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: Ranking Labour's Māori caucus](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Audrey Young: Ranking Labour's Māori caucus
OPINION: Who's up, who's down and who is standing still in the Labour Māori caucus.
![Audrey Young: If not now, then when for beneficiaries?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Audrey Young: If not now, then when for beneficiaries?
OPINION: After spending $57b on the Covid fund, the time was right to lift benefits.
![Local veto on Māori wards will be abolished](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Local veto on Māori wards will be abolished
The process is fundamentally unfair to Māori, says Nanaia Mahuta.
![Whaitiri's staffer bruised, 'traumatised': leaked report](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Whaitiri's staffer bruised, 'traumatised': leaked report
Leaked report outlines staffer's account of flare-up following missed photo op with PM.
![Audrey Young: Meka Whaitiri had high turnover of staff, was difficult to work for](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Audrey Young: Meka Whaitiri had high turnover of staff, was difficult to work for
COMMENT: The Government's reputation has been further eroded with latest scandal.
![Audrey Young: A budget with a promise of better to come](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Audrey Young: A budget with a promise of better to come
COMMENT: A budget with a bit of something for everyone, except Simon Bridges.
![Budget Live: What's in it for you and your family](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Budget Live: What's in it for you and your family
Simon Bridges goes on the attack after Grant Robertson's first Budget.
![Robertson has given himself more options](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Robertson has given himself more options
COMMENT: Robertson resisted calls to blow the windfall in this Budget.
![Robertson promises more inclusive Budget](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Robertson promises more inclusive Budget
Winston Peters says his party will add the "heart and conscience" to the Budget.
![Bridges denies any Nats involvement in false Gayford slurs](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Bridges denies any Nats involvement in false Gayford slurs
Bridges has told his MPs of a zero tolerance for peddling rumours or innuendo.
![Comment | Low-life gossipers a distraction for PM's office](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Comment | Low-life gossipers a distraction for PM's office
COMMENT: Low-lifes peddling rumours are trying to inflict maximum damage on the PM.
![Ardern: TPP not a perfect deal but good enough](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Ardern: TPP not a perfect deal but good enough
Green MP Golriz Ghahraman accuses her coalition government of "spin" about revised TPP.
![Watch: Ardern and Turnbull front up](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Watch: Ardern and Turnbull front up
Ardern and Turnbull reiterated the two nations' "partnership" at Sydney press conference.
![Game on: Bridges brings out mongrel in Ardern](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Game on: Bridges brings out mongrel in Ardern
Comment: He may be Oxford educated but it was pure Te Atatu.
![Audrey Young: Joyce, Collins win campaign but not contest](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Audrey Young: Joyce, Collins win campaign but not contest
Comment: Conditions of secrecy helped Joyce's campaign to get off the starting block.
![Bridges closest but not close enough yet](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Bridges closest but not close enough yet
Steven Joyce and Amy Adams have been talking over the weekend but no deals done.
![Who's backing who in National's big race](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Who's backing who in National's big race
Four challengers are in the race to be National's next leader. Who's backing them?
![Nats 'at a crossroads' as leadership race heats up](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Nats 'at a crossroads' as leadership race heats up
Rival National Party leadership candidates are stepping up meetings with undecided MPs.
![Peters drops legal case against journalists](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Peters drops legal case against journalists
Deputy PM to pursue National MPs in legal action over the story of his over-paid pension.
![Treasury admits blunder over child poverty](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Treasury admits blunder over child poverty
The new projections wont be ready until the second half of February.
![Joyce warns Ardern: 'Stay away from another country's business'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Joyce warns Ardern: 'Stay away from another country's business'
Barnaby Joyce has sent a less than veiled message to our PM about Manus Island.
![Audrey Young: Minister resorts to bluster](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Audrey Young: Minister resorts to bluster
Willie Jackson was not the only minister who learned a hard lesson today.
![PM approves Erebus national memorial](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
PM approves Erebus national memorial
Ardern said she wanted the memorial in place by the 40thy anniversary in two year's time.
![Ardern set to meet President Rodrigo Duterte](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Ardern set to meet President Rodrigo Duterte
Duterte last week revealed he killed a person when he was 16.
![Audrey Young: Radical change or modified status quo?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Audrey Young: Radical change or modified status quo?
Will the new grand political coalition bring radical change or a modified status quo?
![Revealed: Winston Peters set to be Deputy PM, Foreign Minister](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Revealed: Winston Peters set to be Deputy PM, Foreign Minister
Winston Peters is set to become Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.
![English tipped to remain National leader](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
English tipped to remain National leader
Bill English is tipped to be strongly endorsed to remain National leader.
![Audrey Young: Legendary tale of new leader just grows](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Audrey Young: Legendary tale of new leader just grows
Comment: More wanted change than not and the numbers don't lie.
![Young on Peters: One offer good, two offers can get complicated](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Young on Peters: One offer good, two offers can get complicated
COMMENT: Which ever party takes power, NZ First could expect a deal to help it survive.
![Live: MPs twiddling their thumbs as they wait](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Live: MPs twiddling their thumbs as they wait
Peters said the process had been far more complex than he had originally thought.
![Wooing Winston: The stumbling blocks](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Wooing Winston: The stumbling blocks
Choosing teams for coalition talks with NZ First sets in train the jockeying for power.
![English patient as Peters pans idea of Deputy PM](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
English patient as Peters pans idea of Deputy PM
Winston Peters appears in no hurry to get coalition negotiations underway.
![New poll: Labour out in front, NZ First falls](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
New poll: Labour out in front, NZ First falls
The latest 1 News poll again differs from the Newshub Reid Research survey.
![Ardern on Labour's 'full tax plan'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Ardern on Labour's 'full tax plan'
"There will be no new taxes or levies introduced in our first term of government."
![Who is most capable to run the country?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Who is most capable to run the country?
More Aucklanders rate English but more Wellingtonians rate Ardern.
![Trickle of Nat exits turns to flood](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Trickle of Nat exits turns to flood
Foss' retirement announcement gives English four ministerial vacancies and 10 per cent of seats are up for change.