Stories by Anneke Smith
News
Omicron outbreak may empty Parliament's debating chamber
There could soon be as few as two MPs in Parliament's debating chamber as the Omicron outbreak grows.
Agencies, including police, often oppose evicting poorly behaved tenants - Kāinga Ora
The state landlord says it's been warned by other agencies that evicting disruptive tenants would make their work with them "a waste of time".
Conscience vote on conversion therapy in step with National traditions - Luxon
The National caucus now recognises that a conscience vote is the right approach for the second reading of the bill, new leader Christopher Luxon says.
Opposition parties take contrasting views on border re-opening plan
The government's plan to re-open the border, allowing people to bypass what the prime minister has described as "the anguish of MIQ", is being shot down by the opposition as both too slow and too…
Minister steps in to change Kāinga Ora complaints process for unruly tenants
State house tenants who terrorise their neighbours can now be moved on faster after Kāinga Ora changed its complaints process.
Jacinda Ardern's approval ratings slip further - new poll
A new political poll shows Jacinda Ardern's approval ratings have dropped again, her lowest result since the ratings were first measured in October 2019.
Govt 'commandeered' 100k RAT order - company
Rapid antigen tests have not been commandeered, Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield says, but suppliers have been asked to prioritise the government's order.
The data Kāinga Ora does not 'centrally record'
Two RNZ OIA requests to Kāinga Ora have been declined, but they do show the agency does not centrally record compensation payouts or instances of behaviour that require a police response
Businesses will struggle to cover 24-day leave for isolation of Covid contacts - Lawyer
It's unclear how businesses will cover a compulsory 24-day leave period for employees who have to isolate because someone they live with has mate korona.
Total compensation for state landlord's neighbours remains unknown
Kāinga Ora has declined a request for the information on the basis it did not centrally record the total amount of compensation paid out for those breaches.
Northland businesses wake to reduced restrictions: 'Orange is a step forward'
Northlanders have expressed mixed reactions over the government's decision to move Te Tai Tokerau to the 'orange' traffic light setting overnight. Audio
'I don't trust the government to deliver' - Concern raised over new Oranga Tamariki laws
As an advocacy group urges the government to pump the brakes on new Oranga Tamariki legislation, political parties raise concerns.
Not all health providers ready for paediatric Covid-19 vaccine rollout
The government set the rollout date at 17 January before Christmas yet some parents may find they are turned away from health providers that are not ready to vaccinate children.
Expert calls for delay to reopening of schools, but not all agree
University of Otago epidemiologist Amanda Kvalsvig says a delayed start would buy more time to get more kids vaccinated, but another expert says the suggestion is an overreaction.
'Something has shifted' in NZ's policy toward China, says analyst
New Zealand's condemnation of Hong Kong's Legislative Council elections reflects a "hardening stance" towards China, says a leading defence analyst.
ICU nurse's residency limbo 'incredibly frustrating'
An ICU nurse who immigrated to New Zealand says getting residency is so difficult she may take her skills offshore.
Travel ban: ICU nurse stuck in South Africa unable to take up job offer
A seasoned ICU nurse who has a job offer with Tairāwhiti's DHB is stuck in South Africa with no way of getting here.
Toxicity at Parliament: Union demands Parliamentary Service boss front up
The chief executive has been accused of failing to live up to his promise to help two young staffers who complained about former National MP Nick Smith's behaviour.
Intensifying strategic competition leading to risk of conflict in Indo-Pacific - report
A new defence report identifies 'China's rise' and its power struggle with the United States as one of the pre-eminent security risks in the Indo-Pacific. Audio
Judith Collins: 20 years of the Crusher in Parliament
Colourful and controversial, with a killer eyebrow raise - she may be best known as "Crusher" but Judith Collins' nearly 20 years in politics cannot be summed up so succinctly. Audio
Modern Family Court will look like a 'different world' to current system, says top judge
A modern Family Court will look and feel like a "different world" to the current system, according to the judge leading the specialist jurisdiction.
Kāinga Ora policy forces thousands in payouts to terrorised neighbours
Kāinga Ora's 'sustaining tenancies' policy has cost the taxpayer thousands of dollars in payouts.
'A public disgrace': State landlord accused of breaking law over abusive tenants
A litigation lawyer says the state landlord Kāinga Ora is "unquestionably" breaking the law by not evicting unruly tenants.
Kāinga Ora: No evictions in past 3 years, neighbours complain of 'horrendous' behaviour
The government cannot say what it would take for a Kāinga Ora tenant to get kicked out of one of its houses.
Court 'heavily burdened' but principal judge remains optimistic about its future.
The top Family Court judge has told a law conference there's good reason to be optimistic about the court's future.