Stories by Benedict Collins
News
No confusion over govt social housing count - minister
The Social Housing Minister says there's nothing surprising about the government having two entirely different methods of counting the number of social houses. Social Housing Minister Amy Adams says…
Tenant with rats in walls can't afford to move
The Wellington woman, who has a newborn child, says the Prime Minister's view soaring rental prices were a sign of "success" is ridiculous.
Agreement to boost Timor Leste economy
New Zealand and Timor Leste have signed a five-year agreement aimed at diversifying the Southeast Asian nation's economy away from oil.
PM accused of telling 'stories' to justify immigration
The Prime Minister's assertion that many young New Zealanders can't get jobs because they fail drug tests are disgraceful and it is time he backed Kiwi workers, a union leader says.
Tens of thousands drug-tested, hundreds fail
Government figures show beneficiaries have failed only 466 pre-employment drug tests in the past three years. Video
Fears Planet Key ruling will herald dirty politics
Opposition parties fear attack advertisements will be a feature of this year's general election campaign. Audio
Police handling of sensitive crime data causes concern
Police have been accused of presenting crime statistics in a way which could unwittingly identify the individuals involved.
Opposition to powers overhauled RMA would give Smith
There is overwhelming opposition to the new powers the Environment Minister Nick Smith will receive if the government succeeds in overhauling the Resource Management Act.
Hundreds of state houses sit empty
More than 250 state homes have sat empty for more than a year while the government waits for someone to buy them.
Housing NZ meth eviction defence questioned
Green MP Metiria Turei is disputing Housing New Zealand's defence of its meth eviction campaign.
Housing NZ boss defends meth eviction campaign
Hundreds of tenants were evicted from their state homes, after Housing NZ detected tiny traces of methamphetamine.
Govt needs to take responsibility for Thiel deal - Labour
The billionaire made tens of millions of dollars from his business deal with the government, but taxpayers got next to nothing, Labour says.
DHBs told to speed up official information responses
The State Services Commission is pointing the finger at district health boards over the time they are taking to answer Official Information Act requests.
5000 dairy cows China-bound on Saudi businessman's ship
More than 5000 dairy cows are about to be shipped from New Zealand to China by the Saudi businessman involved in the so-called Saudi sheep scandal.
Auckland woman Ida Murrie faced charges but escaped eviction for medicinal marijuana
Auckland woman Ida Murrie, 61, faced eviction for growing and smoking marijuana for pain relief. Housing NZ backed down after a call to show "compassion".
Hundreds more Corrections staff needed
Corrections is looking to hire 200 extra staff - in addition to the 600 it had already said it needed - less than two years after it closed prison units and cut 194 staff.
Bill English accused of chickening out in Mt Albert
Some Mt Albert voters are accusing the new Prime Minister of chickening out by refusing to stand a National Party candidate in the upcoming by-election in the electorate.
Judith Collins loser in Cabinet reshuffle
Judith Collins has been given lower-profile roles in Bill English's Cabinet but the Prime Minister insists it is not a demotion. Audio
Central North Island iwi Ngāti Tūwharetoa sign settlement with Crown
Central North Island iwi Ngāti Tūwharetoa will get a Crown apology and $25 million.
Prime Minister Bill English will not rule out raising retirement age
John Key said he would quit as prime minister before raising the retirement age of 65, but Bill English is not renewing his predecessor's pledge.
HNZ accused of meth witch-hunt
A Housing New Zealand tenant was less than 24 hours from being evicted when it was discovered the property had been contaminated with P before he moved in. Audio
Charter school NCEA reporting to be brought into line
Education officials are moving to change the way charter schools report their NCEA results, following concerns they are not being held to the same standards as state schools.
PM to resign: 'It feels like the right time to go'
Prime Minister John Key will step down next week, plunging the National Party into a leadership contest. Video, Audio
Fisheries observers replaced by faulty cameras
The Ministry for Primary Industries has cut the number of fishery observers on snapper boats, at the same time as cameras in an electronic monitoring trial were failing.
Don't take on too much debt, govt warns homeowners
First home buyers are being told to be cautious after the average first home loan surged 43 percent in two years.