Quick Hit – The Roads They Promised Are Already Being Scaled Back
The roads were never going to build themselves. Turns out, they’re not going to be built at all – at least, not the way they were promised.
Political Intelligence
The Good Oil Political Intelligence – Weekly Round Up: 6 April–11 April 2026
A comprehensive weekly wrap of New Zealand politics: NZ First surges in the polls, Winston Peters meets US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Iran ceasefire developments and parliament heads into Easter recess.
Quick Hit – The Judiciary Has Lower Standards Than the Northern Club
The Judicial Conduct Panel has set a precedent – and it’s the wrong one. It has told every judge in the country that you can publicly heckle a senior government minister, accuse him of lying, invoke your judicial colleagues as political allies and still keep your job.
Quick Hit – Winston’s Already Writing the Next Coalition Agreement
Watch the next round of polling – because if NZ First keeps climbing, the internal dynamics of this coalition shift fundamentally.
Quick Hit: The Media’s Fuel Crisis – Worse Than the Actual One
Two coordinated hit pieces on the coalition’s fuel response landed on the same day – one from the Spinoff, one from the Post. Both missed the point entirely.
Quick Hit – The Diesel Death Spiral: Luxon’s ‘Unaffordable’ Relief vs a $4 Litre Reality
Welcome to life at the end of the world’s supply chain.
Quick Hit – Coalition Back in the Driver's Seat
If these trends hold, the coalition’s viability rests entirely on NZ First’s ability to sustain double-digit polling. National alone cannot deliver government. ACT alone cannot make up the difference.
Quick Hit: Luxon’s Bishop Move – Clever Tactics or Self-Inflicted Wound?
If National’s polling doesn’t improve by mid-year, the leadership question resurfaces – and Bishop will be perfectly positioned with his big policy portfolios and nothing to lose
Quick Hit: Gangs Act Gets Its First Scalp – And the Apologists Are Already Crying
A Mongrel Mob member has been convicted for wearing gang insignia while driving home from a tangi. The High Court just upheld it on appeal.