Anneke Smith
Govt accused of scaremongering over overstayer numbers
A Pasifika leader who lived through the Dawn Raids is accusing the government of scaremongering about overstayer numbers. Political reporter Anneke Smith reports. Audio
KiwiSaver rule change helps live-in workers buy first home
KiwiSaver laws are changing so first-time farm buyers and other workers with 'live in' job residences can use their accounts to buy a first home. Political reporter Anneke Smith reports. Audio
Increased powers for NZ immigration officers
Immigration officers will soon have the power to request identity-based information from suspected overstayers in homes and workplaces. Political reporter Anneke Smith reports. Audio
Coalition pulls a U-turn on Auckland housing plans
In Focus on Politics, political reporter Anneke Smith takes at look at how the coalition came to pull a U-turn on housing intensification plans in Auckland. Audio
Can we fix it? Tackling the country's infrastructure problem.
A new report that sets out an "affordable" plan to tackle New Zealand's infrastructure has just been released. It was written by the Infrastructure Commission, and it covers all aspects of… Audio
Judith Collins announces retirement from politics
Senior Cabinet Minister and National Party stalwart Judith Collins is returning to law after a 24-year career in politics. Ms Collins - one of the more familiar faces in politics - announced her… Audio
Midday Report Essentials for Wednesday 28 January 2026
Attorney General and Defence Minister Judith Collins, a former leader of the National Party, will retire from politics and not stand again aver the November election; Judith Collins was first elected… Audio
Judith Collins announces retirement from politics
Attorney General and Defence Minister Judith Collins, a former leader of the National Party, will retire from politics and not stand again aver the November election. Political reporter Anneke Smith… Audio
Poll shows National narrowly beat Labour on trust to manage economy
National has narrowly outperformed Labour as the party voters trust the most to manage the economy. Just over 32 percent of people trust the National Party the most to manage the economy in RNZ's… Audio
Latest RNZ-Reid Research political poll released
The RNZ-Reid Research poll surveyed one-thousand-people from January the 15th through to the 22nd. Acting political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss. Audio
Government surplus now expected in 2029/30.
Economists say the government is stuck between a rock and a hard place off the back of the treasury's latest economic forecasts. Anneke Smith reports. Audio
Labour Party conference takes place in Auckland
The Labour Party is rallying the troops ahead of next year's election, with any division over tax seemingly parked in exchange for a shot at getting back into government. Party faithful gathered in… Audio
Coalition tempers ACT's influence on gun laws
In Focus on Politics, political reporter Anneke Smith takes a look at the coalition's rewrite of the country's gun laws and why the ACT Party didn't get everything it wanted. Audio
Some Pike River families say meeting a waste of time
Some Pike River families say their meeting with the Workplace Safety Minister was a "complete waste of time". Anneke Smith reports. Audio
Government changes clean car standard rules
The government is being warned New Zealand will become a dumping ground for high-emission vehicles, after it slashed the Clean Car Standard. Anneke Smith reports from parliament. Audio
Effective ban on semi-automatic firearms survives reform
New Zealand's effective ban on military-style semi-automatic firearms has survived the coalition's overhaul of the Arms Act. The government has been rewriting the country's gun laws, as part of… Audio
Midday Report Essentials for Tuesday 11 November 2025
Gang membership will automatically disqualify someone from holding a firearms licence, as part of changes to the Arms Act announced by Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee; The Nurses Union is… Audio
Changes to arms act means no firearms licenses for gang members
Gang membership will automatically disqualify someone from holding a firearms licence, as part of changes to the Arms Act announced by Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee. Political reporter… Audio
Te Pāti Māori MPs expelled as conflict rocks the party
Te Pāti Māori has severed ties with estranged MPs Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and Tākuta Ferris, after a torrid period of internal conflict. Its national council voted to expel the pair at a hui on Sunday… Audio