https://www.scmp.com/rss/524431/feed The latest news and updates on Christopher Luxon, who served as Chief Executive Officer of Air New Zealand from 2013 to 2019, significantly boosting its profitability and brand reputation. Prior to this, he held senior leadership positions at Unilever, including CEO of its Canadian operations. Entering politics in 2020 as MP for Botany, he quickly rose to become Leader of the National Party in 2021 and subsequently Leader of the Opposition. Since November 2023, he has led New Zealand’s... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk A New Zealand doctor has sent the US embassy in Wellington an invoice for his clinic’s fuel bills, saying that President Donald Trump and his administration should take responsibility for starting a war that has sent oil prices spiralling. Shane Dunphy asked the embassy to reimburse him for the NZ$2,790.95 (US$1,600) in petrol vouchers he gave staff at Onslow Medical Centre in the capital so that they could travel to work, The Guardian newspaper reported. “Because of the current fuel crisis,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3348977/new-zealand-doctor-bills-us-embassy-rising-fuel-costs-payment-expected-within-7-days?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3348977/new-zealand-doctor-bills-us-embassy-rising-fuel-costs-payment-expected-within-7-days?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 10:25:40 +0000 dpa dpa Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has called for former British prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to be removed from the royal line of succession over his “deplorable” links to Jeffrey Epstein. The former duke was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office following allegations he shared sensitive information with the paedophile financier while serving as the UK’s trade envoy. Speaking to reporters in Tokyo, Carney said: “I certainly think his actions are deplorable and... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3345792/canadas-carney-wants-andrew-removed-uk-line-succession-over-epstein-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3345792/canadas-carney-wants-andrew-removed-uk-line-succession-over-epstein-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 05:00:13 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow New Zealand’s government has come under fire for keeping its talks with the United States over critical minerals under wraps, as opposition parties level accusations of secrecy amid mounting concern about environmental damage and foreign influence. Analysts say Wellington is reluctant to promote any formal agreement with Washington or invite public debate on the issue, even as both governments have confirmed that they are “exploring further opportunities” on critical minerals cooperation. In a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3343516/new-zealand-catches-flak-secret-us-critical-minerals-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3343516/new-zealand-catches-flak-secret-us-critical-minerals-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Feb 2026 03:00:08 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim In the first few weeks of this year alone, the leaders of two of the five “eyes” in the world’s oldest intelligence-sharing alliance signalled they were ready to rethink their relationship with China. First came Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and then this week it was the turn of his British counterpart, Keir Starmer. And in both cases, the visits have prompted warnings from US President Donald Trump. As Western economies grapple with the unpredictability and at times hostility of the White... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341885/canada-and-uk-hit-refresh-china-ties-end-five-eyes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341885/canada-and-uk-hit-refresh-china-ties-end-five-eyes?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 01:00:13 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse New Zealand police have found human remains beneath mud and debris from a landslide that struck a campsite in the popular holiday spot of Mount Maunganui, and are now moving to recover more victims. Efforts to rescue at least six people buried alive at the park ended on Saturday. Police Superintendent Tim Anderson said it could take several days to locate all of the bodies, after a mountain of dirt and debris tumbled onto a campsite in Mount Maunganui on Thursday. Anderson said it was... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3341081/new-zealand-landslide-human-remains-found-operations-move-rescue-recovery?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3341081/new-zealand-landslide-human-remains-found-operations-move-rescue-recovery?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jan 2026 01:44:21 +0000 Reuters Reuters Rescuers in New Zealand searched on Thursday for several people missing, including children, following a landslide at a campsite ‍as heavy rains caused widespread damage and left thousands without power. Homes were evacuated and roads closed as the heavy rain hit almost the entire eastern seaboard of the North Island. The landslide happened at 9.30am local time, sending rubble barrelling down on the campsite in Mount Maunganui, a popular tourist ⁠spot on the northern coast of New Zealand. One... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3340791/several-people-feared-buried-landslide-hit-new-zealand-campsite?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3340791/several-people-feared-buried-landslide-hit-new-zealand-campsite?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jan 2026 05:34:58 +0000 Zhao Ziwen Zhao Ziwen New Zealand’s largest naval vessel was followed by seven Chinese warships in a deployment to East Asia last month, including a rare transit through the Taiwan Strait, according to the Pacific nation’s military. The HMNZS Aotearoa, a Polar-class replenishment vessel, was deployed to the East China and Yellow seas with allies, the New Zealand Defence Force said in a statement on Monday. “During the operation, the ship was shadowed by seven different People’s Liberation Army (Navy) warships, which... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335768/7-chinese-warships-followed-our-navy-vessel-its-east-asia-mission-new-zealand-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335768/7-chinese-warships-followed-our-navy-vessel-its-east-asia-mission-new-zealand-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Dec 2025 09:59:04 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Snapchat has begun asking teenage Australians to verify their ages, the company said on Monday, just weeks before Canberra enforces sweeping laws banning under-16s from social media. From December 10, Australia will force social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, to remove users under the age of 16 or face hefty fines. “Starting this week, many users will be asked to verify their age to continue accessing Snapchat,” the company said. Users will be able to do so using an... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3333875/snapchat-makes-australian-teens-verify-age-social-media-ban-looms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3333875/snapchat-makes-australian-teens-verify-age-social-media-ban-looms?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Nov 2025 00:37:43 +0000 Joseph Sipalan,Aidan Jones Joseph Sipalan,Aidan Jones The world’s largest trade agreement was given a jump-start on Monday, as leaders met in Kuala Lumpur at a “pivotal” time for the global economy, desperate to turn the pact into tangible gains as sweeping US tariffs threaten to slow growth across Asia-Pacific. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) covers 30 per cent of the global economy, with Asean members at its core alongside East Asian giants China, Japan, South Korea, as well as Australia and New Zealand. The pact was signed... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3330498/asean-summit-worlds-no-1-trade-bloc-holds-pivotal-meeting-face-tariffs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3330498/asean-summit-worlds-no-1-trade-bloc-holds-pivotal-meeting-face-tariffs?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Oct 2025 10:43:00 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen China has rejected claims that it is a growing espionage threat to New Zealand, calling the suggestions in Wellington’s latest intelligence report “groundless” and “riddled with ideological bias”. In the annual report released on Thursday, New Zealand said it was facing its toughest national security challenges, with increasing threats of foreign interference and espionage. It said Beijing was the “most active” player in this interference, an escalation from last year when it labelled China a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3322652/textbook-misinformation-china-rejects-new-zealand-security-report-accusations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3322652/textbook-misinformation-china-rejects-new-zealand-security-report-accusations?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Aug 2025 10:00:35 +0000