SECTIONS

National Party

NationalOctober 1

Greens should talk to National - Jim Bolger

The Green Party has a responsibility to negotiate with National if it wants to clean up New Zealand's environment, former National Prime Minister Jim Bolger says.
Greens should talk to National - Jim Bolger
Greens should talk to National - Jim Bolger
NationalSeptember 9

National plans to double grant for first home buyers

Prime Minister Bill English has promised to double its Home Start grant for first home buyers at an announcement in Hobsonville this morning.
National plans to double grant for first home buyers
National plans to double grant for first home buyers
NationalSeptember 7

Leaders face off in 'townhall style' debate

National leader Bill English faced off with Labour leader Jacinda Ardern in tonight's debate in Christchurch.
Leaders face off in 'townhall style' debate
Leaders face off in 'townhall style' debate
NationalSeptember 6

National's $72m plan to get unemployed youth into work

National has announced further plans to get more young employed people into work, including training and help to get off drugs but those who refuse it will have their benefit cut by half.
National's $72m plan to get unemployed youth into work
National's $72m plan to get unemployed youth into work
NationalSeptember 4

Bennett apologises to PM

National Party deputy leader Paula Bennett has apologised to the Prime Minister after saying serious criminals have fewer human rights than others.
Bennett apologises to PM
Bennett apologises to PM
NationalAugust 20

National unveils $10.5 billion for 10 new highways

The National Party has committed to building 10 new major highways at a cost of $10.5 billion if it is returned to power in September.
National unveils $10.5 billion for 10 new highways
National unveils $10.5 billion for 10 new highways
NationalAugust 14

17 new mental health initiatives announced

New mental health initiatives include programmes for preschoolers and "e-therapy" for young people and prisoners.
17 new mental health initiatives announced
17 new mental health initiatives announced
NationalJuly 9

Greens have 'rushed' into bottled water policy: PM

Prime Minister Bill English says he is surprised the Green Party has "rushed" into a policy to charge water bottlers 10 cents a litre on sales and exports of bottled water.
Greens have 'rushed' into bottled water policy: PM
Greens have 'rushed' into bottled water policy: PM
NationalMarch 17

National gets $50k donation from Oravida founder

The National Party has received another $50,000 from the head of milk exporter Oravida, which was once caught up in a conflict of interest claim.
NationalMay 2

Great week for Labour as National's dirty washing aired

This has been by far the best week for Labour this year, due in equal parts to the Maurice Williamson scandal and Labour's own good management of an important policy.
DunedinApril 27

National selects candidate

National yesterday selected Todd Barclay as its Clutha-Southland candidate to contest this year's general election.
National selects candidate
National selects candidate
OpinionJune 15

Week in politics: Key's missive to beleaguered National not before time

Still reeling from their public caning over the now-axed rejigging of class sizes and teacher numbers, National Party ministers got a blunt talking-to from the Prime Minister at last Monday's Cabinet meeting.
OpinionMay 25

Week in politics: Nats will have to make big super calls sooner or later

The ultra-orthodox Budget was sold on Thursday by Bill English as the last word in fiscal rectitude, but it lacked for one rather necessary ingredient.
OpinionMay 11

Week in politics: Now, about child support

If National is as hell-bent on radical welfare reform as its critics insist it is, then it would surely overhaul the flawed child support scheme with the same gusto that this week saw it offer free long-acting, reversible contraception to mothers on benefits and their teenage daughters.
DunedinMay 6

Shearer confident in his role

If Labour leader David Shearer feels insecure about his job after four months of leading the party, he was not showing it during a visit to Dunedin yesterday.
Shearer confident in his role
Shearer confident in his role
OpinionMay 4

Week in politics: In absence of public pressure, Key stands by Banks

Make no mistake. Prime Minister John Key will dump the Hon John Archibald Banks QSO CNZM from his ministry if circumstances so dictate.
NationalApril 30

SkyCity spin-offs for South: Key

The South Island would benefit from visitors to the SkyCity Convention Centre, which could be linked to proposed convention centres in Queenstown and Christchurch, the Prime Minister says.
SkyCity spin-offs for South: Key
SkyCity spin-offs for South: Key
DunedinApril 29

Change of heart for National Party

What a difference a year makes for the National Party - a change for the better as far as involving its members and being decidedly more open than for many years.
OpinionApril 20

Week in Politics: Unfair 'Epsom clause' cynically backed by those it helps

The word "reform" drips readily off the tongues of politicians.
NationalApril 18

National paid full rate for SkyCity venue

The National Party has confirmed it paid in full when it used the SkyCity Convention Centre on election night and other occasions.
OpinionApril 13

Parental leave Bill yields tricky times for National

Labour will claim both moral and tactical victories over National after this week's skirmishing over paid parental leave, and with some justification.
OpinionMarch 9

Week in Politics: Push for referendum far more than politics of gesture

It would be easy to dismiss the campaign being spearheaded by Grey Power and the Council of Trade Unions for a referendum to halt National's partial state-asset-sales programme as the politics of gesture that will achieve nothing.
NationalMarch 9

Mixed Ownership Bill passes first reading

National's asset-sale plan passed its first legislative hurdle on Thursday with a warning it was necessary to avoid a Greek-style debt crisis, but the Opposition blames the Government for creating debt problems with its tax cuts.
Mixed Ownership Bill passes first reading
Mixed Ownership Bill passes first reading
NationalFebruary 3

Week in Politics: Maori Party-National stoush sign of trouble ahead

National's "mixed ownership model" - the innocuous-sounding vehicle tasked with making the party's unpopular privatisation agenda more appetising - paradoxically may yet end up making the partial sell-offs of state corporations even less palatable to voters.
NationalDecember 21

Government not to blame for abuse: Bennett

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett angrily dismissed suggestions she or Prime Minister John Key could have acted to halt horrific child abuse suffered by a 9-year-old Auckland girl whose mother was jailed yesterday.