US Ambassador Brown accepts advice after conduct complaint

In this Jan. 8, 2015 file photo, former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown greets people on the floor of the House Chamber at the Statehouse in Boston. U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand Brown told a New Zealand website Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, he accepted advice that he should be more culturally aware after a U.S. inquiry into his conduct at a Peace Corps event in Samoa.

Baby plans, not policy, first hurdle for New Zealand Labour’s new female leader

New Zealand's charismatic new Labour leader, who took over in a desperate gamble to revive her struggling party seven weeks out from an election, spent her first 24 hours in the job fielding questions about babies rather than her policy plans. Jacinda Ardern, 37, took over as Labour's youngest leader on Tuesday after her predecessor quit over "disturbing" opinion poll results, leaving little time to plot a strategy to break the centre-right National Party's decade-long hold on power.

New Zealand PM John Key announces shocking resignation

Wellington: New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, who won praise for his economic stewardship after the global financial crisis, unexpectedly announced his resignation on Monday, saying it was time to leave politics after more than eight years in power. Key said he had no immediate future plans, but told reporters he would stay in parliament long enough for his centre-right National Party to avoid a by-election for his seat.

The Latest: China praises Thai king’s friendship

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that Bhumibol worked to strengthen ties between China and Thailand and "made an irreplaceable contribution to cementing the two people's friendship and expanding bilateral cooperation." "China deeply mourns King Bhumibol's passing and expresses sincere condolences to the Thai people and government," the ministry said.

The US presidential election – experienced from Godzone

Americans living in Manawatu say watching Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton face off from afar has been surreal, and they're conscious the eyes of the world are on their home country. Filmmaker Derrick Sims is originally from Arkansas and came to Palmerston North this year.

Labour open to negotiate a more-acceptable TPP if it fails to pass in US

Labour would welcome the chance to negotiate a Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact if it did not get United States approval this year, leader Andrew Little said on Tuesday. In a major speech on international affairs in Wellington, Little underscored Labour's continuing "engagement" and his rejection of "isolationism", despite the party's opposition to the TPP in its current form, saying it was proudly a free trade party.