New Zealand

England face New Zealand this weekend in what is the crunch match of the autumn rugby union international series. What pointers does the game offer to England’s chances of World Cup glory in 2015?

England face Argentina on Saturday in the second of their autumn internationals, but will need to gel quickly to stand a chance against their next opponents: New Zealand.

Former New Zealand national footballers Tash Vitali and Melissa Ray are amongst couples who tie the knot on Monday as same-sex marriage law kicks in.

A revolutionary cardboard cathedral opens in Christchurch, New Zealand, as a temporary replacement for the neo-Gothic building destroyed in the 2011 earthquake.

A powerful storm hit New Zealand on Friday with winds of 124mph. Trees were toppled and tens of thousands of homes left without power. Heavy snow blanketed the South Island cutting off remote towns.

There will be no let-up in the cricketing entertainment over the coming months, culminating in the Ashes test series. But before that, erratic England take on an under-estimated New Zealand side.

A vote in the New Zealand parliament to legalise gay marriage is greeted with cheers and singing from campaigners in the public gallery.

The government of New Zealand has announced that the country’s North Island is suffering its most widespread drought for 30 years, following many months of dry weather.

A tornado ripped through the western suburbs of Auckland, New Zealand on Thursday, leaving three people dead and 150 homes uninhabitable. Trees were also uprooted, with heavy rain flooding roads.

The England rugby union side may be playing at home – but they face the might of the All Blacks, unbeaten in 20 matches and dominant in the world game for the past decade.

As the English rugby team prepare to face Australia at Twickenham today, Ben Monro-Davies asks if New Zealand’s match result is the only one that matters?

Stalwart defending keeps England out at Twickenham to complete a day of triumph for southern hemisphere rugby.

Despite the money in northern hemisphere rugby, an emphasis on skill means New Zealand, South Africa and Australia still dominate the international game – and few anticipate much change on Saturday.

Eye-popping amateur video captures the moment a three-year-old girl came face to face with a male lion as he angrily pawed the glass inside his enclosure at Wellington Zoo.