Giles Dexter

The Green party had earlier questioned why they were not activated sooner, calling them a lifeline for affected communities.

The payments were activated following flooding in various parts of the country from 2022 to 2024, but are yet to be stood up for this year's weather events.

Speaking off-the-cuff, Rurawhe says one of his biggest honours was to serve as Speaker.

Voters also had their say on whether the Prime Minister should be in Waitangi for Waitangi Day commemorations, in the latest RNZ-Reid Research poll.

National's West Coast-Tasman MP announced she will retire from politics at this year's election, citing family, health and a desire to "rest a little". Audio

ACC's board chair says if they don't act now, the scheme will become unaffordable.

Christopher Luxon made the announcement from National's caucus retreat in Christchurch.

National MPs meet in Christchurch where leader Christopher Luxon is expected to announce this year's election date, while Labour counterparts gather in West Auckland.

总理Christopher Luxon确认，政府今年将继续走在紧缩性财政政策的路线上。

Christopher Luxon has confirmed his government will continue to run a tight budget, in his first speech of the election year.

The payroll system went down on Wednesday, meaning staff were unable to check whether they have been paid correctly.

Three emergency calls by a mental health worker went unanswered in the space of 90 minutes in a November incident.

The Associate Justice minister says the current rules for restaurants are "nonsensical".

Nicola Willis has mounted a defence of her "deliberate, medium-term" strategy, and attacked her opponents on both the left and the right.

The last election saw Labour's six years in government end, with Hipkins returning to the opposition benches just 10 months after becoming prime minister.

The ACT Party says it is concerned that the report has "drifted noticeably from its intended purpose". Audio

The replacement includes a Planning Bill and a Natural Environment Bill which will be sent to select committee next week.

The Prime Minister says the reforms are a "game changer" for New Zealand.

Christopher Luxon has expressed confidence in Mark Mitchell and his timeline of events.

The government's planned rule changes strike a balance between residents' and operators' needs, the retirement commissioner says.

The group had their citizenship stripped in the 1980s.

Social media is a "critical channel" for people to get information, and it is "entirely appropriate" to participate, says the Public Service Commissioner.

"There's a real desire from the organisation for decisions to be made closer to those who are providing the care in the districts and in the regions," Simeon Brown says.

Andrew Coster has been on leave from his role since the release of a report which found serious misconduct at the highest levels of police.

The bill would prevent same-day enrolments, ban prisoners from voting, and tighten up the rules around treating.