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Politics headlines with summaries.
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Lessons from the Covid inquiry
10 Mar 2026The 500-plus-page report looks at what it calls some of the "most difficult and divisive responses around vaccines and mandates".
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Covid-19 inquiry: Politicians on all sides find what they need in report
10 Mar 2026ACT has blasted the previous government for being power-hungry and NZ First maintained its reservations about the inquiry, but Labour defended the response as world-leading.
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'We respect the guy': National Party politicians rule out leadership bid
10 Mar 2026Education Minister Erica Stanford has often been tipped as a possible leadership contender.
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National blasts Ardern government as Covid response inquiry released
10 Mar 2026"We got a lot right. More than most," the former PM and Grant Robertson say, while Simeon Brown says warnings about the economy "were not heeded".
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Mariameno Kapa-Kingi officially reinstated to Te Pāti Māori
10 Mar 2026The High Court ruled her suspension and subsequent expulsion was "unlawful".
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Which students' test scores bounced back after Covid, and which didn't
10 Mar 2026The disruption was greater in Auckland and schools with more socioeconomic barriers.
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National MPs resolute in support of Luxon
10 Mar 2026Meanwhile, Shane Reti is retiring, and Erica Stanford says last week was 'a bad week' for National. Audio
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Reti to retire from politics: 'It's just time'
10 Mar 2026He is the fourth National MP to confirm he will not stand at the election.
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Documents reveal why staff didn't tell minister about McSkimming allegations
10 Mar 2026A staffer says the order said the emails were "unsubstantiated anonymous allegations".
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NZ economy 'on precipice' as markets wobble, oil price rises
Wider inflation, beyond just at the pump, may have already begun, an economist warns Audio
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The House: The week in Parliament: Money, grog, gambling and satire
10 Mar 2026For people keen on finance and government Parliament's week is fun from the start, for others it may improve later with the addition of grog, gambling and satire.
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NZTA picks cheaper but less effective option to fix highway
10 Mar 2026A newly released business case shows the recommended option would cut closures by 53 percent while a full fix would cut them by 70 percent.
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Social housing, benefit data not published for months
10 Mar 2026The Ministry of Social Development says its "ageing" data system needs fixing and that's taken longer than predicted.
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Local government minister can't guarantee rates cap won't increase social housing rents
10 Mar 2026Simon Watts said the final rates cap policy is still being designed, but didn't anticipate it would cause higher costs for those living in roughly 10,000 council-owned rental homes.
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Govt working 'around the clock' to help New Zealanders stranded in Middle East
9 Mar 2026Efforts were focused on overland options to support New Zealanders to leave Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait.
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Government may offer asylum to Iranian female football players, Seymour says
10 Mar 2026Five players, who are reportedly being protected by police in Australia, are likely to face persecution if they return to their home country. Audio
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Luxon: Bad poll result 'not a major focus' for National
9 Mar 2026"I can reassure you I'll be the leader going into the election on November 7," says the National Party leader.
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Police ramp up recruitment efforts as drain slows
9 Mar 2026They partnered with 'Round the Bays' in Auckland on Sunday, announcing that more recruit wings were coming to the city. Audio
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Luxon doubles down as more worrying polling emerges
9 Mar 2026Analysis: It's a bold prime minister who assumes the support of his entire caucus after one of his worst weeks in the job. Audio
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Defiant Luxon says no discussions needed on his leadership
9 Mar 2026The prime minister says he did not ask any of his ministers over the weekend if he had their support. Audio
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Climate credibility on trial as critics challenge govt's net-zero roadmap
9 Mar 2026The once quiet workhorse of climate policy - the humble tree - is now headline material, fuelling political fights and finding itself at the very root of a legal battle over our climate future.
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Ex-deputy mayor to run for Nelson seat as Green candidate
9 Mar 2026Rohan O'Neill-Stevens says the region deserves a government that puts people and the planet ahead of corporate greed.
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Luxon facing 'last straw scenario' - commentators
9 Mar 2026"The more that the leader says: 'There's nothing to see here, it's all fine', the more it exacerbates the problem".
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'I'll be the leader going into the election' - Luxon responds to poll result
9 Mar 2026Finance minister Nicola Willis says a Labour government would be terrible for the New Zealand economy. Audio
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