New Zealand
Pacific Engagement Visas: New developments but quotas unknown
Australia is surprisingly low-key about the recent launch of its new subclass 192 Pacific Engagement Visa lottery that aims to welcome 3,000 new permanent migrants …
Solomon Islands: Democracy on the ballot
With a week to go before voters take to the polls on 17 April, election campaigns in Solomon Islands are in full swing with 334 candidates vying for 50 seats (only 21 candidates…
New Zealand and ASEAN: Focusing on what’s right under its nose
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is new in the job, yet he took time away to fly across the Tasman earlier this month and meet the various leaders of the Association…
Some allies are more equal than others
Senator Don Farrell admitted overnight that he got himself into a “bit of trouble”. The Trade Minister, unaccustomed to leading the government’s international talking points in…
New Zealand elections: Working together or co-governance?
It is often said about New Zealand elections that it doesn’t really matter which of the two main parties – Labour or National – is in power because their policies are so similar…
Japan risks its reputation in Oceania with Fukushima discharge
Japan’s decision last month to begin discharging treated radioactive wastewater into the Pacific Ocean from its destroyed Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant is fairly unpopular…
“We can’t be passive”: New Zealand’s changing tone about a more worrying world
Before jetting off on a whirlwind trip to Brussels, Stockholm, and the NATO Summit in Vilnius last Friday, New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins gave a speech setting out his…
Remembering Australia’s “other” alliance
On the eve of ANZAC Day, 24 April 2023, the public version of the Australian Defence Strategic Review (DSR) was released. Surprisingly, given the depth of the Australia-New…
AUKUS + NZ = win-win
A rare thing is happening in New Zealand – an actual debate over foreign policy. Specifically, over whether Wellington should join what is known as Pillar II of AUKUS, which…
The Australia-New Zealand alliance in a war with China
A week before New Zealand declared a National State of Emergency for the devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle, Chris Hipkins made the pilgrimage to Canberra expected of…