Asia Media Centre: The Best of 2025

If 2025 showed us anything, it’s that Asia is constantly in motion. Across the region, political systems were tested, communities responded to pressure, extreme weather reshaped lives, and culture continued to evolve.

Asia Media Centre’s reporting this year followed those shifts closely. The stories ranged from breaking news to long-form features, from backgrounders and explainers to more personal reporting, offering readers across the region and in NZ context on developing issues, and a unique window on Asia.

What interesting stories about our region are being reported? Here's a roundup from the past week:

THE "GAME-CHANGING' NZ-INDIA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT | ASIA MEDIA CENTRE

The New Zealand–India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) marks a significant milestone in the economic and strategic relationship between the two countries. After years of intermittent negotiations, the deal aims to substantially free up trade, reduce tariffs, and create new opportunities for businesses, workers, and investors on both sides.

WHITE FERN AMELIA KERR GOES FOR $586,000 IN WPL AUCTION | RNZ

Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma and White Fern Amelia Kerr were the most expensive players at the Women's Premier League auction, while Australia captain Alyssa Healy went unsold.

COULD A SINGLE MARKET WITH SOUTHEAST ASIA EASE NZ’S PRODUCTIVITY WOES? | NEWSROOM

An Australian-style single economic market with Southeast Asia may help to tackle New Zealand’s long-running productivity woes, according to a new report. The long-term insights briefing, prepared by officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, sets out the challenge of increasing economic productivity and comes as the country’s summer ‘shutdown’ has become the latest suspect to cop blame.

GEOPOLITICS CREATING A WAR IN GLOBAL AGRICULTURE | THE PRESS

Global agriculture is no longer influenced by traditional market forces – supply and demand. Instead, according to Rabobank’s Agri Commodity Outlook 2026, geopolitical forces will increasingly dictate agricultural trade flows, prices, and production decisions.

Ten senior journalism students, recent graduates, and early-career journalists from New Zealand will spend the year ahead working in newsrooms across Asia.

The Asia New Zealand Foundation’s Asia Media Centre selected this group from the largest and most competitive application pool to date.

Here’s a closer look at the 2026 cohort — and where they’ll be based next year.

Brie-Ellen Harding (New Zealand Broadcasting School) will be interning at SLRC, Sri Lanka, the principal public television broadcaster in Sri Lanka.

Ellen Lovegrove (University of Canterbury) will be interning at Taipei Times, Taiwan, an English-language daily newspaper known for its coverage of local and international news, with a focus on Taiwan's politics and culture.

Evie Richardson (Auckland University of Technology) will be interning at The Bangkok Post, one of Thailand's leading English-language newspapers.

Fergus Goodall Smith (Victoria University of Wellington) will be interning at JoongAng Daily, South Korea. Korea JoongAng Daily is one of the three main English newspapers in South Korea.

Kate Judson (Massey University) will be interning with Philippines Star, Philippines, an English-language newspaper and the flagship brand of the Philstar Media Group.

Maisie Arnold-Barron (Massey University) will be interning at Thai PBS, Thailand, Thailand's public broadcaster.

Reuben Smith (New Zealand Broadcasting School) will be interning at TaiwanPlus, Taiwan, a premier international media platform providing English-language news and entertainment from Taiwan.

Samantha Mythen (Victoria University of Wellington) will be interning at Rappler, Philippines, a leading digital media company in the Philippines known for its data journalism and award-winning investigative reporting.