Tag: New Zealand

FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023: All you need to know

Australia and New Zealand host the ninth edition of Women’s World Cup football from July 20 to August 20.

A woman poses for a picture during the FIFA Women's World Cup Trophy tour in Cali, Colombia
A woman poses for a picture during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy tour in Cali, Colombia [File: Joaquin Sarmiento/AFP]
The much anticipated ninth FIFA Women’s World Cup is almost upon us.

The tournament, which kicks off on July 20, will debut an expanded 32-team format – resulting in a full month of top-flight international football.

Who are the hosts?

The Women’s World Cup will take place in two countries: Australia and New Zealand.

Matches will be held at 10 stadiums in nine cities across these two nations.

Only Sydney will offer two venues, the Sydney Football Stadium and Stadium Australia (which will also host the final).

Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth will host the remaining fixtures in Australia. In New Zealand, matches will be played in Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin, and Hamilton.

Which teams have qualified?

  • Australia, China, Japan, Philippines, South Korea and Vietnam qualified from the AFC (Asia).
  • Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zambia qualified from CAF (Africa).
  • Canada, Costa Rica, Haiti, Jamaica, Panama and the USA qualified from CONCACAF (North and Central America and the Caribbean).
  • Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia qualified from CONMEBOL (South America).
  • New Zealand qualified from the OFC (Oceania).
  • Denmark, England, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland qualified from UEFA (Europe).

What are the groups?

There are a number of exciting pair-ups in the group. In a repeat of the 2019 final, four-time winners USA take on the Netherlands, who are currently ranked ninth in the world.

France vs Brazil is also a highly anticipated match, with the former ranked fifth in the world and the latter reigning South American champions.

How does the group stage work?

On the opening day, both the hosts will play their respective opening matches.

From then on, there will be a veritable daily feast of football, with three or four fixtures every day until August 3.

The top two teams will progress to the round of 16, with the top team of each group playing a second-placed team of another.

The bottom two teams in each group will be eliminated from the tournament.

Source : https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2023/6/28/womens-world-cup-2023-preview-all-you-need-to-know

New Zealand’s Matt Henry Derails Pakistan Innings With Hat-Trick In 1st T20I

Matt Henry picked up a hat-trick spread across two overs in the first T20I against Pakistan in Lahore to join an elite group of New Zealand bowlers

Matt Henry finished with 3/32, his career-best figure in T20Is.
Matt Henry finished with 3/32, his career-best figure in T20Is.

Matt Henry picked up a hat-trick spread across two overs in the first T20I against Pakistan in Lahore to join an elite group of New Zealand bowlers. Henry had derailed Pakistan’s innings in the 13th over with the wickets of Shadab Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed off back-to-back deliveries. Shadab was caught out by Latham off the penultimate ball of the over and Itikhar fell the next ball, edging again to the wicketkeeper. Henry returned in the 19th over to dismiss Shaheen Afridi off the first ball, caught brilliantly near the ropes by Daryl Mitchell off the first ball in the over.

Shadab Khan
Iftikhar Ahmed
Shaheen Afridi

A hat-trick for Matt Henry in the first T20I at the GSL. #PAKvNZ | #CricketMubarak pic.twitter.com/h6bZP6O1hM

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 14, 2023
Henry finished with 3/32, his career-best figure in T20Is and also became just the fourth New Zealand bowler to take a hat-trick in men’s T20Is. Jacob Oram was the first to do so when he took a hat-trick in 2009 against Sri Lanka. The all-rounder then became just the second player to record a hat-trick in men’s T20Is. Tim Southee joined him on the list next year against Pakistan.

Source: https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/new-zealands-matt-henry-derails-pakistan-innings-with-hat-trick-in-1st-t20i-watch-3949862

New Zealand raises concerns with China on South China Sea, Taiwan

New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta speaks during a session of the UN Human Rights Council, which voted to hold an urgent debate about Russia’s deadly invasion of Ukraine at Kyiv’s request, amid widespread international condemnation of Moscow’s attack, in Geneva, Switzerland February 28, 2022. Fabrice Coffrini/Pool via REUTERS

New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta said on Saturday she had expressed concerns over the South China Sea and tensions in the Taiwan Strait during talks with her Chinese counterpart at the end of a visit to Beijing.

Mahuta also said in a statement she “noted New Zealand’s deep concerns regarding the human rights situation in Xinjiang and the erosion of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong”, during her meeting with Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Qin Gang.

“Nanaia Mahuta expressed concerns over developments in the South China Sea and increasing tensions in the Taiwan Strait,” the foreign minister’s statement said.

Mahuta said she reiterated New Zealand’s condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. China is a key ally of Russia and both have criticised the U.S. and NATO for undermining global stability.

Mahuta arrived in China on Wednesday for the four-day trip, the first by a New Zealand minister since 2019, and also met China’s top diplomat Wang Yi as well as business and women leaders.

Wang told Mahuta that China and New Zealand had always respected and trusted each other, according to a statement by the Chinese foreign ministry.

New Zealand has long been seen as the moderate voice on China in the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance also involving the United States, Australia, Britain, and Canada. But New Zealand’s tone on security and China’s growing presence in the South Pacific toughened in the past year after China and the Solomon Islands struck a security pact.

New Zealand has consistently expressed concerns about the potential militarisation of the Pacific, amid China’s military buildup in the South China Sea.

China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced the option of using force to take the island under its control, and claims a large part of the South China Sea.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/new-zealand-raises-concerns-with-china-south-china-sea-taiwan-2023-03-25/

New Zealand to reopen borders earlier than planned

The border was not expected to fully reopen until October under the current plan but Ardern said this could be brought forward.
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