The Government of New Zealand has fully reopened its borders effective August 1 to foreign visitors, thus ending the sanitary restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic. The South Pacific country had one of the toughest travel regimes imposed on health grounds globally. Before Covid-19, tourism accounted for 5.5% of New Zealand's GDP.
The Government of New Zealand has halted the Antarctic Patrol Ship Project, citing budgetary shortcomings stemming from expenses incurred in the fight against COVID-19, it was reported.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern who has announced her country was moving back to the red traffic light setting in a move to curb the spread of the coronavirus Omicron variant, has been forced to postpone her own wedding to comply with the sanitary restrictions.
Travel between Australia and New Zealand is once again quarantine-free as of this Monday, after measures in both countries against the spread of the coronavirus pandemic yielded results that made this achievement possible.
Queen Elizabeth, as constitutional monarch of New Zealand, is unlikely to stop being the head of state anytime soon, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said, in comments following Oprah Winfrey's interview with Prince Harry and Meghan.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's Labour Party on Sunday signed an agreement with the Green Party to form government in the Pacific nation of nearly five million.
New Zealand's next parliament is set to be the most inclusive ever, with several people of color, members from the rainbow communities and a high number of women. The ruling Labour Party was handed a resounding mandate in the election over the weekend, as voters rewarded Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for her decisive response to COVID-19.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Thursday that she will step down as leader of the center-left Labour Party if opinion polls prove to be wrong and she loses Saturday's general election.
A referendum next month on legalizing recreational cannabis has divided opinion in New Zealand with ruling party politicians staying clear of the contentious issue ahead of a general election they are likely to win.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Tuesday she had telephoned Australian counterpart Scott Morrison to defuse tensions over a scheduling dispute between the countries' rugby teams.