Adam Pearse is Deputy Political Editor for the New Zealand Herald based in the gallery in Wellington.
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US Proud Boys no longer terrorists in NZ as designation lapses
Members were pardoned by Donald Trump for their part in the Capitol riot in 2021.

'Deepest desire to serve mankind': NZ First MP Tanya Unkovich resigns as MP
The decision came this morning via a statement.

National infrastructure plan demands Govt must ‘lift its game’
Infrastructure planning is often short-term and reactive, the plan says.

Watch: Winston Peters welcomes ‘positive signals’ of potential US-Iran ceasefire
It comes as the Finance Minister is watching how fuel prices here could be impacted.

US attacks Iran: NZ not ‘sitting on the fence’ but won’t rush to judge US ‘self-defence’ attacks - Acting PM
Labour and the Greens want the Govt to declare the attacks a breach of international law.

PM open to scrapping regional councils amid RMA reform
The PM says he's looking into council rates caps as well.

Govt reserves view on US’ Iran strikes as NZ deploys Hercules plane to Middle East
Labour wants the Govt to denounce the US attack as a breach of international law.

Three bidders confirmed for Northland Expressway PPP
Initial construction work on the next section is set to begin by the end of next year.

Adam Pearse: Scrutiny stunts shouldn’t distract from warning voters are sending
Opinion: Escalating conflict in the Middle East could threaten NZ's economic recovery.

PM downplays China’s role in pause of Cook Islands funding
PM Christopher Luxon is set to meet China's President in Beijing.

National loses Kiwis’ confidence handling inflation to Labour - survey
Inflation is the top issue for Kiwis and they think Labour is best to keep prices down.

Bootcamps: Minister admits teen death derailed pilot participants
The participant's death was unrelated to the pilot, according to Oranga Tamariki.

PM’s deep dive into Michael Forbes scandal to release findings in August
Parliament staffers are currently having their clearances checked.

‘They’re swearing already’: Labour MPs bristle at Seymour in select committee
Deborah Russell used colourful language during a hearing and subsequently apologised.

New suicide prevention action plan released amid ‘stubbornly high’ rates
About 600 Kiwis die every year from a suspected suicide.

Peters 'never seen' such uncertainty in lifetime as Israel/Iran conflict escalates
New Zealanders in Israel are being advised to leave by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

PM hints Govt will cut sick leave for part-time workers
Sick leave entitlements are about to change, according to the PM.

‘Free-for-all’: Concerns Govt oil/gas ban reversal will open up mining all over NZ
Resources Minister Shane Jones is offering up "all acreage" across New Zealand.

Police endorse decision not to charge PM’s deputy press secretary Michael Forbes
Current commissioner Richard Chambers says the police's executive team were made aware.

David Seymour condemns ‘immature’ charity fight challenge from Te Pāti Māori MP's son
Eru Kapa-Kingi, son of MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, is a prominent pro-Te Tiriti activist.

Double deputies: Peters, Seymour discuss Luxon, swapping House seats and advantages in 2026
If Seymour is expecting a handover gift, he needn’t worry.

PM Luxon open to ‘Anzac’ visit to Ukraine amid Russian war
Luxon says he'd ideally tee up other meetings in Europe to pair with a potential visit.

More cuts possible to cover Govt’s extra KiwiSaver costs - Finance Minister
The Green Party is claiming the extra costs could total more than $700m.

David Seymour invited to Oxford Union debate about ‘stolen land’ and immigration
Seymour follows ex-PM David Lange and Labour MP Willie Jackson as previous MPs invited.

Minister defends new benefit sanctions coming into force
Beneficiaries face having half of their benefit restricted to certain spending.

'Stay away from the jocks': Male National MPs conduct outfit checks in support of Nicola Willis
National MP Mike Butterick was careful to stop his caucus members from showing too much.

Minister reluctant to detail possible exceptions to 18-19yo benefit cuts
The Government saves more than $160m through the change.

Budget papers reveal effective 0.5% tax hike on 180k families, considered company tax cut
The Government considered a 5 percentage point cut to the corporate tax rate.

Pay equity, KiwiSaver and housing: Where the Govt cut $21b
The pay equity changes have saved the Government almost $13b.

Hunt for new Oranga Tamariki CEO yet to start seven weeks after resignation
Former CEO Chappie Te Kani took medical leave in September to undergo surgery.

'Psychological warfare': Shock move pushes out Te Pāti Māori haka punishment verdict
Parliament's Privileges Committee recommended suspending three Te Pāti Māori MPs.

Govt to spend $600m on ‘critical’ rail upgrades
Metro services had suffered from a lack of investment, according to the Government.

Union accuses minister of ‘passing the buck’ on pay equity changes
The reform has prompted protests up and down the country.

Privileges committee recommends suspension for Te Pāti Māori MPs
Te Pāti Māori has been advised of the committee's decision.

Greens promise $88b from new taxes spanning inheritance to private jets
The Greens want a wealth tax, inheritance tax and some income tax increases.

Police Minister accepts McSkimming resignation could impact public confidence
There are multiple investigations into the former Deputy Police Commissioner.

Abuse in state care: PM defends broken promise, emotional Hipkins slams Govt ‘injustice’
The inquiry into abuse in state care recommended a new redress scheme.

Deputy Police Commissioner resigns before impending sacking
The Prime Minister had been preparing to consider recommending McSkimming's removal.

Local Labour Facebook page reposts then deletes image of Brooke van Velden as Nazi
Van Velden's grandfather lived under Nazi occupation in World War II.

'Shame on you Brooke': Hundreds brave downpours to protest Govt’s pay equity changes
PM Christopher Luxon maintains the changes will make the pay equity scheme more workable.

Watch: Govt invests $774m in improving state abuse redress scheme - but no new scheme
But it has resisted recommendations to set up an independent redress body.

'Sense of injustice': Act minister, National MPs to face protests over pay equity changes
Protests are planned across the country, including outside MPs' offices.

ACC backtracks on Māori/Pasifika targets after Act and National stoush
ACC Minister Scott Simpson initially backed the tender but soon changed his mind.

Social media ban: Act blocks National’s bid for Govt consensus on member’s bill
National want to replicate a ban that was passed by Australian lawmakers.

How is your child going at school? Govt releases tool for parents to track learning
The online tool will be added to as the Government's new curriculum is developed.

Seymour proposes abolishing some portfolios and cutting minister numbers
One of the portfolios he wants to scrap was created by Christopher Luxon this year.

DoC grants 10-year concession for Whakapapa ski field
Financial management of the ski field has been plagued for several years.

More than 1m NZ child sex abuse online viewing attempts as AI content increases
Investigators are concerned about "disturbingly realistic' fake images and videos.

Pharmac culture review finds 'reset' needed, staff doubt it's possible
Sarah Fitt resigned as Pharmac chief executive earlier this year.

Nicola Willis' plan to save 'billions' thanks to Budget cuts
Nicola Willis will deliver a pre-Budget speech this morning.

Winston Peters reveals PM’s office admitted error over Luxon's foreign affairs speech
Luxon maintained any claim of tension between himself and Peters was a media beat-up.

Act ramps up pressure on National minister over ACC ‘ethnic outcome targets’
Circular dictates that the Govt's demand for public services be delivered based on need.

Te Pāti Māori judgment day over House haka to land alongside ‘independent’ hearing
The committee is set to meet during the same week as the party intends to hold a hearing.

Seymour to pare back 'confusing' early childhood education regulations
The proposed changes include scrapping the need to acknowledge Māori as tangata whenua.

Shane Jones woos and warns Chatham Islands with ‘surprise’ abattoir and kūmara bin
Jones' true intentions were made clear soon after touching down in the Hercules aircraft.

Revealed: 10% chance of Akld eruption in next 50 years, entire city may be evacuated
The cost of the building damage alone has been put in the tens of billions.

Advertising watchdog assessing complaints about billboards attacking Green Party
The billboards, targeting local MPs, popped up in central Auckland and central Wellington.

Watch: Tension with Peters over trade messaging a 'media beat up' says PM
Peters has criticised use of the term 'trade war', which the PM has consistently embraced.

Driver licence changes: Govt proposes to scrap second practical test, reduce eyesight tests
The changes are open for consultation from tomorrow.

Senior MP Willie Jackson says Labour Govt should've taken GST off meat
Labour proposed removing GST from fruit and vegetables ahead of the 2023 election.

Peters condemns 'hysterical' language used by Luxon in Trump tariff talks
It's the latest example of the pair being at odds over how to respond to Trump's tariffs.

Luxon responds to Treaty Principles Bill's demise
The bill was voted down by all parties except its creator, Act.

Government to widen definition of veteran and create new national tribute day
The definition had created division within the military community.

'It hasn’t failed': Seymour defiant as Treaty bill voted down, hints at referendum
'What it has done is put an uneasy conversation on the table' - Act leader

Labour tax policy dispute didn't prompt resignation - David Parker
Parker will give his final speech in the House next month.

New poll shows coalition Govt trumping Opposition amid high NZ First support
Two recent polls have pointed to growing support for the Government parties.

Copyright breach claim forces change to billboards attacking Green co-leader, MP
The billboards seem to attack Paul's recent comments about police.

Larger granny flats to be built without consents after Govt changes coalition promise
It's estimated 13,000 granny flats will be built over the next decade.

Te Pāti Māori plans own version of Privileges Committee after skipping key meeting
The party argues it would not get a fair hearing after several requests were rejected.

500 extra police: Winston Peters admits Govt’s target could be ‘few weeks late’
Peters has long stood by the promise to achieve the target in two years.

Review into absconding bootcamp youths more than a month late
The review was supposed to be days away from release in mid-February.

Labour reserves judgment on Govt’s caps to sentencing discounts
Judges will soon only be able to discount sentences by up to 40%.

PM slates failure to inform ministers of 11yo misidentified by police, handcuffed, and drugged
One minister described the incident as 'every parent's worst nightmare'.

Adam Pearse: US trade, defence and new ferries loom large over PM’s India FTA progress
ANALYSIS: It isn't about to let up for Luxon after a tiring but successful week in India.

PM Luxon defends NZDF job cuts plan as India visit ends
The Government is about to release its 15-year plan for NZ's defence spending.

NZ and India investigating direct flight by 2028
The world is short about 2000 planes, according to the Air NZ CEO.

PM in India: How Christopher Luxon's sledge of ex-Black Cap Ross Taylor backfired
One of India's cricket legends was there to see it all unfold.

PM hits out at India trade deal doubters but downplays talk of 60-day deadline
Luxon had earlier stated his expectations a deal would be signed by the end of 2025.