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New Zealand nationality law details the conditions by which a person may hold New Zealand nationality. Regulations apply to the Realm of New Zealand, which consists of the country of New Zealand itself, the Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, and the Ross Dependency. All persons born in the Realm before 2006 were automatically citizens at birth regardless of the nationalities of their parents. Since that year, individuals born in the Realm only receive citizenship at birth if at least one parent is already a citizen or entitled to live in New Zealand indefinitely (meaning permanent residents of New Zealand or of Australia, and citizens of Australia). Foreigners living in the Realm may be granted citizenship after becoming permanent residents. New Zealand is a former British colony and its residents were previously British subjects. While New Zealanders are no longer British, they continue to hold favoured status when living in the United Kingdom; they are eligible to vote in British elections and serve in public office there. (Full article...)

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In the news

2022 Winter Olympics opening ceremony

The Winter Olympics open (ceremony pictured) in Beijing, China.
Islamic State leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi dies in a US military raid in Atme, Syria.
The Socialist Party, led by António Costa, wins a majority of seats in the Portuguese legislative election.
Sergio Mattarella is re-elected as president of Italy.

On this day

February 5

Charles XIV John

1637 – Ninety-eight sales for rare tulip bulbs were recorded on the last day of tulip mania, a speculative bubble in the Dutch Republic.
1818 – Charles XIV John (pictured) succeeded to the thrones of Sweden and Norway as the first monarch of the House of Bernadotte.
1861 – In a speech before the U.S. Congress, Representative John Edward Bouligny refused to join his fellow Louisiana congressmen in heeding the state's secession convention and resigning.
1913 – Greek military aviators Michael Moutoussis and Aristeidis Moraitinis performed the first naval air mission in history, with a Farman MF.7 hydroplane.
2004 – At least 21 cockle-gatherers were drowned by an incoming tide in Morecambe Bay, England, prompting the establishment of the British government's Gangmasters Licensing Authority.

Philipp Spener (d. 1705)
William Cullen (d. 1790)
Neymar (b. 1992)

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Today's featured picture

The 95th (Derbyshire) Regiment of Foot was a British Army infantry regiment raised in 1823. This carbon print of a photograph taken in 1856 depicts three members of the 95th who fought in the Crimean War (1853–1856): Sergeant John Geary, Thomas Onslow, and Lance Corporal Patrick Carthay. The men are wearing the Crimea Medal on their uniforms.

Photograph credit: Cornelius Jabez Hughes, after Joseph Cundall and Robert Howlett; restored by Adam Cuerden

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