New Zealand

USA maintained the lead on the Kiwis throughout the match grabbing their first win, 3 -1. USA kept their perfect start to dominate New Zealand in all facets of play in the first half to take a 2-0 lead into the break.

USA midfielder Ashley Sanchez will not believe her luck in the 3rd minute of the match, when New Zealand defender gifted the ball to her outside the 15 metre mark and she made the Oceania Champions pay by hitting the back of the net.

The three-time champions increased their lead five minutes later through the boot of skipper Mallory Pugh.

The tournament is underway from November 13-December 3 at Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

Germany is pooled in Group D with Mexico, Venezuela and South Korea.  

The Germans share three points with Mexico following their victories over Venezuela 3-1 and South Korea 2-0 respectively.

Germany however, is ahead on the ladder due to points for and against. Mexico is second on the ladder followed by Venezuela then South Korea.

In Group A, Brazil and North Korea share three points following their victories over home side PNG 9-0 and Sweden 2-0 respectively.

New Zealand defeated Ghana 1-0 at the PNG Football Stadium in Papua New Guinea’s capital.

 In the first pool match, United States of America and France drew scoreless at the same venue.

The match between Ghana and New Zealand was physical and divided the vocal crowd of 2, 877 people.

However, the Oceania champions humbled the African zone country with a heartbreaking loss when substitute striker Tayla Christensen scored at the stroke of normal time.

Better known as the Mitre 10 Mega man, Levi Vaoga spent a decade pulling trucks and flipping tractor tyres for the hardware franchise promoting the message "big is good."

But as the New Zealand-born Cook Islands filmmaker Jamie Aureka Maoate Dunn discovers in "The Life I've Lived," there is more to Levi Vaoga than meets the eye.

Levi Vaoga's journey from farmhand to competitor in eleven world strongman tournaments is an honest first-hand account and Jamie Dunn hopes it strikes a chord with young people.

The fray of OFC Stage 3 of FIFA World Cup Qualifying in March has heightened as teams are safeguarding their tours and trials vital in preparation for the Qualifers.

The Kapuls now will play Malaysia, who they recently defeated in Port Moresby a week after the OFC finals against New Zealand.

As of Saturday, Nov 12, New Zealand were hosting Group A rivals New Caledonia in Auckland.

Meanwhile, Solomon Islands and Tahiti continue their push to get a jump on PNG in Group B. They challenged in Honiara on Saturday.

Brazil thrashes PNG 9-0

http://www.looppng.com/content/brazil-thrashes-png-9-0

Brazil registered its first win in the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup, thrashing home side Papua New Guinea 9-0 tonight at the Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby.

Merger of agencies to go ahead

http://www.looppng.com/content/merger-agencies-go-ahead

Authorities are scrambling to assess damage and respond to reports of injuries after the first, 7.5 magnitude earthquake centred near Hanmer Springs.

"On the best information we have, there have been two fatalities," Mr Key told a media conference early this morning.

Earlier, police said one person had died in Kaikoura, where a house had collapsed in the earthquake.

Police said they were also trying to get to a property at Mt Lyford, north of Christchurch, where a second person is believed to have died.

This year, on November 14-19, the second Pacific Parliamentary Forum is set to take place, with leaders from around the Pacific visiting Auckland for two days, before continuing to Wellington for the rest of their visit to New Zealand.

In 2013, leaders discussed and debated issues such as regional leadership, democracy, climate change, health issues, gender equality, media and the importance of Parliaments to communities, business development and job creation during the Forum.

Munster, who famously defeated New Zealand proper in 1978, hosted the Maori outfit in Limerick on Saturday morning (AEDT).

As the sides prepared for the traditional pre-match haka, three Maori players carried forward a jersey baring the initials 'AF' and solemnly placed it on the halfway line.

A particularly resonating haka followed, before Foley's sons collected the jersey.

Munster went on to record a famous 27-17 victory.

Crew from the Air Force Orion spotted the men waving from their five-metre wooden fishing boat as it drifted about 550 kilometres west of Tarawa.

The New Zealand Defence Force reports that the men, aged from 34 to 61, appear to be in good health.

They were found about an hour after the Orion began its second day of searching this morning.

Air Commodore Darryn Webb says the Orion will drop emergency supplies of food and water, along with a radio.

Ships in the area are being asked to pick the fishermen up.