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☆ New Zealand prime minister hitches ride on commercial plane after jet breaks down
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Lilit Marcus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

But an Air New Zealand plane had a very different reason for making an unplanned stop yesterday – they were picking up the country’s prime minister after his government aircraft broke down. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and a group of prominent business leaders were en route to Tokyo for a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. They were traveling on a Royal New Zealand Defense Force plane, which stopped in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea to refuel. Luckily, one of the 50-some business leaders in the delegation was Air New Zealand (ANZ) CEO Greg Foran. Coincidentally, Luxon, who was elected in 2023, spent seven years as the CEO of Air New Zealand before getting into politics.

Persons: Christopher Luxon, Fumio Kishida, couldn’t, Greg Foran, Luxon, Judith Collins, ” Collins, “, Jacinda Ardern, country’s Scott Organizations: CNN, Zealand, Japanese, Royal New Zealand Defense Force, Boeing, Air New Zealand, ANZ, Port Moresby, Kiwi, Newstalk ZB, “, country’s Locations: ., Tokyo, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Auckland, New Zealand, Antarctica, Italian

☆ Melinda French Gates explains why she resigned from the Gates Foundation — and what she’ll do now
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-28 | by ( David Goldman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

French Gates said she will donate $1 billion through 2026 to advance women’s rights around the world through her organization, Pivotal Ventures. French Gates will also give $250 million in awards to organizations working to help improve women’s mental and physical health. “I’m also experimenting with novel tactics to bring a wider range of perspectives into philanthropy,” French Gates wrote in her op-ed. In her op-ed, French Gates said she was once told to set her own agenda before someone else sets it — and that’s why she chose to leave the Gates Foundation. Just 2% of donations in the United States go to organizations focused on women and girls, French Gates noted.

Persons: Melinda French Gates, Dobbs, Gates, Melinda Gates, MacKenzie Scott, French Gates, Scott, “ I’m, Jacinda Ardern, Allyson Felix, Shabana Basij, ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, New York Times, Melinda Gates Foundation, Gates Foundation, New Zealand Locations: New York, United States

☆ Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern marries long-term partner at stunning winery on the country's North Island
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Eve Crosbie | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Jacinda Ardern tied the knot with her long-term partner, Clarke Gayford, on Saturday. They planned to marry in 2022 but had to cancel due to COVID-19 restrictions Ardern imposed as PM. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementJacinda Ardern married her long-term partner Clarke Gayford on Saturday, almost five years after they announced their engagement. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: Jacinda Ardern, Clarke Gayford, — Organizations: Service, New York Times, New, Business Locations: New Zealand

☆ Capping 5 Years of Speculation, Jacinda Ardern Gets Married
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Natasha Frost | More About Natasha Frost | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

She steered New Zealand through volcanic eruptions, terrorist attacks and a pandemic, won her party a record-breaking majority and, at age 37, became the world’s youngest female head of government. On Saturday, they finally got their answer, when the couple released official wedding portraits to the news media. The ceremony, which took place at the Craggy Range vineyard, in New Zealand’s spectacular Hawke’s Bay, follows one canceled effort and more than five years of media speculation. In January 2019, a BBC interviewer made headlines when she pressed Ms. Ardern on whether she and Mr. Gayford would marry, or whether she would consider proposing to Mr. Gayford if he did not pop the question, prompting accusations of sexism. Since then similar questions have dogged Ms. Ardern.

Persons: Jacinda Ardern, Clarke Gayford, fiancé, Ardern, Gayford Organizations: New Locations: New Zealand, New

☆ New Zealand ex-Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern weds longtime partner
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —New Zealand’s former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern married her longtime partner Clarke Gayford in a private ceremony on Saturday, finally tying the knot after canceling ceremonies during strict Covid-19 controls she imposed on the country. She became a global icon for left-leaning politics and women in leadership as prime minister from 2017 to January last year. Ardern, one of just two women to have a baby as national leaders, took her daughter to a United Nations meeting. Among the guests was Ardern’s successor as prime minister, Chris Hipkins, the current opposition leader, the New Zealand Herald said. In her final speech in parliament, Ardern told Gayford, a New Zealand television presenter, “Let’s finally get married.” The couple’s daughter Neve, is five years old.

Persons: Jacinda Ardern, Clarke Gayford, Gayford, Chris Hipkins, Prince William’s Earthshot, Ardern, “ Let’s, ”, Neve Organizations: CNN, New, United, New Zealand Herald, Harvard University Locations: New Zealand, United Nations, Hawke’s, New, Wellington, Christchurch

☆ As New Zealand Reverses Its Smoking Ban, Other Countries Push Ahead
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Alyssa Lukpat | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

New Zealand rolled back its plans to ban cigarette and tobacco sales, dealing a major blow to a global antismoking movement that had picked up pace in recent years. Leaders of New Zealand’s new conservative government said this week they planned to undo an antismoking law set to take effect next year, in part to generate revenue from sales of tobacco and vaping products. The watershed law, which passed last year under former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern , would have banned anyone born after 2008 from buying the products in the country.

Persons: Jacinda Ardern Organizations: Zealand

New Zealand’s new right-wing government has said it will repeal a law that would have gradually banned all cigarette sales in the country over the course of several decades. It would have gradually introduced changes in retail cigarette sales and licensing over several years until tobacco could eventually no longer be legally sold in New Zealand. By Jan. 1, 2027, the law would have made it illegal to sell tobacco products like cigarettes, to anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 2009, according to the government. The law would then have gradually raised the smoking age, year by year, until it covered the entire population. But last week, the new government said in published agreements between the three coalition partners that it would repeal the law, without explaining why.

Persons: Jacinda Ardern Locations: New Zealand

New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters arrives at a news conference after he attended an emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul, Turkey, March 22, 2019. The role of deputy prime minister, a key sticking point in the discussions, will be split between the populist NZ First party leader Winston Peters and ACT party leader David Seymour, the group announced in a statement. National Party deputy leader Nicola Willis will be finance minister and Peters will be foreign minister, the parties said. The coalition plans to repeal a ban on offshore oil and gas exploration and a ban on the sale of cigarettes to future generations introduced by the previous Labour government, according to coalition documents. "Foreign affairs does matter to this country.... all relationships do matter to this country," Peters said in a joint news conference in the capital Wellington after the announcement.

Persons: Winston Peters, Murad Sezer, David Seymour, Nicola Willis, Peters, Christopher Luxon, Luxon, ” Luxon, Jacinda, Helen Clark, Lucy Craymer, Praveen Menon, Diane Craft Organizations: Zealand's, of Islamic Cooperation, REUTERS, ACT NZ, National Party, NZ First, ACT, Party, Reserve, New Zealand, Bank of New, Labour, “, New Zealanders, Police, Thomson Locations: Istanbul, Turkey, WELLINGTON, Bank of New Zealand, Wellington, Niue

Hadri and Umar on Thursday began their defence after being accused of murdering Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu. Sirul was arrested on an Interpol notice and has been held in an Australian immigration detention centre since January 2015, after fleeing Malaysia shortly before the verdict was handed down. His release comes just days after a landmark ruling by Australia's High Court that outlawed indefinite immigration detention, leading to the release of dozens of asylum seekers. Malaysia's top police official Razarudin Husain confirmed news of Sirul's release from Australian detention and said police would discuss with the Attorney-General and the courts the possibility of seeking extradition. Sirul was serving as a member of Najib’s personal security detail at the time of the murder.

Persons: Azilah Hadri, Sirul Azhar Umar, Hadri, Umar, Bazuki Muhammad, Najib Razak, Sirul, Razarudin Husain, Sirul’s, Najib, Praveen Menon, Rozanna, Lincoln Organizations: Thursday, Mongolian, REUTERS, Rights, Australia's, Attorney, Thomson Locations: Shah Alam, Kuala Lumpur, KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysian, Australia, Malaysia, Canberra, Malaysia’s, Sydney

SYDNEY, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Millions of Australians were left without a phone or internet connection on Wednesday after the country's second-largest telecommunications provider experienced an unexplained nationwide outage. "Our teams are working urgently to restore services. The government had sought further information from Optus including when they expected to restore services. Melbourne's train networks were forced to shut down for about 30 minutes due to the outage, resulting in delays during the morning rush, media reported. A cyber breach last year hit Optus, exposing personal details of millions of its customers, including their home addresses, driver licence and passport numbers.

Persons: telco, Michelle Rowland, Rowland, Renju Jose, Praveen Menon, Stephen Coates Organizations: SYDNEY, Optus, Singapore Telecommunications, Commonwealth Bank, CBA, Reuters, Federal Communications, ABC Radio, Thomson Locations: Sydney

☆ Larry Hogan Withdraws From Harvard Fellowships Over 'Antisemitism' on Campus
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Larry Hogan is pulling out of two Harvard University fellowship programs. Hogan said this was in response to "dangerous anti-Semitism" that had "taken root" on its campus. AdvertisementAdvertisementFormer Maryland Governor Larry Hogan is the latest prominent figures to cut ties with Harvard, saying he's withdrawing from the university's fellowship programs over what he claims is "dangerous anti-Semitism" on campus. "I cannot condone the dangerous anti-Semitism that has taken root on your campus, especially by more than 30 Harvard student organizations attempting to justify and celebrate Hamas' terrorism against innocent Israeli and American civilians." Gay, the university's president, has made multiple statements condemning Hamas' violence and has stressed that the student groups don't speak for Harvard or its leadership.

Persons: Larry Hogan, Hogan, —, Claudine Gay, Gay, Hauser, Jacinda Ardern, Israel, Bill Ackman, Idan, Batia Ofer, Les Organizations: Maryland Gov, Harvard University, Service, Harvard, Hamas, University, Harvard's Kennedy School of Politics, Chan, of Public Health, Harvard Kennedy School, Kennedy School, New Zealand, Hauser, Republican, Business, Wexner Foundation, Gay, Palestine Solidarity Committee, PSC Locations: Israel, Maryland

[1/2] Voters walk past Vote 'Yes' and Vote 'No' signs at the Old Australian Parliament House, during The Voice referendum in Canberra, Australia, October 14, 2023. REUTERS/Tracey Nearmy Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Australian Indigenous leaders called on Sunday for a week of silence and reflection after a referendum to recognise the First Peoples in the constitution was decisively rejected by a majority of the population. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people make up 3.8% of Australia's 26 million population and have inhabited the country for about 60,000 years. The leaders said they would lower the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island flag to half-mast for the week and urged others to do the same. 'REFLECT HARD'Prime Minister Anthony Albanese staked significant political capital on the Voice referendum, but his critics say it was his biggest misstep since coming to power in May last year.

Persons: Tracey Nearmy, Lloyd Walker, Walker, Jade Ritchie, it’s, Anthony Albanese, Peter Dutton, Cordelia Hsu, Jill Gralow, Chizu Nomiyama Organizations: Old Australian, House, REUTERS, Rights, Peoples, Aboriginal, First Peoples, national rugby, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Canberra, Australia, Torres, Canada, New Zealand

☆ New Zealand elects conservative Christopher Luxon as premier after 6 years of liberal rule
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Ivan Tarlton | AFP | Getty ImagesConservative former businessman Christopher Luxon will be New Zealand's next prime minister after winning a decisive election victory Saturday. "But I want you to be proud of what we achieved over the last six years," he told supporters at an event in Wellington. The seat has long been a Labour stronghold and was also held by another former Labour prime minister, Helen Clark. It has been the biggest, safest Labour seat forever," she said. Luxon has promised to axe the Māori Health Authority, which he says creates two separate health systems.

Persons: Christopher Luxon, Ivan Tarlton, Jacinda Ardern, Luxon, Amanda, Olivia, Chris Hipkins, Hipkins, Ardern, Helen Clark, Melissa Lee, It's, Lee, David Farrar, pollster Organizations: National Party, AFP, Getty, Conservative, ACT Party, Labour Party, Ardern, Labour, Mount, Associated Press, Health Authority, Zealand Locations: Zealand, Auckland, Ardern, Wellington, Mount Albert

[1/2] A ‘No’ sign sits in front of the Tent Embassy near the Old Australian Parliament House as voters arrive during The Voice referendum, in Canberra, Australia, October 14, 2023. An Australian referendum requires a majority vote in at least four of its six states, as well as nationally. Ultimately, no state supported the "Voice" and the national vote was 40% "Yes" to 60% "No", according to preliminary counting. After the votes were counted, Dutton said his party supported Indigenous reconciliation but he made no mention of an alternative measure. Albanese, asked on Saturday why the vote had failed, said no referendum had succeeded without bipartisan support.

Persons: Tracey Nearmy, Anthony Albanese, Kos Samaras, Matt Qvortrup, Peter Dutton, Dutton, Timothy Graham, Graham, Cate Blanchett, Russell Crowe, Chris Hemsworth, Jason Mamoa, Shaquille O'Neal, Samaras, Donald Trump, Paul Smith, Smith, Albanese, Qvortrup, Byron Kaye, Praveen Menon, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Tent Embassy, Old Australian, House, REUTERS, Rights, Labor, Redbridge Group, Australian National University, Liberal Party, Queensland University of Technology, Qantas, NBA, Labor Party, U.S, European Union, Liberal, Thomson Locations: Tent, Canberra, Australia

Christopher Luxon, Leader of the National Party waves to supporters at his election party after winning the general election to become New Zealand’s next prime minister in Auckland, New Zealand, October 14, 2023. He said he had spoken with the leader of the conservative ACT New Zealand, David Seymour, twice on Saturday and believed the two parties would work constructively. National "will be coalescing with the ACT party and also with New Zealand First and we just don't know yet what dynamic that's going to bring." National's campaign manager Chris Bishop warned the party might lose at least one seat when the special votes are counted. If National and ACT lose a seat, they would need to reach an agreement with the populist New Zealand First.

Persons: Christopher Luxon, David Rowland, ” Luxon, David Seymour, Bryce Edwards, Edwards, Chris Bishop, Luxon, Winston Peters, Peters, Anthony Albanese, Lucy Craymer, Mark Potter, Chizu Nomiyama, William Mallard Organizations: National Party, New, REUTERS, Rights, ACT New Zealand, National, ACT, Electoral, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, Labour, Thomson Locations: Auckland , New Zealand, Auckland, Australia

☆ New Zealand PM Elect Luxon Expected to Start Coalition Negotiations
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Lucy CraymerWELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand’s Prime Minister-elect Christopher Luxon and his centre-right National Party are expected to start negotiations with the ACT Party Sunday, after the two parties won a slim majority in the general election. The conservative National Party won 50 seats and the ACT Party won 11, securing a majority of just one seat in the 121 seat parliament, according to provisional results from the Electoral Commission. Chris Bishop, National Party Campaign Chairperson, said on TVNZ political show Q+A that Luxon had already spoken with ACT leader David Seymour and senior National members would meet this afternoon to discuss coalition negotiations. Bishop said he expected National would lose at least one seat once these votes were counted. Under New Zealand’s mixed member proportional system it is very uncommon for a single party to form government, although Jacinda Ardern’s Labour government did in 2020.

Persons: Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON, Christopher Luxon, Luxon, Chris Bishop, David Seymour, Bishop, Lucy Craymer, Mark Potter Organizations: Reuters, Zealand’s, National, ACT Party Sunday, National Party, ACT Party, Electoral, TVNZ, ACT, New Zealand, Labour Locations: New Zealand

☆ New Zealand election: Voters goes to the polls in a narrow race
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins at Parliament on July 26, in Wellington, New Zealand. New Zealand National Party leader Christopher Luxon speaks during a National Party campaign rally on October 10 in Wellington, New Zealand. Before becoming prime minister, he was minister of education, minister of police, minister for the public service, and leader of the house. Hipkins’ main contender Luxon is a businessman and former CEO of Air New Zealand who became leader of the National Party in 2021. Voters get two votes on the ballot: one for a candidate in their local constituency and one for the party.

Persons: Jacinda Ardern, Christopher Luxon, Chris Hipkins, Winston Peters, Ardern, Hagen Hopkins, demagogues, Hipkins, Sophia Ha, ” Ha, “, ” Alex Wareham, ”, It’s, Wareham, Luxon Organizations: CNN, National Party, Labour Party, Radio NZ, NZ, Labour, Zealand, New Zealand National Party, Getty, Air New Locations: Zealand, New Zealand, Hipkins ., Wellington , New Zealand, Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland, Sydney, United States, United Kingdom, Covid, Air New Zealand, New

☆ New Zealand National Party's Luxon to lead new government
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] Christopher Luxon, Leader of the National Party waves to supporters at his election party after winning the general election to become New Zealand’s next prime minister in Auckland, New Zealand, October 14, 2023. REUTERS/David Rowland Acquire Licensing RightsWELLINGTON, Oct 14 (Reuters) - New Zealand's centre-right National Party led by Christopher Luxon will form a new government with its preferred coalition party ACT, as Prime Minister Chris Hipkins conceded his Labour Party could not form a government after Saturday's general election. The National Party, now in opposition, had 39% of the votes with 92% counted, while the ACT party had 9%. "On the numbers tonight National will be in the position to lead the next government," Luxon, a former executive who once ran Air New Zealand and entered politics just three years ago, told supporters in Auckland. The National-ACT majority is slim and the two parties may need support from the populist New Zealand First Party to form a government.

Persons: Christopher Luxon, David Rowland, Chris Hipkins, Ben Thomas, Jacinda Ardern, Hipkins, Maori's, Gareth Hughes, Nanaia Mahuta, Lucy Craymer, Edmund Klamann Organizations: National Party, New, REUTERS, Rights, ACT, Labour Party, Electoral, Air New, National, Zealanders, Labour, New Zealand First Party, Coalition, Green Party, New Zealand, Thomson Locations: Auckland , New Zealand, Air New Zealand, Auckland, New Zealand, New Zealanders

☆ New Zealand election campaign winds down with Labour facing defeat
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Prime Minister and Labour Party Leader Chris Hipkins speaks at the New Zealand Labour Party’s election campaign launch event in Auckland, New Zealand, September 2, 2023. However, Hipkins, 45 said Labour was starting to see momentum build in the final hours of campaigning. “We are expecting a really huge turnout ... and we’re expecting a really strong result tomorrow night," Hipkins, 45, told reporters. Polls predict that the nationalist New Zealand First Party will hold the balance of power. The party was Labour’s coalition partner in 2017 but has said it will not work with Labour again.

Persons: Chris Hipkins, David Rowland, Hipkins, Jacinda Ardern, we’re, Christopher Luxon, you've, ” Luxon, walkabouts, ”, Kelly Eckhold, Lucy Craymer, Stephen Coates Organizations: Labour Party, New Zealand Labour, REUTERS, Rights, Zealand, Labour, ACT Party, New Zealand First Party, National Party, MMP, Zealanders, “, Westpac, Thomson Locations: Auckland , New Zealand, Hipkins

REUTERS/Jaimi Joy/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Phone lines at 13Yarn, a national Indigenous helpline in Australia, are ringing off the hook. Australians will vote 'Yes' or 'No' to a single line question, asking whether they agree to alter the 122-year old constitution to recognise the First Peoples. It will also create a body, called the Voice to Parliament, that can advise the government on matters affecting the Indigenous community. Supporters believe the change will unite Australia and usher in a new era with its Indigenous people, who continue to be the most marginalised people in Australia. Ian Hamm an Aboriginal man who chairs the First Nations Foundation, an Aboriginal rights organisation, said he felt his community’s voice was at risk of being silenced.

Persons: Jaimi, Marjorie Anderson's, Anderson, they've, Nathan Allen, Gilbert, Tobin, Allen, Surya Deva, Deva, Price, Anthony Albanese, Ian Hamm, Praveen Menon, Kat Stafford, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Australia, United Nations, Development, UN, Indigenous Peoples, First Peoples ., Authorities, Indigenous, Nations Foundation, Thomson Locations: Todd, Alice Springs, Australia, 13Yarn, Torres, Australia's, Sydney, Canada, New Zealand

☆ After Jacinda Ardern, a ‘Scary Time’ for Women in New Zealand Politics
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Natasha Frost | More About Natasha Frost | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The last time New Zealanders voted in a general election, they were choosing between two women who were self-professed feminists. Three years later, in a sign of how sharply the pendulum has swung, they will pick between two men named Chris. Issues like pay equity, child poverty and the prevention of domestic violence and harassment have seldom featured in the current campaign. Female politicians across the spectrum now say they face extraordinary abuse from a misogynistic and sometimes scary slice of the population. Some women say they did not seek office because of safety fears.

Persons: Chris, Jacinda Ardern Organizations: Zealanders, New Zealand

☆ Conservative women leaders make their entrance at the UN General Assembly
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Stephanie Fillion | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

United Nations CNN —When Jacinda Ardern brought her baby Neve to the United Nations for the 2018 General Assembly, then-New Zealand Prime Minister became an emblematic figure of modern women in politics. But women attending the annual top rendezvous of diplomacy have remained a minority, and the UN General Assembly this year is no different. “This perpetuates the cycle,” Susana Malcorra, a former foreign minister of Argentina and president of Global Women Leaders Voices, said. Of course, not all the women leaders attending UNGA are on the far side of the political spectrum. It was Čaputová’s last General Assembly as president of her country, as she announced a few months ago she won’t seek reelection in 2024 for personal reasons.

Persons: Jacinda Ardern, Neve, ” Susana Malcorra, Katalin Novak, Giorgia Meloni, Meloni, “ Meloni, ” Richard Gowan, Katalin Novák, Viktor Orbán, it’s, Novák, Orban, Novak, ”, Mike Segar, Dina Boluarte, Peru’s, Pedro Castillo, Boluarte, UNGA, Zuzana, Maia Sandu, Nataša Pirc Musar, –, Sheikh Hasina, Mia Mottley, Bob Marley, Xiomara Castro, Ursula von der Leyen, Kristalina Georgieva, Ngozi, Natalie Portman Organizations: United Nations CNN, United Nations, Zealand, UN, Assembly, Global, Italian, Ukraine, Crisis, United Nations Security Council, Reuters, Security Council, Slovenia, Big Apple, European Commission, International Monetary Fund, World Trade Organization Locations: New York, Argentina, Italy, Ukraine, Slovakia, Moldova, Barbados, New York City, Honduras

☆ New Zealand should use diplomacy to avert any conflict in Taiwan Strait -PM
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Chris Hipkins speaks to members of the media, after being confirmed as the only nomination to replace Jacinda Ardern as leader of the Labour Party, outside New Zealand's parliament in Wellington, New Zealand, January 21, 2023. REUTERS/Lucy Craymer//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWELLINGTON, Sept 19 (Reuters) - New Zealand should use its diplomatic clout to try and avert a situation of armed conflict in the Taiwan Strait, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said on Tuesday during a first debate with his main challenger ahead of a general election. "Armed conflict in the Taiwan Strait is not going to be good for the world and New Zealand should use all of its diplomatic might – whatever that might be – to try and avoid that situation," Hipkins said. In recent months, however, Hipkins' Labour government has become more vocal, raising concerns about the impact China’s assertiveness is having on the Pacific region. Luxon agreed with Hipkins that talk of hypothetical scenarios such as China and Taiwan was not helpful, however.

Persons: Chris Hipkins, Jacinda Ardern, Lucy Craymer, Hipkins, Christopher Luxon, Luxon, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Labour Party, REUTERS, Rights, Labour, Party, Thomson Locations: New Zealand's, Wellington , New Zealand, New Zealand, Taiwan, China, Wellington, Australia, Britain, Canada, United States

☆ Factbox-New Zealand Election Shapes up as a Race of Many Parties
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Here are the key parties and potential combinations that may emerge from the Oct. 14 general election. LIKELY BEDFELLOWS: LABOUR AND GREENSPrime Minister Chris Hipkins has headed the Labour Party since Jacinda Ardern abruptly resigned in January. But with Labour trailing the centre-right National Party 28%-39% in the latest opinion poll, it looks unlikely Hipkins can hold onto power alone. POTENTIAL KINGMAKERSWinston Peters and his populist New Zealand First party are campaigning with slogans such as "Let’s take the country back." In the past it supported a National government, but Luxon has said he would not work with the Maori party.

Persons: Chris Hipkins, Jacinda Ardern, Hipkins, Christopher Luxon, KINGMAKERS Winston Peters, Pati, Luxon, Lucy Craymer, William Mallard Organizations: Reuters, Zealanders, LABOUR, GREENS, Labour Party, Labour, National, Green Party, Greens, ACT, ZEALAND, ACT New Zealand, Air New Zealand, New Zealand

☆ Factbox-New Zealand Voters' Top Issues in October General Election
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

Chris Hipkins, who took the prime minister's post in January after Jacinda Ardern stepped down, has nudged his Labour Party towards the centre, focusing on what he terms "bread and butter issues". The opposition National Party has blamed Labour for rising costs and is promising, if elected, to cut taxes and bring inflation under control. Given New Zealand's ever-increasing building costs, poor housing stock and overcrowding, however, supply continues to fall short of demand. The National Party has proposed unlocking more land for housing, providing incentives for councils to build more houses and creating new infrastructure financing tools. The National Party says it will encourage trade and investment, increase the skilled labour force and cut red tape.

Persons: Chris Hipkins, Jacinda Ardern, Hipkins, Lucy Craymer, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Reuters, New Zealanders, Labour, National, Labour Party, National Party, Zealand's Labour Locations: New, New Zealand, China, Pacific, Solomon, South Pacific, Britain

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