Stories by Craig McCulloch

National's ex-candidate Stephen Jack has lashed out at the media after resigning, accusing it of "woke stupidity" and "character assassination" which destroyed his political ambitions.

Neither Kerekere nor the alleged victim of her 'crybaby' remark, Chlöe Swarbrick, would talk to RNZ about the latest claims.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Local Government Minister Kieran McAnulty are to announce their updated strategy for improving the management of drinking, waste and stormwater.

Stuart Nash's rapid resignation from his treasured police portfolio - just two months after getting it back -  is one of the clearest examples of a political own-goal. 

It's highlighted poor…

Consultants and contractors are a favourite punching bag for opposition parties - of all colours - and National is just the latest to land a solid blow, leaving Labour off-balance. 

The numbers show…

Dyson has admitted she has not read the code of conduct governing her position as a Crown entity board member.

While National's solution to the Three Waters problem may please the councils steadfastly opposed to the government's plan, it remains plagued by a financial fishhook. 

But, as journalist Bernard…

The ejection of Health New Zealand's chair is becoming a larger headache for the government as it faces calls to punish him further, as well as claims it has overreacted.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has declined to express confidence in the chair of Te Whatu Ora/Health NZ Rob Campbell after he made "inappropriate" political comments online.

National leader Christopher Luxon is pledging to be "much bolder" than the incremental approach favoured by his forerunner John Key, as he prepares his pitch for next year's campaign. Audio

The petrol tax cut has been extended from its January deadline until the end of March, but the subsidy will halve from the end of February.

Te Pāti Māori has accused the government of being bereft of leadership and in a "state of paralysis" over its response to the murder of five-year-old Malachi Subecz.

National Party leader Christopher Luxon says the latest fuel sector shake-up is a "leap back to 1970s" while Energy Resources Aotearoa says the proposal is rife with fishhooks.

Some foreign nurses who've been fighting for New Zealand residency are celebrating after learning they can apply through the reopening skilled migrant category.

An IRD briefing shows 76,712 "potentially" overseas people were paid, along with 85 dead people - and there were nearly 12,000 coding or administrative errors.

First Person - RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch pulls back the curtain on some of the lighter moments behind the scenes and on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

After a two-year Covid-induced hiatus, the United Nations' leaders' summit returned with gusto this week, but against a far darker backdrop than Jacinda Ardern's last time there.

Just days after the Kremlin threatened nuclear warfare, Jacinda Ardern has taken to the United Nations podium to condemn Russia and call for a complete ban on all nuclear weapons. Video

Watch - Jacinda Ardern met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and challenges facing the Pacific.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has delivered a speech on behalf of Prince William at a star-studded New York event focusing on climate change solutions.

UN Secretary General António Guterres has set a grave tone for this year's general assembly, warning of a "winter of global discontent" in a world beset by perils.

Fresh from the Queen's funeral, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has caught a lift with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to New York to attend the UN General Assembly.

National MP Sam Uffindell has been stood down from the party's caucus while an investigation is carried out into further allegations of bullying raised by RNZ. Audio

The National Party has unanimously elected a new president at its annual conference in Christchurch.

National's deputy Nicola Willis has sought to extinguish any doubt over her tax plan, telling members the party will deliver as much relief as it "responsibly can".