The Democracy Project

The Democracy Project

News Briefing

News Briefing: 18 August 2026

Bryce Edwards's avatar
Bryce Edwards
Aug 17, 2026
∙ Paid

ELECTION 2026, POLLS AND PARTY POLITICS
Farah Hancock (RNZ): RNZ political donations tracker: Billionaire Nick Mowbray puts $250,000 into National Party’s campaign
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): The six days Christopher Luxon took Defence Force planes while attending National fundraisers (paywalled)
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): National and Labour just achieved something unprecedented across 50 years of polling
1News: Most Kiwis still back MMP despite Luxon stance - new poll
Anna Whyte (Interest): Greens go after groceries, Helen Clark goes after Qiulae Wong and Christopher Luxon holds firm
Jamie Ensor (Herald): Labour rules out streaming, ute tax after National ‘desperation’
Russell Palmer (RNZ): Chris Hipkins calls National ‘hysterical’ over Labour’s plans
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): Time to go back to the bigger picture for the election
The Standard: How to Ensure Power Shifts
Tom Hunt (Post): Attorney-General Chris Bishop ordered to remove rule-breaking billboards (paywalled)

TE PĀTI MĀORI
Liam Hehir (The Blue Review): The Lesotho Option
Peter Williams: Should Nats follow the TPM Method?
Zoe Mills (Herald): Te Pāti Māori launches election campaign at Gisborne marae
Stuff: The Hui: Te Pāti Māori leaders defend their election strategy
Matthew Tukaki (Waatea News): Eyes on the Prize: Tamihere says Te Pāti Māori is moving past the noise

NATIONAL PARTY LEADERSHIP FALLOUT
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): Coup collateral: New defence minister cancels lucrative meeting with Japan, Australia
Jonathan Killick (Post): Chris Penk on his sacking, regrets and ‘unfinished business’ (paywalled)
Tara Ward (Spinoff): ‘I’m grossly imperfect’: Luxon in reflective mode for Monday morning media round
Joel Maxwell (Stuff): National’s failed coup shows a party that can’t even execute a takeover
Stuff: ‘I take them at their word’: Luxon accepts Bishop and Stanford’s assurances on leadership
1News: Luxon confident in backing from Stanford, Bishop
RNZ: ‘I know I have her full support’: Christopher Luxon says Erica Stanford backs his leadership
Herald: Prime Minister says he’s taking key ministers linked to failed coup at their word, sure Penk acted alone

THE OPPORTUNITY PARTY
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): I wouldn’t be surprised if TOP peaks at 8 percent
Post: Editorial – Opportunity: Just a trendy avatar for the status quo? (paywalled)
RNZ: Helen Clark dismisses Opportunity Party’s tax plan as ‘fantasy posing as policy’
Zar Lilley (Stuff): Helen Clark: Opportunity Party leader’s interview a ‘train wreck’
Tom Rose (Herald): Labour’s Barbara Edmonds rules out Opportunity Party land tax but remains coy about funding public service, pay equity

GREENS’ SUPERMARKETS POLICY
Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira (RNZ): Greens propose fines up to $10m for supermarkets charging ‘excessive prices’
Julia Gabel (Herald): Green Party to campaign on banning supermarket price gouging
Newstalk ZB: ‘Stop excessive price gouging’: Greens’ Chlöe Swarbrick on their proposed supermarket crackdown
Chelsea Daniels (Herald): ‘Food is not a luxury’: Greens unveil supermarket price plan
1News: Greens propose fines for supermarkets charging ‘excessive’ prices
Rob Stock and Tom Pullar-Strecker (Post): Greens propose Australian-style ban on ‘excessive’ supermarket prices (paywalled)
Steven Cowan: Why isn’t the Green Party campaigning for publicly-owned, low cost grocery stores?

AUCKLAND HARBOUR CROSSING
Katie Bradford and Adam Pearse (Herald): Auckland second harbour crossing: Meola Reef study to cost taxpayers, ratepayers $1m
Jenna Lynch (Stuff): Government delays Auckland harbour bridge decision
Stuff: Auckland harbour crossing: $100m spent and still no plan
Justin Hu (1News): Auckland harbour crossing decision deferred to at least 2027
Nick James (Post): Government lays out steps for next Auckland harbour crossing - but still more water to flow under the bridge (paywalled)
RNZ: Another business case for Auckland harbour crossing confirmed despite recent NZTA study
Adam Pearse (Herald): Government delivers update on second Auckland Harbour crossing progress\
Amelia Wade (Post): Chris Bishop calls Wayne Brown’s bluff on his Auckland harbour crossing pet project (paywalled)

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