The Democracy Project

The Democracy Project

News Briefing

News Briefing: 17 August 2026

Bryce Edwards's avatar
Bryce Edwards
Aug 16, 2026
∙ Paid

OPPORTUNITY PARTY: TAX, DONATIONS AND LOBBYING
Chris Trotter (Interest): If nobody moves, then nobody, or at least nobody in the top one percent of income earners, is going to get hurt
RNZ: Opportunity Party vows to ‘clean up politics’ with lobbying and donations reforms
Harriet Laughton (Post): Opportunity Party want to ‘clean up politics’ with new policy (paywalled)
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Opportunity promises reform of lobbying rules and political donations
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Kiwis left $17,000 worse off by Opportunity tax plan should ‘look at the bigger picture’, Qiulae Wong says
Justin Hu (1News): Opportunity leader defends taking big donations she wants outlawed
Chris Lynch: Helen Clark calls Opportunity leader’s interview ‘train wreck’ as donation contradiction revealed
Stuff: Seymour attacks Opportunity’s donation limits as double standard
Gareth Morgan (Newsroom): Who’s the fiscal blowhard, Mr Luxon?
Gareth Morgan (Newsroom): How to understand Opportunity’s big tax and spending restructure
Liam Hehir (The Blue Review): Q & Q & A – Jack Tame Puts TOP Under the Blowtorch (paywalled)

NATIONAL LEADERSHIP TURMOIL
Verity Johnson (Stuff): Chris Bishop was National’s last hope for November
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): Does Erica Stanford deserve the backlash?
Francesca Rudkin (Newstalk ZB): Luxon needs to rediscover the version of him people voted for
Simon O’Connor: Rinse, Repeat, Revolt
Julia Gabel (Herald): Erica Stanford denies role in Penk leadership challenge against Luxon
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): Erica Stanford denies involvement in coup plot against Christopher Luxon
Justin Hu (1News): Stanford denies National coup role, wants education job ‘for nine years’
RNZ: ‘I didn’t challenge for the leadership’, Erica Stanford says in first media appearance this week
Harriet Laughton (Post): Stanford denies any involvement in National leadership bid (paywalled)
Stuff: ‘I don’t know’: Minister unsure if Penk acted alone in coup attempt

TE PĀTI MĀORI CAMPAIGN LAUNCH
Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira (RNZ): Te Pāti Māori reveals election strategy as campaign launches in Gisborne
Julia Gabel (Herald): Te Pāti Māori to campaign for candidate vote only
Matthew Tukaki (Waatea News): Te Pāti Māori Launches 2026 Election Fight From Tairāwhiti
Matthew Tukaki (Waatea News): Candidate Vote, Candidate Vote, Candidate Vote: Te Pāti Māori Reveals Its Election Strategy
Matthew Tukaki (Waatea News): Te Pāti Māori Has the People Power — Now Comes the Test at the Ballot Box

GOLDSMITH AND THE KAIPARA KI MAHURANGI SEAT
Herald: Paul Goldsmith considering switch from Epsom to Kaipara ki Mahurangi seat after Chris Penk’s exit
Harriet Laughton (Post): National MP Paul Goldsmith flirts with run in Chris Penk’s seat (paywalled)
Justin Hu (1News): Goldsmith weighing a run in sacked challenger’s ‘beautiful seat’
Justin Hu (1News): Goldsmith rules out Kaipara ki Mahurangi run, will stay in Epsom

PARLIAMENT, ELECTION AND GOVERNMENT
Bryce Edwards (Democracy Project): What Kiri Allan tells us about power and influence
Liam Hehir (The Blue Review): Form Guide: August
Anna Whyte and Mandy Te (Interest): The ingredients for election 2026: The cost of living, a message of hope and what National needs to do
Stuff: ACT pledges to end ‘race-based hiring’ in public service ‘reset’
Stuff: A busy Sunday of policy announcements from Act and TOP
Bella Bates (Critic): Politicians Make Their Pitch to Students at OUSA Leaders Debate
Kirsten Wise (Herald): The growing gap between MPs and everyday Kiwis (paywalled)
Ryan Bridge (Newstalk ZB): Hey Labour, NZ is not Australia
Ashley Church: Has New Zealand permanently moved to the left?
Amelia Wade (Post): More than $106m spent on Auckland’s harbour crossing, with no decision in sight (paywalled)

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