Stories by Craig McCulloch

Critics are targetting funding for a new street dance contest and salaries at the Ministry for Regulation.

The anti-red tape department is overseen by the ACT leader, who secured its creation during coalition negotiations last year.

The appointment of Stephen Rainbow has prompted concern from some over his pro-Israel views and previous comments about "a trans agenda".

The PM has made another flub when promoting his beneficiary crackdown, massively overstating his government's increase in case managers.

Labour says it remains cautious but will withhold judgement for now, while the Greens want to see more detail about the government's shake-up.

Labour MP Duncan Webb has deleted the video, after refusing to apologise for publishing it. Audio

Defence Force staff running a programme for jobless young adults struggled to deal with violent and at-risk youth. Audio

Power Play - A boost in Pharmac funding will go a long way to rebuilding the dent in National's credibility and trust, but the damage could have been avoided in the first place.

"Watch them in the wild," the Racing Minister said during an exchange at a select committee.

MPs' perks are back in the spotlight.

Government ministers hoping to bask in a post-Budget glow this week have instead been trying to tamp down the backlash to a big broken promise.

The clock is now ticking for the coalition to correct…

At last, the tax cut tease is over, the full details on full display. The Budget's headline was only ever going to be tax cuts - and they arrived almost exactly as promised.

Finance Minister Nicola…

近150亿减税款项未来4年"资金充足"，同时对税阶做出调整。

National has kept its tax cut promise, laying out a relief package largely in line with the 'Back Pocket Boost' it campaigned on during the election.

Several long-standing MPs were astonished when Ricardo Menéndez March dropped the f-bomb in Parliament.

Christopher Luxon has fronted an unapologetic defence of National's first months in power, its pace of change and commitment to tax relief.

"In future I should walk away," Green MP Julie Anne Genter says after complaints over an exchange in Parliament and from two members of the public. Audio

联合政府首个财算案确定不会实施紧缩性财政，但也不会通过借贷来实施减税。

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says do not expect any curveballs in this month's Budget, but he reaffirmed a commitment to tax relief.

The government is still trying to work out how it will meet its pledge to end Covid mandates, given the mandates were scrapped more than a year ago.

Beneficiaries looking for a job will have to attend a work seminar within two weeks of starting to receive welfare under new requirements.

The Prime Minister and Corrections Minister repeatedly provided incorrect information about their $1.9 billion planned prison spend-up.

The Labour Party is demanding Peters be stood down, saying "he's embarrassed the country" with a "totally unacceptable" attack on a prominent AUKUS critic.

Power Play - Asked for his own assessment of the visit, the prime minister said he was returning home "excited and energised".

The commitment came after a sit-down meeting between Christopher Luxon and President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr overnight. Audio