China Eastern will connect Auckland to Buenos Aires with new Southern Link service out of Shanghai
China Eastern Airlines has revealed its plans to launch direct flights between Auckland and Buenos Aires by the end of the year.
It comes after Immigration Minister Erica Stanford announced that Chinese passport holders transiting through Aotearoa would be eligible for a New Zealand electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA), removing the
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RNZ News
37 minutes ago
- RNZ News
Otago school expansion targeted in $27m Government spend
Education Minister Erica Stanford visits Queenstown's Te Kura Whakatipu o Kawarau. Photo: RNZ/Katie Todd The Government has announced another $27 million spend to expand school infrastructure in Otago, easing pressure on a Queenstown primary school that had repurposed its library for teaching to fit extra students. Education Minister Erica Stanford said the investment would add 12 new classrooms to Queenstown's Te Kura Whakatipu o Kawarau, as well as six at Dunstan High School in Alexandra. Construction was expected to start in the next year. Stanford made the announcement on Thursday afternoon at Te Kura Whakatipu o Kawarau, which opened at Jack's Point in 2022 and was already just over its capacity of 450 students. "We've seen classrooms that weren't supposed to be classrooms, because of the huge growth that's happening here, so we need these classrooms built as soon as they can be," she said. The 12 extra classrooms form 'Phase II' of the school's three-part long-term plan and, eventually, could accommodate more than 1000 students. Principal Tania McNamara said she was "very excited" that the Government had recognised the school's need. She said the community had been supportive with the makeshift learning arrangements, but was looking forward to having purpose-built spaces. Last year, the Government also purchased a site at Ladies Mile in Queenstown to accommodate a new primary school. Stanford said funding for its construction would be considered in future years. "Securing the land at this time means that we will be able to hit 'go' on construction, when capacity is needed," she said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
2 hours ago
- Scoop
Luxon Wraps Up Successful Shanghai Visit
Rt Hon Christopher Luxon Prime Minister Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has concluded the successful Shanghai leg of his official visit to China, accompanied by Ministers Louise Upston and Mark Mitchell and a delegation of senior New Zealand business leaders from across the food and beverage, health and wellbeing, education, and tourism sectors. 'Our bilateral trade relationship with China is one of our most important, with two-way trade exceeding NZ$39 billion in the year ending March 2025. 'This relationship accounts for more than 20 per cent of New Zealand's total goods and services exports,' Mr Luxon says. 'It's been great to see $400 million of commercial agreements signed today between New Zealand businesses and their Chinese partners. This is a clear sign of the strength and momentum in our trade relationship. 'We also announced we would be making it easier for Chinese nationals to transit via New Zealand by removing the need to get a transit visa, instead being able to get a New Zealanders Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA), significantly cutting costs and time for visitors. 'This resulted in one of the major announcements in Shanghai, that China Eastern Airlines was launching twice weekly flights to South America via Auckland.' Mr Luxon participated in a tourism livestream event watched by over 10 million people, to promote New Zealand travel offerings. 'New Zealand welcomed 248,000 visitors from China in the past year, with holiday arrivals up 31 per cent. We've made recent changes to visa settings to make it easier for Chinese visitors to enjoy New Zealand's natural beauty and warm hospitality,' Mr Luxon says. Mr Luxon also visited Fudan University, one of China's most prestigious academic institutions, to promote New Zealand as a destination for world-class research, study, and partnership. 'We're focused on deepening our education links through student connections, institutional partnerships, and joint research that benefits both countries,' Mr Luxon says. Mr Luxon also met with Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jining to discuss Shanghai as a gateway for a high proportion of New Zealand goods, services and people-to-people flows, and other bilateral issues. The Prime Minister will now travel to Beijing, where he will meet with China's leaders.
Scoop
3 hours ago
- Scoop
Otago Students To Benefit From More Classrooms
Minister of Education Hon James Meager Minister for the South Island The Government's ensuring hundreds more students in Otago benefit from new, safe, warm and dry classrooms. A $27 million investment into new infrastructure will help make sure schools meet the needs of their communities and gets ahead of new growth. It will support the construction of: Six new teaching spaces at Dunstan High School A twelve-teaching space expansion at Te Kura Whakatipu o Kawarau The investment is in addition to the purchase of a site at Ladies Mile in Queenstown last year, which will accommodate a new primary school in the area. 'Queenstown in particular, has had strong and steady growth over the last decade, and we are committed to ensuring they are equipped to teach the basics brilliantly. Planning for the two growth projects is underway and is expected to begin in the next 12 months. This means that students, families and the Otago community can benefit sooner,' Education Minister Erica Stanford says. 'Funding for the construction of the new primary school at Ladies Mile will be considered in future years. Securing the land at this time means that we will be able to hit 'go' on construction when capacity is needed.' This announcement builds on the Government's commitment to ongoing investment in school property, and follows recent announcements to support growth in Canterbury, the Central North Island and provision of specialist education. 'Quality education is crucial to growing the regions. These new classrooms are an investment in the future of young learners in Otago Central Lakes and builds on the 120 new classrooms announced for Canterbury in the last month," South Island Minister James Meager says. "There is huge potential for Otago Central Lakes to become a hub for digital and tech investors, alongside our traditional backbone industries of tourism and agriculture. To enable that investment, we need to foster brilliance in our young people by investing in their future and building for growth. We also need a high-quality education infrastructure to attract the best quality workforce to our regions." 'Our efficiencies in school property delivery allows more schools, communities and children benefit sooner. The use of standardised building designs and offsite manufacturing have lowered the average cost of a classroom by 28%, allowing 30% more classrooms to be delivered last year compared to 2023. We will continue to drive costs down so more Kiwi kids can thrive,' Ms Stanford says.
