Stories by Craig McCulloch

The government's gang crackdown has ignited opposition from both sides of the political spectrum but gained a thumbs-up from one of the country's foremost gang experts. Audio

As new visa rules take effect, Minister of Immigration Michael Wood says he will monitor settings for nurses and will remain open to changes.

The Opposition leader says all his MPs are united around the commitment not to change abortion law, as former Justice Minister Amy Adams says restricting the law would be "absolutely soul-destroying".

Incoming Minister of Police Chris Hipkins has admitted the government has a lot of work to do to tackle gang crime but says he "enjoys a challenge".

A spokesperson for the prime minister confirmed Ardern would announce some "minor" changes to the Cabinet line-up at 3pm.

Parliament's Speaker Trevor Mallard has refused to answer questions from MPs about the trespass notices issued earlier this year - reigniting calls for him to go.

New Zealand seems to be on track to becoming full military allies with the United States, a defence analyst says, following the prime minister's White House visit.

More than two million New Zealanders will get a one-off $350 sweetener as part of the Budget's centrepiece $1 billion cost-of-living relief package.

Climate activists say the government's landmark plan to curb emissions is light on detail, full of fluff, and lets the worst polluters off the hook.

Power Play - The prime minister's trip abroad was billed as a "trade mission," but was most productive when it was leader-to-leader behind closed doors.

New Zealand is beefing up its security ties with Japan in the face of "unprecedented challenges" through a plan to share more classified information on international issues.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has touched down in Singapore after a clean Covid-19 test cleared the way for her first overseas trip since 2020.

Power Play - Few prime ministerial trips have seemed so long in the coming - and still so uncertain - after a nearly 800-day hiatus from international travel, writes Craig McCulloch.

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has accused the government of neglecting the Pacific and says his successor should have visited the region sooner.

The Green Party says New Zealand has put its relationship with the NATO security alliance ahead of saving lives in Ukraine.

Power Play - National has found its version of "Jacindamania" - and Labour may struggle to counter it in this volatile climate, Craig McCulloch writes.

The National leader will not negotiate with the protesters and says they are difficult to engage with given their "anti-social, abusive" behaviour. National's whole caucus has agreed not to meet them.

Microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles is "really worried" about the government's plan for an Omicron outbreak, warning the red traffic light setting will not be enough to slow the variant down.

As well as the regional traffic light restrictions, ministers are likely to also discuss the traffic light system's broader parameters, the planned border reopening, and testing requirements. Audio

The two-way quarantine-free travel bubble lasted just three months in 2021. Since then, the island nation has vaccinated close to 100 percent of its eligible population, paving the way for today's…

Jacinda Ardern is refusing to comment on claims her fiancé tried to get rapid antigen tests for his musician friends despite them not being eligible.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she wants to see house prices fall back from their record heights next year.

National's Covid-19 Response spokesperson Chris Bishop said the legislation had been "thrown together hastily" and then dropped with little analysis and no time for public scrutiny. Audio

Talking points - With consensus on eliminating Covid-19 Delta showing signs of wavering this week, RNZ asked politicians, scientists and officials if it's time to double down or change tack.

Scientists have shot down calls from New Zealanders overseas who want fewer border restrictions, warning such action right now would risk another Delta outbreak.