The Latest Breaking News from Chris Hipkins

Christopher Luxon has trust issues and David Seymour is gaining on him in the preferred prime minister polling, yet despite all that the National Party leader would comfortably lead the next government on the latest numbers

Chris Hipkins wants to be talking about his Government’s housing and infrastructure plans this week but instead he’s trapped in obfuscation mode as Labour leader

Transport planners say National's plans to build more roads won't ease congestion in the long run and will jeopardise our climate goals, but Labour isn't doing much better.

The Government created 10 water corporations to give local communities more control, but new changes to the Three Waters reform package ensure they will share the same employment contracts, the same IT systems, and more. Jonathan Milne reports from the Local Government NZ conference in Christchurch.

Analysis: The relationship between Antony Blinken and Nanaia Mahuta is clearly a strong one with the US Secretary of State referring to her by first name in front of media from both countries.

Visits from the Aussie PM and US Secretary of State are giving Chris Hipkins an opportunity to talk about anything other than ministerial resignations, caucus leaking and wealth tax tantrums.

Grant Robertson is just as compromised as David Parker in his position on the wealth and capital gains tax and should also stand aside. But because Hipkins has already faced more Cabinet upheavals than any modern PM, Robertson survives

City mayors are pushing for new funding deals that would devolve more responsibility for infrastructure and social services to local communities. Jonathan Milne reports from the Local Government NZ conference in Christchurch.

On Monday the end of Kiri Allan’s political career brought MPs, staff, and journalists to a standstill, and 'tragic' was used repeatedly to describe her job loss. By Tuesday Allan was a political football in an urgent debate.

Christopher Luxon wants a new threshold for ministers with mental health problems to be able to return to work – clearance from a clinician.

Kiri Allan is fourth minister to exit from Hipkins’s cabinet in recent months