Lucy Bennett
Political Reporter
Lucy Bennett is a political reporter for the New Zealand Herald
We are your advocate, Aotearoa. Uncovering stories that matter, asking hard-hitting questions of those in power, live-blogging sport events, monitoring the highs and lows of the NZX and providing Premium expert opinion and analysis. Bringing you distinctive, quality journalism and breaking news from across New Zealand and around the world. With specialists working together to create indepth reads, engaging video, and unmissable podcasts.
Check out Lucy’s latest content
Councils should make roads safer, not cut speed limits, says AA
The AA says reducing limits is not the only way to lower the road toll.
Speeding drivers aren't the drivers Hawke's Bay residents fear the most on the region's roads
Careless or reckless driving is the top perceived road risk in Hawke's Bay.
Make Northland roads safer, not cut speed limits, says AA
NZ Transport planning tool indicates speed limits need lowering over much of country.
Budget breakdown: The winners and losers
Who got what? The Herald breaks down the numbers.
Mental health and addiction sector awaits Budget
Devil in the detail, and in the Budget, mental health and addiction services say.
Mental health reform: Govt boosts funding, re-writes compulsory treatment law
The Government released its response to the He Ara Oranga report into mental health
Budget 'hack': Digital files are property, receiving them is a crime: lawyer
2000 attempts to gain access a clear case of hacking, lawyer says.
New mental health commission subject of fresh claim by Nats
Slow leak of information from National continues ahead of Budget.
Lean Budget 2019 for health if figures correct
Finance Minister stresses some figures released by Opposition are incorrect.
Government surrenders on debt target, says National
Finance Minister says moving to a range will give the Government flexibility.
SAS raid on Afghan villages breached rules of engagement, Hager claims
Author Nicky Hager outlines alleged breaches of rules governing military operation.
Defence minister's concerns over Afghan detainees
Mapp raised concerns over detainee issues many times, inquiry told.
Afghan detainees transferred to US, inquiry told
NZDF unable to intervene in Afghan judicial process, inquiry told.
Hager scathing in criticism of NZDF over raid
Defence Force 'obsessed' with making itself look good, author says.
Parliament sex assaults appear the result of a predator: Review
Review respondents given details for police and sexual assault support providers.
Toxic culture at Parliament laid bare
Speaker releases independent review of Parliament's culture.
Review of Parliament's culture released today
Francis review of Parliament's culture started in November.
Mental health crisis: 'We're at a point where we need ... a clear plan of action'
There are big hopes for the Government's mental health inquiry response and the Budget.
New Zealand remembers Bob Hawke
Foreign Minister Winston Peters leads tributes to the former Labor leader.
Mallard hopes Parliament goes to the dogs (and babies)
It's not all harsh words and hardball in Parliament on Trevor Mallard's watch.
Public consultation on drugged-driving tests begins
Announcement comes after petition calling for changes extended for more signatures.
Where's the substance? Peters questions major new survey
$3m survey designed by Justice Ministry staff and reviewed by experts.
Crash families back roadside drug testing petition
Grieving families call for urgent action on drug testing.
Suspended MP turns up to parliamentary committee
MP's attendance causes brief interruption to submissions.
Economist questions Huawei's motives
Beijing-based economist calls for corporate political donations to be banned.
Mum: 'We need to do right by the rest of New Zealand'
Random roadside drug tests urgently needed, says grieving mother.
Anti-vaxxers are 'pro-plague', says Minister
Minister: Northland DHB needs to step up in its responsibility on immunisations.
Vic Uni name change row prompts law amendment
University name-change plan highlighted anomaly, Minister says.
Winston Peters supports drugs early access trial
NZ First leader says he intends to persuade Health Minister on a trial
Minister sacks 'dysfunctional' Waikato health board, installs commissioner
The move comes after a series of issues for the troubled DHB.
Woman fights for sisters' right to funded medicines
Freda Evans and her two sisters are among only 11 people in NZ with rare Pompe disease.
NZ's drug-funding model 'under stress': Pharmac boss
Governments everywhere are 'struggling' with the same issues.
Drug money: The fight to free up more medicines for Kiwis
Why can't Pharmac just buy all the drugs people need?
Breast cancer patient pleads for 'deal-breaker' drug
Ardern emceed a fundraiser to help pay for breast cancer treatment for an Auckland doctor
Leaked paper from National proposes age 20 for legal cannabis use
A referendum on the personal use of cannabis is planned for 2020.
National reveals leaked cannabis referendum options
Referendum on recreational cannabis use planned for 2020.
Winston Peters' Pike River entry offer rejected
Deputy PM not taking no for an answer on mine re-entry pledge.
G'day, mates: Kiwis might soon be more welcome in Oz
Accepting New Zealand's offer on refugees a priority for potential Labor government.
Hone Harawira backs Brian Tamaki in prison programme stoush
Government should give Man Up programme a chance, says Harawira.
MPs asked to consider consequences of euthanasia bill
MPs set to debate assisted dying bill before conscience vote.
Pharmac to dump some drug-funding applications
Public feedback sought before final decisions are made.
Brian Tamaki's 'gang rape' remark offensive: Ardern
Destiny Church has 'blown it', Kelvin Davis says.
No breast cancer drug decision yet, says Pharmac
Breast cancer support group sceptical of Pharmac's decision-making process.
Popular restaurateurs allowed to stay in New Zealand
Reprieve for family after Associate Immigration Minister considers case.
100 women die during wait for decisions on breast cancer drug
Health Minister has asked for more haste in seeking options for early access to drugs.
Foreign states seek to spy on expats: Spy chiefs
New Zealand not immune to foreign interference, SIS and GCSB say.
Spy chiefs front on mosque terror attack
Agencies will give information 'fully and openly' to Royal Commission.
Spy chief's condolences for mosque attack victims
Parliament is investigating the 2017 general election.
Breast cancer sufferers devastated by lack of inquiry
Health Minister denies blocking select committee from holding Pharmac inquiry.
Euthanasia bill back for debate by MPs
MPs set to debate substantive policy contained in the End of Life Choice Bill.
Nats' review of party culture finished
Francis review will be looked at as part of party's 'health and safety' policy.
Voters against capital gains tax, BusinessNZ-commissioned poll finds
Poll shows voters don't like CGT but it may not influence their vote in 2020.
PM announces head of Christchurch attack inquiry
Agencies' surveillance to come under the spotlight in inquiry.
Nine years on, NZ to start work on UN Declaration
Government committed to UN declaration on indigenous rights, says Mahuta
Capital Gains Tax: New push to target property owners
Nationwide campaign pushing for CGT is being launched today by Tax Justice Aotearoa NZ.
Threat looms for Stats NZ chief over Census 2018
Census completion numbers need context, Stats NZ says.
Hit & Run's version of Afghanistan raid 'impossible'
Hit & Run book claimed six civilians were killed and 15 wounded in SA "revenge" raid.
Former defence minister Wayne Mapp gives evidence in Operation Burnham inquiry
SAS under day-to-day operational control of international allied forces command.
Civilian casualties front of mind, former chief says
Coalition forces aware of impact of any civilian deaths, inquiry told
Hearing into 'Hit & Run' claims begins today
Former defence minister to explain decision to send SAS into Afghanistan.
MPs question 'postcode pricing' of breast cancer drugs
Countries must be willing to pay for innovation, drug companies say.
Christchurch mosque survivor to speak at Hagley Park
His wife was killed when she came back for him after helping children.
59 countries to be represented at Christchurch mosque attack remembrance service
Remembrance service must focus on the Muslim community, says Jacinda Ardern.
Watch: Jacinda Ardern reveals more on changes to NZ's gun laws
New legislation for tighter gun controls would be introduced to Parliament next week.
NZTA review: 36,000 vehicles, $5m cost
"I know regulatory failure when I see it," Meredith Connell partner says of NZTA.
Govt pushes some work back to deal with terror attack
Agencies' focus on terrorist attack response pushes back other work.
Royal Commission for mosque terror attacks
Royal Commission seeks to answer the questions people have about terror attack
Ardern announces Royal Commission of Inquiry into mosque shootings
Ardern also announced that she is travelling to China next week.
Action on social media expected from Government
As other countries act against social media platforms, Government considers options.
Former minister targeted by gunman backs register
New Zealand made a 'terrible mistake' when it dropped a gun register in the 1980s.
MPs and 'shock jocks' must take some blame for hate speech, MP says
A slippery slope from hate speech to atrocity, says former-refugee-turned MP.
NZ's darkest day: 'Our hearts are heavy but our spirit is strong'
"That quiet Friday afternoon has become our darkest of days," Jacinda Arden said.
Jacinda Ardern to victims' families: 'We will walk with you'
PM has told families of the victims attacks that the nation "can never know their grief".
Shooting video: Social media platforms on notice globally
The responsibility of social media giants questioned by nations.
Calls for automatic residency for victims and families
Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway says the issue is being considered.
Ardern to gun owners: Surrender your weapons now, before law changes
Guns and social media in the site of the Government following mosque shootings.
Warnings that alleged gunman a 'marked man' in prison
Christchurch gunman Brenton Tarrant may be kept in solitary confinement for his safety.
Ban on military-style semi-automatics likely
Security agencies' responses also likely to be discussed by Cabinet.