Craig McCulloch

If New Zealand is to meet its zero carbon pledge, nearly all the country's cars will have to be zero-emission by 2050, the Climate Change Minister says.

Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters says he would have let two far-right Canadian activists speak in New Zealand.

Transport Minister Phil Twyford has been fined $500 for breaking aviation rules by making a phone call on a plane preparing to depart Wellington.

New Zealand is beefing up its powers to police the high seas as it faces the risk of becoming an easy target for drug smugglers.

The government will impose a maximum income cap restricting who is eligible to buy a home under its KiwiBuild programme, RNZ understands.

Housing New Zealand chief executive Andrew McKenzie granted just two one-on-one media interviews in his first 20 months in the role.

Youth Minister Peeni Henare has expressed hope a court case relating to the Young Labour summer camp scandal will help bring parents "peace of mind".

The police are gearing up to reopen their investigation into the explosion at Pike River, in anticipation of the planned re-entry of the mine later this year.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has swung in behind his MP Shane Jones, joining him in savaging Fonterra and its chairperson.

The Green Party is facing blowback from supporters who say it has sold out after one of its ministers allowed a Chinese water bottling giant to expand.

The National Party has hit out at Winson Peters' lawsuit against two top public servants, saying he's putting personal vendettas ahead of the country.

New Zealand First has put the brakes on Labour's plan to repeal the three strikes law - dealing a major blow to Justice Minister Andrew Little. Video

Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis has given a "vacant" and "complacent" performance at Parliament, refusing to answer basic questions about his portfolio, National MPs say.

People who have been needlessly evicted from state houses in the meth contamination saga face a nervous wait to find out if they'll get any compensation.

The National Party has taken a swipe at its former leader Jim Bolger as he heads up a working group tasked with radically shaking up industrial relations. Audio

The chair of Housing New Zealand says she will not resign over the methamphetamine hysteria scandal.

A major overhaul of how water is regulated and delivered could be on the cards, with the government keen on fewer, larger suppliers.

The government has announced a taskforce to tackle a payroll mess which has left potentially hundreds of thousands of workers out of pocket.

An 11-person panel has been set up to advise the government on its promised overhaul of the welfare system.

Transport Minister Phil Twyford has been stripped of some of his responsibilities after making a phone call on a plane after the aircraft doors had shut. Video

The National Party has issued a strident letter to Parliament's referee Trevor Mallard, demanding he explain his role in a story about an alleged sexist remark.

Criminal lawyers are backing up the Justice Minister's claims that people on bail or parole are being routinely blocked from staying in state houses.

The Disability Rights Commissioner has clashed with MPs over a proposed euthanasia law, claiming it could apply to people with intellectual disabilities.

Plans to build a new mega-prison at Waikeria have been dropped, but the government has yet to decide what to do instead. Audio

More than 500,000 bees are to make Christchurch's red zone their home as part of efforts to grow the endangered species and make use of the land.