Craig McCulloch

1 week ago | rnz.co.nz | Craig McCulloch

David Seymour在接任副总理职位时宣称将继续保持自由发声的权利，而不再受职务限制的Winston Peters则进入"竞选模式"，计划在下届政府时避免再次进行权力交接。 总理Christopher Luxon此前在接受RNZ采访时表示，总体来说，他仍然将副总理这个"二号人物"的位置视为"礼仪性职务"，而这也引来了Seymour和Peters二人的强烈反弹。 按照联合执政谈判中所达成的协议，副总理职位的交接标志着本届政府经过了另一个新节点--任期过半。 5月31日，Seymour将前往位于奥克兰的总督府宣誓就职。 虽然对职务交接变动的重要性进行了淡化，但在分别接受RNZ采访时，行动党和优先党两党党魁都提到了担任该职位的重要性。 Seymour对RNZ表示，这次交接在大多数方面都将是"一切照常"，并补充说："其实我已经多次担任过代理总理，我们都还在，所以不用担心。" Peters也表示："我们在2023年就达成了这个一致--所以（交接）不会有什么岔子。要做的就是按约定办事，继续推进（本届政府任期）。"...

1 week ago | rnz.co.nz | Craig McCulloch

David Seymour has vowed to keep speaking freely as he takes over as deputy prime minister, while an unshackled Winston Peters shifts into campaign mode, planning to avoid another handover next term. And both men were quick to demonstrate their fire after Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told RNZ he still regards the number two job as largely ceremonial.

1 week ago | rnz.co.nz | Craig McCulloch

Labour's finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds says she still has not read the Greens' alternative Budget, while defending a scarcity of fiscal policies of her own. Edmonds made the comments after a post-Budget speech to an audience of about 20 people at a Porirua Chamber of Commerce event on Tuesday morning, where she savaged the coalition's plan as a "direct assault" on New Zealand values.

2 weeks ago | rnz.co.nz | Craig McCulloch

The coalition has shaved off an average $5.3b government spending for each of the next four years in its latest Budget. About half comes from its controversial pay equity overhaul. Other savings have been found by halving the government's KiwiSaver contributions, tightening welfare for 18-and-19-year-olds, and fully means-testing the Best Start child payment.

3 weeks ago | radionz.co.nz | Craig McCulloch

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has unveiled a new $190m Social Investment Fund designed to transform the way the social services are delivered to vulnerable New Zealanders. It forms the centrepiece of a $275m commitment over four years to the government's social investment approach, with more details expected in next week's Budget.