National's prison policy: real or virtue-signalling?

National's prison policy: real or virtue-signalling?
Christopher Luxon lays down the law at last weekend's pre-election National party conference. (Image: NZME)
Pattrick Smellie
Simon Bridges has a point.The former National party leader, never one to let an opportunity go by to remind us of what might have been, made three key observations at an event in Auckland last week.The first was incontrovertibly true: that both the traditional parties of government are failing to find the level of support they need to confidently form a government.The polls swirl around, but both Labour and National appear to be stuck in the mid-30s, with no obvious break-out on the horizon, with the Oct 14 election now less than four months aw...

More Law & Regulation

FMA issues warning to coconut oil company
Law & Regulation

FMA issues warning to coconut oil company

The Financial Markets Authority has issued a warning to Evco Pacific for failing to meet disclosure requirements under the Financial Markets Conduct Act. The warning extends to Evco's current director, Neville Montefiore, and former directors Roger MacDonald and Christopher N...

Staff reporters 13 Mar 2025
IMF cautions Govt against pushing back too hard against RBNZ
Law & Regulation

IMF cautions Govt against pushing back too hard against RBNZ

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is cautioning the Government against bending over backwards and deregulating banks in a bid to spur more competition in the sector.Finance Minister Nicola Willis is getting advice on whether she should make the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RB...

Gap between NZ and Aus bank interest margin grows
Economy

Gap between NZ and Aus bank interest margin grows

In New Zealand, 2024 net interest margins were flat at 2.34%.

Gregor Thompson 12 Mar 2025
Fresh child abuse charges for disgraced NZ businessman Ron Brierley
Law & Regulation

Fresh child abuse charges for disgraced NZ businessman Ron Brierley

New Zealand businessman Ron Brierley is facing three fresh charges of possessing child abuse material after an appearance in court in Australia on Tuesday.Aged 87, Brierley appeared in the Waverley Local Court in Sydney following his arrest by police on Tuesday morning.The multi-...

Staff reporters 11 Mar 2025