Russell Palmer

With local body elections coming in October, the contentious reorganisation of drinking, waste and stormwater can be expected to attract a lot of heat.

Big charities will need to be more transparent over their funding, after a government review recommended changes to the law.

Privately owned rural water supplies should be able to keep managing themselves, rather than handing over to the Three Waters entities, a working group has recommended.

Explainer - The government is forging ahead with revised water system reform despite criticisms. So what's changed? RNZ is here to clear it all up.

Transport Minister Michael Wood has had to contact the Transport Agency a second time over costly road safety props, after a further three were found to have been on back order.

Police Minister Poto Williams has told Aucklanders they should "absolutely" expect a decrease in gun crime after gang attacks in recent days, and arrests have already been made.

There was a lot riding on the year's Budget: Cost-of-living challenges, health, climate, education - so did the spending match sectors' hopes?

There's a lot of spending flying around in Budget 2022 - here are the main expenses in an easy-to-read list.

Scrapping pre-departure tests will come "sooner rather than later", and more advice is being sought on whether people with adverse reactions could be exempt from workforce mandates.

Low-income families who scrap their old car will get funding to buy a low-emitting vehicle in a $569 million scheme, one of the big-ticket items in the government's first Emissions Reductions Plan.

The three waters reforms would achieve balance sheet separation and improve some councils' finances, according to analysis that paves the way for the legislation.

National leader Christopher Luxon has refused to rule in or out ACT's budget proposals if they enter government together, but says Nicola Willis - not David Seymour - would be finance minister.

There's a lot on the cutting block. ACT would reverse various efforts to curb climate change, increase defence spending, freeze the minimum wage, and abolish some government agencies.

All political parties in Parliament have supported a law improving regulation of body corporates, with hopes it will improve access to apartment living.

Green MP Chloe Swarbrick has used the reclassification of 49 drugs - including Fentanyl - to argue New Zealand's drug laws increase harms and should be replaced.

A "return to greater normality" in care of Covid-19 cases in the community will see the government spend $58.1 million to cover services through to June next year.

A cross party committee of MPs has decided former members should be treated no differently when the matter of being trespassed from Parliament is being considered.

The Green Party constitution no longer requires a male co-leader, instead requiring one woman and one person of any gender, plus a requirement that one must be Māori.

It is unacceptable the government has pushed ahead with its three waters reforms before checking if the numbers stack up on debt financing, opposition parties say.

Opposition parties should commit to protecting against privatising water assets, and front up with alternatives if they don't like the three waters reform, the government says.

The government has accepted 44 of the three waters working group's 47 recommendations for changes to its water infrastructure reform programme, with minor changes.

White identity-motivated extremism continues to be the leading driver of online content investigated and shut down by Internal Affairs.

The minister's move to consult on climate change adaptation is welcome, and "better late than never", the National Party says.

The government is seeking feedback on a six-year plan to account for the effects of climate change like flooding, wildfire, droughts, and sea level rise. Audio

Indigenous rights, co-governance and He Puapua: the government has started work on a plan and intends to consult widely on it soon.