A Sri Lankan company director has been sentenced in New Zealand after being found guilty of exploiting a migrant worker employed at her business.

Dodamwalage Kalani Helikumari Jayawardhana, known as Kalani, was sentenced on 6 July to two years’ imprisonment, to be served as 12 months’ home detention, after being convicted on three charges of migrant exploitation following an investigation by New Zealand’s Immigration New Zealand (INZ).

The offences occurred while Jayawardhana was a director of Computer Express 24 Care Limited, a business based in Palmerston North.

The court also ordered her to pay NZ$59,657.68 in reparation, including unpaid wages, PAYE contributions, and NZ$15,000 that she had unlawfully demanded from the employee during the course of her employment.

According to INZ, the victim, a Sri Lankan national employed as an office manager, was repeatedly pressured to hand over large sums of money, including wages she had earned, while trying to build a future in New Zealand and progress her residency application.

INZ National Manager of Investigations Jason Perry described the case as a serious abuse of power, saying employers have no right to demand money from workers in exchange for employment or the prospect of a better future.

He said the case highlights the harm caused by migrant exploitation and serves as a warning that authorities will continue to pursue employers who profit from vulnerable migrant workers. (Newswire)

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Homes in New Zealand’s capital were flooded with faeces and sanitary products on Friday (Jun 5) after an overnight storm blocked wastewater pipes, the city’s utilities company said.

Wellington Water said the wastewater overflow in the picturesque suburb of Island Bay was the result of a blocked main.

It said five properties were affected by the overflow and its crews were working to remove the faeces and sanitary products and disinfect the homes.

“There is a suction truck onsite at the overflow,” Wellington Water said in a statement.

“We are aware of a number of properties with overflows because of the mains blockage. We are working with property owners to assist with cleaning and disinfecting.”

Island Bay resident Richard Peters told national broadcaster RNZ the “disgusting” situation worsened when the flooding went down.

“It was literally pieces of poo on the ground, tampons and brown water,” Peters said.

“Feral and disgusting.”

New Zealand’s MetService said it recorded more than 5,000 lightning strikes overnight in Wellington as a thunderstorm dropped 25.7mm of rain on the city in a two-hour period.

Wellington Water said the intense rain also caused more problems for the stricken Moa Point wastewater treatment plant, which hasn’t functioned properly since a storm in February.

Millions of litres of raw sewage have flowed into the waters off Wellington’s picturesque south coast beaches since the breakdown of the facility.

Minor fixes have been in place since, but the plant won’t be fully operational until November.

Wellington Water said the thunderstorm had led to more raw, untreated wastewater being pumped into the sea overnight.

The company said it advised residents to “stay away from Tarakena Bay and do not swim, surf or kayak along Wellington’s south coast until further notice”. (CNA/ AFP)

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Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath met with Winston Peters, New Zealand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, during his official visit to New Zealand.

In a post shared on X, Herath said he thanked Peters for the invitation extended for the official visit and for hosting him and the Sri Lankan delegation for lunch.

According to Herath, the two ministers held discussions on a range of bilateral matters, including political relations, trade, sports, governance and the Sri Lankan community living in New Zealand.

The ministers also exchanged views on current global and regional developments and their impact, the statement added.

Herath is currently in New Zealand for a series of official engagements, including the planned opening of Sri Lanka’s new High Commission in Wellington, which is expected to provide diplomatic and consular services to more than 30,000 Sri Lankans living in the country. (Newswire)

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New Zealand Rugby has announced an exciting return to Sri Lanka for the New Zealand Under 85kg national team in April 2026, launching a two‑match international tour designed to deepen global rugby ties and fuel the sport’s growing presence across the region. 

The tour will feature two fixtures against Sri Lanka’s national side, with Game One in Colombo on 25 April and Game Two in Kandy on 3 May. 

Steve Lancaster, Interim Chief Executive of New Zealand Rugby, says that the 2025 tour had a lasting impact well beyond the field. 

“We’re genuinely stoked to be able to confirm this tour and give this team the opportunity to represent New Zealand overseas again. Sri Lanka are a proud rugby nation and last year’s tour drew passionate crowds and strong community engagement. We know the Sri Lankan team will offer another strong challenge on the field and that’s exactly what you expect when you pull on a black jersey.” 

Supporting Ben Sinnamon, Head Coach of the New Zealand Under 85kg team, is a coaching group that blends high-performance experience with deep roots in the community game. Former international John Afoa adds technical and high-performance expertise, while Scott Hooper brings extensive experience within the Under 85kg community through Pukekohe Rugby Club and Counties Manukau Rugby Union. 

The 2026 tour also recognises the role rugby can play in supporting Sri Lanka’s sporting landscape, with the 2025 series widely regarded as a catalyst for renewed interest, participation and pride in the local game. 

The Under 85kg programme continues to play an important role in New Zealand Rugby’s participation pathway, offering representative opportunities for club players while also supporting international rugby development through meaningful engagement. 

2026 Tour Fixtures 

Game One: 

New Zealand Under 85kg v Sri Lanka Tuskers 

Colombo – 25 April 2026 

Game Two: 

New Zealand Under 85kg v Sri Lanka Tuskers 

Kandy – 3 May 2026 

Squad Information 

A New Zealand Under 85kg squad has been confirmed for the tour, featuring a blend of players returning from the 2025 series and new selections from the National Under 85kg Club Cup. 

The squad has been selected from clubs across the country and reflects the growing depth and reach of the Under 85kg game in New Zealand. 

2026 New Zealand Under 85kg National Team

Weight-restricted rugby 

Under 85kg rugby is a weight-restricted format designed to promote inclusivity, skill and safety by removing size mismatches from the game. 

The format places a strong emphasis on speed, fitness, decision making and technical ability rather than physical size. 

New Zealand has the most established and visible weight-restricted programme through Under 85kg rugby, with structured domestic competitions and an international representative pathway. 

International tours play an important role in the development of the programme, exposing players to different playing styles, conditions and rugby cultures. (NZ Rugby)

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Search and rescue teams were working on Thursday to locate several people, including children, reported missing after a landslide struck a campground on New Zealand’s northern coast amid record rainfall.

The landslide hit a campsite at Mount Maunganui, flattening tents and sweeping a campervan into nearby hot pools. Witnesses told the New Zealand Herald they heard people screaming for help from inside a toilet block following the slide, but rescuers were unable to find them and the voices fell silent after about 15 minutes.

The Tauranga area and the surrounding Western Bay of Plenty District, where Mount Maunganui is located, recorded their wettest day on record, with about two and a half months’ worth of rain falling in just 12 hours. Thousands of people also lost power, most of them along the North Island’s east coast.

In a separate incident nearby, two people remain missing after a slip struck a house in Papamoa. Authorities are also searching for a man north of Auckland who went missing on Wednesday after being swept away by floodwaters while trying to cross a river.

“Police, alongside Fire and Emergency New Zealand, are working to locate and rescue people trapped in a landslide that came down off Mount Maunganui at 9.30 am (2030 GMT) today,” Bay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Tim Anderson said, according to Radio New Zealand. He urged the public to stay away from the campsite and surrounding roads while operations continue and said efforts were also ongoing to find the two missing people in Papamoa.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said extreme weather continued to create dangerous conditions across the North Island.

“Right now, the government is doing everything we can to support those impacted,” Luxon wrote on the US-based social media platform X. He said authorities were closely monitoring developments nationwide, including the major incident at Mount Maunganui, where Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell was on the ground. (TRT World)

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The Government of New Zealand has announced that applications will open for 2 new seasonal visa options from 8 December 2025.

The new seasonal visa options which fall under the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) framework, are the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) and the Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV).

According to the New Zealand Immigration Department, job checks and visa applications will commence in December for the two visas. 

These visas are being introduced to help accredited employees access more workers during periods of peak season activity. 

Full details of the visa requirements are as follows;

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Director of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, Kash Patel, gifted illegal firearms to New Zealand officials during his visit there earlier this year, police authorities said on Wednesday.

Patel visited New Zealand in July to open a standalone intelligence office there. He is the highest-ranking official from US President Donald Trump’s administration to have visited the country.

What was the gift?

New Zealand’s Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said he received a “coin display stand featuring an inoperable plastic 3D-printed replica pistol” from Patel.

“The advice of the Firearms Safety Authority was sought the following day and the gifts were collected from recipients and secured that day,” Chambers said in a statement. “While inoperable in the form they were gifted, a subsequent analysis by the Firearms Safety Authority and Police Armoury determined that modifications could have made them operable,” he added. 

Similar gifts were given to Andrew Hampton and Andrew Clark, the bosses of New Zealand’s spy agency.

Two senior elected officials, Police Minister Mark Mitchell and Minister for Defense, Judith Collins, said that Patel had given them pistols too.

All the firearms were destroyed in compliance with local firearms laws, statements from the various institutions said. 

How did the US react?

A US embassy spokesperson in Wellington said the gift was a coin display stand and the non-operable firearm replica was a design element.

“We supported New Zealand officials’ efforts to ensure this gift did not inadvertently contravene any New Zealand firearms laws. The embassy has indicated to our New Zealand counterparts our understanding and acceptance of their decision regarding the disposition of the director’s well-intentioned gift.”

The FBI has not commented on the matter.

New Zealand has strict rules on firearms, especially pistols, which were strengthened after a mass shooting in 2019. (DW)

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A two-year-old girl has been found alive in a suitcase stored in a bus luggage compartment in New Zealand.

The bus driver noticed movement inside the bag during a planned stop in Kaiwaka – 60 miles north of Auckland – on Sunday after a passenger asked for access to the luggage compartment.

When the driver opened the suitcase, they discovered the girl.

The two-year-old was said to be “very hot, but otherwise appeared physically unharmed”, according to Detective Chief Simon Harrison.

The toddler was taken to hospital, where she remained on Sunday to undergo an extensive medical assessment.

Detectives did not say how long the girl was in the suitcase, or which cities the bus was travelling between.

A 27-year-old woman, who has not been named, was arrested and charged with ill-treatment or neglect of a child. DCI Harrison said further charges are not being ruled out.

The woman is due to appear in court on Monday, and children’s services have also been notified.

Entrada Travel Group, which operates New Zealand’s national bus line, InterCity, told Sky News’ US partner network NBC that the incident involved one of its buses.

“Police were called to respond and are investigating the matter. No one was harmed during the incident, and the service resumed,” the group said in its statement.

InterCity states on its website that children up to two years old can travel for free on an adult’s lap. Children aged three and older require a child ticket and need to travel with a guardian.

DCI Harrison praised the InterCity bus driver, “who noticed something wasn’t right and took immediate action, preventing what could have been a far worse outcome”. (Sky News)

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Visiting New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has engaged in bilateral talks with his Sri Lankan counterpart, Vijitha Herath, covering the areas of defence, trade, education, health, tourism, and sport.

Issuing a statement on the bilateral talks, Deputy PM Winston Peters announced that discussions had been held on cooperation in tourism research between New Zealand’s University of Otago and the University of Colombo.

He further announced the Sustainable Water and Livelihoods project, which he said will support farming households to improve their health and income generation.

New Zealand’s Deputy PM also assured that they remain committed to their cooperation across immigration, customs, police and defence.

“We reiterated that Sri Lanka’s application to accede to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement is very welcome. We are pleased to confirm that places on short-term training courses in trade policy will be offered to Sri Lanka officials under the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship Programme,” he said. 

Commenting on the success of the recent tour by the New Zealand men’s under-85 kg rugby team, playing against Sri Lanka’s Tuskers, he added, “We look forward to further future battles between the New Zealand and Sri Lankan teams on the rugby pitch and the cricket field.”

New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Winston Peters, concludes his official state visit to Sri Lanka on 28 May 2025. 

Also commenting on the discussion, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said, Deputy PM Winston Peters’ visit marks the highest-level engagement from New Zealand since the establishment of a resident diplomatic mission in Colombo in 2021 and the opening of the Sri Lanka High Commission in Wellington early this year. 

Minister Herath said that discussions were held on working towards the establishment of a Trade and Economic Dialogue with New Zealand, through which they hope to streamline collaboration across multiple sectors and promote growth and prosperity for Sri Lanka and New Zealand. 

“We also explored expanding trade links, especially in high-potential sectors such as dairy, processed food, and fresh produce, and discussed improving market access for Sri Lankan products. We expressed keen interest in expanding vocational training collaboration, with a focus on industry-aligned skills development for youth,” he said.

Minister Herath further said that Sri Lanka also expressed interest in establishing direct cooperation between Sri Lanka’s Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and New Zealand’s anti-corruption agencies.

“Today’s discussions reaffirmed the depth and diversity of the Sri Lanka–New Zealand partnership, and we are committed to advancing our cooperation across all spheres. Sri Lanka values its partnership with New Zealand and will continue to work closely, bilaterally, regionally and multilaterally to promote shared values, enhance regional cooperation, and foster a peaceful, rules-based international order,” he added.

Full statement of New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Winston Peters: Remarks Made by Rt Hon Winston Peters, NZ Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, 26 May 2025

Full statement of Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath : Media Statement by Hon. H. M. Vijitha Herath, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment (Newswire)

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The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand, Winston Peters, arrived in Sri Lanka today on a four-day official visit.  

Upon arrival at the Katunayake Airport, Deputy PM Winston Peters was welcomed by Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arun Hemachandra. 

In a post on social media, Deputy Minister Hemachandra said this visit signifies a renewed commitment to advancing a longstanding partnership and exploring new opportunities for cooperation across areas of mutual interest.

“Sri Lanka values its longstanding friendship with New Zealand and looks forward to deepening this partnership in the years ahead,” he added.

During his visit, until 28 May, Deputy PM Winston Peters is expected to pay courtesy calls on President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka and PM Harini Amarasuriya.

He will further hold bilateral discussions with Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath, with the discussion focused on enhancing cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, agriculture, education, connectivity, tourism and sports. (Newswire)

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The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand, Winston Peters, will undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka from 24 – 28 May 2025. 

According to Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry, during this visit, Deputy PM  Winston Peters is expected to pay courtesy calls on President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka and PM Harini Amarasuriya.

He will further hold bilateral discussions with Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath, with the discussion focused on enhancing cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, agriculture, education, connectivity, tourism and sports.

Deputy PM  Winston Peters is also expected to have several private sector and media engagements during the visit. 

He will be accompanied by three senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand. (Newswire)

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A New Zealand government minister said on Monday he had resigned from his post after “placing his hand” on a staff member’s upper arm during an “animated” discussion.

The country’s minister for commerce and consumer affairs, Andrew Bayly, told reporters his behaviour towards the staff member had been “overbearing”.

“For that, I am deeply sorry,” he said. “I took the discussion too far, and I placed a hand on their upper arm, which was inappropriate.”

A complaint had been lodged about his behaviour in last week’s incident, the minister said, declining to give further details.

It is the second apology Bayly has offered for his ministerial conduct after his visit to a New Zealand business last October turned sour. A worker wrote a letter of complaint at the time saying the minister appeared to have been drinking, swore and called him a “loser” repeatedly, even forming an “L” with his fingers on his forehead.

Bayly sent two apologies in reply, saying he “misread the moment” and meant his comments in a “light-hearted manner”. He reassured the worker: “I was not intoxicated when we met.”

Despite stepping down as a minister after his latest encounter, Bayly said he would remain a member of parliament and looked forward to serving his electorate.

The conservative government of the prime minister, Christopher Luxon, which took office in November 2023, is sagging in the polls as voters struggle with the rising cost of living.

Luxon said the arm-handling incident happened on 18 February and he had accepted Bayly’s resignation on Friday, delaying the announcement to give the minister time to speak to his family and staff.

“I think that’s been pretty quick, to move as fast as we have within the week. It’s pretty impressive,” he told reporters.

The prime minister said Bayly told him he felt his actions “fell well short of the expectations he sets for himself”. Luxon said he appreciated that Bayly wanted to continue to be a lawmaker and thanked him for doing an “exceptional job” as minister.

Asked if Bayly might one day return to a ministerial post, he told reporters: “Never say never.”

Bayly was replaced as commerce minister by Scott Simpson, who had been the senior whip responsible for party discipline in parliament. (The Guardian)

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China’s navy has reportedly conducted a second live-fire exercise in international waters, a day after a similar drill forced multiple airlines to change flight paths between Australia and New Zealand.

New Zealand navy personnel advised live rounds were fired from a Chinese warship in international waters near the island nation on Saturday.

“Reporting from the New Zealand Defence Force that the Chinese naval Task Group has advised of a second window for live firing activity, on Saturday afternoon,” a spokesperson for the defence minister, Judith Collins, said in a statement seen by Reuters.

China’s naval taskforce had given radio notice of its intent to conduct firing, and the NZ prime minister, Christopher Luxon, said the group had acted under international law.

Anthony Albanese earlier bristled at suggestions he should get Beijing on the phone after China’s military carried out a live-fire exercise off the Australian coast on Friday.

The prime minister said senior Defence officials continued to monitor three Chinese warships after they were spotted moving south in international waters about 280km off Sydney on Thursday.

The foreign minister, Penny Wong, met with her Chinese counterpart and demanded to know why the vessels only offered limited notice before the firing was carried out.

In a post on X late on Friday night Australian eastern time, Wong said she met with China’s foreign affairs minister, Wang Yi, on the sidelines of the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in South Africa that day.

“Calm and consistent dialogue with China enables us to progress our interests and advocate on issues that matter to Australians,” Wong said.

China’s actions are believed to have complied with international law and the Australian Defence Force has advised there was no imminent threat to its assets or those of NZ.

Analysts believed the sailing was an attempt by Beijing to project power and send a message to Canberra about China’s capability.

Albanese was asked on Saturday if he would call president Xi Jinping in light of the incident but instead defended China’s right to carry out the exercise as it had not breached international law.

“It’s important to not suggest that wasn’t the case,” he said.

“What we have done is to make appropriate representation through diplomatic channels, including foreign minister to foreign minister.

“They could have given more notice but Australia has a presence from time to time in the South China Sea [and] this activity took place outside of our exclusive economic zone. Notification did occur.”

Australia has coordinated its response with NZ but has not spoken with Anzus ally the United States since the incident.

The opposition defence spokesperson, Andrew Hastie, suggested China’s actions amounted to “gunboat diplomacy”. (Australian Associated Press)

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A 16-member Sri Lanka Women’s Squad has been selected by the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Selection Committee to tour New Zealand.

According to the SLC, the team, captained by Chamari Athapaththu, will leave the country on 22 February 2025 and will play 03 ODIs and 03 T20Is, respectively. 

The ODIs will be played on the 4th, 7th and 09th of March, while the T20Is will be played on the 14th, 16th and 18th of March. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka National Women’s Cricket Team will tour New Zealand from February to March this year to engage in an ODI and T20I series. 

According to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the women’s team will leave the country on the 22nd of February 2025.

They will play 03 ODIs and 03 T20Is, respectively, while the tour also includes two warm-up games.

The Sri Lanka Women’s Team schedule for the tour of New Zealand is as follows; 

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The BLACKCAPS sold-out summer looks set to continue with less than 500 tickets remaining for Sunday’s opening ODI against Sri Lanka at the Cello Basin Reserve in Wellington.

That’s despite the venue’s capacity being increased by 400 seats to 6800, up from the usual 6400 capacity for Test matches.

Sunday’s Chemist Warehouse ODI series opener is the BLACKCAPS’ first 50-over international at the Basin in almost four years, with gates set to open at 9:30 am for the 11.00 am start.

The last BLACKCAPS ODI at the Basin was a 164-run victory over Bangladesh in March 2021, a match that featured a maiden international century for Daryl Mitchell in his third ODI.

Strong crowd support has been a feature of this BLACKCAPS home summer so far with all three T20Is against Sri Lanka sold out in advance, following on from full houses for the England Test series. (NZC)

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New Zealand has expressed a keen interest in restarting free-trade agreement (FTA) talks with India to enhance bilateral trade ties, said people privy to the development.

Although India is also keen on signing an FTA with New Zealand, it is still considering certain factors, as it is working on a revamped trade strategy and has almost finalised standard operating procedures for negotiating trade deals, one of the persons cited above told Business Standard.

The two countries entered into FTA negotiations 14 years ago, but talks stalled after 10 rounds of discussions, and no formal round of negotiations has been held. 

Read more : https://www.business-standard.com/economy/news/nearly-a-decade-on-new-zealand-keen-to-restart-free-trade-agreement-talks-124121500270_1.html (Business Standard)

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Sri Lanka will play a T20i and an ODI series in New Zealand commencing in late December.

According to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the men’s national team will play 03 ODIs and 03 T20is against New Zealand. (Newswire)

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