Advertisement Conservative former businessman Christopher Luxon will be New Zealand’s next prime minister after winning a decisive election victory Saturday. People voted for change after six years of a liberal government led for most of that time by Jacinda Ardern. Luxon arrived to rapturous applause at an event in Auckland on Saturday. He was joined … Read more
Advertisement A shakeup of the ministers responsible for New Zealand’s international relations seems almost guaranteed, irrespective of the country’s election result on October 14. Coalition politics are likely to play a key role in appointments related to foreign affairs. Based on current opinion polling, a government led by the center-right National Party would probably need to … Read more
Advertisement In April 2021, New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta likened the New Zealand-China relationship to “the respect a Taniwha would have for a Dragon and vice versa.” Mahuta’s speech was one of the more recent attempts to articulate the complicated and delicate nature of the bilateral relationship between China and New Zealand. The small … Read more
Advertisement Antony Blinken is heading down under. The U.S. Secretary of State’s visit to New Zealand and Australia this week comes as the two countries jointly host the FIFA Women’s World Cup. New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has highlighted the potential for “good old-fashioned sports diplomacy” – and Blinken is scheduled to attend the … Read more