Wellington
People queue in their cars to get tested for COVID-19 at a pop-up testing clinic at Bondi Beach in Sydney Friday, June 25, 2021. Parts of Sydney will go into lockdown late Friday after a coronavirus outbreak in Australia’s largest city continued to grow. (Dean Lewins/AAP Image via AP)
Parts of Sydney going into lockdown as virus outbreak grows

By Nick Perry Jun. 24, 2021 11:26 PM EDT

Cars queue outside a COVID-19 testing station in Wellington, New Zealand, Wednesday, June, 23, 2021. After enjoying nearly four months without any community transmission of the coronavirus, New Zealanders were on edge Wednesday after health authorities said an infectious traveler from Australia had visited over the weekend. (Jack Crossland/NZ Herald via AP)
New Zealand on edge after virus-infected Australian visits

By Nick Perry Jun. 22, 2021 08:46 PM EDT

Liam McGing, right, of Wellington Phoenix jumps over Roy O'Donovan of the Newcastle Jets to head the ball during their A-League match in Newcastle on Feb. 28, 2021. The A-League announced Friday, April 30, 2021, that the Phoenix, fighting for a playoff spot, will play a home match in the New Zealand capital of Wellington on May 22. (Darren Pateman/AAP Image via AP)
The return of the (Wellington) Phoenix: 433 days later

By Steve Mcmorran May. 21, 2021 10:06 PM EDT

South Africa returns: Rugby Championship again 4 countries

May. 21, 2021 02:20 AM EDT
SYDNEY (AP) — South Africa is back and the Rugby Championship is once again a four-country tournament including Australia, Argentina and New Zealand. ...

Stefan Nigro, left, of the Mariners tackles Reno Piscopo of the Wellington Phoenix during their A-League match in Wollongong, Australia on Feb. 14, 2021. The A-League announced Friday, April 30, 2021, that the Phoenix, fighting for a playoff spot, will play a home match in the New Zealand capital of Wellington on May 22. (Joel Carrett/AAP Image via AP)
Central Coast Mariners FC vs Wellington Phoenix FC 2/14/2021

Apr. 29, 2021 10:28 PM EDT

Liam McGing, right, of Wellington Phoenix jumps over Roy O'Donovan of the Newcastle Jets to head the ball during their A-League match in Newcastle on Feb. 28, 2021. The A-League announced Friday, April 30, 2021, that the Phoenix, fighting for a playoff spot, will play a home match in the New Zealand capital of Wellington on May 22. (Darren Pateman/AAP Image via AP)
Wellington Phoenix FC vs Newcastle United Jets FC 2/28/2021

Apr. 29, 2021 10:28 PM EDT

Liam McGing, right, of Wellington Phoenix jumps over Roy O'Donovan of the Newcastle Jets to head the ball during their A-League match in Newcastle on Feb. 28, 2021. The A-League announced Friday, April 30, 2021, that the Phoenix, fighting for a playoff spot, will play a home match in the New Zealand capital of Wellington on May 22. (Darren Pateman/AAP Image via AP)
More than 400 days between home matches for A-League team

Apr. 29, 2021 09:24 PM EDT

A passenger from New Zealand, center, poses with drag queens as they welcome her at Sydney Airport in Sydney, Australia, Monday, April 19, 2021, as the much-anticipated travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand opens. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
Australia-New Zealand travel bubble opens with joy, tears

By Nick Perry Apr. 18, 2021 08:31 PM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 13, 2018, file photo, a house is pictured for sale in Christchurch, New Zealand. New Zealand's government on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021 made the first of several promised moves to rein in skyrocketing house prices by ordering the nation's Reserve Bank to consider the impact on housing when making decisions. (AP Photo/Mark Baker, File)
New Zealand's virus success unleashes runaway housing prices

By Nick Perry Feb. 24, 2021 08:31 PM EST

Thousands of people attend a concert by the band Six60 on Saturday, Feb 13, 2021, in Wellington, New Zealand. New Zealand’s largest city of Auckland is being placed into a three-day lockdown Sunday following the discovery of three unexplained virus cases. (AP Photo/Nick Perry)
New Zealand city enters 3-day lockdown after virus found

By Nick Perry Feb. 13, 2021 09:14 PM EST

Women's Cricket World Cup schedule released

By Steve Mcmorran Dec. 15, 2020 12:23 AM EST
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Hagley Oval in Christchurch will host a floodlight final of the Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2022. The...

FILE - In this July 11, 2017, file photo, U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand Scott Brown poses for a photograph at the U.S. Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand. The United States government paid for Brown and his wife, Gail, to fly domestically in New Zealand on a private jet so they could avoid going into quarantine at the border, documents show. (AP Photo/Nick Perry, File)
US paid for ambassador to New Zealand to fly on private jet

By Nick Perry Nov. 17, 2020 09:01 PM EST

FILE - In this Sept. 24, 2020, file photo, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is embraced as she arrives at the Al Noor mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand. Opinion polls indicate Ardern is on track to win a second term as prime minister in an election on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020. (AP Photo/Mark Baker) (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
A popular Ardern poised to win 2nd term in New Zealand vote

By Nick Perry Oct. 15, 2020 12:35 AM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 8, 2015, file photo, New Zealand's Julian Savea, right, is tacked by Australia's Tevita Kuridrani during their Rugby Championship match in Sydney. Australia is set to host the Rugby Championship in November and December after a late change of mind by governing body SANZAAR, Friday, Sept. 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, File)
New looks but old baggage for All Blacks and Wallabies

By Steve Mcmorran Oct. 07, 2020 11:57 PM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 8, 2015, file photo, Australia's Adam Ashley-Cooper, left, dives past New Zealand's Ben Smith to score a try during their Rugby Championship match in Sydney. Australia is set to host the Rugby Championship in November and December after a late change of mind by governing body SANZAAR, Friday, Sept. 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, File)
Australia quarantines in Christchurch before Bledisloe tests

By Steve Mcmorran Sep. 23, 2020 12:11 AM EDT

South's players celebrate after defeating North in their rugby game in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. The All Blacks which will be named Sunday, Sept 6. (John Cowpland/Photosport via AP)
New Zealand government relaxes rules for Bledisloe Cup tests

By Steve Mcmorran Sep. 14, 2020 07:59 PM EDT

Reiko Ioane runs in to score a try during the North vs South rugby game in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. The All Blacks which will be named Sunday, Sept 6. (Elias Rodriguez/Photosport via AP)
Mo'unga stands out in New Zealand inter-Island match

By Steve Mcmorran Sep. 05, 2020 09:46 PM EDT

This undated photo released by Pasifika Medical Association, shows Joe Williams. Williams, a medical leader in the South Pacific who served a brief term as prime minister of the Cook Islands, has died from the coronavirus, according to friends and family, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. He was 85. (Pasifika Medical Association via AP)
Former Cook Islands leader dies from virus in New Zealand

By Nick Perry Sep. 05, 2020 06:35 AM EDT

North-South match to go ahead in Wellington without fans

By Steve Mcmorran Aug. 25, 2020 10:55 PM EDT
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The North vs. South match, one of the high points of New Zealand’s lean domestic rugby season, has been moved from Auckland to...

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern reacts during a press conference in Wellington, New Zealand, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. Ardern announced that the three-day lockdown in Auckland would be extended by another 12 days at level 3, the rest of New Zealand will stay at level 2 restrictions as health authorities investigate the source of the first domestic coronavirus outbreak in more than three months. (Mark Mitchell/New Zealand Herald via AP)
After full stadiums, Super Rugby Aotearoa ends without fans

By Steve Mcmorran Aug. 15, 2020 02:05 AM EDT