Focus on Politics

After years of wrangling the largest regional trade deal in the world, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, was finally settled this week. Our political reporter, Chris Bramwell, takes a look what the deal… Read more Audio

Since late last year there has been a huge increase in the number of New Zealanders being held in Australian detention centres, and this week it was revealed that one prisoner died while awaiting… Read more Audio

The father of a family who failed to claim refugee status based on climate change, was this week deported from New Zealand. But his case raised the broader question of, as the changing climate takes… Read more Audio

In just two months time New Zealanders will be voting on four alternative flag designs which could possibly replace the country's current flag. Audio

After weeks of public and political pressure, the Government on Monday announced it would take an emergency quota of Syrian refugees. Audio

Numerous petitions, canvassing such diverse topics as banning shark cage diving to cannabis reform, are presented to Parliament every year for MPs to consider, but very few lead to law changes. So… Read more Audio

Turmoil on the international stock markets this past week, with underlying fears of slowing growth in China, has raised questions about the resilience of the New Zealand economy. Audio

The workplace safety legislation that was supposed to be a response to the Pike River deaths has ended up the subject of ridicule, mainly because of how various industries have been categorised… Read more Audio

This week the Government finally pulled the plug on its ailing coal company Solid Energy. Audio

New Zealand First has held its first annual conference since last year's general election, and its leader Winston Peter's win in the Northland by-election in March. Audio

Time now for Focus on Politics, where our parliamentary chief reporter, Jane Patterson, looks at how the political debate in New Zealand unfolded, during the week as the Trans Pacific Partnership… Read more Audio

The National Party is holding its annual conference in Auckland this weekend as it nears the end of the first year of its third term in government. Audio