Nick Perry

Associated Press

Workers walks past a bouquet of flowers for victims of mine explosion at the Pike River mine at Greymouth, New Zealand on June 28, 2011.

A Decade After New Zealand Mine Explosion, Bodies Are Found

Imaging technology helped make the discovery.

The ElectricAir plane is on approach before landing at Wellington Airport in Wellington, New Zealand, Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. Seeking to highlight the potential for green aviation as a pivotal climate change conference opened in Glasgow, New Zealand pilot Gary Freedman made the first-ever flight over Cook Strait in an electric plane.

Electric Plane Crosses Strait for First Time

Officials believe it may be the longest distance flown in an electric plane across any body of water.

In this Sept. 12, 2018, file photo, Fonterra milk tankers pass each other outside the Darfield factory near Christchurch, New Zealand.

Fonterra Scaling Back After Big Losses

The dairy giant recently posted its worst-ever annual result.

In this Feb. 26, 2019, photo taken by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority near Rennell Island in the Solomon Islands shows the “MV Solomon Trader” ship which ran aground Feb. 5. Australian officials say an environmental disaster is unfolding in the Solomon Islands after the ship ran aground and began leaking oil next to a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Grounded Ship Leaks 80 Tons of Oil

An environmental disaster is unfolding in the Pacific.

New Zealand's Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters, center, and Defense Minister Ron Mark, left, talk to reporters in Wellington, New Zealand Monday, July 9, 2018. They announced that New Zealand has agreed to buy four Boeing maritime patrol planes from the U.S.

New Zealand Buys 4 Boeing Military Planes

Boeing says the planes are designed for long-range anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare.

This is an undated file photo of a shadowy shape that some people say is a photo of the Loch Ness monster in Scotland. For hundreds of years, visitors to Scotland's Loch Ness have described seeing a monster that some believe lives in the depths. Now the legend of 'Nessie' may have no place to hide. Researchers will travel there next month to take samples of the murky waters and use DNA tests to determine what species live there.

Researchers Challenge Loch Ness Monster

The legend of "Nessie" has no place left to hide.

When a drone flew within meters of a landing passenger plane on March 25, 2018, Air New Zealand said reckless drone operators should be thrown in prison. Other agencies chimed in, calling such actions inexcusable and stupid. Yet The Associated Press has found that not one of them called police. Not while it was endangering the plane, nor later to try to track down the perpetrator.

Drone Nearly Hit Plane

None of the agencies crying foul notified police about the drone.

Air New Zealand said a drone came within meters of a flight descending into Auckland Airport from Tokyo, putting the safety of 278 passengers and crew at risk. The national carrier is calling for prison terms for drone operators who endanger lives after the incident Sunday, March 25, 2018.

Another Drone Near Miss

The drone passed so close that the crew worried it had been sucked into an engine.

In this Nov. 2017 photo provided by Rocket Lab, Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck is pictured with his 'Humanity Star' in Auckland, New Zealand. Beck, the founder of the company that this week launched the first rocket into orbit from New Zealand said on Wednesday, Jan 24, 2018, that he had deployed a secret satellite he believes will be the brightest object in the night sky and which he hopes will remind people of their precarious place in a vast universe.

Why Rocket Lab Shot a Glinting Sphere Into Space

It looks like a giant disco ball.

This photo supplied by Rocket Lab, shows the Electron rocket maneuvers to the launch pad on the Mahia Peninsula in the North Island of New Zealand, Thursday, May 25, 2017. California-based company Rocket Lab said Thursday it had launched a test rocket into space from its New Zealand launch pad, although the rocket didn’t reach orbit as hoped.

Test Rocket Makes Space, Not Orbit

Rocket Lab launched a test rocket into space, but it didn't go as planned.

Tech developer Nick Piesco poses for a photo in Wellington, New Zealand Friday, March 10, 2017. Local authorities and businesses are offering free trips to New Zealand for 100 tech workers from around the globe as they seek to boost the city's growing tech hub.

Country Lures Tech Applicants With Trips

The idea has caught fire, with 12,000 people applying thus far.

In this Aug. 17, 2016 photo, William Yan leaves his apartment in Auckland, New Zealand. Former pharmaceutical executive, Yan, who's accused by Chinese authorities of embezzling money and fleeing to New Zealand has settled his case for more than $30 million.

Exec Accused of Embezzling Settles

Police had previously seized homes, luxury cars including a Porsche and a Maserati, and stocks from the 47-year-old former executive.