New Zealand beat Australia 52-49 in game three of the Constellation Cup in Sydney, taking the trophy. The Ferns scored seven straight goals after three-quarter-time to build a five-goal lead. The Diamonds levelled at 47-47 late in the match, but turnovers and penalties cost them, and New Zealand won the final quarter 13-8. The Diamonds trail 3-0 in the four-game series and will play for pride in Melbourne on Wednesday. Coach Stacey Marinkovich's role is described as safe for now by former Diamond Bianca Chatfield.
New Zealand church leader Brian Tamaki says Australian Border Force detained him on arrival in Brisbane and questioned him for 12 hours. Authorities cancelled his visa, held him at an immigration detention centre and deported him the next day. Border Force documents cited his social media statements and risk to the community. Tamaki faces three charges of alleged racial disharmony in New Zealand, which he says prompted the decision. He has asked whether New Zealand authorities shared information with Australia and says he will speak at a free speech rally in Auckland on October 31.
New Zealand's military chief, Air Marshal Tony Davies, has resigned after admitting to an inappropriate relationship while serving as a unit leader. In a statement on Friday, Davies said he regretted not disclosing the relationship earlier. He did not give details of the circumstances or timing. Leadership passes to deputy chief Rear Admiral Mat Williams. Defence Minister Paul Goldsmith said the matter was an integrity issue and that Davies's position was no longer tenable. The matter has been referred to an independent inspector-general.
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Ahead of New Zealand's November 7 election, voters say the promise of a better life is getting harder to keep. About 350,000 people are estimated to have left over three years, almost half moving to Australia. In Wellington, hundreds protested in August against soaring water bills. One family of three lives in a campervan while the mother undergoes cancer treatment, and housing assistance was reportedly refused. Māori and Pacific communities, hit hardest by unemployment and homelessness, are asking whether politicians will give them a reason to stay.
New Zealand's annual inflation rate came in slightly below expectations at 3.7 per cent, down from 4.1 per cent in the year to June. The rate remains above the central bank's target band, and economists expect a further rate rise, with a decision due on October 28. Petrol prices rose 19 per cent over the year to September, and the election is on November 7. Polls show a tight race between the left and right blocs.
The Diamonds trail the four-game Constellation Cup series 2-0 after losing 62-50 to New Zealand in Christchurch. The Silver Ferns could take the world number one ranking from Australia if they win all four matches. The Diamonds shot less accurately, committed more turnovers and were penalised more often. Diamonds captain Liz Watson said the team had shot itself in the foot at key moments. The series resumes in Sydney on Sunday and Melbourne next Wednesday.
Jason Momoa has reportedly bought the late Sam Neill's sprawling New Zealand estate for $15 million. The 47-year-old actor purchased the 4.92-hectare Queenstown property, according to OneRoof. It was previously owned by Neill, who was transferred it before his former wife, Noriko Watanabe. The purchase is Momoa's second major property deal in New Zealand this year, following reports that his company, Ariki Group, bought Studio West in West Auckland. Momoa has said he first visited Queenstown in his early twenties and feels deeply connected to the country.
Around one in six older New Zealanders living in the community, or more than 250,000 people, experience some form of abuse, according to a newly released study. Psychological harm was the most common form, followed by financial, cultural and spiritual, physical, neglect and sexual harm. The study estimates abuse costs New Zealand at least NZ$1.8 billion a year. Māori, Pasifika, disabled people, rainbow communities and people in poorer areas reported higher rates of harm. Family members, including partners and children, were frequently identified as those responsible.
Oscar-winning filmmaker Taika Waititi says he and his wife, singer Rita Ora, make a real effort not to spend more than a few weeks apart. He describes their relationship as one of mutual care rather than grand gestures. Waititi also says Ora enjoys downtime in New Zealand, where he shot his sci-fi film Klara And The Sun. The film, based on a novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, explores whether a robot can learn to love. Waititi says he expects some of its ideas about artificial intelligence may come true.
Researchers have used generative artificial intelligence to model how extreme rainfall in New Zealand could change as the climate warms. The rarest downpours grow more intense, with larger increases than heavier rain seen more often. In a high-emissions future, the daily rainfall of a one-in-100-year event rose by about 9% per degree of warming, compared with about 5.6% for more frequent heavy rain. The study also found that warming widens the gap between milder and more severe possible futures, with the most severe outcomes showing substantially larger increases.
Ellyse Perry says Australia's late batting slump against New Zealand in the opening T20I in Sydney came down to poor execution rather than a flawed game plan. Australia were cruising at 0-102 after ten overs of their chase toward 163 before losing six wickets for 57 runs, then edged home by two wickets with seven balls remaining. Perry said several batters had little recent time in the middle, pointing to a three-match ODI series against Bangladesh in which only about five players batted significantly.
Australia beat New Zealand by two wickets in the opening women's Twenty20 International at North Sydney Oval on Sunday night, with seven balls to spare. Number 10 Kim Garth scored the winning runs after a late collapse, leaving Australia 1-0 up in the three-match Rose Bowl series. Georgia Plimmer and Maddy Green had earlier put on an unbeaten 127 for New Zealand, who finished 2-162. The remaining matches are scheduled at the same venue on Tuesday and Thursday.
Australia beat New Zealand by two wickets in the opening women's T20 international at North Sydney Oval. Georgia Plimmer scored an unbeaten 85 to help the White Ferns reach 2-162. Australia were well placed at 2-102 after 10 overs, but lost six wickets for 57 runs before Tahlia McGrath and Kim Garth finished the chase with seven balls to spare. Australia lead the three-match series 1-0. The second match is on Tuesday, with the third on Thursday.
Phoebe Litchfield will miss Australia's opening women's T20 international against New Zealand at North Sydney Oval. Captain Sophie Molineux has returned from a hip complaint, and Lucy Hamilton is back from a quad injury. Tahlia McGrath is recalled to the side. Australia will bowl first after Molineux won the toss. New Zealand are playing their first series since the retirements of Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu, and are led by interim coach Dean Brownlie. The three-match series runs from October 18 to October 22.
New Zealand Cricket has resisted playing women's Test cricket, prioritising limited-overs formats that it says attract and retain young players. The White Ferns have not played a Test since 2004, and the governing body has declined recent Test proposals against Australia. Former captains Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu retired without playing red-ball cricket for New Zealand. The equal match fee agreement, which pays $NZ10,250 per player for a Test, is cited as a key cost factor. Coach Ben Sawyer says the expense is significant, and that the board may view the money as better spent elsewhere.
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Sophie Molineux has declared herself fit to captain Australia in Sunday's Rose Bowl T20I against New Zealand at North Sydney Oval. She missed the Bangladesh one-dayers with a hip injury. Phoebe Litchfield, who strained a hip muscle, is doubtful and did not attend training on Friday. Lucy Hamilton is also in contention after playing for the Governor-General's XI. Molineux said selection decisions will be difficult given the depth of the squad. The three-match series runs from Sunday to Thursday.
Australia beat New Zealand 24-22 in a thrilling Rugby League World Cup match. Debutant Jack Bostock scored a hat-trick, including the winning try with less than four minutes to play. The Kiwis had dominated much of the game and were close to victory after Kalyn Ponga scored two second-half tries. Ponga then suffered a suspected broken arm. Halfback Mitchell Moses also limped off early in the second half for the Kangaroos.
New research has produced a clearer timeline for the development of early Māori society in Aotearoa New Zealand. Using high-precision radiocarbon dating and detailed archaeological evidence from two sites, researchers found some economic changes began earlier than previously believed. At Waihemo on the South Island's east coast, the site was used repeatedly between 1320 and 1440, rather than for a short single period. By around 1410, food sources had shifted towards shellfish, fish, dogs and birds. At Kokohuia in Northland, dating pointed to shellfish and fish bone accumulation around 1600, with ovens from an earlier period around 1440.
New Zealand coach Stacey Jones says the Kiwis are competing with Samoa, Tonga and other Pacific nations for players who could represent more than one country. He says a strong showing at the 10-team tournament is vital to attracting players in future years. Jones has 17 players returning from last year's Pacific Championships campaign. Fullback Kalyn Ponga, who has declared for New Zealand, will make his senior international debut in the opening match against Australia in Sydney on Thursday night.
