Focus on Politics

From the moment she became leader, Jacinda Ardern, has made it clear that tackling climate change is one of her primary focuses. So it should have been no surprise this week that she announced her Government would not be granting any new offshore oil and gas exploration permits. But as our Deputy Political Editor, Chris Bramwell, reports some in the oil industry claim they were caught unawares.

The blow up between New Zealand First Cabinet minister Shane Jones and Air New Zealand led to extraordinary exchanges between politicians and business leaders this week. Mr Jones' call for a cull of the board, starting at the top, earned him a Prime Ministerial rebuke. At a broader level it's also highlighted potential tensions between Labour and its governing partners. Here's our political editor, Jane Patterson.

The world has been watching as the UK and Russia face off over the poisoning of a former Russian double agent. The leaders of France, Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom have issued a joint statement condemning the act. Meanwhile, the US has imposed sanctions against Russian individuals and countries accused of meddling in the US Presidential campaign. Closer to home there are a number of other foreign matters the government has on its radar. Our political editor Jane Patterson sat down with the Foreign Minister Winston Peters to talk first about the so-called "Pacific reset".

Jacinda Ardern has spent the week island-hopping in the Pacific - a whirlwind trip, meeting four nations' leaders and dishing out millions in aid. It was Ms Ardern's first trip to the region as Prime Minister - starting in Samoa and finishing in the Cook Islands. Here's our political reporter Craig McCulloch.

The National Party has a new leader - Simon Bridges. He's 41, married with three young children and while brought up in West Auckland, is currently the MP for Tauranga. Mr Bridges was a senior minister under John Key and Bill English, and now has the challenge of readying the party to adapt to opposition, and take on Jacinda Ardern and Labour in 2020. Here's our political editor, Jane Patterson.

The remnants of Tropical Cyclone Gita ripped through central New Zealand this week, cutting off communities, closing roads and wreaking havoc for the upper south island. It's not the first bad storm of 2018, and will not be the last as the effects of climate change are felt in more ways than one. Our Deputy Political Editor, Chris Bramwell, looks at the resilience of New Zealand's infrastructure and what is being done to adapt to the changing climate.

For the second time in less than 18 months, the National Party is in the throes of a leadership contest. The party's leader, Bill English, announced on Tuesday that he would resign at the end of this month, not just as leader, but from Parliament altogether. And now the race is on to see who can get the support for the top job. Here's our Deputy Political Editor, Chris Bramwell.

This year's commemorations at Waitangi have been widely heralded as a huge success - there were record crowds enjoying the music, food and korero. Politicians are formally welcomed to Waitangi on February the 5th, the day before Waitangi Day and in a break with recent tradition, this year the powhiri was moved away from Te Tii Marae and was held at the marae on the treaty grounds. Our Deputy Political Editor, Chris Bramwell, was at Waitangi.

Two pieces of legislation on medicinal cannabis have been before Parliament this week, raising questions about who should be allowed to grow and access the drug. A Government bill, which lays the groundwork for a regulated medicinal cannabis industry, passed its first reading. However, another bill which allows people to grow their own, failed. Here's our political reporter Mei Heron

The Government is wasting no time as the political year begins, rolling out announcements as its self-imposed 100-day deadline looms. The week also included the annual pilgrimage to Ratana Pa - the first time for Jacinda Ardern in her role as Prime Minister and Labour Party leader.