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New Zealand

The latest news, analysis and opinion on New Zealand. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Wellington

Head of State

King Charles III

Head of Government

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon

Japan

New Zealand officials reject statue remembering Japan’s WWII sex slaves

The government said feedback for the statue application included formal representations from Japan.

29 Apr 2026 - 5:23PMvideocam

Food and Drinks

Beyond steak: 3 Hong Kong chefs share dry-ageing tips for fish, lamb, poultry

29 Apr 2026 - 1:00PM

Hong Kong society

Will Hong Kong vapers go underground as public possession ban kicks in?

3 hours agovideocam

India

India, New Zealand boost trade diversification with ‘forward-looking’ pact

The deal, part of a move to reduce reliance on major powers, will also strengthen India’s hand in trade negotiations with the US, analysts say.

28 Apr 2026 - 7:31PM

Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal presents a silver cow and calf statue to New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay after they signed a free-trade agreement in New Delhi on Monday. Photo: AP

Asean

Why Malacca Strait tolls are unlikely despite Indonesia’s maritime push

Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore are united in upholding the principle of free passage but this must be ‘actively maintained’, analysts say.

28 Apr 2026 - 6:35PMvideocam

India

India, New Zealand sign ‘once-in-a-generation’ free-trade deal

The deal will cut or remove tariffs on 95 per cent of New Zealand’s exports to India, with all Indian exports to New Zealand duty free.

27 Apr 2026 - 7:11PMvideocam

Britain

UK agrees ban on cigarette sales for people born after 2008

UK lawmakers approve generational tobacco sales ban, setting the stage for it to become law.

22 Apr 2026 - 11:18AM

Smoking in England causes around 75,000 deaths per year. Photo: AP

Pacific nations

Pacific Islanders skip food, medicine amid global fuel shortage from Iran war

Pacific nations are the most reliant on diesel for power generation worldwide. They imported about 2.2 million tonnes of fuel in 2025.

22 Apr 2026 - 9:37AM

India

New Zealand minister under fire for ‘butter chicken tsunami’ remarks

A free-trade agreement, to be signed next week, could see more than 20,000 Indian migrants entering New Zealand, officials say.

22 Apr 2026 - 8:33AM

China's military weapons

PLA’s new Type 076 ‘drone carrier’ set for South China Sea training drills

China’s next-level amphibious warship, the Sichuan, in same waters where US, Japan and the Philippines are conducting joint military exercises.

22 Apr 2026 - 8:44AMvideocam

China’s first drone-carrying Type 076 amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan, on its maiden sea trial last November. Photo: CCTV

Extreme weather

New Zealand tells Wellington residents to evacuate as rain threat worsens

Wellington had received 77mm of rain ‌in less than an hour, its heaviest rainfall on record.

20 Apr 2026 - 12:26PM

Vehicles can be seen partially submerged along a flooded road in Wellington, New Zealand, in a screengrab taken from a social media video on Monday, . Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong sports

Hong Kong Sevens a treat for fans but local restaurants hungry for more trade

Over three action-packed days of rugby, a record 113,000 fans pass through the turnstiles.

20 Apr 2026 - 12:50AM

Aviation

Air New Zealand economy passengers can join world’s first mile-high sleep club

Socks are mandatory and crumbs, strong perfumes and bed-sharing are forbidden as fliers get cosy with their fellow passengers.

18 Apr 2026 - 10:23AM

China-New Zealand relations

China complains of ‘harassment’ from New Zealand aerial patrols near coastline

Beijing said the plane had been operating over the Yellow and East China Seas and urged Wellington not to put civilian aircraft in danger.

17 Apr 2026 - 7:58PMvideocam

A New Zealand P-8A is alleged to have been involved in “reconnaissance and harassment”. Photo: NZDF

My Life

Former Hong Kong rugby team captain reflects on the first Sevens tournament in 1976

The former England international rugby player tells Annemarie Evans about his turn as captain of the Hong Kong team at the inaugural Sevens tournament here in 1976.

16 Apr 2026 - 8:00AM

Bob Lloyd poses for a portrait at the Hong Kong Football Club, Happy Valley, Hong Kong. Lloyd served as the captain of Hong Kong team during the first Hong Kong Sevens in 1976. Photo: Alexander Mak

The Philippines

Why Southeast Asian nations are skipping major US-Philippine Balikatan drills

Given the rivalry between Washington and Beijing, joining the annual military exercise may risk being seen as picking the US, analysts say.

17 Apr 2026 - 1:11PM

Asia travel

Lack of fuel reserves forces Southeast Asian flight cuts amid Hormuz crisis

Airlines are cutting flights, as dependence on Middle Eastern fuel hits operators from Pakistan to New Zealand.

14 Apr 2026 - 12:10PMvideocam

Science

Open Questions | What an ancient Chinese map reveals about global history: Sheng-Wei Wang

Kunyu Wanguo Quantu and maritime artefacts prove China explored the world earlier than Eurocentric accounts suggest, scholar argues.

13 Apr 2026 - 8:15AMvideocam

Taiwan

Takeaways from Cheng Li-wun’s press conference about meeting with Xi Jinping

KMT chairwoman says that with talks in Beijing, her party has taken the first step to defuse tensions across the Taiwan Strait.

10 Apr 2026 - 4:28PM

US, Israel war on Iran

New Zealand doctor invoices US embassy for rising fuel costs

Shane Dunphy asked the embassy to reimburse him for the US$1,600 spent on petrol vouchers for his staff so that they could travel to work.

3 Apr 2026 - 6:25PM

Animals

Dog lost for a week in New Zealand bush found after strangers fund search

Molly the border collie went missing after her owner fell while hiking on the South Island and had to be rescued without her.

1 Apr 2026 - 3:14PM

A volunteer holds Molly (right) and Bingo at a waterfall on the Arahura River on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand on Tuesday. Photo: Precision Helicopters/AP

My Take

My Take | Verdict finds what any parent knows: social media is designed to be addictive

Jurors also decided Meta and YouTube either knew or should have known their products posed a danger to children and did not do enough to warn of the risks.

28 Mar 2026 - 10:49PM

Families who lost fellow members from suicide due to social media addiction react after a jury found Meta and YouTube liable in the trial in Los Angeles. Photo: EPA

Hong Kong Sevens

On This Day | First Hong Kong Sevens rugby tourney held in 1976 – SCMP archive

50 years ago today, the city hosted its first international rugby sevens tournament at the Hong Kong Football Club.

28 Mar 2026 - 10:30AM

Robotics

Why China’s humanoid robots are still waiting for their ‘ChatGPT moment’

Limited training data and unresolved hardware challenges continue to hold back humanoid robots from mass adoption, say experts.

26 Mar 2026 - 9:15AM

Singapore

Man extradited from Singapore to New Zealand faces rape, home invasion charges

Zhang Xuesong is accused of raping and strangling the victim and reportedly fled to China, and later Singapore, following the break-in.

25 Mar 2026 - 4:40PM

Zhang Xuesong, who is accused of raping and strangling a woman during a violent home invasion, pleaded not guilty in the Auckland High Court. Photo: Shutterstock

Hong Kong courts

Editorial | Rule changes will help Hong Kong better combat national security threats

The amendments, such as the one related to providing passwords for electronic devices, bring the city in line with other parts of the world that have such requirements.

25 Mar 2026 - 7:15AM

Police officers outside court in West Kowloon on February 23, on the day the Court of Appeal delivered a verdict on a case involving conspiracy to commit subversion. Photo: Dickson Lee

The Philippines

Philippines scores poorly on work-life balance. Filipinos are not surprised

Low wages, poor workplace culture and heavy traffic are among the factors hampering Filipinos from enjoying a good work-life balance.

24 Mar 2026 - 9:30AMvideocam

Japan

Deep snow can’t hide inflation, foreign ‘takeover’ fears in Japan ski hub

An influx of foreign workers, inflated property prices and living costs are testing the patience of Niseko’s residents.

29 Mar 2026 - 2:50PMvideocam

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New Zealand

New Zealand officials reject statue remembering Japan’s WWII sex slaves

The government said feedback for the statue application included formal representations from Japan.

Beyond steak: 3 Hong Kong chefs share dry-ageing tips for fish, lamb, poultry

Will Hong Kong vapers go underground as public possession ban kicks in?

India, New Zealand boost trade diversification with ‘forward-looking’ pact

The deal, part of a move to reduce reliance on major powers, will also strengthen India’s hand in trade negotiations with the US, analysts say.

Why Malacca Strait tolls are unlikely despite Indonesia’s maritime push

Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore are united in upholding the principle of free passage but this must be ‘actively maintained’, analysts say.

India, New Zealand sign ‘once-in-a-generation’ free-trade deal

The deal will cut or remove tariffs on 95 per cent of New Zealand’s exports to India, with all Indian exports to New Zealand duty free.

UK agrees ban on cigarette sales for people born after 2008

UK lawmakers approve generational tobacco sales ban, setting the stage for it to become law.

Pacific Islanders skip food, medicine amid global fuel shortage from Iran war

Pacific nations are the most reliant on diesel for power generation worldwide. They imported about 2.2 million tonnes of fuel in 2025.

New Zealand minister under fire for ‘butter chicken tsunami’ remarks

A free-trade agreement, to be signed next week, could see more than 20,000 Indian migrants entering New Zealand, officials say.

PLA’s new Type 076 ‘drone carrier’ set for South China Sea training drills

China’s next-level amphibious warship, the Sichuan, in same waters where US, Japan and the Philippines are conducting joint military exercises.

New Zealand tells Wellington residents to evacuate as rain threat worsens

Wellington had received 77mm of rain ‌in less than an hour, its heaviest rainfall on record.

Hong Kong Sevens a treat for fans but local restaurants hungry for more trade

Over three action-packed days of rugby, a record 113,000 fans pass through the turnstiles.

Air New Zealand economy passengers can join world’s first mile-high sleep club

Socks are mandatory and crumbs, strong perfumes and bed-sharing are forbidden as fliers get cosy with their fellow passengers.

China complains of ‘harassment’ from New Zealand aerial patrols near coastline

Beijing said the plane had been operating over the Yellow and East China Seas and urged Wellington not to put civilian aircraft in danger.

Former Hong Kong rugby team captain reflects on the first Sevens tournament in 1976

The former England international rugby player tells Annemarie Evans about his turn as captain of the Hong Kong team at the inaugural Sevens tournament here in 1976.

Why Southeast Asian nations are skipping major US-Philippine Balikatan drills

Given the rivalry between Washington and Beijing, joining the annual military exercise may risk being seen as picking the US, analysts say.

Lack of fuel reserves forces Southeast Asian flight cuts amid Hormuz crisis

Airlines are cutting flights, as dependence on Middle Eastern fuel hits operators from Pakistan to New Zealand.

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Open Questions | What an ancient Chinese map reveals about global history: Sheng-Wei Wang

Kunyu Wanguo Quantu and maritime artefacts prove China explored the world earlier than Eurocentric accounts suggest, scholar argues.

Takeaways from Cheng Li-wun’s press conference about meeting with Xi Jinping

KMT chairwoman says that with talks in Beijing, her party has taken the first step to defuse tensions across the Taiwan Strait.

New Zealand doctor invoices US embassy for rising fuel costs

Shane Dunphy asked the embassy to reimburse him for the US$1,600 spent on petrol vouchers for his staff so that they could travel to work.

Dog lost for a week in New Zealand bush found after strangers fund search

Molly the border collie went missing after her owner fell while hiking on the South Island and had to be rescued without her.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}My Take | Verdict finds what any parent knows: social media is designed to be addictive

Jurors also decided Meta and YouTube either knew or should have known their products posed a danger to children and did not do enough to warn of the risks.

On This Day | First Hong Kong Sevens rugby tourney held in 1976 – SCMP archive

50 years ago today, the city hosted its first international rugby sevens tournament at the Hong Kong Football Club.

Why China’s humanoid robots are still waiting for their ‘ChatGPT moment’

Limited training data and unresolved hardware challenges continue to hold back humanoid robots from mass adoption, say experts.

Man extradited from Singapore to New Zealand faces rape, home invasion charges

Zhang Xuesong is accused of raping and strangling the victim and reportedly fled to China, and later Singapore, following the break-in.

Editorial | Rule changes will help Hong Kong better combat national security threats

The amendments, such as the one related to providing passwords for electronic devices, bring the city in line with other parts of the world that have such requirements.

Philippines scores poorly on work-life balance. Filipinos are not surprised

Low wages, poor workplace culture and heavy traffic are among the factors hampering Filipinos from enjoying a good work-life balance.

Deep snow can’t hide inflation, foreign ‘takeover’ fears in Japan ski hub

An influx of foreign workers, inflated property prices and living costs are testing the patience of Niseko’s residents.

Open Questions | What an ancient Chinese map reveals about global history: Sheng-Wei Wang

My Take | Verdict finds what any parent knows: social media is designed to be addictive