New Zealand aluminium smelter to close, axing 1,000 jobs
New Zealand aluminium smelter to close, axing 1,000 jobs By John Braddock 15 July 2020 The international conglomerate Rio Tinto announced on July 9 that it will shut New Zealand Aluminium Smelters (NZAS), known as the Tiwai Point smelter, within 18 months....
Rugby: All Blacks coach Ian Foster sends Rugby Australia reality check amid Super Rugby’s uncertain future
All Blacks coach Ian Foster has hit back at Rugby Australia, claiming New Zealand Rugby is not a "charity" for them. Super Rugby is set to look significantly different from 2021, with the Covid-19 pandemic compelling both NZ Rugby and RA to reassess their...
Otago farmer’s upsetting cancer diagnosis after shrugging off headaches
Like many typical Otago blokes, Scott Clearwater (41) shrugged off his headaches, too busy on his Goodwood sheep and beef farm to see a doctor. But as Covid-19 cases petered and the country went into Level 2, Clearwater's headaches got worse. "He was writhing...
Andrew Little says New Zealand won’t follow UK’s Huawei 5G ban
New Zealand won't ban Huawei equipment despite a move in the UK to purge the Chinese company's gear from its 5G networks. Minister Responsible for the GCSB Andrew Little. Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas The ruling follows sanctions imposed by the US, which claim the...
Rugby: Picking an All Blacks squad at the halfway point of Super Rugby Aotearoa
By Alex McLeod of RugbyPass.com After five rounds of action, Super Rugby Aotearoa has reached the halfway point of its 10-week duration. Whether it's been the continued dominance of the Crusaders, the resurgence of the Blues, the plight of the Chiefs, the...
New Zealand government urged not to follow UK in banning Huawei 5G equipment
The telecommunications industry will face big costs if the New Zealand government follows Britain's lead in banning Huawei equipment from 5G networks, according to an industry insider. Photo: AFP British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ordered Huawei's...
Rugby League: Visa nightmare could put former All Blacks star Sonny Bill Williams’ $10 million deal with Toronto Wolfpack at risk
Former All Blacks superstar Sonny Bill Williams' lucrative deal with the Toronto Wolfpack could be in jeopardy, with visa issues threatening to derail the Canadian rugby league club's future in the English Super League. Williams, 34, signed with the Wolfpack on...
NRL 2020: New Zealand Warriors confirm four players to return home after Roosters clash in round 11
The New Zealand Warriors have confirmed that David Fusitu’a, Ken Maumalo, Agnatius Paasi and King Vuniyayawa will return home after the round 11 fixture against the Sydney Roosters. A number of weeks ago, it was reported that three Warriors players would return...
Coronavirus: Multiple dead bat consignments intercepted at New Zealand borders
Multiple shipments of dead bats and bat body parts have been intercepted at New Zealand’s borders in the past year. Trade in the flying mammals and other wildlife has faced scrutiny since the coronavirus pandemic erupted and multiple studies found the disease...
Pacific bubble: The hunt for New Zealand’s mystery airline
OPINION: It's an extraordinary time to be launching an airline. The industry is facing the most significant downturn in its history, and some iconic airlines around the world are on government-funded life support. Among the chaos, in comes Mike Pero. The...