Kane Williamson scored his fifth century in as many games at Seddon Park • Getty Images
Hamilton, December 16:
England 143 and 18 for 2 (Bethell 9*, Root 0*, Southee 1-4, Henry 1-14) need another 640 runs to beat New Zealand 347 and 453 (Williamson 156, Young 60, Mitchell 60, Bethell 3-72)
Kane Williamson's superb century led New Zealand to a gigantic lead over England on a third day which swung from potential tragedy for the tourists to bizarre comedy for all concerned.
"Tragedy" is often misused to describe events which are far from it and...
An unbeaten 98 from Alex Carey dragged Australia to victory over New Zealand by three wickets in a thrilling second Test on Monday to give the tourists a 2-0 sweep of the two-match series. Carey and Mitchell Mars
AUG 2: Immigration authorities will now begin accepting visitors with visas and those on student visas again.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called it an "enormous moment", adding it was part of a "cautious process".
Most visitors will still need to be fully vaccinated, but there are no quarantine requirements.
The country's maritime border has also reopened, with cruise ships and foreign recreational yachts now allowed to dock.
New Zealand first announced a phased reopening plan in February. It allowed vaccinated citizens to return from Australia that month, and those coming from elsewhere to return in March.
In May, it started welcoming tourists from more than 50 countries on a visa-waiver list.
"We, alongside the rest of the world, continue to manage a very live global pandemic, while keeping our people safe," said Ms Ardern in a speech at the China Business Summit in Auckland on Monday.
"But keeping people safe extends to incomes and wellbeing too."
Tourism was one of the industries hardest hit by New Zealand's tough Covid measures.
In the year ending March 2021, the industry's contribution to the GDP dropped to 2.9%, from 5.5% the year before.
International tourism took an especially big hit, plunging 91.5% - or NZ$16.2bn ($10.2bn; £8.4bn) - to NZ$1.5bn, according to official data.
The number of people directly employed in tourism also fell by over 72,000 during this period.
New Zealand, Jan 5: Records tumbled in Tauranga as Bangladesh dominated day five, claiming 12 vital World Test Championship points.
Bangladesh have completed arguably their finest ever Test win, defeating reigning World Test champions New Zealand at the Bay Oval, breaking the hosts' 17-match unbeaten streak at home.
Finishing with a second innings spell of 6/46, Ebadot Hossain was adjudged Player of the Match, as the tourists chased down a target of 40.
With a bowling average of 81.54 from 10 Tests coming into the match, Ebadot realized his potential in a rampage across the final two days, finishing with seven wickets for the match. Taskin Ahmed joined Ebadot in to bundle the hosts out for just 169 early in the day, finishing with 3/36.
New Zealand's batters had no answer for Bangladesh's canny reverse swing, with Ross Taylor (40), playing his final Test at the venue, providing the only resistance.
As Ebadot beat Taylor's defenses to send New Zealand spiraling at 154/6, the hosts crumbled to be bowled out for just 169. Rachin Ravindra (16) was surrounded by four players to be dismissed for a duck. Bangladesh's bowlers were backed by a clinical fielding effort, as Shoriful Islam and sub-fielder Taijul Islam took stunning catches to all but seal Bangladesh's win - their first away Test win over a top-five ranked team and just their sixth victory abroad from 61 attempts.
Bangladesh made easy work of the 40 required in 16.5 overs to seal a historic win, in spite of Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah.
Bangladesh had not previously won any of their 43 matches in New Zealand across all three formats, while the result also ends the Kiwis' eight-series home win streak that stretched back to 2017.
Records broken by Bangladesh
> First win against New Zealand in New Zealand (in any format)
> First Test win over New Zealand (16th attempt)
> First Test win over a top-five ICC-ranked team away from home
> 6th win away from in 61 Tests
> Ended New Zealand's eight-series winning run on home soil (2017-present)
> Ended New Zealand's 17-match unbeaten run in home tests
WELLINGTON, New Zealand, April 3: About 100,000 tourists stuck in New Zealand since it began a lockdown last week were starting to fly to their home countries Friday.
WELLINGTON, Feb 22: Captain Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor combined to put New Zealand in a strong position in the first test before India struck back late on Saturday to remove both just as their partnership threatened to take the match away from the tourists.
WELLINGTON, Feb 21: The final session of the first day’s play in the opening test between New Zealand and India at the Basin Reserve was washed out by heavy rain on Friday, giving the tourists time to regroup after they were reduced to 122-5 at tea.
WELLINGTON, Jan 24: Shreyas Iyer guided India to a six-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first Twenty20 international at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday as the tourists showed few signs of fatigue or jet lag.
