Anneke Smith

The National Party's newest MP, Tama Potaka, will arrive at Parliament this morning for his first day in the job, after he cruised to victory in the Hamilton West by-election on Saturday,

Potaka won… Audio

The battle for the hearts and minds of Hamilton West voters is well underway with locals treated to a special debate.

December's byelection was triggered by the fomer Labour MP Gaurav Sharma's… Audio

Private landlords have been given an early Christmas present - an extra year to bring their rentals up to healthy homes standards.

The government has extended the deadline, saying supply chain… Audio

Those working on the frontlines with youth offenders are putting the boot into National over its proposal for military-style camps.

The party wants to send recidivist teenagers to special 'academies'… Audio

A victim's advocate is describing sentencing discounts for offenders as a courtroom "lolly scramble" that lets survivors down and offenders off the hook.

There was an outcry when Tauranga teenager… Audio

Banks are being urged to step up and support families and businesses coming under financial strain as the pressure comes on from rising interest rates.

The plea comes from the Reserve Bank in a… Audio

New Zealand is sizing up its options in responding to the violent crackdown on protests in Iran, now that a Kiwi couple are no longer in the country.  
 
The Government is seeking advice on what… Audio

A group of protesters are picketing outside the Iranian embassy in Wellington, condemning the country's brutal crackdown of demonstrations against the regime.

The protesters say more than 240 people… Audio

The parents of a teenager who suddenly died from meningitis have made a heartfelt plea for free access to the vaccine that would have saved their daughter.

Gerard and Claire Rushton appeared before a… Audio

 Parliament is on the verge of a significant milestone for women.

In just a few hours' time, women will make up more than fifty percent of seats in the House when Soraya Peke-Mason is sworn in as… Audio

National is insisting the Hamilton West by-election will be a "three-horse race" as both parties downplay their prospects of a win.

Waikato voters will head to the polling booths in just 50 days… Audio

The Children's Minister has been accused of sitting on his hands while he waits for another report on the death of 5-year-old Malachi Subecz.

The Tauranga child suffered months of abuse that went… Audio

Labour has been forced into contesting a by-election in Hamilton West, that could be a litmus test for next year's election.

Independent MP Gaurav Sharma has quit Parliament in what he's calling a… Audio

Farmers will start paying for emissions by 2025. The government's gone with He Waka Eke Noa's sector consultation document - with some tweaks around the pricing scheme.

There'll be two separate taxes… Video, Audio

The battle lines have been drawn in an ideological struggle between National and the ACT Party, ahead of any potential coalition arrangements.

ACT wants to put the Treaty of Waitangi to a public and… Audio

Former National MP Jami-Lee Ross has been cleared of fraud charges that emerged out of an investigation he sparked four years ago.

Ross was charged with obtaining by deception after dropping… Audio

Green MP Chloe Swarbrick will need most of Labour's MPs to swing behind her alcohol harm reduction bill, if it is to pass its first hurdle in Parliament.

The member's bill would ban alcohol… Audio

New Zealand is positioning itself to expel its Russian Ambassador, as the illegal invasion of Ukraine ratchets up.

Vladimir Putin has repeated his threats of nuclear war and announced plans to hold… Audio

MPs returned to Parliament today to mark the accession of new King and pay tributes to Queen Elizabeth II.

There were personal anecdotes, reflections on royal tours of Aotearoa and recognition of the… Audio