Category Archives: New Zealand

New Zealand have ruled out pace spearhead Trent Boult and retained the same 15-man squad for the second Test against South Africa after thrashing the Proteas by an innings and 276 runs in the series-opener over the weekend.

The Tom Latham-captained Black Caps are in prime position to claim a first Test series win against South Africa, leaving selectors in no mood to shake things up.

Also Read: New Zealand Eye Clean Sweep And Top Spot in Test Rankings

New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said Boult, who missed the first Test for the birth of his third child, was not ready to rejoin the team for the second match starting on Friday due to a lack of training.

We just felt the risk of him playing was far too great at the moment to do that to him, Stead told reporters on Monday.

Selectors also declined to add a specialist spinner to the squad, expecting the pitch at Christchurchs Hagley Oval to play similarly to last weeks clash.

Boults absence means paceman Matt Henry will almost certainly have another chance after his nine-wicket haul in the first Test, which included career-best innings figures of 7-23.

Hes always been a good bowler and sometimes you need that opportunity to strike and make the most it, Stead said of Henry.

He bowled beautifully throughout the Test but I thought the whole bowling unit bowled really well together and that was one of the reasons we were so convincing.

I also want to reiterate South Africa arent a bad side either, added Stead.

Yes, we got on the right side of it this time (but) we expect them to come back and come back strongly.

New Zealand full squad: Tom Latham (captain), Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Colin de Grandhomme, Cam Fletcher, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Rachin Ravindra, Hamish Rutherford, Tim Southee, Blair Tickner, Neil Wagner, Will Young

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NZ vs SA 2022: Trent Boult Ruled Out as New Zealand Name Unchanged Squad For 2nd Test - News18

India head coach Rahul Dravid on Monday hailed the progress of promising 27-year-old Venkatesh Iyer on the T20I format, following his impressive all-round return in the three-match series against West Indies in Kolkata.

Having made his international debut in the New Zealand home series last November, Venkatesh had a quiet series before he lost his spot on the ODI format after just two appearances. But the youngster bounced back strong in the T20I series against West Indies at home to score 92 runs in three innings at a strike rate of 184 and also picked two crucial wickets in two innings in the series.

Hailing the progress of the all-rounder, Dravid admitted that he had seen his potential in the New Zealand series itself before throwing him a challenge of batting the middle order given that the top three is packed. The former India captain was mighty impressed with the manner in which he dealt with the challenge, showing some improved performances in the series.

ALSO READ: 'To adapt well at No.6, finish games is outstanding': Jaffer places promising 27-year-old ahead of Hardik in T20 WC team

"This has a really good series for us. After he played the three T20s against New Zealand, you could sort of see his potential," Dravid said in the post-match press conference. "We kind of gave him the clarity on the kind of role we have for him. I know he plays a slightly different role for his IPL franchise, but we were very clear with him as to what kind of role we see him filling in seeing our situation because in our top three there isn't a spot. Guys are established and we have guys who have performed in the top three. So we challenged him and gave him the role to be able to bat in that position. Every time he has come back from a break, he has improved, gotten better and his performances are better and that's pleasing, that's what you want to see.

While Hardik Pandya continues to recover from his back issues, for which he has been out of selection since November, Venkatesh has the opportunity to make the most of the former's absence. Although, his bowling may not be of the level of Hardik, but Venkatesh is proving his worth with his power-hitting skills that has added to the strength of India's middle-order which also has the presence of Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant.

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'Could see his potential in NZ series. So we challenged him...': Dravid hails progress of promising 27-year-old in T20Is - Hindustan Times

The Cook Islands is reporting a fourth person who has tested positive for Covid-19.

The case is a New Zealand-based Cook Islander who arrived in Rarotonga for a family funeral on February 15 on-board an Air NZ flight.

Health Ministry Te Marae Ora (TMO) confirmed the case tested positive on Thursday from a sibling who had tested positive in New Zealand.

The case went to the airport to be tested with a rapid antigen test (RAT), returning a positive result.

READ MORE:* Covid-19: Two more cases in Cook Islands as travel companions test positive* Covid-19: Cook Islands records first community case* Covid-19: Traveller tests positive for Omicron after visiting Cook Islands

RYAN ANDERSON/Stuff

A New Zealand-based Cook Islander is the fourth case in the island nation to have tested positive for Covid-19. (File photo)

Health officials have advised the case to return to where they were staying at their family home for a 10-day isolation order with their four household contacts.

Four close contacts at the household have been tested with PCR tests, with only the case testing positive.

The positive case and three of the adults are fully vaccinated, with the young contact with their first vaccine dose.

An additional 16 close contacts have been identified, connected through the family funeral the case attended on Wednesday.

Ryan Anderson/Stuff

The government has announced an extension of suspension travel on outer islands. (File photo)

Health officials said contact tracing has also identified 18 potential close contacts on the Air NZ flight NZ946, with all of them now quarantining.

Two of the 18 close contacts are quarantining in an island outside of Rarotonga, Aitutaki. They have received negative RAT and PCR tests.

Due to the new positive case, the Cook Islands government has announced an extension to their suspension of passenger travel to the rest of the Pa Enua (other islands) to midnight of February 23.

The government has yet to make a decision on passenger travel to Aitutaki.

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Covid-19: Cook Islands records another positive case from New Zealand - Stuff.co.nz

OPINION: If one things clear after the opening round of Super Rugby Pacific, its that the Kiwi teams are almost certainly going to lead the way.

A trans-Tasman clash wasnt even required to paint the picture, rather just a look at the contrasting derby matches on offer to kickoff the competition.

Its no huge surprise, either. Not after Australian sides won just two of 25 matches in Super Rugby Trans-Tasman a year ago, and were on the wrong end of a bunch of lopsided defeats.

Indeed, border issues forcing a diet of derby matches until late April are likely just delaying the inevitable roasting of the Aussie franchises.

READ MORE:* Hurricanes coach Jason Holland rues missed chances against clinical Crusaders* Crusaders pivot Fergus Burke passes the biggest test of his career * Leicester Fainga'anuku bags three tries as Crusaders beat luckless Hurricanes* Hurricanes captain Ardie Savea questions four-hour bus trips for Super Rugby Pacific* Crusaders' pre-season stutters offer rivals hope for Super Rugby Pacific

They couldnt handle the tempo the New Zealand sides play with last year, and early signs are they wont when they go head-to-head in the second half of the regular season.

The Brumbies last-ditch 29-23 win over the Force in Canberra on Sunday at least featured an entertaining conclusion, but the two other matches across the ditch were forgettable.

Those who watched the Crusaders beat the Hurricanes 42-32 in Dunedin on Saturday, and stayed tuned to their televisions for the dour Reds-Rebels fixture, both deserve a medal and would have noted the gulf in quality.

Martin Hunter/Photosport

Crusaders wing Leicester Fainga'anuku celebrates his third try against the Hurricanes in Dunedin on Saturday night.

Admittedly, heavy rain pelted Brisbane for the second half of the match, won 23-5 by the Reds, making for a miserable spectacle, but there was no such excuse earlier in the match.

Plus, a boggy ground in Queenstown, the result of a downpour ahead of kickoff on Saturday, didnt stop the Chiefs and Highlanders playing an up-tempo game of considerably higher quality.

Its only one week, but for the competitions sake, lets hope the Australians get up to speed come April.

Joe Allison/Getty Images

Hurricanes No 8 Ardie Savea on the charge against the Crusaders in Dunedin on Saturday night.

Some Hurricanes fans were fuming after their side had three tries disallowed against the Crusaders, but coach Jason Holland was not.

Fair enough, too. Referee Brendon Pickerill and TMO Mike Fraser were bang on each time, including when Fraser spied a Ben May knock-on, which rubbed out a long-range Ardie Savea try.

Savea had earlier been well held up by some desperate goal-line defence, while hooker Asafo Aumua had a try scratched for a double movement.

So obvious was Aumuas infringement, the only complaint anyone should have is Pickerill, who was in perfect position to see the rake's left knee hit the deck metres short of the line, didnt pick up on it in real time.

Holland, having watched his side trail 42-18 with nine minutes to play, before scoring two late tries to add some respectability to the final score, was, rightfully, more peeved with his teams lack of execution.

Phil Walter/Getty Images

Chiefs lock Brodie Retallick tackles Highlanders midfielder Scott Gregory in Queenstown on Saturday.

The sight of Brodie Guzzler Retallick making big plays in his first game for the Chiefs since 2019 ought to fill their fan base with confidence.

Retallicks sublime offload to set up Emoni Narawas second half try highlighted the Chiefs 26-16 win against the sloppy Highlanders.

A year after making the Super Rugby Aotaroa final, the Chiefs, armed with Retallick, a healthy Sam Cane, and Josh Ioane at first five-eighth, sure look set to again seriously challenge for the title this year.

As bad as the Highlanders were, they need not panic, nor should any team beaten in round one, not in a competition in which eight of the 12 teams make the playoffs.

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The Waratahs celebrate their drought-snapping win against the Fijian Drua in Sydney on Friday.

The Waratahs have done it, theyve finally won a game.

It took a first-up date with newcomers Fijian Drua, but 538 days after their last win, they ended their miserable run with a 40-10 win in the Super Rugby Pacific opener.

Theyll take it, but shouldnt get carried away after winning a match which made it clear just how difficult 2022 will be for the Drua and Moana Pasifika.

Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

Fijian Drua Vilive Miramira carts the ball into contact against the Waratahs in Sydney in the opening Super Rugby Pacific match on Friday.

The inaccurate Drua were comprehensively outplayed by far the worst franchise in 2021, highlighted by their poor handling and a shaky set piece.

Well likely get our first proper look at the latter next weekend, when they play the Chiefs in Dunedin.

Waratahs 40 (Will Harris try 13min, Dave Porecki try 35min, Lalakai Foketi try 41min, Angus Bell try 52min, Jake Gordon try 57min; Ben Donaldson 3 pen, 3 con) Fijian Drua 10 (Nemani Nagusa try 65min; Baden Kerr pen, con). HT: 21-3

Chiefs 26 (Sam Cane try 17min, Pita Gus Sowakula try 39min, Emoni Narawa try 48min; Josh Ioane 2 pen, con, Bryn Gatland pen) Highlanders 16 (Daniel Lienert-Brown try 69min; Mitch Hunt 3 pen, con). HT: 18-6

Crusaders 42 (Leicester Faingaanuku tries 8min, 11min, 51min, penalty try 65min, Shilo Klein try 69min Fergus Burke 2 con, 3 pen, Simon Hickey con) Hurricanes 32 (Ruben Love try 28min, Bailyn Sullivan try 68min, Jordie Barrett try 75min, Jackson Garden-Bachop try 79min Jordie Barrett 2 con, 2 pen, Garden-Bachop con). HT: 15-13

Reds 23 (Taniela Tupou try 14min, Harry Wilson try 49min, Jock Campbell try 80min; James OConnor 2 pen, con) Rebels 5 (Brad Wilkin try 34min). HT: 13-5

Brumbies 29 (Andy Muirhead try 18min, Folau Faingaa try 47min, Rory Scott try 58min, Lachlan Lonergan try 79min; Noah Lolesio 3 con, pen) Western Force 23 (Toni Pulu try 43min, Jake McIntyre try 76min; Ian Prior 3 pen, con, McIntyre con). HT: 10-9.

Blues v Moana Pasifika postponed

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Super Rugby talking points: New Zealand sides poised to lead the charge - Stuff.co.nz

ANALYSIS: As the anti-mandate crowd continued to mill around Parliament, leaving the national flag strewn on the forecourt, some scumbags threw human waste at the police who had earlier erected barricades limiting the spread of the protest-turned-occupation.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was inside the Beehive, chairing cabinet, before giving a timeline for the expected peak of Omicron and the relaxing of restrictions something the occupiers all claimed to want.

As with any protest, there are a mixture of passionate, basically ordinary people, there for a good time, and the extreme, deluded or unhinged. And the latter elements have given a PR gift to the Government. After spending two weeks trying to prove that they werent extremists or collection of ferals (to use the words of Speaker Trevor Mallard), some of them literally threw human waste at the cops.

Back in the Beehive Theatrette, there was a reprieve from the ever-present slightly manic and expectant energy outside. The Government expects that the peak of Omicron based on the other countries will be in the next three to six weeks, and after coming off the peak, restrictions including vaccine certificates, mandates and gathering limits will be eased.

Robert Kitchin/Stuff

A police officer looks on at the Parliament occupation where many protesters have discarded their New Zealand flags at the picket line.

READ MORE:* National calls for a phasing out of vaccine requirements, as protests continue* Covid-19 NZ: Jacinda Ardern says mandates will wind down after Omicron peak* When will the Parliament protest, and mandates, end?

The real question that protesters want to know is when. The prime minister wouldn't answer that on the basis that it is still unclear how long it will be until case numbers really come down.

Ardern waited until well into her press conference on Monday to really hit upon the key point that this whole exercise the vaccine mandates, vaccine certificates, contact tracing has really all been to prepare New Zealand for this point.

In answering a question about whether Omicron was more serious than the flu, the prime minister pointed out that the problem is not the population-wide severity, it is people getting it all at once.

I think the issue is that Covid is in a pandemic state ... so that's where the real issue lies, making sure that you're able to properly manage that, because if you're overwhelmed, people who otherwise might be able to be cared for properly through treatment miss out on that because of the pressure in the system, she said.

ROBERT KITCHIN/Stuff

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson hold a post-cabinet press conference in the Beehive at Parliament.

Going back to the start of 2020 when Covid-19 first arrived in New Zealand, this was always the crux of the policy problem. How do you slow the spread so that hospitals aren't overwhelmed? Elimination stopped New Zealand from having to confront that problem for nearly two years.

About half an hour before the press conference, National Party leader Christopher Luxon gave his own speech in which he called for almost exactly the same thing the prime minister announced.

As with the Prime Minister, he declined to put an exact timeframe on when this should happen, but that it should be done progressively.

Abigail Dougherty/Stuff

National leader Chris Luxon tried to emphasis a division within New Zealand during his speech on Monday.

It was part of a speech trying to point to New Zealand as divided and sheeting that division home to Labour but over various issues.

Renters versus landlords. Business owners versus workers. Farmers versus cities. Kiwis at home versus those stuck abroad. The vaccinated versus the unvaccinated, Luxon said.

In essence, Luxon was trying to use the occupation as a way of mounting a broader critique. The problem is that on the issue du jour the protests he holds virtually the same public view that the Prime Minister does.

That is, National is a pro-vaccination Party, it also doesn't believe in engaging with lawbreaking protesters and thinks vaccine mandates should be scrapped after the Omicron peak.

The fact remains that a very healthy majority of the country opposes the protests, and in a political sense, polling is pretty much business-as-usual, with Labour ahead right now. There isnt much that points to a deeper and broader division beyond the usual left-right divide.

Up to, now it's all gone the protesters way: growth in numbers, some sympathy for the cause and building a little community. Now that the barricades have started to be erected, and the reality of maintaining the occupations momentum and numbers will set in.

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Occupiers give Government a filthy PR boost as Labour and National agree on vaccine mandate strategy - Stuff.co.nz

Refugee advocates have hailed news of an "in principle" agreement to resettle 150 refugees a year in New Zealand from Australia's offshore detention regime.

Refugee Mostafa "Moz" Azimitabar, who spent six years in detention at Melbourne's The Park Hotel, called the update, which emerged from Senate estimates on Monday night, a "historical moment".

The New Zealand offer, which has been on the table for several years, has been subject to multiple rounds of ministerial negotiations as Australia seeks to ensure refugees won't have access to a so-called "backdoor" to eventually live in Australia.

Department of Home Affairs deputy secretary of strategy and resilience Marc Ablong told Monday night's Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee Senate estimates hearing that the final round of talks was just weeks away "on the New Zealand side".

"They have to take the matter to their cabinet, so it'll have to go through the New Zealand cabinet process before they come to us with their final position," he said, before adding that both governments would be considering the matter at "roughly the same time".

Department of Home Affairs Secretary Michael Pezzullo said it was "fair to say" an in principle agreement had been reached.

"The Australian government has made it clear, subject to the satisfaction of both parties and the resolution of a number of issues," he said, in response to a question from Victorian Labor Senator Raff Ciccone.

Mr Pezzullo echoed concerns previously raised by Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews and other Morrison government ministers that settling in New Zealand could provide a "backdoor" into Australia through a special-purpose visa allowing "long-duration residency".

"There has to be, to satisfy the Australian government's policy, some kind of ironclad or, if not quite ironclad, firm blocking," he said.

The department secretary said the Australian government was looking for an "early resolution" to the matter but refused to define a timeframe.

"We would be reluctant to say 'this year', because I think we've said that before, and that was last year," he said.

"The power of people is stronger than politicians. The government couldn't resist this powerful pressure," he said, according to Amnesty International.

"Our consistency made this happen."

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'In principle' agreement to resettle 150 refugees a year in NZ hailed as 'historical moment' - 9News

Staff in a processing plant at New Zealand King Salmon are using rapid antigen tests after positive cases of Omicron in the factory, director general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield says.

On Wednesday, 15 new Covid-19 cases were reported in Te Tauihu (the top of the south).

In its daily update, the Ministry of Health announced a further 1160 cases nationally.

Bloomfield said New Zealand King Salmon in Nelson was continuing to operate despite cases in a processing plant, in keeping with the countrys shift to phase two of the response.

READ MORE:* Covid-19: Third Nelson school reports Covid case* Covid-19: Nelson-Marlborough records nine new Omicron cases* Covid-19 NZ: Jacinda Ardern moves New Zealand into phase 2 of Omicron response, shrinking isolation period

Scott Hammond/Stuff

The Nelson plant will continue to operate, with workers using rapid antigen tests.

All had Rapid Antigen Tests and theyre going to be using the RATs to allow them to keep operating.

Under phase two, critical workers exposed to the virus can continue working while using RATs to test for the virus.

It comes after nine cases were announced in Nelson-Marlborough on Tuesday, and as three schools in Nelson Victory Primary School, St Josephs Primary School and Nayland College have all had cases, forcing close-contact students and staff to isolate.

There had also been positive presentations at the Nelson Hospital emergency department.

Anyone with symptoms is being urged to get a test.

The Nelson Marlborough community did a fantastic job in Phase One of stamping out Omicron, said Nelson Marlborough Healths medical officer of health Dr Stephen Bridgman.

This delayed the spread of infection in the community meaning more people were able to get boosted and prepared.

We know that we cannot stop Omicron. The escalation of cases in Nelson over the past two days shows how quickly it can spread and how disruptive it can be to workplaces and schools. It also shows how prepared education and workplaces are in supporting employees, students and communities through Omicron.

On Wednesday the country moved to phase two in the Omicron response plan.

That means that isolation periods have reduced to 10 days for positive cases and household contacts, and seven days for close contacts.

Under phase two, isolation periods for people with Covid will reduce to 10 days, while isolation for close contracts will drop to seven days.

Contact tracing will also change, with positive cases required to fill out an online form to identify high-risk exposure events.

New Zealand King Salmon sustainability and stakeholder manager Paul McIntyre said staff who had tested positive had been on the night shift on Monday.

Of those who tested positive, there were 66 close contacts, all who were self-isolating at home.

Previously, Bloomfield had said there were 250 close contacts at New Zealand King Salmon.

McIntyre said all relevant staff had been tested, and all staff in the processing plant had access to RAT kits.

Nelson Zealand King Salmon had been designated a critical business by the Government, which allowed double-vaccinated asymptomatic close contacts to return to work following a negative RAT test.

Staff would be paid sick-leave if they tested positive for Covid-19 if they had sick-leave available.

Our policy is that anyone who is awaiting a PCR test are to self-isolate until the results of the test is known.

Exports to China had been stopped as soon as they knew about the cases. Otherwise they were supplying to all other markets.

McIntyre said their primary concern was to keep team members safe in this emerging situation.

We are working closely with the NMDHB and Ministry of Health to ensure the correct protocols and processes are being followed to avoid any spread in the community.

Braden Fastier/Stuff

The Saxton Fields testing station in Nelson.

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Positive cases in New Zealand King Salmon processing plant - Stuff.co.nz

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Hundreds of people in New Zealand are continuing to protest its governments vaccine mandate, despite the governments attempt to dissuade the protesters, as participants say they have been inspired by Canadian truckers protesting their own government more than 8,000 miles away.

At least 400 trucks, vans, and motorcycles were parked in front of the Parliament building in Wellington and a crowd of people continues to call for an end to coronavirus-related restrictions, which have effectively closed the countrys borders, Reuters reported.

'WE'RE NOT BACKING DOWN': CANADIAN TRUCKERS SHARE MESSAGE TO TRUDEAU

"There has been an influx of protesters at Parliament today, including children. However, the crowd had been orderly," Assistant Police Commissioner Richard Chambers told a group of reporters, Reuters reported.

Protesters wave flags from vehicles parked on the streets outside the parliament building (behind) in Wellington on February 8, 2022, during a demonstration against Covid restrictions, inspired by a similar demonstration in Canada. (Photo by Marty MELVILLE / AFP) (Photo by MARTY MELVILLE/AFP via Getty Images) (Photo by MARTY MELVILLE/AFP via Getty Images)

Law enforcement officers attempting to clear the government building instructed the protesters to leave and said their vehicles could be towed from the area, officials said.

CANADIAN TRUCKERS: OTTAWA'S POLICE CHIEF STEPS DOWN

Chambers added: "This is a very complex situation and we are mindful of the tactics we need to take so that the situation is not escalated," according to the report.

A protester stands with a Canadian flag near the parliament building in Wellington on February 8, 2022, during a demonstration against Covid restrictions, inspired by a similar demonstration in Canada. (Photo by Marty MELVILLE / AFP) (Photo by MARTY MELVILLE/AFP via Getty Images) (Photo by MARTY MELVILLE/AFP via Getty Images)

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern rejected the demands of the protesters calling the demonstration an "imported" one, Reuters reported.

The protests have continued for nine days.

CANADIAN CIVIL LIBERTIES GROUPS RESPOND TO TRUDEAU INVOKING EMERGENCIES ACT

While anti-vaccine mandate protests have sprung up across the world, the idea for a protest directly affecting a government building may have been birthed from the "Freedom Convoy" in Ottawa protesting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Truckers carry jerrycans to refuel as truckers continue to protest vaccine mandates against Covid-19, in Ottawa, Canada on February 7, 2022. (Kadri Mohamed/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Trudeau called the vehicular blockade in his country "illegal" and similarly criticized the protesters as a "small fringe minority of people who do not represent the views of Canadians."

On Tuesday, the Canadian government announced it would be easing travel restrictions, though it credits the change to "the actions of tens of millions of Canadians across the country who followed public health measures, including getting themselves and their families vaccinated."

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Travelers will, however, still be required to be fully vaccinated a requirement the protesters want removed.

Police man a barricade in front of vehicles parked as part of the trucker protest, Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022 in Ottawa's downtown core. (Adrian Wyld /The Canadian Press via AP) (Adrian Wyld /The Canadian Press via AP)

The New Zealand and Canadian protesters have committed no crimes, besides resisting instructions to discontinue, and their respective protests have not resulted in any injuries or looting.

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New Zealand COVID protesters inspired by Canadian truckers ...

People march up Queen Street in Auckland, New Zealand, during the annual Pride Festival in February 2019. Three years later, lawmakers banned conversion practices by a near-unanimous vote. Hannah Peters/Getty Images hide caption

People march up Queen Street in Auckland, New Zealand, during the annual Pride Festival in February 2019. Three years later, lawmakers banned conversion practices by a near-unanimous vote.

Lawmakers in New Zealand have passed in a near-unaninimous vote a bill banning conversion therapy, the dangerous and discredited practice that seek to change or suppress a person's sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

The bill, which was first introduced last summer, passed by a vote of 112 to 8 in a legislative session on Tuesday. The text of the bill says it aims to recognize and prevent harm caused by conversion practices and to promote respectful and open discussions around gender and sexuality.

"Conversion practices are based on the false idea that people are wrong or broken because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Such practices and ideas have no place in a modern, inclusive country like Aotearoa," said the center-left Labour Party, using the Mori name for New Zealand.

The Labour Party made banning the practice a 2020 campaign promise.

The new law makes it a civil offense to perform conversion therapy on anyone who is younger than 18 or lacks decision-making capacity, punishable by up to three years in prison. Anyone who performs a practice that "causes serious harm to the individual" regardless of their age could face up to five years.

It also creates a pathway for people to raise complaints about conversion practices with the country's Human Rights Commission and Human Rights Review Tribunal. The Labour Party says the service is being put in place because "prosecution won't always be the best way to deal with conversion practices."

New Zealand's Human Rights Commission said the new conversion-practices complaints service will be available starting in August, and aims to be survivor-informed, accessible and culturally safe. Other parts of the bill, like the criminal offenses, take effect immediately.

Labour lawmakers were also careful to mention what the law does not do. It defines what is not considered conversion practice and protects people's right to express opinions or beliefs not intended to change or suppress a person's identity.

"This new legislation isn't about criminalising open and respectful conversations about sexuality and gender," they wrote. "It's been carefully designed to make sure that general expressions of religious beliefs or principles as well as health practitioners or other people providing legitimate care and advice won't be penalised."

While mainstream medical and mental health organizations have rejected conversion practices for decades, they still exist in many societies, disproportionately targeting minors and leading to depression, anxiety, drug use, homelessness and suicide in some cases, according to the Human Rights Campaign.

The International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims and Independent Forensic Expert Group, as well as the U.N. independent expert on sexual orientation and gender identity, released separate statements in 2020 characterizing the practice as torture and calling for a global ban.

More than a dozen countries have some form of a national ban on conversion practices, with Canada joining the list in December. Twenty U.S. states have banned conversion therapy for minors.

New Zealand Justice Minister Kris Faafoi said in a statement that the government received nearly 107,000 public submissions on the bill, the most a piece of legislation in New Zealand has ever gotten.

"The unprecedented number of submissions shows the depth of public feeling about this issue and strong support for the Government's moves to protect against these harmful practices," Faafoi said, adding that lawmakers incorporated public input into the final version of the bill.

Lawmakers and LGBTQ advocates are cheering the bill's passage.

Shaneel Lal, who has spearheaded the movement to ban conversion therapy in New Zealand, called the decision "a win for humanity, not just the queer community."

"Queer rights are human rights. Queer people do not need to be tolerated or accepted, we need to be liberated. A ban on conversion therapy is start to freeing queer people in New Zealand," Lal said on social media, noting more must be done to protect queer people around the world.

Lal also said the eight MPs who voted against the ban are "banished from Pride" and would not be welcome at the annual celebration, which is happening virtually throughout the month.

Many of the members of Parliament who supported the ban shared personal stories and messages of gratitude during the session and afterward on social media.

Labour MP Kiri Allan shared on social media that she had gone through conversion therapy through her church as a teenager and had "desperately tried to 'pray the gay' away" in order to gain acceptance.

"It took a long time to shake that shame and trauma," Allan added. "Tonight our Parliament will ensure this practice is banned in our country for good. For our next generation of babies, I am so incredibly relieved."

At the bill reading, Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson thanked the "hundreds of activists" who had campaigned for years to reach this point, as well as the lawmakers who shaped and shepherded the law.

He acknowledged two other specific groups of people, according to a transcript: the parents who support their children for who they are and the members of the LGBTQ community who did not make it.

Robertson provided examples of each from his own life, noting that his own parents were "full of acceptance" after he came out to his religious family but that a work colleague named James "the sweetest, most gentle man" died by suicide at 23 after having a very different experience.

He called the conversion ban "a promissory note" from the House of Representatives to future generations of rainbow communities.

"It's our commitment that we will love, support and affirm you for being who you are, that we will not give licence to the peddlers of hate, bigotry, and dogma to impose the ill-informed and dangerous beliefs on to you," Robertson said. "We cannot promise to solve all the problems and challenges that you will face in your lives, but we can and, indeed, in my opinion we must give you hope for a life of love, fulfillment, and dignity."

This story originally appeared on the Morning Edition live blog.

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New Zealand passes law banning conversion therapy - NPR

New Zealands Matt Henry made a memorable return to Test cricket in the opening match against South Africa and the 30-year-old said it was surreal to match a benchmark set by Richard Hadlee, who cheered him on at the Hagley Oval on Thursday.

Henrys seven for 23 blew away South Africa who were bundled out for 95, their lowest against New Zealand, and put the home side in the box seat. It was a stunning display of pace bowling by Henry, playing his first Test in eight months only because Trent Boult is away on paternity leave.

Only Ajaz Patel (10-119) and Hadlee (9-52) have returned better Test figures by a New Zealander. Hadlee, who was present at the ground to cheer Henry, had also claimed 7-23 against India in 1976.

Youve got to kind of pinch yourself a little bit when you hear those stats and to be able to share that with Sir Richard Hadlee is pretty special, Henry said. It was a pretty surreal moment really.

World Test champions New Zealand finished day one on 116-3 and are eyeing a decisive first-innings lead after Henry routed South Africa. The right-arm quick said his knowledge of the venue came in handy.

I think just playing here at Hagley and having that experience and knowing what my lengths were and how to operate [helped]. As a bowling group, I think we bowled really well together and we were able to create pressure at both ends and not really let them go anywhere, which is probably key to how we got the wickets.

This is Henrys 15th Test since his 2007 debut against England. Being in and out of the squad had not helped, but Henry said his positive outlook had kept him motivated.

Its not always easy at times, but you try not to focus too much on those external things you cant control, making sure Im still in that mindset of just trying to keep getting better.

Thats led me to where I am at the moment where I can keep coming in and stay positive and not get too caught up in those external things and those noises.

Link:

New Zealands Matt Henry puts South Africa to sword with seven for 23 in first Test - The Guardian