Australia and New Zealand

TimesVideo

Thousands Protest New Zealand’s Covid-19 Mandates

About 3,000 people gathered in New Zealand’s capital to protest against coronavirus vaccination requirements and restrictions, forcing a lockdown of Parliament.

trilobites

New Zealand’s Sea Lions Are Back, and Crashing Golf Courses and Soccer Matches

After their populations were decimated by hunters, New Zealand’s sea lions are returning to the coasts — sometimes surprising locals by turning up in unexpected places.

Letter of Recommendation

How I Found Comfort in Volunteer Firefighting

Facing a world on fire turns out to be a great way not to contemplate one’s own misfortunes.

New Zealand’s biggest city will ease lockdown restrictions.

The lifting of rules comes as the country records some of its highest daily case numbers since the pandemic began.

Letter 232

Laughs No More? Australians Are Reassessing a Beloved Cartoonist.

I used to think Michael Leunig’s drawings embodied the soul of our nation. Now, I’m not so sure.

The Best Movies and TV Shows New to Netflix, Amazon and Stan in Australia in November

Our picks for November, including ‘tick, tick … BOOM!’, ‘The Great’ Season 2, and ‘Passing’

Man Charged in Abduction of 4-Year-Old Girl After 18-Day Search

The legal action came as the Australian authorities continued to address questions about how the police had been able to find Cleo Smith, who vanished from a remote campsite.

TimesVideo

Cleo Smith, 4, Found Alive After Vanishing From Australian Campsite

The child vanished in the middle of the night while camping with her family in Western Australia. According to the authorities, she was found 18 days later in a locked house in the same town where she lived. A 36-year-old man was later detained.

Australia’s climate pledges fall short, again, critics say.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison did not announce any firm plans to move away from the country’s deep investment in fossil fuel production.

‘My Name Is Cleo’: Girl, 4, Is Found 18 Days After Vanishing From Campsite

Cleo Smith disappeared one night while camping with her family in a remote area of Australia. She was found “alive and well” in a locked house, and a man was detained.