Trotter says Te Pāti Māori has put constitutional transformation on the ballot
Chris Trotter says Te Pāti Māori is spelling out a plan to fundamentally redistribute political, economic and cultural power between Māori and the Crown.
News
Israel’s Māori charm offensive draws scrutiny over unanswered questions
The Israeli Government reportedly paid to host Māori leaders, including at least one elected representative, on a trip sold as “business and innovation”.
Strong international ranking masks two decades of falling achievement
New Zealand teenagers remain among the stronger performers internationally, but their reading, maths and science results are substantially below those recorded two decades ago.
ACT and NZ First promise immigration clampdown as ACT targets Waitangi Tribunal
Under ACT’s Tribunal policy , the body would be restricted to historical claims lodged before the existing September 2008 cut-off.
Plunket calls for Ombudsman’s sacking as public-sector accountability comes under scrutiny
Sean Plunket has called for Chief Ombudsman John Allen to be removed after a speech critics say crossed from independent oversight into political advocacy.
Stuff catches NZ First abortion errors but plays down what changed in 2020
In brief Stuff identifies several errors in NZ First candidate Elizabeth Mundt’s claims about New Zealand’s abortion law.
Poll puts coalition on 64 seats as National falls below 30%
A Taxpayers’ Union-Curia poll projects National, ACT and New Zealand First would retain government with 64 of Parliament’s 120 seats, despite National falling two points to 29.0%.
Election ads need promoter statements even outside campaign spending period
Election advertisements must carry a promoter statement at all times, not only during the three-month regulated election period.
ACC accepted 1,779 COVID vaccine injury claims, six related to fatal injuries
By early 2026, ACC had accepted 1,779 treatment-injury claims arising from COVID vaccinations, including six involving a fatal injury, and paid $16.9 million.
Official data records myocarditis and cardiac failure after man’s second Pfizer dose
An official Medsafe line listing records an adverse-event report involving a New Zealand man aged 30 to 39 after his second Pfizer dose.
Greens’ $2.8b KiwiMart plan sits inside $6.2b food package
The Green Party wants to compel Woolworths and Foodstuffs to sell 120 supermarkets and two distribution centres to the Crown, creating a publicly owned competitor called KiwiMart.
Te Pāti Māori makes power to suspend Crown decisions a coalition bottom line
Te Pāti Māori says its entire Te Tiriti entrenchment package would be non-negotiable in post-election coalition talks.
Government’s projected $111m digital-label benefit rests on a standard still to be written
Digital labelling will not eliminate physical labels, and New Zealand businesses may already add online information alongside mandatory printed details.
ACT climate plan would remove carbon floor and return auction revenue to households
ACT’s election climate plan would do more than abolish the 2050 net-zero target.
FASD warning plan reaches beyond bottle stores to pubs, clubs and festivals
A warning-sign proposal reported as targeting liquor stores would actually impose a display rule on every type of alcohol licence holder, including pubs, restaurants, supermarkets, clubs and festivals.
Labour ends 18-year pledge to price agricultural emissions
Labour has confirmed it will not campaign on pricing agricultural emissions, ending an election commitment the party has carried in various forms since 2008.