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National to campaign on review of 'controversial' Hauraki Gulf fishing rules
Legislation last year established 12 high protection areas - but allowed commercial operators exclusive access to two of them.
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Nurses and senior doctors' bargaining stretches into second year
1:43 pm todayHealth New Zealand says in 2025, three offers were made to senior doctors and two to nurses, which were all declined.
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Uncertainty likely to remain with US tariff ruling - trade minister
12:15 pm todayThe US Supreme Court ruled the sweeping tariffs Donald Trump imposed on nearly every country, including New Zealand, were illegal.
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'Unhinged madness': Peters fires back at unions over employment bill
12:29 pm todayThe PSA said the NZ First leader was wrong to blame unions for being too slow to convince New Zealand First to block the bill.
Politics headlines with summaries.
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'Sort it out': Minister's frustration with flooded cycleway
20 Feb 2026Commuting cyclists are choosing to avoid the tunnel and go through a pedestrian tunnel on bikes.
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Visitor levy funds to be used in restoration of Tongariro National Park
20 Feb 2026The money, spent over five years, will go towards weed control, pest management, and biodiversity monitoring.
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Consumer NZ urges government to press ahead with fixing surcharge 'mess'
20 Feb 2026The government has announced it's pushing pause on a ban that was set to kick into effect no later than May 2026. Audio
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'Jurassic thinking': Bill to make English an official language introduced
The bill is being fiercely defended by Winston Peters. Audio
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'It's a no-brainer': Bishop reacts to unease over housing intensification plans
20 Feb 2026The Housing Minister is frustrated by the resistance to a massive boost in the number of houses in Auckland. Audio
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MSD claw backs will 'financially cripple' state abuse survivors, advocate says
20 Feb 2026The coalition, with Labour's support, is changing the law so the Ministry of Social Development can legally claw back payments once someone has been backpaid for an ACC claim.
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Kieran McAnulty ordered to leave the House after challenging Speaker
19 Feb 2026It follows a "racist" comment NZ First leader Winston Peters made that didn't result in any consequence, the Labour MP says.
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Govt 'listened to Aucklanders' by lowering max number of houses
19 Feb 2026The Character Coalition said the requirement for two million zoned sites was always an unrealistic and unnecessary target.
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Promises to ban paywave surcharges 'going nowhere'
19 Feb 2026The government said it would axe surcharges by May to "put money back into Kiwi's pockets".
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Fast-track application to mine Taranaki seabed withdrawn
19 Feb 2026Trans-Tasman Resources' withdrew the application following a draft decision by an expert panel.
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'Forced into swallowing a dead rat': Opposition react to Auckland housing U-turn
19 Feb 2026Labour's deputy leader says the backtrack is a huge blow for families looking for affordable homes.
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Peters claims he could've stopped contractor law change
19 Feb 2026The Green's Teanau Tuiono says New Zealand First doesn't "give a damn" about workers.
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'We're not shagging spiders': Minister on second harbour crossing
19 Feb 2026Chris Bishop went on a self-described "rant" during a Q&A session at the International Convention Centre, with some colourful turns of phrase.
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AI and deep fakes becoming problematic for courts
19 Feb 2026It might take law changes to keep them out of trials, the government's chief legal advisers say.
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Housing intensification rules rolled back
19 Feb 2026"People want to know that their suburbs will continue to be liveable. That is what government wants too," Chris Bishop said in a speech interrupted by a heckler.
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The House: Turning back time through law
19 Feb 2026Parliament is considering a law that changes what was legal in the past. Retrospective law-making is allowed, but rare and controversial.
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Bishop and McAnulty the standouts in Parliament's opening speeches
19 Feb 2026Parliament's year begins with a very long debate. The House reviews the event and samples a few of the best speakers.
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Hurry up with new agricultural machine road rules, rural contractors say
New road rules for agricultural machinery are nowhere to be seen, and in the meantime contractors are still being stung with fines.
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Minister mulls changes after deadly dog attack
19 Feb 2026Simon Watts is asking for urgent advice, as the SPCA calls for an overhaul of dog control laws. Audio
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'Very complicated': Minister defends dropping plan for four-year term referendum
19 Feb 2026The government has ditched a bill to put a longer electoral term to a binding referendum, citing time constraints. Audio
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Ministry of Justice in early stages of considering mobile courthouse
19 Feb 2026It's a "twinkle-in-the-eye", but continuing to invest in large courthouse buildings won't work, an official says.
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'Impossible deadline': Union questions shorter consultation for Māori curriculum
19 Feb 2026But the Ministry of Education says there is enough time for schools and kura to provide feedback.
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Government expected to make announcement on Auckland housing plan U-turn
19 Feb 2026The Housing Minister has had to grapple with a process he says is "legally complicated". Audio
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Why racing enjoys special treatment under NZ gambling laws
19 Feb 2026Analysis: Despite the harm it is known to cause to a significant number of New Zealanders, the gambling industry as a whole is commonly defended for its contribution back to the community.
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