Policy
Government transport subsidies end tonight
The Government's transport subsidies end tonight.
Both the fuel tax and full priced public transport fares for adults over 25 will then be reinstated from tomorrow, July 1.
Motorists are already… Audio
Bumping an extra five years for OE travels
Young New Zealanders planning to head to the UK on their OE are getting an extra five years to do so, with the age limit being raised from 30 to 35 from July 1.
Also, visas under the Youth Mobility… Audio
Last ditch attempt by officials to reach 90 percent census target
Officials are still trying to reach those who haven't done this year's Census, with community events and incentives. The final deadline to complete the Census is tomorrow at 5pm. The unofficial… Video, Audio
Government to help businesses secure loans
The Government has announced it will help businesses affected by recent weather events to secure cheaper loans, rather than giving them cash.
Hawke's Bay growers previously asked for $750 million to… Audio
Department of Corrections and Chief Ombudsman in spat
The Department of Corrections and Chief Ombudsman are in a public spat over a scathing report on the management of New Zealand's 18 prisons.
Ombudsman Peter Boshier says Corrections leadership are… Audio
Inmates locked in cells for 23 hours a day
Prison guards and justice advocates are both demanding Corrections is to be held account over its treatment of prisoners including inmates being locked in cells for 23 hours a day.
It follows a… Audio
Trauma of solitary confinement
Former prisoners and families of inmates say the trauma of solitary confinement will haunt them for life.
A independent report from the Office of the Inspectorate found that more than 5000 prisoners… Audio
Report urges fair funding for kaupapa Māori health services
A new report says funding for Māori mental health and addiction services is unfair, resulting in treatment inequalities for Māori.
The report, by Te Hiringa Mahara, the Mental Health and Wellbeing… Audio
Curbing food waste: New bins trialled for foodscraps in Auckland
Auckland Council is hoping new food scrap bins will save sending 100,000 tonnes of foodwaste to landfill. Food bins have been rolled out to 140,000 households across West Auckland and the North Shore… Audio
The Panel with Boopsie Maran and Mark Knoff-Thomas (Part Two)
Today on The Panel, Wallace and panellists speak to Dr Dougal Sutherland about the Government's performance on improving mental health services. Plus, they speak to the Maritime Union about Mayor… Audio
Hobart doubles short-term stay rates to keep rents down
To Tasmania now, where the Hobart council agreed last night to double rates for short-term stay properties, like Airbnb's, to ease the rocketing cost of renting. The proposal will use the short-term… Audio
Mixed messages on impact new firearms registry might have
The New Zealand firearms registry is set to go live at the weekend, nearly four years after it was first proposed. The registry follows major changes to firearms laws made after the 2019 terrorist… Audio
General surgeon suggests better system for health inequities
Surgeons say a new tool which prioritises a person's ethnicity, along with other factors such as deprivation, time on the waiting list and location, when deciding who gets treatment is a simplistic… Audio
Forestry advocate dismisses need for ETS review
"Using a hammer when a screwdriver would do." That's what one relevant player is saying about the government's wide-ranging review of the country's emissions trading scheme. Tamata Hauha, which… Audio
Parents may rethink early childhood care after Govt U-turn
Parents who were looking to return to work because of cheaper early childhood education fees through a government subsidy may now need to rethink their plans. As part of last month's Budget, the… Audio
Hipkins on budget backdown, ETS reform
An outcry from the early childhood education sector has pushed the government to back down on its key budget policy of 20 hours free ECE for 2 year olds. Providers will no longer require providers to… Audio
Beef + Lamb applaud ETS review
The government says it's reviewing the country's emissions trading scheme, and one of the industry group's most affected by the process says the move was "long overdue". Beef and Lamb says the… Audio
Govt eases up on ECE providers in policy update
Outcry from the early childhood education sector has pushed the government to back down on a new condition that was set to be imposed on centres. As part of the Budget policy, the government plans to… Audio
Government backs down on condition of childcare policy
The government has tweaked a key Budget policy , by backing down on a condition it was imposing on the early childhood education sector. As part of last month's Budget, it extended 20 hours of free… Video, Audio
Child poverty group backs Green Party tax policy but National critical
The Green Party is promising a radical shake up of the tax system if elected this year, with an "income guarantee", a wealth tax, a trust tax, and a higher top tax rate. Audio