NZ First says disruption may have been avoided ‘if Verrall had just answered the question’
Labour’s Ayesha Verrall has called for political unity against intimidation at campaign events after protesters confronted her.
News
Child sex offender gets 10 months’ home detention; wins bid to stay in NZ to save his marriage
A 27-year-old Samoan man who admitted performing indecent acts on a girl between the ages of 10 and 13 has been allowed to remain in New Zealand because deportation could permanently separate him from his wife.
HarperCollins and Byron Clark apologise over conservative leader’s inclusion in ‘Alt Right’ chapter
HarperCollins and author Byron Clark have publicly apologised to Conservative Party leader Helen Houghton after she challenged her inclusion in a chapter about women and the Alt Right.
Wayne Brown threatens Auckland Deal over unelected board member voting rights
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has warned that his council could walk away from its regional deal with the government if voting rights are removed from unelected members of Houkura, the Independent Māori Statutory Board.
Billions spent on Māori initiatives as parties promise more
Successive governments have committed billions of dollars to Māori-targeted programmes.
Former NZ First MP and educator Jim Peters dies
Former New Zealand First MP Jim Peters, the brother of party leader Winston Peters, has died following a long career in education, local government and politics.
Four ways heavy phone use may affect your body
Prolonged smartphone use may contribute to sore thumbs, dry eyes, disrupted sleep and neck or shoulder tension, although the evidence is more nuanced than warnings about “text neck” sometimes suggest.
Police display 1.67m licence photos a month but don’t proactively audit viewing
In brief Police systems displayed 1.67 million NZTA driver licence photos in July, most automatically when officers searched for a person.
Willie Jackson calls National liars as ASA says Labour CGT can hit small businesses
The Advertising Standards Authority became involved after a voter complained that National was misleading people by claiming Labour’s proposed capital gains tax would hit small businesses and KiwiSaver.
Green MP Tamatha Paul gets physical as campaign security debate heats up
Green MP Tamatha Paul physically pushed back an attendee and repeatedly ordered him to “get out” as he attempted to question former health minister Ayesha Verrall following a Wellington candidates’ meeting.
Electoral Commission uses Green Party slogan, calls it a ‘common phrase’
The Electoral Commission has used the Green Party’s election slogan, “For all of us”, in an official enrolment advertisement, then dismissed concerns about political neutrality by calling it a “common phrase”.
Police called Te Pāti Māori inquiry ‘active’ 19 months after closing it
Police repeatedly withheld information about an Electoral Commission referral involving Te Pāti Māori by saying an investigation was active.
‘Trojan horse’: Labour’s online regulator expands beyond child safety
Labour wants to establish an online safety regulator with responsibilities extending beyond children, less than three weeks after supporting legislation built around banning under-16s from social media.
Trotter says Te Pāti Māori has put constitutional transformation on the ballot
Chris Trotter says Te Pāti Māori is spelling out a plan to fundamentally redistribute political, economic and cultural power between Māori and the Crown.
Israel’s Māori charm offensive draws scrutiny over unanswered questions
The Israeli Government reportedly paid to host Māori leaders, including at least one elected representative, on a trip sold as “business and innovation”.
Strong international ranking masks two decades of falling achievement
New Zealand teenagers remain among the stronger performers internationally, but their reading, maths and science results are substantially below those recorded two decades ago.