The Democracy Project

The Democracy Project

News Briefing

News Briefing: 25 September 2026

Bryce Edwards's avatar
Bryce Edwards
Sep 24, 2026
∙ Paid

ELECTION CAMPAIGN
Adam Pearse (Herald): New survey shows two-thirds of Kiwis want wealth tax, Labour’s control of main issues slipping
Lauren Crimp (RNZ): Labour’s lead on top issues narrows as National gains - survey
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): Health and unemployment concern on the rise in final big issues poll before election
Herald: Editorial – In supermarket break-up battle, voters unlikely to defend duopoly (paywalled)
Chelsea Daniels (Herald): The official battle for your vote begins now
Jordan Meyers (Post): Why so many New Zealanders are set to be surprised on November 7 (paywalled)
Isaac Davison (Stuff): Did Government achieve its promises on infrastructure?
Sam Smith (Stuff): Dogs, dinosaurs and Twilight: A day out on the campaign with Chris Hipkins in Hamilton
Russell Palmer (RNZ): Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer scales back election trail due to ‘very unwell’ mother
1News: Debbie Ngarewa-Packer to scale back campaign as mum becomes unwell
Robin Martin (RNZ): One issue trumps them all in New Plymouth
RNZ: Controversial Dunedin councillor Benedict Ong to run as independent in general election
The Post: Editorial – Culture deserves more than campaign leftovers (paywalled)
Natalia Albert: We can’t explain the Super problem, let alone solve it

COUNCIL AMALGAMATIONS PAUSED
Jonathan Milne (Newsroom): ‘Cowards’: Govt pauses work on council mergers until after the election
Gwynn Compton: They rushed councils, now Watts and Bishop are ducking for cover on Head Start
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): Let’s hope the Government hasn’t lost its nerve on amalgamations
Nick James (Post): Furious councils accuse Government of wasting ratepayer time and money over amalgamation plans (paywalled)
Ellen O’Dwyer (RNZ): Mayors left stunned by Government’s council amalgamation U-turn
RNZ: Government hits pause on council amalgamation plan until after election
Ethan Manera (Herald): Mayors ‘fuming’ after minister Simon Watts halts Local Govt reform
Ethan Manera (Herald): Coalition disagreement understood to be behind halt to local government reforms
Mathew Nash (Local Democracy Reporting): Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell blasts local government reform delay
Mandy Te (Interest): Councils ‘frustrated’ after Government delays local government reform
NBR: Council uncertainty as Government slows local government reform (paywalled)
1News: Council amalgamation plan paused after millions spent on proposals

PARLIAMENT, GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC SERVICE
Audrey Young (Herald): Top 5 performers in the House this term; Hager saga and the lawyers on the sidelines (paywalled)
Lyric Waiwiri-Smith (Spinoff): The Golden Gerries: Awarding the highs and lows of the 54th parliament of New Zealand
Lyric Waiwiri-Smith (Spinoff): Last one out turns off the lights
Daniel Perese (Te Ao Māori): 54th Parliament: 34 Māori MPs started, 39 served, 32 remain
Neil Sands (LawNews): Wise words and warnings: an exit interview with former Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly, who quits Parliament today
Asher Emanuel (Stuff): ‘Move on’ orders are the latest turn of NZ’s prison ratchet
Sammy Carter (RNZ): Firefighters’ union says FENZ shake-up can’t wait until after election
Kate MacNamara (Herald): ACC paid nearly $200,000 for former CEO Megan Main’s early departure, legal fees and training (paywalled)
Paula Penfold (Stuff): New Zealand’s financial markets watchdog admits holiday pay method breached employment law

NICKY HAGER’S DIRTY WORK
Bryce Edwards (Democracy Project): The fight over the facts in Dirty Work
Simon Wilson: Dirty work and the disinfecting sunshine it deserves
Chris Penk (Stuff): Nicky Hager’s Dirty Work belongs in the fiction section

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: SCRUTINY OF MINISTRY OF EDUCATION; ELECTION DEBATES; LABOUR’S $4.3B INFRASTRUCTURE AND JOBS PLAN; NZ FIRST’S SMALL BUSINESS TAX CUT; ENERGY, LNG AND MINING; ECONOMY AND BUSINESS; FONTERRA; MEDIA; LOCAL GOVERNMENT; HEALTH; MĀORI AFFAIRS; AI AND TECHNOLOGY
; CARTOONS

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