Laura Walters

Wellington

Political Editor at Newsroom New Zealand

Political Editor for @NewsroomNZ Previously @NZStuff @TheSpinoffTV @Monocle24 @NewshubNationNZ Hmu:[email protected], DM for Signal

Featured in: Favicon

stuff.co.nz Favicon

smh.com.au Favicon

theage.com.au Favicon

businessinsider.com.au Favicon

canberratimes.com.au Favicon

newshub.co.nz Favicon

rnz.co.nz

domain.com.au Favicon

watoday.com.au Favicon

newsroom.co.nz + 6 more

Articles

Parliament's law-making watchdog warns against Regulatory Standards Bill

4 days ago | newsroom.co.nz | Laura Walters

A group of high-level public servants and private sector lawyers tasked with ensuring the government of the day creates good legislation has voiced concerns over David Seymour’s Regulatory Standards Bill.
What Winston will lose when he hands over the baubles of power

1 week ago | newsroom.co.nz | Laura Walters

It’s time for the big, mid-term swaparoo as David Seymour ascends to the throne of Deputy Prime Minister and Winston Peters moves seats in the House, putting a physical separation between himself and the Prime Minister in the debating chamber. Saturday marks the mid-way point of this parliamentary term, meaning David Seymour will take over from Winston Peters as Deputy Prime Minister in an unprecedented quirk of this three-way coalition arrangement. Already have an account?
Crown pulls witness at 11th hour as Govt overhauls Māori health policy

1 week ago | newsroom.co.nz | Laura Walters

Health Minister Simeon Brown is reforming the 2022 legislation that underpins the health system restructure and codifies the Government's responsibility to achieve equitable health outcomes for Māori. The Government's plan to overhaul the Pae Ora (Health Futures) Act was revealed in a last-minute submission from Crown Law to the Waitangi Tribunal, ahead of this week’s Health Services and Outcomes Inquiry priority hearing.
New Waikeria Prison to be quickly filled as prison muster hits record high

1 week ago | newsroom.co.nz | Laura Walters

Next month, the Government will cut the ribbon on the new 600-bed prison at Waikeria – the prison system is preparing to reach a new population peak by the middle of next year. This new prison, commissioned under the previous National Government, downsized under the Labour-led coalition, then re-upped under this National-led coalition, has long been a focal point of the debate over what to do about the country’s prison population. Already have an account?
'Major trade-offs' allow for learning support boost

2 weeks ago | newsroom.co.nz | Laura Walters

Erica Stanford has delivered a $2.5 billion education Budget, with $646 million for learning support offset by $614m in cuts to “underperforming” programmes. Experts and educators say the investment in a sector crying out for help is welcomed, but question whether it’s truly transformational – and at what cost.
Budget takes from squeezed middle in short term with view of long-term growth

2 weeks ago | newsroom.co.nz | Laura Walters

Comment: Everyday Kiwis feeling the squeeze of the vibecession have been thrown merely crumbs, while the Government clips their meal ticket in the hope of achieving long-term economic growth. In an ‘ends justifies the means’ mentality, Nicola Willis has made a bold – but widely foreshadowed – call to cut the Government’s KiwiSaver contributions, and add means testing.
Regulatory Standards Bill will be debated under urgency

2 weeks ago | newsroom.co.nz | Laura Walters

The Regulatory Standards Bill is expected to pass its first reading this week, under urgency. The bill has already gained a high profile, attracting more than 22,000 submissions on a consultation document during the summer months. It was also subject to a Waitangi Tribunal inquiry brought by more than 13,000 claimants. The Tribunal found the Crown had breached its Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations for failing to properly consult Māori. Already have an account?
Te Pāti Māori put ‘on remand’ as debate on punishment postponed

2 weeks ago | newsroom.co.nz | Laura Walters

Analysis: Government ministers looked relaxed when they walked into the House on Tuesday, despite the possibility of a New Zealand-style filibuster hanging over Budget week. It turns out they knew something others didn’t. A little over an hour later, Leader of the House Chris Bishop revealed his plan to push the much-anticipated debate on the fate of three Te Pāti Māori MPs until after the Government delivered its Budget.
In full: Collins and Hipkins on Te Pāti Māori punishment

2 weeks ago | newsroom.co.nz | Laura Walters

Mr Speaker, I move: That Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke be suspended from the House for seven days for acting in a manner that could have the effect of intimidating a member of the House in the discharge of their duty; and that Debbie Ngarewa-Packer be severely censured by the House and suspended from the service of the House for 21 days for acting in a manner that could have the effect of intimidating a member of the House in the discharge of their duty; and that Rawiri Waititi be severely...
Education sector holding breath for big learning support boost

2 weeks ago | newsroom.co.nz | Laura Walters

Erica Stanford is pitching this year’s education spending as ‘The Learning Support Budget’, while a new report paints a picture of a high needs system at breaking point. Between 15 and 20 percent of people are neurodivergent, but only 6-7 percent of students receive publicly funded learning support, with Māori, Pasifika, English second-language speakers and those attending rural and high equity index schools most affected by the underfunding and fragmented system. Already have an account?