Politics
Quit MP's pay cut off
Friday 26 July 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
Te-Hani Brown is no longer getting paid an MP’s salary as of this month, the Clerk of Parliament has confirmed.
Sitting days should rise says Tribunal
Monday 22 July 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
The sitting days of Parliament need to increase substantially, says the Remuneration Tribunal, who recommended the 45 per cent pay rise of MPs.
Money for nothing: Absentee MP paid $10,000
Saturday 20 July 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
Te-Hani Brown is still being paid the salary of a MP – and even pocketing the 45 per cent pay rise – even though she is not allowed to go to work.
Cooks' first woman PM – for one week
Friday 12 July 2019 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Politics
Low-ranked minister Rose Toki-Brown has leap-frogged her more senior colleagues to serve this week as acting prime minister.
MPs' pay: Official Information request for reasons for rise
Saturday 6 July 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
Twenty working days for government to justify 45 per cent pay rise – or face formal complaint.
MPs to face off in public
Thursday 27 June 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
The new $300,000 Parliament will be opened up to an engaged audience. Parliament has been gutted for a rebuild replicating the adversarial face-off of overseas legislatures.
Minister recovering after collapse outside Parliament
Friday 21 June 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
Corrective Services minister George ‘Maggie’ Angene is recovering well after three days in an Auckland hospital this week.
New law will 'avoid taking land' by force
Friday 21 June 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
The new water supply manager To Tatou Vai will be empowered to compulsorily purchase land, joining existing infrastructure authorities like the roading, phone and power bodies.
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.