Quick Hit — Political Intelligence — Pharmac — Christopher Luxon — Winston Peters — Simeon Brown — Nicola Willis — David Seymour — Foreign Aid — National — Election 2026 — NZ Politics
Quick Hit: Pharmac Said No in May
National wants $604m more for medicines, paid for mostly by a 10 per cent aid cut with the Pacific protected. In May its own budget turned down Pharmac’s request of about $800m and gave it $54m.
Related
Quick Hit: Quarter-Trillion and No Books
Taxpayers’ Union puts Green promises at $236.7b, or $114,239 a household, after the passenger rail add. Swarbrick wants Finance. Full books still weeks away.
Quick Hit: The Number Chippy Won’t Name
Greens put about $1.1 billion a year, roughly $4.48 billion over four years, on care-worker pay equity. Hipkins called the 2025 change the most reprehensible thing he has seen and still will not cost the reverse. Moral fury without a price tag is not a budget.
Quick Hit: Own It, Both Of You
National pledges a digital trans-Tasman trial before the 2028 T20 World Cup. Hipkins says he and Albanese agreed it in 2023. Luxon says you need National to get things done. The row is about credit, not caution. Own it, both of you.
Quick Hit: Family Farm Means the Invoice
Luxton could not define family farm on HDPA, then walked dairy accommodation into a proportionate CGT. National claims an $18.8b hole. Sold a farm exemption, taxed the cowshed.
Latest
The Left Are Out to Lunch
How can Barbara Edmonds possibly manage to balance the books with ‘treats’ for just about everyone. It can’t be done, which is the message Nicola Willis is running with.
The Battle Over the Waitangi Tribunal
When the Treaty of Waitangi settlement process was introduced by Norman Kirk’s Labour government in 1975, it was framed as a means of dealing with ongoing injustices. The Waitangi Tribunal was established as a permanent commission of inquiry to investigate contemporary claims that the Crown had breached the Treaty.
Luxon Is Finished, So Split Your Vote And Save The Coalition
National 25.9 per cent, its worst since 2020. Neither bloc gets to 61. Luxon survived two recent confidence votes and the party is paying for it. Vote National in the electorate, party vote ACT or NZ First.