Benedict Collins
The start of a difficult conversation?
Bill English will not pledge to keep the retirement age where it is, prompting hopes of a national discussion on whether the age should change. Audio
State tenant almost evicted for previous tenant's P use
A Housing New Zealand tenant about to be evicted for P contamination of his state house carried out his own investigation to prove the property had been contaminated before he moved in. Audio
Academic success of charter schools exaggerated
Different ways of reporting NCEA results at state and charter schools means an imperfect impression of charter schools' performance is being created. While officials are moving to fix the problem… Audio
National MPs to consider who will replace John Key
National Party MPs with an eye on the top job will be jockeying for position after John Key announced he'll be stepping down as Prime Minister and leader of the party. A meeting this morning will… Audio
Fisheries observers cut even though video trial not finished
The Ministry for Primary Industries has slashed the number of fishing observers monitoring the country's snapper boats, but the video cameras that replaced them have turned out to be unreliable. Audio
MPI slashes snapper fisheries observers by half
The Green Party is accusing the Ministry for Primary Industries of failing to properly monitor the fishing industry. Audio
House buyers warned not to take on too much debt
The Government is again warning first home buyers to be careful and not to take on too much debt. The latest caution comes as new Reserve Bank figures show the average loan for a first home has soared… Audio
Man sentenced to 7 years for pinching prison guard's bottom
A man has been sentenced to seven years in prison for pinching a prison guard's bottom. The sentence was handed down under the three strikes law, and has been slammed as barbaric and entirely unjust. Audio
Tsunami funding call an "unreasonable criticism" - Government
The Govt is told to take advice from scientists as Geonet makes another push for 24/7 monitoring. Audio
Government in a state of denial on TPP?
The Government is soldiering on with passing the law that will allow the country to join the Trans Pacific Partnership. The opposition believe the trade deals already dead and the government is in a… Audio
Controversial RMA changes get Maori Party backing
The Maori Party has finally agreed to back National's controversial changes to the Resource Management Act - handing it the numbers it needs to pass the legislation. Audio
Collins: Corrections Department "disturbing"
Newly released reports reveal the extent of organised violence at Mt Eden Prison stretching back as far as 2009 - before private company Serco took over management over the prison. Audio
$300 million injection for emergency housing
The Government maintains there's no housing crisis despite its surprise injection of $300 million to fund emergency housing yesterday. Audio
Focus on Politics for 4 November 2016
The Government's controversial Saudi sheep deal was back in the public spotlight this week after the Auditor General released her long-awaited report into the matter. While Lyn Provost cleared the… Audio
Cleared or not? Auditor-General's report critical of McCully
Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully says the Auditor-General has cleared his handling of the Saudi sheep deal. But her findings criticised government processes. Political reporter Benedict Collins… Audio
Saudi sheep deal report pulls up major issues with transparency
The Auditor-General's report into the controversial Saudi sheep deal has not found evidence of corruption, but does raise major concerns about transparency. Video, Audio
Housing NZ now can't say how many tenants kicked out over P
Housing New Zealand now says it can't say how many tenants it kicked out of their state homes and blacklisted last year for methamphetamine contamination. Our reporter Benedict Collins has more, Audio
HNZ denies Health Ministry warned it on meth testing
Housing New Zealand has categorically denied it was warned by the Health Ministry that the meth testing it was carrying out on its properties was only suitable for former meth labs. Audio
Housing NZ meth testing "ripping families apart"
Former Maori Party co-leader Dame Tariana Turia says families are being torn apart by Housing New Zealand's deliberate misuse of methamphetamine testing. Audio
Tens of millions spent on emergency support for migrants' parents
The Immigration Minister has temporarily closed the Parent Category to new applicants saying he's concerned too many migrants are not honouring their sponsorship commitments. Audio
