Threats against Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern have nearly tripled over the last three years. Newshub , citing information released under the Official Information Act, reports that threats to Ardern which have involved the police…

China's defense minister has accused the United States of trying to "hijack" the support of countries in the Asia-Pacific region to turn them against Beijing, saying Washington is seeking to advance its own interests "under the guise of multilateralism."

Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe lashed out at US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin on Sunday, rejecting his "smearing accusation" the day before at the Shangri-La Dialogue that China was causing instability with its claim to the self-governing island of Taiwan and its increased military activity in the area.

Austin had stressed the need for multilateral partnerships with nations in the Indo-Pacific, which Wei suggested was an attempt to back China into a corner.

READ MORE: Russia is now in control of much of Severodonetsk

"No country should impose its will on others or bully others under the guise of multilateralism," he said.

"The strategy is an attempt to build an exclusive small group in the name of a free and open Indo-Pacific to hijack countries in our region and target one specific country — it is a strategy to create conflict and confrontation to contain and encircle others."

China has been rapidly modernising its military and seeking to expand its influence and ambitions in the region, recently signing a security agreement with the Solomon Islands that many fear could lead to a Chinese naval base in the Pacific, and breaking ground this past week on a naval port expansion project in Cambodia that could give Beijing a foothold in the Gulf of Thailand.

Last year US officials accused China of testing a hypersonic missile, a weapon harder for missile defence systems to counter, but China insisted it had been a "routine test of a spacecraft."

Answering a question about the test on Sunday, Wei came the closest so far to acknowledging it was, indeed, a hypersonic missile, saying, "As for hypersonic weapons, many countries are developing weapons and I think there's no surprise that China is doing so."

READ MORE: Walkers 'lucky' after being rescued from Tasmanian mountain

"China will develop its military," he added. "I think it's natural."

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken last month said China represented the "most serious long-term challenge to the international order" for the United States, with its claims to Taiwan and efforts to dominate the strategic South China Sea.

The US and its allies have responded with so-called freedom of navigation patrols in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, sometimes encountering a pushback from China's military.

Wei accused the US of "meddling in the affairs of our region" with the patrols, and "flexing the muscles by sending warships and warplanes on a rampage in the South China Sea."

READ MORE: Farmers, consumers and retailers all suffering amid veg price spike

China has squared off with the Philippines and Vietnam, among others, over maritime claims and Wei said it was up to the countries in the region to find their own solutions.

"China calls for turning the South China Sea into a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation," he said. "This is the shared wish and responsibility of countries in the region."

Taiwan and China split during a civil war in 1949, but China claims the island as its own territory, and has not ruled out the use of military force to take it, while maintaining it is a domestic political issue.

Washington follows a "one-China" policy, which recognises Beijing but allows informal relations and defence ties with Taipei.

It provides arms to Taiwan and follows a "strategic ambiguity" approach about how far it would be willing to go to defend Taiwan in the face of a Chinese invasion.

At the same time, it does not support Taiwanese independence.

President Joe Biden raised eyebrows and China's pique last month saying that the US would intervene militarily if Taiwan were attacked, though the White House later said the comments did not reflect a policy shift.

Austin on Saturday accused China of threatening to change the status quo on Taiwan with a "steady increase in provocative and destabilising military activity" near the island.

Wei fired back Sunday that the US was not adhering to its "one-China" policy, saying "it keeps playing the Taiwan card against China."

He said China's "greatest wish" was "peaceful reunification" with Taiwan, but also made clear Beijing was willing to do whatever it took to realise its goals.

"China will definitely realise its reunification," he said.

"China's reunification is a great cause of the Chinese nation, and it is a historical trend that no one and no force can stop."

He added that China would "resolutely crush any attempt to pursue Taiwan independence."

"We will not hesitate to fight, we will fight at all costs and we will fight to the very end," he said.

"This is the only choice for China."

Great swathes of New Zealand are battening down the hatches tonight as a rolling line of thunderstorms and blustery gusts continue to strike the country. There have already been 21,500 lightning strikes over land and water in 12…

The National Party’s proposed policy to ban gangs from posting gang insignia on social media will be difficult to enforce, says a New Zealand internet expert.The law-and-order policy was proposed yesterday during National’s Northern…

A pair of walkers are lucky to be alive after being rescued in blizzards from a mountain in Tasmania, police say.

Eight people in total had to be rescued from Mt Wellington in Hobart yesterday, in two separate incidents.

In the most serious, two walkers got lost at 7.30pm and were taken to hospital with hypothermia when they were finally rescued three hours later.

READ MORE: Farmers, consumers and retailers all suffering amid veg price spike

They became disorientated in heavy snow and blizzards on the Zig Zag track, 400m from the summit of the mountain, which overlooks Hobart.

They phoned for help and emergency crews used mobile phone technology to find them where they were sheltering behind rocks near the snow-covered track.

They were treated for exposure and taken to hospital with hypothermia.

The overnight temperature was -5C, only rising to -3C in the daytime.

Snr Const Callum Herbert from Tasmania Police Search and Rescue said they were lucky to have survived.

"The pair lost at night on the mountain, did not find shelter and would almost certainly have perished if it wasn't for the tenacity of the rescuers, they were very lucky," he said.

Earlier, at 12.30pm yesterday, a group of four people called for help from a toilet block after facing winds and heavy snow at the area known as the Pinnacle, at the mountain's summit, 1270m up.

Police, ambulance crews and rangers walked through extreme winds and blizzard conditions to reach them, police said.

They were treated by crews from Ambulance Tasmania.

Much of Australia's east coast is suffering cold temperatures and strong winds, with bumper snow falls on ski fields.

Palmerston North Police have arrested three people and impounded four vehicles after an operation targeting illicit street racing in the city overnight.Additionally, three people underwent an excess breath alcohol (EBA) procedure…

A 14-year-old cleared of an armed robbery charge after a judge ruled police unlawfully arrested him, could walk free from another 23 charges due to a long wait for a psychological report. The teen, who cannot be named, was cleared…

A teenager has been treated for head and facial injuries after he was assaulted with a glass bottle in Sydney early this morning.

Police said the 15-year-old boy had an argument with the attacker while walking along Barrack Street towards York Street in Sydney's west with friends, at 3.45am.

The man then approached the teen and police allege he punched the teen in the head, knocking him to the ground before striking him over the head with a glass bottle.

READ MORE: Missing infant dies after being found unresponsive in water in Queensland

The man left with friends and was last seen walking along King Street.

Emergency services responded and paramedics treated the teen for head and facial injuries.

He was taken to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a stable condition.

Images of a man who police believe may be able to assist with the investigation have been released.

READ MORE: Boy dies after horror four-car pile-up in Perth

Police describe the man as being of Caucasian appearance, aged in his 20s, of medium build, with black short hair and a beard.

He is shown wearing a grey hooded jumper, black jeans and shoes and carrying a black jacket.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Sydney City Police Station on 9265 6499 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Both parents working in the NSW public sector will be eligible to receive at least 14 weeks of paid parental leave as part of the state government's overhaul of its paid parental leave scheme.

Currently if both parents are working in the public sector then paid parental leave is only available to one spouse at a time.

But from October there will be no distinction between a 'primary' or 'secondary' carer, which will mean that every mother and father working in the public sector, including teachers, nurses, and firefighters, will be entitled to the 14 weeks.

READ MORE: Chinese-British dual national extradited from Thailand to Australia over alleged drug trafficking

Parents will also be offered an additional two weeks of bonus leave if paid parental leave entitlements are more equally shared between partners.

This means that parents working in the public sector may be eligible for up to 16 weeks of paid parental leave.

The length of time in which public servants can take paid parental leave will also be expanded from one year to two years after birth.

READ MORE: Plea for help after mysterious figure captured on camera at US zoo

And paid parental leave will also be extended to long-term or permanent foster carers. Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor says she hopes the changes to paid parental leave entitlements will help support growing economic opportunities for women.

"These changes to our parental leave offerings will encourage more equal sharing of caring responsibilities right from the start of a child's life," Mrs Taylor said.

Under the scheme single parents will be entitled to the total 16 weeks of fully paid leave.

A new poll shows National’s Tauranga candidate Sam Uffindell ahead in the race to replace Simon Bridges.TV One’s Q+A poll today showed Uffindell registering the support of 45 per cent of voters, ahead of Labour’s Jan Tinetti at…