Focus on Politics

After several months a report into petrol prices has confirmed what many suspected, that people in Wellington and the South Island are paying more than the rest of the country for their fuel. But will anything change? Our Deputy Political Editor, Chris Bramwell, reports.

The Government's been in court this week over the way it has set New Zealand's climate targets. Hamilton law student Sarah Thomson is taking legal action against the Minister for Climate Change Issues - the first case of its kind in the country. Here's our political reporter Mei Heron.

It's been an unexpectedly messy week for the National Party this week in the lead up to its election year conference, and the first real test of Bill English's leadership. The party clearly thought the controversy around its Clutha-Southland MP, Todd Barclay, was over and done with last year - but it rose its head again on Tuesday morning and just over 24 hours later the 27-year-old's political career was over.

Immigration continues to be hot election year topic, and Labour has poured fuel on the fire with its new immigration policy. The leader Andrew Little says New Zealand is not prepared for the thousands of new migrants and it's time to "take a breather". Political editor Jane Patterson reports.

The controversial voluntary euthanasia debate took another twist this week after a member's bill legalising the right to die was pulled from the ballot. The legislation in the name of the ACT party leader, David Seymour, would allow people with a terminal illness or grievous, incurable medical condition to end their own lives. The matter is a political hot-potato - with previous attempts to debate the issue being knocked back - and now all MPs will have to deal with it leading into September's election. Here's our political reporter, Demelza Leslie.

An investigation is underway into whether the Auditor General Martin Matthews is fit to continue in that role.

The Finance Minister, Steven Joyce, has delivered his first budget, clearly aimed at helping National win September's election. It includes a lift for lower income families through changes to Working for Families and the accommodation supplement and also includes a rise in some tax thresholds But the package doesn't come into effect until April next year, making it an election year sweetener.

The trans-Tasman bond is again being tested with the rights of New Zealanders living in Australia being stripped further. Australia tightened its visa rules last month making it harder for people to gain citizenship. And this month it announced the fees New Zealand students pay will effectively triple from next year. Our political reporter Mei Heron looks at the relationship between the two countries.

Debate about charter schools and what would happen to them under a Labour government has flared up after comments made by its list candidate and Maori campaign manager Willie Jackson. Labour has a long standing policy to repeal the legislation that allows charter schools to operate, but there's discussion within Labour about what should be done with those seen as doing a good job. This has coincided with a Labour Party bill being drawn from the ballot, prohibiting charter schools from turning a profit. Here's our political editor, Jane Patterson.

Low and middle income families should expect to receive some financial relief in this month's Budget. The finance minister Steven Joyce is putting the final touches on his first budget and as our political reporter, Demelza Leslie, explains, changes to Working for Families and income tax thresholds appear to be on the cards.