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CNN —Japan’s flag carrier had to make last minute changes to deal with excess weight – not from baggage, but from a group of passengers who just so happened to be sumo wrestlers. The sumo wrestlers weighed an average of 120 kilograms (264 pounds) each – far more than the 70 kilogram (154 pounds) average passenger – an airline spokesperson told CNN, raising concerns over fuel capacity on the smaller aircraft that services flights within Japan. But it was still a tight squeeze on the way back from the sumo festival. We had great support, although we are a little tired,” a representative for the Gunma wrestlers said in the TV Asahi report. There are no weight restrictions or classes in sumo wrestling, but the ancient Japanese sport has been dominated by bulkier athletes.

Persons: CNN —, Amami Oshima, “, ” Organizations: CNN, Japan Airlines, JAL, Haneda Airport, Itami Airport, ITM, TV Asahi, Asahi, bulkier, Travelers, Korean Air, Air Locations: Amami, Tokyo, Osaka, Japan, Haneda, Fukuoka, Gunma, “, Zealand, Auckland, New York

☆ Victories for Common Sense in New Zealand and Australia
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Voters at a polling station during a general election in Auckland, New Zealand, Oct. 14. Photo: Brendon O'Hagan/Bloomberg NewsA government and a cause heralded by progressives went down to electoral defeat on Saturday, and U.S. allies in the South Pacific will be better for it. Don’t believe the press that these are victories for the forces of reaction.

Persons: Brendon O'Hagan, Don’t Organizations: Bloomberg Locations: Auckland , New Zealand, U.S, South

☆ 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

☆ New Zealand PM-elect Luxon says Willis 'locked in' as finance minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 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 RightsOct 17 (Reuters) - New Zealand's prime minister-elect, Christopher Luxon, said that Nicola Willis was "locked in" to become the country's next finance minister, at a Tuesday news conference as talks continued with likely coalition partners. Luxon's centre-right National Party and preferred coalition partner ACT New Zealand won a razor-thin electoral victory on Saturday, together securing 61 seats in 121-seat parliament. Willis, National's finance spokesperson, was widely expected to become minister of finance, according to media reports. "The only two people we've locked in is Prime Minister Chris Luxon and Finance Minister Nicola Willis," Luxon told reporters, without giving details on the rest of his cabinet.

Persons: Christopher Luxon, David Rowland, Nicola Willis, Luxon, Willis, Chris Luxon, Renju Jose, Aurora Ellis Organizations: National Party, New, REUTERS, ACT New Zealand, ACT, New Zealand, Labour, Thomson Locations: Auckland , New Zealand, New Zealand, Sydney

☆ NZ's Fletcher Building set for worst day in 12 years amid pipe leak claims
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A sign for Fletcher Building Ltd adorns a crane at a construction site in the New Zealand city of Auckland, June 25, 2017. ASX-listed shares slumped nearly 10% and were the top losers in the ASX 200 benchmark index (.AXJO). Shares of Fletcher were on a trading halt in both exchanges since last Thursday to allow the company to respond to the claims. The construction materials maker said in August nearly 1,500 of 15,000 houses constructed using its pro-fit polybutylene plumbing pipes had experienced leaks between mid-2017 and mid-2022. The stock was last down 12.1% and set for its worst day since Oct. 12, 2011, if losses hold.

Persons: David Gray, Fletcher, staving, JP Morgan, Himanshi, Sherry Jacob, Phillips Organizations: Fletcher, REUTERS, Buckeridge, of Companies, JP, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Auckland, Australia, Perth, Bengaluru

☆ 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 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

☆ 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

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 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 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'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 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

☆ 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 Zealand PM tests COVID-positive two weeks before election
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] 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 RightsSYDNEY, Oct 1 (Reuters) - New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has tested positive for COVID-19 and will work remotely while isolating, his office said on Sunday, just two weeks before a general election in which his Labour party is struggling. The positive test will temporarily sideline Hipkins in the campaign for the Oct. 14 election. Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni would stand in for Hipkins at a Samoan church service in Auckland on Sunday, a spokesperson said. The prime minister's office said further updates on his schedule "will be provided in due course".

Persons: Chris Hipkins, David Rowland, Carmel Sepuloni, Hipkins, Sam McKeith, Nick Zieminski, William Mallard Organizations: Labour Party, New Zealand Labour, REUTERS, Rights, Zealand, Labour, National, Thomson Locations: Auckland , New Zealand, Hipkins, Auckland, Sydney

☆ New Zealand PM Tests COVID-Positive Two Weeks Before Election
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY (Reuters) -New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has tested positive for COVID-19 and will work remotely while isolating, his office said on Sunday, just two weeks before a general election in which his Labour party is struggling. The positive test will temporarily sideline Hipkins in the campaign for the Oct. 14 election. Labour has been sliding in the opinion polls, with the centre-right National party leading by 31.9% to 26.5% in a recent survey. The prime minister's office said further updates on his schedule "will be provided in due course". The government removed its last COVID restrictions in August, but health authorities still recommend that people stay home for five days if feeling unwell or if they have tested positive.

Persons: Chris Hipkins, Carmel Sepuloni, Hipkins, Sam McKeith, Nick Zieminski, William Mallard Organizations: SYDNEY, Zealand, Labour, National Locations: Hipkins, Auckland, Sydney

Pump jacks operate at sunset in an oil field in Midland, Texas U.S. August 22, 2018. REUTERS/Nick Oxford/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO/BEIJING, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Oil prices fell on Tuesday amid concerns that fuel demand will be crimped by major central banks holding interest rates higher for longer, even with supply expected to be tight. Higher interest rates slow economic growth, which curbs oil demand. With China's Golden Week holiday starting from Sunday, oil prices could gain support from a pick-up in travel and resulting oil product demand from the world's second biggest oil consumer. Oil prices have risen by around 30% since mid-year driven mostly by tighter supply, wiping off 0.5 percentage points from the global GDP growth in the second half of this year, according to JP Morgan.

Persons: Nick Oxford, Tina Teng, Moody's, Fitch, CMC's Teng, JP Morgan, Baden Moore, Katya Golubkova, Andrew Hayley, Sonali Paul Organizations: Midland , Texas U.S, REUTERS, Rights, Brent, U.S, West Texas, CMC Markets, U.S . Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, bbl, National Australia Bank, Thomson Locations: Midland , Texas, Rights TOKYO, BEIJING, Auckland, U.S, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Moscow, Tokyo, Beijing

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 RightsSYDNEY, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Support fell further for New Zealand's incumbent Labour party in an opinion poll released on Monday, with the populist New Zealand First party emerging as a potential kingmaker in next month's general election. In the Oct. 14 vote, the centre-right National led by Christopher Luxon is expected to emerge as the largest party in a coalition government. The biggest winner from Monday's poll was Winston Peters and his populist New Zealand First party, which crossed the 5% threshold required to elect lawmakers from the centralised list. New Zealand First's six projected seats in the 120-member parliament would make the party the kingmaker in a coalition led by National and potential partners ACT New Zealand, another right-wing party.

Persons: Christopher Luxon, David Rowland, Chris Hipkins, Reid, Winston Peters, Alasdair Pal, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: National Party, New Zealand National, REUTERS, Rights, New, Labour, New Zealand First, National, Reid Research, Zealand, ACT New Zealand, Thomson Locations: Auckland , New Zealand, New Zealand, Sydney

☆ 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

☆ Fonterra's profit more than doubles on demand for dairy ingredients, shares rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The world's biggest dairy exporter also benefited from higher product pricing and strong demand for its dairy ingredients and foodservice channel. "We acknowledge that across the year, farmers will continue to feel the pressure from high input costs and a reduced farmgate milk price," CEO Miles Hurrell said. The dairy giant also expects inflationary pressures and farmgate milk price outlook to impact its production levels. That compares with normalized earnings of 80 NZ cents per share in fiscal 2023. The Auckland-based company declared a final dividend of 40 NZ cents per share, compared with 15 NZ cents declared last year.

Persons: Nigel Marple, Fonterra, Miles Hurrell, Hurrell, Himanshi Akhand, John Biju, Shounak Dasgupta, Shweta Agarwal Organizations: REUTERS, Fund, NZ, Zealand, Thomson Locations: Rapa, Hamilton, China, Zealand, Auckland, Bengaluru

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The tiny Pacific island nation of Niue has come up with a novel plan to protect its vast and pristine territorial waters — it will get sponsors to pay. “Niue is just one island in the middle of the big blue ocean,” Tagelagi said. It's one of the smallest countries in the world, dwarfed by an ocean territory 1,200 times larger than its land mass. Under the plan, the sponsorship money — called Ocean Conservation Commitments — will be administered by a charitable trust. Simon Thrush, a professor of marine science at New Zealand's University of Auckland who was not involved in the plan, said it sounded positive.

Persons: Dalton Tagelagi, Tagelagi, ” Tagelagi, Niueans, we've, —, Lyna Lam, Chris Larsen, Maël, ” Imirizaldu, Simon Thrush, ” Thrush, I'd Organizations: Niue's, Associated Press, Agriculture Organization, Conservation International, Blue Nature Alliance, New Zealand's University of Auckland Locations: WELLINGTON, New Zealand, Niue, New York, U.S

☆ Man Utd sign Spain World Cup winner Guerrero from Atletico Madrid
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Guerrero, 26, was part of the squad that won Spain's first World Cup last month, making three substitute appearances. The central midfielder, who has 16 caps, joined Atletico in 2022 - winning the Queen's Cup last season. "Irene is a World Cup winner whose quality is an excellent addition to our team," United coach Marc Skinner said. We are delighted to bring a player of Irene's stature to Manchester United Women." United, who finished second in the league last year, open the new WSL campaign at Aston Villa on Oct. 1.

Persons: Spain's Irene Guerrero, Molly Darlington, Irene Guerrero, Guerrero, Spain's, Irene, Marc Skinner, Aadi Nair, Ken Ferris Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, North Harbour, Manchester United, Atletico Madrid, Super League, Atletico, Aston Villa, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Spain, Auckland , New Zealand, Bengaluru

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