Politics

National wants a referendum on the use of Aotearoa

The National Party want people to vote on whether Aotearoa should be used

Conversion therapy will be banned, with sentence of up to 5 years’ imprisonment

“There are so many people that will have their lives changed because of this.”

The NZ government will repatriate a woman allegedly linked with ISIS

Jacinda Ardern says the decision was “not taken lightly".

Trans-Tasman bubble suspended for 8 weeks

The trans-Tasman bubble just got suspended for another eight weeks.

Restaurants stop service in protest of ongoing staff problems

About 2000 restaurants are switching the lights off and suspending service for two minutes today.

75% of young people in detention facilities have not yet been sentenced

“The talk is crime, crime, crime” - the deep problems with our youth detention centres.

Jacinda Ardern says hate speech laws won’t stop anyone calling Judith Collins a Karen

National’s leader had pondered whether calling someone a 'Karen' would become a crime.

Most NZers believe misinformation is becoming more common

57 percent of people believed they’d come across misinformation in the past six months.

Protection for minority groups and tougher penalties under proposed changes to hate speech laws

Proposals for hate speech laws will impose harsher penalties and more protection for minority groups

Covid is not even halfway through...so don’t expect open borders soon

This week, we were given an update on how the pandemic is tracking in New Zealand.

1 in 3 students facing housing deprivation had serious thoughts of suicide in the past year

 

New research shows high school students facing housing deprivation have double the rates of depression and suicidal thoughts. 

Based on an analysis of the latest Youth2000 survey,…

How the housing market got so cooked

We all know the housing market’s fucked. But how did it get so bad? Re:’s Cass Marrett went back nearly 40 years to find out.  

For the…

Dame Cindy Kiro will be New Zealand’s first wahine Māori Governor-General

Of Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Kahu and British descent, Dame Cindy’s appointment was announced on Monday May 24. 

The former Children’s Commissioner, who also has links to…

How I fought to get Māori wards on local councils

“When a Māōri ward was finally voted in for our council, tears flowed down my face. I was just so happy.”

Moko Tepania played a vital role…

I don’t understand the Budget so I got an economist to explain it to me - 2021 edition

The Government has announced its 2021 Budget. Re: journalist Cass Marrett asked an economist to break it down for her.

Another year, another Budget. This year is…

Budget 2021: What you need to know

Budget 2021 sees the ‘the biggest lift in a generation’ to benefits, $1 billion for Māori housing, health and education, as well as an overall investment…

NZ’s 120 MPs own 248 properties between them

Owning property is supremely popular with our MPs, according to the latest list of parliamentarians’ investments and properties. Many own multiple places, with one National MP…

NZers found lockdown less stressful than regular life, research shows

Research shows most of us “got on with it, battened down the hatches, and prepared to ride it out”.

People working in the public sector won’t get a pay rise for the next three years

If you’re a teacher, nurse or police officer earning more than $60,000, don’t expect a pay rise in the next three years. 

Finance Minister Grant Robertson announced…

Two-way Cook Islands travel bubble to open in two weeks

Travel to the Cook Islands is opening just in time for winter.

Beneficiaries spending most of their benefit on rent are relying on early payouts to survive

There have been 200,000 advanced payments made to New Zealanders in the last three months alone.

The government has banned exports of live animals by sea

The government has banned the export of live animals by sea, but there's a two year phase out period

Drug laws need to be scrapped, say advocacy groups

Nearly 25 health and social organisations have signed an open letter asking the Government to repeal and replace current “unfair” drug laws with those that focus…

Quarantine-free travel with Australia to start in two weeks

On April 19, travellers from Australia will no longer need to quarantine.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the two-way trans-Tasman bubble on Tuesday afternoon. 

Officially, it starts at…

Benefits are going up, but only marginally

On Thursday, changes in benefit rules and this year’s minimum wage increase kicks in. It should make it easier for those earning the least amounts to…

NZ will now give bereavement leave for miscarriages and stillbirths

Last night, parliament unanimously passed a bill that will allow people to take three days bereavement leave following a miscarriage or stillbirth.

The Member’s Bill was introduced…

How the Government plans to unfuck NZ housing

This morning the Government announced what they will do to address the worsening housing crisis.

It’s all about making it less attractive for property investors to buy…

Human Rights Commission raises concerns about govt’s response to mosque attacks

Two years on from the terrorist attacks on two Christchurch mosques, the Human Rights Commission has released a report raising concerns about human rights breaches in…

Why did Labour and the Greens vote against a medical cannabis bill?

Last week a National Party bill to make medicinal cannabis more readily available was voted against by Labour, the Greens and the Māori party. Why?

On March…

My flatmate was accidentally investing in the Saudi military and you might have, too

Writer Daniel Smith looked into KiwiSaver funds and found they aren’t just a bank account that keeps your money safe until you retire. They’re investment funds,…