Stories by Peter Wilson

National's childcare policy, how much the government is paying consultants, an inquiry into bank profits and the "gobbledygook" health statistics.

Analysis - National's Three Waters alternative begs the question: Who will pay? And Rob Campbell describes being sacked from both his public service roles as "Muldoonism in action", Peter Wilson write…

Chris Hipkins and Christopher Luxon go head-to-head, and Grant Robertson is under the gun over how to pay for the cyclone rebuild.

Analysis - Prime Minister Chris Hipkins announces the government's awaited policy reset and meets his Australian counterpart in Canberra, while politicians tone down their Waitangi speeches and the…

Analysis - Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has had a dream start with polls showing Labour ahead of National, but now he has to prove himself in Parliament and quickly deliver on his promises.

Analysis - Jacinda Ardern's resignation announcement has turned politics on its head and Labour must now find a new leader capable of taking on National - an awesome undertaking in an election year…

Analysis - 2022 was the year that changed the political landscape as Labour support drifted away and National's resurrection put the party into a strong position to seize power in 2023, Peter Wilson w…

Analysis - Labour gets a warning from Hamilton West, ministers are told to take a hard look at their spending and the prime minister gets headlines for a remark she didn't think anyone heard.

National's still on track to win the general election, the government removes the Three Waters entrenchment clause and Willie Jackson's "trainwreck" interview about the RNZ/TVNZ merger.

Analysis - Three waters legislation, raising the retirement age and a press conference with a visiting prime minister were all hot topics this week in politics, writes Peter Wilson.

Analysis - The PM casts doubt on the accuracy of a shocking poll for Labour, while opposition parties are upset by the re-appointment of the Reserve Bank governor.

Analysis - National security was front and centre this week with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern saying New Zealand needs to plan its own response to terrorist threats, writes Peter Wilson.

Analysis - Another week of bad news for the government as hospital waiting times hit the headlines and National charges in, fair pay legislation is passed won't last long if Labour loses the next…

Analysis: There's rural outrage over the government's emissions pricing proposals for agriculture , and a swing to the right in council elections.

Analysis: A surprisingly good set of government accounts livens up the tax cut debate - it's shaping up as a key election issue and a defining difference between Labour and National.

Analysis - Sam Uffindell is back in National's fold but Luxon's refusal to release the report on his behaviour creates uncertainty over its findings, writes Peter Wilson.

Analysis - The government will be hoping for a poll payback after scrapping Covid-19 restrictions; neither of the main parties are interested in republicanism and bullying in Parliament rears up…

Analysis - The government's KiwiSaver tax debacle is 'manna from heaven' for National, while extra checks are made to ensure the cost of living allowance goes to those living here, Peter Wilson writes…

Analysis - Gaurav Sharma is expelled but he's not giving up his campaign against Labour. Parliament gets a new Speaker and the government uses its majority to push through controversial legislation.

Analysis - As Labour MP Gaurav Sharma faces almost certain expulsion and a lonely future as an independent in Parliament he's continuing to go public with explosive claims about the party and the…

Analysis - Christopher Luxon must decide whether Sam Uffindell stays or goes - the most difficult call he's made since as leader - while a Labour MP launches an extraordinary attack on his caucus…

Analysis - The cost of living payment gets messy, Cabinet decides to urgently fix a serious electoral law problem, and James Shaw won't face any challengers for Greens co-leadership.

Analysis - The Green Party's instability has implications reaching through to the next election, while Christopher Luxon is caught up in another unnecessary muddle.

Analysis - More than 900 doctors warn the health workforce is in serious trouble as the surge in Covid-19 cases and hospitalisations draws a response from the government.

Analysis - While the PM's trip to Australia signals a shift in trans-Tasman relations, speculation continues over the government turning on the red traffic light again, writes Peter Wilson.