The Democracy Project

The Democracy Project

News Briefing

News Briefing: 16 September 2026

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Bryce Edwards
Sep 15, 2026
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THE TOM PHILLIPS INQUIRY
Adam Pearse (Herald): Police concede Phillips children could have been found in 2023 after eyewitness tip
Jo Moir (RNZ): Tom Phillips inquiry exposes multiple mistakes by police and Oranga Tamariki
Michelle Duff (Spinoff): It’s just a camping trip! With their dad! Marokopa inquiry reveals state of NZ child protection
Neil Sands (LawNews): Apologies galore but scant accountability over damning report into Phillips’ children abduction
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): The failures in the Tom Phillips investigation go on and on
1News: ‘We are deeply sorry’ - Phillips kids denied a ‘happy childhood’
Sam Sherwood (RNZ): ‘We are deeply sorry’: Government apologises to Tom Phillips’ children after damning inquiry
Benn Bathgate (Post): Police and Oranga Tamariki panned in Tom Phillips report (paywalled)
Benn Bathgate (Post): Apologies but no resignations after damning Phillips report (paywalled)
Sam Sherwood (RNZ): Tom Phillips report: The missed opportunities to find the children
Lillian Hanly and Russell Palmer (RNZ): Pieces still missing from Tom Phillips inquiry - academic
Russell Palmer (RNZ): ‘I understand how that sounds’: Police push back on Tom Phillips finding
Giles Dexter (RNZ): Police commissioner welcomes opportunity to meet with family to discuss Tom Phillips report
Jo Moir (RNZ): ‘Absolutely appalled’ - Labour’s Chris Hipkins unleashes on Oranga Tamariki’s ‘systemic issues’
Jenna Lynch (Stuff): Woman had Tom Phillips in her car and photographed him - but police were diverted
Lillian Hanly (RNZ): Woman told police she had Tom Phillips in her car in May 2023 - but officers were diverted
Neil Reid (Herald): Private schoolboy to ‘monster’: How Tom Phillips honed his bushcraft at St Paul’s Collegiate’s outdoor programme (paywalled)
Benn Bathgate (Post): Tom Phillips’ $5800 shopping spree: chocolate, knives and 14 lighters (paywalled)

ELECTION 2026: POLLS AND CAMPAIGN
Farah Hancock (RNZ): Two big political donors backing opposite sides explain why they’ve given over a million dollars to different parties
Charlyse Tansey (Newsroom): NZ’s youth enrolment problem could change history
Tim Murphy (Newsroom): Four media heavy hitters on what to look for in Election 2026
Andrea Vance (Post): Half of voters say time to give Chris Hipkins a second chance (paywalled)
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Labour slumps in another poll, but still ahead of National
Jonathan Milne (Newsroom): Leaked poll prompts hung Parlt warning, with no majority for Labour or Nats bloc
RNZ: Possible hung parliament as Labour and National slump in latest poll
Herald: Chris Hipkins says ‘all up from here’ after latest poll result
Henry Cooke (Post): ‘Not where we need to be’: Chris Hipkins says Labour fighting to get numbers up following 7-point drop (paywalled)
RNZ: ‘A lot’ of pressure on any incoming government, Labour leader says
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): Flip Forecaster: See the seats set to flip and how that will shape Parliament
Kerre Woodham (Newstalk ZB): Do the political polls matter to you?
Hanna McCallum (Newsroom): Early poll reveals Greens and Labour in dead heat in Wellington Bays
Ethan Manera (Herald): Exclusive Wellington Bays polling shows Green MP Julie Anne Genter tied with Labour challenger Craig Renney
Jamie Ensor (Herald): Wellington Bays candidates scrap over the cost of living in debate
Alex Brocklehurst (Post): Wellington North candidates call for civility to keep events from becoming ‘yelling matches’ (paywalled)
Andrea Vance (Post): Is Opportunity knocking? Meet the voters backing Qiulae Wong (paywalled)
Lyric Waiwiri-Smith (Spinoff): Jessica Hammond on being the last Opportunity original left
Azriel Taylor (Herald): Real Life: Act Party Leader David Seymour on polarisation, politics, and riding his e-bike
The Post: Alliance’s Rangitīkei candidate withdraws from election (paywalled)
Tom Hunt (Post): Alleged health data leaker Barry Young ditches Wellington North candidacy after meeting showdown (paywalled)
Catherine Groenestein (Post): Rumours swirl as NZ First take over ‘Mayor’s Office’ ahead of candidate announcement (paywalled)
Ethan Manera (Herald): Chris Hipkins accuses Mark Mitchell of inventing allegations against Rakesh Naidoo, after minister raises secret ‘ongoing matter’
Sam Sherwood (RNZ): ‘Ongoing matter’ relating to Labour’s top cop candidate Rakesh Naidoo - Police Minister
Esther Robinson (Post): 30 years on our political culture is still catching up to MMP (paywalled)
Ani O’Brien: What will Hipkins have to give away to become Prime Minister?

ELECTION 2026: TAX, WAGES AND FISCAL POLICY
The Post: Editorial – Tax cuts hint a sign of National’s desperation (paywalled)
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Nicola Willis hints at post-surplus income tax cuts if National re-elected
Anneke Smith (Post): ‘More to say’: Nicola Willis teases policy on income tax bracket creep ahead of election (paywalled)
Lauren Crimp (RNZ): Nicola Willis hints National to campaign on income bracket changes, research tax credit
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): David Seymour welcomes businesses to the church of low taxes, as survey shows support for CGT (paywalled)
Jonathan Mitchell (NBR): MPs flag upcoming tax policy announcements to business leaders (paywalled)
Mandy Te (Interest): Politicians talk tax, KiwiSaver and bracket creep at election conference
Emma Ricketts (Stuff): Is a tax a levy and a levy a tax? The National Party can’t decide
RNZ: Business split on capital gains tax idea, survey shows
Ryan Bridge (Newstalk ZB): I wouldn’t hold your breath for tax cuts
Cameron Bagrie (BusinessDesk): Fiscal forecasts face a credibility test as net debt nears $240b (paywalled)
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Post): Income tax rates go up and down depending what you earn, why not company tax? (paywalled)
Dita De Boni (Post): Providers push for full KiwiSaver compulsion as parties split on employee rules (paywalled)
Greg Smith (Herald): KiwiSaver: Political parties back growth but differ on contribution rates
Brent Edwards (NBR): Labour promises a boost for KiwiSaver (paywalled)
Anna Whyte (Interest): KiwiSaver 2.0: Opportunity’s plan for retirement savings, no first home withdrawals or tax on contributions
Chris Hipkins (Post): KiwiSaver should be for everyone (paywalled)
Jenée Tibshraeny (Herald): National and Labour promise Winter Energy Payment for all superannuitants, while pushing younger people to save more for retirement
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Act to campaign on three-year minimum wage freeze (paywalled)
Harriet Laughton (Post): ACT to freeze minimum wage if elected (paywalled)
Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira (RNZ): ACT wants to freeze minimum wage and reduce youth training rate
1News: ACT outlines policy to freeze adult minimum wage for three years
Sam Smith (Stuff): ACT pledges to freeze adult minimum wage, lower youth training rate
Stuff: Political heavyweights clash over minimum wage freeze and tax relief

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