New Zealand
New Zealand is an island nation located south of Australia. The country has two main islands, which are North Island and South Island, and numerous small islands. New Zealand’s capital city is Wellington. The most dominant language is English. The population of New Zealand is approximately 4,711,310. In New Zealand, summer lasts from December to February and Winter lasts from June till August.
The history of New Zealand started around 600years to 1000years ago when Maori immigrated from Polynesia and they named Aotearoa. In 1642, Abel Tasman, the Dutch explorer found New Zealand for the first time in Europe. After 1796, The British Captain James Cook has investigated the shoreline of New Zealand, then trade and immigration between New Zealand and England have facilitated. The signing of Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand become under British law. Instead of Independence, they become dominion of England, then become British Commonwealth in 1931.
Today New Zealand is one of the best places to visit, to do leisure activities, enjoy beautiful nature, and various types of wine. Due to geographic isolation, New Zealand has unique species of animals, fungi, and plants. Major sports in New Zealand are Rugby, Cricket, and football.
There was an earthquake in East coast of New Zealand on the 2nd day of September. The 7.1 massive quake occurred in North Island. A potential tsunami threat notice issued after awhile, which made residence to be worried. There were no reports of injuries but in Gisborne, private water supplies and house were damaged. Currently, Tairawhiti Emergency Management Group is discouraging people going for boats, going to beaches or rivers, streams and estuaries for at least 24 hours.
Another piece of sad news is Vineyard workers are not paid minimum wages. About 50 temporary vineyard workers has been fined and ordered to pay staff $4,000 after a probe revealed workers haven’t paid the minimum wages. Investigations showed vineyard workers and some temporary workers were required to sign in to contract to show less hours than they worked. There is similar news that Fijian woman paid $25 after pruning fruit almost every day for three weeks. The employer of Fijian workers hired 15 more employees and lured them to come and work. Some of employee paid $2700 for a New Zealand work permit, flights and a week’s worth of rent and food. However, instead of having a work permit, they mislead New Zealand customs officials when they arrived.
After Brexit, many British people are planning to immigrate to New Zealand according to the Guardian. Compared to last year, the number of immigrant requests is 10 times bigger. Post Brexit bargains continue to attract New Zealanders to shop online in Britain. The UK pound weakened, eventually dropping to a 30-year low against the US dollar. According to Marketview, spending at British online shopping accounted for 20percent of entire online shopping for New Zealand people. Also, there was increase in the food and liquor trade, up 105 percent in spending and 95 percent in transaction. Also, Nielsen data showed New Zealand online shoppers spent $4.7 billion last year, dominated by five major categories: airline tickets, clothing, entertainment, accommodation, and books. According to Gary Baker, institutional research director at the Bank of New Zealand, purchases from offshore sites increased up to 13percent annually.
Currently, 150 Indian students are facing deportation due to fake financial documents made by India-based agents use to get student visa in New Zealand. The students say that they didn’t know about fake documents in their visa applications. However, Steven Joyce, economic development minister says the students had to be responsible for their own documents. Each year about 22,000 students from India study in New Zealand, there 150 students paid tens of thousands of dollars to get education in New Zealand but they will not be able to have refunds.
The New Zealand seafood industry is on the top level in the world. President of the National Fisheries Institute in the United States John Connelly said that New Zealand showed leadership in a number of fishing and seafood related areas. A fine balance between utilization and sustainability to ensure viable fisheries for now and later could be made possible by New Zealand’s 30 years Quota Management System.
Carville, O. (Aug 23rd, 2016). Fijian Woman paid $25 for three weeks’ work by Faroz Ali. Nzherald. Retrieved from
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11699419
Gibson, A. (Jun 29th, 2016). Brexit could drive online shoppers to UK sites. Nzherald. Retrieved from
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/retail-trade/news/article.cfm?c_id=374&objectid=11665467
Shaw, A. (Aug 1st, 2016). Brexit pushes NZ shoppers to UK sites. Nzherald. Retrieved from
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/retail-trade/news/article.cfm?c_id=374&objectid=11685117
NZN. (Sep 3rd, 2016). Indian students staging Auckland protest. Newshub. Retrieved from
http://www.newshub.co.nz/nznews/indian-students-staging-auckland-protest-2016090307
NZN. (Sep 3rd, 2016). Big shake in Wellington, East Cape aftershocks continue. Newshub. Retrieved from
http://www.newshub.co.nz/nznews/big-shake-in-wellington-east-cape-aftershocks-continue-2016090308
Oconnell, T. (Sep 3rd, 2016). New Zealand seafood punching above its weight. Stuff. Retrieved from
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/83854463/new-zealand-seafood-punching-above-their-weight
Ryan, S. (Aug 24th, 2016). Vineyard workers not paid minimum wage. Nzherald. Retrieved from
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11699809
Verdonk, S. (Sept 1st, 2016). Brexit bargains lure Kiwi shoppers. Nzherald. Retrieved from http://www.nzherald.co.nz/retail-trade/news/article.cfm?c_id=374&objectid=11702908
100% Pure New Zealand. Europeans Arrive to Aotearoa. Retrieved from
http://www.newzealand.com/int/feature/europeans-arrive-to-aotearoa/
Ryan, S. (Aug 24th, 2016). Vineyard workers not paid minimum wage. Nzherald. Retrieved from
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11699809
Australia & Oceania 