This is edition 2026/015 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!
Checkmate?
Chris Trotter
- ♟️ Chess and Politics: Just like chess, political strategists aim to restrict opponents’ movement. For Labour, this means they need to move away from coalition dependency on the Greens and Te Pāti Māori to have any chance of victory.
- 🔄 Labour's Repositioning: Labour’s key challenge is whether it can reposition itself away from its current alliances. This involves potentially ruling out both the Greens and Te Pāti Māori as coalition partners.
- 🛑 Te Pāti Māori Break: After Te Pāti Māori’s internal issues, Hipkins has distanced Labour from them, which seems like a strategic necessity. However, distancing from the Greens is more complex.
- 🌍 Greens’ Radical Shift: The Greens’ ideological shift towards anti-capitalism, identity politics, and global causes like Palestine makes them less palatable to a majority of New Zealand voters. Their support dropped to 7.7% in early 2026.
- ⚖️ Labour’s Left Problem: Labour's own MPs have ideologies similar to the Greens, making it difficult for them to cut ties with the Greens without facing internal revolt. They risk alienating their base if they try.
- 🛠️ Wokesterism Conflict: Labour’s challenge is to purge its radical left elements (e.g., "wokesterism") and appeal to working-class New Zealanders with a left-populist agenda like “Jobs. Health. Homes”.
- 📉 Failed Strategy: Labour squandered two years post-2023 defeat. They failed to build a compelling left-populist platform and have become stagnant, unable to move effectively in the political game.
- 🤝 No Coalition Options: With National and NZ First rejecting any alliance with Labour, and the Greens and Te Pāti Māori too radical to support, Labour faces political "checkmate" — no chance of forming a government.
- ♖ Election Defeat: As Labour remains trapped in its current alliances, it faces "another three years in opposition," unable to form a viable coalition to govern.
