Stories by Giles Dexter

ACT's new policy to set more specific rules for hiring contractors would only lead to more exploitation of workers, an employment lawyer who has fought cases on behalf of disgruntled workers says.

A group of fired strippers frustrated with slow progress on legislative change has been meeting with MPs to discuss what changes could be made to improve their rights.

National MP David Bennett has apologised for a comment made in Parliament where he said the "evil" Commerce Commission "need a bullet."

The Labour Party faithful are gathering in Wellington this weekend for the party's annual congress.

The Green Party is concerned a policy that imposes sanctions on beneficiaries with outstanding arrest warrants is further widening the inequality gap.

Anti-poverty campaigners are hopeful of tangible support for New Zealand's vulnerable in today's so-called "no frills" Budget.

Councils in some of the regions hit hardest by Cyclone Gabrielle are relieved the government is promising to pay for the repair job on local roads, so the cost will not fall back on ratepayers.

"I have good relationships with them but I am not going to Te Pāti Māori," the MP says in her first public comments since leaving the Greens.

The government says it is unlikely to follow Australia's vaping crackdown - at least this term.

National Party leader Christopher Luxon is not impressed with Prime Minister Chris Hipkins' pre-Budget statements, and neither are ACT and the Greens.

The Prime Minister has returned from Australia, celebrating a big win in trans-Tasman relations.

The Australian government has announced a direct pathway to citizenship for New Zealanders, ending a tension between the two countries that has lasted for more than 20 years.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins expects significant progress will be made this weekend regarding the rights of New Zealanders living in Australia.

The PM says the number of staff working with the media has stayed "pretty much the same" since Labour entered government, and the growth has come in roles directly engaging with the public. Audio

The number of communications staff working in the core public service has tipped over the 500 mark, an increase of more than 50 percent since Labour took office.

The Fired Up Stilettos group has taken their protest to the front of Parliament, calling on the government to establish stronger rights and protections for strippers, who work as independent…

Green Party MP Elizabeth Kerekere has been chastised by party leadership after calling colleague Chlöe Swarbrick a "crybaby" in a text message sent to other MPs in error. Audio

Key health reporting data is still yet to be re-published by Te Whatu Ora, nearly three weeks since it was pulled for accuracy and quality assurance checks.

The Green Party says the number of under 5s hospitalised for Covid-19 is "horrendously high".

The new police minister says she has recently been made aware of the lack of progress - and has asked for more information.

Public Service Minister Andrew Little has rejected the option mentioned in a briefing document, saying the work is high priority.

In the year to June 2022 more than 110,000 people moved into work, after a sharp increase in those on a benefit two years earlier when the Covid-19 pandemic began.

The Greens have laid down a challenge to potential coalition partners: come to the table with faster and stronger climate action if you want our support. Audio

Ousted health boss Rob Campbell says plans to trim waste and bureaucracy in Te Whatu Ora will need to be sped up, and it will involve re-allocating or cutting hundreds of jobs.

Campbell says his removal from two organisations in a week has little to do with his social media use, but the Public Service Commissioner says it was a clear breach.