New Zealand

WELLINGTON, Feb 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Milk New Zealand Diary Ltd said, on Friday, that, it has donated 2,000 cases of dairy products to Wuhan city, in central China, which is battling the novel coronavirus epidemic.

“We donated 2,000 cases of Theland 4.0 protein milk, and 1,000 cases of HawkeSpring natural spring water, to the Shanghai medical team,” said Terry Lee, managing director of Milk New Zealand Diary.

“It has been confirmed by our logistics staff in China, all of them have been delivered to Wuhan city with no delay,” said Lee.

28 January 2020; AFP: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has called a general election for September, in a vote that will test whether her widespread popularity overseas is matched by support at home.

The centre-left leader on Tuesday announced Kiwis would go to the polls on September 19, two months ahead of the last possible date for the ballot, when she will seek a second three-year term.

WELLINGTON, Jan 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The 2020 General Election will be held on Sept 19, New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, said today (Tuesday).

“I will be asking New Zealanders to continue to support my leadership and the current direction of the government, which is grounded in stability, a strong economy and progress on the long-term challenges facing New Zealand,” Ardern said, at a press conference.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — An Australian man who was injured in a volcanic eruption in New Zealand more than a month ago has died, becoming the 20th victim of the disaster, officials said Monday.

Paul Browitt and his two daughters were caught in the Dec. 9 eruption on White Island. The body of Krystal Browitt, 21, was among six recovered from the island in the days after the eruption.

Paul Browitt and his daughter Stephanie Browitt, 23, survived the eruption and were transferred to Alfred Hospital in their hometown of Melbourne three days after the disaster.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand authorities said Saturday their country will be a safer place after owners handed in more than 50,000 guns during a buyback program following a ban on assault weapons. But critics say the process was flawed and many owners have illegally stashed their firearms.

The government banned the most lethal types of semi-automatic weapons less than a month after a lone gunman in March killed 51 worshippers at two Christchurch mosques. The police then launched a six-month program to buy the newly banned weapons from owners.

WELLINGTON, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Questions need to be asked and answered with regard to the casualties caused by the White Island volcanic eruption, said New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday.

"There remain now questions to be asked and questions to be answered," Ardern reiterated during her weekly press conference on Monday afternoon, "What I want to make sure is we answer all the questions we need to answer, but that we don't duplicate."

WELLINGTON, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- A 16th person has been confirmed dead in an Australian hospital following the White Island deadly eruption in New Zealand, the New Zealand Police said on Sunday.

The authority did not release the victim's name or age at the request of his family.

Police Deputy Commissioner John Tims said that with three helicopters and eight members on board, the united squad of search team left for White island early Sunday morning.

"Unfortunately, we did not locate a body," he said.

WHAKATANE, New Zealand (AP) — Police divers working in near zero visibility in contaminated waters around New Zealand’s volcanic White Island tried Saturday to find the remaining two victims of an eruption that left at least 16 dead and dozens severely burned.

Ash and other fallout from Monday’s eruption has made the sea near the island toxic and divers have to be washed clean after every completed dive. Police Deputy Commissioner John Tims called search conditions “unique and challenging.”

WHAKATANE, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand military specialists recovered six bodies from a small volcanic island Friday days after an eruption claimed at least eight other lives and left a toxic and volatile landscape.

The eight specialists wearing protective clothing and using breathing apparatuses landed by helicopter and found six of the bodies thought to remain on White Island since the eruption Monday. The bodies were airlifted to a ship near the island off New Zealand’s eastern coast where scientists and other police and military personnel monitored the risky operation.

WHAKATANE, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand officials said they’ll begin Friday to recover eight victims’ bodies believed to remain on a small island since a volcanic explosion there earlier this week.

Continuing volcanic activity has delayed the retrieval of the eight bodies from ash-covered White Island, where an eruption occurred Monday as 47 tourists were exploring the landscape. Eight people were confirmed killed and dozens were severely burned in the blast of steam and ash.