Focus on Politics

It's been a whirlwind year for the Labour party leader and now Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern.

The National Party is finding its feet in opposition after nine years in Government. After winning 44 percent of the party vote at September's election, seven percentage points more than Labour - National did not win the support of New Zealand First so lost the reins of power. Our Deputy Political Editor, Chris Bramwell, spoke to National's leader Bill English about the events of recent months.

While different parties have flagged work schemes for the young unemployed in the past, talk about a 'work for the dole' programme from the New Zealand First minister Shane Jones has put the cat among the political pigeons. Labour moved quickly to assure New Zealanders no-one would be forced to work for the benefit rate, but they would get the minimum wage. Shane Jones' pronouncement also sparked a debate about the position of various government parties on welfare sanctions. Here's our political editor, Jane Patterson.

The Government came under fire this week for refusing to release documents put together during the coalition talks. The 33-pages of notes are locked in a safe in the New Zealand First offices, and the Prime Minister says she hasn't looked at them since before she moved into the Beehive. The coalition government is pledging to be more open and transparent than previous administrations - but will it really be any different? Here's our Deputy Political Editor, Chris Bramwell.

Tax was front and centre during the election campaign, particularly as it was the main focus of National's attack-ads on Labour. At the heart of this was Labour's policy to put together a Working Group to review the tax system. The Government this week unveiled the terms of reference for the review, but National says they are so narrow the outcome is obvious. Here's our Deputy Political Editor, Chris Bramwell.

Much of the political focus has been at the high powered economic APEC and East Asia Summits this week, with the Prime Minister Jacinda Adern's first major foray onto the world stage. Back home, Parliament's winding back up with select committees being established and paid parental leave legislation being pushed through the House.

The 52nd Parliament is now under way and the Government's first law change is making its way through the house, but the coalition's start has not been without a few teething pains.

Ministers in the new Government are getting their feet under their desks, reading briefings and preparing for what will be a busy Parliamentary term. The house will begin sitting this week as the Labour-led Government begins implementing its one-hundred day plan.

The new government is now in place, after party deals have been revealed, portfolios allocated and new ministers sworn-in. There's been a flurry of activity at Parliament this past week as the Labour-led government prepares to move into the Beehive and relegate the National Party to the opposition corridors. Here's our political editor, Jane Patterson.

The wait, at last, is over - after 26 days, the public has finally learned who will lead the next government - the Labour Party's leader Jacinda Ardern. On Thursday evening, Winston Peters announced New Zealand First will go into coalition with Labour. The Greens, meanwhile, will support Labour on confidence and supply.