Craig Mcculloch
NZ beefs up powers to police high seas for drug smugglers
New Zealand is beefing up its powers to police the high seas as it faces the risk of becoming an easy target for drug smugglers. Legislation to crack down on drug trafficking passed its first reading… Audio
Kelvin Davis insists he was aware of prison population projections
Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis first suggested on RNZ this morning that he didn't know prison population forecasts when he made the decision not to go ahead with a mega prison at Waikeria - but… Video, Audio
Focus on Politics: New financial year
July the first marks the beginning of the new financial year - and with it comes a raft of changes heralded by the new Government. Its flagship families policy will deliver a boost for low and… Audio
Accountants' complaints force IRD to push back deadline
Inland Revenue has effectively pushed back today's deadline for thousands of people to file their GST returns because of technical glitches with its online system. Video, Audio
Man charged over Young Labour camp assaults
A 20-year-old man has been arrested and charged with four counts of indecent assault which occurred at a Young Labour summer camp in Waihi in February. Video, Audio
National says Andrew Little trivialised indecent assault
Minister for Women Julie Anne Genter is defending Justice Minister Andrew Little after he was accused of trivialising sexual assault. Mr Little has said it was unfair a prisoner was sentenced to seven… Audio
Winston Peters: ‘Heads should roll’ at Fonterra
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has swung in behind his MP Shane Jones in his attack against dairy giant Fonterra, saying there needs to be accountability for the company's "massive loss". Video, Audio
NZ First forces govt u-turn on three strikes law
In a humiliating about-turn, Justice Minister Andrew Little has dropped plans to repeal the three strikes law after New Zealand First refused to give its support. Video, Audio
National slams Kelvin Davis over Parliament performance
Opposition MPs are demanding the Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis give some proper answers at Parliament, after what they call a breath-taking display of incompetence. Mr Davis fielded questions about… Audio
Nervous wait for tenants over meth compensation
People who've been needlessly booted out of state houses due to meth hysteria now face a nervous wait to find out if they'll get any compensation. Lawyers are struggling to find any legal options for… Audio
Govt sets up fair pay panel but employers worried
Employers are bristling at a planned radical shake-up in industrial relations - warning of a return to the 1970s. The Government has set up a 10-member panel to look into the best way to set up… Audio
Greens call on Paula Bennett to apologise for meth evictions
Housing Minister Phil Twyford says he's saying sorry to HNZ tenants evicted for methamphetamine contamination, because National is too gutless to do so. Audio
Taskforce unveiled to sort out holiday pay mess
The government is setting up a taskforce to look at the Holidays Act, which has long been criticised for being too complex, resulting in many employers underpaying their staff. Video, Audio
National not backing down in dispute with Speaker Mallard
The Parliamentary showdown between the Opposition and the Speaker of the House, Trevor Mallard, remains entrenched - with National MPs saying they're not backing down. It comes after scenes of… Audio
National MPs in stand-off with Speaker Mallard
National MPs have set a deadline of two o'clock today for Parliament's Speaker Trevor Mallard to explain his role in a story a National MP calling the Prime Minister "a stupid little girl" in the… Audio
Housing NZ rejects claims parolees blocked from homes
Housing New Zealand has rejected suggestions it routinely blocks people from being bailed or paroled to state houses. But lawyers and the Justice Minister Andrew Little say there is a problem - and… Audio
National attacks Labour over ‘tax and spend’ Budget
Accusations over which political party spent more and how it was spent have been flying back and forth in the post-Budget mop-up. Political reporter Craig McCulloch reports. Video, Audio
Farmers turn on one another in Mycoplasma bovis battle
Stressed farmers are turning on each other as officials struggle to contain the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis. The number of farms under the shadow of the disease has exploded over the past week -… Audio
M bovis: Farmers under stress as disease spreads
A Southland farmer is urging politicians on both sides to quit squabbling and take swift action to eradicate the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis. Almost 300 farms are now under regulatory control… Audio
Former Pacific Minister Ngaro criticises govt's funding boost
National's former Minister for Pacific Peoples, Alfred Ngaro, is criticising the government's massive boost in aid to the Pacific region, saying its priorities are wrong. The government is set to… Audio