Policy
Hipkins on budget backdown, ETS reform
An outcry from the early childhood education sector has pushed the government to back down on its key budget policy of 20 hours free ECE for 2 year olds. Providers will no longer require providers to… Audio
Beef + Lamb applaud ETS review
The government says it's reviewing the country's emissions trading scheme, and one of the industry group's most affected by the process says the move was "long overdue". Beef and Lamb says the… Audio
Govt eases up on ECE providers in policy update
Outcry from the early childhood education sector has pushed the government to back down on a new condition that was set to be imposed on centres. As part of the Budget policy, the government plans to… Audio
Government backs down on condition of childcare policy
The government has tweaked a key Budget policy , by backing down on a condition it was imposing on the early childhood education sector. As part of last month's Budget, it extended 20 hours of free… Video, Audio
Child poverty group backs Green Party tax policy but National critical
The Green Party is promising a radical shake up of the tax system if elected this year, with an "income guarantee", a wealth tax, a trust tax, and a higher top tax rate. Audio
National Party wants to give farmers more time before paying for emissions
National has announced its plan to reduce agricultural emissions, including pushing back the final deadline by which farmers have to start paying for them - and keeping them off the ETS.
First, a smoke-free generation – next, a vape-free one?
New Zealand's a world-leader with its smokefree laws, but can it do the same when it comes to vaping? Audio
First, a smoke-free generation – next, a vape-free one?
New Zealand's a world-leader with its smokefree laws, but can it do the same when it comes to vaping?
AudioNational reacts to out of date health data
Data on wait times for emergency departments, operations and cancer treatment are now six months out of date.
In March, Te Whatu Ora was forced to pull inaccurate figures on emergency departments… Audio
Citizens Advice Bureau and Heart of the City on Auckland budget
The Auckland Council will today have a clearer picture of what is to come from Mayor Wayne Brown's budget proposal.
The super city is looking down the barrel of a $375 million deficit, including $50… Audio
Panel recommends major donation changes
Major changes are being proposed to the system of donations to political parties and candidates by The Independent Electoral Review. Max Rashbrooke is a senior associate of the Institute for… Audio
Concern over agricultural emission deal delay
Ambitions to price agricultural emissions in a world-leading way could fall flat as the time remaining before the election dwindles.
The He Waka Eke Noa deal between the government and farmers hasn't… Audio
Prime Minister grilled by Otago University students
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has faced a grilling by University of Otago students during his trip to Ōtepoti today.
Students, staff and community members have been fighting against the university's… Audio
Government denies dragging its feet on AI
The government denies it is dragging its feet in response to the widespread, and rapidly increasing use of artificial intelligence.
Despite years of discussion it has no specific plan to manage its… Audio
Are regulations for scrap metal yards fit for purpose?
Emergency services say the Sims Metal scrap yard fire in South Auckland that has been burning for about 30 hours is almost out.
Three fire crews are still at the scene fighting the blaze, which… Audio
Wellington's mayor defends auditing failures in Lodge fire
A report into Wellington's Loafer's Lodge building revealed the Council had failed to meet it's safety audit requirements. The regulator MBIE eight months ago warned the Council it was not up to… Audio
Security expert on major review of NZ spy agencies
A local security expert says the government could significantly widen its definition of what constitutes a national security threat, if it accepts the recommendations of a major review of the… Audio
Not good enough, Loafers Lodge inspected twice in a decade
Wellington City Councillor Tamatha Paul says it isn't good enough that Loafers Lodge was only inspected twice in a decade, when it should have been checked once per year.
Councillors were briefed… Audio
Wellington City Council building audits not up to scratch
Eight months before the Loafers Lodge fire, Wellington City Council was warned it wasn't completing enough fire safety checks.
The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) found the… Audio
National to meet govt after bailing on bipartisan housing deal
National has agreed to meet the government over the bipartisan housing policy it walked away from, but will not say when it will sit down with the minister.
The Opposition has gone back on its… Audio
