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First Reading: Vernon Small on politics

Backtracks on climate change cause little heat

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Politics

Just don't mention nukes

Nuclear OPINION: NZ's relationship with the US is so good that the US-NZ Partnership Forum risks losing relevance.

Smith set to give big mine a leg up

Nick Smith 10:10am Nick Smith expected to grant access to West Coast conservation land for a large opencast mine.

Novopay debacle's $3.5m bill

Minister Responsible for Novopay Steven Joyce 10:42am LATEST: The Novopay bungle has cost taxpayers nearly $3.5 million in extra staffing.

A dearth of election-year sweeties

Vernon Small OPINION: Remember the Budget? No? Well, a week is a long time, especially for such a pared-back spending programme.

Chch plans could be scaled back

John Key The prime minister says big-ticket Christchurch recovery projects could be downsized.

Opinion poll

How important is NZ's anti-nuclear policy to you?

Very important

Important - but other things are more pressing

Not really relevant any more

Our relationship with the US is more important

Vote Result

Related story: It's all good, just don't mention the nukes

The vanilla Budget

Colin By not providing a target, Bill English has made it difficult for anyone to shoot him down.

No utu for you

Why did Aaron Gilmore seek public office in the first place?

Alive and kicking

The rules of apology

A dearth of election-year sweeties

Vernon Small Remember the Budget? No? Well, a week is a long time, especially for such a pared-back spending programme.

Govt has not addressed the big issues

The Budget was a demonstration that the Government has other values which won't address many of the biggest issues facing New Zealand.

Optimistic after five frugal years

Scene set for election

Prudent Budget ticks the right boxes

The Budget demonstrates prudent stewardship of finances with solid progress towards a balanced budget and lower debt and spending targets.

Australia pays the price

Luke Malpass A regular question in New Zealand and Australia is whether our respective nations succeed because of, or in spite of, our politicians.

Nationalised housing 'disgrace'

Government may transfer stock from poorly performing Housing Corporation to other social housing providers.

'No power struggle' with councils

House prices unlikely to fall fast

Govt eyed departure tax

Govt planned to slap a departure tax of up to $35 on travellers but dumped the idea before Budget.