NATIONAL’S FISCAL RULES AND TAX POLICY
Jamie Ensor (Herald): National challenges Labour on fiscal rules – but why can’t it rule out new taxes?
Lauren Crimp (RNZ): National’s debt reduction target lacks ambition - economist
Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira (RNZ): National promises Budget Responsibility Rules if elected
Emma Ricketts (Stuff): National commits to no new taxes for working people, won’t go further
Jordan Williams (Post): National risks standing for nothing and getting run over (paywalled)
Justin Hu (1News): National lays down three budget ‘rules’, challenges Labour to match
Stuff: Nicola Willis promises no new taxes for “working people”
Mandy Te (Interest): National pledges no new taxes for working people
Stuff: National’s new budget rules to balance the books
Anneke Smith (Post): National renews pledge of Budget surplus, less Crown spending; Taxpayers’ Union says ‘nothing new’ (paywalled)
Anneke Smith (Post): National’s fuss over fiscal rules more of the same - economists (paywalled)
Christopher Luxon (Post): We must end era of debt and deficits (paywalled)
ELECTION 2026
Verity Johnson (Stuff): Why don’t political parties address the only question that matters?
Danyl McLauchlan (Listener): A National party PM insulting businesses is akin to a Green MP punching a dolphin (paywalled)
Jamie Ensor and Chris Knox (Herald): Left-wing Opposition’s chance of forming Govt tiny as Opportunity rises in Poll of Polls (paywalled)
Peter Dunne (Newsroom): A more NZ First-influenced govt will be baby boomers’ last throw of political dice
David Harvey (Herald): What the MMP party vote really decides (paywalled)
Lyric Waiwiri-Smith (Spinoff): The 20 most popular MPs, ranked by other MPs
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): Is Qiulae Wong the new Peter Dunne? (paywalled)
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): National has broken some promises. It wants Labour to start doing the same (paywalled)
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Welcome to the Herald’s policy grid (paywalled)
Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira (RNZ): Labour promises small businesses easier access to government contracts
Anneke Smith (Post): Parliament in recess as election campaign heats up (paywalled)
LUXON’S LEADERSHIP AND NATIONAL PARTY
Justin Hu (1News): Here’s why National’s campaign chair argues Luxon’s an ‘absolute asset’
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): National presses fiscal attack as questions over Luxon leadership remain
Richard Harman: Luxon, living dangerously (paywalled)
Claire Robinson: Thursday 6 August 2026: A tale of two leaders
John MacDonald (Herald): South Island businesses seek Government action after Luxon remarks (paywalled)
Ani O’Brien: National’s list and the quirks of MMP
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND COUNCIL AMALGAMATION
James Ball (1News): Who’s merging with who? Councils reveal their amalgamation picks
RNZ: Deadline for local council amalgamation plans arrives
Charlie Dreaver (1News): ‘Very alarming’: Tiaki Wai bills causing upset for Wellington ratepayers
Tom Hunt (Post): Wellington’s 11m housing intensification showdown: Residents fight developer’s plan (paywalled)
Tom Hunt (Post): Wellington City councillor Tony Randle dies unexpectedly (paywalled)
Herald: Wellington City councillor Tony Randle dies at 65
RNZ: Wellington city councillor Tony Randle dies suddenly
David Farrar: RIP Tony Randle
Ryan Bridge (Newstalk ZB): Tony Randle is the sort of brain needed around the council table
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