Thomas Coughlan, Political Editor at the New Zealand Herald, loves applying a political lens to people's stories and explaining the way things like transport and finance touch our lives.
I’ve been working at the Herald since 2021. I’d previously worked for Stuff and Newsroom in their Press Gallery offices in Wellington. Since joining the Press Gallery in 2018, I’ve barely strayed ten paces from my first desk - it feels like home. I love putting a political lens on people’s stories and explaining the way things like transport and finance touch our lives. I’m a massive fan of spreadsheets. I love cooking and reading - generally not at the same time. If I’m not working, you’ll find me in the kitchen or at the library… or perhaps at a gig. You can find my amusing tweets at @coughlthom.
'Broken promise': Minister defends cancer screening rollout, won't fully kick in until 2029
The Government's staggered delivery of scheme has been criticised by Labour.
Seymour spoken to by Luxon, agrees with Peters to withdraw UN letter
A letter from Seymour to the UN should have come from Winston Peters.
Minister considers compensation for owners of banned bitcoin ATMs
The Government is living up to its Regulatory Standards Bill and considering compensation.
Health NZ hires thousands more nurses and hundreds more doctors – is it enough?
The health workforce has grown by thousands in the last two years.
Seymour wants fast-track law for new supermarket chains
The Act leader says the law would encourage a new entrant.
Peeni Henare selected as Labour's candidate in Tāmaki Makaurau
Henare, who previously served as the Auckland seat's MP, faces off with Oriini Kaipara.
‘Affront to NZ’s sovereignty’: David Seymour v the United Nations
The Deputy Prime Minister sent a terse letter to the UN over indigenous rights.
Thomas Coughlan: Regulatory Standards Bill shakes coalition and breaks Parliament
Opinion: Act has made it clear if the bill doesn't pass, the coalition is over.
Revealed: The four people charged with reviewing every Treaty clause
Four-person panel, led by an ex-Waitangi Tribunal member, will review every Treaty clause.
'Miscommunication': DoC backtracks over call that could have cost 700 jobs at Otago mine
Hundreds of jobs are on the line in an Otago mine.
No, Jacinda Ardern hasn’t been asked to appear before the Covid Royal Commission
The Royal Commission told the Herald that no one has been asked to appear yet.
Thomas Coughlan: Govt mulls dramatic local government reform, slashing councils
News of merging ministries was just the tip of the iceberg.
Labour offers National a lifeline for costings unit
Act and NZ First killed the idea. Chris Hipkins has offered a way to bypass them.
SOE pay ranked: Brown calls in officials as CEO pay climbs despite underperformance
One executive of a company partly owned by the Government took home $3.8m in a year.
Battle for fiscal hole unit ends as Act and NZ First block Nicola Willis’ proposal
After nine years of trying, attempts to create a costings unit ended this week.
Peters opens door to part-privatisation of ferries, but doesn't want to walk through it
Cabinet has agreed to explore part-privatisation once the ferries arrive.
Government tops up $75 a week flagship tax promise, now reaches ‘thousands’ more
Willis said thousands more will get hundreds of dollars from the scheme.
The Greens’ most radical plan yet - and how Labour inspired it - Thomas Coughlan
OPINION: The Greens' fiscal plan throws out 40 years of how Governments think about money.
Opinion: MPs mourn Takutai Tarsh Kemp – what happens next and who might take her seat
OPINION: There’s a lot on the line for Te Pāti Māori.
Watch: ‘Heartbroken’ MPs pay tribute to Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp
Kemp died aged 50 following a battle with kidney disease.
Treasury forced to release warning briefing over $10.8b health funding gap
Treasury has been forced to release a paper showing cuts required to hit spending goals.
The unique camera China used to film Christopher Luxon and what it means
A Chinese cameraman brought a unique camera to film Luxon in Beijing.
Christopher Luxon raises Cook Islands impasse with Chinese Premier
Luxon has now headed onward to Europe.
‘Ups and downs’: Xi Jinping's assessment of China-NZ relationship in Luxon meeting
The Prime Minister has met the Chinese leader in Beijing.
‘No, it’s not’: Luxon denies new China flight part of Belt and Road Initiative
China thinks NZ has signed up to a big Belt and Road project. Luxon disagrees.
As Middle East burns, Luxon meets President Xi Jinping in Beijing
The Prime Minister meets President Xi Jinping at an inflection point.
Luxon visits a great wall in China – and it has a message for him
The Prime Minister got a rundown on what Chinese tourists want on day one of his visit.
Meat and skincare on the agenda for PM's first day in China
Christopher Luxon's first day in China includes a surprising win for cosmetics exporters.
Exclusive: Luxon on trade with China, getting on President Xi's Christmas card list
The PM isn't sure whether he's on President Xi's Christmas card list, like Sir John Key.
Treasury warns Health NZ cuts need to double; Minister disputes figures
The figures hint at cuts of $1.2b this year; Health NZ needs $600 million in savings
Thomas Coughlan: What if Dame Jacinda Ardern were just an ordinary leader?
OPINION: She's not as saintly nor as demonic as people who are obsessed with her claim.
'Potentially catastrophic' – Luxon speaks after Israel conducts ‘pre-emptive strike’ on Iran
The Prime Minister will visit China before heading to the Nato summit in Europe.
Government compromises with Auckland on housing, U-turns on 'sausage flat' promise
Auckland will opt out of the 'sausage flat' law but other councils will be forced to stay.
Moo-turn: Chris Hipkins says farming emissions policy ‘under review’
Labour on verge of giving up on a 17-year battle to price agricultural emission?
Thomas Coughlan: Govt suffers minimal political damage from pay equity shock
OPINION: Polls show pay equity changes are unpopular, but not as unpopular as feared.
Thomas Coughlan: How the Forbes scandal exposed flaws in NZ's security clearance system
Analysis: The Prime Minister is right to be concerned about vetting processes.
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.
Millions in taxpayer cash on the line as Govt pushes for Wellington Avatar premiere
Disney stands to gain tens of millions of dollars if one of the films premieres in NZ.
Nicola Willis sets aside money for election costings unit
An old proposal to establish a unit to cost election policies has funding.
Te Pāti Māori tries to heal rift with Labour, is it too late? - Thomas Coughlan
Te Pāti Māori is trying to repair a strained relationship with Labour.
Peters rules out working with Labour after 2026 election if Hipkins is leader
The NZ First leader wants to be clear: he will never do a governing deal with Hipkins.
Thomas Coughlan: Why Govt's hard tack right in Budget is a challenge for Labour
OPINION: The Government shows its colours – and why Labour is in trouble.
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.
PM says Budget ‘backs growth’, Labour claims KiwiSaver cuts make workers up to $66k worse off
'National backs growth and I’m telling you, Labour wants to tax it,' the PM said today.
‘Show me the money’: Nicola Willis issues challenge to Labour
In a tightly fought Budget build-up, Willis still has words for the Opposition.
Why failure to compromise on Te Pāti Māori MPs' punishment bodes ill for Parliament
OPINION: Someone in Parliament needs to step up and find a compromise.
IRD not 'geared up' to know how many families, if any, received $252 tax promise
Significant lags in data are contributing to the issue.
Explained: Why the Government is getting money from the Super Fund in 2028
The Government caused quite a stir when it announced money would be paid out of the fund.
Luxon announces $164m for new 24/7 urgent care services
The Prime Minister made the pre-Budget health announcement in Botany this afternoon.
An average registered nurse's pay will fall under Greens' tax plan
Plans come at an unfortunate time, with the Opposition protesting pay equity changes.
Opinion: 54th Parliament’s worst week – Thomas Coughlan
A look back at our angry, sweary Parliament.
Nicola Willis announces $577m film investment at Peter Jackson’s film studio
The extra money brings rebate total to $1.09 billion over four years.
Watch: Brooke van Velden drops c-bomb after Labour asks if she agrees with infamous column
It comes as Labour refused to condemn the column.
Greens promise $88b from new taxes spanning inheritance to private jets
The Greens want a wealth tax, inheritance tax and some income tax increases.
David Parker on going ‘a bit far’ on landlord tax and calling an MP a ‘tosser’
Why a former MP thinks his tax change of 2021 went too far and how it could be fixed.
‘Debt-funded spending spree’: Economist from NZ’s largest bank aims at Labour’s Budgets
An ANZ economist has said Labour's Budgets were unsustainable and fuelled inflation.
Economic milestone set as Govt signals first Super Fund withdrawal date
The Government will make the first withdrawal since the fund was established in 2001.
Watch: 'Govt is gaslighting all Kiwi women' Hipkins says in pre-Budget speech
The Government refuses to disclose how much money it will save from reducing pay equity.
Thomas Coughlan: An ugly week for National MPs
OPINION: Pay equity row leaves backbenchers caught between party loyalty and voter anger.
Decision on fate of Te Pāti Māori MPs closer after late-night meeting
The Privileges Committee met again to discuss the actions of three Te Pāti Māori MPs.
'To Shane Jones ...': Parker bows out with a laugh and look back at 23-year career
Labour’s David Parker is leaving Parliament after 23 years.
Parliament marks 110 years of haka, as Te Pāti Māori MPs face wrath of Privileges Committee
Haka have been performed in Parliament for more than a century.
Thomas Coughlan: Government moving too fast on roll back of pay equity regime
OPINION: The coalition hasn't made a good case for urgently pushing through bill.
‘It’s hurting, it’s really hurting’: Kristine Bartlett on Government move to restrict pay equity claims
The changes are set to give the Government major cost reductions ahead of the Budget.
Govt saves $1b after hitting housing target early; Treasury changes forecasts
Treasury has incorporated new pro-growth policies into its forecasts.
Inside the battle for Labour’s wealth tax
A new generation of party activists is ready to fill David Parker's shoes after his exit.
Kiwis saving for retirement get free $1b a year - will it survive Govt cuts?
Govt currently contributes up to $521 a year if people make payments of a certain level.
Peters to travel to New Caledonia
Peters will meet the former French Prime Minister in New Caledonia.
KiwiSaver subsidies, Best Start? What the Govt might cut in Budget - and why
Why the Government is cutting spending, and what might go.
Listen: Tory Whanau rates her performance as mayor a 9/10
She's confirmed she won't be seeking re-election this year.
Nicola Willis' plan to save 'billions' thanks to Budget cuts
Nicola Willis will deliver a pre-Budget speech this morning.
Seymour sides with banks after 'disappointing' advice from Regulation Ministry
The ministry said banking rules were not out of line – Seymour and the banks disagreed.
Government plans to build thousands of EV chargers by 2030
The Government is aiming for 10,000 EV charging stations.
Inside the climate debate that quietly rocked the National Party
OPINION: A Government climate policy sparked a National Party civil war.
Luxon speaks at Gallipoli on the 'real lesson' of Anzac Day
Christopher Luxon is the first New Zealand Prime Minister to visit Gallipoli in a decade.
Anzac spirit: Aussie politicians confirm Kiwi citizenship pathway will stay
There have been fears a change of Government in Australia would axe the new rules.
Thomas Coughlan: How Labour walked away from Tory Whanau and backed Andrew Little
OPINION: In 2022, Labour quietly backed Tory Whanau. Now they want her gone.