Russell Palmer

The government has passed an amendment to the fast-track regime under urgency overnight, backtracking on several of the more controversial proposals in the process. The bill introduced last month has been criticised by the opposition, which says it gives ... See more

About 95 percent of feedback on the fast-track amendment bill is opposed, with the coalition-majority select committee reporting back after less than a month. The government intends to pass the legislation, which it says aims to address supermarket compet... See more

Mayors of city and district councils would take over the duties of regional councils, in a coalition proposal pitched as the biggest shake-up of local government in three decades. The mayors would form 11 Combined Territories Boards (CTBs), which would me... See more

The prime minister's statements are doing little to hose down opposition claims his KiwiSaver policy is likely linked to a rise in the retirement age. Unveiled on Sunday, National's first substantive policy for next year's election campaign would see empl... See more

The government has announced the first organisations to receive funding from the Social Investment Agency. Ministers in August announced the priority for the fund was to support children whose parents are in prison or have been in the care system, and chi... See more