Stories by Lillian Hanly

The Independent Children's Monitor has found Māori children overrepresented in Oranga Tamariki's systems, with outcomes as they grow up painting a "paint a stark picture".

That's despite New Zealand's longstanding reputation as a country largely free of such issues.

While political parties can not agree on a ban, the latest RNZ ReidResearch poll shows more than half of New Zealanders support it for children under 16.

She's one of two former finance ministers appointed Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the King's Birthday Honours.

The government's proposed Resource Management Act changes have been welcomed by some and rejected by others.

It will be left up to individual centres to determine the starting salary - rather than be set by the government according to the pay parity scheme. Audio

The scheme gives members two-and-half-times what they contribute, up to a maximum payment of 20% of a backbencher's salary. Audio

A money management sanction putting the benefit on a card for approved spending, and a volunteer work requirement, could be put in place for four weeks. Audio

政府在本次财算案中对KiwiSaver的运作方式进行了大调整，增加了雇主和雇员的缴费比例，但下调了政府自身的参缴年金。此外，此次调整中还包括对高收入人群进行收入调查。

From changes to KiwiSaver and benefits to a business tax break and savings from pay equity changes, here's the key parts of Budget 2025.

The government is changing how much savers have to put in, how much the government chips in, and who gets anything at all.

New Zealanders will today find out just how much money will be cut from various services and where the money will go. Audio

Labour's Ingrid Leary claims Costello has done more to help tobacco companies than Seniors.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has flatly rejected the possibility of watering down the proposed punishment for three Te Pāti Māori MPs.

General practice doctors are grateful the government is providing new funding but says its "reasonably light". Audio

The Auditor-General said not knowing the impact cuts would have on children and their families was "unacceptable". Audio

The Office of the Auditor-General said last year it would investigate the procurement and contract management practices of Oranga Tamariki.

MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke faces a seven-day suspension for her actions.

The government has been told its compensation scheme for survivors of state abuse offers "band-aids for bullet wounds".

Opposition parties say using the old redress system and having the Ministry of Social Development administer it cuts out survivor's voices. Audio

Nationwide protests are taking place today in response to the government's controversial pay equity law change.

ACT had accused the ACC of not complying with a directive that public services be delivered on the basis of need not race.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins slams the ACT Party for championing better lawmaking as coalition rushes through law changes under urgency.

It comes ahead of the committees meeting to discuss complaints against three of the party's MPs.

Hipkins said it was "absolute hypocrisy" that ACT were championing better lawmaking at this time. Audio