Nita Blake Persen

A former Christchurch businessman turned philanthropist estimates $5 billion has been paid out in wage subsidies to companies that do not necessarily need it.

Grant Nelson and his wife Marilyn run… Audio

Northlanders are breathing a cautious sigh of relief after no new community Covid-19 cases were found among the more than 1,000 tests carried out yesterday.

The Ministry of Health today revealed that… Audio

In Northland, some people waited more than seven hours to get Covid-19 tests on Monday, describing the process as "chaos".

A woman in Northland has contracted Covid-19 after testing negative twice… Video, Audio

While the world has been caught up in inauguration day fever, the team at Kelly Tarlton's in Auckland have been pre-occupied with a fever of a different kind.

A fever of newborn eagle ray pups - a… Audio

Donald Trump may be the only President to be impeached twice, but could he be the first President to face criminal prosecution?

Prosecuting a former president is unprecedented in the United States -… Audio

A listen back to some of the top moments from today's inauguration of Joe Biden as the United States' 46th president. Audio

RNZ's Washington DC correspondent Simon Marks has been following Inauguration Day, and the last four years, very closely.

Nita Blake-Persen speaks to Simon Marks about the Trump Presidency and the… Audio

Nita Blake-Persen speaks with Dan Zirker, a professor at Waikato University's political science department about democracy, the Trump years, and looking forward to the next four years. Audio

It seems the third time is a charm for Joe Biden - this was his third attempt at the Presidency; he first ran in the Democratic primaries in 1988.

Nita Blake-Persen talked to Dr. Melissa Miller, an… Audio

Four years ago Donald Trump was arguing his crowds were the largest in history. Today Joe Biden wants his to be the smallest.

Nita Blake-Persen speaks with Giles Gibson our correspondent in… Audio

After four years of Donald Trump, Joe Biden swore the oath of office just before 6-o'clock this morning to take the helm as the country's 46th president. Audio

Nita Blake-Persen speaks to Waikato University political science professor, Dan Zirker, about the differences between today's inauguration and those in previous years. Audio

American Presidents have made history with their inauguration speeches.

In 1933 Franklin D Roosevelt told his audience "we have nothing to fear but fear itself."

And in 1961, John F. Kennedy… Audio

As Joe Biden is sworn in today, Donald Trump shuffles out... But he's left a divided America, in the midst of a pandemic, civil unrest and economic uncertainty.

Brent Budowsky, political columnist… Audio

Three New Zealand-based experts talk about how changes from the Biden administration could flow out to New Zealand.

Nita Blake-Persen spoke to Tim Groser, a former ambassador to the United States and… Audio

America has a new President. This morning, Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States of America and Kamala Harris was sworn in as Vice President. Māni Dunlop and Nita… Audio

It's a day of celebration for Democrats across the US... but also for Democrats in New Zealand. Christine Valverde and Genice Paullay Beazley are from the group Democrats Abroad in New Zealand and… Audio

Jacinda Ardern has congratulated the new President of the United States Joe Biden, on behalf of New Zealand. Audio

Joe Biden has now been sworn in as the 46th president of the United States. Here's a look back at what led up to this historic moment. Audio

Nita Blake-Persen speaks to Waikato University political science professor Dan Zirker after Joe Biden's inaugural speech. Audio