Demelza Leslie
Prime Minister backs official poverty advice
The Prime Minister is backing official advice not to spend any more money on tackling poverty, but to change family assistance funding instead. Audio
Finance Minister blames councils for poverty
The Finance Minister is blaming local councils for poverty saying their lack of effort on housing is responsible for the rising levels of inequality. Audio
Prime Minister criticised for palming off spy responsibility
The Prime Minister's been criticised for palming off his responsibility for the country's spy agencies. Audio
John Key to reveal new Cabinet today
The Prime Minister will reveal his new post-election Cabinet today which will include some new faces and the rebranding of a number of ministerial portfolios. Audio
Contest for Wairarapa seat two horse race
The contest for the Wairarapa seat is shaping up to be a two-horse race between a current mayor and a professional director and winemaker. Audio
Reporters tell tales from the campaign trail
Our political reporters have been busy on the campaign trail -- almost as busy as the leaders they've been following. Audio
Big turnout by migrant voters could be game changer
Auckland's ethnic community says a big turnout by migrant voters could be a game changer on election day. Audio
National's being accused of dangling ghost tax cuts
The National Party is being accused of desperately dangling tax cuts it has no details on - other than it will be three years before they are brought in. Audio
ACT launches election campaign
Less than two weeks out from the election the ACT party has promised to scrap the overseas investment office, if it gets into Government. Audio
John Key backs Judith Collins over claims of NZ First deal
The National Party leader is backing his senior MP Judith Collins and her wholesale denial of Winston Peters' claim she wanted to do a deal with him. Audio
Race for Tamaki Makaurau is on.
The race for the urban Maori seat of Tamaki Makaurau is on, with Labour's candidate, Peeni Henare, saying it's his party's best chance in years to win the Auckland seat. Audio
Hundreds turn out to Helensville meeting but rules stymie debate
John Key's one and only debate in his Helensville electorate was held last night and it attracted hundreds hoping for a fiery electorate debate. Audio
Winston Peters pokes fun at Asian diction during speech
The New Zealand First leader, Winston Peters, has courted controversy by using a joke about Asians during his party's campaign launch yesterday. Audio
Major anti-gang moves including GPS monitoring
The Government has announced major anti gang moves including more GPS monitoring of affiliates, new taskforces to block gangs coming in from overseas and to seize gang assets. Audio
Labour says ACT's economic policy is bogus
The Act Party is pledging to cut the company tax rate from 28 percent to 12-and-a-half percent, saying that will boost economic growth by a third. Audio
Tony Ryall - and others - have colourful farewell in Parliament
The retiring Health Minister, Tony Ryall, had an especially colourful farewell in Parliament last night. Audio
Renewed attention on dairying and water quality
Fish and Game says it has yet to receive an assurance from the Conservation Minister, Nick Smith that it is not going to be stripped of its statutory role to speak up in defence of water quality. Audio
Labour accused John Key of treating NZers with contempt
The Labour leader, David Cunliffe, is accusing the Prime Minister of treating New Zealanders with contempt by confirming electorate deals in Epsom and Ohariu. Audio
Parties take pot shots at each other in Parliament
And the state of jobs and the economy in the regions has dominated Parliament this afternoon, with both sides of the House taking pot shots at each other. Audio
Labour leader tells caucus he regrets taking holiday
The Labour leader has told his caucus that he regrets taking a holiday with the party languishing in the polls. Audio
