The Latest Breaking News from New Zealand

Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EST. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit Coverage Plan at https://newsroom.ap.org.

The country is believed to be the first to implement an annually rising legal smoking age

New Zealand Defence Force on Tuesday said it would retire its five P-3K2 Orion aircraft five months earlier than planned due to staff shortages, leaving it short of planes to undertake search and surveillance operations in the short term.

New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Tuesday that six members of parliament will retire ahead of the 2023 election including Associate Foreign Minister Aupito William Sio.

Experienced Sydney to Hobart sailor Andrew Miller was already keen to partner his son, Harry, in his first attempt at the race. Now, after changes to include two-handed crews in the race for the Tattersall Cup overall handicap prize, the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club duo are eyeing a special debut…

A disgraced Kiwi businessman whose targets included mum-and-dad investors, a Hollywood producer, a TV news anchor, a city mayor and even the Minister of Finance, is now trying for third time lucky – and asks that he be given a chance to turn over a new leaf.

Greater electrification of the economy is an essential part of Aotearoa New Zealand’s climate policy, as set out in the emissions reduction plan.

In a first, the Dame Lois Muir Supreme Award has been shared by domestic rivals and Silver Ferns team-mates Grace Nweke and Kelly Jury as New Zealand netball dishes out its annual awards.

Action on NZ's backlog of infrastructure needs will require open minds on private and public financing, and active partnerships able to deliver at pace