New Zealand reports record Covid cases as experts sound warning over health system

Health officials have been unable to link more than half of the cases, possibly indicating further undetected spread in the community

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New Zealand has hit its highest daily case number since the pandemic began. 94 new Covid-19 infections announced on Tuesday, as experts warned that cases would probably keep rising, and sustained high numbers could quickly push the health system to capacity.

Prime minister Jacinda Ardern said the rise in Covid cases was “incredibly hard,” and urged people to get vaccinated and to continue following the rules.

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Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/19/new-zealand-covid-cases-rise-to-new-record-as-young-people-bear-brunt-of-infections
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Tess McClure in Christchurch

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Consternation in New Zealand as native bat included in bird of the year poll

Winged mammal is the first non-bird to be included in the beloved annual poll, which has been running for 16 years

New Zealand’s bird of the year competition has been hit with a flurry of controversy, after a species of native bat was granted entry into the polls.

Candidates for the beloved annual election released today included shock newcomer the long-tailed bat, or pekapeka-tou-roa. It is the first time a New Zealand native land mammal has been included in the competition, which has been running for 16 years.

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Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/11/consternation-in-new-zealand-as-native-bat-included-in-bird-of-the-year-poll
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Tess McClure in Christchurch

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How a hot blob off New Zealand is contributing to drought in South America

Study reveals the vast patch of warm water has produced a dry ridge of high pressure across the south Pacific, blocking storms from reaching Chile

A vast patch of warming water off the coast of New Zealand – referred to as a “warming blob” – has contributed to a decade long drought affecting parts of South America, according to scientists.

Researchers based in New Zealand and Chile have examined the rapidly warming hot blob which rose to prominence in 2019 after spikes in water temperature of up to 6C were recorded.

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Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/27/how-a-hot-blob-off-new-zealand-is-contributing-to-drought-in-south-america
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Lisa Cox

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New Zealand reports another 35 Covid cases as nationwide lockdown extended

Jacinda Ardern said outbreak was not thought to have peaked and that country must ‘hold the course’

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New Zealand’s nationwide lockdown is extending until at least the end of the week, as the country battles to contain an outbreak of the Delta variant of Covid-19.

Auckland – the country’s largest city, where the majority of cases are – will remain in lockdown until the end of the month.

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Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/23/new-zealand-covid-cases-outbreak-lockdown
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Eva Corlett in Wellington, Tess McClure in Christchurch

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Jacinda Ardern announces Australian travel bubble suspension as Covid outbreak worsens – video

New Zealand will suspend its quarantine-free travel bubble with Australia for two months, as the country grapples with a number of serious outbreaks of Covid-19. Travel with the states of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia had already been paused but will now expand to the entire country. At a press briefing on Friday, the prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, said because of the Delta variant there was ‘greater risk now … than when we opened the travel bubble’. While Ardern said she remained committed to the travel bubble, Ardern added ‘Covid has changed and so must we’

• New Zealand shuts Australia travel bubble as Sydney’s Covid outbreak worsens
• Australia Covid live news update: NSW calls outbreak ‘national emergency’ after 136 new cases; 14 coronavirus cases in Victoria; NZ shuts travel bubble

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Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2021/jul/23/jacinda-ardern-announces-australian-travel-bubble-suspension-as-covid-outbreak-worsens-video
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New Zealand falls for stranded baby orca, but dilemma looms over ‘life support’

Time could be running out for killer whale named Toa, who has charmed the nation but depends on round-the-clock care to stay alive

When Toa, the orphaned baby orca, sees food coming he sticks his large pink tongue out of his wide gummy mouth in happy anticipation. He gurgles and belches as he hungrily tugs at the specially designed latex teat. Four volunteers in wetsuits and beanies cradle him and coo that he is “a good boy” as he feeds. When he is done, he rolls over, revealing his cream white skin, and nudges a volunteer for a belly rub. If they dare stop, he nudges them again. When he is excited he zooms about his holding pool, playing with the volunteers, and when a large tentacle-like piece of kelp is heaved into the water, he snuggles under it, as though it were a blanket, or the protective weight of his missing mother.

The young calf, thought to be between two and six months old, became stranded in the rocks near Plimmerton, north of Wellington 10 days ago with minor injuries.

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Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/21/new-zealand-falls-for-stranded-baby-orca-but-dilemma-looms-over-life-support
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Eva Corlett in Wellington

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New Zealand to ban most single-use plastics by 2025

Ban on plastics including cotton buds, packaging, cutlery, straws and fruit labels to be phased in from next year

New Zealanders will be farewelling their plastics – bags, ear buds, spoons and straws – as the government attempts to match the country’s reality to its “clean green” reputation.

Currently one of the top 10 per-capita producers of landfill waste in the world, New Zealand has announced it will ban a swathe of single-use plastics, including cotton buds, bags, cutlery, plates and bowls, straws and fruit labels.

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Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/28/new-zealand-to-ban-most-single-use-plastics-by-2025
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Tess McClure in Wellington

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New Zealand loses top spot for best place to be during Covid to Singapore

Slow vaccine rollout cited as the difference between the two countries, both of which have virtually no community coronavirus cases

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New Zealand has been dethroned for the first time as the best place to be during Covid 19, as a result of its slower vaccine rollout. The country was bumped from the top spot by Singapore, in Bloomberg’s Covid resilience ranking.

While both countries have near-zero community cases, Singapore’s vaccine rollout is much further advanced. So while life was relatively normal in several countries thanks to strong control of the virus, “Singapore has already administered vaccines equivalent to cover a fifth of its population, an aspect of pandemic control that other virus eliminators like New Zealand, Australia and Taiwan are lagging on,” the report concluded.

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Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/27/new-zealand-loses-top-spot-for-best-place-to-be-during-covid-to-singapore
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Tess McClure in Christchurch

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New Zealand raises minimum wage and increases taxes on the rich

Jacinda Ardern says the changes to wages and benefits will help support the most vulnerable

New Zealand is raising its minimum wage to $20 an hour and increasing the top tax rate for the country’s highest earners to 39%.

The changes will be rolled out on Thursday, alongside small increases to unemployment and sickness benefits. The government estimates the minimum wage increase – a rise of $1.14 per hour – will affect up to 175,500 workers, and increase wages across the economy by $216m.

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Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/31/new-zealand-raises-minimum-wage-and-increases-taxes-on-the-rich
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Tess McClure in Auckland

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New Zealand tsunami warning after 7.2-magnitude earthquake

People in coastal areas on east of North Island advised to move to high ground after severe tremor

A severe 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck off the east of New Zealand’s North Island on Friday, prompting a tsunami warning and calls for people in coastal areas to move immediately to high ground.

Tsunami waves were possible within 300km (200 miles) of the quake’s epicentre, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) said.

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Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/04/new-zealand-tsunami-warning-after-69-magnitude-earthquake
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Staff and agencies in Wellington

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New Zealand’s largest city goes into lockdown after 1 new Covid-19 case found

“We are in the unfortunate but necessary position to protect Aucklanders again,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/new-zealand-s-largest-city-auckland-goes-lockdown-after-1-n1259037
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Reuters

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Everything You Need to Know About Lord of the Rings’ Second Age

Even though we first learned about it in 2017, we barely know anything about Amazon’s plans for its Lord of the Rings series. One thing we do know—other than that a bucketload of talent is running all around New Zealand to make it—is that it’s set in the Second Age of Middle-earth’s long history. But what even is…

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Source: https://io9.gizmodo.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-lord-of-the-rings-sec-1846242090
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The Article Was Written/Published By: James Whitbrook on io9, shared by Marina Galperina to Gizmodo

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New Zealand’s Auckland Covid outbreak is UK variant, says Ardern

Some 1.6 million Kiwis face bans on non-essential movement until Wednesday under strict new lockdown as Australia suspends travel bubble

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Aucklanders are waking up on Monday to a new lockdown, hoping the short and sharp three-day restrictions ordered by Jacinda Ardern arrest the spread of Covid-19.

The prime minister said genomic testing had shown that the three community cases were the UK variant of Covid-19.

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Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/15/new-zealands-auckland-covid-outbreak-is-uk-variant-says-ardern
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Australian Associated Press

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Nearly 100 whales die after mass stranding in New Zealand

Twenty-six whales survived being beached but later had to be euthanised

Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/beached-whale-stranding-new-zealand-b1761533.html
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Sam Hancock

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New Zealand offers Biden tips on COVID-19 after successful response

New Zealand’s prime minister said she has offered to help President-elect Joe Biden manage his response to the coronavirus pandemic once he is inaugurated.”I…

Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/527133-new-zealand-offers-biden-tips-on-covid-19-after-successful-response
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Dominick Mastrangelo

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New Zealand animal with ‘unusually large testicles’ could win bird of the year competition

Sex toy shop endorsement says hihi ‘lead the sex positivity movement among songbirds’

Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/hihi-new-zealand-bird-of-year-testicles-b1720370.html
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Rory Sullivan

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New Zealand votes to legalize euthanasia but likely not marijuana

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Friday after the results were released that she had voted in favor of both referendums.

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/new-zealand-votes-legalize-euthanasia-likely-not-marijuana-use-n1245435
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The Article Was Written/Published By: The Associated Press

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More than dozen whales die after getting stranded on New Zealand beach

“Sadly, about dozen have died after restranding on the rocks this morning,” New Zealand’s Department of Conservation said.

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/over-dozen-whales-die-after-getting-stranded-new-zealand-beach-n1243836
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Reuters

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New Zealand ruling party vows to ban efforts to alter sexual orientation

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s center-left government vowed on Monday to ban conversion therapy if returned to power, as widely expected.

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/new-zealand-ruling-party-vows-ban-efforts-alter-sexual-orientation-n1242120
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Reuters

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There’s a park in New Zealand dedicated to Riff Raff from ROCKY HORROR

A friend of mine in New Zealand recently posted a photo from his trip to the fine town of Hamilton. In 2006, the Waikato Museum of Art and History unveiled a bronze statue dedicated to Richard O’Brien, the creator of The Rocky Horror Show who also portrayed the Igor-esque (until he isn’t) Riff Raff in the film. — Read the rest

Source: https://boingboing.net/2020/10/06/theres-a-park-in-new-zealand-dedicated-to-riff-raff-from-rocky-horror.html
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Thom Dunn

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