Focus on Politics

If the Government thought the resignation last week of former Cabinet Minister Nick Smith would calm the furore around the Accident Compensation Corporation it's been sadly mistaken. Audio

The Auditor General is considering requests for an independent inquiry into the Accident Compensation Corporation. Audio

The Public Service is in for another shake-up. The Prime Minister announced the Government would merge two departments and two ministries to create a new Ministry of Business, Innovation and… Read more Audio

The controversial Search and Surveillance Bill will go through its final stages when Parliament resumes sitting the week after next. Audio

The Government's been accused of trying to push people off welfare at a time when there are no jobs. Audio

Steven Joyce is the National Party's Mr Fix It. He became a Government minister in 2008 without any previous parliamentary experience and was National's campaign chairperson in the 2011 election… Read more Audio

The National-led Government has again been dogged by controversy over the Crafar farms sale and its partial privatisation programme. Audio

The National-led Government is facing increasing pressure from Maori over its plans to sell minority stakes in four energy companies. Audio

The imminent sale of New Zealand land and strategic assets has lit the fire under the issue of foreign ownership at the start of the political year. Audio

During last year's election campaign the National Party campaigned strongly on the theme of financial responsibility. It said it would get the Government's books back into surplus in 2014-15 and the… Read more Audio

The country's MPs finally got to break for their holidays this week but not before the new Labour leader, David Shearer, confronted the Prime Minister, John Key, for the first time in Parliament. Audio

David Shearer, who hasn't yet served a full term in Parliament, was chosen to replace Phil Goff, as the leader of the Labour Party. The MP for Wellington Central, Grant Roberston, is the new deputy. Audio