Stories by Demelza Leslie

An increase to 'inadequate' Working for Families payments is absolutely critical to support low-income families, an advocate says.

The government has denied it is manipulating numbers to make its better public service targets easier to reach.

Former Prime Minister Dame Jenny Shipley has launched another stinging attack on the middle class for taking social welfare she says they do not need. Video

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has been accused of stooping to a new low in politics by using tactics straight out of the Donald Trump playbook.

Gang affiliates should to be allowed to work with prisoners because they are able to work closely with the hardest to reach whānau, the Māori Party says. Audio

Community groups do not believe the Ministry of Social Development's claim it can fast-track a new IT system to securely collect people's private information.

Rose Renton sparked a nationwide debate after she fought for her son, Alex, to get approval to use medicinal cannabis. He died in 2015, but she is still fighting.

More Chinese investment in New Zealand and booming tourism numbers were a key part of talks yesterday between the Prime Minister and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

The Prime Minister Bill English will hold his first official meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Wellington today.

Civilians were not armed during botched raids involving the NZSAS, a doctor who helped the wounded says. Audio

The government will reword legislation about where at-risk children are sent, in response to pressure from Māori.

A $20 billion Defence Force upgrade already underway could not be guaranteed under a Labour-led government.

Newsmaker - After a busy week that saw her slam the government over its stance on a state care abuse inquiry - and become Labour's deputy leader - RNZ sat down to chat with Jacinda Ardern.

MPs say departing Labour deputy leader Annette King is a unique politician, who is respected and well-liked across the divide.

The ACT Party has announced a policy to give prisoners time off their sentences for learning to read and write aimed at reducing reoffending.

New Zealand foreign affairs officials have set up a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week Americas taskforce to keep abreast of any new policy put in place by the US President Donald Trump.

Housing NZ says it will add 1400 houses in Auckland in the next three years, after earlier mistakenly telling MPs it would only add 700.

The head of Corrections says cutting staff in 2015 was "a reasonable decision" at the time, despite efforts to recruit another 800 before the end of this year.

The Labour leader has spoken to his MPs after concerns over Willie Jackson's pick as a new list candidate because of his previous comments about sexual violence.

The government's announcement of 1100 extra police officers was an admission that crime was rising, says NZ First leader Winston Peters.

Political parties have started to draw lines in the sand following the confirmation of this year's election date.

Murray McCully says he has confidence in the Foreign Affairs Ministry, despite delays finding out how the Trump order affects some Kiwis.

President Trump's ban on Muslims has revived debate about whether New Zealand should increase its refugee quota.

The National Party caucus meets this morning to endorse Bill English and Paula Bennett as the country's new Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.

Bill English has yet to be sworn in as Prime Minister and is already facing pressure over a possible early election and questions around who will make up his Cabinet.