Giles Dexter
National finds a new spring in its step
Jacinda Ardern's resignation as prime minister yesterday shook her own party, and the main opposition one as well. Labour and National are both having caucus retreats in Napier this week.
RNZ… Audio
Post-parliament plans for 11 retiring MPs
Labour and National will be kicking off election year with their annual caucus retreats this week, and some MPs have already said it will be their last.
So far, eleven MPs across Labour, National… Audio
Media merger: RNZ, TVNZ bosses face MPs at select committee
The bosses of RNZ and TVNZ have faced MPs amid what's been a cloudy period for the planned public media merger. While their annual reviews were the reason for their meeting, the merger, and the… Video, Audio
Govt agencies warned to tidy up processes with giving contracts
The Public Service Commissioner has told several government agencies to tidy up their processes, when looking into how contracts were awarded to relatives of Nanaia Mahuta.
However, Peter Hughes has… Audio
Commissioner says conflicts of interest not properly identified
The Public Service Commissioner has found no evidence of favouritism, bias or undue influence due to a connection with any minister in decisions made by some government agencies.
Peter Hughes looked… Audio
Prime Minister set to announce 'handful' of MP retirements
The Prime Minister will announce "a handful" of retirements from her Labour team next week, ahead of the cabinet reshuffle.
With National ahead in the polls, Jacinda Ardern has told ministers to… Audio
Government hoping Covid-19 inquiry will provide future pandemic playbook
The government is hoping the Royal Commission into its Covid-19 response will provide the strongest possible playbook for any future pandemic.
The Prime Minister has announced the terms of reference… Audio
Police pursuits policy under review
Politicians are jostling to dominate the narrative on policing, crime and punishment.
Police are planning more patrols in hard-hit business areas, and a change to pursuits.
Yesterday, the government… Audio
Opposition not fond of move to put Parliament into urgency
Political parties have reacted to the government's move to put Parliament into urgency with a mix of cynicism and outrage.
Parliament has gone into urgency for the rest of the week - meaning early… Audio
Winston Peters rules out working with the Labour Party again
We may be still a year out from the next general election, but the MMP rule-in-rule-out game has already begun.
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has launched a broadside at his former… Audio
Health advocates hope for change with alcohol law reform
Health advocates hope the most meaningful aspects of alcohol law reform are still to come.
The government has announced a law change to remove the ability to appeal local alcohol policies - but a… Audio
Domestic inflation rise 'a shocker' - economists
'A shocker - to put it politely.' That's the assessment from Kiwibank economists to the biggest domestic inflation rise since records began.
Surging food and household costs have kept inflation close… Audio
National MP Barbara Kuriger drops portfolios over conflict of interest
National MP Barbara Kuriger has resigned from all of her portfolios, for what her leader Christopher Luxon has described as a serious lapse of judgement.
The third-term MP and her family have been… Audio
Government’s agriculture pricing plan gathers mixed reactions
The government is celebrating its agricultural emissions pricing plan as a world first, but it faces a battle winning over the sector.
Cabinet will consult on the plan before signing it off next… Audio
Child poverty overall on decline, report shows
The latest Child Poverty Report shows overall, child poverty is on the decline, in spite of Covid. But those on the frontline say there's much more to do to plug the gaps - and this year's report… Audio
News outlets fear public media merger will harm wider sector
News outlets fear the mega public media merger could have disastrous consequences for the wider industry.
MPs heard submissions today on the bill that would fold RNZ and TVNZ into one entity.
Rival… Audio
Solomon Islands and NZ holding bilateral meeting in Wellington
A pōwhiri has been taking place at Parliament to welcome the Solomon Islands' foreign minister on his first official visit to Aotearoa today.
New Zealand has long-standing ties with the Solomons, but… Audio
New Zealand Memorial service held for Queen Elizbeth II
An emotional memorial service was held at Wellington Cathedral of St Paul yesterday, as New Zealand officially commemorated the death of Queen Elizabeth.
Across the road, on Parliament's lawn, a… Audio
Conflict of interest probe into Mahuta's family's contracts
An investigation has been launched into how government agencies have managed conflicts of interest when awarding contracts to the family of senior cabinet minister Nanaia Mahuta.
The National Party… Audio
Bullying allegations still rumble through parliament
Parliamentarians are poring over each other's foibles for evidence of bullying, while applying a non-stick coating to themselves.
Yesterday, National Party leader Christopher Luxon said an… Audio