Giles Dexter
NZ well-placed to absorb shocks from US bank collapse - govt
The government says New Zealand is well-placed to absorb the shocks posed by the collapse of US bank Silicon Valley.
US authorities are stepping in to guarantee all customers of the failed bank will… Audio
Public Service Commissioner reminding Crown entities of code of conduct
The Public Service Commissioner is writing to all Crown entity board chairs to remind them of their obligation to read the code of conduct and be politically impartial.
Pharmac chair Steve Maharey's… Audio
National on the attack over consultant spend
National is keeping up the offensive over the millions government departments spend on consultants and contractors - highlighting the number who worked on now abandoned projects.
It made for some… Audio
Ousted Te Whatu Ora boss says organisation needs trimming
Ousted health boss Rob Campbell says plans to trim waste and bureacracy in Te Whatu Ora will need to be sped up - and it will involve re-allocating or cutting hundreds of jobs.
Campbell was sacked as… Audio
Tairawhiti business welcomes government support
A Tairawhiti business leader says the government's initial fifty-million dollar support package is "brilliant." The money is to tide over businesses and the primary sector while a recovery taskforce… Audio
Government clears desk of unpopular policies
The government has cleared the desk of some of its more contentious and unwieldy policies, with this year's election in mind.
The Prime Minister says the reprioritisation will free up money to help… Audio
Hipkins reshuffle brings fresh faces to Cabinet
Some of the Government's most contentious porfolios will soon have a fresh face after the Prime Minister's first Cabinet reshuffle.
The ministers who ushered in the Three Waters reforms and overhaul… Audio
Chris Hipkins clears first hurdle as Prime Minister
Chris Hipkins has cleared his first hurdle as Prime Minister, and chaired his first cabinet meeting.
He's signalled a focus on the cost of living, but isn't ready to rule anything in or out.
Other… Audio
Outgoing PM Jacinda Ardern bids farewell at Rātana
"Thank you from the bottom of my heart, for the greatest privilege of my life." Jacinda Ardern has bowed out of her Prime Ministerial duties with one final trip to Rātana.
Politicians of all stripes… Video, Audio
Political year underway in earnest as Ratana celebration arrive
Political reporter, Giles Dexter, is on his way to Rātana ahead of the start of the year celebrations.
He spoke to Corin Dann.
Audio
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