Government Policy
NZ's smokefree legislation: A history of stubbing out smoking
Once upon a time, there was pretty much nowhere you couldn't smoke.
NZ gang laws politically driven and have no impact, expert says
An expert says laws are often introduced for political reasons rather than that of policy making.
Ashley Bloomfield is stepping down as Director-General of Health
His last day will be July 29.
Bill to ban conversion practices passes second hurdle
The proposed law to ban conversion practices has passed its second reading in Parliament on Tuesday.
Why changing sex on your birth certificate matters
How trans and gender diverse communities feel about the passing of the BDMRR bill
New regulation to stop teenagers vaping comes into force today
It aims to protect young people and non-smokers from the potential dangers of vaping.
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.”
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.
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
Cotton buds, meat trays and plastic forks to go with new plastic ban
The plastics phase-out will take place in three stages from 2022 to 2025.
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…
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…
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…
Matariki will be a new public holiday from June next year
It will celebrate the Māori new year marked by the Matariki star cluster.
Covid-19 Live Updates: 3 new cases
The key facts you need to know about Covid-19 in Aotearoa.Sunday 23 August, 1pm
There are 3 new cases today. One is linked to the Auckland cluster…
I don’t know anything about politics: where do parties get all their money from?
Zoe Madden-Smith looks into the different ways parties fund themselves, and the flaws in the system.
I don't know anything about politics: what’s the deal with minor parties?
New Zealand has 14 registered political parties, can you name them all? I couldn’t.
I don’t know anything about politics: what do the parties stand for?
My feed's been spammed by so many political scandals I don’t know what each party stands for anymore
Covid-19 Live Updates: two new cases
Check in here for the key, verified facts on how New Zealand is dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.
1:30pm Sunday 21 June
Today there are two new cases.…
Next gen Covid apps could be used to spy on us if we don't get privacy controls right
New Zealand is Covid-19 free, but the government still wants us tracking where we go and what we do on the NZ Covid Tracer app. In…
Covid-19 Live Updates: First day at level 1
Check in here for the key, verified facts on how New Zealand is dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.
1:00pm Tuesday 9 June - day one at alert…
New Zealand’s made it to zero Covid cases, but our contact tracing apps had little to do with it
New Zealand is now Covid-19 free.
To keep us here the government has asked us to put our trust in an out-of-sight solution. An app that’s still…
For six months, cops in NZ had guns - campaigners say it can't continue
For six months, cops in New Zealand had guns. Campaigners say we can’t allow it to continue.
Covid-19 Live Updates: Sunday 24 May
Check in here for the key, verified facts on how New Zealand is dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.1:00pm Sunday 24 May - day 11 at alert…
I don't understand the Budget so I got an economist to explain it to me
Last week the Government announced a $50 billion dollar budget, or as Finance Minister Grant Robertson likes to call it, “The most significant commitment by a…
How to rebuild a more sustainable New Zealand after Covid-19
Lockdown has shown we can take bold action that would have previously been unthinkable.
Explainer: Budget 2020 in the wake of Covid-19
Here are the key points.
Covid-19 Live Updates: Day 13 of level 3
Check in here for the key, verified facts on how New Zealand is dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.1:00pm Sunday 10 May - day 13 at alert…
Explainer: the cannabis referendum that could make weed legal in New Zealand
At this year’s election, as well as voting on who we want to be in government, we will also be asked this question: Do you support the…
Covid-19 Live Updates: our last day at alert level 4
Check in here for the key, verified facts on how New Zealand is dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. 1:00pm Monday 27 April - day 33 of lockdown,…