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Politics headlines with summaries.
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Severe jail terms needed for owners of 'homicidal dogs', Jones says after mauling
18 Feb 2026His comments follow the third death of a person by dogs in Northland in the past four years. Audio
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Is is time NZ had an anti-corruption agency?
18 Feb 2026New Zealand's score has been falling for a decade, even as its position near the top holds, Matevz Raskovic writes.
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Incoming law change so MSD can claw back welfare payments off ACC clients
17 Feb 2026The Minister moved a motion of urgency to introduce the bill.
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Government considers Auckland Harbour Bridge toll
17 Feb 2026The government continues to mull over its options as to what a new crossing would look like, such as a tunnel or second bridge.
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Political parties already squabbling over infrastructure plan
17 Feb 2026The first ever National Infrastructure Plan lays out an independent roadmap for infrastructure investment in the coming decades.
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Employment Relations Amendment Bill debated for final time
17 Feb 2026Minister Brooke van Velden had declared today a "great day for New Zealand's labour market", but Labour says it's "very sad" and the Greens have opted for the "dark day" descriptor.
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Booze, betting, and the right to banter: Bills this week
17 Feb 2026With the opening formalities finally complete, Parliament this week is solely focusing on legislation, including the first members' day for the year.
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Country's first national infrastructure plan unveiled
17 Feb 2026The plan lays out 16 changes and 10 priorities needed to fix and update the nation's struggling roads, water, hospitals, schools and courts.
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Party leaders call for politics to be taken out of planning for weather events
17 Feb 2026Luxon wants it handled independently, while Hipkins says infrastructure should not be something the parties "compete" on.
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Pharmacists accept Health NZ pay offer
17 Feb 2026The agreement covers pay and conditions for pharmacists, pharmacy assistants and technicians.
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Teaching Council fell short in managing conflicts of interest, probe finds
17 Feb 2026The Public Service Commission has published its investigation into procurement and conflicts of interest management.
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Our trade deal with India, explained
17 Feb 2026It hasn't been ratified yet but the terms of New Zealand's free trade deal with India have been agreed on, even though the details are somewhat mysterious
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'Machines will play an increasing role in targeting' - NZDF's vision for the future
17 Feb 2026Visions of a digital twin for each soldier, laser weapons and drones using satellites to engage with targets before a human pulls the trigger are all in the latest NZDF briefing.
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New poll has New Zealand First on double digits
16 Feb 2026The right block would have enough to govern.
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Judge accused of yelling at Winston Peters cross-examined
16 Feb 2026District Court Judge Ema Aitken at the judicial conduct panel earlier this month.
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Moa Point sewage failure to be independently reviewed
16 Feb 2026The government has confirmed there will be an independent review looking into the Moa Point treatment plant failure.
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PM Christopher Luxon 'open' to looking at bed tax in a second term
16 Feb 2026The Prime Minister has softened his language around a bed tax, indicating it is something the government will consider if it wins a second term. Audio
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Seymour campaigns for smaller govt in blunt 'State of the Nation' speech
15 Feb 2026In Christchurch, the ACT leader pushed for a smaller state, rejected Treaty "division" and vowed to keep Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori from power.
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Ministry advisory group rented expensive Symonds Street space against advice
15 Feb 2026The group is paying $119,000 for the 2025/26 year.
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Chris Hipkins speaks to media in Auckland
16 Feb 2026The Labour leader is taking questions on the day's events including the severe weather and Eden Park announcements.
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'We had to intervene': Govt bans taking shellfish from Auckland rockpools
15 Feb 2026The ban is for all of the Whangaparāoa Peninsula, and further north at Kawau Bay and Ōmaha Bay.
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Migrant worker protection key in free trade with India - Labour
15 Feb 2026Labour leader has written a letter to the Prime Minister outlining the conditions National must meet before the party will consider supporting the deal.
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Solids, liquids and gas: Infrastructure ills back in the frame
15 Feb 2026Mediawatch: Sewage is pouring into Wellington's harbour while the government plans gas imports. Are media focusing on politics over the bigger picture?
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Employment relations and speedy, lopsided debates
15 Feb 2026The government continues legislating apace, with frequent extra sittings. Among the priorities this week was a bill to "rebalance" employee-employer rights. The debate was lopsided.
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