Jane Patterson

Power Play - The next weekly Cabinet meeting might be a touch awkward with a serious split between senior Labour and New Zealand First ministers over immigration, writes Jane Patterson.

After years of negotiations, New Zealand and China have struck a deal on the long-awaited upgrade to their free trade deal.

Thailand's Prime Minister has noted NZ as a leader in adding value to agricultural goods, namely things like dairy but also - to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's surprise - sheep placenta cream too.

The Justice Minister has questioned the ability of the Advertising Standards Authority to regulate election year advertising.

The Justice Minister is promising to combat misinformation in the highly charged debates leading up referendums on legalising cannabis and, potentially, voluntary euthanasia.

Government ministers have been forced to release more details from a letter they've refused to make public, regarding Wellington's long term transport plan.

The Prime Minister says she has no update to give on the plight of missing New Zealand nurse Louisa Akavi despite the death of an Islamic State leader in Syria.

Farmers won't start paying for emissions until 2025, as long as they develop ways to measure and price emissions at the farm level, the government has announced.

There will be another crucial vote for the voluntary euthanasia bill later today - whether or not a referendum will be held at the 2020 general election.

The failure to get the National Party on board over the returning foreign fighters legislation means it will now be delayed.

Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says he'll be watching out for potential cost blow-outs for Auckland's light rail project, after warnings from a source within the transport industry.

Powerplay - National's misfire over the latest immigration kerfuffle is a salutary lesson in first doing one's homework, writes Jane Patterson.

The National Party is accusing the Immigration Minister of a "Sroubek 2.0" after revelations he granted residence to a man with multiple drink-driving convictions.

Despite its major overhaul, there are still major red flags for the KiwiBuild programme, as outlined in a risk register.

A "perfectly productive, warm, solid bi-lateral" is how Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has described her meeting with US President Donald Trump.

New Zealand businesses will benefit from tax breaks worth at least $80 million over five years, to encourage them to spend more on research and innovation.

The National Party says unless the review into Labour's handling of sexual assault allegations includes the Beehive it will be a whitewash.

Power Play - How has the Prime Minister ended up in the middle of scandal involving allegations of bullying and intimidation, through to sexual assault, asks Jane Patterson.

Labour Party president Nigel Haworth is readying to fall on his sword if he's found to have mishandled allegations of sexual assault.

New Zealand spy agencies received intelligence from individuals detained and tortured by the CIA in Afghanistan during the 2000s, but were not complicit or involved in ill-treatment of detainess, the…

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has hit out at coalition partner Labour over its handling of the abortion legislation.

The Defence Minister has apologised for "misspeaking" about Australia's deployment to Taji Camp in Iraq during an interview with RNZ, saying he was tired at the time.

Seventeen staff have left their jobs working for government ministers over the past decade after a breakdown in the employment relationship, and were paid out a total of more than $130,000.

Power Play - For a party that espouses open and transparent democracy, the secretive nature of the Greens' annual conference is a poor showing, writes Jane Patterson. Audio

The Ombudsman is investigating a letter sent to Transport Minister Phil Twyford by his Associate Minister Julie Anne Genter which she has refused to release publicly.