Foreign

Plastic Bags off the Shelf in New Zealand

By Web News 484

New Zealand has become the world’s first country to expand its ban on plastic bags in supermarkets to thin bags, which are typically used to hold fruits or vegetables.

The move, which took effect on Saturday, is part of a wider government campaign against single-use plastics.

Most shoppers already bring their own bags to stores after take-home plastic bags were banned in 2019.

In recent years, many countries have imposed a fee or ban on plastic bags.

“New Zealand produces too much waste, too much plastic waste,” Associate Environment Minister Rachel Brooking said.

She added more than one billion plastic bags had been saved since the ban on thicker bags took effect in 2019.

The new move is expected to prevent the usage of 150 million plastic bags per year.

BBC / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Foreign

Storm Leaves Thousands in Darkness

By Web News 1133

Thousands of homes in New Zealand were without power and flights were grounded Monday as a tropical storm lashed the north of the country.

Emergency management minister, Kieran McAnulty said it would be a “critical day” due to the “highly dangerous” combination of high winds and heavy rain.

Although the storm has weakened from its previous cyclone status, it has already toppled trees, damaged roads and downed power lines.

A state of emergency has been declared in five northern regions including Auckland.

Some 58,000 people in New Zealand’s North Island are without power.

Officials warn it could take days to restore the network.

“As long as the weather continues to be as severe as it is, it’s actually unsafe” to work on the network, McAnulty said.

New Zealand’s largest city – home to 1.6 million people –  is still recovering after flash floods last month caused four deaths and forced thousands from their homes.

Winds of up to 140 kilometres (87 miles) per hour battered the Northland region, while Auckland Harbour Bridge was rocked by gusts of 110 kph.

McAnulty said the government is considering declaring a national state of emergency for only the third time in the country’s history, “but we may not have to”.

The weather also wreaked havoc on New Zealand’s travel network, with flights, trains and bus schedules all badly affected.

Air New Zealand said they had so far cancelled 509 flights, but normal services were expected to resume Tuesday.

The airline said 10,000 international customers were disrupted, with 6,500 left to be rebooked.

AFP / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Foreign

After 2-Year Pandemic Lockout, New Zealand Reopens to Tourists

By Web News 496

New Zealand has reopened its borders to more international visitors after a pandemic lockout of more than two years.

Travelers touched down at Auckland Airport on Monday, many to emotional reunions with family and friends.

People from more than 60 countries are now able to enter the country if they’re vaccinated and Covid-negative.

Citizens have been able to travel in and out since March, while Australians have been let in since April.

One US man said he had traveled from Cincinnati to be with his partner and had been waiting since February 2020 – when he applied for the visa.

“I’m finally here today. I’ve never been within 6,000 miles of this country and my first time here. I’m home. It’s the best feeling I’ve ever had,” David Benson told the BBC.

British man Garth Halliday, who has been living in New Zealand for the past 30 years, said he and his wife were at the airport to welcome their son, daughter-in-law and 18-month-old grandson.

“The older you get, the more family becomes important and I’m getting old. We’ve got three generations all together now,” he said.

New Zealand sealed its borders in March 2020 – requiring even returning citizens to complete weeks of quarantine upon entering.

The government has credited the nation’s low Covid death toll – 713 deaths for a population of five million – to its isolation strategy, as well policies of rapid testing, tracing and lockdown but some New Zealanders protested over the strict restrictions and lockdowns.

There was also anger over the lengthy period that citizens overseas were effectively blocked from entering the country – thanks to limited quarantine slots in the system.

When announcing the border re-opening earlier this year, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the South Pacific nation was “ready to welcome the world back”.

New Zealand’s economy is heavily reliant on tourism from international visitors, and operators have said they’re looking forward to the resumption of activity.

An Air New Zealand spokeswoman said the first flights arriving on Monday carried visitors as well as returning citizens.

“They’ll be thrilled to land on New Zealand shores once again, as they reconnect with family, start their studies or build their businesses,” said Leanne Geraghty.

“It’s great to have international tourists being able to visit our beautiful country again.”

BBC/Maxwell Oyekunle

Foreign

10 Years on, New Zealand Remembers Christchurch Earthquake

By Web News 1300

The people of New Zealand are marking ten years since an earthquake struck its South Island city of Christchurch, killing 185 persons and injuring thousands more.

At 12:51 pm on February 22, 2011, the 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck close to Christchurch city at a depth of 5 km. Although not as strong as a magnitude 7.1 quake which hit the area less than six months earlier, its shallow depth and proximity to the city centre resulted in widespread damage.

Earlier today, Monday, hundreds of New Zealanders gathered at a memorial wall in Christchurch to observe a minute’s silence as flags flew at half-mast.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it was time to look ahead with hope for the future of the country’s second-largest city.

“It’s been a hugely difficult decade for this city – at times I’m sure it’s felt impossible,” Mrs. Ardern said in a speech at the memorial.

“But as we look ahead to the coming decade, I see hope and energy and optimism, and I see Christchurch taking its rightful place amongst New Zealand’s best and brightest cities,” she added.

Some eighty-seven people who died in the quake were foreign nationals from countries including Australia, China, Japan and the US.

A recent Reuters report said the earthquake damaged thousands of buildings and homes in Christchurch, forcing the authorities to embark on reconstruction projects that continue a decade later.

Frcn, Abuja