Craig Mcculloch
Unemployment surges as Covid-19-focused Budget Day looms
With all eyes on next week's Budget, new figures show the bite of Covid-19 on people's jobs - with about 40,000 people going on the dole since lockdown.
The government is putting the finishing… Audio
Covid-19: Level 2 to be a 'safer version of normal'
New Zealand has been promised a "safer version of normal" under Level Two - as the Prime Minister signals what life might look like when restrictions relax.
The country is on track to drop out of… Audio
Imagining NZ's post-Covid-19 future
MPs have been considering a New Zealand post-Covid-19, as business leaders and academics share their vision for the future.
An array of big picture thinkers have appeared before the Epidemic Response… Audio
Wider health system put under the microscope
MPs have put the wider health system under the microscope, examining how it is faring during the Covid-19 crisis.
Groups representing GPs, rest homes, pharmacists and more, all fronted to the… Audio
NZ's lowest rise in new Covid-19 cases since lockdown
New Zealand has reported its lowest daily number of new Covid-19 cases since it went into lockdown - with the total climbing by just eight.
It brings the national total to 1,409 - of which nearly 60… Video, Audio
Covid-19 Alert Level 3 a 'recovery room' - Jacinda Ardern
It will be a return to early childhood centres and school, but only for some. Bars, restaurants and cafes will remain closed along with gyms, museums and movie theatres.
Takeaways and drive-thrus… Audio
Opposition wants lockdown lifted soon to avoid "terrifying" forecasts
The National Party is stressing the need to lift the nationwide lockdown as soon as safely possible, pointing to what it calls "terrifying" economic scenarios.
Treasury has released a range of… Audio
Coronavirus: Mandatory supervised quarantine on the way
The Prime Minister will announce today that every person arriving in New Zealand will have to go into supervised quarantine.
Academics and opposition MPs have been demanding such action, saying… Audio
Coronavirus: Clock running out on David Clark's career
The clock is running out on the Health Minister's political career - after a humiliating and obvious error in the face of a global pandemic.
David Clark has been given a public drubbing, stripped of… Audio
Unemployment set to soar due to Covid-19
Unemployment looks set to soar due to Covid-19.
The Finance Minister, Grant Robertson, has told the Epidemic Response Committee the effects of the coronavirus crisis will top those seen during the… Audio
Coronavirus: Country prepares for nationwide lockdown
With a nationwide lockdown imminent, New Zealanders are rushing to return to their homes; others are frantically stocking their shelves.
From today, non-essential businesses should be moving to close… Audio
Covid-19: Cabinet ministers dialling in to meetings
As Cabinet ministers grapple to get a hold of the rapidly developing Covid-19 crisis, they will meet in a new way this morning - with half dialling in via video-conference to limit their physical… Audio
Focus on Politics: Unprecedented Times
"In unprecedented times, you make unprecedented decisions" - Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern New Zealand has closed its borders. Mass gatherings have been banned. Travelling Kiwis have been told to come… Audio
Focus on Politics: Covid-19 and economic turmoil
The global coronavirus outbreak has continued to escalate this week with the World Health Organisation officially declaring Covid-19 a pandemic. But at home, where the number of cases still sits in… Audio
Focus on Politics: Covid-19 reaches NZ
New Zealand has moved into a new phase of its coronavirus response with the first cases of Covid-19 being confirmed in the country. RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch looks at the… Audio
Focus on Politics: SFO looks at NZ First Foundation
A political grenade has been lobbed into election year with the secretive NZ First Foundation facing investigation by the Serious Fraud Office over the way it handled donations. RNZ deputy political… Audio
NZ First to review donations after Electoral Commission finding
A political grenade has been lobbed in to election year - with the Deputy Prime Minister's party facing investigation by the Serious Fraud Office.
New Zealand First will review how it handles… Audio
Simon Bridges rules out working with NZ First post election
National Party leader Simon Bridges has made a high-stakes opening gambit in election year, attempting to knee-cap New Zealand First by ruling it out of any post-election deals.
But could the move… Audio
Wuhan evacuation will begin when China gives approval - Peters
The evacuation of New Zealanders from Wuhan may be just days away - with the Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters saying a charter plane is "almost wheels-up" pending sign-off.
He says the plan… Audio
Coronavirus: Hopes dwindle for NZers stuck in Wuhan
New Zealanders stranded at the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak face a long and uncertain wait - with dwindling hopes that they might be evacuated.
Dozens of New Zealand citizens are stuck in… Audio
