Stories by Mei Heron
News
Green Party fights as poll bodes ill
The Green Party says it has a strong base as polls show the party hovering above the number needed to stay in Parliament.
Green Party promises to raise student allowances
The Green Party has pledged to raise student allowances by 20 percent and make it available to everyone who studies.
'You cannot negotiate with the climate' - Shaw
Charging carbon polluters and using funds to plant a billion trees would create "tens of thousands" of jobs, Green party leader James Shaw says. Audio
Greens want to replace Emissions Trading Scheme
The Green Party wants to replace the Emissions Trading Scheme with a fund that would return dividends of up to $250 per person each year.
Peters wants Gold Card to go high tech
New Zealand First wants the SuperGold card to be more than a "dumb piece of plastic" by turning it into a debit card that collects loyalty points.
Is there a road map for the Māori Party?
First Person - The Māori Party is signalling it would prefer to go with Labour if it's in a position to make a choice. Mei Heron reports from the party's campaign bus.
Tough battle for the Waiariki seat under way
Māori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell knows he has a battle on his hands to keep the seat of Waiariki.
'We need a change' - Grandmother feeding the homeless
In the four years Debbie Munroe has been helping fill Manurewa's bellies she's seen an explosion in the numbers of people sleeping rough, she says.
Homelessness and poverty on Tāmaki Makaurau voters' minds
Candidates in the electorate are getting a clear message from voters on what matters to them.
Green Party announces policy for marine sanctuary '50 times' size of Lake Taupō
The Green Party wants to create one of New Zealand's largest marine sanctuaries off the South Taranaki coast to protect animals from seabed mining.
Green Party's trash to cash plan
The Green Party wants to put an immediate 20 cent charge on plastic bags, phase out plastic packaging, and send zero waste to landfill by 2050.
Ardern raises stakes over Dunedin hospital
A Labour government would start building a new hospital in the centre of Dunedin in its first term, the party says.
Green campaign: Shaw dusts off and soldiers on
After a difficult period for the Green Party culminating in the loss of two top staffers earlier this week, its leader James Shaw is cracking on with the campaign.
Ardern meets with Australian High Commissioner over citizenship spat
Australia's Foreign Minister says it will be difficult trust a Labour government with the involvement of a Labour MP in Australia's Deputy PM's citizenship controversy.
Greens recycle 2014 election slogan
The Green Party has recycled its 2014 election slogan 'Love New Zealand' as it re-launches this year's campaign.
Greens regroup after Turei's shock resignation
The Green Party is locked in back-to-back campaign meetings as they scramble to pick up the pieces from Metiria Turei's shock resignation.
Turei shaken after grilling by MSD investigators
Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei has been questioned about her benefit history at a meeting with investigators from the Ministry of Social Development. Video
Peters claims PM sent Southland staffer hundreds of texts
Prime Minister Bill English has been accused of sending hundreds of text messages to the woman who resigned after a dispute with National MP Todd Barclay.
School decile system to be scrapped by govt
The government is scrapping the decile rating system for schools, replacing it with a confidential funding system.
Human trafficking 'definitely a problem' in NZ
New Zealand is closely watching the anti-slavery law in the UK as authorities say exploitation and human trafficking is starting to become a bigger problem here.
Work visas hit all-time high
Work visas were approved for a record 226,000 people in the last financial year, and according to the government the number will keep rising.
Labour pledges $4bn boost for education sector
The Labour Party wants to stop schools asking parents for donations, and would give the education sector an extra $4 billion if elected to government.
'Poverty should never be used as a weapon' - Metiria Turei
Nobody should ever have to lie, as she did, in order to feed their kids, Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei says. Video, Audio
Greens' Turei reveals struggles at family policy launch
The co-leader reveals she lied to receive more benefits while struggling to raise her daughter on her own, as the party announces its $1.5bn families' package.
Greens: Clean tech would 'keep NZ going for decades'
The Green Party wants to create an infrastructure fund, paid for by raising royalty rates on oil drilling, to help the country become carbon neutral by 2050.