AM Edition: Top 10 Politics Articles on LiveNews.co.nz for March 24, 2026 – Full Text

Source: NZCTU

NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Sandra Grey is calling on the Government to pause harmful employment legislation in light of Brooke van Velden’s resignation.

“Brooke van Velden’s legacy as Workplace Relations and Safety Minister is one of the worst in this country’s history. Much of the legislation passed on her watch has wrecked the longstanding landscape of employment relations in New Zealand.

“Stealing pay equity overnight from more than 300,000 workers in low-paid, female-dominated sectors. Delivering real-term pay cuts for workers on the minimum wage for three years running. Letting multinational corporate lobbyists dictate our contractor law. These decisions demonstrate van Velden’s priorities as Minister.

“The Minister has two bills before the House that continue her track record of trampling on workers’ rights. In light of the Member’s resignation, we are calling on the Government to halt any further progress on the Employment Leave Act and the Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill, and to work with unions on real, long-term solutions to the issues these Bills raise.

“The Government now has an opportunity to do right by working people. The next Minister for Workplace Relations should be one who truly understands the struggle of workers in a cost-of-living crisis, and who listens to working people and their unions,” said Grey.

MIL OSI

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Foreign Minister says people shouldn’t be alarmed that “somehow we’re going to be engaged in some military exercise” following statements by the head of NATO including New Zealand as one of 22 countries “coming together” to secure the Strait of Hormuz.

It comes as Labour raises concerns about the “broad nature” of a joint statement New Zealand was part of over the weekend, and what the commitment may open the country up to.

Winston Peters said there had been “scaremongering” from critics who say the government is “rushing to contribute military forces to this conflict”.

“What absolute crap, what absolute nonsense – New Zealand is not a party to this conflict, and we have absolutely no intention of joining it,” he said at Parliament on Tuesday.

Currently, the government won’t comment on what potential resources would be considered or committed if New Zealand was requested to help, due to it being a hypothetical issue.

Earlier on Tuesday the government said it had not made any commitment towards military action in the Middle East, but Labour leader Chris Hipkins said he was very concerned about “what the government had signed us up to”.

He was referring to a joint statement the government signed with 19 other countries condemning Iranian attacks on commercial ships in the Gulf.

Over the weekend, the government joined 19 other countries in condemning Iranian attacks on commercial ships in the Gulf.

In a collective statement, the countries including the United Kingdom and Germany, expressed “deep concern” about the escalating conflict. The statement also expressed its signatories would be ready “to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait”.

They called on Iran to immediately cease threats, laying mines, drone and missile attacks and other attempts to block commercial vessels from travelling through the Strait of Hormuz.

Luxon clarified any such future support would need to be considered by Cabinet.

On Tuesday, Hipkins said the government had “basically” signed the country up to say “we’re ready and willing to participate in securing the strait”.

He then said that was a “slight paraphrase,” but “effectively, that’s what they’ve signed up to”.

“I don’t think we should be making a broad commitment like that at this point. Any support that New Zealand provides should be after a United Nations mandate, and at this point that doesn’t exist,” Hipkins said.

Speaking to Fox News, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said countries including Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, UAE, Bahrain and the NATO alliance were working to “implement [US President Donald Trump’s] vision of making sure that the Strait of Hormuz is free, is opening up as soon as that is possible”.

Asked for clarification about this comment, Winston Peters said Rutte did not speak for New Zealand and he had probably been misinformed.

“We haven’t been asked, and should we be asked – we would consider it. That’s all I’ve said,” Peters emphasised.

In Parliament during an urgent debate on the conflict in the Middle East, Peters said the government was committed to working with partners to try and address one of the consequences of this conflict, that was higher fuel prices for New Zealanders.

In Parliament during an urgent debate on the conflict in the Middle East, Peters said the government was committed to working with partners to try and address one of the consequences of this conflict, which has huge implications for us, our partners and the global economy.

“But that is not the same as saying we are definitely going to contribute.

“If we receive a request, or if an international coalition was established in the future to safeguard commercial shipping, any possible contribution would be a matter for – guess who – the Cabinet first of all, to determine based on careful consideration of New Zealand’s interests.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Green Party

The Green Party says the Government’s fossil fuel crisis relief package leaves too many New Zealanders behind. 

“The Luxon Government has turned its back on hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders, asking them to foot the bill for Trump’s war on Iran,” said Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson. 

Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick says, “The Government’s narrow tweaks to tax credits leaves behind the tens of thousands of people their economic plan has pushed out of work, only to then punish with new obligations and sanctions. 

“So much for planning for the ‘worst case scenario.’ There is no plan to support people onto public transport and reduce fuel demand, no plan to prevent corporations price gouging while families cut back on groceries. 

“Perhaps worse, Luxon has doubled down on his commitment to burn billions of taxpayer dollars on infrastructure that fosters more fossil-fuel dependency and vulnerability, like the LNG import facility and Roads of National Significance. 

“The Greens proposed a sensible plan for free public transport, direct relief for everyone earning under the median income, increased mileage for care workers, more school bus services and a windfall profits tax.” 

“Christopher Luxon and Nicola Willis have made the decision to allow the same people they’ve made poorer through their economic decisions to carry the disproportionate cost of this fossil fuel crisis.” 

Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson said the Government’s package fails to help those hardest hit by the fuel crisis. 

“The Government showed today it is not prepared to match the scale of what people are facing and the crisis New Zealanders are dealing with.” 

“This package does nothing for beneficiaries and their children, retirees, or unpaid carers, who are all left out entirely.” 

“Caregiving is work. Raising children is work. Looking after a parent or a loved one is work. These people are facing rising costs making it more difficult to care for their loved ones. This package does not count any of it.” 

“This is a crisis and the Government’s response will do nothing for most New Zealanders. The situation demands far more than what was announced today.” 

MIL OSI

Source: Radio New Zealand

Commentators are split on whether the fuel support package announced by the government on Tuesday is generous – or leaving out some of the most needy New Zealanders.

The government announced it would give $50 a week to families who qualify for the in-work tax credit.

This means they must be a parent or caregiver working at least 30 hours a week combined as a couple or 20 hours as a single parent, not receiving a main benefit.

In the current tax year, the income cut-off for receiving the tax credit was around $89,000 of annual household income for a family with one child, $112,000 for a family with two children and $135,000 for a family with three children.

The payment would continue until the price of 91 petrol drops below $3 a litre for four consecutive weeks, or a year, whichever comes first.

About 143,000 households would receive the $50 in full, from April 7. Another 14,000 would receive payment at a lower rate.

Isaac Gunson, spokesperson for the Child Poverty Action Group, said it would help working for families but there was nothing for people relying on benefits.

“Close to a quarter of a million children live in households receiving a core benefit and the idea that there’s no additional support for them that will be made available is pretty outrageous.”

While Finance Minister Nicola Willis said they were potentially less affected because they did not have to travel to work, Gunson said they would still need to travel for groceries or job interviews.

He said the 3.1 percent increase in benefits from April 1 would not be enough.

“The idea that benefit dependent households won’t face as big a downturn in their finances because they don’t have the same obligations to go to work… that just doesn’t stand up.”

But Simplicity chief economist Shamubeel Eaqub said the policy was surprisingly generous, because the average amount that households spent on fuel each week before prices started to rise was $65.

“The immediate sticking point is going to be people who need to travel to work … this at least takes away one of those critical concerns that people might have had.”

The support package would cost up to $373 million and be paid from the Budget 2026 operating allowance.

Eaqub said the government might earn an extra $180 million in GST revenue as a result of higher petrol prices.

But Infometrics chief executive Brad Olsen said it was likely that would be diverted spending from other things, if the petrol price was higher.

“If you have to spend a whole bunch more on fuel that will attract more GST but unless your income has magically increased by the same amount, which it clearly hasn’t, you’re spending less on other things in the economy.”

He said the support plan made sense because the government wanted it to be timely and targeted.

“The fact that it can come in so quickly, and probably most importantly for the government politically, is that you see direct money in your account rather than having to wait for a cashback or not noticing that it’s come off your headline tax figure or something. That’s useful. And I think also the government has been quite clear that it was going to be limited.

“It highlights that for the government, they can’t control what’s happening across the world.

“And emitting a whole bunch of tax money they don’t have anyway, and therefore having to borrow for it to fund much wider support, would be a fairly reckless economic decision. This one coming from within the current operating allowance has kicked something else that the government might have done at budget time out and put this in instead. That seems to be a reasonable swap.

“The fact that it is targeted towards those who are already getting something like the in-work tax credit, does seem to be a pretty reasonable way to try and tightly target as much as possible the support and just get it out the door.”

Gunson said the winter energy payment should be increased.

“At the moment it’s about $20 a week for single parents and $31 a week for couples and people with children. That needs to go up irrespective of the current crisis that’s going on.

“We’d like to see the government lift it by at least 30 percent to make up for inflation as well as the current crisis to really help low-income families receiving a core benefit out.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is moving quickly to provide extra support for low-to-middle-income working families as conflict in the Middle East drives up fuel prices and adds pressure to household budgets.

From 7 April, about 143,000 working families with children will get an extra $50 a week through a boost to the in-work tax credit. The boost will also expand eligibility to around 14,000 additional working families, who will receive the tax credit at an abated rate.  

The increase will be temporary, lasting for one year or until the price of 91 octane petrol drops below $3 a litre for four consecutive weeks. 

“This temporary boost will deliver support to working families who are under significant cost-of-living pressure, without making inflation worse or further driving up Government debt,” Nicola Willis says.

“The policy is carefully targeted to families in the squeezed middle – parents who are working hard for a living, are not eligible for main benefits, and yet have modest household incomes with which to support their children. We know these families will be hit particularly hard by the global fuel-price shock. We are delivering them timely relief. 

“The Government will implement these changes at pace. Tomorrow we will introduce an Amendment Paper to the Taxation Bill currently before Parliament, so these changes can be enacted from 1 April.

“Most eligible households will not need to do anything to receive the increase. It will be paid directly into their bank accounts, starting on 7 April if they are paid weekly, and 14 April if they are paid fortnightly. 

“We are very aware that almost all Kiwi businesses and families are feeling price pressures as a result of the global shockwaves hitting New Zealand, but equally we know that responding with large, untargeted Government spending programmes could make things worse for Kiwis by adding more pressure to inflation and debt. We are making careful choices in order to protect New Zealand’s economic future. 

“The Government is conscious that a careless response to this crisis could have long-lasting and painful consequences. We saw this in the aftermath of Covid, where excessive spending more than doubled debt and sent inflation soaring and mortgage rates skyrocketing. Kiwis are still grappling with the effects of that today.

“That is why we are focused on temporary, timely support that is targeted to the workers who need it most, while continuing to manage the public finances carefully. 

“The policy is estimated to cost a one-off $373 million if it runs for the full year and less if it does not. There is no ongoing cost in future years because the change is time-limited. 

The cost will count against the Government’s operating allowance for the 2026 Budget so has already been factored into the Treasury’s fiscal forecast.

“Funding the policy this way will not add to forecast debt or inflationary pressures. It is consistent with the Government’s fiscal strategy which seeks to balance the books and bend the debt curve down.

“We cannot control global oil markets or international conflicts.

“But we can soften the impact on working families who cannot easily avoid higher fuel costs by delivering support in a responsible and well-targeted way.”

MIL OSI

MIL OSI

Source: Radio New Zealand

Angry truckers have banded together with bus, crane and even combine harvester operators to hit out over rules they say make it too hard to get bigger, more efficient vehicles on the road and easily move them round.

They want far-reaching change to the 23-year-old ‘Rule’ around the size, weight and permitting system for heavy vehicles.

They said in a hardhitting letter to the Transport Agency (NZTA) that the old Rule was blocking safer, more efficient vehicles from easily being imported, envisaging a near future when the maximum 58 tonne diesel trucks were scaled up to 62 tonne electric (which allowed for the battery).

“The level of anger from our members and the risk of more pronounced public responses during an election year should not be underestimated if tangible progress is not made,” said a letter from 11 heavy vehicle associations to the Transport Agency’s chair late last month.

Transport Minister Chris Bishop promised last June the government would be “taking the handbrake off productivity through transport rule reform” – and on Monday said he heard operators “loud and clear when they tell us there are more changes they’d like to see”.

The operators had earlier talked of feeling fobbed off, though the Transport Agency late last week offered them another meeting, for Tuesday this week.

“While responsibility is often framed as sitting with the Ministry, NZTA has long led sector engagement and provided all technical advice to the Ministry and ministers. Recent ministerial correspondence shows the full extent of the lack of progress is not well understood,” their letter said.

“We seem to get pushed from pillar to post,” said signatory Dom Kalasih, head of Transporting NZ that represented 1100 firms, mostly truckers.

Crane operators, who also signed, said the old rules were holding everyone up.

“Getting a crane out for a job, the … permit and exemption process, goodness, for a large crane operation, we’re talking hours, hours a day ,” said Sarah Toase of the Crane Association.

Their next stop would be to seek a meeting with the minister, the associations told RNZ.

Bishop said the rules would be modernised.

“Important research and policy work is underway to carefully consider those ideas,” he said in a statement. “This is a complicated area and not everything can be done all at the same time.”

The question of how fast remained open though the first changes under reform were due this coming July.

‘Complex safety, infrastructure and cost considerations’

The Transport Ministry pushed back on the industry group criticism.

“Many of the changes sought by industry – particularly those enabling significantly larger or heavier vehicles – raise complex safety, infrastructure and cost considerations,” it told RNZ.

Research had to be done on the impacts on roads and what additional infrastructure investment may be required, it added.

However, the industry said “frustration … is now acute”.

The agency was unnecessarily outsourcing analysis to consultants, even though the reform’s ambition had been scaled back.

It talked of batteries and extra safety tech being blocked by the old rules.

“In some cases, safety features are being compromised to manage weight.”

Bishop had got their hopes up last year.

“Instead, the work programme was underwhelming in scope and subsequently reduced, leaving industry with no confidence that meaningful change is being prioritised.”

The reform is of what is called ‘the Rule’, the main VDAM or Vehicle Dimensions and Mass rule.

One core change being proposed was to remove the permits on trucks between 44 and 50 tonnes.

These big trucks would still have to fit the weight and design limits of what is called the ’50MAX’ class – and would still have to stick to certain roads and bridges – but they would not have to get an actual permit, as they have done since 2013 when the High Productivity Motor Vehicle (HPMV) regime was introduced. HPMV’s advent was the biggest change in the Rule.

Electronic monitoring of trucks was now widespread and would help keep them to approved routes that were strong enough, a source said.

Another proposal in the reforms would make it cheaper to comply for the likes of electric buses now tipping the scales at over a seven tonne threshold because of their batteries.

Cranes caught in the Rule

Toase told RNZ it was not enough.

Cranes were “always being dealt with in retrospect” and were routinely having to seek exemptions from narrow rules designed for regular trucks just to operate, she said.

They had tried to build change, for instance, through a trial that succeeded in cutting by a fifth how far overweight mobile cranes had to travel, reducing congestion and emissions.

“We’ve sent all the information through to NZTA and it’s just sitting there.”

Another example she gave was that many mobile cranes were now often failing brake tests under an electronic inspection regime.

“It doesn’t produce accurate results for cranes because they are engineered differently. So cranes are failing those tests, which means they are then deemed not roadworthy.

“They’ve failed compliance and they can’t be used.”

Operators then had to revert to manual testing in order to pass, which all took time.

Federated Farmers and Rural Contractors NZ also signed the letter.

Combine harvesters, for instance, faced very restrictive limits on what bridges they could cross which should be managed in a much less complex way, said another source.

“We’re not just talking about road freight, we’re talking about harvesting of food.”

At the trucking coalface, the old Rule meant heavily specced new vehicles could not be easily imported as-is but needed bespoke modifications, in a market that was already isolated due to being minority righthand drive, the letter said.

The industry ideal for keeping up internationally, allowing for the state of NZ’s roads, was to lift the 58-tonne HPMV limit to 62 tonnes, Kalasih said.

At 62 tonnes they would not be much bigger to overtake, and the distribution of weight between the axles would spread the impact on the road, he said.

The AA did not want to comment on that from a car driver’s point of view.

‘Totally at odds’

Consultation has opened on phase two of the reform following on from phase one that began last October.

But the meetings with officials earlier this year were a final straw for the industry associations.

“The scope of that work is frankly incredibly underwhelming and lacks ambition,” said Kalasih.

“It seems to us totally at odds with what Minister Bishop has asked for.”

They felt the time was up on more reviews, research and meetings, and they were tired of being passed from NZTA to the MOT and back, he said.

But MOT said the latest research was a “necessary step to ensure that any larger changes are safe, durable, and deliver real benefits to industry and the wider transport system”.

Other changes are going on into bridge designs, which determine what weight of trucks can pass, although NZTA has played down how that work would alter old or new bridges.

NZTA said it understood the impact of the Rule’s settings on the industry.

“This is why we are engaging with industry representatives to understand the specific challenges they are facing, and the opportunities which they see for improvement,” it said in a statement.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi chair Simon Bridges, in a letter responding to the associations, acknowledged their concerns, telling them the minister made the rules and offering another meeting on Tuesday this week.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

MIL OSI

Source: Radio New Zealand

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister Nicola Willis are set to reveal the details of a support package aimed at helping Kiwis through the ongoing fuel cost crisis.

Willis has hinted it would be targeted towards low- and middle-income families.

There has been speculation it will involve adjustments to Working for Families, including the In-Work and Independent Earner tax credits.

Petrol prices in some locations have reached $4 a litre for premium, while diesel is up more than $1 a litre in the past month, Gaspy data shows.

About 20 percent of the world’s supply usually transits through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has cut off in retaliation over the US-Israel attack.

RNZ will be streaming the announcement from 12.30pm and blogging the updates as they happen. Refresh the page if you cannot see the video at the top of this page.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: NZCTU

The Government’s proposed support package for families in a fuel crisis is woefully inadequate, says NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Sandra Grey.

“Some families will get limited relief from this package. But the Government is doing nothing for families who don’t receive the in-work tax credit. They are doing nothing for pensioners. They are doing nothing to make this country more energy secure.

“92% of households won’t get anything from this package. New Zealanders already doing it tough – pensioners, welfare recipients, single people – won’t see any relief. It won’t help those working in rural communities who are facing huge price increases.

“Industries across the country are under pressure from rising fuel costs. We are already in a cost-of-living crisis, and now fuel prices risk flowing through to the price of food and other essentials. And yet the Government is choosing to provide minimum relief while Kiwi families are struggling.

“During the global financial crisis and the pandemic, the Government worked with working people and their unions on solutions to the nation’s problems. Now is the time for Government to talk with unions about what real, long-term solutions might look like,” said Grey.

MIL OSI