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Published daily by the Lowy Institute

  • 2 Feb 2023
    • New Zealand
    • United States
    • Sex and Gender

    Women leaders: not so poles apart

    Erin Hurley
    In seemingly different settings, Jacinda Ardern and Nancy Pelosi confronted much the same challenges.
  • 19 Jan 2023
    • New Zealand

    Jacinda Ardern’s foreign policy legacy

    Robert Ayson
    Major shocks set an agenda and catapulted New Zealand’s youngest ever Prime Minister to international attention.
  • 16 Aug 2022
    • Pacific Islands
    • New Zealand
    • Sex and Gender

    Wrong balance of power in Pacific

    Elzanne Bester
    New Zealand can bolster the international rules-based order by working towards Pacific women’s political representation.
  • 20 Dec 2021
    • New Zealand
    • Review

    How New Zealand recognises the people there first: 2021 favourites

    Jessica Collins
    New Zealand is taking its indigenous identity to the world in a way that will no doubt bolster its reputation.
  • 30 Nov 2021
    • Defence & Security
    • New Zealand

    New Zealand: No longer Australia’s Pacific security partner?

    Robert Ayson
    Wellington has appeared slow to respond to a crisis in Solomon Islands where once it would have been a regional leader.
  • 23 Jul 2021
    • Pacific Islands
    • United States
    • Australia
    • New Zealand

    Shouldering their fair share? The ANZUS allies in the Pacific Islands

    Anna Powles , Joanne Wallis
    A reported pivot by special forces to the region raises questions about the role expected of Australia and New Zealand.
  • 18 Mar 2021
    • Terrorism
    • Australia
    • New Zealand

    Lessons from Christchurch

    Hannah Léser
    The findings of a New Zealand inquiry apply broadly: government leadership is needed to combat far-right extremism.
  • 23 Feb 2021
    • Diplomacy
    • ISIS
    • Terrorism
    • Australia
    • New Zealand

    Terrorism and New Zealand’s dual citizenship conundrum

    Rodger Shanahan
    This is an age in which dual nationality is widespread, and problems related to alleged ISIS members were foreseeable.
  • 17 Feb 2021
    • Australia
    • New Zealand

    Allies but not friends? New Zealand and Australia

    Robert Ayson
    Trans-Tasman tensions have boiled up over a citizenship case, but this latest spat betrays deeper problems.
  • 12 Feb 2021
    • Diplomacy
    • Australia
    • New Zealand

    Foreign policy’s “Indigenous moment” is here

    James Blackwell
    Australia needs to step up to the challenge.
  • 28 Jan 2021
    • Australia
    • China
    • New Zealand

    How to China, from your friends in New Zealand

    Robert Ayson
    A trade minister goes on record going way off script.
  • 10 Nov 2020
    • United States
    • New Zealand
    • The 2020 US Presidential Election

    What does a Biden administration herald for New Zealand?

    Ian Hill
    More congenial relations, certainly, but a competitive diplomatic marketplace in Washington should temper expectations.
  • 19 Oct 2020
    • New Zealand

    New Zealand’s landslide election and the challenges ahead

    Dick Grant
    A resounding endorsement for a popular prime minister’s virus response. Economic rebuilding stands as the next test.
  • 14 Oct 2020
    • Australia
    • China
    • New Zealand

    Kiwis and hawks: Is New Zealand edging closer to Australia on China?

    Anna Powles , Joanne Wallis
    Views on China appear to be hardening in Wellington, and the next government will be pressed to find a policy balance.
  • 6 Aug 2020
    • Defence & Security
    • New Zealand
    • Climate change

    A force to combat climate change?

    Steven Paget
    The summer bushfires put Australia to the test. They also had future implications for the New Zealand Defence Force.
  • 27 Jul 2020
    • Diplomacy
    • United States
    • Australia
    • New Zealand
    • United Kingdom
    • Canada

    Five Eyes: Blurring the lines between intelligence and policy

    Ben Scott
    Intelligence sharing is one thing. Aligning policy with the same brand risks making too exclusive a grouping.
  • 5 Jun 2020
    • China
    • New Zealand

    New Zealand and China: Contending with words and actions

    Dick Grant
    Wellington has a strong history in relations with Beijing, a record that will help in adapting to new complications.
  • 7 May 2020
    • Global Economy
    • Australia
    • New Zealand
    • Coronavirus

    Economic diplomacy: Lifting the doona on a post-pandemic world

    Greg Earl
    Australia can boast success in containing the virus. But its economy may still shrink more than other G20 nations.
  • 28 Apr 2020
    • Global Economy
    • IMF
    • Trade
    • WTO
    • Multilateral Institutions
    • New Zealand

    New Zealand: Running the marathon

    Dick Grant
    Having started well, there’s a lot to happen yet. And so far this race is not a team event, internationally.
  • 17 Apr 2020
    • New Zealand
    • Coronavirus

    New Zealand: Life under lockdown and the view of outside

    Dick Grant
    Morale remains good, but the bigger challenge is beyond the borders, seeking a glimpse of international cooperation.
  • 1 Apr 2020
    • Coronavirus
    • New Zealand

    Covid-19: New Zealand, isolated, yet far from alone

    Dick Grant
    The government acted swiftly to lockdown, leaving the economy reeling. People are supportive – so far.
  • 11 Sep 2019
    • China
    • New Zealand

    Why did the NZ Opposition Leader jump the shark on China?

    Robert Ayson
    National is partying like its 2008 and playing domestic politics without a care to the cost.
  • 30 Jul 2019
    • Pacific Islands
    • United States
    • Australia
    • New Zealand

    The Pacific step up goes to Washington

    Alan C. Tidwell
    Finding a voice amid the diplomatic clamour in Washington can sometimes benefit from the help of friends.
  • 19 Jul 2019
    • Australia
    • Migration
    • New Zealand

    Australia, New Zealand and the “corrosive” character test

    Henry Sherrell
    Hundreds of Kiwis have had Australian visas cancelled and a new law could see the trans-Tasman dispute yet grow worse.
  • 22 Mar 2019
    • Terrorism
    • New Zealand

    Christchurch enters a nightmare peculiar to our times

    Martin Gurri
    A different kind of monster stalks our age, but the public still has a choice whether to submit to his wickedness.
  • 21 Mar 2019
    • Australia
    • New Zealand
    • Turkey

    Australia-Turkey: Erdogan’s bitter legacy in present-day history

    Daniel Flitton
    The intemperate outburst over Christchurch is more a product of Erdogan’s increasingly authoritarian rule.
  • 19 Mar 2019
    • Australia
    • Indonesia
    • New Zealand

    Why Jakarta called in Australia’s ambassador after Christchurch

    Ben Bland
    <p>With an Indonesian among the dead, some local politiking has mixed with sadness following the mosque attacks.</p>
  • 19 Mar 2019
    • Terrorism
    • New Zealand

    Christchurch attack: the dark web of terrorism as entertainment

    Nicolas Johnston
    The killer pointedly sought to marry mass killing with fringe online humour, desensitising his “audience” to the horror.
  • 18 Mar 2019
    • Terrorism
    • New Zealand

    Five questions about the Christchurch attack

    Rodger Shanahan
    There may not be a direct causal link between the attack and conservative political rhetoric. It is too early to tell.
  • 6 Mar 2019
    • New Zealand

    In New Zealand, much ado about China

    Liam Finnigan , Stephen Noakes
    <p>There is talk of a downturn in NZ-China relations. But in reality, the two have never had a perfect relationship.</p>
  • 16 Jan 2019
    • New Zealand

    A China chip on New Zealand’s shoulder?

    Robert Ayson
    Huawei's proposal for Kiwis to build their own 5G infrastructure can't mask tensions between Wellington and Beijing.
  • 7 Aug 2018
    • United States
    • New Zealand

    Kiwi Act marks “new” relationship with US

    Alan C. Tidwell
    The first significant pro–New Zealand legislation since the Senate ratified the ANZUS treaty in 1951 has been passed.
  • 1 Aug 2018
    • Australia
    • New Zealand

    NZ and Australia: Big Brothers or Distant Cousins?

    Jon Fraenkel , Katharine Woolrych
    New Zealand needs to stamp an identity on its new Pacific policy.
  • 31 Jul 2018
    • Australia
    • New Zealand

    When friends disagree: New Zealand and Australia

    Robert Ayson
    While New Zealand’s Prime Minister has been on leave, a new chapter in trans-Tasman relations has begun.
  • 10 Jul 2018
    • New Zealand

    New Zealand’s P-8 purchase: straddling the gap

    Euan Graham
    New Zealand could change to a strategic “front line” if geopolitical competition in the South Pacific hots up.
  • 9 Jul 2018
    • New Zealand

    The domestic politics of New Zealand’s defence

    Robert Ayson
    It’s not China that animates New Zealand’s latest defence policy statement.
  • 13 Apr 2018
    • Australia
    • New Zealand

    New trans-Tasman vision needed

    Allan Gyngell
    In a world of significant change, Australia and New Zealand will need each other more than ever.
  • 7 Mar 2018
    • New Zealand

    New Zealand’s Pacific sea change

    Anna Powles , Michael Powles
    The Pacific Islands region is the focus of the most significant shift in New Zealand foreign policy in decades.
  • 1 Mar 2018
    • New Zealand

    New Zealand’s new idealism

    David Capie
    In her first major foreign policy speech, Jacinda Ardern successfully juggled the diverse interests of her three-party government.
  • 24 Jan 2018
    • Australia
    • New Zealand

    Waitangi Day and Australia Day: contrasting symbolism

    Michael Belgrave
    As debate rages about Australia's national day, across the Tasman a mix of dramatic protest and strong personal ties marks a very ‘New Zealand moment’.
  • 15 Nov 2017
    • Pacific Islands
    • New Zealand
    • Papua New Guinea
    • Solomon Islands

    Pacific island links: A new PM for Solomon Islands, PNG’s cable, COP23 and more

    Euan Moyle, an intern with the Lowy Institute's Pacific Island Program, with links on developments across the Pacific.
  • 20 Oct 2017
    • New Zealand

    The Ardern ascendancy

    Mike Rann
    Ardern was installed as New Zealand Labour leader just to 'save the furniture'. Less that 100 days later, she is the nation’s 40th prime minister.
  • 20 Sep 2017
    • New Zealand

    New Zealand’s election: Winds of change

    Robert Ayson
    Whoever ends up Prime Minister after Saturday’s contest will occupy the apex of a different New Zealand political landscape.
  • 19 Sep 2017
    • New Zealand

    New Zealand election: Another victory salute from Winston?

    Mike Rann
    Winston Peters, leader of New Zealand First, is the politician most likely to decide the outcome.
  • 18 Aug 2017
    • New Zealand

    Perfidious New Zealand

    Rodger Shanahan
    The thing that puts New Zealand on the world map is rugby, and New Zealanders will do everything in their power to retain their rugby primacy.
  • 17 Aug 2017
    • Australia and the Pacific
    • New Zealand

    Paranoia on Aotearoa

    John Gooding
    On New Zealand, Turnbull, Pyne and Bishop have engaged in poor foreign policy at the behest of even worse domestic politicking.
  • 3 Aug 2017
    • Defence & Security
    • Australian Defence Force
    • New Zealand

    Australia, US and NZ military co-operation augurs well

    Greg Colton
    For the first time, the combined amphibious force was comprised of ships from the US, Australia and New Zealand.
  • 20 Jul 2017
    • United States
    • New Zealand
    • North Korea

    New Zealand and fighting the nuclear threat: More effort required

    ML Cavanaugh
    Those of us on the line would appreciate some tangible help in holding back the world’s worst nuclear problem; not just empty words and slogans.
  • 15 May 2017
    • New Zealand

    NZ-US relations and Murray McCully’s foreign policy legacy

    Robert Ayson
    McCully seemed to understand how far the US relationship could be taken without serious questions being raised about New Zealand’s foreign policy independence.
  • 5 Dec 2016
    • New Zealand

    John Key's departure a blow for the region

    Robert Ayson
    Uncertainty and renewed contest likely in New Zealand politics after PM's surprise resignation.

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