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      • Hawke's Bay
      • Bay of Plenty
      • Waikato
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      • Northland
      • Auckland
      • Gisborne
      • Taranaki
      • Wellington
      • West Coast
      • Nelson
      • Canterbury
      • Otago
      • Marlborough
      • Southland
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      Hawke's Bay

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      Beaches, wineries and Art Deco. The Hawke's Bay has a diverse economy, including business services that support its sectors to be the second largest contributor to regional GDP in the country. A popular tourist destination, the region has some of the countries best restaurants as well as stunning scenery, markets and festivals.

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      Bay of Plenty

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      The Bay of Plenty is officially New Zealand's sunniest destination, enjoying short-lived winters and long summer days. The Region offers some of the country's most spectacular views and many ways to enjoy the pristine scenery and natural wonders. Visitors also enjoy exploring the Bay's Māori heritage and pre-European roots.

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      OpotikiOpotiki iSiteKawerauWhakatane

      Waikato

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      The Waikato is known for its rolling plains, fertile land and the mighty Waikato River. The region is the fourth largest regional economy in New Zealand, with a strong focus on primary production and associated manufacturing.

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      South WaikatoWaikato District

      Whanganui

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      Welcome to Whanganui. This is our place; where history is full of stories, legends and rich legacy. Where a thriving arts scene, creativity and evolving culture inspire our modern lives. Where breath-taking natural landscapes capture imaginations at every turn.

      Manawatu

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      Located in the lower North Island, Manawatu is heartland New Zealand, offering an authentic Kiwi experience.

      The main in the region are Palmerston North, most notable for Massey University. Palmerston has a vibrant, arts and culture scene.

      The region's economy is based on food production and processing, research and education. The region is also home for the New Zealand defence force.

      Northland

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      Northland was originally home to some of our country's first human inhabitants. Today, it is one of the fastest growing regions in New Zealand and home to nearly 189,000 people. Rich in culture and history, the region boasts a stunning natural environment.

      Auckland

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      Auckland Region stretches from the the beaches of the Pacific Ocean in the east to the expansive beaches of the rugged west coast of the Tasman Sea. Auckland City, the largest urban area in New Zealand is considered the main economic center of New Zealand and a popular destination for international students and travellers.

      Gisborne

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      Gisborne is a Region on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island. It's known for wineries and surf beaches such as Makorori. The region has maintained a strong Maori heritage. The region's economy is made up mainly of agriculture, horticulture and forestry.

      Taranaki

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      Taranaki is a coastal and mountainous region on the western side of New Zealand's North Island. Its landscape is dominated by Mount Taranaki, its namesake volcano, which lies within the rainforested Egmont National Park.

      The port city of New Plymouth is the area's cultural and commercial hub. Taranaki's economy is diverse and includes dairy, oil and gas. The region is the highest contributor or national GDP per capita. 

      Wellington

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      The Wellington Region covers Wellington city in the south, Upper and Lower Hutt valleys to the north-east, and Porirua to the north-west. The region takes its name from Wellington, New Zealand's capital city.

      Wellington is famous for its arts and culture scene and is also the centre of New Zealand's film industry.

      West Coast

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      The West Coast, or as some locals call it, the "Wild West", is a long thin region that runs down the South Island's west coast.

      The region has the lowest population in all of New Zealand. It is famous for its rugged natural scenery such as the Pancake Rocks, the Blue Pools of Haast, and the glaciers.

      The main industries in the region are dairy farming and mining. Tourism also plays an important role.

      Nelson – Tasman

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      Nelson Tasman is an extraordinary, vibrant region where art and businesses thrive together among a stunning natural landscape. With one in five people internationally born, Nelson Tasman has 48 different cultures living in its environs.

      The region prides its self on being New Zealand’s leading Research and Development areas, with the highest proportion of people working in the research, science and tech sectors out of anywhere in New Zealand.

      Canterbury

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      Canterbury is a region on New Zealand’s South Island marked by grassy plains, clear lakes and snow-capped mountains. Its largest city, Christchurch, is famed for its art scene and green spaces.

      Otago

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      There are few places in the world which will leave you with a lasting sense of difference. Central Otago is undoubtedly one of them from its landscapes, its seasons, its people, its products and experiences.

      Marlborough

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      Marlborough Region is on the north-eastern corner of the South Island. The region is well known for its winemaking industry, and the Marlborough Sounds, an extensive network of coastal waterways, peninsulas and islands.

      Apart from the wine industry, aquaculture, agriculture and tourism play an important role in the local economy.

      Southland

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      Southland is New Zealand’s most southerly region and includes the World Heritage ranked Fiordland National Park.

      The region's only city Invercargill offers a relaxed pace of life with wide streets, little traffic, spacious parks and gardens, striking Victorian and Edwardian architecture and impressive sporting facilities including New Zealand’s first indoor velodrome. Southland's location is such that views of Aurora Australis or the Southern Lights are common.

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Families of Chinese New Zealanders stuck in Fiji for months

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A Chinese New Zealander says she’s struggling to reopen her Auckland business because her mother has been stranded in Fiji for almost three months.

Ms Liu in Fiji. She says stranded parents have become restless. Ms Liu in Fiji. Li Yuning’s mother flew to Fiji to renew her New Zealand visa on 19 March, just hours before borders were closed to foreign nationals due to the Covid-19 pandemic, making her one of the dozens of Chinese nationals with family connections to New Zealand stuck in Fiji.

Her mother’s planned three-day tour to Fiji to renew her visa and return has now extended to almost three months.

Li said her mother had been in New Zealand to help care for her one-year-old son.

Now, Li’s takeaway business was at risk, she said.

“I need my mum because I work in hospitality and now it’s really a big challenge for us. If we’re not working, we have no income. I have my staff and I have to look after my staff.”

Li has been running a restaurant selling noodles in Auckland since 2017.

Li’s mother visited New Zealand on a visa which allowed a total stay of up to 18 months within a three-year period.

Li said the visa’s renewal was every six months and that time period was too short.

She said it would be great if the government could come up with a new parent visitor visa which allowed them to stay longer with each entry.

She was happy to buy insurance and pay for any costs her mother’s stay incurred.

Li’s mother, Liu, who did not want her full name used, said she and other parents had been growing restless in Fiji.

“It has been a long time now, more than two months. After two months, I almost feel like I can’t take this any more. Eating is almost like fulfilling a task. We would take a walk at the seaside… there isn’t much going on everyday, but I still feel stressed.”

The Chinese embassy said it took two flights of more than 50 Chinese nationals back to China from Fiji and it was working with Air New Zealand to take another 100 people left there soon.

However, Liu did not want to go to China. She has chosen to wait in Fiji until she can come back to New Zealand.

“My biggest hope is that I can return to my daughter and help her take care of her child. Then she can concentrate on work, be a good leader to her staff and help solve the employment issue in New Zealand.”

Ms Liu says she wants to come back to NZ to help her daughterMs Liu says she wants to come back to NZ to help her daughter Photo: Supplied
An Auckland man, who did not want to be named, said his stranded parents decided to go back to China from Fiji with the chartered flights.

His parents held a five-year multiple entry visa for New Zealand but they can only stay for up to three months each time.

His parents flew to Fiji on 18 March, and he said by the time the border closure was announced, the last flight from Fiji to New Zealand had already gone.

He said the high earning threshold for a parent resident visa meant it was almost impossible to get one, but he wanted a visa that allowed a longer visiting term.

“In China we had this only child policy. We are the only child in the family. Our parents are getting old. They need to be taken care of and we can afford that but there’s no such visa which allows them to stay here for a longer period of time,” he said.

“You can imagine when people getting old and they have to take a flight to fly out of New Zealand and then come back to renew their visa which sounds very silly and very torturing for them.”

Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway said in a statement that work was underway to return more people to New Zealand, but there was no plan to consider an extended multiple entry parent visitor visa past six months in one visit at this stage.

“New Zealand acted quickly to close the border in order to protect people in New Zealand. Quite a number of people made it home in the days before it was closed but obviously not everyone. I understand this has been difficult for people stuck outside the border, that’s one of the many sacrifices people have made to keep us safe.”

He said changes had been made on Tuesday to allow partners of citizens and residents to return while travelling on their own or with dependants.

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