Thomas Coughlan
Deputy Political Editor
Thomas Coughlan, Deputy Political Editor at the New Zealand Herald, loves applying a political lens to people's stories and explaining the way things like transport and finance touch our lives.
I’ve been working at the Herald since 2021. I’d previously worked for Stuff and Newsroom in their Press Gallery offices in Wellington. Since joining the Press Gallery in 2018, I’ve barely strayed ten paces from my first desk - it feels like home. I love putting a political lens on people’s stories and explaining the way things like transport and finance touch our lives. I’m a massive fan of spreadsheets. I love cooking and reading - generally not at the same time. If I’m not working, you’ll find me in the kitchen or at the library… or perhaps at a gig. You can find my amusing tweets at @coughlthom
Check out Thomas’s latest content
Govt unveils plans to 'flood' cities with more housing
Size and balcony requirements will be gone as part of sweeping changes announced today.
Budget: $14 billion revealed in tax cuts worth $4-$40 a fortnight
Follow our live coverage – what's in the Budget for you?
‘I may never be the Todd Muller I was four years ago': Former National leader on rebuilding, moving on
Todd Muller describes rebuilding himself after 2020 - and deciding to leave.
The law changes looming from new Govt; Peters, Seymour to split Deputy PM
Unorthodox Deputy PM jobshare, 20 Cabinet roles include three each from NZ First, Act.
Live: Voting is over - what happens now and when will we know who's won?
How long before we get a new government?
Election 2023: Chris Hipkins promises a swift trip to India if Labour wins
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins promises to make Labour's first trip to India.
Government unveils $20b transport plan - but fuel taxes going up 12 cents to pay for it
Fuel taxes are going up for the first time since 2020.
'I'm so, so sorry': Kiri Allan breaks silence, won’t stand in election
MP confirms she will not contest the East Coast electorate she won in 2020.
Auckland to Tauranga? Parliament committee urges ministers to restart regional rail services
A select committee reckons its time to restart North Island passenger rail.
'Error of judgment that I regret deeply': Jan Tinetti grilled by privileges committee
Jan Tinetti faces grilling from MPs in the privileges committee
MP Kiri Allan gives wrong speech on bill in Parliament
Kiri Allan was handed the wrong speech to read in Parliament.
Education Minister investigated over accusation she misled Parliament
Jan Tinetti might be the first MP in 15 years to be found in contempt.
Inflation takes away gains from Labour’s Working for Families package
Inflation is eating away at people's benefits.
Cost of living crunch or 'no ideas' - Budget 2023 breakdown
Kids (and their parents) are the big winners with childcare subsidy, public transport.
Transport Minister opens the door for road projects to be delayed
Michael Wood has held the door open to delaying major road projects
Meng Foon donations: Kiri Allan corrects comments, registers potential conflict of interest
Allan said all donations had been 'accurately and appropriately reported'.
Three Waters reset: Govt to create 10 new entities; Luxon calls rebrand a 'dumb policy'
The Government will announce its Three Waters replacement today.
Thomas Coughlan: Bye Three Waters - welcome, ‘Affordable Water Reform’
The policy to replace Three Waters will be announced today.
Todd Muller on his journey back to the frontline
Todd Muller has had, by his own admission, a 'lumpy' journey back to the frontline.
Shaw and Muller revive climate change partnership to discuss flood retreat bill
Urgent questions need to be answered around climate change.
Carmel Sepuloni set to be deputy to Hipkins after Kiri Allan rules herself out
Allan tells the NZ Herald she will not be running for deputy.
Watch: Luxon defends promoting Collins, Muller; says Nats ready to 'get things done'
National has announced its new line-up.
Uffindell in 'good shape' - Muller
The Tauranga MP is in good form, according to colleagues.
Parliament wants to know if you would choo-choo-choose to travel by train
Parliament wants to know if New Zealanders want more passenger trains.
Thomas Coughlan: Why Sam Uffindell is toast
OPINION: Why Sam Uffindell's career is over, barring a miracle.
Thomas Coughlan: New MP's first speech bereft of personality, full of sophistry
OPINION: Parliament met two new MPs, but one's speech was better than the other.
'I thought he was in Te Puke!': Luxon heckled in Parliament over Hawaii holiday
Cost of living and Luxon's Hawaii holiday were on the slate for Question Time.
Luxon's social media suggested he was working in Te Puke - he was actually overseas on holiday
National Party leader says he was in Hawaii and doesn't think the posts were misleading.
Budget 2022: $350 cash payment for 2m Kiwis - just enough for a ticket to Aussie, say Nats
Tune in for our live coverage and the key points of today's Budget.
'It's better to burn out than to fade away': Simon Bridges bows out
Simon Bridges has bowed out of Parliament with a challenge to MPs and National.
Watch: Act responds after Govt announces next steps in Three Waters reforms
The Government will announce next steps in its three waters programme.
'Why would any sane person want that job?': Judith Collins on leadership, loss, and Simon Bridges
Former National leader Judith Collins opens up on the 'hell' of leadership.
National tries to avoid repeating mistakes in Tauranga
Leader Christopher Luxon has shaken up the party's candidate selection process.
15 Covid-related deaths today, almost 21,000 cases and 1016 in hospital
Of the 15 people who died, 9 were from Auckland, 3 from Waikato, and 3 from Wellington.
National awaits new finance spokesperson after Bridges' departure
National is looking for a new finance spokesman.
Minister tests positive for Covid; 14,633 new cases as NZ reaches grim milestone
Eighty per cent of cases recorded since the start of the pandemic are currently active.
Clarke Gayford sorry for 'confusion' after claim he tried to get mate rapid test
Gayford accused of trying to subvert health rules for his mates after Omicron scare.
Nats' leadership race: Simon Bridges not going down without a fight
Chris Luxon has the edge on Simon Bridges, but Bridges isn't giving up.
Nats' leadership race: Luxon is running, and has the edge on rival Simon Bridges
The National Caucus will meet to decide its new leader on Tuesday.
He's running. Bridges puts hat in National ring
Simon Bridges is running for the National leadership.
Live: 151 new Covid cases; 1m vaccine passes issued; new case in Canterbury
More than one million people have now successfully downloaded their My Vaccine Pass.
Will Judith Collins be Nats' leader next year? Bridges won't say
Auckland National MPs have arrived in Wellington for their first caucus meeting in months.
Live: Daily Covid cases could peak at 200 this month - PM; virus spreads to small NI town
Auckland will have its alert level reviewed today, with experts warning of rising cases.
Govt to force through Three Waters reform, U-turn on voluntary position
There is significant opposition from many councils to plans to amalgamate water services.
Three waters reforms too fast, complex, with wrong incentives - advice
Officials raised some concerns with three waters structures.
How the new Covid traffic light system works
The Government has revealed the system that will replace alert levels.
Raglan liquor store location of interest; Auckland faces 4-8 weeks of restrictions
Experts call for vaccinations, as the Government abandons its elimination strategy.
Covid crash: Labour, Nats down in post-lockdown poll; more bad news for Collins
The only big winner in tonight's poll is Act.
Live: 'Getting on top of it' - Deputy PM defends modelling as case numbers drop
Grant Robertson and Dr Caroline McElnay present today's pandemic update.
'Would be irresponsible': Deputy PM grilled over handling of MIQ escape; 28 new cases
The latest details come as Northland spends its first day in level 3 since Delta outbreak.
Covid-19: Judith Collins launches National's MIQ policy
National leader Judith Collins fronts media following launch of a policy to fix MIQ.
Live: Fears Auckland heading for longest level 4 lockdown; Wellington outbreak believed 'contained' says PM
Aucklanders face another fortnight in level 4, while the country eyes up freedom.
Live: 'Decent number' of new cases today, peak in next 48 hours; North/South alert level divide likely - expert; New employment agreements could require vaccine
Despite record numbers of daily cases, the Government is hopeful it can crush the curve.
Cases set to rise for five days, today could be highest yet - Minister; 4 KFC stores linked to outbreak; lockdown exit 'messy' - expert
An expert says in hindsight, the country should have been at a permanent state of level 2.
Megan Woods on warpath over electricity outages
Megan Woods demands to know why generation capacity was "not switched on".
Bruised National promises it has learned its lesson
National kicked off its Party conference promising to "learn the bitter lessons of 2020".