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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 man retrieves his belongings from a utility vehicle that plunged off a collapsed section of road in Puketotara, New Zealand, on Saturday. Photo: Wayne Feisst via Reuters

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

15 Feb 2026 - 11:00AM

China travel

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

14 Feb 2026 - 4:00PMvideocam

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

A container ship docked at the port of Jebel Ali, operated by the Dubai-based ports operator DP World. Photo: AFP

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.

13 Feb 2026 - 11:00AM

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

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

Canada

‘Devil’s in the details’: why Asia may not sign up to Canada’s alliance call

While Canadian PM Mark Carney’s vision appeals to many, analysts say a lack of detail and divergent interests make a unified front unlikely.

5 Feb 2026 - 6:06PMvideocam

China-Philippines relations

Asian Angle | South China Sea: 6 risks facing Philippines, China as conflict threshold lowers

From violent incidents to US missiles in Luzon, a ‘perilous new normal’ and vanishing red lines threaten to derail the Code of Conduct.

1 Feb 2026 - 11:00AMvideocam

A China Coast Guard vessel (right) fires its water cannon at the Philippines’ BRP Datu Pagbuaya near Philippine-occupied Thitu island, locally called Pagasa island, in the disputed the South China Sea on October 12, 2025. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard via AP

US-China relations

As Canada and UK hit refresh on China ties, is this the end of Five Eyes?

The White House’s ‘America first’ strategy is prompting alliance members to take another look at their relationship with Beijing.

31 Jan 2026 - 3:31PMvideocam

Mark Carney is the first Canadian prime minister to visit China since 2017. Photo: Reuters

China consumption

How changing tastes in China are hitting Australia’s wine exports

Younger consumers’ preference for healthier, low-alcohol beverages has contributed to shrinking of Chinese market.

30 Jan 2026 - 11:17AM

Natural disasters

New Zealand landslide: human remains found as rescue operations end

A Chinese national died in another landslide near the Mount Maunganui campsite, both triggered by Thursday’s heavy rains.

24 Jan 2026 - 9:48AM

Natural disasters

‘I could hear people screaming’: several feared buried in New Zealand campsite

‘I looked behind me and there’s a huge landslide coming down. And I’m still shaking from it now,’ a tourist at Mount Maunganui says.

22 Jan 2026 - 1:34PM

A landslide smashed into a campsite at Mount Maunganui in New Zealand on Thursday, leaving multiple people missing. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong national security law

Hong Kong justice minister slams sanctions threat, accusations against judges

Justice minister Paul Lam reviews judges’ performance in national security cases over past year and stresses they treated defendants fairly.

19 Jan 2026 - 11:26PM

Chief Justice Andrew Cheung at the ceremony. Photo: Sam Tsang

From our archives

On This Day | Drama in Hong Kong’s first international marathon in 1969 – SCMP archive

Ahead of Sunday’s Hong Kong Standard Chartered Marathon, we look back at Hong Kong’s first international marathon, more than 55 years ago.

17 Jan 2026 - 3:30PM

Jerome Powell

New Zealand central bank chief scolded for poking nose in Trump-Fed feud

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters reminded Anna Breman to ‘stick to domestic monetary policy’.

14 Jan 2026 - 4:10PMvideocam

The Philippines

Why the Philippines is taking control of undersea cable security

The moves will help strengthen regional stability and prevent Indo-Pacific connectivity from being quietly weaponised, analysts say.

9 Jan 2026 - 6:26PM

Philippine Navy personnel during a joint military exercise with Australia last year. The navy says it is exploring ways to monitor undersea cables. Photo: Facebook/Armed Forces of the Philippines

The Philippines

Philippine navy ‘up to the challenge’ of defending territory in South China Sea

Manila is banking on modern ships and global alliances to challenge China’s increasing presence in the contentious waters.

9 Jan 2026 - 12:00PMvideocam

Donald Trump

US’ Asian allies reluctant to slam Trump’s ‘cowboy tactics’ against Venezuela

These countries fear the consequences of criticising the US, particularly given Trump’s willingness to use the tariff threat in trade talks.

6 Jan 2026 - 8:57PMvideocam

India

‘It’s paying off’: India spreads its trade bets to beat Trump’s 50% tariff

With exports hitting a record US$825 billion and a spate of new trade pacts, India is finding success diversifying away from the US.

4 Jan 2026 - 5:00PMvideocam

A man stands in a currency exchange shop in Mumbai. India has been stepping up efforts to diversify trade, signing deals with countries including New Zealand. Photo: EPA

United States

World welcomes 2026 with fireworks, lightshows and hopes for peace

From Paris to Dubai to Sydney, crowds ring in the new year with exuberant celebrations.

2 Jan 2026 - 8:20AMvideocam

Revelers at Times Square in New York for the annual ball drop. Photo: AP

Australia

‘Not cowed’: Australia sees defiant start to 2026 after mass shooting

Many police officers openly carried rapid-fire rifles, a first for the popular annual fireworks display over Sydney’s Harbour Bridge.

31 Dec 2025 - 11:33PM

China trade

China imposes beef-import quota, adds over-quota tariffs to guard local industry

From Thursday, over-quota imports from Brazil, Australia, US and other trade partners face new duties to help local producers recover amid price declines.

31 Dec 2025 - 9:00PM

Fame and celebrity

Meet Stranger Things newcomer Nell Fisher, who plays Holly Wheeler

Nell Fisher, playing a pivotal role in season five, is only 14 years old – but she’s already acted alongside Elijah Wood.

29 Dec 2025 - 7:00PM

Nell Fisher at the Stranger Things premiere in November. Photo: @nellfisher_/Instagram

US-China trade war

Explainer | Will US-led ‘Pax Silica’ be a new dawn for the international AI supply chain?

Trump administration aims for deeper technology cooperation on new AI infrastructure with allies.

25 Dec 2025 - 1:05AMvideocam

Representatives of the “Pax Silica” signatories hold signed documents at a summit held in Washington on December 12. The initiative is America’s new vision for the international AI supply chain. Photo: Getty Images/AFP

Indonesia

Rafflesia flower rediscovery in Indonesia revives push to drop colonial name

The giant flower find has renewed calls among researchers to rename its genus, which honours British colonial official Thomas Raffles.

23 Dec 2025 - 7:04PM

China-EU relations

China slaps tariffs on EU cheese and cream amid trade row

Alleging that European subsidies are hurting Chinese producers, Beijing has imposed fees that look to hit French exporters the hardest.

22 Dec 2025 - 11:26PMvideocam

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