Stories by Guyon Espiner

Labour's Ayesha Verrall has laid a formal complaint over the policy, saying it lacks justification and claiming there are indications of industry influence. Audio

The product she said could help 7000 people quit smoking has been pulled off shelves.

Despite a long list of problems identified by officials, Casey Costello claimed she had got her own "independent" advice.

The document the Associate Health Minister gave to health officials pushed for tobacco tax cuts, and promoted the idea that "nicotine is as harmful as caffeine".

Casey Costello denied it existed. Now she says she does not know who wrote - or even how she got - a tobacco policy document sent to officials. Audio

Philip Morris planned to apply "political pressure" to get tax cuts for heated tobacco products, a document shows. Audio

The Act Party minister is plotting a huge expansion of the state-run drug buying agency, despite being a proponent of small government. Audio

By midnight, three-quarters of drinkers at Wellington's Courtenay Place were drunk on booze they'd bought somewhere else. Many cited cost as the reason. Audio

A decision to slash excise tax for heated tobacco products - sold almost exclusively by one company in New Zealand - has come with a potentially hefty price tag. Audio

Casey Costello's order to halve the tax is "something that tobacco companies would have been keen to see," an expert says. Audio

NZ First's Casey Costello has been severely reprimanded for trying to keep information about tobacco and vaping policy secret.

Artificial Intelligence has a big future with tasks from helping kids learn to assessing medical results, says Judith Collins says.

The levy has been raised but by less than half the amount that would even cover inflation.

Drinking is causing harm 20 times worse than meth, police believe. Audio

Community leader Dave Letele considered Christopher Luxon a friend - until the PM reacted badly to an open letter he signed decrying racism.

Officials and experts have given repeated warnings the government's ban could backfire.

Minister was told the government may face requests to bailout media companies if it failed to progress a law forcing digital platforms to pay local media for using their content.

The minister in charge of tobacco regulation was warned repealing smokefree legislation would be seen as a breach of the Treaty of Waitangi.

Casey Costello rejected all compromise options suggested to her, documents obtained by RNZ show.

A Crown Solicitor's management style was "challenging, critical, and unpredictable" and left some staff "genuinely distressed," a high-level review says.

'About four' lobbyists have gained access to the Beehive and had their identities made secret by the new Speaker.

RNZ has obtained more evidence contradicting NZ First minister Casey Costello's insistence she didn't specifically ask for advice on a tobacco excise freeze.

Instead of increasing each year with inflation, the tax on cigarettes would be frozen for three years under a plan suggested by Associate Health Minister Casey Costello.

Lobbyists, PR experts and lawyers are being paid to counter criticism of animal welfare standards in live exports.

Senate, which had a large contract with the Commerce Commission, was caught up in a cyber attack raising fears about the possible release of highly sensitive material.