Your Daily Ten@10 - 2026/005

This is edition 2026/005 of the Ten@10 newsletter.

Hi all,

This is the Ten@10, where I collate and summarise ten news items you generally won't see in the mainstream media.

Enjoy!

• 🧭 NZ First Ascendant – The party is gaining strength heading into 2026, with speculation that Winston Peters could even aim for the role of Prime Minister.
• 📰 Matthew Hooton’s Insights – Hooton’s column reveals NZ First’s internal strategy: targeting Labour voters, growing into a medium-sized party, and leveraging this position for leadership power.
• 📈 Breaking the Minor Party Curse – Peters has managed to grow NZ First’s vote share in government (from 6% to around 9%), defying the usual decline of small coalition partners.
• 🌍 Two Winstons Strategy – Peters projects dual personas: a respected diplomat abroad and a populist firebrand at home, balancing statesmanship with anti-establishment rhetoric.
• ⚖️ Calculated Double Game – By criticising his own coalition while remaining in it, Peters maintains independence and avoids being tainted by government missteps.
• 🌪️ Populism Rising – Peters’ brand of nationalist, anti-globalist populism now aligns with global trends, giving NZ First new energy and relevance.
• 🧱 Labour Voter Raid – NZ First’s 2026 strategy focuses on attracting disaffected, working-class Labour voters who reject the party’s “woke” turn.
• 💬 Workers’ Party Rebrand – Peters positions NZ First as the true defender of ordinary Kiwis, echoing old Labour rhetoric like “capitalism with a human face.”
• ⚙️ Culture War Politics – NZ First pushes polarising cultural issues—biological sex, co-governance, climate scepticism—to capture socially conservative voters and dominate headlines.
• 🧨 Performative Legislation – Many NZ First private bills are withdrawn soon after introduction, serving more as publicity tools than genuine lawmaking efforts.
• 🌀 New Fringe Supporters – The party has attracted anti-establishment, conspiracy-inclined members, creating tension with its traditional, pragmatic base.
• 🔥 Shane Jones’ Trumpian Energy – Deputy leader Shane Jones rallies large crowds with fiery populism, warning of “Trumpian” campaigns if change doesn’t come.
• 🎭 Populism and Hypocrisy – Despite railing against elites, NZ First has been accused of cosying up to wealthy donors and using Parliament for stunts over substance.
• 👑 2026 Scenarios – Peters’ ambitions range from returning as Deputy PM to the unlikely but talked-about dream of becoming Prime Minister himself.
• ⚖️ Three-Bloc Future – NZ First seeks to disrupt the National–Labour duopoly, establishing itself as a third major force in New Zealand politics.
• 🪑 Possible Cross-Bench Role – Some speculate Peters could support a government without joining it, maintaining independence while influencing policy.
• 🇮🇳 India Free Trade Deal Flashpoint – The NZ–India FTA is expected to be a major issue, with Peters criticising its immigration provisions and impact on Kiwi farmers.
• 🗣️ Shane Jones Controversy – Jones has already stoked debate over Indian immigration, using provocative language that plays to the party’s nationalist base.
• 🏁 Final Campaign for Glory – At 81, Peters is likely preparing his last campaign—determined to end his career as a transformative figure, not just a perennial kingmaker.
• 🎭 Encore or Finale? – The 2026 election could either crown Winston Peters’ career with true power or mark yet another act in his long-running populist theatre.