Stories by Craig McCulloch

Christopher Luxon's trip to India included the restart of trade talks, the tightening of defence ties, and more than a spot of cricket - RNZ's deputy political editor takes us behind the scenes.

The prime minister hit back at criticisms of his coalition's investment in defence as he stood aboard HMNZS Te Kaha, docked in Mumbai. Audio

Travellers calling for non-stop flights between New Zealand and India now have a date but it's still three years away. Audio

It came after both Luxon and Trade Minister Piyush Goyal upped the ante at a business event in Delhi, joking about getting a deal done in 60 days.

The Indian prime minister's comments created a moment of disagreement during an otherwise warm meeting with Christopher Luxon. Audio

莫迪与Luxon的会晤中也存在分歧，Luxon对媒体表示两国之间的共识是本次访问的重点。

Luxon专机在印度帕拉姆空军基地降落， Luxon此行的首场正式会谈是与印度外交部长苏杰生的简短会晤。

Free trade negotiations are starting, a decade after the last effort stalled. Audio

Two trade experts based in Delhi expressed some mild optimism about Luxon's chances, but with a major caveat: NZ would have to abandon hope of including dairy in any deal..

New Zealand First has proposed legislation it says will end "woke left-wing social engineering and diversity targets" in the public sector.

除贸易重点外，Luxon也提到，他认为新西兰与印度就安全防务领域也可以合作。

The stakes are high for Luxon after he promised during a 2023 election debate that he would strike a free trade deal with India in his first term.

Of the 180 placements available next year, 120 will be in primary care.

National and NZ First agreed to a two-year deadline in their coalition deal, but a year on, officer numbers have gone backwards.

It falls well short of the Ministry of Social Development's target of at least 95% correct payouts.

"You just can't go into the database, remove all of the people that should never have been on there, and then holler 'success'," one expert says. Audio

本届联合政府执政跨过第一个年头，总理Christopher Luxon接受RNZ专访，对多项政府举措给出回应。

Analysis - Luxon is loath to spend too much time looking back at his first year, and invited to share any lessons he's learnt, he draws something of a blank. Audio

Te Pāti Māori's extraordinary display of protest interrupted the first vote on the Treaty Principles Bill.

The Prime Minister has given a scathing appraisal of the bill on the day of its first reading.

Minister Louise Upston has directed her officials to stop publishing weekly updates on benefit numbers as the number of people on welfare reaches record levels.

The new Public Service Commissioner has joined coalition voices in criticising a health official as "unprofessional" for characterising some ministerial work as "crap" in an internal email.

The complaint comes after the Associate Health Minister accused health officials of undermining her efforts.

For decades, the question over one tax change has been kicked down the road, over and over.

The former comedian is back in the headlines, this time for making controversial comments about alcohol - but it's not the first time he's ruffled feathers.