New Zealand

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — U.S. President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping will have a rare virtual encounter this week as they gather online with other Pacific Rim leaders to chart a path to recovery out of the crisis brought on by the pandemic.

New Zealand is hosting this year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, which culminates in a leader’s meeting on Saturday. Continued outbreaks of the coronavirus and related travel restrictions have confined the meeting to the virtual realm for a second straight year.

Nov 6 (Reuters) - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern welcomed signs from the United States of a bigger engagement in the Indo-Pacific region, saying in an interview that her government has "mature" ties with China that allow for disagreement.

Ardern will host an online summit next week of leaders from the Asia-Pacific, including the United States, China and Japan, to discuss how the region can recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic crisis.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand officials said Thursday they will gradually loosen their border quarantine requirements, which have been among the toughest in the world throughout the pandemic.

But while the changes will make it easier for New Zealanders stranded abroad to return home, officials gave no date for when tourists might be welcomed back. That change is likely still months away.

WELLINGTON, Oct 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) – APEC finance ministers agreed today, to continue working together to respond to the effects of COVID-19 and ensure a sustainable and inclusive recovery, while capitalising on the opportunity to build a more resilient future.

New Zealand Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister, Grant Robertson, chaired the virtual Finance Ministers’ Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) from Wellington.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand counted its most new coronavirus cases of the pandemic Tuesday as an outbreak in its largest city grew and officials urged vaccinations as a way out of Auckland’s two-month lockdown.

Health officials found 94 new local infections, eclipsing the 89 that were reported twice during the early days of the pandemic 18 months ago. Most of the new cases were in Auckland, but seven were found in the nearby Waikato district.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand health care workers administered a record number of vaccine jabs Saturday as the nation held a festival aimed at getting more people inoculated against the coronavirus.

Musicians, sports stars and celebrities pitched in for the “Vaxathon” event which was broadcast on television and online for eight hours straight. By late afternoon, more than 120,000 people had gotten shots, eclipsing the daily record of 93,000 set in August. The event stretched into the evening.

WELLINGTON, Oct 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — New Zealand Minister of Health Andrew Little said that the country’s health system is ready to implement the End of Life Choice Act, making assisted dying legal in New Zealand.

Little said the government had appointed a three-person specialist committee to oversee the operation of the act. The End of Life Review Committee members includes a medical ethicist, a doctor specializing in end-of-life care, and a health practitioner.

WELLINGTON, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's Northland will move to Alert Level 3 restrictions from 11:59 pm Friday following recent information on the risk presented by a positive case initially tested there earlier this week and confirmed in Auckland.

The person is now in an Auckland Managed Isolation Quarantine facility, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said in a statement.

"Updated information provided by the police today shows the case moved extensively around Northland after travelling there" on Oct. 2, Hipkins said.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand’s government acknowledged Monday what most other countries did long ago: It can no longer completely get rid of the coronavirus.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a cautious plan to ease lockdown restrictions in Auckland, despite an outbreak there that continues to simmer.

Since early in the pandemic, New Zealand had pursued an unusual zero-tolerance approach to the virus through strict lockdowns and aggressive contact tracing.

WELLINGTON, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- Full vaccination will become a requirement for non-New Zealand citizens arriving at the country from Nov. 1, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said on Sunday.

Travellers will be required to declare their vaccination status when registering with the Managed Isolation Allocation System, as well as presenting proof of vaccination or a relevant exemption to their airline and to customs officers once they land.