Jane Patterson
RNZ political editor analyses Housing NZ u-turn
RNZ's political editor Jane Patterson with her take on the Government's surprise about turn over whether Housing New Zealand should pay an annual dividend. Audio
Questions raised about timing of dividend announcement
National and Labour are at loggerheads over housing, with Andrew Little announcing over the weekend that Labour would turn Housing NZ into a public service department - and National's response. Audio
Will Labour's housing plan change anything?
Labour says its housing policy will slow rapidly rising home prices but the Government says it will achieve nothing. RNZ political editor Jane Patterson and Auckland Issues Correspondent Todd Niall… Audio
Labour's housing plan dismissed as "underwhelming"
The government is dismissing Labour's new housing plan as 'underwhelming', saying it's basically what the government itself intends to do, with a few tweaks. The plan includes the building of 100,000… Audio
Focus on Politics for 8 July 2016
The government is searching for yet more ways to dampen the rampant housing market, including a billion dollar infrastructure fund and encouraging the Reserve Bank to further limit lending to… Audio
Chilcot report seen as justifying NZ govt stance in 2003
New Zealand pundits and politicians have interpreted the Chilcot inquiry's report as vindication of Helen Clark's Labour government choosing not to send combat troops to Iraq. Audio
PM responds to own comments about housing "crisis" 9 ye
The Prime Minister has been asked in Parliament why he was talking about a "housing crisis" when average Auckland house prices were about half of what they are now. Jane Patterson reports. Audio
Focus on Politics for 1 July 2016
The world was shocked when the United Kingdom voted to exit the European Union last week. The outcome of the referendum caused ructions on global stock markets, and a seismic shift in British… Audio
Diplomatic immunity waived for NZer in Korea
The Foreign Minister says he understands a New Zealand staff member based at the Embassy in South Korea has now been interviewed by the police there.. Audio
PM and Labour leader head to head over foreign trusts
The Prime Minister and the Labour leader have gone head to head in Parliament, with John Key facing accusations he misled New Zealanders over problems with the foreign trust regime. Audio
Inquiry reveals NZ's foreign trust rules are inadequate
The Prime Minister has been forced to backtrack on his claims that New Zealand has a world class foreign trust system that doesn't need changing. John Key defended the rules covering foreign trusts… Audio
NZ politicians react to UK decision to leave EU
The New Zealand government is yet to make any official statement on Britain's departure from the EU, with ministers saying they want to wait to see the final result, as well as the response from the… Audio
NZ troops to remain in Iraq until 2018
New Zealand troops are to stay in Iraq for an extra 18 months, despite the Prime Minister's previous insistence that he would not extend the mission. Audio
Loaded gun found in Parliament bathroom
Police are investigating after a loaded Glock pistol was left in a Parliament bathroom by an officer. Audio
Social Housing Minister rejects calls for her resignation
Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett is rejecting opposition calls for her to resign over a leak from her office about the chairman of Te Puea Marae, insisting she had no knowledge it had happened. Audio
ACT party wants refugees to sign a NZ 'values statement'
The ACT party wants refugees coming to New Zealand to have to sign up to New Zealand values before they're allowed into the country. The Government has said it will increase New Zealand's refugee… Audio
Refugee quote to go up to 1000 from 2018
For the first time since 1997, New Zealand's refugee quota will be increased from 750 to 1000, starting in 2018. Audio
Focus on Politics for 10 June 2016
The long term plan for the Defence Force was unveiled this week. It includes a major infrastructure upgrade, and a new focus on cyber security, in a world political leaders say is increasingly… Audio
Latest Poll of Poll shows National still leads Labour-Greens
The latest Poll of Polls shows National still has a lead over a Labour-Greens combination, but the gap is closing. Audio
MBIE releases list of some private companies investigated
The caterer criticised for the standard of meals at Dunedin Hospital, a boys' school in the city, and the ministry responsible for making sure employees are paid correctly, all feature on a list of… Audio