News Briefing: 24 July 2026

STUART NASH’S RESIGNATION
Anneke Smith (Post): PM hits back after Chris Hipkins takes aim at him over NZ First’s ‘oral sex’, ‘masturbation’ jibes (paywalled)
Henry Cooke (Post): No apology from Stuart Nash following ‘sexist’ text and resignation (paywalled)
Jenna Lynch (Stuff): NZ First replaces Nash in Napier, Jones doesnt want ‘distraction stewing indefinitely’
Lauren Crimp (RNZ): Nash replacement named as mums in parliament unite against ‘offensive’ comment
RNZ: Prime Minister urges Stuart Nash to apologise for ‘offensive’ comments, but stops short of condemning Shanes Jones derogatory words
Lillian Hanly (RNZ): A round-up of Stuart Nash’s political career following his short-lived comeback
Jack Riddell (Herald): Te Kira Lawrence, Stuart Nash’s replacement as NZ First’s Napier candidate, has ‘some sympathy’ for him
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): Stuart Nash’s resignation papers over a bitter, deepening coalition rift
Audrey Young (Herald): Stuart Nash paid the price but Winston Peters and Shane Jones set a disturbing new tone (paywalled)
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): Why would New Zealand First make Stuart Nash resign?
Kerre Woodham (Newstalk ZB): Stuart Nash – indiscreet and hopeless
Sam Smith (Stuff): A comprehensive guide to the times Stuart Nash has put his foot in it

PAUL HENRY
Justin Hu (1News): Crass politics: NZ ‘catching up’ with the world – expert
Jamie Ensor & Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Labour outraged Paul Henry said he’d ‘shoot’ Chris Hipkins in radio game – Henry says he’s ‘dumbfounded’
Craig McCulloch (RNZ): ‘Shoot, shag or marry’ game was ACT candidate Paul Henry being authentic Seymour says
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): ‘Shoot, shag, marry’? Paul Henry slammed for answering question about political leaders
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): They didn’t like Paul Henry playing ‘shoot, shag, marry’ but in 2023, party leaders played ‘kiss, marry, kick’
Justin Hu (1News): ‘Oh, come on’: ACT’s Paul Henry divides MPs over ‘shoot Hipkins’ line

PARLIAMENT, ELECTION AND GOVERNMENT
Tim Murphy (Newsroom): After 970 days in power, the ghost of Labour still consumes the Govt
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): How the Māori seats could hold the key to this election
Russell Palmer (RNZ): ‘Oozing pain’: Plea for politicians to tackle hate speech
Adam Pearse (Herald): Christopher Luxon public meeting: National’s bright spots dimmed by economic battle (paywalled)
Phil Smith (RNZ): The House: MPs return after two-week break
Harriet Laughton (Post): Review into $426 Government Facebook ad has cost $45,000 and is months overdue (paywalled)
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Beehive bunker laptops malfunctioned during destructive storm
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Post): Government’s Microsoft bill balloons as tools become widespread (paywalled)
Phil Pennington (RNZ): PM Christopher Luxon tight-lipped on ‘grey-zone’ advice
Gill Bonnett (RNZ): New residence rules for migrants’ parents around the corner
Stuff: NZ troops to continue UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan
The Post: Editorial: Vale Sir Bill Birch, a minister who mattered (paywalled)
Tony Ballantyne (The Conversation): New ferry names: Winston calls it woke, but debating Cook’s legacy is nothing new
Anya Fielding (RNZ): Report on child poverty reveals ‘national shame’, Children’s Comissioner says
Emma Ricketts (Stuff): A mum’s plea to the PM’s face: Stop cutting disability services

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT REFORM
Simon Upton (Post): On RMA reform: ‘Significant taking back of regulatory power by central government’ (paywalled)
Andrea Vance (Post): ‘We can no longer agree’: Simon Upton warns post-RMA laws risk flip-flopping and lobbying (paywalled)
Fox Meyer (Newsroom): Planning changes ‘a wholesale rejection of localism’, says watchdog
Greg Severinsen (Newsroom): Resource management rewrite risks shifting billions in environmental costs to councils
Mike McRoberts (NBR): Iwi RMA fight heads to Queenstown (paywalled)
Noam Mānuka Lazarus (Herald): Iwi leaders condemn Government’s scrapping of council agreements
Liam Rātana (Spinoff): The scrapping of Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements, explained

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND AMALGAMATION
Joel MacManus (Spinoff): Council amalgamation: Who’s working together and who is refusing to budge?
Ethan Manera (Herald): Local Government reform: Wellington super city back on the table - could cost $273m
Ethan Manera (Herald): Setback for Wellington merger as Upper Hutt Mayor Peri Zee signals likely exit
Justin Wong (Post): Upper Hutt likely to back out of Wellington amalgamation, leaked email reveals (paywalled)
RNZ: ‘Not ready’: Clutha District to ask for more time for merger plans
Lianne Dalziel (Newsroom): What the UK’s new prime minister can teach NZ about fixing broken local councils
Tom Hunt (Post): Tiaki Wai spin army almost double predecessor’s with big increase in contractors (paywalled)

CORPORATE WELFARE AND THE FLETCHER SUBSIDY
Bryce Edwards (Democracy Project): Cementing corporate welfare
Tim Hunter (NBR): Fletcher’s perfectly timed subsidy pitch (paywalled)
BusinessDesk: Fletcher Building’s $60m handout raises disclosure questions (paywalled)

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