand PM take part in 1st India Business Summit '23

The summit was co-organised by the High Commission of India in Wellington and the Auckland Chamber of Commerce