Focus on Politics

Two years ago the Government abandoned plans to overhaul the Resource Management Act when two of its support parties - United Future and the Maori Party - opposed it. Now National has enough votes in… Read more Audio

The Government's still clinging to its promise to return the books to surplus this financial year, despite Treasury predictions to the contrary. Audio

Parliament has risen for the year but not before rushing through legislation which gives the Security Intelligence Service greater powers to pry into people's lives. Audio

The Government is under continued pressure to defend its response to the threat posed by Islamic State. It was forced to water down its controversial anti-terror legislation this week, and to quash… Read more Audio

The Prime Minister, John Key, is on the defensive after an inquiry by the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, Cheryl Gwyn, found his office fed information from the SIS to rightwing… Read more Audio

The visit of the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, ends a busy two weeks of international meetings for the Prime Minister, John Key. Last week Mr Key was at the APEC leaders' meeting in Beijing and the… Read more Audio

The Labour Party has finally wrapped its three-week long roadshow; it'll soon decide on a new leader. Audio

After months of talking the Prime Minister finally announced this week the steps the Government intends taking to combat the threat posed by the jihadist group Islamic State. Audio

The Government has passed new workplace laws that will affect collective bargaining, employees' breaks and strike action and it's already turning its attention to possible changes to the Holidays Act.

The Government's plans for the coming term have been laid out as MPs return to Parliament following last month's general election. But while it's back in action, it's going about its business under… Read more Audio

After a ten-year campaign New Zealand has won a non-permanent position on the the United Nations Security Council for 2015-16. Audio

The Government's Ministers are now sworn in and the 51st Parliament will kick off in just over a week. Audio