Current Events T1 W3 2025

What did David Seymour, leader of the ACT Party, attempt to do at Parliament last week?

• Drive a Land Rover up the steps of Parliament

• Hold a tug of war contest on Parliament’s front lawn

• Fly into Parliament grounds using a jetpack

Answer explanation

a. Drive a Land Rover up the steps of Parliament - David Seymour attempted to drive a 1948 Land Rover up the steps of New Zealand's Parliament as part of a fundraising effort for Manaaki Manawa, the Centre for Heart Research. The act was meant to re enact a similar event from 1948, but Parliament security intervened, preventing him from continuing.

A kayaker in Chile had a close encounter with a humpback whale last week. What happened during this incident?

• The kayaker was dragged deep underwater by the whale and sustained minor injuries

• The kayaker was knocked unconscious by the whale's tail and was rescued by nearby fishermen

• The kayaker was briefly swallowed by the whale before being released unharmed

Answer explanation

c. The kayaker was briefly swallowed by the whale before being released unharmed - While kayaking off the coast of Chilean Patagonia, Adrián Simancas was momentarily engulfed by a humpback whale but emerged unscathed. The dramatic encounter lasted only a few seconds and was captured on video by his father, who was kayaking nearby.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended the Invictus Games in Canada last week. What is the Invictus Games?

• An international football tournament for Commonwealth nations

• A sporting competition for wounded, injured, and sick military personnel and veterans

• A charity event featuring military challenges

Answer explanation

a. A sporting competition for wounded, injured, and sick military personnel and veterans - The Invictus Games, founded by Prince Harry in 2014, provide a platform for injured and sick service members to compete in various sports. The 2025 edition in Vancouver was the first to feature winter sports, with over 500 athletes from around the world taking part.

How did the Cook Islands cause political tension with New Zealand last week?

• By banning New Zealand imports

• By planning to sign a strategic partnership agreement with China

• By refusing to attend a diplomatic meeting with Winston Peters

Answer explanation

b. By planning to sign a strategic partnership agreement with China - New Zealand expressed significant concern over the Cook Islands' plan to sign a comprehensive strategic partnership with China, primarily due to the absence of prior consultation. The Cook Islands is a self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand, meaning its citizens hold New Zealand passports, and the two nations have close diplomatic and historical ties. Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters emphasized that such agreements should involve discussions with New Zealand, given their special relationship.

Which wild animal is the government of Nepal considering trapping and gifting to other countries, in order to control numbers?

• Lions

• Tigers

• Pumas

Answer explanation

b. Tigers - Nepal’s tiger population has grown from 121 in 2010 to at least 355, leading to increased conflicts with humans. In response, the Prime Minister has suggested gifting some of the big cats to friendly nations, arguing that their numbers should match the available forest space to reduce attacks on people.

Why are some Tauranga residents unhappy with their Mayor, Mahé Drysdale?

• He was caught skipping council meetings to go fishing

• He proposed a controversial new tax on homeowners

• He has not yet moved to the city after seven months in office

Answer explanation

c. He has not yet moved to the city after seven months in office - Mayor Mahé Drysdale, who was elected in July, still lives in Cambridge and has yet to relocate to Tauranga, citing difficulties finding a suitable home within his preferred school zone. Some residents and ratepayers feel this undermines his commitment to the city and question whether he can properly represent local interests without living there.

New Zealand's 'golden visa' is a special residency programme designed to attract wealthy investors. What major change was announced to this visa last week?

• Investors must commit to hiring at least five local employees

• Investors will be required to invest a minimum of $15 million to qualify

• Investors only need to spend 21 days in NZ over three years to qualify for residency

Answer explanation

c. Investors only need to spend 21 days in NZ over three years to qualify for residency - The New Zealand government is revising its 'golden visa' programme to attract wealthy investors. Under the new rules, investors would be required to invest a minimum of NZD $5m directly into local businesses and spend only 21 days in the country over a three-year period to qualify for residency. They were previously required to spend 117 days over four years in the country.

What new online safety measure did Meta expand to New Zealand last week?

• New privacy settings that make it harder for strangers to contact users

• A new system that warns users before they share potentially harmful content

• Instagram’s ‘Teen Account’ protections

Answer explanation

c. Instagram’s ‘Teen Account’ protections - Meta introduced enhanced safety features for Instagram users under 16 in New Zealand, including default private accounts, restrictions on who can contact them, and limitations on exposure to sensitive content. Parents are also given tools to monitor their children's activities, such as viewing who they message and setting time limits on app usage. While online safety advocates welcomed the changes, they emphasised that broader regulation and parental involvement are still necessary.

Which nation fell to the bottom of the Corruption index, meaning it has the worst levels of bribery, unfairness and favouritism in its economy and government?

• Russia

• South Sudan

• Syria

Answer explanation

b. South Sudan - In the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, South Sudan scored just eight points, placing it at the bottom of the ranking. The country has been plagued by ongoing political instability, weak institutions, and widespread corruption, particularly in the management of public funds and natural resources. High levels of bribery, lack of accountability, and the misuse of government revenue have contributed to its ranking as the most corrupt nation in the world. Meanwhile, New Zealand dropped from third to fourth place with a score of 83.

Who was denied consent to open a single store in Wānaka last week due to concerns over its visual and environmental impact?

• The Warehouse

• McDonald's

• Mitre 10

Answer explanation

b. McDonald's - Council declined McDonald's consent application to open a 455-square metre restaurant with a drive-thru at the Wānaka-Luggate Highway. Local residents opposed the plan due to concerns over the visual and environmental impact, with the majority of the 367 public submissions against the development. Wānaka has largely avoided major fast-food chains, though it does have a Subway and a Domino’s.