The Democracy Project

The Democracy Project

News Briefing

News Briefing: 18 October 2026

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

ELECTION 2026 – LEADERS, PARTIES AND COALITIONS
Derek Cheng (Herald): Opportunity leader Qiulae Wong might hold the balance of power in post-election negotiations. What would make her walk away? (paywalled)
Derek Cheng (Herald): Purple vote collapse: Is an existential reckoning awaiting Labour and National? (paywalled)
Andrea Vance (Sunday Star Times): The high-pitched whine of a campaign that can’t connect (paywalled)
Luke Malpass (Sunday Star Times): Christopher Luxon: The man who wanted to win (paywalled)
Andrea Vance (Sunday Star Times): Chris Hipkins: The making of a political survivor (paywalled)
Dita De Boni (Sunday Star Times): David Seymour’s still gleefully singing yesterday’s tune (paywalled)
Henry Cooke (Sunday Star Times): The area Labour must win, to win this year’s election (paywalled)
Vernon Small (Sunday Star Times): Safety is not the political currency in 2026 (paywalled)
Danyl McLauchlan (Listener): ‘Their core beliefs are a long way to the left of their branding’: David Seymour on what he got wrong about National (paywalled)
Russell Brown (Listener): The worst aspects of a bad government are on display (paywalled)
Anna Thomas (RNZ): ‘It took a while to feel like me again’: A road trip with Marama Davidson
The Civilian: Opinion: I don’t know how to be any more clear. No, really, I don’t. Please help

GREENS, TE PĀTI MĀORI AND THE MONGREL MOB
Bryce Edwards (Democracy Project): The Greens are back in the culture wars
Herald: Kiri Tamihere-Waititi calls backlash to Mongrel Mob hui ‘manufactured outrage’
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Herald): The Green Party gave us an insight into their world of topsy-turvy morals (paywalled)
Richard Prebble: Gangs and politics

ELECTION 2026 – POLICIES AND CAMPAIGN
Danyl McLauchlan (Listener): Election ‘26: Good, bad & unworkable policy pledges on the big issues from our political parties continued (paywalled)
Tom Rose (Herald): Greens promise to scrap apprentice training wage, offer $2000 equipment grants
Jenna Lynch (Stuff): Greens want to abolish apprentice wage, offer $2000 grant for tools
RNZ: Greens propose to abolish training wage
Justin Hu (1News): Labour’s capital gains tax explained – what is it and who will pay?
Matthew Hooton (Sunday Star Times): Cash handouts only make cost of living crisis worse (paywalled)
Liam Dann (Herald): Property slump casts long shadow over Nationals re-election odds (paywalled)
Bridget Snelling (Sunday Star Times): If I was PM: Make NZ the world’s smartest place to do business (paywalled)
1News: Poll: How do Kiwis feel about banning the public sale of fireworks?
Cecilia Robinson (Herald): Election debates should scrutinise policies, not reward political attacks (paywalled)
Herald: Editorial – Promises and platitudes: The art of political discourse (paywalled)
Stewart Sowman-Lund (Sunday Star Times): Politicians love talking about the media - so why don’t they have any ideas to fix it? (paywalled)
RNZ: Parties hit the weekend markets with three weeks till election day
Lianne Dalziel (Newsroom): Does Act know its policy could mean three years’ jail for shoplifting?
Harriet Laughton (Post): Greens pledge paid placements for student nurses, teachers and social workers (paywalled)
RNZ: Greens promise universal payment for trainee teachers, nurses, vets and dentists

The paywall now starts partway through all Democracy Project newsletters. Please take out a paid sub if you want to support this service and access the full content, including the following sections: ELECTORAL SYSTEM AND VOTING; ELECTION 2026 – ELECTORATES; ECONOMY AND BUSINESS; HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; LOCAL GOVERNMENT; ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY; HEALTH AND WELFARE; EDUCATION; CARTOONS

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