Page 9 - New Zealand

New Zealand's rising import prices drive increase in trade deficit

New Zealand's total trade deficit increased in the September 2022 quarter to NZ$7.5 billion ($4 billion), driven by increases in import prices, the country's statistics department said on Friday

1960 Olympic 5,000-meter champion Murray Halberg passes away at 89

Murray Halberg, who overcame serious injury to win the 5,000-meter gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics and later devoted his life to charity work, has died. He was 89. His death was confirmed by Athletics New Zealand which did not specify a cause. Athletics New Zealand described Halberg as one of the most iconic names in New Zealand sport. Halberg also won gold medals in the three-mile race at the 1958 and 1962 Commonwealth Games and was the first New Zealanders to run a sub-four minute mile. He achieved all of those successes though his left arm had withered after he was injured playing rugby as a teenager. He later became best known in New Zealand for his work with the Halberg Trust which helped disabled children play sport. The organization is now known as the Halberg Disability Sports Foundation. The Halberg Award is presented annually to New Zealand's Sportsperson of the Year and the Halberg Games are staged over three days each year for athletes aged eight to 21 with a phys

Indian-origin businessman's store attacked in New Zealand by armed robbers

A store owned by an Indian-origin businessman was attacked by a group of young armed robbers in New Zealand and they held a knife to a worker's neck during the horrifying incident, a media report said, days after a shopkeeper of Indian descent was killed during an alleged robbery. The owner of the vape store, Sidhu Naresh, said that his store in Hamilton, North Island was targeted on Friday by four young offenders, the New Zealand Herald newspaper reported on Monday. My staff was made to kneel and a knife was put to his neck, it quoted Naresh as saying. They came and smashed everything, every single one of the cabinets, and they walked away with the till, he said. Naresh was told by his staff that the robbers couldn't have been more than 16 years old, according to the report. He said a courier who tried to stop the offenders was injured during the raid, and at least 4,000 New Zealand dollars in cash was stolen. The police informed Naresh that the offenders were believed to be the

Indian-origin worker stabbed to death in New Zealand; two arrested

Of the two men, a 34-year-old has been charged with murder and aggravated robbery, while a 42-year-old has been charged with robbery

Falling rupee, rising costs, job insecurity dampen study-abroad sentiment

Mass layoffs by tech biggies add to concern, but demand from non-metros robust

New Zealand hikes interest rate to the highest since 2009 to curb inflation

New Zealand's central bank hiked interest rates on Wednesday by a record amount as it tries to get inflation under control. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand increased its benchmark rate by three-quarters of a point to 4.25 per cent. It's the first time the bank has raised rates by more than a half-point since introducing the Official Cash Rate in 1999. The new rate is the highest in New Zealand since early 2009. New Zealand's inflation rate is currently 7.2 per cent, well above the bank's target of 1 per cent to 3 per cent. The nation's unemployment rate is 3.3 per cent. The bank also sharply revised upwards its projected peak for its benchmark rate, which it now expects it to reach 5.5 per cent next year before it decreases. It predicted a sharp rise in unemployment next year and for the economy to dip briefly into a shallow recession. The New Zealand dollar rose on the news and was trading at around 62 US cents. The US Federal Reserve and other central banks around the world hav

Are countries using visas as weapons to fight diplomatic battles?

While India does seem to be facing the rough end of visa diplomacy, barriers are going up globally

IND vs NZ 1st T20I preview: Can India finally change the T20 template?

India vs New Zealand 1st T20I preview: India would look to find the T20 template once again if the weather permits a game in Wellington

Rahul Dravid rested for New Zealand tour, VVS Laxman to coach India

National Cricket Academy head VVS Laxman will be India's acting head coach for the upcoming tour of New Zealand as the Rahul Dravid-led coaching staff has been given a break post the team's exit from the T20 World Cup. India is slated to play six white-ball games in New Zealand, including three T20Is and as many ODIs, starting November 18 in Wellington. While senior players like regular skipper Rohit Sharma, star batter Virat Kohli, opener KL Rahul and spinner Ravichandran Ashwin have been rested for the tour, the entire coaching staff has also been given a break after the T20 World Cup. "The NCA team headed by Laxman with Hrishikesh Kanitkar (batting) and Sairaj Bahutule (bowling) will join the New Zealand-bound squad," a BCCI source told PTI. This will not be the first time Laxman will be in charge of the Indian team. The former cricketer previously coached India during the tours of Zimbabwe and Ireland and the recent ODI home series against South Africa. All-rounder Hardik Pan

Twitter Blue 'verification' rolled out in India, to cost Rs 719 per month

On November 1, Musk said that the subscription pack would be 'adjusted by country proportionate to purchasing power parity'

T20 World Cup: Pakistan knocks New Zealand out, books a slot in the finals

Pakistan now waits for the winner of today's tie between India and England to set up the finals clash for the ICC men's T20 World Cup

'$8 for all': Elon Musk on fees for blue-tick Twitter verification

'Power to the people', says social media platform about subscription for verified status

New Zealand's cost of living for average households rises by 7.7% YoY

The cost of living for the average household in New Zealand increased by 7.7 per cent year on year, with increasing prices widely felt across all household groups in the September 2022 quarter

Finch on Anchor, Stoinis in charge, Australia storm through Lankan bowling

The Australian team's performance on Tuesday against Sri Lanka proved they have enough fuel in the tank to pull back and punch up

New Zealand court declares Uber drivers as employees in landmark ruling

In a landmark ruling, the Employment Court of New Zealand has declared four Uber drivers as proper employees of the company, paving the way for other countries to follow the suit

For the first time, women outnumber men in New Zealand's parliament

For the first time in New Zealand's history, a majority of lawmakers are women. Soraya Peke-Mason from the liberal Labour Party was sworn in to Parliament on Tuesday, replacing former Speaker Trevor Mallard, who left to become ambassador to Ireland. With the resignation of another male lawmaker, it has tipped the balance in Parliament to 60 women and 59 men. Whilst it's a special day for me, I think it's historic for New Zealand, Peke-Mason told reporters. The milestone places New Zealand among a half-dozen nations in the world that this year can claim at least 50% female representation in their parliaments, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Other nations include Cuba, Mexico, Nicaragua, Rwanda and the United Arab Emirates. Globally, about 26% of lawmakers are women, according to the union. New Zealand has a history of strong female representation. In 1893, it became the first nation to allow women to vote. Current Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is the nation's third fema

T20 World Cup: Smith set to miss Australia's opener against New Zealand

In and out of the squad in recent times, former Australia captain Steve Smith is set to miss his country's opening match in the Men's T20 World Cup 2022 against New Zealand scheduled for Saturday

New Zealand can never be written off in T20 World Cup: Brendon McCullum

Head coach of England Test side, Brendon McCullum, said the Black Caps' ability to stay composed and handle pressure makes them a dangerous side going into ICC T20 World Cup in Australia

New Zealand's annual food price increase remains at 13-year high

Food prices were 8.3 per cent higher in September 2022 compared with September 2021 in New Zealand, the country's statistics department Stats NZ said on Thursday

Jaishankar addresses Indians in New Zealand, asserts bilateral cooperation

S. Jaishankar, addressing the Indian community in New Zealand, said that there are possibilities for increased cooperation between 2 nations in various sectors like business, digital and education.