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Politics headlines with summaries.
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Govt dismisses calls for medicinal cannabis review to be widened
10 May 2021A Ministry of Health document leaked to RNZ shows officials will not even consider extending an amnesty to allow all chronically sick people to use illicit cannabis.
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'Budget 2021 will be a recovery and wellbeing budget'
10 May 2021In his second major pre-Budget speech Finance Minister Grant Robertson has defended public service pay measures and says next week's Budget will support the economy while being cautious about debt.
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Long-awaited cervical cancer screening test to be funded
9 May 2021A long-awaited cervical screening test that women can do themselves and will reduce the need for smear test will be funded by the government, and changes to breast cancer screening could screen more…
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Bryce Edwards: The public sector worker backlash against Labour
9 May 2021Opinion - Many in the labour movement and the political left are feeling betrayed by the government's announcement this week of a pay freeze for public sector workers, Bryce Edwards writes.
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He Puapua report bogged down in 'swamp of politics'
9 May 2021Power Play - The He Puapua report on how to better uphold indigenous rights was supposed to chart a new way forward but has become bogged down in the swamp of politics, Meriana Johnsen writes.
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Ardern and Macron to co-chair Christchurch Call leaders' summit
9 May 2021Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and French president Emmanuel Macron will co-chair a Christchurch Call leaders' summit next week.
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Iwi leaders tire of political bickering over Māori Health Authority
7 May 2021Iwi leaders say they're "hōhā" (fed up) with the Māori Health Authority being used as "a political football".
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Man arrested over threats made to MP Simeon Brown
7 May 2021A 25-year-old man has been charged over death threats made to National Party MP Simeon Brown.
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Week in Politics: Don't interfere, China tells New Zealand
8 May 2021Analysis - An obscure report comes under the spotlight as Judith Collins continues to claim the government is on a path to racial segregation, China tells New Zealand to mind its own business, a…
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Fair Pay Agreements will 'ensure working Kiwis get a fair go'
7 May 2021The government has released details around employers and unions setting minimum standards to implement the Fair Pay Agreements.
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Police, MSD not collecting data on crime at emergency housing
7 May 2021The government can't - or won't - say if crime is increasing in and around emergency housing, because the police are not collecting that information.
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Rail funding plan rubbished by trucking lobby and opposition
6 May 2021The government's plans to rejuvenate rail are being rubbished by the opposition and the trucking lobby as ideologically motivated and wasteful that will take resources away from badly needed road…
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Parliament vote 'total disregard of China's solemn position'
6 May 2021China has issued a statement that has strongly criticised Parliament's declaration of human rights abuses in Xinjiang.
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'What rock are they under?' Unions take aim at govt over pay freeze
6 May 2021The teachers and police associations have come out hard against the government's pay freeze for the public sector, with the move being called a "kick in the guts". Audio
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NZ 'between a rock and hard place', defence analyst says
6 May 2021Close trans-Tasman friend and ally Australia is taking a more aggressive stance against China - with South China Sea and Taiwan potential flashpoints. Where will New Zealand stand?
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Government lays out 10-year plan for rail investment
6 May 2021The government has announced freight rail will now be funded from the same pot as roads. Audio
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PM has 'serious concerns' about Mallard's conduct
5 May 2021Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she retains confidence in the Speaker, but has expressed "serious concerns" to him about his conduct last night.
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Uyghur Muslims: Parliament unanimously urges action, stops short of 'genocide' declaration
5 May 2021Parliament has unanimously called for action to prevent severe human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims, in a motion that stopped short of calling those abuses genocide. Video
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Public sector pay freeze extended for those earning above $60,000
5 May 2021Public servants earning more than $60,000 will only be offered pay increases under exceptional circumstances for the next three years.
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Parliament debates Uyghur human rights motion
5 May 2021The wording of ACT's parliamentary motion was changed for a second time ahead of this afternoon's debate on China's treatment of Uyghur Muslims, which is now taking place.
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Hipkins tells MPs to 'step back' after unruly scenes in Parliament
5 May 2021Senior Labour MP Chris Hipkins has denounced the unruly scenes in Parliament last night, saying they did not reflect well on anyone involved.
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Collins says Speaker is 'temperamentally unfit' for role after fiery debate
5 May 2021National Party leader Judith Collins has again called for Trevor Mallard to be removed as Speaker of the House, describing his behaviour last night as a disgrace and saying he is "temperamentally… Audio
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Minister dismisses criticism of He Puapua report as 'total nonsense'
5 May 2021Concerns about the He Puapua report - on how to better uphold indigenous rights - are being dismissed by Minister for Māori Development Willie Jackson. Audio
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New team best placed to oversee government spending - Robertson
5 May 2021Finance Minister Grant Robertson is standing by a new implementation unit being set up to monitor the government's delivery on promises. Audio
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