Craig McCulloch

The Department of Corrections has asked the government to widen its powers, allowing more grounds under which it can block mail from prisoners.

Statistics Minister James Shaw has fired a blistering broadside at the Opposition leader, accusing Simon Bridges of undermining public trust in statistics in a win-at-all-costs "burn-the-house-down"…

The census botch-up has prompted fears the debacle will do long-lasting damage to the public's trust in statistics with one economist warning it could take a decade to rebuild.

GCSB Minister Andrew Little was responding to Huawei's letter to ministers warning it could be forced to pull out of the country if it was blocked from working on 5G upgrades.

Labour Party members who complained about bullying and harassment will be allowed to appeal an investigation which they feel ignored their concerns.

Paula Bennett claims a current Beehive staffer has taken the "extraordinary step" of personally approaching her to protest Labour's handling of her complaint about bullying and sexual harassment.

New Zealand First has thrown a wrench in the works of the abortion debate, suggesting its MPs' support for reform may depend on a binding referendum.

Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg has praised New Zealand's response to the 15 March terror attack and commended the Prime Minister's "outstanding leadership and courage" in its wake.

Minister for Crown Māori Relations Kelvin Davis has rebuffed protesters' calls for the Prime Minister to visit Ihumātao after her return to New Zealand tonight.

ACT leader David Seymour has pleaded with his colleagues for a "speedy, efficient and civil" debate on euthanasia as MPs begin thrashing out the details of his legislation.

Former prime minister Sir John Key has reminded National it needs to find potential coalition partners for next year's election.

National leader Simon Bridges has opened the party's annual conference with a rousing speech, giving a preview of the Opposition's campaign strategy for next year's election.

Education Minister Chris Hipkins is showing no sympathy for principals who say they've been blindsided by an "unfair" aspect of the teachers' pay deal, which could cost schools thousands of dollars.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has doubled down on her criticism of Australia's deportation policy as "corrosive", ahead of her meeting with counterpart Scott Morrison.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will touch down in Melbourne this afternoon, four months after her planned visit to the city was called off due to the Christchurch terror attack.

The Auditor-General's investigators are to look into the National Party's complaints about taxpayer funding being used to underwrite KiwiBuild homes.

A small Māori village in a Bay of Plenty forest has secured $2.4 million in funding to improve its rundown housing. Video

Defence Minister Ron Mark has taken aim at "metropolitan urban New Zealand", saying its "reverse nimbyism" is jeopardising military operations.

Doctors will require a specialist's recommendation to sign off on most prescriptions under the government's proposed medicinal cannabis scheme.

Crown agency Callaghan Innovation has been given a clean bill of health over its handling of Official Information Act requests following complaints it had "stonewalled" the Taxpayers' Union.

Heavy-polluting vehicles could soon be slapped with an import fee, with the revenue going towards subsidising clean, green vehicles. Video, Audio

The Serious Fraud Office's decision not to prosecute a former DHB head who racked up about $120,000 in unjustified spending has prompted an outcry.

A roadblock protest labelled "lunacy" by Treaty Negotiations Minister Andrew Little is bringing the hapū and iwi into disrepute, a Treaty claim negotiator says.

Police are investigating after an aggrieved hapū member cut off a Crown limousine carrying Andrew Little, blocked the road, and then issued the Treaty Negotiations Minister a "trespass notice".

New Zealand's plastic bag ban may not cover many of the thicker "emergency-style" shopping bags stocked by supermarkets, despite the government's promise it would.