Politics

New Zealand’s next Ambassador to Spain is career diplomat Michael Swain. “As a key member of the European Union, Spain is an important partner for New Zealand and there is scope to develop our trade and economic relationships,” Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully says.  “We also share political and security interests with Spain, notably through our involvement in Afghanistan. Michael’s wide …

GREECE & FISCAL TENSIONS IN THE SPOTLIGHT. Yesterday we got news during the NZ trading day that the Greek parliament approved a package of austerity measures, seeing the 2013 budget pass by 167 votes to 128. However, as we warned on Friday, this is unlikely to trigger the next payment of the Troika’s bailout, as European Finance ministers have indicated that …

The long goodbye to Bo Xilai continues as Chongqing Governor Zhang Dejiang, current leader of the southwestern Chinese city, seeks to bury the legacy of its disgraced former top official Bo Xilai. Bo arrived in Chongqing in 2007, pumping money into social housing schemes and advanced infrastructure. It became a bold, alternative mode of growth for China known as the …

New Zealand and Japan are two countries that most people would not usually consider as having the potential for strong sporting relations, but it’s time to think again. With the 2019 Rugby World Cup being held in Japan and the exchanges of top level athletes, the opportunities for sporting ties between our two nations has never been higher. The 2019 …

  Despite the lack of publicity New Zealand’s relationship with Japan has received of late, Japan remains a crucial partner for our country within Asia. This was the message from the Prime Minister yesterday in his address to the Japan New Zealand Business Council at their annual conference. “At all levels, New Zealand’s relationship with Japan is one of our …

Take a look at the work Tourism New Zealand is doing within Japan to promote New Zealand as a tourist destination. The video, part of the 100% Pure Middle Earth campaign, will play before every showing of The Hobbit in Japan.  

F0rmer National Party leader Don Brash’s chief of staff Richard Long has been appointed to the Television New Zealand board. Long has a career in journalism spanning more than thirty years. He has been elected to various newspaper industry roles, including chair of the NZ Press Association editors’ liaison committee. “Long’s media career will enable him to contribute his lengthy …

Auckland has put in a great showing at the 2012 International Sports Event Management (ISEM) Awards, finishing in an amazing second place in the prestigious Sport City Award. Held annually and now in its sixth year, the ISEM Awards are the only international awards to recognise excellence in the global sports event management industry. Auckland claimed second place behind London …

Includes details of the NZ PM’s trip – The CSIS reports a Myanmar government source said president Barack Obama will visit the country and meet with Myanmar president Thein Sein later his month, as part of his trip to the region to attend the East Asia Summit (EAS) November 18-20. The Obama administration has initiated a policy of engagement with Myanmar …

Day one of the Japan New Zealand Business Council’s annual conference is well underway today in Auckland. The need for stronger business ties between New Zealand and Japan was common rhetoric throughout the day, perhaps no stronger than from NZIBF Executive Director – Stephen Jacobi. Jacobi has been a vocal proponent for the ambitious Trans-Pacific Patnership trade agreement, wasting no …