Policy
How Labour's 'no frills' budget targets voters in election year
Analysis - After a 2022 Budget that played to Labour's base, this year's effort was essentially an inflation-driven budget that many more right-leaning parties would have been happy to deliver, Tim…
Government releases plan to ease winter pressure on health system
The Government has revealed a 24-point plan to ease pressure on the health system this winter.
The initiatives are wide-ranging but broadly aim to redirect unnecessary demand on hospitals to care in… Audio
Roads still top election concern - survey
Coming into the election, the state of roads is still the number one transport concern, according to an Automobile Association survey. Spokesperson Dylan Thomsen says more than 80 percent of its… Audio
NZ rules out vaping crackdown
The government has ruled out following Australia's crackdown on vaping - at least this term. The Australian government is restricting flavoured and colourful vapes from retail, and non-prescription… Audio
Clean Car scheme change 'unsustainable' - Toyota boss
Toyota NZ is warning tens of thousands of people who have pre-ordered cars are in for a rude surprise. Changes to the Clean Car Discount scheme will have a dramatic impact, says chief executive Neeraj… Audio
Tradies say Clean Car Scheme yet another blow for sector
A specialist tradies group is describing changes to the Government's clean car scheme as another blow for the struggling sector.
The Transport Minister, Michael Wood, this morning announced a… Audio
Clean Car Discount change a "kick in the guts" - National
National is describing the Government's changes to the Clean Car Discount scheme as a kick in the guts to farmers and tradies. Transport Minister Michael Wood announced a toughening of the scheme's… Audio
New recommendations to improve life for single parents
Improving KiwiSaver rules, tweaking tax rates and even recolouring bus passes are among the recommendations for improving the lives of single parents contained in a new report out today. The new… Audio
New gas guzzlers face higher penalties under Clean Car Discount
More painful news for buyers of new gas guzzling cars and utes, the government is increasing the penalties charged. It's making tweaks to the Clean Car Discount with a new maximum charge of… Audio
Warriors tickets for stragglers as Stats NZ tries for 90 percent Census
Stats NZ has been giving away free Warriors tickets and food vouchers to coax people into completing the Census.
But it cannot say exactly how much it has spent on incentives as the deadline to fill… Video, Audio
Napier residents to pay 12% increase in rates next year
Napier residents will be paying nearly 12 percent more in rates next year, after Napier City Council voted unanimously in favour of the increase.
The increase was set to be as high as 16 percent, but… Audio
Economist says 2023 'no frills' Budget will be a difficult balancing act
An economist is calling this year's Budget a difficult balancing act between funding the cyclone recovery and curbing spending to help bring down inflation.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins described… Audio
Proving wealthiest pay low tax rates is a good start - now comes the hard part
Analysis - New Zealand's 'one percent' pay lower tax rates than ordinary earners - just don't expect any big changes to tax policy in the near future, Craig Elliffe writes.
Carbon neutral 2050: 'Imperative we get on with it' to prevent cost blowouts, scientist says
It will be more costly for New Zealand to try and become carbon neutral in the future if it does not pick up the pace now, one of the climate change commissioners warns. Audio
We can't plant our way out of trouble, Climate Change Commission says
The Climate Change Commission is warning decision makers that we can't plant our way out of trouble.
It's released draft recommendations to the Government for the next Emissions Reduction Plan, and… Audio
New gov bill to protect sexual abuse victims
Victims of sexual assault will have greater legal protection with the help of a new law aimed at giving children and adults better support in the courts.
The bill, which the government plans to… Audio
Parliament protest: lawyer on the issues in police response
The ICPA report into last year's Parliament protest has found some laws governing trespass and arrests are ill-equipped to deal with policing mass public disorder events.
Just 31 people connected to… Audio
Parliament protest: Police Commissioner defends officers' actions
The Police Commissioner Andrew Coster says he would not have done anything differently in the police handling of the protest and occupation of Parliament grounds last year.
That's despite the Police… Audio
Cabinet set to discuss potential Covid-19 rule changes
The Prime Minister says there are numerous moving parts to consider when Cabinet debates later today whether to remove all remaining Covid-19 restrictions.
Most of the outstanding rules were scrapped… Audio
Govt lobbying moves largely symbolic - Academic
A writer and academic specialising in democracy and inequality says he's underwhelmed by the Prime Minister's attempts to improve transparency in the lobbying industry.
Chris Hipkins says he wants… Audio
