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DunedinOctober 15

Newcomer brings a little bit of pragmatism to politics

IT should come as no surprise that politicians watch opinion polling with eagle-eyed attention, and it should come as even less of a surprise that Opportunity Party leader Qiulae Wong watches them more closely than most.
Mike Houlahan
Newcomer brings a little bit of pragmatism to politics
Newcomer brings a little bit of pragmatism to politics
DunedinOctober 14

Peters: Setting out to provide stability

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has never been a man given to modesty and after another three years in government he firmly believes that there is plenty to blow his own trumpet about.
Mike Houlahan
Peters: Setting out to provide stability
Peters: Setting out to provide stability
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SouthlandOctober 14

It’s all about the party in Southland

The particulars of who wins the Southland electorate may be less interesting than who captures its party vote.
Ruby Shaw
It’s all about the party in Southland
It’s all about the party in Southland
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QueenstownOctober 14

Constipated beasts and inflexion points - the Great Debate

The biggest live audience political debate in New Zealand offered plenty of bang for its buck on Wednesday night, as the finance spokespeople from the major parties battled it out in Queenstown.
Mike Houlahan
Constipated beasts and inflexion points - the Great Debate
Constipated beasts and inflexion points - the Great Debate
NewsOctober 14

Forged in fire and enjoying record numbers at the polls

Some Opposition politicians have been infuriated by the National Party attempting to make the election campaign entirely about tax.
Mike Houlahan
Forged in fire and enjoying record numbers at the polls
Forged in fire and enjoying record numbers at the polls
NationalOctober 13

'No sense': Outrage over government order to limit nurse enrolments

Nurse educators say a government directive to limit nurse enrolments makes "no sense" as pressure builds on the workforce.
'No sense': Outrage over government order to limit nurse enrolments
'No sense': Outrage over government order to limit nurse enrolments
NationalOctober 13

ACT promises tax relief for landlords with offset rental losses

The ACT Party has promised to bring forward tax relief for landlords by allowing them to offset rental property losses against other taxable income.
ACT promises tax relief for landlords with offset rental losses
ACT promises tax relief for landlords with offset rental losses
NationalOctober 13

NZ First wants to slow down fast-track for housing, National says it’s already happened

New Zealand First wants to make changes to future fast-track residential approvals, saying there needs to be the necessary roads, pipes, water, wastewater, and other essential service approvals first.
NZ First wants to slow down fast-track for housing, National says it’s already happened
NZ First wants to slow down fast-track for housing, National says it’s already happened
BusinessOctober 13

It’s the younger generations versus the boomers, economist says

New Zealand's young people will be frustrated to be asked to pay the bill for increasingly expensive NZ Super while having missed out on things like free education, which older generations benefited from, one economist says.
It’s the younger generations versus the boomers, economist says
It’s the younger generations versus the boomers, economist says
NationalOctober 13

Test results show maths, reading improving

Analysis of more than three million maths and reading tests shows sharp improvement in primary school children's maths and vocabulary skills but their understanding of what they read is in a serious dip.
Test results show maths, reading improving
Test results show maths, reading improving
NewsOctober 13

Seymour trumpets Act’s ‘excellent progress’

Act New Zealand has risen to new heights in the past three years, literally and figuratively.
Mike Houlahan
Seymour trumpets Act’s ‘excellent progress’
Seymour trumpets Act’s ‘excellent progress’
NationalOctober 13

Former National health minister slams party's 'punitive' beneficiary drug testing policy

A former National minister has come out against the party's policy to drug test beneficiaries, saying it stigmatises a struggling group.
Former National health minister slams party's 'punitive' beneficiary drug testing policy
Former National health minister slams party's 'punitive' beneficiary drug testing policy
NationalOctober 12

Greens promise 284,000 jobs with $6b economic plan

The Green Party says it will create 284,000 jobs over four years as part of its nearly $6 billion economic development plan.
Greens promise 284,000 jobs with $6b economic plan
Greens promise 284,000 jobs with $6b economic plan
NationalOctober 12

‘Cost of Luxon’: Labour claims Kiwi households are $6000 a year worse off under National

The Labour party has launched an election attack on National, saying Christopher Luxon has left the typical Kiwi family thousands of dollars worse off.
‘Cost of Luxon’: Labour claims Kiwi households are $6000 a year worse off under National
‘Cost of Luxon’: Labour claims Kiwi households are $6000 a year worse off under National
NationalOctober 12

National adamant its superannuation stance has not changed

National is adamant its stance on superannuation has not changed since its fiery criticisms of other parties' failure to tackle the problem earlier in the year.
National adamant its superannuation stance has not changed
National adamant its superannuation stance has not changed
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DunedinOctober 11

A new kind of ‘House of Pain’ beckons for Randell

Once the hero of Carisbrook, Taine Randell was back in Dunedin on Sunday in a new and very different capacity: as an aspiring politician.
Mike Houlahan
A new kind of ‘House of Pain’ beckons for Randell
A new kind of ‘House of Pain’ beckons for Randell
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DunedinOctober 11

A full house, and more, greets Winston Peters in Mosgiel

NZ First leader Winston Peters came to town on Sunday, proclaiming that he had saved the new Dunedin Hospital and also the KiwiRail Hiilside workshop, and that next he would prevent the country from becoming an "Orwellian nightmare’’ or from turning into Myanmar or Venezuela.
Mike Houlahan
A full house, and more, greets Winston Peters in Mosgiel
A full house, and more, greets Winston Peters in Mosgiel
DunedinOctober 11

Hipkins 2.0 campaigning on his own platform

Chris Hipkins made history in the 2023 election, but for all the wrong reasons.
Mike Houlahan
Hipkins 2.0 campaigning on his own platform
Hipkins 2.0 campaigning on his own platform
NationalOctober 11

ACT outline plans to raise retirement age, slash disability benefits to reduce debt

The ACT Party's fiscal plan promises to cut debt and spending, raise the superannuation age by three months every year, and cut disability benefits by $653 million.
ACT outline plans to raise retirement age, slash disability benefits to reduce debt
ACT outline plans to raise retirement age, slash disability benefits to reduce debt
DunedinOctober 11

Election 2026 interview: Winston Peters

This week's guest on Election 2026 is New Zealand First leader Winston Peters.
Mike Houlahan
Election 2026 interview: Winston Peters
Election 2026 interview: Winston Peters
NationalOctober 10

Labour details plan to reinstate school lunch programme

Labour has confirmed more details of its plan to reinstate the former school lunch programme from Term 1 2028, if elected.
Labour details plan to reinstate school lunch programme
Labour details plan to reinstate school lunch programme
NationalOctober 10

Green Party plan to guarantee young people jobs draws praise from social workers, LGNZ

The Green Party says it will guarantee a job for every young New Zealander aged 16 to 24 who has been out of work for six months or more.
RNZ
Green Party plan to guarantee young people jobs draws praise from social workers, LGNZ
Green Party plan to guarantee young people jobs draws praise from social workers, LGNZ
NationalOctober 10

National would make finishing Year 11 compulsory if re-elected

National will require high school students to stay in school until they complete Year 11, if re-elected.
RNZ
National would make finishing Year 11 compulsory if re-elected
National would make finishing Year 11 compulsory if re-elected
SouthlandOctober 10

Election 2026 debate: Invercargill

Today the second of the ODT electorate debates has gone live.
Mike Houlahan
Election 2026 debate: Invercargill
Election 2026 debate: Invercargill
NewsOctober 9

Luxon adamant coalition strong, stable on inside

Whatever else you might say about Christopher Luxon, he is a man who defies predictions and pundits.
Mike Houlahan
Luxon adamant coalition strong, stable on inside
Luxon adamant coalition strong, stable on inside