TOPIC

/ location

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

A petrol station in the village of Pauatahanui, in Wellington, New Zealand, on March 27. A surge in oil prices since the start of the Middle East war has sent fuel costs spiralling. Photo: AFP

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

1 Apr 2026 - 3:14PM

My Take

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

28 Mar 2026 - 10:49PM

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

Hong Kong players run out on to the pitch at the first sevens in 1976. Photo: HKRFU

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

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

Wellness

World’s ‘happiest’ places revealed as social media weighs on us

Heavy social media use is undermining youth well-being in many countries, according to a UN-sponsored report.

19 Mar 2026 - 2:11PMvideocam

A girl in Sydney uses her phone. Australia restricted young people’s access to social media services late last year. Photo: AP

China exports

Chinese firms should focus on stable regions when going global: entrepreneur

Escalating Middle East conflict, currency fluctuations make destinations like Southeast Asia, Australia attractive, top business leader says.

13 Mar 2026 - 1:02AMvideocam

Liu Yonghao, founder and chairman of New Hope Group, speaks at an event in Beijing in 2018. Photo: Simon Song

Scams and swindles

150,000 Meta accounts shut down in Southeast Asian scam centre crackdown

Meta has also launched protective tools such as Facebook and WhatsApp alerts for suspicious friend requests and activities.

12 Mar 2026 - 8:17PMvideocam

Canada

Canada’s PM wants Andrew removed from UK line of succession over Epstein ties

The prime minister called the former prince’s association with the paedophile financier ‘deplorable’.

7 Mar 2026 - 1:00PMvideocam

Australia

Opinion | Australia needs to make its stance on the Iran attacks known

By refusing to condemn these legally baseless strikes, the Albanese government risks choosing ‘might is right’ over the UN Charter.

7 Mar 2026 - 12:00PMvideocam

Members of the Iranian diaspora in Australia celebrate US and Israeli military strikes on Iran outside Iranian embassy in Canberra on March 1. Photo: EPA

China trade

Despite loss of Panama Canal, China investing US$23.9b in global seaports: study

Beijing funds 363 ports outside the Panama Canal to safeguard against East-West decoupling and US bid to curb China’s supply chain influence.

6 Mar 2026 - 10:20AMvideocam

A view of the Port of Balboa, managed by CK Hutchison Holdings based in Hong Kong, at the entrance to the Panama Canal in Panama City. On February 24, 2026, Hong Kong-based conglomerate CK Hutchison objected to a takeover by Panamanian authorities of two ports its subsidiary previously controlled on the Panama Canal. Photo: AFP

Chinese tourists

New Zealand’s tourism can still be milked to regain overseas earner crown

Arrivals from China, which before Covid was the second biggest source of visitors, have yet to recover to their pre-pandemic level.

3 Mar 2026 - 9:31AM

Hong Kong economy

Middle East conflict to drive up airfares for Hong Kong travellers: analysts

Suspension of major transit hubs in Dubai and Doha sends travellers scrambling for flights on ‘conflict-free’ paths to Europe.

2 Mar 2026 - 11:00PM

Indonesia

Row over speakers on Indonesian ‘island of 1,000 mosques’ sparks debate on rules

A New Zealander’s disruption of a prayer session over the use of loudspeakers at a mosque has prompted some to call for a law on their use.

25 Feb 2026 - 6:31PMvideocam

Officials inspecting a mosque’s speakers in Jakarta. Photo: AFP

Pacific nations

Wellington mayor dives into sewage row in New Zealand waters

Millions of litres of raw sewage have flowed into the waters off Wellington’s beaches since a treatment plant broke down on February 4.

25 Feb 2026 - 11:41AM

Extreme weather

‘Absolutely terrifying’ New Zealand storm leaves 30,000 homes without power

One man was found dead in a submerged vehicle on a highway after heavy rains and strong winds lashed the North Island over the weekend.

16 Feb 2026 - 1:26PM

United States

New Zealand catches flak for ‘secret’ US critical minerals talks

Opposition parties accuse the ruling coalition of keeping voters in the dark, fearing a fast track to environmental damage.

15 Feb 2026 - 11:00AM

Mining machinery in Greymouth, New Zealand. The South Pacific nation has reserves of 37 critical minerals key to clean energy development and advanced technology manufacturing, according to official assessments. Photo: AFP

China travel

Japan out, Australia in? China’s tourists heading down under for Lunar New Year

Bookings projected to surge on new flights, flexible itineraries and ease of payment.

14 Feb 2026 - 4:00PMvideocam

Chinese tourists are projected to visit Australia in increasing numbers over the extended Lunar New Year break, with China Trading Desk expecting a 20 per cent increase over the same period in 2025. Photo: Reuters

UAE

‘Surpassing Hong Kong’: UAE challenges Singapore for the global trade crown

With non-oil trade nearly doubling, analysts say the UAE has secured a first-mover advantage that leaves regional rivals trailing behind.

14 Feb 2026 - 2:00PM

Trip Inspiration

Why the Year of the Fire Horse calls for travel on horseback

Saddle up for some thrilling horse-related spectacles and experiences with our top picks from around the world.

17 Mar 2026 - 8:09PM

European Union

China cuts EU dairy tariffs, easing trade tensions after EV dispute

EU called Beijing’s tariffs ‘unwarranted’, and mulls WTO action, but China cutting some duties signals possible improvement in ties.

12 Feb 2026 - 10:54PMvideocam

China slashes EU dairy tariffs easing trade tensions. Photo: Reuters

Donald Trump

Leaders invited to Trump’s Board of Peace meeting in US. Who’s going?

Argentina’s Javier Milei and Hungary’s Viktor Orban confirm attendance after invitations go out.

9 Feb 2026 - 11:57AM

US President Donald Trump launched his ‘Board of Peace’ at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January. Photo: AFP

India

India’s trade blitz seeks to keep afloat a sinking global order

‘Jolted out of its slumber’ by US tariffs, New Delhi is aggressively diversifying trade alliances to act as a bridge in a polarised world.

10 Feb 2026 - 8:54PM