New Zealand

"This stage of the pandemic is different to what we have dealt with before. Omicron is more transmissible," Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.

The Ngati Toa, a Maori tribe whose version of the intimidating display has been popularized by New Zealand's All Blacks rugby team, says it supports COVID-19 vaccinations.

This penguin's adventure might have taken a few wrong turns. It's only the third time an Adélie penguin is known to have made it to the shores of New Zealand.

The Christchurch City Council will end its contract with Ian Brackenbury Channell, reportedly the world's only state-appointed wizard. The "Wizard of New Zealand" has had a long and unique career.

Air New Zealand will turn one of its 787s into a COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Auckland Airport on Saturday. It's part of a broader day of action aimed at boosting the country's vaccination rate.

The new mandate compels health care workers, including doctors and pharmacists, to be fully vaccinated by December. Teachers and other education workers must be fully vaccinated by January.

The New Zealand singer worked with a team of language experts to re-record five of her new songs in the indigenous Māori language, released just in time for Māori Language Week.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the man was a Sri Lankan national who was inspired by the Islamic State group and described the incident as a terror attack.

But her selection is not without controversy. Some argue that because Laurel Hubbard went through male puberty, she will have an unfair advantage over her competitors.

Less than three weeks after launching quarantine-free travel between the two countries, New Zealand is suspending flights from Australia after new cases were found there.

The pandemic is under such control in the two countries that people will be able to travel between them for the first time without quarantining since March 2020.

Many media outlets feel they need to be on Facebook to reach people. So why did New Zealand's biggest news publisher decide to go it alone?