Stories by Russell Palmer

The prime minister intends to speak to Kiri Allan in a couple of weeks about claims of past disunity with her staff. He suggests the ongoing interest is a sign of higher standards.

The Cabinet minister is rejecting the description of events provided by the head of DOC over claims of a breakdown in the relationship with staff.

Parties across Parliament seem to agree the funding to keep the Ruapehu skifields operating over winter is not a great look, but needed to happen.

Opposition parties are largely endorsing the government's move to pump $128 million more into tertiary education, but say it shows things need to change.

Opposition leader Christopher Luxon says he will not use Defence Force planes to travel internationally if elected as prime minister.

ACT's new policy to set more specific rules for hiring contractors would only lead to more exploitation of workers, an employment lawyer who has fought cases on behalf of disgruntled workers says.

A government response details 16 times the Cabinet office interacted with Michael Wood over his shares since 2017 - which eventually led to his resignation.

National Party leader Christopher Luxon says Michael Wood's behaviour shows prime minister Chris Hipkins is weak and failed to manage his team's culture.

Opposition parties have been accused of trying to whip up racism over a tool which prioritises surgery waitlists based partly on ethnicity, and the Health Minister's been asked to check it's working…

ACT MP Simon Court has been referred to Parliament's powerful privileges committee after he publicly shared select committee information.

Labour's campaign chair is standing by a social media post which likens National's prescriptions policy to dystopian TV show and novel The Handmaid's Tale.

The main parties both say they are willing to work together on policies to build more housing, but neither seems likely to budge over their approach.

The Privileges Committee will consider whether Education Minister Jan Tinetti's false statement and delay in correcting it amounts to contempt of Parliament. Video

A week on from the Budget, RNZ has delved into some of the smaller but still noteworthy items in the government's list of spending. Audio

Luxon remains committed to yearly increases to education and health spending, and has clarified comments about bringing the $5 prescription fee back.

National and ACT are warning of massive overspending by the government, while the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are saying more spending was needed.

This year's "no-frills" Budget is spending nearly $11.5 billion more of taxpayers' money over four years. Here's a list of the major spending and projects.

Land covenants across the entire economy will also be reviewed, as part of the government's response to the Commerce Commission's Building Supplies Market Study.

Parties in Parliament have made statements acknowledging the fire at a Wellington hostel overnight, and praising the lifesaving work of emergency responders. Video

Opposition parties are rubbishing Finance Minister Grant Robertson's cost savings, saying $1 billion a year is nothing in the context of how much extra it's spending. Audio

They say Luxon's ability to vote in multiple regions in local elections undermines his "one person, one vote" philosophy; he says he would "possibly" look to repeal that.

Politicians from a variety of political parties have been urging people to heed official communications about the weather.

The leaders of Te Pāti Māori have been ejected from the House after welcoming Meka Whaitiri with a whakawātea, without permission from the other parties or the Speaker.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Labour's Māori MPs say Meka Whaitiri never raised concerns about not being listened to - and it doesn't match their own experience.

The government's Budget this year will boost Defence Force pay rates by $4000 to $15,000, at a cost of $419 million, plus $328m on assets and infrastructure.