LABOUR PARTY
Jenna Lynch (Stuff): Hipkins is just warming up, but the election race is already well and truly on
Peter Dunne: Is Hipkins Leaving His Run Far Too Late?
Anneke Smith (Post): He’s ‘warming up’, but can Chris Hipkins bring the energy this election campaign? (paywalled)
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): It hasn’t been a good week for Labour
Jamie Ensor (Herald): Labour’s Chris Hipkins speaks to Willie Jackson over capital gains tax comments
Giles Dexter (RNZ): ‘I need to get back to Barbara’: Willie Jackson challenged on Labour’s capital gains tax policy
Jamie Ensor (Herald): Willie Jackson appears unaware of capital gains tax policy detail, repeatedly defers to party’s finance spokeswoman
ELECTION 2026
Steve Braunias (Newsroom): The secret diaries of .. the unloved Chrises
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): Is sub-30% for both Labour and National just the new normal?
Jenna Lynch (Stuff): Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi distances himself from ‘racist’ comment on his Facebook page
James Nokise (Post): Who the politicians are really talking to on the campaign trail (it’s not you) (paywalled)
Sue Teodoro (Post): Six weeks to deadline: Youth voter enrolment up, but still a way to go (paywalled)
Brent Edwards (NBR): KiwiMart, NZ Super and immigration, and the tax argument (paywalled)
Kerre Woodham (Newstalk ZB): What are you looking for from this Election?
Maxine Jacobs (Press): Forget the polls: This Christchurch suburb keeps picking the election result (paywalled)
Joel Kulasingham (Herald): Major parties speak about issues affecting seniors at Grey Power election meeting
Catherine Groenestein (Post): Sparks fly at Climate Justice Taranaki’s election debate in Hāwera (paywalled)
Alexa Cook (RNZ): Meteorologist, parrot trainer, former All Black captain and a DJ want your vote in Tukituki
Bijou Johnson (Herald): Tauranga party candidates repair election signs after city-wide vandalism
TAX AND SUPERANNUATION
Brian Easton: Taxing Questions
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): The dirty Budget trick Labour and National are using to pay for their promises (paywalled)
Susan Edmunds (RNZ): New tax rules are coming as government releases Taxation Bill
Jonathan Mitchell (NBR): Tax advisers praise Govt moves to simplify fringe benefit tax (paywalled)
Luke Malpass (Post): Warning that NZ Super bill could swallow 30% of tax take (paywalled)
Herald: Editorial – We need to have the difficult conversations about our country’s future demographics (paywalled)
IMMIGRATION POLICY
RNZ: New Zealand First unveils plans for dramatic overhaul of immigration system
Stuff: NZ First pushes for 20,000 migrant cap referendum, increased deportation powers in new policy
Stuff: Peters bristles as he’s asked for evidence supporting migrant cap plan
Mandy Te (Interest): ‘Imperative’ NZ First Minister holds immigration portfolio, the party says
Russell Palmer (RNZ): ACT and NZ First pitch tighter immigration controls, others warn against anti-immigration policies
RNZ: Phil Twyford bemoans immigration debate ‘dumpster fire’ as Labour unveils policy
John MacDonald (Newstalk ZB): I like the cut of NZ First’s 501s
MSD PAYMENT FAILURES
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Welfare botch-up shows the real-world cost of Govt’s rushed lawmaking
Lauren Crimp and Jo Moir (RNZ): ‘I accept responsibility’ - Louise Upston fronts on MSD failures
1News: Upston says MSD took ‘far too long’ to spot and fix payment blunder
Emma Ricketts (Stuff): ‘I’ve never felt so sick’: Pensioner describes human impact of MSD errors as minister apologises
Andrew Gunn (Post): When sorry seems to be the hardest word (paywalled)
PARLIAMENT, GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICE
Julie Jacobson (Post): Three years of cuts and savings drives ‒ what lies ahead for the public service? (paywalled)
RNZ: NZ government agencies leaving door open to hackers, cyber security company warns
Giles Dexter (RNZ): Government moves to cut red tape for alcohol licencing
Rob Stock (Post): Modern slavery reporting laws are coming. Will they make a difference? (paywalled)
The Post: Editorial – NZ must stop lying to itself about climate ambition (paywalled)
Stephen John Taylor (The Conversation): Needling for change: the surprisingly political history of knitting
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