The American Express Times
Thursday, August 27, 2026
Deadly flood: Kiwis among the missing
At least five New Zealand citizens remain missing after a flash flood caused by a glacial collapse near the Nepal-China border, which has killed at least 180 people and left over 1,300 others unaccounted for. New Zealand authorities are actively coordinating with local officials while humanitarian groups mobilize aid for thousands displaced by the disaster.
★ Featured Stories
Who gets NZ voting rights?
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has proposed restricting voting rights in general elections to citizens only, excluding permanent residents who currently qualify after one…
Labour signals $2b cut to transport budget to pay for fuel tax promise
Labour plans to cut about NZ$2 billion from transport funding to compensate for scrapping a scheduled 12-cent-per-litre fuel tax increase set for January 2027. This…
Deadly maternity ward fire in Islamabad hospital
A fire caused by a malfunctioning air conditioning unit broke out early Wednesday in the maternity ward of Islamabad's Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, killing…
CFO joins exodus of leaders from developer Winton
Winton’s CFO Jean McMahon will leave the company in November, following the recent resignations of chairman Steven Joyce and director Guy Fergusson amid executive turmoil.…
★ All Stories
New company would manage shared antennas, mobile towers
One New Zealand and 2degrees have proposed creating a jointly owned wholesale company, RanCo, to share and manage their combined radio access network infrastructure across…
Hipkins says CGT is party’s only tax but is he staying quiet on another rise?
Labour leader Chris Hipkins confirmed the party plans to introduce a capital gains tax if elected but avoided clarifying whether they will change existing property…
Call for urgent action on child poverty
A coalition of experts and researchers is calling on New Zealand politicians to adopt targeted policies to reduce the stagnant rates of child material hardship,…
Deadly wall of water from Himalayan glacier collapse
A massive glacier collapse on the Nepal-Tibet border triggered a deadly mud and ice flood that has killed at least 165 people and left thousands…
Giving lie to claim ‘work is the way out of poverty’
New Zealand's current child poverty reduction targets are in jeopardy as key indicators worsen, prompting experts to call for urgent reforms to the "Working for…
NZX drops after record highs mid-week
The New Zealand sharemarket fell nearly 1% on Friday after reaching record highs earlier in the week, despite Summerset’s strong interim results showing a 15.7%…
Ardie Savea challenges stereotypes
Ardie Savea has been named permanent captain of the All Blacks, becoming one of the few Pasifika leaders in the team's history and exemplifying a…
Desperate residents demand Govt brings rates cap forward
Residents on the Kāpiti Coast urged Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to expedite the government's planned council rates cap, currently set for 2029, in response to…
Car ramming kills one and injures ten in French city
A vehicle was intentionally driven into a crowd near the train station in Caen, France, on August 27, killing one person and wounding ten others.…
Genesis Energy plans $3b investment as earnings up 14%
Genesis Energy reported a 14% rise in operating earnings to $518 million for the year ending June, driven by strong retail margins and favorable hydroelectric…
Creator pays tribute to Rocky star
Richard O’Brien, creator of The Rocky Horror Show, honored Tim Curry following his death at age 80, acknowledging Curry’s defining role as Dr. Frank-N-Furter and…
Locked in: Tupou Vaa’i returns for second test
New Zealand All Blacks coach Davie Rennie has made three changes to the starting lineup for the second test against South Africa, including replacing injured…
Economist sounds alarm over deepfake scams targeting retirees
Economist Brad Olsen’s likeness was digitally altered in a deepfake video promoting a fake investment scheme targeting retirees, prompting him to warn the public and…
Criminal ransom payments in Nigeria nearly double
Criminal groups in Nigeria collected nearly US$6 million in ransom payments from kidnappings between July 2025 and June 2026, with Boko Haram responsible for about…
Sluggish market sees tower build put on hold
Precinct Properties will begin constructing a 55-level commercial office tower on Auckland’s waterfront but has postponed the second 45-level residential and hotel building due to…
‘Go to the gym’: Quip to would-be thieves
Two men attempted to break into Tareks Barbershop in Auckland’s Mt Eden neighborhood early Tuesday by smashing its storefront windows but failed to gain entry.…
Starship defers cases as flu surges
Starship Children’s Hospital is postponing non-urgent cases due to a surge in flu-related admissions among children under five, resulting in bed shortages and increased risk…
Avalanche disaster rips through Nepal with severe damage and casualties
A glacier collapse triggered an avalanche in Nepal and the adjacent Tibetan region, causing extensive damage to infrastructure and leaving over 500 people missing, including…
S&P/NZX50 breaks 14,000 in solid reporting season
The S&P/NZX50 index surpassed 14,000 points for the first time, driven by strong earnings reports and gains in utilities, property, and construction sectors. This milestone…
Why Luxon blew up the unwritten coalition rules
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has introduced a government bill to ban social media use for under-16s, sparking tensions with coalition partners Act Party and New…
Are any of the new tax plans serious policy?
Te Pāti Māori has proposed five new taxes, including a wealth tax and a stamp duty on residential property sales, as part of its agenda…
War no deterrent as Qantas profits soar past $1.5 billion
Qantas reported a statutory profit after tax of A$1.289 billion for the year ending June 30, despite a 19.7% drop from the previous year due…
How Savea’s Captaincy Transformed All Blacks
Ardie Savea’s captaincy has played a central role in the New Zealand All Blacks’ emphatic 33-16 win at Ellis Park, reversing recent struggles and signaling…
The downsizing dream that doesn’t always deliver
Many New Zealand retirees who downsize their homes often face financial and emotional challenges that can diminish the expected benefits of freeing up equity and…
Royal arrival of Prince Harry and family in Britain
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and their two children have returned to Britain after six years in the United States, arriving at Birmingham Airport and planning…
TSB owner backs Heartland's $620m takeover deal
The Toi Foundation trustees have approved the $620 million sale of TSB Bank to Heartland Group Holdings, moving the deal closer to completion pending regulatory…
Herlihy’s trotters look to keep golden run going
Trainer Tony Herlihy is confident that his four-year-old trotter You Never Know can build on a recent win as it steps up in competition at…
The retirement costs nobody warns you about
Many retirees face rising and unexpected expenses such as increased medical bills, home maintenance, and mobility aids that strain their savings despite the end of…
How a will can change lives around the world
Anne Taylor, a 77-year-old aid worker from Wellington, has completed 21 missions with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) across some of the world’s toughest regions over…
Ellerslie and its darling ready for Group 1 return
Ellerslie Racecourse will host the first Group 1 race of the New Zealand thoroughbred season next Saturday, with 17 horses confirmed for the $400,000 Proisir…
Mitch Barnett says joining the Warriors is a great move
Mitch Barnett has left the New Zealand Warriors in a player trade deal with the Brisbane Broncos, citing family reasons and confidence in the club’s…
New ways Kiwis are building wealth
Many New Zealanders are expanding their wealth-building strategies beyond traditional homeownership and KiwiSaver contributions to include diversified investments, property optimization, side hustles, and digital financial…
Reid has eye on Livamol
Trainer Kim Reid plans to start Hi Yo Sass Bomb’s 2024 campaign at Wanganui before targeting the Livamol Classic at Hastings, where the mare was…
Auckland FC out of Intercontinental Cup
Auckland FC was eliminated from the FIFA Intercontinental Cup after a 1-0 loss to Al-Ahli Saudi FC in Jeddah during a pre-season match led by…
Silver Ferns sign new Super deals
New Zealand netball stars Grace Nweke and Amelia Walmsley have signed with Australia’s Super Netball teams, joining the Sydney Sirens and Melbourne Vixens respectively. Their…
Who will protect your money if you can’t?
Dementia commonly impairs financial decision-making, putting approximately 500 newly diagnosed individuals each week in New Zealand at risk of poor financial choices and exploitation. Early…
Broadcast Blow for Farah Palmer Cup
New Zealand Rugby’s Farah Palmer Cup will have limited television coverage this season, with matches only broadcast when they coincide with men’s games to reduce…