New Zealand, Australia PMs meet to celebrate close ties

STORY: New Zealand, Australia PMs meet to celebrate close ties DATELINE: July 26, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:23 LOCATION: Wellington CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of New Zealand and Australian PMs walking to meeting venue 2. various of the PMs speaking at a press briefing STORYLINE: New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese met in Wellington on Wednesday for their first annual Australia-New Zealand Leaders' Meeting and the celebration of several anniversaries. The meeting took place as both countries celebrate the 40th anniversary of Closer Economic Relations (CER), the 50th anniversary of the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement, and the 80th anniversary of diplomatic representation, said a New Zealand government statement. "It was great to meet again with Prime Minister Albanese to celebrate our closest international relationship, mark this special year of anniversaries and work towards an even better future," Hipkins said. It was the fifth time the two prim

New Zealand's South Island regions hit hard by heavy rain, flooding

STORY: New Zealand's South Island regions hit hard by heavy rain, flooding DATELINE: Aug. 19, 2022 LENGTH: 00:03:22 LOCATION: Wellington CATEGORY: SOCIETY/ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of the flooding-affected areas STORYLINE: The West Coast and Nelson-Tasman regions of New Zealand's South Island have been hit hard by heavy rain and flooding. Local states of emergency remained in place for these regions due to the ongoing severe weather, according to the National Emergency Management Agency on Thursday. The severe weather has caused flooding that requires evacuations, with further impacts possible, the agency said in a statement. More than 400 homes in Nelson have been evacuated as the Maitai River, which runs through the city, has burst its banks. Civil Defense teams have been helping residents in flooded streets. The state highway leading to Nelson has been closed due to flooding. A red warning has been issued by the MetService, New Zealand's national weather authority, which is the

NEW ZEALAND-SOUTH ISLAND-FLOOD

NEW ZEALAND-SOUTH ISLAND-FLOOD

(220818) -- NELSON, Aug. 18, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A man walks past a closed road in Nelson of South Island, New Zealand, Aug. 18, 2022. The West Coast and Nelson-Tasman regions of New Zealand's South Island have been hit hard by heavy rain and flooding. (Photo by Yang Liu/Xinhua)

NEW ZEALAND-SOUTH ISLAND-FLOOD

NEW ZEALAND-SOUTH ISLAND-FLOOD

(220818) -- NELSON, Aug. 18, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A pedestrian stands at a flooded area in Nelson of South Island, New Zealand, Aug. 18, 2022. The West Coast and Nelson-Tasman regions of New Zealand's South Island have been hit hard by heavy rain and flooding. (Photo by Yang Liu/Xinhua)

NEW ZEALAND-SOUTH ISLAND-FLOOD

NEW ZEALAND-SOUTH ISLAND-FLOOD

(220818) -- NELSON, Aug. 18, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Floodwater cuts off a road in Nelson of South Island, New Zealand, Aug. 18, 2022. The West Coast and Nelson-Tasman regions of New Zealand's South Island have been hit hard by heavy rain and flooding. (Nelson City Council/Handout via Xinhua)

NEW ZEALAND-SOUTH ISLAND-FLOOD

NEW ZEALAND-SOUTH ISLAND-FLOOD

(220818) -- NELSON, Aug. 18, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A flooded area is seen in Nelson of South Island, New Zealand, Aug. 18, 2022. The West Coast and Nelson-Tasman regions of New Zealand's South Island have been hit hard by heavy rain and flooding. (Photo by Yang Liu/Xinhua)

NEW ZEALAND-SOUTH ISLAND-FLOOD

NEW ZEALAND-SOUTH ISLAND-FLOOD

(220818) -- NELSON, Aug. 18, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A flooded area is seen in Nelson of South Island, New Zealand, Aug. 18, 2022. The West Coast and Nelson-Tasman regions of New Zealand's South Island have been hit hard by heavy rain and flooding. (Photo by Yang Liu/Xinhua)

NEW ZEALAND-SOUTH ISLAND-FLOOD

NEW ZEALAND-SOUTH ISLAND-FLOOD

(220818) -- NELSON, Aug. 18, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Nelson City Council staff examine the road condition to prevent potential damage by overflowing floodwater in Nelson of South Island, New Zealand, Aug. 18, 2022. The West Coast and Nelson-Tasman regions of New Zealand's South Island have been hit hard by heavy rain and flooding. (Nelson City Council/Handout via Xinhua)

Japan-bound MOX ships sighted in Tasman Sea

Japan-bound MOX ships sighted in Tasman Sea

SYDNEY, Australia - One of two cargo ships carrying radioactive mixed oxide fuel is photographed Sept. 5 in the Tasman Sea, which separates Australia and New Zealand, on its way to Japan, international environmentalist group Greenpeace says. The shipments drew strong criticism from environmental activists when the two British-flagged ships left England and France in late July loaded with the weapons-grade nuclear fuel. The photo was taken by Greenpeace.