Jane Patterson

Power Play with Jane Patterson - Bill English's wide-ranging eighth Budget had few surprises and spread new money across several portfolios.

It should be no surprise that New Zealand's electronic spy agency maintains a close relationship with its Five Eyes partners, says the new head of the GCSB.

There is plenty of scope for New Zealand's spy agencies to be more open with the public about what they do, according to the main spy watchdog.

The Labour Party will reveal a tax package before next year's election, to show how a Labour government would boost funding for health, education and housing.

Power Play - Rhetoric has ramped up a notch with the Finance Minister putting its housing whipping boy on notice, says Jane Patterson

The SIS was not in a position to reveal details of the Jihadi brides controversy when the story broke, and did not intend to mislead the public, its director says.

Power Play - The Panama Papers have revealed tales of gambling tycoons and bankers, but also important issues that need addressing, writes Jane Patterson.

Panama Papers NZ - Labour is challenging the Prime Minister's claim that IRD's checks of the Panama Papers found only 200 NZ trusts linked to Mossack Fonseca.

Power Play - Float an idea to test the public mood? John Key has deployed a classic tactic with his land tax talk, writes Jane Patterson.

KiwiRail is unlikely to ever turn a profit on its own so the government will continue to subsidise it, the Prime Minister says.

A land tax - the strongest measure the government could take to dampen demand in the housing market - is not imminent, the Prime Minister says. Video, Audio

Power Play - Labour targeted political "civilian" John Shewan and missed a greater opportunity offered by the foreign trust scandal, writes Jane Patterson. Audio

John Shewan says allegations against him are a "complete red herring", while Labour continues to try and discredit him.

Prime Minister John Key has a short-term deposit with a firm specialising in foreign trusts, according to a new register on MP's finances. Video

Power Play: If you listen to the government's opponents, this week has represented a slide towards privatisation, writes Jane Patterson.

Procedures at the SIS will be changed to ensure information about thousands of New Zealanders can be used for no other purpose than security clearances.

A new entity is to be created to look after children in care as the current system is "broken", the government has announced. Audio

The way the SIS handles the wide range of personal information used for security clearances has "significant shortcomings", an inquiry has found.

Panama Papers: Prime Minister John Key has rejected any suggestion New Zealand acts as an international tax haven. Audio

The software company AMS has confirmed it does provide the payroll software to the the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, along with several other public agencies and private sector…

Coming from New Zealand rather than Eastern Europe won't disadvantage the former prime minister if she goes for the United Nations' top job, Helen Clark says. Audio

Finance Minister Bill English is leaving the door open to a possible split between New Zealand Post and Kiwibank. Audio

Labour MP Sue Moroney has been reprimanded by her party's leader about a flag-related tweet she posted yesterday.

The "teapot tape" saga is a cautionary tale of how political stunts can go wrong, and have costly consequences, writes Jane Patterson in this week's Power Play.

New Zealand's spy agencies have "open slather" access to Kiwis' personal information, warn the Privacy Commissioner and an author of the agencies review.