Navigation for News Categories
Politics
Featured Politics stories
New mega-ministry to merge housing, transport and environment
Minister Chris Bishop says currently much of the government's reform work spans multiple agencies. Audio
-
David Seymour promises to reignite Treaty debate
9:23 am todayThe ACT leader made the comments in a sit-down interview with RNZ reflecting on 2025 and looking ahead.
-
Hipkins says Seymour, Peters will be 'nightmare' in election year
8:54 am todayThe Labour leader says there will be tensions within the ACT-National-New Zealand First coalition heading into a campaign. Audio
-
New Zealand should not dilute gun reforms, Hipkins says
9:16 am todayThe Labour government put the reforms in place after the Christchurch terror attack in 2019. Audio
Politics headlines with summaries.
-
Agencies worried by DOC parking fees at major hotspots
6:29 am todayDocuments show concerns raised by the Transport Agency, Police, Heritage NZ, and the NZ Alpine Club about people potentially parking off-road or on the state highways to avoid fees.
-
Bondi attack 'an act of antisemitism in all its ugliness and cruelty' - Luxon
15 Dec 2025Prime Minister says the NZ government stands in solidarity with the people of the Jewish faith after the shooting in Sydney.
-
Defence Force mulling how to improve surveillance of oceans
15 Dec 2025It is open to any solutions for monitoring the South-West Pacific and Southern Ocean.
-
Government urges passport renewals as 1.3 million set to expire
15 Dec 2025With a massive surge in passport applications expected next year, the government is urging people to renew early to beat the rush.
-
Infrastructure Commission calls for government business cases, budget submissions to be public
15 Dec 2025The Commission is due to hand over the first National Infrastructure Plan to ministers by the end of the year. Audio
-
The House: Parliament gets urgent on voting rules, climate targets
In its penultimate sitting block of the year, Parliament was in urgency debating 12 bills, but the most controversial were among the last.
-
'Opportunity to stamp my own mark': Hipkins promises different Labour
14 Dec 2025The last election saw Labour's six years in government end, with Hipkins returning to the opposition benches just 10 months after becoming prime minister.
-
Media in middle of fudge stunts, 'right v left' rows
14 Dec 2025This week, the finance minister pushed back at a critical lobby group campaign, while academics and experts mulled the polarising political landscape.
-
'I know what it took to rebuild': Luxon mounts National leadership defence
14 Dec 2025The prime minister is reminding people he rebuilt the party after "a state of civil war".
-
Mitchell's last word on McSkimming, the IPCA report and 36 emails
13 Dec 2025Police Minister Mark Mitchell talks about the moment he found out about Ms Z, his relationship with Coster and why emails were diverted from his office.
-
The House: Crimes bill adds things outside usual rules
12 Dec 2025Parliament has been pushing hard, rushing through bills and working under urgency all week, but one bill bypassed the rules, adding things not usually allowed.
-
The day the climate consensus died
12 Dec 2025With bipartisanship ended, farmers will now face "the rollercoaster experience" of changing targets every political cycle, a Green MP warns.
-
Ruth Richardson still willing to debate Nicola Willis
12 Dec 2025The Taxpayers Union chair is suggesting Cameron Bagrie as a moderator.
-
Hot playground surfaces spark petition
12 Dec 2025Young children getting burnt on playground equipment led Renata Wiles to start the petition, calling lack of shade "crazy". Audio
-
Urgent debates in Parliament go into wee hours of the morning
12 Dec 2025The House continues a packed agenda as the government tries to clear through legislation before the end of the year.
-
Regions must band together to avoid being pushed, Wellington mayor says
12 Dec 2025The region needs to plan a response to the call for simpler more cost-effective local government or risk changes being "imposed" upon them, Andrew Little says.
-
IHC settles claim with government
12 Dec 2025The service provider for people with intellectual disabilities alleged education policies disadvantaged disabled students in schools.
-
Faster, cheaper … but better? The devil in the RMA reform detail
12 Dec 2025Anaylsis: When the government this week unveiled reforms to finally replace the RMA, many of us would have been glad to see the back of it, writes Bill McKay.
-
ACC petition for volunteer firefighters rejected
11 Dec 2025Parliament has rejected a petition fighting to change ACC workplace legislation to include injured volunteer firefighters.
-
US social media entry requirement 'hypocritical' - Goff
11 Dec 2025The former foreign minister says the US "is meant to be a democracy".
-
MPs' week begins with an RMA shakeup precursor
11 Dec 2025The House: Parliament's penultimate sitting week began with a major shakeup to the RMA, helped along by urgency.
-
'Clowns to the left, jokers to the right': Willis-Richardson debate in doubt
11 Dec 2025The debate over the debate between finance ministers is becoming farcical, with each accusing the other of trying to get out of the commitment.
-
Coalition strains over stewardship land shake-up
11 Dec 2025The Conservation Minister has re-classified swathes of stewardship land on the West Coast of the South Island.
-
Pig farming rule changes passed under urgency
11 Dec 2025The legislation cancels an upcoming ban on farrowing crates, which keep mother pigs confined to avoid them accidentally crushing piglets.
