Chris Bramwell
PM back at Parliament after six weeks on maternity leave
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is back in the Beehive with her baby Neve in tow. She spent the weekend settling in to Premiere House, and took her place back at the head of the Cabinet table today. Video, Audio
Focus on Politics: Synthetic cannabis battle
In one of his final actions as acting Prime Minister, Winston Peters, ordered top ministers to put their heads together to find a way to deal with the recent spike in deaths from synthetic cannabis… Audio
Kingi stands down from Haumaha inquiry after LinkedIn furore
Pauline Kingi, who was leading an investigation into the appointment of Deputy Police Commissioner Wally Haumaha, has quit after questions were repeatedly raised about a personal conflict of interest.
…Cannabis referendum may be binding
A referendum on legalising the personal use of marijuana is part of the confidence and supply agreement between the Greens and Labour. The government is considering whether it should be binding. Video, Audio
Synthetic drug crisis needs action - Drug Foundation
The Drug Foundation says it hopes the government does not come up with a bureaucratic response to the synthetic cannabis crisis. Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters has told the ministers of health… Audio
Jacinda Ardern back as PM on Thurs morning
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will formally take over the reins of power again at midnight on Wednesday when Winston Peters heads overseas. Audio
National's first conference since election
The National Party goes into its first conference since losing Government this weekend, with a focus on renewing its policies and turning its eye to the 2020 election. There will no doubt be some… Audio
Domestic violence paid leave bill passes in Parliament
From April next year victims of domestic violence will be eligible for up to 10 days of paid leave from work per year. Legislation enacting the change was passed by Parliament on Wednesday night, and… Audio
NZDF nurses' help in strike shows govt bungle - National
The National Party says the decision to call in the Army to help during the nurses strike shows the Government mishandled the situation. Seventeen Defence Force nurses were called in to help in… Audio
Nauru refugees beg NZ govt for asylum
The New Zealand government is being begged to take a group of refugees being held at the detention centre on Nauru. Twenty-seven refugees have written to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, saying they… Audio
State Services Commissioner looking into allegations of CMDHB misspending
National Party MP Jami-Lee Ross is continuing to hound Health Minister David Clark with his claims an audit has found hundreds of thousands of dollars of unauthorised spending at the Counties Manukau… Audio
John Key lobbied minister over Te Arai development
Former Prime Minister, Sir John Key, lobbied the Forestry Minister on behalf of a US billionaire and two Northland iwi for their development to be exempted from a foreign buyers ban. Audio
Winston Peters wants homes to cost five times income
Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters wants young families to be able to buy a home worth five times their annual income. But that's an ambitious goal, given the most recent annual Demographia survey… Audio
Focus on Politics: EU FTA
New Zealand is now in formal negotiations with the European Union to nail down a Free Trade Agreement, with negotiators to meet in Brussels in about three weeks time. The EU is New Zealand's third… Audio
EU deal could increase trade in goods by almost 50 percent
A trade war may be developing between the world's biggest economies but Europe and New Zealand are bucking the trend, formally launching free trade negotiations today. Deputy Political Editor Chris… Audio
Should NZ ditch public holidays? David Seymour says yes
Should New Zealand do away with public holidays and just let New Zealanders decide when to have a break? That's what the ACT leader David Seymour is pitching, saying the government shouldn't be… Audio
Winston Peters warms up for top job but still as deputy PM
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters is warming up for his stint in the top job. He chaired Cabinet today and hosted Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's weekly post-cabinet media conference for the first… Video, Audio
Jones, Peters: Political hat game in full swing
Which political potae was Shane Jones wearing when he took aim at Fonterra? The self-proclaimed champion of the regions, Shane Jones, is not resiling from his attack on the dairy giant Fonterra. And… Audio
Shane Jones' Fonterra attack about ego, publicity - National
The National Party is telling the Prime Minister to rein in the Regional Development Minister Shane Jones after he lashed out at Fonterra, the country's biggest company. Mr Jones yesterday took a… Audio
National accuses government of favouring Northland
National is accusing the government of playing favourites by giving Northland 60 percent of the money allocated so far by the Provincial Growth Fund. But Minister Shane Jones says the north was… Audio