Stories by Russell Palmer

The government has unveiled its plan for land transport over the next decade, prioritising more than $20 billion of funding on 14 new roads and public transport links.

National is promising to allow people to split their KiwiSaver between multiple providers.

Associate Housing Minister Willie Jackson has had to apologise in Parliament, while Finance Minister Grant Robertson is refusing to apologise after calling his opposite a "liar".

Labour's GST-free fruit and vegetables tax policy is being widely panned by experts, who say it is betting on voters' ignorance.

New Zealand's Defence Force will ramp up its readiness for combat, taking a more "proactive and purposeful" approach as part of a new government strategy.

Both major political parties are working to clear up confusion over their transport policies.

National is promising a suite of new roads and a rapid transit network for Auckland, using a mix of government funding and private equity. But Labour says the costings still come up billions short. Audio

Co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer say their policies would redistribute wealth, changing a system that takes from the poor to give to the rich.

Court has apologised in a letter, and the privileges committee has not recommended further action against him.

Politicians on the left and right are at odds over a new housing report, but agree that what is really needed is getting more homes built.

The Associate Health Minister is celebrating the rollout of $74m to its Kahu Taurima maternity programme, and $7m to buy 20 new paediatric retinal cameras.

The government is questioning National's ability to fund a new medical school, and says it's unclear if doing so would increase the total number of doctors trained.

New Zealand is estimated to need to increase recruitment by 8000 nurses and 3400 doctors on top of meeting current staffing levels to deal with demand out to 2033.

The prime minister intends to speak to Kiri Allan in a couple of weeks about claims of past disunity with her staff. He suggests the ongoing interest is a sign of higher standards.

The Cabinet minister is rejecting the description of events provided by the head of DOC over claims of a breakdown in the relationship with staff.

Parties across Parliament seem to agree the funding to keep the Ruapehu skifields operating over winter is not a great look, but needed to happen.

Opposition parties are largely endorsing the government's move to pump $128 million more into tertiary education, but say it shows things need to change.

Opposition leader Christopher Luxon says he will not use Defence Force planes to travel internationally if elected as prime minister.

ACT's new policy to set more specific rules for hiring contractors would only lead to more exploitation of workers, an employment lawyer who has fought cases on behalf of disgruntled workers says.

A government response details 16 times the Cabinet office interacted with Michael Wood over his shares since 2017 - which eventually led to his resignation.

National Party leader Christopher Luxon says Michael Wood's behaviour shows prime minister Chris Hipkins is weak and failed to manage his team's culture.

Opposition parties have been accused of trying to whip up racism over a tool which prioritises surgery waitlists based partly on ethnicity, and the Health Minister's been asked to check it's working…

ACT MP Simon Court has been referred to Parliament's powerful privileges committee after he publicly shared select committee information.

Labour's campaign chair is standing by a social media post which likens National's prescriptions policy to dystopian TV show and novel The Handmaid's Tale.

The main parties both say they are willing to work together on policies to build more housing, but neither seems likely to budge over their approach.