New Zealand

An early goal from Aniala Jensen motivated the All Whites girls to dominate and claim the game.

From the start New Calenonia got the game underway but New Zealand quickly took position and made their first attempt when Grace Wisnewski connected a cross from Britney Cunningham-Lee but it went over the crossbar.

A minute later they had a second chance from Maggies Jenkins who attempted to dribble into the New Calendonia box but it was cleared away in time.

They kept hunting for the opening goal but the New Caledonia backline always denied their chances.

The ship, Braveheart, has been carrying around a marine science team around the Matthew and Hunter islands.

The uninhabited islands have been claimed by both Vanuatu and France since 1976, when France annexed them for New Caledonia ahead of Vanuatu being granted independence.

Vanuatu's prime minister, Charlot Salwai, said that the New Zealand team had asked the government in New Caledonia if it could carry out research, but not Vanuatu.

He said the ship was in Vanuatu's waters illegally.

The Pacific Peoples Minister, Alfred Ngaro, said the new funding would allow festival organisers to explore options to allow the festival to grow further.

He said his ministry would bring on a specialist and an advisory group to work with the Polyfest Trust, which has organised the festival for decades.

Mr Ngaro said the festival helped Pacific people gain confidence, leadership and many other skills, and he wanted to see more people there, celebrating Pacific diversity.

Photo: SUPPLIED Students from Avondale College perform at the festival. 

Waiouru in the central North Island plummeted to a chilly -7°C degrees, Taupo went to -5°C, while Rotorua and Hamilton dipped to -3°C, and Whenuapai, in the Waitakere Ranges, was as low as -2°C.

Auckland motorists were faced with the unfamiliar sight of ice on car windscreens this morning as the temperature fell to an unusual 1°C.

That was lower still than Saturday night's 1.4°C - the city's coldest temperature in two years.

Whangarei managed a record of sorts with its 8th coldest morning since 1967, according to NIWA.

Te epetoma o te reo Māori Kuki Airani or Cook Islands Language Week celebrates the languages spoken by the people of the Cook Islands.

The theme of this year's Cook Islands language week is: "Ei rāvenga nāku i te tuatua i tōku reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani ka anoano au i te turuturu ā tōku ngutu`are tangata `ē te matakeinanga - an encouraging home and community environment is what I need to build my love and my confidence to speak my reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani."

There are a number of cultural activities and events are being held across New Zealand, this week.

The Commitment was signed by New Zealand High Commissioner, Georgina Roberts and Vanuatu Prime Minister, Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas last week.

The new Commitment, which has been developed in consultation with Vanuatu, will focus New Zealand development spend in the areas of tourism, agriculture, renewable energy, water, law and justice, and education.

The Commitment directs around NZ$ 80 million in total country aid flows over the next three year period (2017/18 – 2019/20).

Photo by NZ High Commission Vanuatu/Facebook 

It was the second goals galore for New Zealand.

In their opening match against the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2016 hosts Papua New Guinea, New Zealand defeated them with the same goal margin.

The game was a one-sided affair with New Caledonia having little chances of breaking through New Zealand.

Although the game was an easy ride for them, they had to fight hard for 15 minutes before Samantha Tawharu opened the goals galore with a goal she sent past New Caledonia goal keeper Karine Xozame after a rapid New Zealand counter attack.

Last month the Fiji government announced it had banned entire villages from taking part in the Recognised Seasonal Employer ccheme in New Zealand or the similar Australian scheme after complaints from the New Zealand government about misconduct and disorderly behaviour by some Fijian workers.

Now the Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, Jone Usamate, has met with some of the Fijian workers in this country to " hear their views of the challenges faced."

The wild weather has seen southerly gales peak at 167 km/h in Wellington, and a 10m wave was recorded in Cook Strait. Further south, snowy conditions are expected to ease by this weekend.

RNZI reports the Hawke's Bay Civil Defence, police and the NZ Transport Authority have launched a rescue operation after more than a dozen motorists got their vehicles stuck on State Highway 5 between Napier and Taupō.

From just eight primary schools taking part six years ago, 43 primary and early childhood centres as well as seven colleges, took the stage during the 2017 Hutt Valley Polyfest.

Twelve hundred spectators packed out the Walter Nash Stadium on the final night of the Polyfest, where secondary school students showcased their talent.

Up to seven thousand also witnessed children as young as three and four perform over the week.

Polyfest organiser Luana Leuluai was overwhelmed with the turnout of both spectator and participant.