Who Won the Election Campaign Opening?
When National cannot turn out 1,235 supporters for the prime minister and Labour does not believe Chris Hipkins can attract more than 690, there is a lack of enthusiasm in both parties.
Election 2026
All Smoke, Mirrors – And Supermarkets
National side-steps the economic drivers they actually control.
What Are We Looking For
Whichever one you choose, it is helping those parties increase their size in the next parliament, which must happen if we want to blunt Luxon and National’s more liberal agenda. The aim is obvious: the choice is yours.
Quick Hit: Tradies Pay the Lawyers’ Loans
Labour will take 10 per cent off eligible student loans and wipe balances of $2000 or less entirely, at $583.4 million over five years. The debt moves to taxpayers and a doctor gets nearly four times what a teacher does.
Winston’s Right – Key’s Speech Was Suicidal
John Key told National voters splitting their vote was ‘the opposite of clever’. Winston Peters called it a suicidal speech. Run the numbers and Winston is the one who can count.
Is This Consistent With Centre-Right Values?
Christopher Luxon says National’s proposed breakup of a successful New Zealand owned co-op has been thoroughly investigated. By whom? The only evidence I know of in favour of the proposal is the polls.
New Zealand Needs Better Spending, Not Big Taxes
We don’t need more taxes. And we surely don’t need to buy supermarkets. There’s a lesson in our education success. Let’s pick some major themes. Let’s develop a good plan and make good ministers and good executives responsible for delivering successful outcomes.
Quick Hit: Don’t Write It Down
A curriculum lead was filmed telling staff the minister’s feedback was “OIA-able” and should stay out of writing. Now the chief ombudsman is formally investigating, and Erica Stanford says it’s a matter for her chief executive.
Strategic Voting to Win
With less than four weeks before overseas voting begins, the expression ‘the election is in the hands of voters’ has rarely been more meaningful. The way voters decide to use their two votes could materially affect the balance of power in the next parliament.
Chippy’s Minder
Trevor Mallard kept Owen Glenn away from Helen Clark in 2008. On Saturday he was stepping between Chris Hipkins and a heckler at Ōtara. Some people never change jobs.
Quick Hit: Three Point Four Billion. Familiar Labels.
Fonterra’s $3.4 billion year came with a $1.2 billion one-off from selling Anchor and Mainland to France’s Lactalis. Farmers banked the cheque, and the butter still costs what it costs.
Grandpa Hager’s Latest Work of Fiction
The denials and corrections are piling up. Nicky Hager’s Dirty Work is a work of fiction and a thin one at that.