Browsing Tag
New Zealand
62 posts
Magnitude 6.2 earthquake detected off N. Zealand’s south coast
A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck off the southern coast of New Zealand near the Auckland Islands.
The quake’s epicenter was deep below the earth’s surface, and there were no immediate reports of damage or a tsunami warning.
The nearby city of Invercargill did not experience any notable effects from the earthquake.
New Zealand fights to save its flightless national bird
Wild kiwi birds have returned to Wellington’s hills after a century-long absence. Invasive predators had nearly decimated the population of native birds in New Zealand, but more than 90 community initiatives working nationwide have brought the population back.
The Capital Kiwi Project, a charitable trust, laid 4,500 traps and released kiwi birds last November after “blitzing” stoats.
The goal is to release 250 birds over the next five years to establish a large wild kiwi population.
Jacinda Ardern delivers final speech to NZ parliament
Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern retired from politics after a career marked by empathetic leadership during crises. Ardern steered New Zealand through natural disasters, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2019 Christchurch mosque massacre.
She will now devote herself to fighting online extremism as part of the Christchurch Call project and become a trustee of Prince William’s Earthshot Prize. Despite her reputation, Ardern faced escalating abuse online and was targeted 50 times more than any other high-profile figure in New Zealand.
New Zealand to ban TikTok from MPs’ devices: parliament
New Zealand is set to ban TikTok from all parliamentary devices due to security concerns, joining other Western nations such as Canada, Britain, and the United States.
The ban will begin on 31 March and is based on the analysis of New Zealand’s own experts and consultations with colleagues across the government and internationally.
TikTok has faced global action since India barred it in 2020, while the US accused it of spying for China.
50,000 teachers strike in New Zealand over cost of living
50,000 New Zealand teachers went on strike demanding better pay and improved working conditions, as talks with the Ministry of Education stalled.
The strike forced kindergartens, primary, and secondary schools to close across the country, with trade unions arguing that the latest pay offer did not match inflation and that the education sector is at a “crisis point” due to teacher shortages.
The cost of living has become a major political issue in New Zealand, with recent figures suggesting that the country’s economy is shrinking, fueling fears of a looming recession.
