NZ Herald

Cabinet ministers were warned there was “significant uncertainty” about the number of migrants who could access the Government’s new five-year parent visa, with potential impacts for New Zealand’s health system and infrastructure.

Lobby group Hobson’s Pledge and Education Minister Erica Stanford have clashed over a claim the minister is sneaking a “radical” Treaty of Waitangi clause into legislation.

Act leader David Seymour is rejecting claims his controversial Regulatory Standards Bill could lead to corporations seeking compensation if their property rights are affected and believes those saying so could be “deliberately making mischief”.

Resources Minister Shane Jones, sporting a Make NZ Great Again hat, arrived at a parliamentary scrutiny session on Thursday ready for a fight over the previous Government’s ban on new offshore oil and gas exploration permits.

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford is “not worried” the Government’s new visa allowing migrants in New Zealand to sponsor their parents to stay for up to 10 years will lead to an influx of people coming here.

A “monitoring gap” in New Zealand’s child sex offender regime presented a “significant risk to community safety”, according to briefings to ministers obtained by the Herald.

The sacking of Phil Goff as New Zealand’s High Commissioner in London was swift, taking less than 24 hours from the time officials were told of his now infamous Donald Trump-related remarks to when he was formally told to stop representing his country.

Simeon Brown has told various Government-owned companies they must explain why they are failing to deliver their cost of equity and how they will improve their return to the Crown.

The head of the Commerce Commission says it is a “major concern” some New Zealand businesses have expressed reluctance to speak publicly about their energy struggles for fear of commercial retaliation from power companies.

A top business leader says New Zealand businesses are worried about being identified when sharing their concerns with energy costs out of fear of commercial retaliation from power companies.

Act leader David Seymour’s recent public sector savings drive freed up $115 million annually in Budget 2025, which showed ministers collectively saved $5.3 billion.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins is not willing to commit just yet to returning the near-$13 billion in pay equity savings back into the regime should he be re-elected to power.

The Prime Minister’s Office is keeping secret information related to a foreign affairs and trade speech Christopher Luxon delivered last month that irritated Winston Peters.

The Finance Minister met with or spoke with former Reserve Bank governor Adrian Orr multiple times in the weeks immediately before his shock – and still unexplained – resignation.

Nearly half of New Zealanders feel more concerned about their power bill than this time last year and believe breaking up the electricity gentailers could improve competition, new poll results obtained by the Herald reveal.

A former New Zealand Supreme Court judge is refusing to engage “in debate” about his appointment to a Hong Kong court, which one commentator says is part of a “totalitarian system”.

The Government spent more than $20,000 flying one of US President Donald Trump’s former aides, Chris Liddell, to Auckland to speak at its investment summit.

Green MP Tamatha Paul says she doesn’t know the full information behind her claim that someone was in prison for shoplifting $12 worth of items.

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters had not directed his ministry specifically to roll back any diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies or practices before launching his party’s bill to rid it from the public service earlier this month.

The political feud over working group numbers has re-erupted, with claims of hypocrisy and “half-baked research” flying between Labour and National.

Rose Hope, co-founder of the Karangahape Rd boutique, has spent the week searching for pieces that suit the brief. Like many of her sourcing sessions from the last 13 years, it’s been a gruelling hunt. Each time it seems to take longer and longer.“We’re not super passionate about adding more …

Health officials advised the Government “significantly” more lives could be saved if it lowered the bowel cancer screening age for Māori and Pasifika further than the rest of the population.

Nearly $19 million was paid out in support to New Zealanders struggling with energy bills last year, an average of more than $500 per grant.

New Zealand’s most elite military force was required to “look after” 501 deportees from Australia in a managed isolation quarantine facility (MIQ) during the height of Covid-19.

Christopher Luxon claims no one is talking about privatisation - but his future deputy Prime Minister certainly is.

Act leader David Seymour is today expected to blow open what will likely be a controversial public debate on privatisation, the Herald understands.

Christopher Luxon began the political year early on Sunday with his National Cabinet reshuffle, framed around creating a “refreshed team” with an intense focus on “economic growth” – two words we’ll likely hear a lot this year.

The shot, taken within the Samoan village of the festival in March, captures attendee Urlin Mulitalo standing against a red backdrop held by her cousin Blessing (left) and her brother Gideon (right). Viva’s creative and fashion director Dan Ahwa noted that Urlin’s ensemble stood out for its mix of contemporary …