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☆ 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

☆ New Zealand forecasts much larger budget deficit but improved economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWELLINGTON, Sept 12 (Reuters) - New Zealand’s government on Tuesday predicted a larger budget deficit but better-than-expected economic conditions in the year ahead, as it updated forecasts heading into the October election. The government forecast a budget deficit of NZ$11.4 billion ($6.7 billion) for the year ending June 30, 2024, much larger than a deficit of NZ$7.6 billion estimated in May. The global economy has deteriorated since May, which is having a direct impact on New Zealand's economy while tax revenue is also falling, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in a statement. "Treasury’s latest forecasts show the economy isn’t working for Kiwis," said National Party leader Christopher Luxon. ($1 = 1.6926 New Zealand dollars)Reporting by Lucy Craymer; Editing by Sam Holmes and Edwina GibbsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: David Gray, Grant Robertson, Robertson, ", Christopher Luxon, Lucy Craymer, Sam Holmes, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Finance, Zealanders, Treasury, Kiwis, National Party, Reserve Bank of New, Zealand, Thomson Locations: Wellington , New Zealand, Reserve Bank of New Zealand

☆ New Zealand election campaign steps up with cost of living in focus
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Opinion polls show a coalition of conservative parties is favoured to govern after the election. That would put National in the stronger position to form a coalition government with one or more smaller parties. Labour's popularity has steadily declined this term and Ardern stepped down in January, saying she had "no more in the tank". National leader Christopher Luxon, a political newcomer and former CEO of Air New Zealand (AIR.NZ), told Reuters last month that he aimed to focus on containing inflation. Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Gerry DoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Chris Hipkins, Jacinda Ardern, Lucy Craymer, Hipkins, Ardern, Christopher Luxon, Renju Jose, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Labour Party, REUTERS, Rights, Zealand, Labour, Talbot, National Party, Air New Zealand, Reuters, Thomson Locations: New Zealand's, Wellington , New Zealand, Sydney

☆ Former New Zealand prime minister ordered to pay $3.9 million after company collapse
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jenny Shipley addresses party supporters as husband Burton looks on after conceding victory to the Labour Party leader Helen Clark in Methven, November 27, 1999./File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWELLINGTON, Aug 25 (Reuters) - New Zealand's highest court has ordered former New Zealand Prime Minister Jenny Shipley to pay NZ$6.6 million ($3.9 million) plus interest as compensation for her role in the collapse of a construction company, a judgement released on Friday said. Shipley was New Zealand’s first female prime minister holding the role from 1997 to 1999. In the judgement, the court ordered the four directors to contribute NZ$39.8 million plus interest to Mainzeal creditors. It stated Yan was most culpable and said he was responsible for the entire amount of compensation, with Shipley, Tilby and Gromm’s liabilities capped at NZ$6.6 million and interest each. ($1 = 1.6883 New Zealand dollars)Reporting by Lucy Craymer; Editing by Lincoln FeastOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jenny Shipley, Burton, Helen Clark, Shipley, New Zealand’s, Richard Yan, Clive Tilby, Peter Gromm, Yan, Gromm, Yan's, Andrew McKay, Lucy Craymer, Lincoln Organizations: New Zealand, Labour Party, Rights, NZ, Supreme, Zealand, Thomson Locations: Methven, New, Shipley, Tilby, Mainzeal

☆ Poll indicates New Zealand heading toward change in government
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

New Zealand's Prime Minister Chris Hipkins attends a meeting of the North Atlantic Council during a NATO leaders summit in Vilnius, Lithuania July 12, 2023. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWELLINGTON, Aug 22 (Reuters) - New Zealand looks to be heading towards a change of government after an October election, according to a new poll showing the opposition National Party and likely coalition partner ACT holding 50% of the vote. The latest 1News Verian poll published late on Monday forecasts a centre-right bloc of the National Party and the ACT party winning 65 seats. Less than two months out from the election, the gap for preferred prime minister is also narrowing. The poll put minor party New Zealand First at 4%, still below the threshold of being able to get back into parliament without a candidate being elected.

Persons: Chris Hipkins, Ints, Christopher Luxon, Lucy Craymer, Stephen Coates Organizations: Zealand's, North Atlantic Council, NATO, REUTERS, Rights, National Party, ACT, National Party and, Labour Party, Greens, Labour, New Zealand, Thomson Locations: Vilnius, Lithuania, Zealand, New

☆ New Zealand pushes back start date for price on farm emissions
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

New Zealand, home to 5 million people, has about 10 million cattle and 26 million sheep and nearly half its total greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture, mainly methane. It is one of the first countries to announce it will price agricultural emissions, but the government has faced criticism from parts of the farming community which is concerned about the cost. “It’s important the system to manage and price agricultural emissions is workable, effective, fiscally responsible and set up to last. Scientifically validated carbon sequestration such as tree planting around waterways and indigenous forestry would be recognised in the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme, he added. National, the largest opposition party, says it will only look to price farm emissions by 2030.

Persons: Noel Womersley, Canterbury Homekill, Jorge Silva, Damien O’Connor, ” Kate Acland, Lucy Craymer, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Labour, Agriculture, Zealand, National, Thomson Locations: Canterbury, Christchurch , New Zealand, New Zealand, Zealand

☆ NZ central bank sees cash rate on hold until 2025
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Summary Rates on hold for longer to meet inflation targetNZ dollar jumps 0.2%WELLINGTON, Aug 16 (Reuters) - New Zealand's central bank held the cash rate steady at 5.5% on Wednesday but slightly pushed out when it expects to start cutting the cash rate to 2025, which provided some support for the New Zealand dollar. The decision was in line with expectations from 29 economists in a Reuters poll all forecasting the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) would leave the cash rate at a 14-year high for the second consecutive meeting. "The committee agreed that the OCR (official cash rate) needs to stay at restrictive levels for the foreseeable future to ensure annual consumer price inflation returns to the 1% to 3% target range," the statement said. It said conditional on its central economic outlook, the cash rate would need to remain at around its current level for slightly longer than was assumed in its May statement to meet its inflation and employment objectives. The rate hikes have sharply slowed the economy, now in a technical recession following two quarters of negative growth.

Persons: Lucy Craymer, Sonali Paul Organizations: WELLINGTON, New Zealand, Reserve Bank of New Zealand, New, Thomson Locations: New Zealand

☆ S. African mother found guilty of murdering three daughters in New Zealand
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A teddy bear is seen among flowers placed outside where Lauren Anne Dickason, a woman charged with murdering her three young daughters just weeks after arriving in New Zealand from South Africa, used to live, in Pretoria, South Africa, September 24, 2021. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWELLINGTON, Aug 16 (Reuters) - A jury in New Zealand found a South African woman guilty on Wednesday of murdering her three young daughters, with media saying she faced a life sentence for each killing. Her husband Graham had found the three children dead and his wife in a serious condition upon arriving home after a dinner with colleagues, New Zealand media have previously said. The prosecution said Dickason knew when she killed her daughters that what she was doing was morally wrong and the act was murder, according to broadcaster Radio New Zealand. Some of the jury were heard crying as they left the courtroom, media said.

Persons: Lauren Anne Dickason, Siphiwe, Dickason, Graham, Cameron Mander, Lucy Craymer, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Media, Radio New Zealand, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, South Africa, Pretoria, African, Timaru, Christchurch

☆ New Zealand removes final COVID-19 restrictions
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A testing site for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is seen in Wellington, New Zealand, March 11, 2022. REUTERS/Lucy Craymer/File PhotoWELLINGTON, Aug 14 (Reuters) - New Zealand's government will lift all remaining COVID-19 requirements from midnight Tuesday, bringing an end to some of the toughest COVID-19 pandemic rules in the world more than three years after they were put in place. “While our case numbers will continue to fluctuate, we have not seen the dramatic peaks that characterised COVID-19 rates last year. This, paired with the population’s immunity levels, means Cabinet and I am advised we’re positioned to safely remove the remaining COVID-19 requirements,” Verrall said. Most of the restrictions were removed last year as vaccination rates reached high levels and the country’s hospitals successfully navigated a winter without being overwhelmed.

Persons: Lucy Craymer, Ayesha Verrall, we’re, ” Verrall, Chris Hipkins, ”, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, Zealand, Health, Thomson Locations: Wellington , New Zealand

☆ New Zealand govt pledges gender pay gap reporting
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/David Gray/File PhotoWELLINGTON, Aug 11 (Reuters) - New Zealand's Labour government, trailing in opinion polls ahead of an October election, said on Friday it plans to require large firms to publish gender pay gap data in an effort to get equal pay for the country’s women. With only two months to the Oct. 14 polls the government will need to be re-election or gain bipartisan support after the polls for the gender pay gap policy to be legislated. It said it plans initially to require 900 public sector companies, which employ more than 250 employees each, to report their gender pay gap. “Countries we compare ourselves to including Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom have already successfully introduced gender pay gap reporting. As of June 30, the gender pay gap in the public service was 7.7%, according to data from the Public Service Commission.

Persons: David Gray, ”, Women Jan Tinetti, Lucy Craymer, Michael Perry Organizations: REUTERS, Zealand's Labour, Women, Public Service Commission, Labour Party, Curia Market Research, National, ACT, Thomson Locations: Wellington, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom

☆ New Zealand says it is aware of China-linked intelligence activity in country
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

JADE GAO/Pool via REUTERS/File PhotoWELLINGTON, Aug 11 (Reuters) - New Zealand is aware of intelligence activity linked to China in and against the island nation and the Pacific region, it said in a report released on Friday. "This is a complex intelligence concern for New Zealand," the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) said in the annual report. The report also highlighted "foreign interference" activity from Iran and Russia. The report added that, more broadly, the international security environment in which New Zealand operates is now more challenging and less predictable than in recent decades. The intelligence report also noted that technological innovation, global economic instability and declining social trust also posed threats.

Persons: Chris Hipkins, Premier Li Qiang, JADE, Alexei Navalny, Andrew Hampton, NZSIS, Lucy Craymer, Richard Chang, Muralikumar Organizations: Zealand, Premier, of, People, JADE GAO, New Zealand, New Zealand Security Intelligence Service, New, Russian Embassy, Thomson Locations: Beijing, New Zealand, China, New, Wellington, Australia, Britain, Canada, United States, Iran, Russia, Iranian, Russian

☆ In New Zealand, defence and security become election issues amid China’s Pacific push
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

“Foreign policy, defence, our relationship with the Pacific - all of that will be far more relevant and the public will be more conscious of it compared to other elections, where it's been pretty much non-existent,” said Josie Pagani, a political commentator and host of the pre-election foreign policy debate. Sixty-three percent of voters say inflation and the cost of living are a most important issues of the election, a poll by the Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor released in June said. A second survey released last week by the country’s national intelligence and security board found increasing levels of concern about defence, security and foreign policy. Foreign policy doesn't usually play in New Zealand elections, said Jason Young, an associate professor of international relations and politics at Victoria University. The opposition National party, which polls indicate will win control of the government, hasn’t released its defence policy and said it needs more detail about AUKUS.

Persons: it's, ”, Josie Pagani, Andrew Little, “, Chris Seed, Jason Young, Helen Clark, Nanaia Mahuta, hasn’t, Gerry Brownlee, Lucy Craymer, Gerry Doyle Organizations: WELLINGTON, ”, Foreign Affairs, Trade, Victoria University, Washington, Labour, National, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, China, Solomon, Ukraine, Pacific, Zealand, United States, Australia, Britain, “, AUKUS, Zealanders

☆ Reserve Bank of New Zealand: stress test shows life insurers can withstand shocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Two people walk towards the entrance of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand located in the New Zealand capital city of Wellington, March 22, 2016. REUTERS/Rebecca Howard/File PhotoWELLINGTON, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Reserve Bank of New Zealand said on Tuesday that its first life insurance industry stress test showed large insurers are well placed to withstand severe economic and insurance shocks, while continuing to pay out on policy claims. He added that stress tests play an important role in helping build understanding of how particular risks may impact financial stability as well as building capability across industry to manage these risks. The RBNZ will now undertake stress tests on the life insurance industry annually. Reporting by Lucy Craymer Editing by Chris Reese and David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Rebecca Howard, ”, Christian Hawkesby, Lucy Craymer, Chris Reese, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Reserve Bank of New, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Reserve Bank of New Zealand, New Zealand, Wellington

The logo of the ANZ Bank is seen at Lambton Quay, in Wellington, New Zealand November 10, 2022. "A substantial lessening of competition in home loans would have major flow-on impacts to Australians with a mortgage," he added. The companies said they would seek a review of the determination at the Australian Competition Tribunal, an offshoot of the federal court which oversees takeover rulings. Taking the deal to the competition tribunal would delay its completion to mid-2024, if the tribunal approved it, from the late 2023 timeline the companies gave when they announced it a year ago. The ANZ-Suncorp deal also needs sign-off from Treasurer Jim Chalmers who declined to comment.

Persons: Lucy Craymer, Mick Keogh, Gina Cass, Gottlieb, Jim Chalmers, Byron Kaye, Himanshi, Stephen Coates Organizations: ANZ Bank, REUTERS, ANZ, Suncorp, ANZ Group, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Australian Competition Tribunal, Citi, Telstra, TPG Telcom, Thomson Locations: Lambton Quay, Wellington , New Zealand, Melbourne, Sydney, Bengaluru

☆ Australian competition regulator rejects $3.2 bln ANZ-Suncorp Bank deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Lucy CraymerAug 4 (Reuters) - Australia's competition regulator said on Friday it had denied authorisation for ANZ Group Holdings (ANZ.AX) to proceed with its proposed A$4.9 billion ($3.21 billion) acquisition of Suncorp Group's banking arm. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said it was not satisfied that the acquisition would not lessen competition in the supply of home loans to Australian customers. "Evidence we obtained strongly indicates that the major banks consider the second-tier banks to be a competitive threat," ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh said in a statement. Keogh said the proposed acquisition would further "entrench an oligopoly" structure, with the country's four major banks dominating. "We believe the acquisition will improve competition, which will benefit Australian consumers, particularly in Queensland," ANZ said in a statement, noting that the ACCC's decision can be reviewed by the independent Australian Competition Tribunal.

Persons: Lucy Craymer, Mick Keogh, Keogh, Himanshi, Shri Navaratnam, Subhranshu Organizations: ANZ Bank, REUTERS, ANZ Group Holdings, Suncorp, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, ANZ, Australian Competition Tribunal, Thomson Locations: Lambton Quay, Wellington , New Zealand, Melbourne, Queensland, Bengaluru

New Zealand's Defence Minister Andrew Little poses for a picture in Wellington, New Zealand, March 30, 2023. Launching the country's first national security strategy, Defence Minister Andrew Little said New Zealand faced more geostrategic challenges than it had in decades. The inaugural security strategy underscores how China's rise is upending old norms and behaviours even 9,000 kilometres (5,592 miles) away in Wellington. Chinese state-sponsored actors had exploited cyber vulnerabilities in ways that undermined New Zealand's security, said another document that did not provide further details. "The changes in the domestic and international security environment mean our response and preparedness must change too," Little said.

Persons: Andrew Little, Lucy Craymer, Little, Kevin Short, Lewis Jackson, Simon Cameron, Moore, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Zealand's, REUTERS, Defence, Zealand, New, Labour, New Zealand Defence Force, Thomson Locations: Wellington , New Zealand, New Zealand, Wellington, China, New, Australia, U.S, Vietnam

☆ New Zealand’s jobless rate rises to 3.6% in second quarter
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WELLINGTON, Aug 2 (Reuters) - New Zealand’s jobless rate rose slightly in the second quarter from the previous quarter as more people entered the work force and wage inflation eased off three-decade highs. The unemployment rate increased to 3.6% in the June quarter from 3.4% in the March quarter and was slightly higher than a forecast 3.5% by economists, Statistics New Zealand data showed on Wednesday. Statistics New Zealand said the labour force participation rate at 72.4% and the employment rate at 69.8% were both the highest rates recorded since the survey began. Wage growth started to ease in the quarter although it remains historically high. Reporting by Lucy Craymer; Editing by Sandra Maler and Sonali PaulOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Lucy Craymer, Sandra Maler, Sonali Paul Organizations: WELLINGTON, Statistics, Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Thomson Locations: Statistics New Zealand, Zealand, New Zealand

China's application, by far the biggest economy, is next in line if they are dealt with in the order they were received, although that is not a given. The free trade agreement has its roots in the U.S.-backed Trans-Pacific Partnership, developed in part to counter China's growing economic dominance. I think that is completely wrong," Tim Groser, a former New Zealand trade minister and chief trade negotiator said. For CPTPP members, China's application is not the only political dilemma. Taiwan is also seeking to join the pact, in a move opposed by China that member trade negotiators remain unsure about.

Persons: Chris Hipkins, Shigeyuki Goto, Damien O’Connor, Trade Kemi, Damien O'Connor, Donald Trump, Henry Gao, couldn't, Tim Groser, CPTPP, Graham Zebedee, Britain's, New Zealand Wang Xiaolong, Hopes, Wang Huiyao, Antony Blinken, Natalie Black, Lucy Craymer, Joe Cash, Jamie Freed Organizations: New Zealand, Economic, New, Trade, Export, State, Business, Malaysian, Beijing, Pacific, New Zealand's Trade, Pacific Partnership, Communist Party, Singapore Management University, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, World Trade Organization, Australia, Center for, Political, Comprehensive Economic, U.S, Asia Pacific, Thomson Locations: British, Trade Kemi Badenoch, Taiwan, AUCKLAND, BEIJING, China, Pacific, Britain, Auckland, Ukraine, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Ecuador, U.S, Japan, Australia, Canada, Beijing, New Zealand, SOEs, Mexico, Center for China, Wellington, Asia

WELLINGTON, July 27 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday the door was open for New Zealand to engage with the AUKUS weapons development and procurement project between the United States, Britain and Australia. The multi-stage AUKUS project announced in March is planned to culminate in the late 2030s and early 2040s with British and Australian production and operation of a new submarine class - SSN-AUKUS - and include "cutting edge" U.S. technologies. "The door's very much open for New Zealand and other partners to engage as they see appropriate going forward," Blinken told a news conference in Wellington. And so as we further develop AUKUS, as I said, the door is open to engagement." Blinken is New Zealand for just over a day as part of a three-country visit to the Pacific.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Chris Hipkins, Nanaia Mahuta, “, Mahuta, Renju Jose, Alasdair Pal, Stephen Coates Organizations: WELLINGTON, British, New, New Zealand, Thomson Locations: Zealand, United States, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Wellington, Pacific, Solomon Islands, Solomon, Sydney

☆ Blinken criticises China's 'problematic behaviour' during visit to Tonga
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/6] U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken shakes hands with Tonga's Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, July 26, 2023. UPOU VAIPULU/Pool via REUTERSWELLINGTON, July 26 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned of China's "problematic behaviour" during a visit to the Pacific island nation of Tonga on Wednesday, citing Beijing's militarisation of the South China Sea and what he called economic coercion. Blinken said at a press conference that the U.S. had no objection to China's engagement with the region but there were concerns that its investments needed to be transparent and undertaken with sustainable finance. "I think one of the things that we’ve seen is that as China’s engagement in the (Indo-Pacific) region has grown there has been some, from our perspective, increasingly problematic behaviour," he said. Blinken said the United States was committed to both Tonga and the broader Pacific Islands.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi, UPOU, Beijing's militarisation, Solomon, Blinken, Siaosi Sovaleni, Joe Biden, Wang Yi, Lloyd Austin, Emmanuel Macron, Sovaleni, Nuku’alofa, Lucy Craymer, Stephen Coates Organizations: Tonga's, REUTERS, Tongan, U.S . Defense, Embassy, Thomson Locations: Nuku'alofa, Tonga, REUTERS WELLINGTON, Pacific, South, U.S, Australia, New Zealand, United States, Washington, China, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Beijing, Wellington , New Zealand

☆ Britain signs treaty to join trans-Pacific trade pact
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

AUCKLAND, July 16 (Reuters) - Britain on Sunday formally signed the treaty to join a major trans-Pacific trade pact, becoming the first new country to take part since its inception in 2018 and opening the way for members to consider other applications including from China and Taiwan. The signing was part of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) commission meeting being held in New Zealand. Britain's Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch said at the signing that her country was delighted to become the first new member of the CPTPP. The CPTPP is a landmark trade pact agreed in 2018 between 11 countries including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. Britain will become the 12th member of the pact that cuts trade barriers, as it looks to deepen ties in the Pacific after its exit from the European Union in 2020.

Persons: Kemi Badenoch, Badenoch, Chris Hipkins, Lucy Craymer, Jamie Freed Organizations: AUCKLAND, Sunday, Trans, Pacific, Trade, European Union, Zealand, Thomson Locations: Britain, Pacific, China, Taiwan, New Zealand, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, Ukraine, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Ecuador, .

☆ New Zealand prime minister says Pacific region less secure due to China's assertiveness
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

AUCKLAND, July 17 (Reuters) - The Pacific region is becoming more contested and less secure as China becomes more assertive, New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said on Monday, outlining the country’s need to work with like-minded partners while still engaging with Beijing. “Our region is becoming more contested, less predictable, and less secure,” he said. “And that poses challenges for small countries like New Zealand that are reliant on the stability and predictability of international rules for our prosperity and security." “In this increasingly complex global environment, our relationship with China will continue to require careful management,” he said. Wang Xiaolong, China’s ambassador to New Zealand said in a speech that China and New Zealand relations were healthy, stable and thriving.

Persons: Chris Hipkins, Hipkins, ”, Wang Xiaolong, Lucy Craymer, Sandra Maler Organizations: AUCKLAND, Zealand, China Business Summit, Thomson Locations: China, Beijing, Auckland, “, New Zealand, New, Wellington, Australia, Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Lincoln

☆ Divisive China, Taiwan bids to join Pacific trade pact in focus at meet
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Britain will become the 12th member to join the pact that cuts trade barriers, as it looks to deepen ties in the Pacific. In support of its application, Britain has said that CPTPP countries will have a combined GDP of 11 trillion pounds ($13.6 trillion) once Britain joins, or 15% of global GDP. "There’s a large gap between the high standards and binding commitments that are demanded of CPTPP members, and where China is currently at," he added. The other countries' applications also provide opportunities. "After modernising the Canada-Ukraine FTA this year, Canada knows that Ukraine is capable of meeting the high standards of the CPTPP," she said.

Persons: Charles Finny, CPTPP, Chris Hipkins, Shu Jueting, Penny Wong, Aidan Arasasingham, Joanne Ou, Roy Lee, Mary Ng, Lucy Craymer, Ben Blanchard, Joe Cash, Praveen Menon, Muralikumar Organizations: WELLINGTON, Trans, Pacific, New Zealand, Reuters, Centre, Strategic, International Studies, Washington DC, Thomson Locations: Pacific, Auckland, China, Taiwan, New Zealand, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, Britain, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Ecuador, Ukraine, New, Beijing, Zealand, Jakarta, Taipei, CPTPP, Wellington

☆ New Zealand begins criminal trial over White Island volcanic eruption that killed 22
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] An aerial view of the Whakaari, also known as White Island volcano, in New Zealand, December 12, 2019. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/File PhotoWELLINGTON, July 11 (Reuters) - Tour booking agents and the managers of an island in New Zealand where a volcanic eruption killed 22 people, mostly tourists, in 2019 failed to properly prepare and warn visitors of the risks, prosecutors said at the start of a criminal trial on Tuesday. There were 47 people on the island when the volcano erupted, many of whom were badly burnt by searing gas and ash. Defence lawyers said their clients were not responsible for the health and safety of those on the island as that was the responsibility of others. The judge-only trial is scheduled to take 16 weeks with a number of victims from the eruption due to provide evidence.

Persons: Jorge Silva, Kristy McDonald, ” McDonald, “, Lucy Craymer, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, National Emergency Management Agency, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Australia, U.S, Malaysia, White, Whakaari, Whakatane, North

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