Stories by Craig McCulloch
News
Ardern imagines a country with no housing waitlist, no Covid and swimmable rivers
In a rally cry to Labour faithful, Jacinda Ardern has painted an ambitious vision of the future she says could be reality if New Zealanders "stick to our plan".
Ardern swamped by supporters at South Auckland markets
With one week of the election campaign still to run, Jacinda Ardern has spent the day rallying party faithful in deep Labour territory, encouraging supporters to lock in their vote early.
'I got tools I needed,' drug user tells PM
Linda Clark's voice trembled as she told Labour leader Jacinda Ardern her story: "Aged 19, I had my first puff of meth."
Collins puts brave face on a difficult week
Analysis - National is trying to steady its ship after a shocker week on the campaign, with leader Judith Collins dogged by dissent, leaking, a debate loss and a walkabout whoopsie.
Calls for no more Ms Nice Collins
National leader Judith Collins has gone on the offensive in Nelson, encouraged by a GreyPower crowd urging her to embrace her "Crusher" persona.
Explainer: How deep does National's fiscal hole go?
A week on from National's campaign launch, the party is still battling a cascade of complaints about errors in its alternative budget.
National to unveil border and quarantine policy this morning
A National government would set about expanding the country's quarantine system to allow it to gradually open up the border, RNZ understands.
Labour's tax plan framing both clever and cynical
Power Play - Call it what you want - canny politics or a left-wing betrayal - Labour's tax plan is far from transformational. Even National could barely muster much outrage, Craig McCulloch writes.
Critics pile on Green private school funding boost
Education Minister Chris Hipkins is distancing himself from an $11.7 million boost for a Taranaki private school after the National Party panned the taxpayer funding as "rank hypocrisy".
Covid-19 lockdown settings: What to expect today
Cabinet ministers will meet this morning to review the Covid-19 lockdown settings, but are not expected to make a definitive decision on whether to relax them.
ACT says NZ should model its Covid approach on Taiwan
The ACT Party wants to allow most returning New Zealanders to isolate in privately-run facilities - such as Airbnbs - rather than government-managed isolation hotels.
National Party to address Roger Bridge allegations 'soon'
The National Party board will meet "as soon as possible" to discuss allegations surrounding its member Roger Bridge and a late-night call on talkback radio.
Politicians decry cost of mosque gunman's incarceration
The eye-watering cost of keeping the Christchurch mosque gunman behind bars has reignited calls for him to be sent back to Australia to serve his sentence there.
Covid-19 privacy leak was 'deliberate and politically motivated', inquiry finds
The inquiry into the leak of Covid-19 details has placed the blame squarely on National MP Hamish Walker and former party president Michelle Boag, but also finds some fault with the Ministry of… Video
New poll: Labour climbs to 60.9%, National at 25.1%
Support for the National Party has hit a new low in the latest Newshub-Reid Research poll.
Mallard releases Code of Conduct following bad behaviour in Parliament
Parliament's referee Trevor Mallard has threatened to name and shame the worst-behaving MPs if he is left to enforce a new code of conduct.
National leader Judith Collins' reshuffle no minor matter
Power Play - With hastily-filled gaps in National's new-look line-up, Judith Collins still has work to do to shake the narrative of a party in disarray, writes Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch.
Govt unsure of how many essential workers have arrived
The government does not know how many foreigners have come into NZ under the essential worker exemption and says it would "not be a great use of officials' time" to find out.
Woodhouse alleges women with Covid-19 asked for directions
A National MP has dropped a bombshell allegation in Parliament that the two women granted compassionate leave to drive to Wellington stopped for directions, casting doubt on the official story. Video
Nats MP Penk releases book deriding govt Covid-19 response
National backbench MP Chris Penk has released a book criticising the government's "lockdown lunacy" as "incompetent", a position that would seem at odds with that of his party's leadership.
National backtracks on 'Strike Force Raptor' police unit plans
National is distancing itself from its controversial Strike Force Raptor proposal, saying it would not direct the police to set up such a unit if elected.
Trans-Tasman travel bubble trial touted for July by Chambers of Commerce
Business leaders on both sides of the ditch have proposed a trial run of the trans-Tasman bubble which would see flights between Wellington and Canberra take off by July.
Green Party says Labour broke promise to overhaul welfare system
The Greens have accused Labour of breaking a core promise to overhaul the welfare system, a commitment made in 2017 during negotiations to form a government.
Chlöe Swarbrick moves to third place on Green Party list
Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick has been propelled up her party's list to the third place ranking just behind the two co-leaders and ahead of those with ministerial portfolios.
Todd Muller making swift changes to National's front bench
New leader Todd Muller is wasting no time putting his stamp on the National Party's front bench with a caucus reshuffle expected to be unveiled today.