Quick Hit: The Fiscal Update in Numbers and Who Paid for the Better Books
The deficit is $3 billion for the quarter, $1.4 billion better than Treasury forecast. Treasury’s own pre-election update says part of the improvement comes from inflation lifting the tax take.
Related
Quick Hit: Unemployment Hits 5.7% and Winston Saw It Coming
Unemployment is at 5.7%, 174,000 people are out of work and long-term joblessness is the highest since 1994. Winston Peters says he told National and ACT to delay their tax cuts.
Quick Hit: Where National’s 2023 Voters Went
RNZ-Reid Research shows only 56.9 per cent of National’s 2023 voters still back the party. ACT and NZ First now hold 18.4 per cent of them.
Quick Hit: What NZ First Says It Delivered for Superannuitants, Checked
Winston Peters read out a list in Papakura. We checked it against the official record.
Quick Hit: Labour built the blob, and even 9,000 cuts won’t shrink it back
Department bosses have been told to model a 15 per cent staff cut. Even the 55,000 target leaves the public service bigger than the one Labour inherited in 2017.
Latest
My Gut Feeling Says ‘Bugger the Polls’
Whichever way the cookie crumbles, it is going to be an interesting night. Split your vote and hopefully save the day.
Labour and National Have Already Lost
I give my prediction for this election, but regardless of who forms the next government, Election 2026 confirms the long decline of New Zealand's political giants.
National Sinks, Winston Holds and a Te Pāti Māori MP Ticks Green
Roy Morgan’s final poll has National on 26.5 per cent while NZ First and ACT hold firm. The left’s path runs through Opportunity, and Te Pāti Māori’s own MP is party voting Green.
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