Politics
War of words over minister
Thursday 20 June 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
The government and opposition are engaging in a war of words over the appointment of Toka Hagai as a seventh minister.
Call for shared portfolios not 7th minister
Wednesday 19 June 2019 | Published in Politics
Distributing portfolios among the six ministers more fairly would be a sensible approach rather than appointing a seventh minister, says the Democratic Party.
MPs to sit more days each year
Monday 17 June 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
Speaker Niki Rattle says Parliamentary rule changes will allow for more sitting days. And that's backed by the prime minister.
$4000 cost to reprint botched Budget
Friday 14 June 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
Mistakes can be costly, and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management received a timely reminder of that this week.
Officials to resolve pipeline disputes
Wednesday 12 June 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
Disputes with landowners over the multi-million dollar Te Mato Vai project can be resolved, government says.
$300,000 for renos to Parlt. debating chamber
Wednesday 12 June 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
Government will move to amend its Budget today, to provide an extra $300,000 for refurbishments to Parliament’s debating chamber.
Speaker Rattle returns
Monday 10 June 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
Parliament’s Speaker Niki Rattle returns today to preside over the rest of the session, after travelling to Auckland with her sick husband who needed hospital treatment.
Parents should make teens wear helmets – Mokoroa
Saturday 8 June 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
The onus is on parents to ensure their children wear helmets at all times while riding a motorbike, says police minister Mac Mokoroa.
Parliament's battle for the north
Friday 7 June 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
“You know nothing about the north.” Those were the words of prime minister Henry Puna to Opposition MP Tamaiva Tuavera as they got into a brief heated exchange in Parliament.
A pig of a day in Parliament Islands' swine in the gun
Friday 7 June 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
Parliament has been asked to supply the outer islands with ammunition – to take care of their pig problem. Ngatangiia MP Tamaiva Tuavera said growers on the Pa Enua were having their crops destroyed.
'Because we love our people'
Wednesday 5 June 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
Two hundred and ten million dollars. That is the big number the government has committed to spending in the 2019/20 Budget.
Government claims Beijing aid deal as world-first
Wednesday 5 June 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
Local companies can now bid for projects funded by China, in what the government says is a world-first.
Opposition, NZ meet 'productive'
Wednesday 29 May 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
The Opposition Democratic Party had a productive meeting with the New Zealand ministerial delegation led by its deputy prime minister Winston Peters last week, says party leader Tina Browne.
Ministers meet for joint forum
Tuesday 28 May 2019 | Published in Politics
Cook Islands and New Zealand ministers met in Aitutaki for the 7th annual Joint Ministerial Forum last week Friday.
Retired MPs form organisation
Friday 24 May 2019 | Published in Politics
The Association of Former Members of Parliament has been officially incorporated and registered.
Peters leads NZ envoy
Friday 24 May 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
The New Zealand ministerial delegation led by its deputy prime minister Winston Peters arrived into the country yesterday.
Battle over consulate future
Wednesday 15 May 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
The Opposition Democratic Party has questioned the government’s motive behind plans to shift the Cook Islands Consulate Office in New Zealand to become a division of the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).
Brown in Fiji, Puna off to NZ
Monday 6 May 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
Deputy prime minister Mark Brown is still in Fiji and will this week attend the Pacific Islands Forum Economic Ministers Meeting. The three-day meeting starts today.
Demos ask govt to increase days in Parliament
Friday 3 May 2019 | Published in Politics
As the government is poised to give MPs a reported 45 per cent pay hike, the prime minister has been challenged to change the Constitution and implement a 45 per cent increase to the number of days parliament is legally required to sit.
$2m to fund political pay rises
Friday 26 April 2019 | Published in Politics
The Opposition Democratic Party is expecting across the board remuneration increase for all MPs to be as high as 45 per cent, which would effectively cost the country’s taxpayers in excess of an additional $2 million.