Jane Patterson

Power Play - Ardern's visit to the White House was well overdue but comes at a time when New Zealand needs to be drawing clear battle lines between friend and foe.

The prime minister is preparing to meet the American President Joe Biden at the White House in less than 24 hours, although no big announcements are expected.

The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, a member of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's delegation in the United States, has tested positive for Covid-19.

The Prime Minister will leave for a trade mission to the United States tonight, but a White House visit has not yet been nailed down.

Power Play - This Budget is one of the hardest Finance Minister Grant Robertson has had to put together, Political Editor Jane Patterson writes.

In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson sits down with the Finance Minister Grant Robertson and National's Nicola Willis to preview this month's Budget.

It is the next step in the gradual opening of the border after it was slammed shut in March 2020 as part of the government's Covid-19 response.

In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson looks past the spectacle of Ardern's first official trip since Covid-19 to the geopolitical tensions beneath. 

The case for ongoing public transport subsidies does not stack up, National Party leader Christopher Luxon says.

In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson examines the state of play in Ukraine, and the legal and political instruments being brought to bear against Russia.

Analysis - The legal noose is tightening around Russia, with international investigations under way into its invasion of Ukraine, writes Jane Patterson.

The Prime Minister is defending the ongoing presence of the Russian ambassador in New Zealand, but says expulsion remains on the table.

Prepare to bid farewell to vaccine passes and many workplace mandates - at least for now - but the next question is whether any regions are ready to have restrictions eased.

In the aftermath of the three-week occupation of Parliament, where are the promised inquiries into what happened, and what could be done to prevent it happening again?

In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson interrogates the ramifications for New Zealand of Russia's war against Ukraine.

Power Play - "Even the bad times were good" - on that chipper note, Simon Bridges bows out after the wild ride that's been his political career, Jane Patterson writes.

National's tax plan, and the highest inflation in decades has the government feeling the pinch. Political Editor Jane Patterson counts the costs for both parties.

It is understood the two companies will be dis-established to operate under one big new organisation with a public service mandate, but there will be a lengthy transition period.

Australian's Home Affairs essentially says there is an "in principle deal" - but the NZ government is staying mum about any significant progress on acceptance of a long standing offer to take 150…

The government is facing pressure from some political partes to give a timeframe for when vaccine mandates will be removed or at the least some detail on an exit strategy.

Power Play - The festering political boil MIQ has been lanced but despite the delight, the social and economic wounds inflicted by Covid-19 will take longer to heal, writes Jane Patterson.

An overseas recruitment campaign targeting specialist nurses will go live this week, but critics say it's far too late two years into the pandemic.

National is calling for a new strategy as New Zealand prepares for a wave of Omicron cases, including opening the border immediately to fully vaccinated New Zealanders and twice weekly rapid antigen…

National MPs are in Queenstown navigating the best way forward under the leadership of Christopher Luxon, as Aotearoa readies for a third year battling the Covid-19 pandemic.

In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson assesses the government's readiness for the Omicron variant.