Soumya Bhamidipati

2 weeks ago | rnz.co.nz | Soumya Bhamidipati

A post-Budget debate about changes to an accommodation supplement unusually dragged on into the early hours of Saturday morning, as opposition parties tried in vain to block the changes. The House sat under urgency to debate a dozen bills, when a vote on the Social Assistance Legislation (Accommodation Supplement and Income-related Rent) Amendment Bill was called at about 11.30pm. Usually, Parliament would not sit beyond midnight, but once a vote commences, it cannot stop without leave.

2 weeks ago | radionz.co.nz | Soumya Bhamidipati

A post-Budget debate about changes to an accommodation supplement unusually dragged on into the early hours of Saturday morning, as opposition parties tried in vain to block the changes. The House sat under urgency to debate a dozen bills, when a vote on the Social Assistance Legislation (Accommodation Supplement and Income-related Rent) Amendment Bill was called at about 11.30pm. Usually, Parliament would not sit beyond midnight, but once a vote commences, it cannot stop without leave.

1 month ago | rnz.co.nz | Soumya Bhamidipati

A painting thought to be worth about $200 has instead sold for over $31,000 in the United Kingdom, after it was identified as a Colin McCahon. The work, titled 'Truth from the King Country: Load bearing structures' was consigned to John Nicholson's auctioneers for £80-100 (NZ$180-220). It instead fetched £14,000 (NZ$31,220) when it sold on 23 April to a New Zealand buyer against Australian bidding.

1 month ago | rnz.co.nz | Soumya Bhamidipati

Two Kiwis who moved to the United Kingdom this week did not expect to run into the New Zealand prime minister the day after they landed. Matt Bain and Matt Quin happened to be walking through London's Hyde Park, near the New Zealand memorial, on Wednesday afternoon. "We were just walking around town and coming back to the hostel, when we just saw a bunch of New Zealand-looking people in front of the Anzac statues," Bain said. "We just thought we'd park up and then turns out Luxon was here as well.

1 month ago | rnz.co.nz | Soumya Bhamidipati

The Prime Minister says he will not intervene over comments by Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters about RNZ's funding. Speaking in London, Christopher Luxon said he was aware of but had not listened to the fiery Morning Report interview in which the acting prime minister accused the public broadcaster of being biased and seemingly threatened to cut its funding.