Prepay new zealand

WELLINGTON: New Zealand will stage a team-based tennis tournament for local-based men's players from June 3, organisers said on Monday, an event marking the southern hemisphere's first pro competition since the COVID-19 pandemic brought global sport to a halt. All 112 matches of the "NZ Premier League" will be played in Auckland without spectators but broadcast live on Sky Sport or the Youtube channel, Sky Sport Next, Tennis New Zealand said on Monday. New Zealand has been relatively successful in containing COVID-19, recording about 1,500 cases and 21 deaths. After a strict two-month lockdown, New Zealand authorities have begun easing social restrictions and given the green light to some professional sports to restart competition. "Training without a goal is not possible for professional and competitive athletes," Tennis New Zealand High Performance Director Christophe Lambert said in a statement. "The NZ Premier League offers opportunities for our best players to have a … [Read more...] about New Zealand to stage pro competition as virus restrictions ease

WELLINGTON: New Zealand on Monday (May 4) recorded no new cases of the coronavirus for the first time since Mar 16 and less than a week after the Pacific nation ended a strict lockdown that appears to have contained the outbreak. Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield told a news conference the result was cause for celebration, noting the death toll remained at 20 with no additional virus-related fatalities. "It is symbolic of the effort everyone has put in," Bloomfield told reporters. "This is the first day that we had no new cases and we want to keep it that way." READ: Commentary: Contact tracing holds key to eliminating COVID-19 in post-lockdown New Zealand Last Tuesday New Zealand ended a strict lockdown which shut offices, schools, malls, restaurants, playgrounds and all other public areas for over a month. However, several social restrictions remain in place with millions of New Zealanders still working and studying from home, although some economic … [Read more...] about New Zealand reports no new COVID-19 cases for first time since mid-March

WELLINGTON: New Zealand businesses including malls, cinemas, cafes and gyms will be allowed to reopen from Thursday (May 14) as tight restrictions put in place to stop the spread of the coronavirus were further eased on Monday. The Pacific nation was locked down for more than month under "level 4" restrictions that were eased by a notch late last month. It has continued to enforce strict social measures on many of its citizens and businesses, helping prevent widespread community spread of the virus. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the move to "level 2" restrictions will mean retail, restaurants and other public spaces including playgrounds can reopen from Thursday. READ: New Zealand's Super Rugby teams back in action from June "I am announcing that Cabinet agrees we are ready to move into level 2, to open up the economy, but to do it as safely as possible," Ardern told a news conference. The 39-year-old leader warned "none of us can assume COVID is not with us" but … [Read more...] about New Zealand to reopen malls, cafes from Thursday as COVID-19 curbs eased

WELLINGTON: New Zealand could approve the restart of professional sport as early as next week when authorities decide whether to ease coronavirus restrictions further, the sport ministry said on Thursday (May 7). Sport and Recreation Minister Grant Robertson said professional sports would be able to resume domestically when the country lowers its COVID-19 alert level down a notch. New Zealand is to decide on Monday whether the country will move from Level 3 to Level 2. "Moving to Alert Level 2 continues to expand the opportunities for sport and recreation and reintroduces the opportunity for competitive sport – both at a local and professional level," Robertson said in a statement. "Obviously, the paramount concern is that a return to competitive sport is done safely." The announcement will give New Zealand hope of becoming the world's first major rugby nation to resume playing the sport at an elite level. New Zealand Rugby (NZR) said it was "thrilled", and had plans … [Read more...] about New Zealand could restart professional sport within days: Minister

MELBOURNE: Officials in New Zealand and Australia, hailed globally for their early signs of success in combating the spread of the coronavirus, said on Monday (Apr 13) it is too soon to start easing social distancing rules or reopening their economies. The rate of new coronavirus cases has abated significantly in both countries without straining the capacity of their health systems. New Zealand has enforced a wide-ranging lockdown and Australia is also tightly restricting many activities. New Zealand recorded its fifth death due to coronavirus on Monday, but new confirmed cases in the Pacific nation of about 5 million rose only by 15, a sixth of what was seen in early April, bringing the total of cases to 1,064. According to Australia's health ministry, the number of new confirmed cases rose on Monday by 33, the slowest rate in a month and less than a tenth seen two weeks ago. Australia has now recorded 6,322 cases, with 61 deaths. Health Minister Greg Hunt said it was too soon … [Read more...] about New Zealand, Australia say too soon to ease restrictions despite COVID-19 slowdown