New Zealand

The government has decided to extend compulsory vaccination to all workers who have close contact with the public, or they could risk dismissal; the measure would regard 40% of workers will have to be vaccinated

In a new grip of Covid-19, Auckland reaches 11 weeks of lockdown while cases surge in the southern island, including parliament

Award-winning interdisciplinary artist Yuki Kihara will address issues such as climate change, queer rights, decolonisation and small island ecologies for her project in the country's pavilion at the 59th International Art Exhibition, 2022 Venice Biennale

New Zealand's central bank has raised interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point to 0.5%, an unprecedented number in seven years, in a bid to cover rising inflation

Rawiri Waititi, co-president of the Maori Party, wants New Zealand to be renamed Aotearoa, a move that would help restore the status of the Maori language in the country

Fossilised remains of an unusual long-legged giant penguin found by children on a field trip in 2006 belong to a previously unknown 1,4 mt tall species aged between 27,3 and 34,6 million years, according to a new 3D scanning analysis of the bones

Supermarket chain Countdown has temporarily removed knives from its shelves after a knife-wielding terrorist injured seven people in an Auckland shopping centre; PM Ardern has promised new anti-terrorism laws by the end of the month

According to Consumers NZ, recent lockdowns have highlighted the lack of control over grocery's prices as discrepancies in offer and prices get more evident in imposed closures

The country, which for years has been associated with The Lord of the Rings saga for its extraordinary settings, will be abandoned by Amazon Studios, which will film the second season of the series elsewhere

Plans to remove the spectacular Milford Sound airstrip, mainly serving the tourism and fishing industries, have been met with strong opposition from some pressure groups who say it will have a significant impact on their businesses

Government landlord Kāinga Ora has paid $8.1 million for a Rotorua motel to house the homeless; the accommodation will be run by Wera Aotearoa Charitable Trust and will provide residents with 24/7 support

Six races have been cancelled in Christchurch after dogs test positive for Canine Enteric Coronavirus, which affects the gastrointestinal system of dogs and is not related to the Covid-19 coronavirus

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand is considering issuing a central bank digital currency and will consult with the public on the matter