Jane Patterson

Local councils now have the power decide whether businesses can open in their area on Easter Sunday. Parliament has passed law on what it acknowledges is a contentious issue, but says allowing… Audio

MPs considering a review of gun laws have been told it's very likely there will be another mass killing in New Zealand, like the one that happened at Aramoana in 1990. Audio

The government has faced questions in Parliament about why money to help small councils deliver clean drinking water is no longer available. Audio

In a law change that had its genesis in the illegal spying operation against Kim Dotcom in 2012, the Government Communications Security Bureau will be given an explicit mandate to spy on New… Audio

Pacific Steel says there's a massive over-supply of steel from China, and the government should do something about it. The company is understood to have laid an anti-dumping complaint against China. Audio

Pacific Steel says there's a massive over-supply of steel from China, and the government should do something about it. The company is understood to have laid an anti-dumping complaint against China. Audio

Unemployment has declined for the sixth straight quarter but Labour is skeptical about whether changes to the way employment is measured are masking the true state of joblessness. Audio

Only National and Labour are set to sit on the Intelligence and Security Committee, but the Greens say more voices are needed. Audio

The Prime Minister says he expects retail banks to pass on any official cash rate cut to their customers, where possible, but his Finance Minister is taking a much more hands off approach.our… Audio

Record numbers of work visas and a sharp increase in new residents have put renewed pressure on the government to rein in immigration. Audio

Just when did the trade dispute concerns come to the Trade Minister's attention? It's a moveable feast as our political editor Jane Patterson reports. Audio

The government was aware of China's concerns about trade back in May, Trade Minister Todd McClay now says. Audio

The Foreign Minister Murray McCully says it's too early to write off Helen Clark's bid for the United Nations Secretary-General job. Audio

While National is the main governing party, it could not do so without support arrangements with other, much smaller, political parties. Since being elected in 2008 National has had agreements with… Audio