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Ainsley Thomson
Yachts moored to a pier in Auckland. New Zealand will let wealthy foreign nationals count philanthropic donations toward the investment requirement of its most popular golden visa category.
ASIA PACIFIC
May 25, 2026
New Zealand to ease golden visa investment criteria to allow philanthropy
Demand for New Zealand’s golden visa — which offers residency in exchange for investments — has been strong since the government revamped the rules in April 2025.
The Maritime Self-Defense Force's stealth frigate JS Mogami. Japan is trying to sell its Mogami-class warships to New Zealand.
JAPAN / Politics
May 12, 2026
Japan faces U.K. rival in race to build warships for New Zealand
A deal with New Zealand would build on an agreement Tokyo recently signed with Canberra to build the first three of 11 Mogami-class ships planned for Australia.
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Mogami-class stealth frigate JS Mikuma at Yokosuka naval base
JAPAN
May 7, 2026
New Zealand eyes Japan and U.K. warships as frigate replacements
New Zealand is weighing the purchase of advanced warships to modernize its aging fleet and bolster its defense capability.
A nurse prepares to test people at a COVID-19 testing facility in in Auckland, New Zealand, on Aug. 13, 2020
ASIA PACIFIC
Mar 10, 2026
New Zealand COVID-19 curbs saved lives but brought social and fiscal costs
The Royal Commission made 24 recommendations for improving preparedness for future pandemics, including assessments of fiscal resilience and clearer decision-making during crises.
The Mahurangi River crosses a road in Warkworth Wairere Scenic Reserve in Warkworth, New Zealand, on Wednesday.
ASIA PACIFIC
Jan 22, 2026
People feared buried after New Zealand storms trigger landslide
States of local emergency have been declared across New Zealand’s northernmost region and parts of the east coast following a tropical storm that triggered severe flooding.
The Auckland city skyline in 2021
BUSINESS
Feb 10, 2025
New Zealand changes ‘golden visa’ to lure wealthy migrants
As well as dropping the English language test, other potential barriers to investment such as the amount of time investors must stay in the country will be adjusted.
Australia today is running aggressive recruitment campaigns to attract Kiwis to work in sectors like health care, early childhood education, police and prisons, tempting them with higher wages and relocation packages.
BUSINESS / Economy
Aug 8, 2024
Fed-up New Zealanders are flocking to Australia for better pay
Some 44,534 New Zealanders, almost 1% of the nation’s population of 5 million, left to live in Australia in 2023.
Pine trees in a coniferous forest Canterbury, New Zealand
ENVIRONMENT / Climate change
May 28, 2024
Millions more trees isn’t the climate fix New Zealand envisaged
The result of a project linking incentives for forestry development and emissions trading turned out to be less effective than hoped.
Customers load their shopping into a vehicle at a New World supermarket in Wellington, operated by Foodstuffs New Zealand.
ASIA PACIFIC / Crime & Legal
Sep 27, 2023
Cost-of-living stress fuels crime wave in Australia and New Zealand
While the thefts are brazen, organized and increasingly violent, experts say the shoplifting underscores the hardship many people are facing.
Cloning a person’s voice is increasingly easy. Once a scammer downloads a short sample from an audio clip they can use AI voice-synthesizing tools to create the content they need.
WORLD / Crime & Legal
Aug 22, 2023
Powered by technology, imposter scams drive new wave of fraud
Scammers methods sound like the stuff of science fiction, but advanced techniques are already available to criminals preying on everyday consumers.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Oct 14, 2021
Once free of COVID-19, New Zealand prepares for 5,000 cases a week
While the virus raged abroad, most Kiwis continued life relatively undisturbed by the pandemic — until the delta variant arrived.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Oct 8, 2021
Isolated China the last country chasing ‘COVID-zero’
Nations have pivoted to vaccinations to protect people from serious illness and death while easing off on attempts to control the number of infections.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Oct 19, 2020
Jacinda Ardern’s stunning election victory holds lessons for U.S.
Ardern’s message of empathy and kindness contrasts starkly with the divisive politics in the U.S. as Donald Trump and Joe Biden face off.

Longform

The Terasaka Rice Terraces are seen with Mount Buko in the background.
What Yokoze can teach Japan about rural revival