Policy
Former Labour Police Minister wanted to go further on gang assets crack down
A former police minister in the last Labour government says he wanted his party to go further in its bid to crack down on gangs' assets.
The new National-led coalition is banning gang patches in… Audio
Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall on repealing of smokefree laws
An RNZ investigation has revealed the Associate Health Minister Casey Costello rejected official's urges to retain parts of the smokefree laws she is planning to repeal.
The current law was set to… Audio
Health officials urged government to keep aspects of smokefree law
Confidential briefings to Associate Health Minister Casey Costello reveal health officials urged the government to retain key aspects of the smokefree law.
Casey Costello plans to scrap the current… Audio
Restrictions on mad cow blood donors to be lifted
From next week, people who lived in Britain, France and the Republic of Ireland during the mad cow disease outbreak of the 1980s and 90s, will be able to give blood.
Restrictions were imposed more… Audio
New approach needed to reduce child poverty: Minister Louise Upston
Child advocates have criticised the government saying it doesn't have any specific strategy to fight child poverty.
They say changes to benefit indexing and tax cut policies won't help families that… Audio
Decile system to rank schools changes
Forget about high decile and low decile when you are talking about schools.
From now on the words to use are fewest barriers and most barriers.
That is the way government agencies are grouping… Audio
Luxon makes swift exit from Big Gay Out after Gaza protest
The Prime Minister earlier told press how much he enjoyed attending the Pride festival each year.
Debate on scrapping GST on kai heads to Parliament
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi's members' bill to scrap GST on food has been drawn from the ballot, but a National MP says the government has other plans.
Phone ban causing problems for neurodiverse children
The Government's cellphone ban in schools is causing problems for some neurodiverse children who are struggling to get through the day.
Parents say they are not able to get an exemption.
Meanwhile… Audio
Competitive shooters want to use outlawed semi-automatic guns
MP's have heard strong arguments for and against allowing competitive shooters to use banned semi-automatic firearms.
The weapons were outlawed in a crackdown after the March 15 terror attacks in… Audio
Waitangi Tribunal to hold inquiry on climate policy
The Waitangi Tribunal is to hold a "priority" kaupapa inquiry into government climate change policy.
Govt called to pass policy stopping development in high-hazard areas
Forest & Bird is urging the government to pass a policy that would give councils more power to stop new development in high-risk areas.
Government warned to 'be careful' with its Māori policies
The government has been warned to "be careful" with its policies affecting Māori at the National Iwi Chairs Forum (NICF) today.
Government warned to 'be careful' with its Māori policies
The government has been warned to "be careful" with its policies affecting Maori, at the National Iwi Chairs Forum today. Pressure is mounting ahead of Waitangi Day, as the Prime Minister continues to… Video, Audio
Government can expect 'frank' talks at Iwi Chairs Forum - Rahui Papa
Top government ministers will sit down today with Māori leaders from nearly every corner of Aotearoa at the National Iwi Chairs Forum.
The forum is the pre-eminent grouping of indigenous leaders, who… Audio
NZ a step closer to joining second pillar of AUKUS
New Zealand is a step closer to deciding whether it will involve itself with the second pillar of the AUKUS security deal.
Australian officials will cross the ditch later this year to brief the… Audio
Peters and Collins in Australia for meetings with counterparts
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins have gone into their first meeting with their Australian counterparts in Melbourne.
The pair travelled to Australia… Audio
Australia and New Zealand Foreign and Defence Ministers' in inaugural meeting
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins are in Melbourne for the inaugural Australia and New Zealand Foreign and Defence Ministers' Meeting.
They are meeting with their… Audio
Judith Collins on joining non-nuclear part of AUKUS alliance
Documents show Defence officials began pitching the benefits of joining the AUKUS military alliance months ago.
The Defence Minister, Judith Collins, is expected to raise the prospect of joining the… Audio
Defence officials promoting benefits of joining second tier of AUKUS, documents say
Documents show Defence officials have for months been promoting the benefits of joining the AUKUS military alliance.
Defence Minister Judith Collins meets her counterpart in Melbourne on Thursday… Audio
