CoveragePost
May 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand The government will spend $131 million on improving students’ reading, writing and maths in this year’s budget, the Education Minister Erica Stanford says. Stanford made the pre-Budget announcement alongside Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at Boulcott School in Lower Hutt on Monday. Another 12 initiatives as part of primary and intermediate school ... <a title="Watch: Erica Stanford announces $131m Budget spend on reading, writing and maths initiatives" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/18/watch-erica-stanford-announces-131m-budget-spend-on-reading-writing-and-maths-initiatives/" aria-label="Read more about Watch: Erica Stanford announces $131m Budget spend on reading, writing and maths initiatives">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand America’s Cup winner and Olympic gold medallist Blair Tuke. PHOTOSPORT America’s Cup winner and Olympic gold medallist Blair Tuke says the government should scrap its Fisheries legislation. Tuke was speaking to the Primary Production select committee on behalf of the Live Ocean Foundation alongside ultramarathon swimmer Jono Ridler in response to ... <a title="Olympian Blair Tuke calls on government to scrap Fisheries legislation" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/18/olympian-blair-tuke-calls-on-government-to-scrap-fisheries-legislation/" aria-label="Read more about Olympian Blair Tuke calls on government to scrap Fisheries legislation">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Marika Khabazi New Zealand First might want the government to buy back BNZ and meld it with Kiwibank to create a banking competitor to take on the Australian big banks – but there’s limited evidence that it would work. NZ First leader Winston Peters said at the weekend that ... <a title="Would buying BNZ actually help New Zealanders?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/18/would-buying-bnz-actually-help-new-zealanders/" aria-label="Read more about Would buying BNZ actually help New Zealanders?">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Winston Peters. RNZ / Mark Papalii Winston Peters’ threat to nationalise a major Australian-owned bank would send a “bad signal” to potential foreign investors, a veteran economic analyst says. Peters’ party NZ First said if re-elected in November it would merge BNZ and Kiwibank under state ownership. BNZ was sold by ... <a title="Bank nationalisation threat a ‘bad signal’ for investors – analyst" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/18/bank-nationalisation-threat-a-bad-signal-for-investors-analyst/" aria-label="Read more about Bank nationalisation threat a ‘bad signal’ for investors – analyst">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi announced she is leaving Te Pāti Māori to launch a new political party. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Māori politics has erupted as Mariameno Kapa-Kingi launched a rival party, Te Pāti Māori fractures deepen, and the battle for the Māori vote heats up. The fight for the Māori vote ... <a title="The fight for the Māori vote" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/18/the-fight-for-the-maori-vote/" aria-label="Read more about The fight for the Māori vote">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 17, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ/Dan Jones New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has announced a policy to automatically enrol all newborn New Zealand citizens into KiwiSaver with a $1000 government contribution, alongside a proposal to buy back the Bank of New Zealand and merge it with Kiwibank to create a new state-owned bank. Speaking at ... <a title="Winston Peters unveils KiwiSaver-from-birth NZ First policy, bank takeover plan" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/17/winston-peters-unveils-kiwisaver-from-birth-nz-first-policy-bank-takeover-plan/" aria-label="Read more about Winston Peters unveils KiwiSaver-from-birth NZ First policy, bank takeover plan">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 17, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand The National Party is promising tougher sentences for sexual offending if it’s re-elected. Its justice spokesperson Paul Goldsmith – who is currently the Justice Minister – revealed on Sunday National would scrap good character assessments at sentencing for all sexual crimes, which meant harsher punishment. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon made the ... <a title="National to scrap good character assessments for sex offenders at sentencing" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/17/national-to-scrap-good-character-assessments-for-sex-offenders-at-sentencing/" aria-label="Read more about National to scrap good character assessments for sex offenders at sentencing">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 17, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand NZ First leader Winston Peters is due to make a policy announcement. Peters will be speaking from Trusts Arena in West Auckland where he has been addressing a public meeting. He is due to take questions around 2pm. Previously, during his State of the Nation speech in March, Peters had announced ... <a title="Live: Winston Peters to make NZ First policy announcement" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/17/live-winston-peters-to-make-nz-first-policy-announcement/" aria-label="Read more about Live: Winston Peters to make NZ First policy announcement">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 16, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Education Minister Erica Stanford aims to introduce legislation this year. RNZ / Marika Khabazi Education Minister Erica Stanford promises an update on the government’s plans for a social media ban for under-16s next month. Coalition partner ACT says the situation remains a “mess that needs to be tidied up”, meaning the ... <a title="Education Minister Erica Stanford promises update on social media ban in June" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/16/education-minister-erica-stanford-promises-update-on-social-media-ban-in-june/" aria-label="Read more about Education Minister Erica Stanford promises update on social media ban in June">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 15, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Resources Minister Shane Jones. RNZ / Mark Papalii Ngāti Ruanui is demanding an apology from Resources Minister Shane Jones for suggesting the iwi lacks intelligence during a Parliament debate this week. Its tumu whakahaere (leader), Haimona Maruera Jnr said Jones’ comments were “shameful” and “an attack on the mana of our ... <a title="Ngāti Ruanui demands apology for ‘shameful’ Shane Jones comments" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/15/ngati-ruanui-demands-apology-for-shameful-shane-jones-comments/" aria-label="Read more about Ngāti Ruanui demands apology for ‘shameful’ Shane Jones comments">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 14, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand PSA national secretary Duane Leo told RNZ workers were in a state of confusion. RNZ / Dom Thomas Morale at the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) is “at rock bottom” after a fresh wave of proposed job cuts, the Public Service Association (PSA) says. The restructure would lead a further 140 ... <a title="Morale at NZTA at ‘rock bottom’ after latest round of proposed job cuts" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/14/morale-at-nzta-at-rock-bottom-after-latest-round-of-proposed-job-cuts/" aria-label="Read more about Morale at NZTA at ‘rock bottom’ after latest round of proposed job cuts">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 14, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Social Development Minister Louise Upston said the accommodation supplement calculation had not changed for 33 years RNZ / Mark Papalii A critic says a change to the accommodation supplement rules is expected to push some households further into poverty. The Social Security Amendment Bill was introduced in Parliament on Thursday. It ... <a title="Accommodation supplement change raises concern" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/14/accommodation-supplement-change-raises-concern/" aria-label="Read more about Accommodation supplement change raises concern">Read more</a>
