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Foreign Minister Winston Peters holds his third meeting with US Vice President Mike Pence. Photo / NZ Govt

BUSINESS

Winston's big pitch in Washington DC

17 Jul, 2019 3:59pm
4 minutes to read

Winston Peters visited the White House West Wing where Mike Pence has an office.

Wednesday's result after the second reading of the End of Life Choice Bill is not necessarily indicative of its future success. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Audrey Young: Why the euthanasia bill is not all it seemed

29 Jun, 2019 5:00am
6 minutes to read

COMMENT: It's time to consider some extra safeguards on euthanasia bill.

The report into Treasury Secretary Gabriel Makhlouf was released on his last day in the job. Photo / Greg Bowker

NEW ZEALAND

Comment: Makhlouf's case of butt-covering

27 Jun, 2019 3:53pm
3 minutes to read

The previously estimable Secretary of Treasury departs on a low note.

Amy Adams has been extremely loyal to Simon Bridges and stood behind him figuratively - and literally, at many press conferences. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Audrey Young: Being in Opposition was tough for Amy Adams

25 Jun, 2019 7:19pm
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Amy Adams never seemed to thrive in the finance role.

John Tamihere got out of the blocks early and announced he will be standing for the Auckland mayoralty. Photo / Michael Craig

NEW ZEALAND

Audrey Young: The high-profile left- and right-wing forces backing John Tamihere

22 Jun, 2019 11:00am
7 minutes to read

John Tamihere moved fast to secure two of the most experienced campaigners in politics.

Christopher Luxon may be a threat to the next cohort of leading National MPs, such as Todd Muller. Photo / Dean Purcell

NEW ZEALAND

Audrey Young: Hype over Christopher Luxon rather premature

22 Jun, 2019 5:00am
6 minutes to read

COMMENT: Will prospect of Luxon entering Parliament next term, change things this term?

Revenue Minister Stuart Nash says the new rule will apply from January 1, 2020. Photo / Mark Mitchell

BUSINESS

Bid to stop manipulation of brightline tax

18 Jun, 2019 6:17pm
3 minutes to read

Capital gains made by habitual renovators are more likely to be taxed under new measure.

Prime Minister of Australia and leader of the Liberal Party Scott Morrison. Inset: Sean Topham and Kelly Boxall. Main Image / Getty Images

NEW ZEALAND

The Kiwi whizzes who helped win the Aussie election

17 Jun, 2019 7:00pm
5 minutes to read

For someone so young, Sean Topham has an impressive campaign CV.

Justice Minister Andrew Little receives the report today at Parliament from panel members Rosslyn Noonan and Chris Dellabarca. Photo / Audrey Young

NEW ZEALAND

Family Court system 'not fit for purpose', panel says

16 Jun, 2019 2:10pm
4 minutes to read

Māori Land Court judges could be roped in to sit in the Family Court, report suggests.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Audrey Young: Ardern's most valued minister revealed

15 Jun, 2019 5:00am
6 minutes to read

COMMENT: It has been a week in which the Government governed exceptionally well.

Outgoing Treasury Secretary Gabriel Makhlouf. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Treasury scandal takes backseat at Gabriel Makhlouf farewell

13 Jun, 2019 8:27pm
4 minutes to read

Gabriel Makhlouf was feted at a farewell event in the Beehive, in the midst of an inquiry.

NEW ZEALAND

Simon Bridges' plan for rural New Zealand

13 Jun, 2019 12:12pm
2 minutes to read

Labour shortages are so bad that some food is left rotting says Simon Bridges.

A public acknowledgement that Jacinda Ardern expects ministers to be part of the inquiry would go some way to encouraging more transparency on the issue. Illustration / Guy Body

NEW ZEALAND

Audrey Young: Treasury 'hack' focus shifts to ministers

10 Jun, 2019 8:54am
5 minutes to read

COMMENT: The inquiry into the Budget leak may turn up some answers in Parliament.

Former Education Minister Nikki Kaye has drawn up a report card on education election promises. Photo / Nick Reed

NEW ZEALAND

Nikki Kaye's report card: Education Minister gets a 'F'

7 Jun, 2019 2:09pm
4 minutes to read

High level of disappointment in sector due to unmet election promises, MP says.

Jacinda Ardern, her ministers and under-secretaries after being sworn in by Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy in October 2017. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Audrey Young: Jacinda Ardern's Cabinet reshuffle - what to expect

6 Jun, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Prime Minister Ardern's reshuffle: Dead certs, probables and maybes.

There is a yawning gap between what Gabriel Makhlouf said on Tuesday last week and what occurred on Thursday. Photo / Greg Bowker

NEW ZEALAND

Audrey Young: Heads must roll in Makhlouf inquiry

4 Jun, 2019 6:57pm
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Who knew what, and when?

National leader Simon Bridges, flanked by deputy leader Paula Bennett, left, and finance spokeswoman Amy Adams, during his press conference over Budget 2019. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Audrey Young: Good week for Bridges could have been great

1 Jun, 2019 10:00am
6 minutes to read

COMMENT: Simon Bridges turns triumph into vindication.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson receives a hug from Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern after reading his Wellbeing Budget. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Audrey Young: A Budget of style and substance - and a little daft, too

31 May, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

The Wellbeing Budget is a marketing triumph writes Audrey Young.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson at a pre-Budget speech in the Beehive earlier this month. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Audrey Young's verdict on the Government's 'Wellbeing Budget'

30 May, 2019 2:00pm
2 minutes to read

Audrey Young runs the ruler over the first Wellbeing Budget.

Treasury Secretary Gabriel Makhlouf. Photo / Greg Bowker

NEW ZEALAND

Audrey Young: Treasury boss misled the public - he must resign

30 May, 2019 7:51am
2 minutes to read

COMMENT: Gabriel Makhlouf smeared National as potentially criminal hackers.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson says wellbeing means people living lives of purpose. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

National set to upstage Wellbeing Budget

30 May, 2019 5:00am
4 minutes to read

Jacinda Ardern is promising "transformational" change for mental health services.

Simon Bridges today flanked by deputy National leader Paula Bennett and finance spokeswoman Amy Adams. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Audrey Young: Simon Bridges needed to do two things today and he did neither

29 May, 2019 10:55am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Simon Bridges did not help his own cause today.

Amy Adams says it will be harder to track progress under many wellbeing measures than before. Photo / Mark Mitchell

BUSINESS

Amy Adams on what 'wellbeing' Budget means

26 May, 2019 6:55pm
5 minutes to read

Amy Adams says the Government is rewriting history in the lead-up to the Budget.

Children's Minister Tracey Martin. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Budget to fund $153m transition service

26 May, 2019 12:00pm
2 minutes to read

Young people leaving state care will be supported in various ways up to the age of 25.

'Staying on would fuel the perception his new party was a puppet party of National'. Illustration / Guy Body

NEW ZEALAND

Audrey Young: 'If Ngaro jumps, he must resign'

25 May, 2019 5:00am
6 minutes to read

COMMENT: Simon Bridges needs to set some conditions on Alfred Ngaro, writes Audrey Young.

Natalie Bridges says her husband was right to criticise the Slushies machines and should not confine himself to lofty issues. Photo / Audrey Young

NEW ZEALAND

Audrey Young: Meet the power behind Simon Bridges

24 May, 2019 3:00pm
6 minutes to read

Every leader needs a small group of people they rely on for cut-through advice.

Speaker Trevor Mallard heads to his office after announcing to media that a parliamentary staff member has been stood down pending an investigation into sexual assault. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Audrey Young: Trevor Mallard deserves some credit amid chaos

22 May, 2019 7:54pm
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: It resembled Grand Central Station as leaders came to and from Speaker's office.

Simon Bridges says National is exploring having Parliament vote on free trade deals before they are signed by the Government. Photo / George Novak

NEW ZEALAND

Simon Bridges: Government should 'demystify' foreign affairs

20 May, 2019 7:46pm
5 minutes to read

One thing Simon Bridges and Winston Peters agree on is the pursuit of a FTA with the US.

National Party leader Simon Bridges. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Audrey Young: Parallels between Simon Bridges and Bill Shorten

19 May, 2019 6:55pm
3 minutes to read

There is one aspect of the Australian election that Simon Bridges wont be highlighting.

National leader Simon Bridges sent one of his own staff to help on the Scott Morrison campaign. Photo / Alan Gibson

NEW ZEALAND

Australian election: These things aren't won on Twitter - Bridges

19 May, 2019 11:18am
4 minutes to read

Bridges says blue-collar workers becoming more fiscally conservative, writes Audrey Young.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Photo / Mark Tantrum

NEW ZEALAND

Audrey Young: Ardern's problems are a matter of constraint

18 May, 2019 5:00am
6 minutes to read

COMMENT: From the success of Paris, Ardern gets back to some problematic ministers.

National MP Alfred Ngaro could stand fora new Christian-based party in the Botany electorate at the next election. Photo / George Novak

NEW ZEALAND

Audrey Young: 'Herculean task' faces Christian party

17 May, 2019 10:34am
3 minutes to read

In theory it sounds fine - practice is another thing, Audrey Young writes

Swearing-in day at Government House, October 2017. Eugenie Sage is second from the right in the top row. Photo / Mark Mitchell

BUSINESS

Is this the Government's most 'dangerous' minister?

15 May, 2019 7:10pm
11 minutes to read

Eugenie Sage's decision over Waihī mining is causing widespread anxiety.

Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones says people want to bring him down. Photo / Mark Mitchell

BUSINESS

Shane Jones: A minister 'on a political mission'

13 May, 2019 4:12pm
5 minutes to read

Shane Jones was interviewed today as part of the Auditor-General's review of the PGF.

Trevor Mallard is both the best and worst of Speakers rolled into one. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Audrey Young: Is it time for fresh challenges for Speaker Trevor Mallard?

12 May, 2019 6:10am
6 minutes to read

COMMENT: Simon Bridges was right when he called Speaker "unprofessional". That day he was.

Nick Smith has been suspended from Parliament for 24 hours and will have his pay docked. Photo / NZME

NEW ZEALAND

Nick Smith suspension: What 'naming' means for the booted MP

8 May, 2019 6:56pm
2 minutes to read

Naming a member is a lot more serious than simply being ordered out of the chamber.

Parliament's Speaker named Nick Smith for

NEW ZEALAND

Suspended: Nick Smith hits back at 'bully' Speaker after getting the boot

8 May, 2019 6:56pm
5 minutes to read

Nick Smith says he was "gobsmacked".

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. File photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Meet Jacinda Ardern's inner circle - the people she relies on most

8 May, 2019 5:09am
11 minutes to read

Meet Jacinda Ardern's inner circle - the people she relies on most.

Justice Minister Andrew Little. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Personal cannabis use promises to set 2020 election alight

7 May, 2019 7:57pm
4 minutes to read

The draft law is a weaker version of what Andrew Little previously outlined.

Judith Collins has made it clear through a smirk here and a grin there that she still harbours leadership ambitions. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Audrey Young: Judith Collins' incredible comeback

4 May, 2019 5:00am
5 minutes to read

COMMENT: Nothing is inevitable in National's leadership troubles, writes Audrey Young.

Simon Bridges' serious attack on the Government was slightly disrupted by Jacinda Ardern's detour with Gerry Brownlee. Photos / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Audrey Young: Simon Bridges' big risk in the House

1 May, 2019 7:43pm
4 minutes to read

COMMENT: Simon Bridges dismissed the insult from Peters and played him at his own game.

NEW ZEALAND

Audrey Young: Detente prevails in National

1 May, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: There are two lessons from the latest National Party ructions.

Prime Minister Jacinda Arden and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters at their first Cabinet meeting after being sworn in in October 2017. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Cabinet report card: Best and worst ministers revealed

30 Apr, 2019 3:00pm
3 minutes to read

Brickbats and bouquets for Jacinda Ardern's Cabinet.

Shane Jones in his Beehive office in April. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Cabinet's troublemaker: How much strife is Shane Jones in?

30 Apr, 2019 11:00am
13 minutes to read

There is more of a sigh than a smile when Shane Jones' name is mentioned in Government.

National Party leader Simon Bridges at his Tauranga home in February. Photo / Alan Gibson

NEW ZEALAND

Bridges: Discipline and unity essential

28 Apr, 2019 5:02pm
3 minutes to read

National accepted NZ had rallied around the Govt after Christchurch, says Simon Bridges.

To see an attack while people are at worship is devastating, says Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Photo / Getty Images

NEW ZEALAND

Ardern: Our hearts go out to the Jewish community

28 Apr, 2019 4:03pm
3 minutes to read

New Zealand's resolve about social media is strong, says Jacinda Ardern.

NEW ZEALAND

Audrey Young: Sceptics scoff while Ardern acts

26 Apr, 2019 9:41pm
5 minutes to read

COMMENT: Most Kiwis will be proud of Ardern's efforts with France.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

CGT decision should not define Labour, says minister

23 Apr, 2019 6:35pm
4 minutes to read

Grant Robertson says some of the claims around CGT are "ridiculous."

Speaker Trevor Mallard with a gorilla in Rwanda. Photo / https://www.facebook.com/trevor.mallard.3

NEW ZEALAND

Audrey Young: In defence of Trevor Mallard's 'junket' to Africa

23 Apr, 2019 3:29pm
5 minutes to read

Comment: One of Mallard's travelling companions is an MP he frequently clashes with.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces the Government has rejected a proposed capital gains tax during a media conference at Parliament. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Audrey Young: No reason for Ardern to become a CGT martyr

20 Apr, 2019 5:00am
6 minutes to read

COMMENT: New Zealand First has not been unreasonable in exercising its veto.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern takes questions about the failure to get a capital gains tax across the line. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Audrey Young: Three reasons PM has ruled out CGT on her watch

17 Apr, 2019 5:27pm
3 minutes to read

Jacinda's Ardern's second captain's call was based on pragmatism rather than idealism.

The slight surprise is that Jacinda Ardern is not even higher than 51 per cent as preferred Prime Minister compared with Simon Bridges' 5 per cent.

NEW ZEALAND

Comment: Relief for Bridges may be short-lived

15 Apr, 2019 6:18pm
2 minutes to read

It was slightly surprising that Jacinda Ardern was not higher, writes Audrey Young.

Winston Peters is leading the Government's response over the missing nurse. Photo / Alan Gibson

NEW ZEALAND

Comment | Why Ardern, Peters need to be careful on kidnapped nurse

15 Apr, 2019 12:48pm
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: The Government accepted reality and gave up pleading.

Jacinda Ardern has received glowing international tributes this week. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Audrey Young: Ardern's reputation glows as Bridges' withers

13 Apr, 2019 5:00am
6 minutes to read

COMMENT: Small personal issues are causing Bridges' MPs to question his judgement.

Michael Hongfu found it hard to get a decent coffee in Beijing so opened 21 cafes there. Photo / Audrey Young

BUSINESS

Flat-white enthusiast gives Chinese a taste of 'Chiwi'

9 Apr, 2019 5:00am
4 minutes to read

Michael Hongfu's cafe chains had its beginnings in Fidel's in Cuba St, Wellington.

Three decades of failing to act on tighter controls must be weighing heavily on conscience of politicians. Illustration / Guy Body

NEW ZEALAND

Audrey Young: Gun reform - just do it and do it fast

6 Apr, 2019 5:00am
6 minutes to read

COMMENT: This is one time when haste could be worn as a badge of honour.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern shake hands before their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Photo / AP

NEW ZEALAND

A matter of trust: Xi Jinping on New Zealand's relationship with China

2 Apr, 2019 7:25am
5 minutes to read

PM uses visit cut short by mosque attacks to stress value of bilateral relationship.

NEW ZEALAND

Audrey Young: Was PM's 24 hours in China worth it?

2 Apr, 2019 5:00am
2 minutes to read

COMMENT: PM's whistlestop trip to China showed she really, really wanted to be there.

NEW ZEALAND

Ardern in China: Beijing 'ready to strengthen relationship' with NZ

1 Apr, 2019 4:56pm
4 minutes to read

Premier Li Keqiang also expressed his condolences for Christchurch terror attack victims.

PM Jacinda Ardern speaks during the opening ceremony of the embassy in Beijing. Photo / Audrey Young

NEW ZEALAND

Jacinda Ardern opens new Beijing embassy

1 Apr, 2019 3:44pm
3 minutes to read

Jacinda Ardern's first stop in Beijing was to open the embassy.

PM Jacinda Ardern will have a working lunch with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at the Great Hall of the People around 5pm, where the heavy lifting of the visit will take place. Photo / Audrey Young

NEW ZEALAND

Jacinda Ardern: Destination Beijing

1 Apr, 2019 5:00am
2 minutes to read

Jacinda Ardern will have a working lunch with Premier Li Keqiang.

Today's visit is not a panacea but it will be the first step in Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern taking control of the relationship. Photo / NZME

NEW ZEALAND

Ardern to China: PM sensible to seize the moment

1 Apr, 2019 5:00am
4 minutes to read

COMMENT: Brief visit to China is needed to send a strong message of kinship.