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☆ Inquiry into New Zealand's deadliest shooting to start on Tuesday
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Farid Ahmed, survivor of the Christchurch shootings where her wife Husna was killed, is joined in prayer with his neighbours, during his visit to offer thanks for their support, in Christchurch, New Zealand, March 24, 2019. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWELLINGTON, Oct 20 (Reuters) - A coroner's inquiry into the death of 51 Muslim worshippers in 2019 in New Zealand’s deadliest shooting will start on Tuesday, hoping to establish what happened after the attack started and make recommendations to prevent deaths in the future. Armed with high-capacity semi-automatic weapons, Australian Brenton Tarrant, 32, killed 51 people and injured dozens when he opened fire on Muslim worshippers on March 15, 2019, in Christchurch. Tarrant released a racist manifesto shortly before the attack and streamed the shootings live on Facebook. A Royal Commission of Inquiry in 2020 found that security agencies were almost exclusively focused on the perceived threat of Islamist terrorism before the massacre.

Persons: Farid Ahmed, Husna, Edgar Su, Brenton Tarrant, Tarrant, ” Tarrant, Lucy Craymer, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Facebook, New, Coroners, Royal Commission of, Thomson Locations: Christchurch, Christchurch , New Zealand, New, New Zealand

☆ Explainer: New Zealand voted for change, what happens now?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Christopher Luxon, Leader of the National Party arrives at his election party after winning the general election to become New Zealand’s next prime minister in Auckland, New Zealand, October 14, 2023. National won 50 seats and the right-wing, free-market ACT Party won 11, securing a majority of just one seat in the 121-seat parliament, according to provisional results from the Electoral Commission. If they do, National may need the support of populist New Zealand First and its leader Winston Peters to form a government. National's leader Christopher Luxon said he would wait for the final count to come in but was talking with both ACT and New Zealand First. Parliament has to meet with six weeks of the official election result but there is no date for when a government must be formed.

Persons: Christopher Luxon, David Rowland, Winston Peters, Luxon, Nicola Willis, Zealand First's Peters, Brooke van Velden, Lucy Craymer, Lincoln Organizations: National Party, New, REUTERS, Rights, Party, National, ACT Party, Electoral, ACT, New Zealand, WHO, Labour Party, APEC, BE, Zealand, Thomson Locations: Auckland , New Zealand, Zealand, Wellington

☆ Airline CEO-turned-politician Luxon to lead New Zealand to the right
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Christopher Luxon, Leader of the National Party arrives at his election party after winning the general election to become New Zealand’s next prime minister in Auckland, New Zealand, October 14, 2023. The former Air New Zealand chief executive, Luxon became leader of the centre-right National Party at the end of 2021, boosting its popularity until winning Saturday's general election. National won 50 seats and its preferred coalition partner, ACT New Zealand, won 11, securing a majority of one seat in the 121-seat parliament, according to provisional results from the Electoral Commission. I'm there to represent all New Zealanders," Luxon told Reuters earlier this year. A millionaire father of two with several homes across the country, Luxon is learning the Maori language and is a Taylor Swift fan, quoting her in televised debates and interviews.

Persons: Christopher Luxon, David Rowland, Luxon, Taylor Swift, Lucy Craymer, William Mallard Organizations: National Party, New, REUTERS, Rights, Labour, Air New Zealand, Party, National, ACT New Zealand, Electoral, Unilever, Air New, New Zealanders, All Blacks, national rugby team, Zealanders, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Auckland , New Zealand, New Zealand, Air New Zealand, Ukraine, Russia, New

☆ New Zealand Prime Minister-elect Luxon to get cracking on building coalition relationships
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

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/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWELLINGTON, Oct 16 (Reuters) - New Zealand's prime minister-elect, Christopher Luxon, said on Monday while his party was waiting for special votes to be counted, they would also "get cracking" on building relationships with both ACT New Zealand and New Zealand First. Luxon's centre-right National Party and preferred coalition partner ACT won a razor-thin electoral victory on Saturday, together securing 61 seats in 121 seat parliament. Luxon told government-funded Radio New Zealand on Monday that National would be waiting for the special votes to be counted but were going to get started on building relationships and having conversations with both ACT and New Zealand First. He added he would ideally like to have a government formed before the APEC meeting in November but that this will depend on the special votes and how negotiations have progressed.

Persons: Christopher Luxon, David Rowland, Luxon, Lucy Craymer, Sandra Maler Organizations: National Party, New, REUTERS, Rights, ACT New, New Zealand, ACT, National, APEC, Labour, Thomson Locations: Auckland , New Zealand, ACT New Zealand, New, Luxon's, New Zealand, Wellington

☆ 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

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

☆ Voting closes in New Zealand election, counting set to begin
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] People head to the polls to vote in the general election in Auckland, New Zealand October 14, 2023. REUTERS/David Rowland Acquire Licensing RightsWELLINGTON, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Voting closed in New Zealand’s general election at 7:00 p.m. (0600 GMT) on Saturday and counting was set to start, with provisional results due later this evening. 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. In the 2023 election a party or coalition needs 61 of Parliament's 120 seats to form a government.

Persons: David Rowland, Lucy Craymer, John Mair Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, ACT Party, New Zealand First Party, Labour, New, Thomson Locations: Auckland , New Zealand, New, New Zealand

☆ 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

☆ 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 winner will face defence spending decisions
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWELLINGTON, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Whoever wins New Zealand’s election on Saturday is going to have to make some difficult decisions on investment and staffing for a defence force struggling with aging equipment and personnel shortages. The centre-right National Party led by Christopher Luxon is expected to emerge as the largest party in the Saturday vote with Prime Minister Chris Hipkin’s Labour Party coming second. Both Labour and the National Party have said they'd like to increase defence spending but have not promised to do so. Underspending on the military and the challenges it faces are well documented and it is becoming increasingly difficult to postpone costly decisions, defence analysts say. The Labour Party has campaigned on a policy of introducing an authority to set pay rates.

Persons: Te, Romeo Ranoco, Christopher Luxon, Chris Hipkin’s, “, ”, Anna Powles, Lucy Craymer, Robert Birsel Organizations: Royal New Zealand Navy, REUTERS, Rights, New Zealand Defence Force, National Party, Chris Hipkin’s Labour Party, Labour, National, ACT, Gross, Centre for Defence, Security, Massey University, New Zealand, Labour Party, Thomson Locations: Manila, Philippines, New Zealand, Pacific, South Pacific

☆ New Zealand's economy poses challenge for election victor
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] Christopher Luxon, Leader of the National Party, speaks at the New Zealand National Party’s election campaign launch in Auckland, New Zealand, September 3, 2023. That will stiffen the challenge for the nation's two major parties, the centre-left Labour Party and the centre-right National Party, to deliver its agenda where rising prices and government debt have been hot-button election issues. At the same time government borrowing costs are increasing and the country’s ballooning current account deficit poses a risk to the country’s credit rating. Kelly Eckhold, chief economist at Westpac New Zealand said tough fiscal choices face an incoming government. ($1 = 1.6551 New Zealand dollars)Reporting by Lucy Craymer Editing by Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Christopher Luxon, David Rowland, won’t, Kelly Eckhold, ”, Lucy Craymer, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: National Party, New Zealand National, REUTERS, Rights, Labour Party, Bank, Bank of New, National, Statistics New Zealand, Reserve Bank of New, Labour, NZ, Westpac New Zealand, Zealand, Thomson Locations: Auckland , New Zealand, Bank of New Zealand, New Zealand, Zealanders, Reserve Bank of New Zealand

☆ New Zealand Labour party support rises, NZ First remains kingmaker, polls show
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Christopher Luxon, leader of the New Zealand National Party, holds a media conference after casting his vote in the general election in Auckland, New Zealand, October 2, 2023. In the Oct. 14 vote, the centre-right National Party, led by Christopher Luxon, is expected to emerge as the largest party with 34% of the vote, while Chris Hipkins' Labour Party is sitting on 30% of the vote, the Guardian Essential poll showed. A Newshub-Reid Research poll also released on Wednesday similarly found the populist party set to play kingmaker come election day. The poll also recorded a slight jump in support for Labour and a dip for the Nationals, who polled at 27.5% and 34.5%, respectively. Earlier polls gave the centre-right bloc of National and the ACT Party a larger proportion of the vote, although most recent polls put NZ First in position of kingmaker.

Persons: Christopher Luxon, David Rowland, Chris Hipkins, Te Pati, Reid, kingmaker, Luxon, Chris Bishop, Lucy Craymer, Sharon Singleton, Stephen Coates, Gerry Doyle Organizations: New Zealand National Party, REUTERS, Rights, New Zealand First Party, Labour Party, National Party, Guardian, National, ACT, Labour, Greens, Te, New Zealand, Reid Research, Nationals, New, ACT Party, NZ, Thomson Locations: Auckland , New Zealand, New Zealand

☆ New Zealand's Economy Poses Challenge for Election Victor
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

That will stiffen the challenge for the nation's two major parties, the centre-left Labour Party and the centre-right National Party, to deliver its agenda where rising prices and government debt have been hot-button election issues. “The Reserve Bank will need the government to do its bit if it is to cap the cash rate at the 5.5% it currently suggests,” analysts at Bank of New Zealand said in a note. DEBT, AND MORE DEBTThe biggest challenge for many New Zealanders is mortgage rates. At the same time government borrowing costs are increasing and the country’s ballooning current account deficit poses a risk to the country’s credit rating. Kelly Eckhold, chief economist at Westpac New Zealand said tough fiscal choices face an incoming government.

Persons: Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON, won’t, Kelly Eckhold, ”, Lucy Craymer, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: Reuters, Labour Party, National Party, Bank, Bank of New, National, Statistics New Zealand, Reserve Bank of New, Labour, NZ, Westpac New Zealand, Zealand Locations: Bank of New Zealand, New Zealand, Zealanders, Reserve Bank of New Zealand

☆ New Zealand PM returns to campaign trail after recovering from COVID
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 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. REUTERS/David Rowland/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWELLINGTON, Oct 6 (Reuters) - New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins on Friday said he was back on the election campaign trail, after he tested negative for COVID-19 earlier in the day. New Zealand is just a week out from the Oct. 14 general election, which the ruling Labour party is unlikely to win. Labour faced a new challenge on Sunday when Hipkins tested positive for COVID and had to work remotely while isolating. "But I'm very much looking forward to getting back on the campaign trail."

Persons: Chris Hipkins, David Rowland, Hipkins, TVNZ's 1News, I'm, Lucy Craymer, Tom Hogue Organizations: Labour Party, New Zealand Labour, REUTERS, Rights, Zealand, Labour, Thomson Locations: Auckland , New Zealand, New Zealand

☆ NZ central bank holds rates, signals higher hurdle to further hikes; kiwi tumbles
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

View of an entrance to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand in Wellington, New Zealand November 10, 2022. “Interest rates are constraining economic activity and reducing inflationary pressure as required,” the central bank said in a statement. The past RBNZ rate hikes have sharply slowed New Zealand’s economy but recent data showed it was tracking above central bank expectations at 0.9% quarterly growth. The central bank releases a comprehensive update of economic indicators and the forecast official cash rate track when it publishes its quarterly Monetary Policy Statement (MPS), which is due on Nov. 29. “The Bank appears content to wait for restrictive policy settings to fully feed through to the real economy,” analysts at Capital Economics in a note.

Persons: Lucy Craymer, ”, Kelly Eckhold, “ Organizations: WELLINGTON, Reuters, Reserve Bank of New, REUTERS, Bank of New Zealand, New Zealand, Westpac NZ, U.S . Federal Reserve, Capital Economics Locations: Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Wellington , New Zealand, Global, New Zealand

☆ New Zealand starts new tourism campaign as post-COVID visits lag
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Tourism New Zealand/Handout via... Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreWELLINGTON, Oct 3 (Reuters) - New Zealand is launching a new tourism campaign with Kiwi director and actor Taika Waititi to attract visitors after the sector was hammered by COVID-19 and border closures. Visitors from United States are a major target audience, said Rene de Monchy, chief executive for Tourism New Zealand. The film, shot in December 2022, will also play on social media platforms in Australia, Germany, the UK and parts of Asia. Prior to COVID and the closure of New Zealand's borders, international tourism was New Zealand's largest source of foreign exchange and accounted for about 5.5% of gross domestic product. ($1 = 1.6810 New Zealand dollars)Reporting by Lucy Craymer; Editing by Richard ChangOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Waititi, Jade Daniels, Taika Waititi, Rene de Monchy, we've, Lucy Craymer, Richard Chang Organizations: HBO, Tourism, Kiwi, Visitors, Tourism New, Zealand, Thomson Locations: Zealand, New Zealand, Tourism New Zealand, WELLINGTON, United States, Australia, Germany, Asia, Zealand's, Kaikoura, Auckland

☆ New Zealanders start voting in Oct. 14 general election
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Praveen Menon Acquire Licensing RightsWELLINGTON, Oct 2 (Reuters) - New Zealanders on Monday started voting for a new government as advance in-person balloting opened ahead of the Oct. 14 general election. Chief Electoral Officer Karl Le Quesne said in a statement that 400 polling places were open on Monday. Voting before election day has increased in popularity, and in 2020, 68% of votes were cast in advance, Le Quesne said. Overseas electronic and in-person voting at embassies opened last week for enrolled voters. New Zealand does not use mail voting but in special circumstances some people can vote electronically.

Persons: Praveen Menon, Karl Le Quesne, ”, Le Quesne, Chris Hipkins, Lucy Craymer, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: New, REUTERS, Rights, Zealanders, Overseas, National Party, Labour Party, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Wellington , New Zealand, Zealand

☆ New Zealand farmers set for right-wing protest vote over climate change policies
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Warning that livelihoods are at stake, farmers are looking to conservative candidates who will unwind or delay these Labour policies. The two will travel the length of New Zealand over 10 days to encourage rural communities to vote for a change. Farmers in New Zealand have staged several protests in the past two years against growing regulations and agricultural emission schemes. New Zealand will also become the first country in the world to tax farmer for methane from animals from 2025. Wayne Langford, president of farmer lobby group Federated Farmers, said recent policies had been impractical, difficult to implement and caused significant frustrations.

Persons: Praveen Menon, Bryce McKenzie, Laurie Paterson, John Deere, ”, McKenzie, Chris Hipkins, James Shaw, Wayne Langford, it's, Langford, Lucy Craymer, Michael Perry Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, New Zealand Labour Party, Farmers, ACT, Taxpayers, Union, Curia, National, Labour, Green Party, Federated Farmers, New Zealand, Thomson Locations: Hawke's Bay , New Zealand, Southland, New Zealand, Rural, Zealanders, Netherlands, Zealand

☆ New Zealand National Party prepared to join forces with NZ First to get into power
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Christopher Luxon, Leader of the National Party, speaks at the New Zealand National Party’s election campaign launch in Auckland, New Zealand, September 3, 2023. REUTERS/David Rowland/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWELLINGTON, Sept 25 (Reuters) - New Zealand's National Party leader said on Monday he is prepared to work with the populist New Zealand First if there are numbers needed to form a majority after the election. The centre-right National Party is currently leading the polls but is unlikely to be able to govern without the support of at least one smaller party. However, he added he would be prepared to form a coalition with New Zealand First if that would get his party into power. Leader of New Zealand First Winston Peters is a one-time National Party member and his party has previously been a coalition partner in both Labour and National-led governments.

Persons: Christopher Luxon, David Rowland, Winston Peters, Lucy Craymer, Chizu Organizations: National Party, New Zealand National, REUTERS, Rights, New Zealand, Party, ACT, National, New, Labour, Thomson Locations: Auckland , New Zealand, Zealand

☆ New Zealand economy expands faster than expected
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Shoppers walk in front of a retail shop displaying a sale sign in central Wellington, New Zealand, July 3, 2017. Annual growth increased to 1.8%, Statistics New Zealand data showed, above expectations of 1.2%. "It's a victory for the New Zealand economy and for the people who work hard every single day to deliver high quality jobs," Finance Minister Grant Robertson told reporters. The handling of the economy has been a central theme in this year's election with the opposition criticising the government's role in record high inflation and the slowing economy. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) has been forecasting the economy would slip into recession in the second half of 2023.

Persons: David Gray, Gabrielle, Grant Robertson, Lucy Craymer, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, Statistics, New Zealand, U.S . Federal, Labour, New, Finance, ASB, Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Thomson Locations: Wellington , New Zealand, WELLINGTON, Statistics New Zealand, Zealand, New Zealand

☆ 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

☆ New Zealand Foreign Minister to Attend UN as Prime Minister Campaigns at Home
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Lucy CraymerWELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand's foreign minister will attend the United Nations General Assembly before heading onto Washington for meetings on Pacific regional issues, leaving Prime Minister Chris Hipkins at home to campaign ahead of the Oct. 14 election. Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said in a statement that she would participate in the United Nations leaders’ meetings starting this week on behalf at Hipkins and undertake a number of bilateral and multilateral meetings. "I’m looking forward to delivering the National Statement on behalf of New Zealand and reaffirming our close relationships with friends and key partners while in the United States," Mahuta said. Pacific Island countries are expected to meet with President Joe Biden next week for a second summit with the United States. "I am looking forward to having productive discussions in Washington DC to consider how the United States can help advance Pacific priorities," said Mahuta.

Persons: Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON, Chris Hipkins, Nanaia Mahuta, Mahuta, Joe Biden, Biden, Lucy Craymer, Michael Perry Organizations: Reuters, United Nations General Assembly, Labour, National Party, . Foreign, United Nations, Washington DC, Pacific . Locations: Washington, New Zealand, Hipkins, United States, Pacific

☆ New Zealand banks to introduce new measures to prevent scams
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Thomas White/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWELLINGTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - New Zealand banks on Friday said they would introduce new steps to counter scams targeted at its customers including establishing a national Anti-Scam centre, combining resources to combat money laundering and increasing public awareness. Roger Beaumont, chief executive of the New Zealand Banking Association, which represents all large banks based in New Zealand, said in a statement that the joint commitment by retail banks is expected to have a positive impact in tackling fraud and scams. In the second quarter of 2023 1,950 scams were reported with people losing NZ$4.2 million ($2.48 million), according to data from the New Zealand government’s Computer Emergency Response Team. Australia, where four of New Zealand’s largest retail banks are headquartered, is also introducing similar new measures. ($1 = 1.6915 New Zealand dollars)Reporting by Lucy Craymer Editing by Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Thomas White, Roger Beaumont, Beaumont, Lucy Craymer, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, New Zealand Banking Association, NZ, Zealand, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Australia

☆ 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

☆ New Zealand's National Party looks to cement lead 30 days out from election
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Christopher Luxon, Leader of the National Party, attends the New Zealand National Party’s election campaign launch in Auckland, New Zealand, September 3, 2023. REUTERS/David Rowland/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWELLINGTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Thirty days out from New Zealand’s general election, recent polls show the opposition party National cementing its lead, as both parties are on the campaign trail trying to win over voters with proposed tax cuts and funding for infrastructure. A 1News Verian poll released late on Wednesday saw support for centre-right National up 2 percentage point to 39%, while the ruling Labour Party saw support fall 1 percentage point to 28%. The poll gives National and likely partner ACT a majority in parliament following the Oct. 14 election. “When farmers are strong, New Zealand is strong, and national understands that and that's why we back farmers so strongly,” National leader Christopher Luxon said at the launch of the policy.

Persons: Christopher Luxon, David Rowland, Chris Hipkins, ”, Luxon, Lucy Craymer, Stephen Coates Organizations: National Party, New Zealand National, REUTERS, Rights, National, Labour Party, ACT, Labour, Zealand, Thomson Locations: Auckland , New Zealand, New, New Zealand

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