New Zealand Herald - Politics

The Government's books have plunged $3.5 billion into the red - $5 billion worse than forecast - on the back of the global financial meltdown, according to the crown accounts out today.
The governm...

Thai waitress Anun Suggunya was glued to the internet from her Mt Albert flat from midnight to the early hours yesterday for the Thai King's speech, hoping that he would suggest a way out of the co...

WASHINGTON - President-elect Barack Obama signalled a clear desire yesterday to use a significant portion of US$700 billion ($1.3 trillion) in financial bailout funds to stanch foreclosures by help...

Finance Minister Bill English has confirmed there is likely to be a "significant" rise in the amount workers pay to ACC from April 1 next year.
ACC Minister Nick Smith yesterday revealed officials ...

Official documents indicate former finance minister Michael Cullen would have been briefed about the billion-dollar blowout at ACC long before the cut-off point for inclusion in the pre-election "o...

A second ACC blowout could see average wage earners lose almost a third of next year's tax cut if the incoming Government follows officials' advice.
ACC Minister Nick Smith this week revealed a $1....

Treasury's calls for a capital gains tax, an increase in GST and cuts to superannuation have been rejected by Finance Minister Bill English.
Mr English today released Treasury's incoming briefing t...

Prime Minister John Key will view the Reserve Bank's historic interest rates cut with mixed feelings.
The unprecedented 150 basis points will ease pressure on Key's Cabinet to follow other nations ...

The jacked-up complaint about Act leader Rodney Hide's canary yellow jacket breaking electoral law will now be investigated by the police.
The Electoral Commission has ruled the jacket was potentia...

National ministers fear a $1 billion hole in the ACC budget could signal a much wider problem, putting huge pressure on accident compensation levies.
Prime Minister John Key said yesterday the corp...