The government’s books are now expected to go into the red this financial year with a forecast deficit of $900 million, down from a budget forecast surplus of $1.3 billion. The government will borrow $12 billion to spend on transport, schools, hospitals and investment in the regions over the next five years, in a bid … Read more
The prime minister is in Thailand for the East Asia Summit. RNZ’s political editor Jane Patterson sets the scene. The last-minute cancellation of Apec in Chile has left the East Asia Summit (EAS) in Thailand as the new main game in town. The two summits are usually held close together; Apec is viewed as the heavy-hitting event, … Read more
In 10 years of public documents from both the SIS and the GCSB, there are zero mentions of right wing extremism, writes Jane Patterson for RNZ. There is not one specific mention of the threat posed by white supremacists or right-wing nationalism in 10 years of public documents from the Security Intelligence Service or the GCSB. … Read more
After happily attacking the government on capital gains tax for the past few weeks, Simon Bridges finds himself again on the back foot, writes Jane Patterson in this post originally published by RNZ. The police investigation that had been bubbling away in the background has now exploded into a Serious Fraud Office investigation, with the National … Read more
Jami Lee-Ross’s secret recording may not contain a smoking gun on party donations, but the comments about ethnicity and his own MPs leave National’s leader on shaky ground, writes RNZ’s political editor Go here to read or listen to the recording released by rebel MP Jami-Lee Ross Don’t worry about the allegations about electoral fraud, … Read more
The ballistic exchanges at parliament as Jami-Lee Ross took on Simon Bridges left even veteran Press Gallery journalists astonished, writes RNZ political editor Jane Patterson Even the most long serving of Press Gallery reporters say they’ve seen nothing like the extraordinary political events that exploded at parliament yesterday. You’d have to go to back to … Read more
The government will welcome the unexpectedly large surplus, but it brings with it a heap of extra pressure from all sides, writes RNZ political editor Jane Patterson It’s the political curse of finance ministers past – deliver a bumper surplus and immediately come under pressure to spend up large. As Grant Robertson stood and delivered … Read more
The leak of a report into allegations of an assault by the Labour MP on a staffer has sparked another probe. Who might have leaked it, and what does it mean for Jacinda Ardern, asks RNZ’s Jane Patterson There are now two investigations under way into leaks that have targeted the leader of the opposition … Read more
The ongoing saga around leaked details of the National leader’s transport spending reveals a party with serious internal problems, writes Jane Patterson for RNZ If National Party leader Simon Bridges wasn’t already sweating he will be now, with a second leak, possibly from within his own caucus. First there was a leak to Newshub about his travel … Read more
The stakes are high after Trevor Mallard’s announcement of an inquiry into how the opposition leader’s travel costs became public, writes Jane Patterson for RNZ If a National Party MP is named as the source of the leak of Simon Bridges’ travel bill their political career will come to an abrupt end. If it is found … Read more
It was always in his interests to keep things stable, and Peters proved to be at his pin-striped best, reckons RNZ political editor Jane Patterson As I arrived at work today I saw a senior New Zealand First staffer with a grin from ear to ear, elated the six weeks with Winston Peters in charge had … Read more
As the Labour Party goes into overdrive in an effort to acknowledge its woeful response to sexual assault claims at a youth camp, RNZ’s political editor Jane Patterson looks at the political mess that’s been left in its wake. No one disputes victims of sexual assault should be treated with respect and confidentiality, and offered … Read more