NZ Herald

The outgoing Indian High Commissioner says it is an “aspiration” for New Zealand’s private sector to invest US$20 billion in India under the proposed free trade agreement, the same language National ministers have deployed to allay concerns over the clause.

The Government trumpeted an $80 reduction to the total cost of getting a full driver’s licence, but a close look at the Cabinet documents and officials’ advice suggests more changes - possibly an increase - to the fees could come afterwards.

There has been a question swirling around Parliament for the past year or so, over whether New Zealand First can successfully follow the path of Nigel Farage’s Reform in galvanising support behind a populist alternative to the two main political parties.

The Prime Minister’s election-year opener will see Christopher Luxon attempt to wrestle New Zealanders’ attention away from turbulent affairs overseas and remind them of what the Government sees as steady, promised progress in key areas such as law and order, education and cutting red tape.

From readable romances to thoughtful collections and turbulent journeys of meaning, these are the new release books and contemporary classics that captured our attention this year.

Several cases of potentially defamatory comments, breaches of privacy and unsupported assertions were found in Youth MPs’ draft speeches by officials tasked with reviewing them before delivery during a Youth Parliament overshadowed by censorship claims earlier this year.

A member of the high-profile Mowbray family personally messaged the Prime Minister to express disappointment about National announcing legislation to ban social media for under-16s just days before an event to launch a campaign on the issue.

While the differences between NZ First and Labour may be stark, over the past month or so, several issues have come to the fore on which there seems to be greater similarity between those two parties than NZ First and its current partners.

The Government has begun approving significant pay hikes for members of Crown boards - in several cases roughly doubling their compensation - after introducing a new set of fees.

Police Minister Mark Mitchell’s office received 36 emails containing allegations against former deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming since December 2023. However, Mitchell has told the Herald then-Police Commissioner Andrew Coster directed police staff in the ministerial office to send the emails directly to his own office and not share them

“It felt like we hadn’t really heard that story before – and also really acknowledging the fact that it’s a really female-dominated industry – and I felt that it would be a really important message for my parliamentary colleagues to be able to hear and see the contribution that this …

The Government’s decision to hike the fees Crown board members can be paid could cost around $11 million, according to modelling by the Public Service Commission (PSC).

The Government will remove a requirement for school boards to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, but will still make clear they should seek to achieve equitable outcomes for Māori students.

Donald Trump's presence could be felt everywhere at both the Asean and Apec summits. So how did Christopher Luxon compare?

New Zealand’s Christopher Luxon has had his first face time with US President Donald Trump on the sideline of the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) summit. The Herald’s Jamie Ensor was in Gyeongju, South Korea as it happened.

Two major international events await Christopher Luxon in Asia this week – but an always unpredictable US President Donald Trump is also on his way, including for what could be a consequential meeting with China’s leader. The Herald will be in Malaysia and South Korea following developments.

An explosive email sent by Te Pāti Māori detailing allegations against one of its own MPs has brought the party’s private disagreements into the light. It risks sowing more internal trouble just days after the party announced a ‘reset’.

The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) has apologised after a whistleblower complaint led a top watchdog to find it had “unreasonably” excluded the costs of a senior executive’s farewell celebration from its response to Official Information Act (OIA) requests.

Government agencies warned plans to hike the fees that Crown board members could be paid may have “significant financial implications”, impact the delivery of public services, and exacerbate cost pressures.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has written to Labour leader Chris Hipkins urging him to commit his party to supporting offshore exploration for natural gas for at least the next 10 years, in an effort to achieve a “credible, bipartisan approach”.

The National Party and New Zealand First are at odds over a central pillar of immigration policy, a disagreement that will almost certainly turn into a political football at the 2026 election.

Mariameno Kapa-Kingi says Te Pāti Māori’s leadership has removed her from the role of party whip despite her enjoying the work.

Te Pāti Māori MP Tākuta Ferris has doubled down on social media comments he made last week which led to “racist” allegations and an apology from his party.

Receipts, providing evidence of recent spending in the surrounding neighbourhood, will be the only currency of value for the store (you’ll need four of them to nab that iconic pasta water).Tony Downing, who has been a part of the community for over 22 years, will be the shopkeeper for Karangahape …

Te Pāti Māori MP Tākuta Ferris is under fire for a social media post taking issue with the ethnicity of Labour supporters campaigning for the Tāmaki Makaurau byelection.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters denies the Government’s announcement to allow foreign investors to purchase homes in NZ reflects a loosening of the foreign buyers ban introduced when he was last in power.

The Government is not giving agencies additional money to fund possibly significant increases to Crown board members’ fees, raising concerns pay bumps may come at the expense of services.

What’s one word to sum up your mood right now? Buoyant. Since Northbound was published in April, I’ve been getting at least a couple of messages a day from people who enjoyed reading it or listening to the audiobook and felt moved to tell me. It’s a huge honour and …

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has responded to a broadside from a member of the Israeli Government, saying that “they’re entitled to their view, we’re entitled to ours”.

Labour’s Willow-Jean Prime’s public claims about fight clubs and “significant” meth use in youth justice facilities couldn’t be substantiated by Oranga Tamariki officials. The Children’s Commission, which independently monitors the facilities, is also unaware of meth in the residences and hasn’t heard of fight clubs occurring since 2023.