Focus on Politics

New Zealand has been hit by a 501 boomerang, with Australia this month backtracking on its commitment around deportations.

Government ministers hoping to bask in a post-Budget glow this week have instead been trying to tamp down the backlash to a big broken promise. The clock is now ticking for the coalition to correct its failure to fund 13 potentially life-extending cancer treatments beginning this year. In this week's Focus on Politics, Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch takes a closer look at

At last, the tax cut tease is over, the full details on full display. The Budget's headline was only ever going to be tax cuts - and they arrived almost exactly as promised. Finance Minister Nicola Willis kept her promise, but will voters thank her? In this week's Focus on Politics, RNZ Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch examines the first Budget of the coalition government.

A law giving ministers sweeping powers to greenlight infrastructure projects has attracted a wave of criticism and responses at select committee. With ministers beginning to soften their language, the bill could yet see changes before progressing through Parliament. In this week's Focus on Politics, Political Reporter Anneke Smith explores the government's fast-track legislation an

In Focus on Politics, political reporter Katie Scotcher looks at the latest funding boost for the Defence Force and how much more investment is needed.

In Focus on Politics, RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch chews over the coalition's school lunch announcement, as well as the opposition's somewhat muted reaction.

In Focus on Politics, RNZ's deputy political editor Craig McCulloch whips through a whirlwind week at Parliament.

Successive governments have claimed crack downs on youth vaping but retailers are flouting the law, with just one prosecution on the books. Retailers have until the end of the year to phase out single-use products, but academics say MPs' fears vape manufacturers will just adapt are justified. In this week's Focus on Politics, Political Reporter Anneke Smith looks at concerns vape m

As global tensions escalated this week, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was touring South East Asia, strengthening defence and security ties. Back home, his government was accused of drifting away from New Zealand's independent foreign policy.