New Zealand Introduces Bill to Outlaw LGBT Conversion Therapy

REUTERS: WELLINGTON, July 30 (Reuters) - New Zealand introduced on Friday legislation that proposes up to five years in prison for practices intended to change a person's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, known as LGBT conversion therapy.

The proposed measures were aimed at ending such practices, which do not work, are widely discredited, and cause harm, Justice Minister Kris Faafoi said in a statement.

"Conversion practices have no place in modern New Zealand. They are based on the false belief that any person's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression is broken and in need of fixing," Faafoi said.

"Health professionals, religious leaders and human rights advocates here and overseas have spoken out against these practices as harmful and having the potential to perpetuate prejudice, discrimination and abuse towards members of rainbow communities," he added. » | Praveen Menon | Friday, July 30, 2021

New Zealand Shuts Australia Travel Bubble as Sydney’s Covid Outbreak Worsens

THE GUARDIAN: Jacinda Ardern pauses flights for eight weeks as her health chief says the spread in NSW was ‘clearly not under control’

New Zealand is shutting down the quarantine-free travel bubble with Australia for two months, as the country grapples with a number of serious outbreaks of Covid-19.

The country had already paused travel with the states of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. The new pause applies to all of Australia for the next eight weeks.

At a press briefing on Friday, prime minister Jacinda Ardern said because of the Delta variant there was “greater risk now … than when we opened the travel bubble”.

“Covid has changed and so must we.”

Ardern said that she wanted to “acknowledge the impact it is having very directly on people’s lives. Covid-19 is devastating”. » | Tess McClure in Christchurch | Friday, July 23, 2021

Covid-19 : en Australie, « urgence nationale » autour de Sydney »

House with No Toilet Sells for $2m as New Zealand Property Market Soars

A house in in Auckland, New Zealand, has sold for more than $2m despite needing more than $200,000 worth of improvements. Photograph: Barfoot & Thompson
THE GUARDIAN: The decaying, rundown property in the Auckland suburb of Grey Lynn was prized because of its renovation potential

A decaying three-bedroom house with no toilet or bathroom, missing walls and an overgrown garden has sold in New Zealand for more than $2m (£1m), in the latest example of runaway property markets around the world.

The 1920s-era bungalow on Ariki Street, in Auckland’s affluent suburb of Grey Lynn, sold at auction on Thursday for $2.075m (£1.05m), after the bidding opened at $1.75m, Stuff reported.

Auckland council’s property valuation page estimates its value at $1.65m and that the property requires $200,000 worth of improvements. » | Eva Corlett in Wellington | Thursday, July 15, 2021

New Zealand: 'From Hero to Martyr': Widow of 51st Christchurch Shooting Victim Addresses Gunman in Court

Hamimah Tuyan, the widow of the 51st and final victim of 2019's Christchurch shooting, addresses the gunman, Brenton Tarrant, in court, telling him his death elevated him from hero to martyr. Zekeriya Tuyan battled for 48 days after 18 surgeries before succumbing to his injuries. Tuyan's statements come after three days of family members of victims addressing Tarrant and the court

Prince William Speaking Inside the Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch

Published on 25 Apr 2019

Christchurch Shooting: Gun Owners Begin to Hand In Their Weapons

THE GUARDIAN: Dozens of firearms have been handed in to stations around New Zealand after appeal from Jacinda Ardern

New Zealanders have begun handing in their firearms to police in the wake of Friday’s mass shooting in Christchurch which resulted in the deaths of at least 50 people.

New Zealand police said that, as of Tuesday night, at least 37 firearms had been handed in to police officers around the country.

The prime minister is expected to announce changes to gun laws in the coming days, including measures such as a ban on semi-automatic rifles, a plan that was flagged by her attorney general, David Parker, one day after the massacre.

She emerged from a long cabinet meeting on Monday, Jacinda Ardern said her team would take the rest of the week to work out the details after agreeing to make changes “in principle”, adding: “These aren’t simple areas of law. So that’s simply what we’ll be taking the time to get right.” » | Kate Lyons | Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Christchurch Mosque Attacks: Burials Begin as Ardern Urges Students to Reject Hate

THE GUARDIAN: New Zealand prime minister returns to city where 50 were killed as foreign minister heads to Turkey

Burials for the 50 people killed the New Zealand terrorist attack have begun in Christchurch as the prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, returned to the city to pay her respects and comfort those affected by the killings.

On Wednesday, father and son Khaled and Hamza Mustafa, who arrived in New Zealand as refugees from Syria, were the first victims to be buried. The prime minister told reporters: “I cannot tell you how gutting it is to know that a family came here for safety and for refuge, and they should have been safe here.”

Earlier, police said they planned to release most of the bodies back to their families by Wednesday night, with Ardern promising to work with authorities to see if the coronial process could be sped up in future to comply with Islamic burial rites. » | Calla Wahlquist and Eleanor Ainge Roy in Christchurch | Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Yasir Amin Survived the Christchurch Shooting

Yasir Amin survived the Christchurch shootings. He and his father were on their way to Friday prayers when they came across the gunman.

Yasir did not see the man who shot his father and said all he could "remember is a big gun".

As the car drove away, Yasir called an ambulance. He had no idea of the carnage just metres away from him inside the mosque.

Yasir wanted to stay by his father's bedside at the hospital, but was given another grim task: identifying the bodies of other victims at the morgue.

One of the nine people he identified was his best friend, Nahim Rashid.

New Zealand Mosque Attacks: Social Media Comes Under Attack | Al Jazeera English

Since Friday's attacks at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, social media platforms have been criticised for failing to stop the suspect's shooting video, and hate-filled manifesto, from going viral. Why was it so difficult for the social media giants, with all their resources and latest technology, to contain the spread of videos of New Zealand mosque attacks? Al Jazeera's Mereana Hond reports.

The Guardian View on the Christchurch Attacks: Extremism’s Rising Danger

THE GUARDIAN: The far right seeks to divide. Responsible politicians ought, especially in times of grief and anger, to bring people together

New Zealand is best known for its breathtaking wilderness, found in distant but secure islands at the edge of the world. On Friday that changed. Forty-nine people were killed in shootings at two mosques in central Christchurch in a suspected terrorist attack during the congregational prayer. The horrific events have left the country in mourning and shock. Muslims make up less than 1% of New Zealand’s population and the faith’s most prominent adherent is a rugby player. This was a stupefying amount of lethal force in a country that saw only 35 homicides in all of 2017. New Zealand as a nation will collectively have to deal with a trauma that no parent, no relative, no friend should ever endure. » | Editorial | Friday, March 15, 2019

Jacinda Ardern Says Christchurch Mosque Shootings Were Terrorist Attack

New Zealand's prime minister has issued 'the strongest possible condemnation of the ideology of the people who did this' after mass shootings at two mosques. The country's terrorism threat level has been raised and flights in and out of Christchurch were cancelled as intelligence agencies worked to secure the city. Mass shooting at two Christchurch mosques – video report.

THE GUARDIAN: What we know so far »

THE GUARDIAN: Far-right ideology detailed in Christchurch shooting 'manifesto' » | Lisa Martin | Friday, March 15, 2019

John Key On Donald Trump Winning US Election

John Key New Zealand PM Resignation Speech

Powerful Earthquake Rocks New Zealand

A 7.8-magnitude earthquake has rocked New Zealand, prompting a tsunami warning and knocking out power and phone services in many parts of the country. Prime Minister John Key said at least two people were killed in the powerful temblor.

New Zealand Legalises Gay Marriage in First for Region
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: New Zealand has become the first country in the Asia-Pacific region - and 13th in the world - to legalise gay marriage.


Parliament voted 77 to 44 in support of the bill on its third and last reading. Uruguay legalised gay marriage last week and the move will put more pressure on Australia, which rejected the proposal last year, leading to speculation that couples will make the three hour flight to get married in New Zealand.

Spectators in the public gallery and some law makers couldn’t hide their jubilation at the decision, singing the nation’s love song, Pokarekare Ana, in the native Maori language.

In a heartfelt speech, bill sponsor Louisa Wall said: “In our society, the meaning of marriage is universal — it's a declaration of love and commitment to a special person.

“Nothing could make me more proud to be a New Zealander than passing this bill,” she went on to add. » | Romil Patel | Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Ex-Christian Abdullah Drury Convert to Islam in New Zealand

New Zealand PM in Trouble over David Beckham 'Thick' Comment
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has found himself at the centre of a social media storm over insulting remarks he is reported to have made about football player David Beckham.

Mr Key appeared on television on Monday parrying questions over whether he had, as reported in New Zealand media, branded David Beckham, who plays for LA Galaxy and was a celebrity ambassador for the London 2012 Olympics, "thick as bat ----"

The media said Mr Key made the remark last week when telling school pupils about Beckham's visit to New Zealand in 2008 for an exhibition match between the LA Galaxy and the Oceania All-Stars in Auckland.

Radio New Zealand said Mr Key described Beckham as handsome and "a really nice guy" but "thick".

He was repeatedly asked on breakfast TV about his alleged comments.

"That is someone that thinks they have overheard a conversation I have had. I am not going to engage in that because otherwise I am engaging in every conversation that someone thinks I have," Mr Key said.


THE GUARDIAN: New Zealand PM accused of calling David Beckham 'thick': John Key reported to have insulted former England football captain during a school visit in Auckland » | Press Association | Monday, November 05, 2012

New Zealand Election: John Key Wins Second Term as Prime Minister

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: John Key, the New Zealand prime minister, promised voters 'a brighter future' after his centre-right National party was swept back to power in a general election on Saturday.

During a victory speech to ecstatic supporters chanting "three more years", Mr Key said: "We have been given the trust and goodwill of New Zealanders.

"I do not take that trust for granted, and I never will.

"Tonight New Zealanders voted for a brighter future, and there will be a brighter future."

Mr Key alluded to some of the major issues he had faced during his first term in office, such as the destructive Christchurch earthquakes and the Pike River coal mine disaster.

"Over the past 15 months, New Zealand has experienced more than its fair share of challenges, but as a country we have risen to them," he said.

"We have shown that in the worst of times you have seen the very best of New Zealanders."

In an interview later, he renewed his commitment to returning the government's books to surplus by 2014 and addressing the controversial topic of welfare reform. » | Paul Chapman, Wellington | Saturday, November 16, 2011

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Smiling Assassin »

DIE PRESSE: Neuseeland: Konservative vor Wahlsieg im plötzlichen Auswanderungsland » | Manuela Kornell | Freitag 25. November 2011

Neuseeland: Konservative vor Wahlsieg im plötzlichen Auswanderungsland

DIE PRESSE: Die regierende „National Party“ ist laut Umfrage klar vor der Labour-Opposition, die Mindestlöhne anheben und Auswanderung bremsen will. Die die Gehälter treiben mehr Neuseeländer als je zuvor ins Ausland.

Auckland/Wellington. Die letzten zwölf Monate haben es nicht gut gemeint mit dem Inselstaat im Südpazifik. Erdbeben, ein Minenunglück, eine Ölpest und die weltweite Wirtschafts- und Finanzkrise haben dem kleinen Land mit nur rund vier Millionen Bewohnern stark zugesetzt. Die Parlamentswahl am heutigen Samstag ist ausschlaggebend dafür, welchen Weg Neuseeland in Zukunft einschlagen wird. Die Staatsverschuldung steht jedenfalls ganz oben auf der Agenda für die Wahl.

Die Politiker haben aber auch mit einem anderen massiven Problem zu kämpfen: Steigende Lebenshaltungskosten (vor allem Mieten und Lebensmittel), gepaart mit einem niedrigen Lohnniveau – die Gehälter hier sind im Schnitt um 30 Prozent niedriger als im benachbarten Australien – treiben mehr Neuseeländer als je zuvor ins Ausland. Zum ersten Mal seit zehn Jahren hat das Land eine negative Migrationsbilanz. » | Manuela Kornell | Freitag 25. November 2011

Christchurch Jolted by Series of Quake Shocks
A series of powerful tremors have rattled the earthquake-prone city of Christchurch in New Zealand, destroying a building and sending boulders tumbling down hillsides. Al Jazeera's Bhanu Bhatnagar reports