Pundit has finally received answers from Bill English's office about the government's stimulus package. Contrary to the spin, the government is re-announcing already promised money, it has not added a cent to its spending since December, and while the rest of the world ups the ante, New Zealand is sitting on its hands
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So what happened to that Buy American rule?
Just what the final US stimulus package says about only buying US-made goods remains vague, but here we explain the issue and what's at stake
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday February 13
US congress agree $789b stimulus plan; North Korea gears up for another missile test; Australian police detain pair over bushfires; Pakistan admits involvement in Mumbai bombings; and more
Read MoreNational News Brief, Friday February 13
Auckland swelters under record temperatures; Wellington and Dunedin councillors in stadium rows; Shell Oil looks to sell out of New Zealand; government admits what Pundit told you on Wednesday; and more
Read MoreHelen Clark's OE
While the Machiavellian world of United Nations appointments means Helen Clark won't find it easy securing her international role, it's one to which she's ideally suited
Read MoreMessage to Obama: Toughen Up
Three weeks into the job and Obama may have just reaslied he has to toughen up if he is to stay ahead of the great Republican machine and pass the legislation his team wants to get through – after all, they won the election didn't they?
Read MoreHappy birthday Charles Darwin!
New Zealand scientists are celebrating the bicentenary of Charles Darwin's birth – even though he described New Zealand as "not a pleasant place".
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday February 12
Obama's bank rescue plan; China exports tumble; Australian fire clean-up continues; close vote in Israel; Afghan suicide bombings; Zimbabwe's leader sworn in
Read MoreNational News Brief Thursday, February 12
NZ man arrested "trying to enter al Qaeda stronghold"; international students coming to NZ for a bargain; $100 million electricity grid upgrade; haka part of historic Treaty deal; heavy rains today; David Bain to get another court hearing next week
Read MoreThe $9 billion bait and switch
National claims its $9 billion stimulus package is one of the largest in the world and will protect New Zealand from the worst of the recession. But much of package is in fact old spending re-announced, including most of the previous government's 2008 Budget and the purchase of KiwiRail that National so vehemently opposed
Read MoreBrassicas, bees, and GM botch-ups
New Zealanders are wary about genetically engineered foods. A Crown Research Institute's field trial botch-up justifies the skepticism and asks some hard questions of the scientists responsible
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday February 11
Obama urges swift passage of recovery package; details of what's in the proposed package; Israelis go the the polls; China fears deflation; political violence in Madagascar; and more
Read MoreNational News Brief, Wednesday February 11
Australian bushfires death toll nears 200; New Zealander dies in fire with three children; Kopu Bridge replacement to top infrastructure spending; South Island treaty settlement to include Ka Mate rights; sheep numbers hit 1950 lows; and more
Read MoreCultural exports: Great return on investment in tough times
British film is reaping the glittering harvest of state-funded arts – and NZ politicians should be paying attention
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday February 10
Obama changes direction in Afghanistan; Australian bush fires rage; North Korea on alert; Mohammad Khatami to run in Iran; France wants bigger role in NATO
National News Brief, Tuesday February 10
Fire danger extreme in parts of NZ as Victoria burns; Kiwis to help fight fires in Victoria; minimum wage rise smallest in four years; more fat to come off Government budgets; inquiry into Keith Locke's SIS file; teens are getting dumber, says researcher
Read MoreThe spy who didn't love Keith
Blofeld beware, Keith Locke is here... The SIS' decision to target the mild-mannered Green MP as a security threat is another sign the agency has lost its way
Read MoreFerrier pouts while Laws rewrites the law: a weekend's reading
The self pity of Andrew Ferrier and the self righteousness of Michael Laws leapt from the pages of our newspapers this weekend, and shouldn't go unanswered
Read MoreNational News Brief, Monday February 9
Australia's bushfires from hell; Helen Clark applies for UN job; SIS spies on MP; House values down more than eight percent; minimum wage to rise; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday February 6
Sunni leaders allege vote fraud; North Korea may be about to test long-range missile; President of Kyrgyzstan wants US base closed; Jacob Zuma gets trial date; and more
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