Russell Palmer

Experts say the government needs to prioritise more funding and health resources for South Auckland, which will remain New Zealand's ongoing front line in the battle against Covid-19.

Rushed counter-terrorism laws could risk stigmatising refugees, which would only reinforce the false justifications of the New Lynn terrorist, the parties say.

A group that has been petitioning the government for such changes says it does not address the lack of supply of MIQ rooms, and there's little confidence they will make things fairer.

National's leader Judith Collins says it was the prime minister's call to bring back Parliament under level 4, and she could have suspended it one more day if she was worried about it. Audio

Cabinet is exploring a second phase evacuation from Afghanistan, and the effects resettlement would have on New Zealand.

Te Pāti Māori and the Green Party have said they will not attend Parliament while Wellington is at alert level 4. ACT says the prime minister is using public health for political purposes.

The government is not considering mandatory vaccines for the wider workforce, the minister says, but employers could write vaccination requirements into future employment contracts.

Health officials should have been more up front after discovering five people could have been given saline instead of the vaccine, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson has fronted to the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee, defending the government's planning and use of the Covid-19 Response and Recovery fund.

National Party leader Judith Collins says she has "no confidence" the Taliban will change their brutal style of rule in Afghanistan, and it is clear women there will have "little future".

National, ACT and the Green Party agree more needs to be done to help those in Afghanistan.

After an alarming international report on climate change, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says criticism of New Zealand's response is "unfair".

The energy minister has demanded answers from generators about intentional power cuts overnight, but the opposition says she knew about the problems in the system and should step down.

The government is reassuring disabled people their voices will be heard as it presses on with major reforms to New Zealand's district health boards.

Explainer - What restrictions could be expected to be placed on someone like Suhayra Aden, coming to New Zealand after time with IS? RNZ is here to clear it all up.

New hate speech law proposals from the government are confusing - even tripping up the prime minister and justice minister. RNZ is here to clear it all up.

Explainer - Samoa has been struggling with a confrontational constitutional crisis. Confused? RNZ is here to clear it all up. Audio

Explainer - The Budget is approaching, but what actually is it, and does it even matter? RNZ is here to clear it all up.

Explainer - More changes are in the pipeline for New Zealand's gun laws, but there have been so many since 15 March 2019 it can be hard to keep track. RNZ is here to clear it all up.

Explainer - Who gets the Covid-19 vaccine, and when? RNZ is here to clear it all up.

Explainer - Who gets the Covid-19 vaccine, and when? RNZ is here to clear it all up.

Special votes can be returned and counted up to 10 days after election day so there is something of a lag time. Here's what they are, why they're special, and what you need to know about them.

This is what you need to know about voting and MMP.

Analysis - With more than 16 minutes of ads spread in four blocks across the hour, and five leaders to bounce ideas and insults off one another, last night's debate made for frantic, fractured…

Neither Jacinda Ardern nor Judith Collins were willing to claim victory in last night's debate, but that has not stopped both Labour and National crowning their own champions.