Audrey Young, Senior Political Correspondent at the New Zealand Herald based at Parliament, specialises in writing about politics and power.
I’m Audrey Young – Senior Political Correspondent at the New Zealand Herald. I was the NZ Herald’s political editor for 18 years, through some of the most tumultuous political times. In 2021 I moved into a new role as Senior Political Correspondent, where I now have more time to produce in depth stories, which are not necessarily part of the daily news cycle. I love getting my teeth into a complex issue or helping bring some clarity to a misunderstood issue. And I have a special interest in foreign affairs and Treaty of Waitangi issues. In 2018 and 2020 I was Voyager Political Journalist of the Year. Occasionally I also dish out my own awards and rankings to politicians, which includes rating the performance of Cabinet Ministers or the opposition’s Shadow Cabinet. I’ve been working at the Herald for so long that my 30th anniversary was mentioned in Parliament. However, I never tire of seeing what people do to try to gain power and what they do when they get there. I was pleased to be the union representative on the Press Council for six years. In a previous life, I worked as a sub-editor at the ill-fated Auckland Sun, was a tutor for a Pacific Island journalism course at Manukau Polytechnic in Otara, and was a teacher in Wellington.
![Audrey Young: Disturbing undertones in Te Pāti Māori's messaging](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Disturbing undertones in Te Pāti Māori's messaging
OPINION: Ads promoting Budget day protests featured guns against a fiery backdrop.
![Audrey Young: Buckle in – money is tight, you’d better believe it](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Buckle in – money is tight, you’d better believe it
OPINION: Cuts to Government agencies will become business as usual.
![Audrey Young: All eyes on Budget borrowing; brickbat for a nasty ad](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: All eyes on Budget borrowing; brickbat for a nasty ad
OPINION: There's one line Nicola Willis really doesn't want to cross with her tax cuts.
![Inside a $2 billion pay-equity debacle](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Inside a $2 billion pay-equity debacle
The union says many care and support workers are back to square one.
![Audrey Young: 'Targeted extermination' - tensions high over controversial bill](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: 'Targeted extermination' - tensions high over controversial bill
OPINION: Te Pāti Māori didn't hold back in the House - neither did Act's Karen Chhour.
![Audrey Young: Inside David Seymour's inner circle; the surprise MPs who inspired him](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Inside David Seymour's inner circle; the surprise MPs who inspired him
The Act leader received memorable advice after watching a Mexican drug movie.
![Audrey Young: The best of a boring bunch of pre-Budget speeches](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: The best of a boring bunch of pre-Budget speeches
OPINION: Also in today's politics briefing - MP David MacLeod's donations drama.
![Audrey Young: Badly behaved MPs needed a time-out](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Badly behaved MPs needed a time-out
OPINION: Misconduct and extreme rhetoric have become too familiar in NZ politics.
![Audrey Young: State schools 'converted' to charter schools? Brace for controversy](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: State schools 'converted' to charter schools? Brace for controversy
OPINION: David Seymour says a separate agency will oversee up to 50 new charter schools.
![How Luxon sees the world: The global events that shaped the PM](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
How Luxon sees the world: The global events that shaped the PM
Christopher Luxon's American political hero might surprise you.
![Audrey Young: Nicola Willis on the Budget - it's bad, but not 'Ruth Richardson bad'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Nicola Willis on the Budget - it's bad, but not 'Ruth Richardson bad'
OPINION: The fiscal news is grim, Willis admits, but an austerity Budget isn't the answer.
![Judge delivers verdict on early NZ justice system](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Judge delivers verdict on early NZ justice system
Justice David Collins points to early miscarriages of justice in colonial New Zealand.
![Audrey Young: The minister who made a criminal mess of Budget reveal](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: The minister who made a criminal mess of Budget reveal
OPINION: Everybody - including the PM - left yesterday's press conference confused.
![MPs spitting the dummy: Who followed through on threats to quit on principle?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
MPs spitting the dummy: Who followed through on threats to quit on principle?
OPINION: Some MPs are just plain offended at how they are treated by their party.
![Audrey Young: Peters switches from statesman to street-brawler](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Peters switches from statesman to street-brawler
OPINION: Also in today's political wrap - what on earth is up with Green MPs?
![Audrey Young: A 'sense of suppressed tension' in Labour Party](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: A 'sense of suppressed tension' in Labour Party
OPINION: Three things Labour needs to get settled before it can regain credibility.
![Audrey Young: Peters has the most to complain about after grim poll result](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Peters has the most to complain about after grim poll result
OPINION: The poll will only prove to Peters' team that statesmanship doesn't win votes.
![Audrey Young: National's comeback kid has a lot on his plate](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: National's comeback kid has a lot on his plate
OPINION: Three years ago, 'Goldie' was in the political doldrums.
![Audrey Young: What if Government loses Waitangi Tribunal fight?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: What if Government loses Waitangi Tribunal fight?
OPINION: Both parties have talked themselves into a pistols-at-dawn showdown.
![Audrey Young: Minister for Children v Waitangi Tribunal - the players and the issues](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Minister for Children v Waitangi Tribunal - the players and the issues
OPINION: Crown Law has pulled out its big guns to challenge the Tribunal summons.
![Audrey Young: Police push their luck on pay as mass layoffs continue](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Police push their luck on pay as mass layoffs continue
OPINION: Police's flat rejection of the latest offer seems slightly detached from reality.
![Audrey Young: Luxon’s Philippines visit follows years of neglect, but the PM and his daughter know it well](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Luxon’s Philippines visit follows years of neglect, but the PM and his daughter know it well
OPINION: The Philippines is a central part of the US 'lattice' response to China.
![Audrey Young: Government on collision course with Waitangi Tribunal](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Government on collision course with Waitangi Tribunal
OPINION: An already tense relationship just got a whole lot worse.
!['I’m an extrovert, I’m relational and I know the markets well:' Luxon on his foreign foray](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
'I’m an extrovert, I’m relational and I know the markets well:' Luxon on his foreign foray
PM's next steps in a push to lift the intensity of NZ's relationships.
![Winston Peters' inner circle - the people he depends on](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Winston Peters' inner circle - the people he depends on
'The person you see in the public arena is not the person you see behind closed doors.'
![Audrey Young: Luxon can't talk down seismic foreign policy shift](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Luxon can't talk down seismic foreign policy shift
OPINION: Today's NZ-US statement virtually signs us up to Aukus II.
![Parliament shock: Act, NZ First side with opposition as Nats vote against bill](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Parliament shock: Act, NZ First side with opposition as Nats vote against bill
Act and NZ First have helped the Green Party bill get to select committee.
![Audrey Young: Labour takes aim at Luxon's targets... and misses](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Labour takes aim at Luxon's targets... and misses
OPINION: Voters don't have a problem with setting targets, so why does Labour?
![Winston Peters delivers hard-hitting speech at UN: ‘Gaza is an utter catastrophe’](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Winston Peters delivers hard-hitting speech at UN: ‘Gaza is an utter catastrophe’
Winston Peters says civilians must not pay the price of defeating Hamas.
![Audrey Young: Māori wards set to become next race relations flashpoint](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Māori wards set to become next race relations flashpoint
OPINION: Both National and Labour have played a part in the growing controversy.
![Revival of Anzus is a prop for Aukus architecture - Helen Clark](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Revival of Anzus is a prop for Aukus architecture - Helen Clark
Helen Clark says it is a policy lurch, Winston Peters says there's nothing new in it.
![Audrey Young: Government ropes in old mates for new jobs](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Government ropes in old mates for new jobs
OPINION: Two more former National ministers were roped into jobs advising new Government.
![Audrey Young: Luxon executes delicate diplomatic dance over China hacking case](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Luxon executes delicate diplomatic dance over China hacking case
OPINION: The situation demanded some delicate diplomacy from Christopher Luxon.
![Audrey Young: Collins keeps her cool as spy revelations heat up](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Collins keeps her cool as spy revelations heat up
OPINION: For the first time, hackers have targeted the heart of NZ's democracy.
![Audrey Young: Hipkins' bid to control division over tax](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Hipkins' bid to control division over tax
OPINION: Hipkins cannot take the support of Labour members for granted.
![Audrey Young: Willis blindsided by disability support controversy](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Willis blindsided by disability support controversy
OPINION: The Finance Minister was not best pleased to start her week with a PR disaster.
![Luxon’s inner circle - the PM’s most important advisers revealed](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Luxon’s inner circle - the PM’s most important advisers revealed
The people Christopher Luxon depends on in politics, the public service and business.
![Audrey Young: Peters rubs salt into wound with 'fiscal hole' claim](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Peters rubs salt into wound with 'fiscal hole' claim
OPINION: Peters' race comments aren't the only ones that likely gave the PM a headache.
![Audrey Young: Hero to zero in 6 months - the Green Party's horror run](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Hero to zero in 6 months - the Green Party's horror run
OPINION: The crisis-hit Greens really needed a break. Not this week.
![Jonathan Hunt — the king of conviviality](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Jonathan Hunt — the king of conviviality
Legendary former Speaker also had some difficult years.
![Govt stops putting general Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Govt stops putting general Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation
NZ First wants Treaty matters decided by Parliament, not the courts.
![Audrey Young: Tone deaf or 'kick-a***'? PM's political radar offline again](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Tone deaf or 'kick-a***'? PM's political radar offline again
OPINION: The problem isn't what the PM says, but how he says it.
![US diplomat abandons speech - what she would have said](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
US diplomat abandons speech - what she would have said
Protests inside and outside the building derail US Aukus official's speech.
![Audrey Young: Uproar over boot camps, consents plays into Govt's hands](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Uproar over boot camps, consents plays into Govt's hands
OPINION: The centre-right Govt has left voters in no doubt it is more right than centre.
![Audrey Young: Luxon cops fiscal backlash after allowance blunder, rego hikes](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Luxon cops fiscal backlash after allowance blunder, rego hikes
OPINION: The PM is usually the one delivering economic lectures. Not this week.
![Audrey Young: Pressure on Willis to deliver as Opposition comes out swinging](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Pressure on Willis to deliver as Opposition comes out swinging
OPINION: National has ceded the moral high ground, raising the stakes for its May Budget.
![Audrey Young: Child poverty statistics intensify battle over welfare reform](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Child poverty statistics intensify battle over welfare reform
OPINION: The stats relate to Labour's time in office, which makes them politically tricky.
![Audrey Young ranks maiden speeches by our new MPs - why Efeso Collins' was so special](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young ranks maiden speeches by our new MPs - why Efeso Collins' was so special
Meet our intriguing new MPs, their families, tragedies and brushes with crime.
![Audrey Young: The real jobseeker shocker everybody missed](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: The real jobseeker shocker everybody missed
OPINION: Critics might want to check the fine print before they cry 'cruelty'.
![Audrey Young: Flash utes fair game as Govt expands spending cuts](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Flash utes fair game as Govt expands spending cuts
OPINION: Optics are even more important when you're on a cost-cutting drive.
![Former top public servant and raconteur dies - but he leaves great work stories](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Former top public servant and raconteur dies - but he leaves great work stories
The man with rich stories about working with Sir Rob Muldoon and David Lange.
![Audrey Young: The underestimated MP who's got Luxon's ear](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: The underestimated MP who's got Luxon's ear
OPINION: Simeon Brown is a punchline for some opponents. He may get the last laugh.
![Luxon delivers strong message over Rafah operation](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Luxon delivers strong message over Rafah operation
Foreign Minister Winston Peters met with the Israeli ambassador.
![Audrey Young: The woman who saved Luxon from disaster at Waitangi](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: The woman who saved Luxon from disaster at Waitangi
OPINION: The PM's day would have been much worse if he wasn't able to speak at all.
![Audrey Young: Lingering issue remains after Govt's sloppy week](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Lingering issue remains after Govt's sloppy week
OPINION: Without a full reckoning, it'll be death by a thousand innuendos.
![Bill English on the 'twists and turns' of the Treaty relationship](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Bill English on the 'twists and turns' of the Treaty relationship
The former PM points to lessons from the past five years.
![Shane Jones lashes out at inquiry - 'it's not the Waitangi Tribunal's business'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Shane Jones lashes out at inquiry - 'it's not the Waitangi Tribunal's business'
The first regional wānanga in the constitution inquiry is set to get under way this week.
![Audrey Young: Luxon starts 2024 as the great unifier ... of Māori](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Luxon starts 2024 as the great unifier ... of Māori
OPINION: The PM probably wishes he'd never heard of the Treaty Principles Bill.
![Luxon memo to speechwriter: Make it dull](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Luxon memo to speechwriter: Make it dull
OPINION: There were some fireworks at Ratana, but not involving the PM.
![Charter school plans: More radical than before - David Seymour](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Charter school plans: More radical than before - David Seymour
David Seymour is planning to improve on the charter school model but unions are worried.
![Audrey Young: All the signs Ardern was about to drop a bombshell](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: All the signs Ardern was about to drop a bombshell
OPINION: Five of the top columns of the year from Audrey Young.
![Audrey Young: 'Vibe' budget leaves key questions hanging](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: 'Vibe' budget leaves key questions hanging
OPINION: We wanted details about tax cuts. We did not get them.
![Audrey Young: Foreign Minister Mark III - Peters surrounded by old work family](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Foreign Minister Mark III - Peters surrounded by old work family
OPINION: Foreign policy is definitely under new management.
![Audrey Young: Brownlee off to a solid start as Speaker](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Brownlee off to a solid start as Speaker
OPINION: It's a tricky job, but so far the political veteran is making it look easy.
![Audrey Young: It's a ship-show, but that's not a bad thing for National](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: It's a ship-show, but that's not a bad thing for National
OPINION: It took an epic maritime mess to wrest the spotlight from Winston Peters.
![Audrey Young: Peters wastes no time with foreign policy pivot](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Peters wastes no time with foreign policy pivot
OPINION: 'Independent' policy is out, New Zealand's traditional allies are back in.
![Audrey Young: Seymour sets out detail of Act's Treaty principles bill](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Seymour sets out detail of Act's Treaty principles bill
David Seymour on the King's hui - "it's exactly what I hoped would happen".
![Out of office: Chris Hipkins on power, pressure - and Scrabble with partner Toni](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Out of office: Chris Hipkins on power, pressure - and Scrabble with partner Toni
'People don't vote on a left-right continuum. They vote on the vibe of the campaign.'
![Audrey Young: Clear MVP after a sensational first week in Parliament](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Clear MVP after a sensational first week in Parliament
OPINION: Political rookies, take notice: this is how you set the tone.
![Audrey Young: Who has the advantage and disadvantage in the new debating chamber?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Who has the advantage and disadvantage in the new debating chamber?
Where the new battle lines are drawn as Question Time resumes.
![Audrey Young: It'll take more than a mihi to fix this, Prime Minister](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: It'll take more than a mihi to fix this, Prime Minister
OPINION: Protesters feel targeted by the new Government - and it's not hard to see why.
![Audrey Young: Act ushers in a debate it never bargained on - Māori sovereignty](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Act ushers in a debate it never bargained on - Māori sovereignty
OPINION: Debate about Treaty principles leads to a much deeper debate on the articles.
![Audrey Young: Luxon's Govt on the defensive after a ragged start](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Luxon's Govt on the defensive after a ragged start
OPINION: Govt's controversial measures have given Opposition parties stronger start.
![Audrey Young: Winston Peters’ bad behaviour overshadowing Luxon, Seymour](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Winston Peters’ bad behaviour overshadowing Luxon, Seymour
OPINION: He should be happy, but it is as though Winston Peters needs an enemy.
![Audrey Young: Mallard, Maharey, Coster - how safe should they be?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Mallard, Maharey, Coster - how safe should they be?
OPINION: Andrew Coster should be safe but Mallard might not be.
![Audrey Young: Luxon's dream start goes up in smoke](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young: Luxon's dream start goes up in smoke
OPINION: The new PM has been shown how easy it is to lose control of the narrative.
![Move to undo court decision 'entrenches colonisation' - Te Pati Maori](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Move to undo court decision 'entrenches colonisation' - Te Pati Maori
Opposition says Parliament's law was unfair and court decision should be respected.
![Audrey Young on Luxon's first Cabinet - the good, the bad and the unfair](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Audrey Young on Luxon's first Cabinet - the good, the bad and the unfair
OPINION: Cabinet positions suggests National well and truly in charge.