The numbers of councillors serving the region at the Regional Council will remain the same for now, according to the latest representation review. The Regional Council reviews its representation arrangements at least every six years. The last review...... Read More

She happily got “quite emotional” while flicking through the health provisions of the government’s budget in the lockup before Grant Robertson delivered it to Parliament. “They were going to give under 14-year-olds free access...... Read More

Tauranga-based Labour list MP Jan Tinetti is encouraging local animal welfare groups to have their say at an animal welfare hui to be held in Auckland next month.   The all-day hui has been called for by the Associate Minister of Agriculture Meka...... Read More

  New Zealanders may get to vote on legalising marijuana next year. The government is currently debating whether to hold the referendum in 2019 because it’s not sure holding it at the 2020 General Election would be a smart move politically. The...... Read More

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will continue to push for young New Zealanders living in Australia to get the financial help they need but has ruled out picking up the tab. That comes after Melbourne lawyer, Shorna Moore, said homeless New Zealand teenagers...... Read More

Western Bay of Plenty electors have issued a firm ‘no’ to their council after the overwhelming majority voted against the notion of establishing Maori wards for the Western Bay of Plenty District Council. The final vote was 78 per cent against...... Read More

The MP for Waiariki says the rejection of Maori wards in Whakatane is a huge disappointment. The district is one of five holding referendums this month on whether to have Maori wards. Preliminary results released yesterday in Whakatane, showed 55 percent...... Read More

Parliament has extended the period for submissions on a euthanasia bill by six months, until March next year. The Justice Select Committee has received 35,000 submissions on Act leader David Seymour’s End Of Life Choice bill, which would allow people...... Read More

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the government has more work to do when it comes to helping the country’s poorest families. The Child Poverty Action Group has raised concerns about the $5.5 billion families package not doing enough for the children...... Read More

Bay of Plenty Labour-list MP Angie Warren-Clark is praising the Coalition Government’s Budget plan for 2018. She says overall she’s proud to be part of such a ‘transformational government’. “I’m delighted not only...... Read More