Premium Politics

Thomas Coughlan: Stanford’s masterclass resets story but Govt faces tough decisions

The Government has had a good week but a challenging course is ahead.

Matthew Hooton: NZ's economic woes should take priority over race debates

OPINION: Whose interests are served by voters arguing about race rather than economics?

Government spent too much during pandemic, against official advice – Treasury

A new Treasury report criticised Labour for overspending during the pandemic.

Audrey Young: NCEA masterclass – Stanford schools colleagues on how to get things done

OPINION: It has been Erica Stanford's week, or perhaps Erica Stanford's year.

Govt allocates $25m for potential referendum on four-year terms

Finance Minister Nicola Willis reduced the original budget from $33.057m to $25m.

Audrey Young: Why Winston Peters needs help to resolve the NZ-Cook Islands dispute

OPINION: It's been suggested there are too many 'old bull-young bull' dynamics at play.

Simon Wilson: Why National's got the country and itself into such a mess

OPINION: National either knows what it's doing or it doesn't, but the outcome is the same.

From $817m to $2.1b in five years – one road’s cost blowout

'It was basically costed on the back of an envelope.'

Editorial: Tāmaki Makaurau's byelection is really about Willie Jackson and John Tamihere

OPINION: Willie Jackson and John Tamihere are key behind the scenes.

Principals have their say on axing NCEA: A 'huge step forward' or a game of political football?

Leading principals debate the merits of plans to radically overhaul education.

Jamie Ensor: What led Government to abolish NCEA – and why we shouldn't be shocked

ANALYSIS: It's likely to be a popular move at the right time for the Government.

NCEA performance: See how every high school ranks as Govt scraps qualification

Explore the key achievement trends in our interactive.

Vote for me, vote for my ticket: Wayne Brown's big election play

Analysis: Wayne Brown doesn't want just to win, he wants a council he can control.

Ex-president Peter Goodfellow on the greatest threats to National's re-election

Goodfellow was National's president for 13 years and spent almost 20 as a board member.

National Party president: Voters aren’t seeing PM Christopher Luxon’s ‘humanity’

Luxon and Labour leader Chris Hipkins appear very close in preferred PM ratings currently.

Thomas Coughlan: Can Luxon convince voters that better times are coming?

OPINION: The Prime Minister might be right. But what if nobody believes him?

Matthew Hooton: Luxon living on borrowed time as stagflation looms

OPINION: Nervous National MPs look to next polls.

NCEA test: Prime Minister prepares 'fundamental overhaul', announcement imminent

The Education Minister is foreshadowing public consultation on a substantial proposal.

Seymour resurrects idea of migrants signing NZ 'values statement'

It comes after Winston Peters said migrants should salute our flag.

Audrey Young: NZ beginning to look like an outlier on Gaza

OPINION: As global sentiment on Gaza shifts, New Zealand is standing still.

New details emerge on Orr's early exit from final Willis meeting

Reserve Bank awaits an Ombudsman's ruling over its handling of information requests.

Audrey Young: The signs that Christopher Luxon is getting worried

He's making a sudden big effort to set the agenda at the start of each week.

Simon Wilson: In defence of Auckland's urban designers

OPINION: Chris Bishop wants councils to stop trying to win design awards. But why?

Tamatha Paul on why she is loving being an MP

Tamatha Paul, the Green MP for Wellington Central, believes she can still make a difference from Opposition. Video / Mark Mitchell

Audrey Young: Outspoken MP Tamatha Paul says she doesn't mean to be provocative

The MP is the youngest of 7, was school Dux, and first in her family to go to university.

Health NZ considering sending cancer patients to Oz, citing gynaecologist shortage

NZ has half as many gynaecology oncologists per capita as is recommended internationally.

Ministers agree to raise board members' pay ranges by up to 80%

The increase for Crown bodies comes as the Govt celebrates tax relief it has introduced.

Traffic management expert doubtful new road cone hotline will work

'I'm very doubtful that this particular thread [the hotline] is going to bear fruit.'

‘Alarming’: Peters on 'careless' immigration, and his ‘friend’ Farage

Winston Peters tells the Herald why Kiwis should vote NZ First over National and Act.

NZ First leader Winston Peters on the Government's new Parent Boost Visa

He stressed the need for the migrants to pay their own costs and not rely on the taxpayer. Video / Mark Mitchell

Winston Peters on ‘alarming developments’ from immigration

The NZ First leader gave his observations of what’s happening overseas. Video / Mark Mitchell

'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.

Editorial: It's time to fully review our local government structure

OPINION: But any changes must be the right ones for the right reasons.

Both sides reckon the election is in the bag, one of them is wrong – Thomas Coughlan

OPINION: Everyone thinks they can win the next election. Someone must be wrong, but who?

Tiny number of new pay equity claims expected – but first is ‘very close’

The Government radically changed pay equity laws, causing one union to boycott the regime.

Audrey Young: The sweary PM – Luxon feels the heat & loses his cool

OPINION: Luxon's use of a 'minced oath' shows the pressure has been on this week.

'Sorry Adrian lost his cool' - The Reserve Bank email officials wouldn't release

Nicola Willis conveys her 'disappointment' to the Reserve Bank.

Richard Prebble: NZ needs more than interest rate cuts to get economy going

Opinion: To lift our standard of living, we must raise our productivity.

Insider spills beans on Adrian Orr’s resignation – Treasury confirms an allegation

Nicola Willis tries to keep her distance.

How Govt sliced $200m off the cost of new Waikato medical school

ANALYSIS: The medical school was originally mooted to cost $380m but will now cost $232m.

Foreign buyers ban: Peters says change to be announced this year, denies 'softening'

No formal proposal has gone before David Seymour, the minister in charge.

'The scariest thing yet'? Calling out Groundswell's scare tactics

OPINION: New finance proposals for climate action deserve support, not scaremongering.

Why Govt's $7b ACC accounting change won't lower your levies

The Government's making a big change to ACC's liabilities, but it will not mean levy cuts.

Reserve Bank chair denies conflict of interest amid Waikato medical school deal

The Government has agreed to spend more than $82m to help build the school.