New Zealand

Name game: How the world's longest middle name resulted in a court battle

Laurence Watkins from New Zealand holds the Guinness World Record for the world's longest name with 2,253 middle names. His full name, which in itself is six pages long and takes 20 minutes to pronounce, is inspired by cultures from the West Asia, Asia, Polynesia and Europe. Getting his name a legal nod became a full-fledged court fight, prompting changes in the national laws

Brits, Mlaba inspire South Africa to commanding victory over New Zealand in Women’s World Cup

Tazmin Brits' sparking 101 helped South Africa cruise to a six-wicket victory with nearly 10 overs to spare after Nonkululeko Mlaba's 4/40 helped the Proteas bowl New Zealand out for 231 after the White Ferns opted to bat at Indore's Holkar Stadium.

FirstUp: Nobel Prize in medicine to be announced and other big headlines today

The Nobel Prize in the field of Physiology or Medicine will be announced today in Stockholm, Sweden. This will mark the beginning of the Nobel Week, which includes awards for Physics, Chemistry, Literature, Peace, and Economics. Also, an appeal from one of the 51 men convicted in the mass rape of Gisele Pelicot in France will be heard. Here are the big stories of the day

The story of New Zealand mother guilty of killing her 2 children and stuffing bodies in suitcase

Hakyung Lee, a New Zealand mother, has been convicted of murdering her two children and hiding their bodies in a suitcase in a case that shocked the nation three years ago. Authorities estimated that the children had been dead for three to four years. Lee, who was extradited by authorities in 2022 after being arrested in South Korea, has now been found guilty

How fugitive New Zealand father, killed in shootout, lived with 3 kids in wild for years

Tom Phillips, who vanished with his three children in December 2021, was shot dead by New Zealand police on Monday morning after reportedly robbing a rural farm supply store. The man is believed to have been hiding in the wilderness of the North Island. His disappearance captured the country, as he evaded police for nearly four years. But why did he go into hiding with his kids?

Ross Taylor reverses international retirement at 41, but not for New Zealand

New Zealand legendary cricketer Ross Taylor has completed the three-year standoff period, and will now return to international cricket for a new country.

Why is New Zealand allowing golden visa holders to buy luxury homes?

New Zealand will open its luxury housing market for golden visa holders. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Monday (September 1) that high-net worth individuals will be allowed to buy or build a home worth at least $3 million (Rs 25 crore). This comes after the country in 2018 banned some foreigners from purchasing property. Here's what we know

New Zealand could allow super-rich foreigners to buy homes via exemption in current ban

New Zealand is considering exempting luxury homes from its foreign buyer ban, allowing golden visa holders to purchase properties worth over NZ$5 million as part of efforts to attract high-net-worth investors.

Partner turns threat: New Zealand intelligence flags China as 'most active' security risk

New Zealand is facing the toughest national security challenges of recent times with increasing threats of foreign interference and espionage, particularly from China, according to an intelligence report released on Thursday.

‘Netanyahu has lost the plot’: New Zealand PM Luxon says Gaza attacks ‘utterly unacceptable’

"I think he (Netanyahu) has lost the plot. What we are seeing overnight, the attack on Gaza City, is utterly, utterly unacceptable," said Prime Minister Christopher Luxon